《The True Heiress's Return》


 Chapter 1

    "Shakira Nelson, you''re so selfish! People have two kidneys, losing one won''t kill you!" Mitchell Nelson''s voice cut through the air like a chill. He was sharply dressed, his tailored suit adding an air of authority to the already opulent vi. Shakira stood frozen, seeming to be shocked by her brother''s harsh words. But as the moment sunk in, she lifted her chin and let out a soft, sarcasticugh. Tm alive again! she eximed to herself.


    Mitchell''s disdain deepened at herughter. "Yvette has always told us not to pressure you. If you''re not willing, she can wait for another donor. She''s been thinking about you this whole time. But what about you, Shakira? Do you even have a conscience? "So, refusing to donate a kidney to Yvette makes me selfish? Please, as if this kidney belongs to her. Should I be grateful for her refusing to take it back?" The corners of Shakira''s lips curled into a mocking smirk.


    Mitchell was taken aback. He had never expected the usually obedient Shakira to stand up to him like this. And for at moment, he found she actually had a point. Suddenly, his eyes darkened, as if he had unraveled her wicked plot. "Oh, I see. You only came to Yvette''s birthday party with bad intentions. You got her dress dirty deliberately to embarrass her at this important event. Looks like you''re hoping she''ll back off and not ask your kidney.


    for "Do you think only you have a rare blood type? Like we''re begging you for this? Let me tell you-Finn has already offered a bounty of 30 million dors to find a kidney. Without you, Yvette will still live a long, healthy life!" With that, Mitchell''s gaze turned fiery as he locked eyes with Shakira. Finn had asked him to keep the bounty a secret, fearing she wouldn''t agree to donate if she found out. But now, he wanted nothing more than to see her suffer-they could find another donor, and she meant nothing. However, Shakira was unfazed.


    She and Yvette shared the same birthday, and a careless nurse had switched them at birth-she ended up with the Smith family, while Yvette went to the Nelsons-which led to eighteen years of mistaken identity.


    A few months ago, the Nelson family found her, and she thought she could finally experience the warmth and love of a family. But it seemed like they only cared for Yvette-the one raised with their name.


    Today was their birthday, and the Nelson and Smith families had nned a big celebration together. Every family member had prepared expensive gifts. Shakira had dressed up meticulously for the party, yet her mother, Reba, insisted she change. "Shakira, it''s already sad that Yvette is going back to a small town. You should be more understanding. We''ll make sure to celebrate your birthday in styleter, I promise, Reba said, her voice softening as she offered a gentle smile.


    While sympathy flowed freely for Yvette as she was going back to the Smith residence, not a single soul paused to ask about Shakira-how she had spent sixteen tumultuous years within those walls or how she had struggled in Bris for two years. Shakira parted her lips as if to speak, but the words faded before they could get out. Aware that matters of the heart couldn''t be hurried, she turned and went upstairs, determined to weave herself into the fabric of this family gradually. She tried to please everyone in the Nelson family, even Yvette, who had taken her identity and the family''s attention.


    Her efforts to connect with the Nelson family fell t. ¨¦very time something went wrong, they jumped to the conclusion that she disliked Yvette, convinced she was vying for their affection.


    Take today, for example. It was obvious someone had shoved her from behind, causing the mishap on Yvette''s dress. But instead of hearing her out, they only med her for being selfish and malicious.


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    After being chewed out by Mitchell in her previous life, Shakira locked herself in her room, drowning her sorrows in alcohol until she waspletely out of it. But when she finally woke up, she found herself surrounded by three naked strangers. Her f


    family was furious and embarrassed when they found her in that disgraceful situation. Despite their attempts to cover it up, the hotel''s missing surveince footage spread like wildfire on social media the next day, and both Yvette and Shakira became the talk of the town. Yvette transformed from a billion-dor heiress into a self-made millionaire, living a life filled with praise and envy. Everyone hailed her as a lucky star born into privilege. Meanwhile, Shakira became the face of scandal,beled at promiscuous socialite who had disgraced her family by "having her way with three men." Desperate to win back her family''s support, Shakira agreed to donate a kidney. After the surgery, she finally noticed a bit of attention from the Nelson family. Her parents started to care about her preferences, and so did her elder brothers-Yosef, the prosecutor, always checked on her, asking if she was warm enough in the chilly weather; the genius doctor, Felix, made her nutritious meals every day; even her busy CEO brother, Finn, found time at night to whip up some pasta for her. Shakira thought they were starting to ept her, believing she could finally be cherished like Yvette. But reality hit hard. Once the surgery was over, the family''s attention quickly shifted back to Yvette. All those kindnesses had just been temporary-connections to make sure that Shakira''s kidney stayed functional for Yvette''s sake. They never really cared about her. As Shakira''s health worsened because of the surgery, Yvette thrived, adored by both families, and even shot into stardom. Shakira felt rejected and downcast constantly, and within two years, she developed liver failure. Just like that, Yvette, with Shakira''s kidney, became the perfect candidate for a liver donor. t on the way to the hospital, their taxi was involved in a horrific crash. In the chilling instant, a sudden inferno erupted, mes racing toward them at a frightening speed.


    Yvette offered to donate her healthy liver, but the front seat and took great effort to pull a trapped Yvette from the wreckage. Shakira watched in the back seat, helpless. She could have escaped if they had just broken the window, but instead, she was burned to ashes.


    As the Nelson brothers arrived, they rushed to


    Shakira had paid the ultimate price and finally learned what "family" truly meant-it was all nonsense! As her thoughts settled, she closed her eyes, trying to tame the raging fire that swirled in her mind. When she opened her eyes again, everything felt calm. She looked at Mitchell and teased, "Not so bad. Why not ask Finn to throw in an extra 30 million? And maybe find a brain for you to swap in?" "What did you just say?" Mitchell stared at Shakira, disbelief written all over his face. ''How could she be so unfazed? Shouldn''t she be feeling guilty or trying to make things right? Wait, she just said...


    The realization hit Mitchell hard, and his expression darkened. "Shakira Nelson-are you trying to dig your own grave? Fine! We don''t need your stupid kidney. Get out! You''re not wee at Yvette''s birthday party!" Shakira nced disdainfully at thevish carpet under her feet and smirked, "Stepping on that would just ruin my shoes."


    "You!" Mitchell shouted, his face flushed with rage. ''Has she hit her head too hard today?All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    Amid Mitchell''s furious re, Shakira turned to leave, but after just a few steps, an unexpected heat surged through her body, making her knees weak.


    "Wait! I haven''t drunk too much this time. How could this be happening? As the feelings threatened to overwhelm her, she reached for the wall, desperate to find a quiet spot to collect herself. But identally, she pushed open a nearby door. The next thing she knew, she fell into darkness,nding against a warm, solid body. Theforting sensation at her fingertips cooled the heat inside her...

 Chapter 2

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    In an instant, Shakira felt a strong, choking grip on her neck. The man''s hand was so tight it felt like he might snap her like a


    twig.


    "Looking for trouble?" the man warned. His cold voicebined with the pressure made Shakira snap back to reality.


    Summoning her remaining strength, she pushed down on his wrist with one hand while her other hand quickly. maneuvered to apply pressure to a sensitive spot on the back of his neck. Instantly, his grip loosened, and the unsuspecting man fell unconscious. Once freed, Shakira copsed onto his body, gasping for air. But as the oxygen rushed back into her lungs, a wave of heat flooded through her. Overwhelmed, she gritted her teeth and ripped off his expensive tailored pants. Time slipped by in a blur. Finally, drenched in sweat, Shakira slipped into her clothes hanging from the wheelchair, and her mind began to focus. The Nelson and Smith families had ensured that Yvette could hold her head high during the grand party tonight. All their guests came from wealthy backgrounds, with only one disabled visitor-Shakira''s former fianc¨¦, Walter Lopez. five families held power, with the Lopez family at the top and the Nelsons at the bottom. Their patriarchs were such close friends they had arranged a marriage between their grandchildren even before they were born. Walter was known for being wild and reckless, getting into trouble all the time when he was young. Rumor had it that with the Lopez family''s backing, he''d rule the city one day.


    In this


    city


    But then he disappeared without a trace, bing a mystery for years. When he finally returned home six months ago, he was confined to a wheelchair, unable to walk.


    Shakira had overheard a


    I a conversation about the engagement as she returned to the Nelson family. At that moment, Yvette sighed and said, "If Mr. Walter Lopez hade back sooner, maybe I could have married him, and Shakira would have stuck around to spend more and Dad... Her words hit hard. Shakira watched as her mother, Reba, scolded Mitchell with a frown. "You can''t marry that... What kind of life would that be?"


    time with


    Reba''s lips shaped the words "Good for nothing," but out of decency, she held back. Still, the disdain on her face was hard to hide.


    Yvette nced at Shakira, hesitant to say what was on her mind. "But Shakira..."


    Reba continued, her brow furrowed. "She just got back. She doesn''t even know our ways. We''ll talk about the engagementter."


    At that moment, Shakira believed Reba would sort everything out for her. But now, after stepping away from her family ties, she realized that to Reba, Yvette couldn''t marry a disabled man, but Shakira had to wait until ter."


    If she hadn''t had that ident tonight in her previous life, marrying Walter would have been a sure thing. So, Shakira figured, in her moment of desperation just now, using her fiance for her own survival didn''t seem so wrong after all. After resting for a bit, the tingling in her legs eased. Shakira had nned to slip away quietly but paused, deciding to give her fianc¨¦ some dignity.


    Caught in the moonlight, she finally took in Walter''s striking features-truly a work of art. Even in this disheveled state, sitting in a wheelchair and unconscious, he radiated an aura of undeniable strength.


    "What a gem... What a pity," she murmured, bending down to drape the torn remains of his pants over him. Gently, she began to button his shirt.


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    As she did, she noticed a Jesus pendant peeking out from his shirt. After a moment of thought, she pushed it aside and revealed a bold tattoo etched across his sun-kissed chest-Satan. The fierce look of the tattoo contrasted starkly with the peaceful beauty of the Jesus pendant. Shakira studied the tattoo for a moment, then finished buttoning his shirt before leaving the room quietly.


    Not long after she stepped out, Walter stirred awake. The thick, sticky air around him, the disarray of his clothing, and the ache in his legs all told the story of what had just happened in the room.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    He sat silently, his face unreadable as he pressed a button on his wheelchair, and momentster, a man in a ck suit, walked in.


    When Brian Shaw, one of the world''s top bodyguards, saw the scene, he waspletely stunned for a full five seconds.


    "Mr. Lopez, you were..." he blurted out, but the harsh word "mistreated" caught in his throat as Walter''s icy gaze zeroed in on him.


    After a moment of silence, Walter ordered, his voice icy, "Find out who did this and send her to hell."


    Mr. Lopez!"


    Shakira returned to the guest room, pausing at the door. Memories she desperately wanted to forget flooded back- scattered clothes, furious usations from family members, and the cruelughter of strangers...


    She shut her eyes briefly before pushing the door open. Inside, three meny sprawled on the bed,pletely unconscious -just as disgusting as it had been in her past life.


    How deep must the hatred be for the person behind all this to wish me such ruin?'' Shakira smirked silently.


    Just then, a panicked scream from behind her. "Shakira, how could you do this?"


    Shakira turned around casually and saw a crowd burst into the room. She took in their expressions-shock, disgust, confusion-before settling her gaze on Yvette, who was hiding behind Reba.


    Yvette looked innocent, and that only made Shakira seem even more filthy and corrupted at that moment, especially after her affair had just been discovered, yet she remained so calm. Shakira couldn''t help but chuckle bitterly. I''d truly been so blind in my previous life, unable to see through this pretentious


    wretch.


    Yosef was the first to regain hisposure. With a serious look on his face, he turned to the staff outside and ordered, "Seal off this floor."


    Mitchell chimed in, pointing an using finger at Shakira. "Shakira, have you no shame?"


    Reba stormed forward, her anger palpable as she raised her hand to strike Shakira''s face. Shakira stood her ground and grabbed Reba''s wrist mid-air.


    Reba was caught off guard. Anger surged through her, breaking theposed facade she usually maintained as thedy of the house. "You wretched child! I should''ve known you''d be jealous of Yvette and try to ruin her birthday party. But I never imagined you''d stoop so low as to embarrass our family like this!" Jealous? What exactly does Yvette have that is worth my envy?'' Shakira couldn''t help but scoff. Fueled by her thoughts, Shakira clenched her fist and pushed Reba back. With her bnce disrupted, Reba stumbled several steps back. If Yvette hadn''t caught her, she would have fallen and humiliated herself.


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    Yvette shook her head, her face filled with disappointment. "Mom only cares about you, Shakira. How could you push her?"


    Tears welled up in her eyes as she bit her lips and said, "I know you''ve always hated me. If leaving makes everyone happier, I promise I won''t ever show up in front of you, Dad, Mom, and..."

 Chapter 3

    3


    As the scene unfolded, the guests who hadn''t been escorted out gasped in disbelief.


    "Can you believe she actually raised her hand against her own mother? That''s just wrong! But Ms. Yvette Nelson is so nice and understanding-she''s a real reflection of Reba''s proper upbringing. A wild kid like Shakira will never be a match for her." "I heard she used to pull stunts like this with the Smith family too, quitting school just to run off with a gangster." And she was running to Bris. If the Nelson family hadn''t gone after her, who knows when she would havee back? Bris is such a disaster. She must have really lost her innocence over there." than enough


    daughter like that, it might be better to just let her go and not try to bring her back. Having Yvette is more remained


    Shakira


    ained unfazed, the small mole under her eye adding to her mysterious allure. She turned to them, her voice dripped with an eerie calmness. "Are you done? Did you see me firsthand, or are you just hiding under the bed listening in on me and these men? Trying to ruin my reputation without any proof?" You''ve got them in your bed, Shakira. Do you think we''re all idiots?" Shakira shot a nce at him. "So, it seems you''re the real fool here."


    Mitchell rolled her eyes. "Are


    you


    for real?


    "Y-You!" Mitchell''s eyes widened in anger.


    Shakira ignored him, walked over to the bed, and mmed her palm down on one of the three men there.


    The man nearly leaped off the bed, but seeing the crowd, he didn''t feel embarrassed but grinned widely, saying, "Just like a true Nelsondy. This feels fantastic."


    Shakira raised an eyebrow. "Which Nelson are you talking about?"


    "Of course..." the man paused, hesitating. The three of them were only there for the money and knew there was a Nelsondy in the room, but they had no idea which one. They hadn''t seen anyone when they walked in, and since they had taken something strong, they ended up knocking each other out. Now,All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    there were only two young women present, and he nced between Shakira, standing confidently beside him, and Yvette, who was blushing and hiding behind Reba.


    After a moment, his sleazy gazended on Yvette, and a disgusting smirk stered on his face. "Why are you blushing, Ms. Nelson? Weren''t you just begging us to go a little harder?"


    Instantly, Yvette''s expression shifted to pure fury.


    "How dare you nder Yvette! I''ll make you pay for this!" Mitchell charged over and started hitting the guy, leaving him with a bloody nose.


    Yosef''s face darkened as he turned to the security team. "Take them to the police station and figure out how they managed to sneak in here."


    Reba realized the truth and her anger began to crack. She felt somewhat relieved but since Shakira had just disrespected her in front of everyone, she still spoke with a reprimanding tone. "What are you standing there for? Come back here right now." Shakira didn''t move.


    Yvette, pale and trembling, looked at Shakira. "I was so reckless, and it made everyone misunderstand you. I''m really sorry,   Shakira."


    D


    Shakira sneered, "You said I hate you, right? But you took my identity, stole my parents and siblings, and had the eighteen years of life that should have been mine. You talk about leaving, but you''re still stuck with the Nelson family. Why wouldn''t I hate you?" Yvette froze, her face a mix of embarrassment and hurt. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she said, "It''s all my fault. If I just walked away from Dad, Mom, and my brothers, everyone would only need to spoil you, Shakira-just you..." "Don''t listen to her, Yvette. She''s just an ungrateful brat." Mitchell''s heart ached for Yvette. He turned to Shakira and yelled, "We came to check on you because Yvette actually cares about you. If we hadeter, how would you clear your name? You really are ungrateful." Yoseft: d. "Yvette has apologized. You should let it go."


    Reba matched their irritation. "It was a mistake by the hospital staff years ago. Why are you ming Yvette for something she didn''t even know about? We brought you back; what more do you want?"


    Watching them defend Yvette,pletely oblivious to her pain, made Shakira lower her gaze. Her long, curlyshes trembled slightly. "You''re all the same as before. I guess that''s a good thing."


    When she looked up again, a new determination sparked in her eyes. "You can keep treating your precious darling, believing everything she says without question, and regarding her like the golden child of the Nelson family. Don''t worry about me causing trouble or ruining your precious name. And don''t think I''ll take away even a sliver of attention meant for Yvette." Reba frowned in confusion. "What do you mean by that?"


    Shakira opened a recording app on her phone, clearly enunciating her words. "From this day on, I, Shakira Nelson, sever all ties with the Nelson family. I won''t take another bite of food from you, nor will I seek your help again.


    "I''ve only stayed here for about four months, and I''ll pay back every cent you''ve spent on me. I won''t take a single thing from


    you.


    "From now on, whoever the Nelson family''s daughter is, that''s none of my concern. You can spoil Yvette all you want, but I won''t be involved at all. We''ll be total strangers. s back to reality.


    "I''ll send this recording to everyone in the Nelson family for the record. Yosef, you can draft a formal disassociation agreement. Don''t worry. I won''t go back on my word."


    With that, Shakira sent the recording and the notification tone snapped the Nelsons


    Mitchell, eyes wide, eximed, "Are you crazy? You''re actually willing to cut all ties with the family just to avoid donating a kidney?"


    "Do you even know what you''re saying?" Yosef clenched his phone tightly, staring at the usually obedient Shakira as if she were a stranger.


    Shakira''s expression was calm. "You''ve never acknowledged my connection to the Nelson family publicly, nor offered me anything in return. This way, it saves everyone a lot of trouble. If you''re so attached to Yvette, consider it done." Reba trembled with anger. "Fine! If you want to leave, go ahead. You think we''re afraid of your threats?"


    Without hesitation, Shakira walked out. The Nelsons stood shocked, unable to process what had just happened.


    ''Shakira can''t leave after all my efforts to bring her back for the transnt. Mitchell bit her lip, frustration bubbling over as she said, "I have to go convince her to stay."


    111


    As Shakira stepped outside, she was about to call a rideshare when a sleek ck Maybach pulled up in front of her. Three muscr men in dark suits climbed out and surrounded her, looking both polite and intimidating. "Ms. Nelson, our boss requests your presence." Shakira''s mind raced, and she could only think of one person. With a shrug, she bent down and got into the luxurious car. Just then, Yvette and the others ran out and spotted Shakira leaving in the Maybach. She couldn''t help but feel a pang of jealousy. "Since when did Shakira get so close to someone important?" Mitchell scoffed. "It''s just a Maybach. What''s the big deal? Wait until your big role in that uing drama drops. Then a Maybach will just be your ride to the set."


    "Yea


    ly


    smile crept onto Yvette''s face.


    Yose! watched the car disappear, his brow furrowing with a sense of unease. He had a feeling things were about to change.


    Inside the car, Shakira finally had a moment to check her messages.


    Sean Reynolds: [Isn''t today your birthday? Why was it that fake Nelson at the Nelson birthday party?]


    [I''m not celebrating with a fake.] Shakira typed back, surprisingly yful, even teasing the situation a bit.


    Sean''s messages flooded in. [Right! No birthday party with that fake! But I don''t get it. You have this incredible life waiting for you after retirement, so why deal with the Nelson family at all?]


    [You''ve done so much for them-granting patents, donating specialized medicines to your brother''s hospital, giving Yvette her big break in that drama... And all they do is focus on Yvette! It''s infuriating!] Shakira chuckled softly. [You seem really worked up about this. Maybe I should reward you by reiming the patents.]


    Sean was immersed in typing. [We haven''t signed the patent contracts yet, and they''re trying to lowball us and haggle down the prices. We''re still auditioning for the female lead. Wait... reim?] Suddenly realizing what Shakira meant, Sean squealed. [I''m stopping everything right now!]


    Shakira: [Also, get back anything else we''ve given to the Nelson family.]


    [Got it! This is amazing! Are youing back? I''ll let everyone know your true identity tomorrow and make the Nelson family regret their choices!]


    [No, I''ve got my own ns.]


    [What ns?]


    Shakira''s expression darkened slightly as she typed back: [For now, let''s just say I n to dim the Nelsons'' golden child.]


    [What?]


    [Not ready to share just yet. I''m heading back to pack my things and find a hotel.]


    [Hotel? I''ve bought you a vi and it''s at Easke Valley Estate...]


    Before finishing reading, Shakira switched screens on her phone. Sean was more than capable of managing thepany, but she just wished he''d be a little less chatty.


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 Chapter 4

    The Maybach rolled slowly into Easke Valley Estate, the wealthiest neighborhood in Crescentville.


    When


    Shakira was brought back by the Nelson family, Sean had given her an address and ess code-he had bought her a vi, worried she''d have nowhere to go if the Nelsons treated her poorly.


    In her past life, even with all the coldness and disdain aimed at her, Shakira had never stepped foot in this ce. To her surprise, she discovered that Walter seemed to live here, too.


    But the deeper the car drove into themunity, the more uneasy Shakira felt. She checked her map and found they had crossed in an area with no name listed.


    Suddenly


    massive ck and gold iron gate appeared ahead. Inside was a vastndscape of lush greenery and numerous opulent buildings, almost like a small estate.


    Once c


    out t of the car, Shakira was led to a white building filled with various medical equipment and supplies, a faint smell of alcohol lingering in the air-it was a small private hospital.


    Shakira''s lips twitched slightly. Now she understood why, before Walter''s incident, people used to say that Crescentville''s wealth revolved around him. With resources like these... Even now, if he wanted to, Walter could change the course of Crescentville with just a flick of his wrist.


    Just then, a nurse approached to draw Shakira''s blood. She furrowed, "So, I need to go through a check-up before I can meet Mr. Lopez?"


    The nurse didn''t borate, simply saying, "Please cooperate, Ms. Nelson."


    Reluctantly, Shakira extended her arm. After all, she had taken advantage of Walter, and now she had to pay the price.


    After her blood was drawn, the nurse left, and boredom washed over Shakira as she nced around the ss-enclosed pharmacy. She noticed that arge portion of the medications seemed to be for sedation and pain relief, which made her


    pause.


    Momentster, the whirring sound of wheels broke the silence. Shakira turned slowly, arms crossed behind her back, and a familiar face came into view.


    Not long ago, she had seen this face in that dimly lit room. Back then, Walter had been with his eyes closed, his handsome features striking bashing in the moonlight.


    Now, he sat elegantly in a wheelchair, rolling toward her with an intense gaze. His eyes seemed cold and deep, but deep down, Shakira sensed a raging fire, ready to consume her at any moment.


    ''He wants to kill me!'' Realizing this, Shakira spoke up first, "It''s a bitte to say this, but I intended to propose a deal with you, Mr. Lopez.


    Walter seemed to find her words amusing. He stopped in front of her, reaching out to grip her corbone and pulling her closer effortlessly. "Do you like to act recklessly? Do you think you have a second chance at this?"


    His fingers traced her neck idly, feeling like a predator pinning down its prey, leisurely searching for the perfect spot to strike-it aimed for a swift, decisive kill.


    Instinctively, Shakira raised her hand to grip his wrist, forcing a smile. "I admit I was rude a few hours ago. I''m sorry, Mr. Lopez. But I''m sure you''ll be quite pleased with this deal I''m offering."


    Walter remained silent, his eyes locked onto hers.


    Unfazed, Shakira nced at his legs and continued, "I''m confident I can help heal your legs."


    "Be careful with your words, Ms. Nelson!" Brian called out from the side, a warning in his tone-Walter''s legs were a sensitive subject.


    Anger red in Walter''s eyes, and his grip on Shakira''s corbone tightened. "You, with your wild ideas andck of restraint, really believe that just returning to the Nelson family gives you the right to act as you please?"


    Shakira grabbed his wrist, pinching a pressure point to control his strength. "Since you''ve looked into my past, you know I spent two years in Bris. I met an old traditional medicine master there who taught me some medical skills. Otherwise, you wouldn''t have passed out so easily back in that room."


    Walter''s expression darkened at the mention of that night. "You think I didn''t dare to kill you right now?"


    "I belie injured heal you


    ou


    might, but I''m just trying to give myself a shot at redemption," Shakira replied earnestly. "Your legs were


    years ago. Even though you can''t walk, there''s still some feeling left. Let me give it a try, and maybe I really can


    Walter nced at the medicine cab she had just checked, a smile creeping onto his lips. That smile could charm anyone, but the way his fingers tightened around her cor showed he was still ready to make her pay. "You''re sharp, but do you really think I''m going to take your word for it?" Before Shakira could respond, he grabbed both of her hands with his free one, twisting her around and pinning her back against his wheelchair. Her legs were trapped under the sleek custom chair, leaving her no chance to fight back. "You should be grateful you''re still clean. Otherwise, I wouldn''t leave you in one piece," he whispered in her ears.


    With his grip tightening around her throat, Shakira struggled to speak, each wording out with great effort. "You..., were hurt because someone drugged you. I can... help..."


    Walter''s eyes widened in shock. "You scoundrel! Let


    Let her go!


    Do you want to choke your future wife to death?" Before Walter could react, Benji Lopez rushed, in, grabbed Walter''s arm, and started to pull. At Benji''s movement, Walter rxed his grip slightly.


    Shakira immediately copsed to the ground, clutching her throat and coughing. When she looked up, she saw Walter towering over her, using an alcohol wipe to clean his hands-the same hands that had just been around her throat. She shot back, "What''s the point of cleaning your hands so thoroughly? Are you going to disinfect everywhere else too?"


    Walter''s face darkened further.


    Walte Tace


    Benji pped his hands together in admiration. "Wow, no wander you could take away Walter''s innocence. You''re brave!"


    After regaining herposure, Shakira joked, "Just keeping it real."


    Walter barked, "Benji Lopez, this isn''t your business-just get out!"


    "Why isn''t it my business? Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, and the others all told me before they passed to look after you, reminding me to find you a good wife to share your life with.


    "Twenty-three years, and finally, you''re a real man. Do you know how long I''ve waited for this day?" Benji''s eyes widened, and he exaggeratedly pretended to cry, wiping fake tears away in a way that made Shakira think he looked a bit ridiculous. Feeling mischievous, Shakira turned to Walter and couldn''t resist asking, "So, is it true-this was your first time?"


    ''s patience was wearing thin. "Brian, throw her into the backyard to feed the bears."


    Shakira raised her hands in surrender. "Okay, okay! Just kidding. But I meant what I said earlier."


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    Walter''s gaze pierced through her, his expression unreadable. "How did the Nelson family find out about the reason for m injury?"


    Shakira shook her head. "They don''t know about that. I learned about it from someone else?


    She


    She


    a


    up slowly, her yful demeanor dropping and a serious air settling in. Tm confident I can heal you just we me


    Benji pulled her aside, skeptical too. "Ye can all talk a big game, but can you not get too carried away!


    Ignoring Benji, Walter stared at Shakira. "If you''re lying to me, your fate will be much worse than what I almost did cater ded. "Don''t worry. I genuinely want to help you."


    ShakiraOwned by N?velDrama.Org.


    "What''s your condition?"


    Shakira shrugged. "As I said, I had no choice but to resort to that back then. I also feel bad about taking advantage of your condition."


    She hesitated for a moment, then added, "But there is one condition. For the best treatment results, I need to live with you"


    Benji gasped dramatically. "Wow, so you''re eager to move in together? Walter, you''ve hit the jackpot. Your future wife is totally into you." Walter and Shakira both fell silent.

 Chapter 5

    5


    As cousins, Benji knew Walter''s stubbornness more than anyone else. Even in the widest time, Walter had always steered clear of women, and thest three years had made him even more distant. But Shakira? She was the unexpected twist that might break that pattern. ''Looks like guys never forget their first time, no matter how tough they are. Even Walter isn''t immune, Benji thought. Walter caught on to Benji''s teasing and snorted dismissively. His lips twisted into a sardonic smile, but his eyes showed no amusement. "She''s special."


    Deep down, he thought, "This woman has the guts to challenge me more than once, saying she''s here to help. There''s no way I''m letting her off easy. If she wants to stick around to treat me, I''ll show her just how serious this is!''


    Sakira was unpacking in her room at the Nelson residence. A few months ago, when she was brought back, she had only taken a backpack, aptop, and a sketchbook. But now, no matter how hard she searched, her sketchbook was nowhere to be found.


    She scanned the small room, about the size of a tiny studio apartment, and tried to remember thest time she''d drawn-it seemed to be when Yvette came over to help her pick a birthday dress. Shaking the thoughts away, Shakira picked up her things and headed for the door. As she pushed it open, she found Yvette waiting for her. Spotting Shakira with her luggage, Yvette bit her lip, putting on that annoying act again. "Shakira..."


    Shakira wasn''t interested in Yvette''s faux innocence and walked right past her, ignoring her feeble attempts to engage,


    Yvette felt a lump form in her throat as her expression faltered. She turned to see Shakira striding away, her eyes malicious.


    Since Shakira''s return, she had been obedient, eager to please the Nelson family and win their affection. She acted like the perfect sibling, getting along well with Yvette while desperately seeking their approval.


    But Yvette wouldn''t let Shakira make it. With a few maniptions and some fake tears, she convinced their family that Shakira was two-faced and intentionally bullying her, stirring up their guilt for her and resentment towards Shakira.


    Shakira had swallowed all the unfair treatment-until tonight. Yvette couldn''t help but think, ''Shakira''s acting really strange! She scolded her brothers, argued with Mom, and even boldly said she would cut ties with the family... Did she find out something?''


    As soon as that thought crossed her mind, Yvette shook her head dismissively. ''If Shakira really knew something, she''d be making a bigger scene instead of just suggesting she would walk away. Who would be crazy enough to give up being part of the Nelson family? ''It was clear that tonight was all about me, soaking up all the attention and love from the family and the influential figures in town. Meanwhile, Shakira was stuck in her room, feelingpletely overlooked. With such a stark contrast, how could she not feel jealous? ''After all that drama, this is probably just a ploy to grab the family''s attention back for her. It seems Shakira has wised up and is trying a new tactic.


    What a pity. The golden child of the Nelson family will always be me! No matter how much Shakira works, that won''t change. Wanna take away what is rightfully mine? Not a chance!"


    Just then, Yvette saw a few peopleing up the stairs, and a sly glint shed in her eyes.


    She rushed after Shakira, calling out urgently, "Are you upset that no one celebrated your birthday tonight? I''m so sorry! It''s my fault-I shouldn''t have selfishly enjoyed myst birthday at the Nelson family and made you sad. I didn''t even open my gifts, and they''re all yours! I''ll bring them to you..."N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    G


    0


    As they approached the stairs, Yvette reached out as if to hug Shakira. But behind her sweet fa?ade, she really intended to shove Shakira down the stairs.


    Just as Yvette was about to make contact, Shakira dodged to the side quickly. Yvette lost her bnce and tumbled down the


    5


    stairs.


    111

 Chapter 6

    Yvette screamed and stumbled down the staircase, crashing into a few staff members on her way down. They all ended up in a heap on the marble steps in a rather funny scene. The Nelson family, waiting for the butler to bring them something in the study, heard the ruckus and came out to see what was going on. "Yvette, are you alright?" Mitchell rushed over, worry written all over his face as he looked at Yvette, who was sprawled out on the stairs and struggling to get up.


    "I''m fine, Mitchell." Yvette shook her head slightly and bit her lip, trying to hold back the pained gasps that escaped her.


    itchell could hardly hide his frustration. "Fine? Your knee is swollen!"


    He shot a nce at Shakira, who was standing coolly akira, just like he always did when something went wrong with Yvette. This time, though, Shakira seemedpletely unfazed by it all. at the side, and his concern quickly turned to anger. "Shakira, this is all your fault!" Without a second thought, he pinned the me on on Shakira, Yvette exined softly, "It''s not Shakira''s fault. I just lost t my bnce."


    Reba, not convinced


    too, shot shot back, "You''re "You''re usually so careful. You wouldn''t just fall down the stairs. Stop trying to cover for her." Selena, the family matriarch, came out a


    a bitte, supported I by a servant. She nced at Yvette and instantly, her eyes were drawn to a beautiful box that had fallen into a corner. Her face went pale as she shouted, "The Spring Swallow Bowl!" snapped everyone bad back to reality. Mitchell rushed over to pick up the box, but when he opened it, pieces flew everywhere. Shock washed over everyone''s faces. Mitchell stormed over to Shakira with the box. "Shakira, do you have any idea how big of a mess you''ve made?"


    That excations Shakira nced at the shards, the shards, expressionless. "Yve The butler and the staff feared they''d get in trouble and spoke med me, and now she broke something and still med me? You should really set up a booth for throwing around me like that!"


    Yvette fell and


    up quickly.


    "When we were heading upstairs, Ms. Yvette Nelson was apologizing to Ms. Shakira Nelson, begging for her forgiveness, and even offered her birthday gifts." we all heard it. Iit. Ms. Yvette Nelson just wanted Ms. Shakira Nelson to stay. But Ms. Shakira Nelson stepped aside, which made Ms. Yvette Nelson lose her bnce." "If Ms. Shakira Nelson had just helped, Ms. Yvette Nelson wouldn''t have fallen, and the Spring Swallow Bowl wouldn''t have shattered..."


    Yeah,


    The Nelson family looked extremely displeased.


    Mitchell exploded. "We have witnesses! What more do you need to say, Shakira? You know how hard Yvette worked to get that bowl back-yet you tried to mess it all up!


    "All this trouble just because we''re celebrating Yvette''s birthday? Shakira, I thought you were just a little mean, but now I see it''s downright cruel."


    "Only fools would care about such a bowl." Shakira lifted her chin defiantly. "Besides, if an annoying fly can''t even fly straight and tries to drag me down with her, that''s not my problem."


    175N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    G


    The "fools" and "fly" both froze, too angry to react for a moment.


    "You uncultured brat! That''s a Victorian Enamel Spring Swallow Bowl, worth 100 million dors-an antique you could never dream of owning!" Selena yelled, her fury boiling over. Reba''sposed facade almost shattered. She turned to Shakira, disappointment etched across her face. "This is a priceless treasure that Yvette had begged the previous owner to get for nearly a month, hoping it would help Felix work smoothly with Lonely Bird. I thought you were just being difficult, but I see now you''re rotten to the core."


    "Why bother talking that to her, Mom? Does she even know who Lonely Bird is? She''s just a mix of dumb and cruel. She deliberately made Yvette fall down the stairs to ruin the deal for Felix." Mitchell''s voice wasced with fury.


    He then red at Shakira. "Didn''t you say you would cut ties with us? So whye back and stir up trouble?"


    "What''s going on here?" Cody''s voice sliced through the chaos as he stepped in with Finn and Yosef.


    11


    11


    was confused. Ever since he brought back his biological daughter, Shakira, peace had been a rare visitor in home. He remembered a fortune teller who had assured him that if they brought Shakira back to the Nelson family only after she turned eighteen, everything would be fine, but now frustration gnawed at his mind. Mitchell seized the moment to report, "Shakira made Yvette fall down the stairs and even broke the Spring Swallow Bowl."


    Reba recounted the entire situation, and disbelief settled over the trio''s faces. Though they stayed silent, their piercing res at Shakira clearly showed they thought she was the one in the wrong-just like always. From the moment Shakira returned to the Nelson family, no one cared about her, trusted her, or even treated her like family. She couldn''t help but mock herself internally, ''Wha


    did I go through in my past life for this? For these blind fools


    who care for outsiders more than their own?''


    Cody, wearing a serious expression-having failed to fulfill his duties as a father-now admonished her with an air of superiority. "Shakira, we admit we owe you, but that doesn''t give you the right to keep acting out." Shakira scoffed, a sarcasticugh escaping her lips. "You know you owe me, yet you''ve never made it right. You think bringing me back to the Nelson family is enough to make amends? Seriously? You really expect me to be grateful for that? What a joke!" Cody stared a at her, his his eyes wide in disbelief.


    Finn stepped in with


    in with the authority of a leader. "Enough, Shakira! Stop this nonsense and apologize to Dad and Yvette."


    "Apologize for what? Your dad just said he had spoiled me and let me run wild, didn''t he? I misbehave once, and suddenly you can''t handle it?" Shakira snapped, each word dripping with venom.


    The entire Nelson family stood dumbfounded-was Shakira seriously losing it?


    Just then, Yvette stood up, her delicate knees swollen and bruised. Her eyes were slightly red as she pleaded with everyone. "Guys, Shakira isn''t at fault. I am. If I hadn''t tried to pull her back, I wouldn''t have fallen or damaged the Spring Swallow Bowl. Please don''t me Shakira for my mistakes... Yvette''s demeanor had shifted dramatically since she discovered two years ago that she wasn''t a Nelson. Once the pampered princess of the Nelson family, she now acted with caution, terrified of being cast out.


    Especially now, despite her injury and the destruction of the antique, she sought to shield Shakira from me. Who could see this and not be moved? In this light, Shakira appeared even more like a troublemaker, dragging the whole family into chaos.


    Finally, Yosef, the second brother who had stayed silent, spoke up. "This treasure was Yvette''s hard-earned wish-worth a hundred million dors. Felix won''t hold it against Yvette for the money. Shakira, just apologize to Yvette, and we can move past tonight''s events." 2/3  U

 Chapter 7

    "Shakira, I know you''re upset tonight, but you can''t take it out on Yvette. Just apologize, and everyone will move on." Cody spoke up, and his tone suggested he was already making a bigpromise. Yvette bit her lip and nced at Shakira, saying softly, "As long as you want to stay, I don''t mind if you don''t apologize." "Yvette, you''re way too nice to her. If you keep this up, she''ll take advantage of you," Mitchell scoffed, as if Shakira had got some big benefit from Yvette.


    He con he con that mu that mu


    inwardly, And Shakira is! That''s a cool 100 million dors! If she were in Yvette''s position, she''d never make a lifetime!'' h


    Watching as the family backed Yvette, Shakira smirked, "She fell on her own. Not my problem. Besides, who has the audacity to ask for 100 million for this pile of cheap knockoffs? They should be ashamed." Everyone gasped in shock.


    vette looked up, disbelief written all over her face, her voice quaking with anger. "Shakira, you can insult me all you want, but how can you call this a knockoff?"


    "Enough, Shakira! Yvette had begged the original owner for so long until he sold it to her with great reluctance. Are you really going to hurt Yvette and then deny it?" Mitchell snapped. Shakira shrugged. "Sure, made a lot of money off you ''with great reluctance." "Shakira-"


    "The real one''s enameles from royalty, not the run-of-the-mill porcin. The process to make it isplicated, using various colors and featuring intricate textures with a ss-like finish..." Shakira picked up a sharp piece from the box. Under the crystal chandelier''s light, it looked cheap and fake. didn''t even need to


    Hon shad the thile that he opened it and nearly passed out with rakse, shouting, Pheve losers, the Nelson family werke, had the nerves to gave us this trashe


    O check. She already knew it was a fake. Back in her previous life, "Lonely Bird" had worked with the Nelson family, and they sent this junk over afterward. She didn''t care much for it then and had passed it off to Sean.


    Sean


    In her past life, "Lonely Bird" hadn''t made a fuss with the Nelson family, but now... they were nothing to her.


    The Nelson family members were stunned by Shakira''s articte criticism, especially since she had never paid much attention in school.


    Mitchell was the first to burst outughing. "Shakira, you''re thest person who can judge art. An F student who skips ss? Ridiculous." Even the servants covered their mouths to hide theirughter. Everyone knew about Shakira''s less-than-ster reputation. Shakira shrugged. "If you don''t believe me, let a professional appraiser take a look,"


    "A professional? Yvette bought this from an expert. At first, the guy didn''t even want to sell it. Luckily, Yvette kept pushing until he finally gave in. How could anyone mistake a fake for a treasure?" Mitchell shot back sharply. Shakiraughed, her tone meaningful. "Why not? You all are just doing the same thing."


    Mitchell froze, and the others'' expressions soured. Yvette''s face was especially gloomy.


    Suddenly, a servant walked in and announced the arrival of Sofia Hayes, Finn''s fianc¨¦e.


    G.


    Selena''s face lit up with joy. "Quick, let her in!"


    3


    3


    She then turned to Shakira and said, "Sofiaes from a family of collectors. She''s been surrounded by treasures her whole life. If you don''t believe us, let her judge."


    Yvette was fuming. ''How could Shakira say the antique I''ve painstakingly bought for a whopping 100 million dors is a fake? She''ll totally lose face over this. Just then, Sofia entered the room, exuding sophistication in her Chanel outfit. With a warm smile, she greeted everyone and handed a gift to the servant next to her. "I just came from an antique restoration workshop and missed Yvette''s birthday party, so this is for her." Yvette d sweetly, "Thanks, Sofia."


    Sofia beamed. She had admired Finn for a long time. Though they were engaged, Finn had been distant, while Yvette always treated her as her sister-inw. Sofia appreciated the gesture and treated Yvette like family. "Hey Sofia, you have to see this bowl," Mitchell eximed eagerly as he handed Sofia the box.


    "Huh? What''s wrong with it?" Sofia asked, examined the bowl, and shook her head in disappointment.


    Mitchell turned to Shakira, sensing a chance to get back at her after being pushed down all night. He was buzzing with excitement, asking, "This bowl is super rare, right, Sofia?"


    "Well, it h t has some value, but it''s a pity it''s shattered beyond repair. It can''t be used anymore," Sofia replied, her tone sympathetic.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    "Wait, what do you mean it can''t be used? It''s an antique, and it cost 100 million dors-it''s not just every day dinnerware. Mitchell''s lips twisted.


    Sofia caught the subtext but wasn''t fully aware of what had happened earlier. After a moment, she tried to phrase her response carefully. "This bowl is really a finely crafted piece of artwork."


    She called it


    it artwork instead of an antique. Everyone in the room caught the hint.


    Yvette''s expression started to fall. "No way! Sofia, you need to take another look. This bowl is from Victorian..."


    Before Yvette could finish, Sofia jumped in, "Oh yes, it''s a replica of the Victorian Enamel Spring Swallow Bowl. I''ve seen the real one in Ms. Zimmerman''s collection; she bought it over a decade ago at an auction." Yvette tried to hold her ground, pleading, "But what if it''s another..."


    Sofia shook her head firmly. "There are only two in the world-one is with Ms. Zimmerman, and the other is at the Great Clusia Arts Foundation in Longrity." Immediately, Yvette''s face went ghostly pale.


    Selena''s heart sank. "Yvette, who did you buy this bowl from?"


    Yvette didn''t respond, her humiliation clear. The rest of the Nelson family exchanged worried nces, understanding the answer from the silence.


    Confused by their expressions, Sofia looked at Finn. "What''s going on here?"


    Finn pressed his lips together. "Yvette bought this bowl from someone else to give it as a gift to Lonely Bird, but it was broken identally just now."


    Sofia finally understood. Trying to cheer Yvette up, she said, "It''s just 100 million dors. Think of it as a lesson learned. Don''t be too upset, and this might even be a blessing in disguise. Better to find out now thanter when it is sent to Lonely 2/3  G


    Bird, right?


    "Who broke the bowl, anyway? We should thank them for saving the Nelson family''s reputation."


    Yvette couldn''t muster any gratitude beyond her humiliation.


    <3


    Cody''s expression darkened. "How could you not get it appraised by an expert before making such a huge purchase?"


    Selena mmed her hand on the railing in frustration. "If word gets out that we were scammed for 100 million, other families willugh at us!"

 Chapter 8

    Shakira chuckled, her eyes glinting with a hint of icy mockery.


    Yvette clenched her fists, biting her lip so hard she almost drew blood. Just moments ago, she had been eagerly anticipating Shakira''s downfall. Now, it felt like she was the one taking the hit


    "Yeah, you''re right. I can''t just say sorry." Yvette''s voice quivered. I was too careless and messed up. When Felixes back, I''ll apologize to him in person. Then I''ll work hard to pay back the hundred million dors I owe." shoulders shook, seeming to be overwhelmed by the weight of her guilt. With her earlier fall still fresh and her appearance a mess, she seemed both vulnerable and pitiful. But as she vowed to repay the full amount, she straightened her posture and spoke with a firm voice. Those who had beenining softened instantly. After all, she was the child they had always protected and cared for.


    "I was a bit tough earlier. You''ve always been sheltered by your brothers. How could you understand the dangers out there? It''s no surprise you fell for some scammer''s trick," Selena sighed, looking at Yvette with concern. Cody calmed down too, offering reassurance. "Yosef is a sharp prosecutor. He''ll make sure those crooks pay for what they did. You don''t need to worry about it anymore.


    Reba stepped forward and took Yvette''s hand, feeling guilty for not checking on her sooner and for letting her worries spiral out of control. Gently wiping away Yvette''s tears, she said sincerely, "Oh, honey, we could never me you, our little princess. The real viins are those bad people. Don''t dwell on it too much. Everything here is yours." Yvette''s voice tur


    turned nasally as tears flowed down her cheeks. "Thanks, Grandma, Dad, and Mom! If you don''t forgive me, I won''t know what to do. I really cherish all of you. I wanted to make everyone happy before I left... I never imagined it woulde to this." "There, there, don''t cry. It breaks my heart," Reba said, pulling Yvette into a warm hug, her own eyes shining with tears. Shakira watched this heartfelt family moment, and her expression grew colder, her smirk turning to indifference.


    Mitchell turned over, only to see Shakira watching like an outsider. Her cold gaze pierced through him, making his heart twitch ufortably.


    He shook off the feelings and sneered, "Are you disappointed, Shakira? Did you think everyone would me Yvette for being scammed? Let me tell you, Yvette did this for Felix. Unlike you, with your wicked heart!"


    He felt a surge of anger, convinced that Shakira was out to trap Yvette. "Forget your nasty thoughts. Do you really think that without Yvette, we''d treat you any better? Dream on! People like you, selfish and scheming, aren''t even worth our time." Finn frowned. "That''s too much, Mitchell." "It''s the truth! She"


    Before Mitchell could finish, Shakira stepped up directly to Cody and handed him a card. "There''s 6,558 dors on this card. That''s all I''ve spent sinceing back to the Nelson family."


    "Seriously? You''ve been living here for almost four months and spent only that much?" Mitchell asked, raising an eyebrow in -suspicion.


    Shakira replied confidently, "If you don''t believe me, have the butler check the receipts. I''ll pay double if it''s less."


    Mitchell was left speechless. ''Damn it! Why do I feel like Shakira has just pped me in the face with cash? Wait, how does she even have the nerve?''


    Cody''s expression darkened. After collecting his thoughts, he put on the grace of a true family leader. "Shakira, I know the birthday party and what happened earlier make you a little unpleasant. What kind ofpensation do you want? A purse or a dress?" As he spoke, he signaled the butler to take Shakira''s luggage back to her room. Selena rolled her eyes and waved for a servant to help her back to her quarters.


    "Mr. Cody Nelson!" Shakira raised her voice as she faced Cody''s shocked expression. "Do you really think what happened tonight was just ''a little unpleasant"?"


    As Shakira wasn''t backing down, Cody felt his patience wearing thin. "Shakira, can we talk about this in the study? There are just too many people here."


    M


    "M eople, more witnesses!"


    "Haven''t you caused enough trouble tonight, Shakira?"


    "They still think this is just a tantrum?'' Shakira sneered silently before responding, "Three strange men showed up in the guest room during the birthday party, and your wife and kids stormed in, using me of having affairs with them-without any proof! Did anyone even check to see if I was hurt?


    "You all said I pushed Yvette down the stairs without a shred of evidence. Shouldn''t you be d your kid didn''t get hurt?


    "You keep promising topensate me. But what have you guys ever offered? More twisted drama?"


    She paused, a smirk creeping across her lips as she locked eyes with Cody. "No thanks. That would just make me feel sick." Cody''s face turned red, especially at herstment. It stung, and the expressions on the faces of the rest shifted too.


    "Fine! If you want to leave, then just go!" Selena shouted, banging on the railing hard enough to make it rattle. "Now that you''re so bold to just cut ties with us, we''ll dly wash our hands of you."


    Seizing the the moment,All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    Shakira turned to Yosef. "What about the disownment papers?" Yosef pressed his lips together, staying silent.


    Alright then, teen t then, I''ll handle it myself." Shakira pulled up a temte she found online and connected it to the printer. She grabbed the hot paper, uncapped a pen, and signed with a flourish. Then she handed the disownment papers to Cody. "From now on, we''ll have no connection between us."


    Cody clenched his fists but ultimately epted the papers, his voice heavy. "Fine."


    With her bag in hand, Shakira turned to leave. Just as she was about to step out of the hall, Yvette''s timid voice stopped her. "Shakira, are you really cutting ties with us just because of the owner of that Maybach?" Shakira paused, turning to see shock and disgust on the faces of the Nelson family. All because of Yvette''s words, she was once again cast as the viin. How absurd!


    "Shakira, who have you been hanging out with out there? Some sketchy figures?" Reba questioned, furious-They had just known about this thing.


    Mitchell sneered, "Mom, how could it be a sketchy figure? He owns Maybach, remember? Sounds like an old rich guy."


    Cody trembled with rage. In Crescentville, only rich men in their fifties drove Maybachs-men he''d seen at his own parties.: He couldn''t believe his daughter was getting mixed up with someone like that. "Shameless!" Cody clenched his teeth.


    "Not even close. You let your sons and an outsider stay in the same room, getting too cozy. That''s Shakira shot back. way


    more disgraceful!"


    111


    Thu,

 Chapter 9

    "Not even close. You let your sons and an outsider stay in the same room, getting too cozy. That''s way more disgraceful!" Shakira shot back. The entire Nelson family froze in shock.


    Ignoring their stunned silence, Shakira turned and walked away without a second nce.


    Yvette''s heart raced at the Nelsons'' reaction. She lowered her gaze, looking humiliated and powerless. "I thought that even without blood ties, we''re still families."


    voice faded as she gripped the hem of her shirt, despair washing over her. "But I guess I''m just an outsider."


    "Yvette, don''t listen to Shakira. She''s just trying to cause trouble for us." Mitchell rushed tofort her.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    With red-rimmed eyes, Yvette looked up, her heartbreak clear. Mitchell felt a surge of anger towards Shakira bubbling inside him.


    He remembered the birthday from years ago when Yvette had mysteriously promised him a special gift. When she finally took him to the beach, he was overjoyed to find she had spelled out his name in seashells. It was both a sweet and touching moment. However, that happiness turned tragic. Yvette got swept away by the waves, and as the bodyguard fished her out, she was almost dead. She spent three long days in the hospital before they could save her.


    Mitchell faced punishment and confinement for the incident, yet the feverish Yvette still snuck him food-even after everything that happened.


    From that day on, Mitchell vowed to always protect Yvette. No one should ever hurt her like that again. As for Shakira? He would not let her get away with this.


    Back in the present, Selena couldn''t hold back her frustration. "If I had known she would cause so many problems, I never would''ve let her back in. She can fend for herself out there!"


    "Back then, we let her in because we knew she shared a blood type with Yvette. We thought she could donate a kidney if needed," Reba murmured, her expression unreadable.


    Selena frowned. "But Yvette isn''t even close to needing a transnt. Plus, we''re the Nelson family! We can find the right donor if we need to."


    Cody took a deep breath, echoing Reba''s sentiments. "Shakira''s behavior is getting worse because we''ve been too lenient. This talk about cutting ties is just her trying to manipte us, thinking we will cave to her ridiculous demands." "Dream on!" Selena snapped, her eyes zing. "The Smith family won''t take her back, and she doesn''t want to stay here. Let''s see if she can keep up that bravado when she really needs us."


    *****


    At the Easke Valley Estate stood a sleek three-story vi. Walter sat in his wheelchair in front of arge window, watching as Shakira got out of her car. Irritation etched on his strong jaw as he sneered, "She dares toe back, huh?" Brian exined behind him tly, "It was Mr. Benji Lopez who arranged for the driver to wait for her at the Nelson residence." Walter went silent.


    Brian thought for a while and reported thetest drama about the Nelson family.


    Walter smirked, amusement crossing his face. "A clueless woman who ran off with someone to Bris is now supposed to know about antiques?"


    He shot Brian a look. "Why would you tell me about her? I didn''t ask."


    "Sorry, that was my mistake," Brian replied, lowering his head.


    Walter shifted his gaze and maneuvered his wheelchair towards the door.


    Brian hurried after him. "Aren''t you going to take a break, Mr. Lopez?"


    Since Walter returned from that ce, he had set a strict bedtime of 10 PM. But now it was nearly 11.


    "If I don''t check in on things, Benji''s going to send that woman to my room tonight," Walter said without looking back.


    Brian was at a loss of words. ''Mr. Walter Lopez knows Mr. Benji Lopez all too well.''


    Downstairs, the the butler, Levi, was giving Shakira a quick tour of the estate. "To the east is the greenhouse garden, and to the west is the golf course. Mr. Benji Lopez asked me to prepare a room for you on the second floor so you can rest, and I''ll show you around tomorro "Thank you, Levi." "You''re wee, Ms. Nelson."


    Shakira nced at the vi. It had a modern design, both elegant and simple. "Sorry to disturb you all sote. Are Walter and Benji already asleep?" she asked.


    Levi replied, "Mr. Benji Lopez is taking a walk at Crescentville University, and Mr. Walter Lopez is resting upstairs."


    Taking a


    a walk at college thiste? Is there not enough space here?" Shakira was puzzled.


    Levi shot her a subtle nce. "He''s happy and a bit jealous that Walter Lopez found true love. He''s looking for that same kind of innocent romance, so he''s off trying his luck at college" Shakira fell silent. ''Well, the Lopez family kids seem a bit more down-to-earth than the Nelsons.


    "Since you know it''ste, why are you still here?" A cold voice cut through the air as the elevator doors opened.


    Shakira looked over and squinted. Walter was in his wheelchair, gold-framed sses entuating his sharp features. He wore a deep blue silk robe, looking much more rxed and elegant than theirst encounter. But Shakira knew he was like a lion, ready to pounce at the slightest annoyance.


    Catching his intense gaze, Shakira managed a sincere smile. "The early bird gets the worm. If I show up bright and early tomorrow, I might ruin your good mood for the whole day. I''m just looking out for your health, Mr. Lopez."


    ''Ms. Nelson is really bold!'' Everyone, even Brian, gasped.


    Walter''s gaze lingered on Shakira''s confident smile before sliding to her delicate neck. His lips curled slightly. "You''re really understanding yet I''d love to send you straight to heaven."


    Shakira held her smile, meeting his icy re head-on. The air was thick with tension, each ready for a verbal battle.


    But Walter nced away first. "If you want to stay here, fine." He turned to Levi. "Take her to the servant room."


    Shakira frowned. "What do you mean by th


    Walter smirked, half amused, half mocking. "The esteemed Ms. Nelson, my betrothed fianc¨¦e, will naturally be treated as a guest here. But you, Shakira, have cut ties with the Nelson family, so our engagement is void. You''re no longer a guest here."


    His gaze sharpened, the pressure palpable.


    Shakira''s smile faded slowly.


    Walter seemed satisfied with her reaction and added, "If you don''t like it, feel free to leave. Nobody''s keeping you here."


    Levi looked at Walter nervously, hesitant to say anything. Then he nced at Shakira, worried she might storm out in anger. After a long silence, Shakira finally opened her mouth...


    0

 Chapter 10

    "Levi,


    take


    me to the servant room," Shakira said firmly.


    Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room felt tense. Walter''s handsome face shifted through various expressions beforending on a frown. He shot Shakira an irritated look as he turned his wheelchair and rolled upstairs. "You brought this on yourself!" Levi exhaled a sigh of relief and asked the servants to get a room ready before turning to Shakira. "Ms. Nelson, Mr. Lopez cane off as cold, but deep down, he has a kind heart. He might misunderstand you for now, and I believe he''ll recognize your true value in time." Shakira smiled slightly. "I know him." Her words meant more than they seemed. Levi looked over yet was unable to read Shakira''s expression. "Ms. Nelson, did you know Mr. Lopez before?" he asked instinctively.


    Shakira didn''t didn''t answer directly. Instead, she asked back, "Aren''t you worried I might be a bad person with ulterior motives toward Walter?"


    Levi responded, his


    tricks. But now... thi


    carrying a hint of sorrow. "A lot of women have tried to get ve changed."


    close to him before, using all sorts of


    Shakira paused. "He''ll be fine."


    Levi looked at her, taken aback by her confidence. Somehow, he started to feel a flicker of hope inside-maybe it was fate that brought Shakira to help Walter.


    Levi led Shakira to the servant room. She nced around, surprised that this room was even bigger and better furnished than her own back at the Nelson residence. She couldn''t help but wonder if the Nelsons were just stingy or if the Lopez family was incredibly rich. Levi cleared his throat. "The servant rooms are full, so we''re temporarily turning a guestOwned by N?velDrama.Org.


    room into one


    for tonight."


    Shakira chuckled. "Thanks, Levi."


    "Don''t be so polite, Ms. Nelson. Make sure to get some rest tonight; we start ''work'' bright and early


    al


    7AM." "Got it."


    *****


    Once Shakira left, the entire Nelson family rushed tofort Yvette, trying to keep her from feeling guilty or upset.


    Shakira remained "mncholic" through the night and eventually turned down Reba''s offer to share a room. Once her door was closed, her previous expression crumbled as she initiated a video call.


    On the other end, Yvette''s birth parents, Lago and Jessie Smith, were excitedly counting their gifts from that night. "Yvette, can you believe how many gifts we got? They''re worth over six hundred thousand dors!" Yvette rolled her eyes,pletely barefaced in her sharp and harsh attitude, without a slight hint of kindness when she was with the Nelson family. "Seriously? That diamond ne Mitchell gave me is worth 1.5 million dors. What''s so impressive about 600 thousand?" thousand?


    She then questioned them, "Didn''t we agree that tonight we''d ruin Shakira''s reputation and force her to donate a kidney? What kind of useless people have you hired? They couldn''t even handle a woman!" The memory of that sleazy guy''s smirk made her blood boil.


    Jessie was just as furious. "That little brat doesn''t have any real talent. She just got lucky."


    Yvette exploded. "Yeah, right! Shakira''s just lucky! She has all the good fortune, getting everything everyone dreams of without lifting a finger. Meanwhile, I seem doomed to fail at everything I try. I even ended up with a fake antique." Lago frowned. "What about that antique... the one you got for Felix?"


    Yvette''s eyes reddened. She had yed the victim in front of the Nelson family, but here, she unleashed her true feelings, fierce and raw. "It''s all Shakira''s fault. If she hadn''te back, none of this would''ve happened."


    Seeing Yvette in this state, Jessie worried she might act rashly and reminded her, "But if it weren''t for Shakira, we wouldn''t be where we are now."


    Yvette shot her a re. "I know that!"


    Since childhood, Yvette always knew she was unluckier than others. But it didn''t matter; she was the beloved daughter of the Nelson family. She wanted nothing and never had to fend for herself. So what if her luck was bad? She was born into privilege, and that alone made her feel ent made her feel entitled.


    However, that sweet dream shattered on the night before Mitchell''s twelfth birthday.


    Lago and Jessie came to Yvette, iming they were her real parents. They insisted she wasn''t truly a Nelson and that the real one was named ra. They said that during their time at the hospital, they switched the two babies at birth.


    Yvette


    couldn''t believe it. The idea was far too oundish for her to ept, and she tried to ignore them. But deep down, she was scared.


    She had always soaked in her family''s love, acting spoiled and demanding. Her older brothers treated her like a princess and would do anything for her just because she was their little sister. What if they found out she wasn''t even rted to them? Would they still love her the same? Hence, with with Mitchell''s birthdaying up, Yvette wanted to n the perfect gift for him. Little did she know that while she was striking a pose on the beach, eagerly watching Mitchell get emotional, a sudden wave woulde crashing down, sweeping her away. When Yvette finally woke up in a hospital room, everything felt surreal. Lago, seizing the moment when the Nelson family was distracted, slipped a baby tooth into her hand. "This is Shakira''s tooth. If you want to survive, keep it close." Yvette dismissed Lago''s nonsense and almost threw the dirty tooth away. But after almost losing her life, she was too weak to do anything but lie there. Miraculously, by the next day, she felt revived. From that moment on, she realized her fate was somehow linked to Shakira''s. Taking a deep breath, Yvette snapped back from memories and said, "Shakira has cut ties with the Nelson family. You nned to bring her back to the family, but now, all your efforts were in vain."


    "What?" the Smith couple gasped in shock. "Is that brat insane? She''s willing to give up her life with the Nelson family and back to us?"


    Yvette


    rolled her eyes. "If she can ditch the Nelsons, why would she care about you?" Jessie ¨¨ let out an embarrassedugh.


    Yvette pressed on, "She met a wealthy businessman and picked up today in a Maybach."


    was


    "Seriously? Is she really getting involved with that kind of person?" Jessie''s eyes widened.


    Yvette felt annoyed. "How would I know? All I know is she went off on the Nelson family, shouted at them, and even left with disownment papers. So forget about your n to get her kidney, She''s cut all ties with Nelsons and won''t fight me for them." "No way!" Lago shot back. Even without Shakira, you''re still not the Nelson family''s real daughter. Now that the truth is out, do you really think things will go back to normal?"


    His gaze was intense as she stared at Yvette. "We need Shakira''s kidney!"


    It was 7 AM at Easke Valley Estate, and Walter was still lost in his dreams when he suddenly felt a strange tingling in his


    ear...

 Chapter 11

    Walter opened his eyes just in time to see Shakira hide a feather duster behind her back. He paused for a moment, and then anger started to boil inside him. "Shakira!" Shakira stood at a safe distance from his bed, blinking innocently. Honestly, she had no clue where he picked up this habit of grabbing her neck whenever he was grumpy. She stud need


    ce-even when he just woke up, he was still incredibly handsome. Taking her time, she said, "You don''t an hear you just fine." ressionlessly, "Who said you coulde in here?"


    tually, Shakira replied yfully. "Didn''t you ask me to be your personal servant? It''s my job to take care of you, start at seven, I can''t bete."


    er''s sharp gaze locked on her, as if he could see right through her. After a moment, he let out a coldugh. "I''ve got to mit, you''re tougher than the other women." She knew he was teasing. He probably thought making her a servant would scare her off, but she was unfazed.


    With a with a


    As eve Wall Now it


    Shakira shot back


    shot back, "Of course I''m not like them. I''m here to ''make things right for you."


    was Shakira''s


    handsome features darkened. She thought he might kick her out, but instead, he said, "What are you standing there for? Get to work." turn to be surprised. "What do What do you want me to do?" your is?"


    He nced a at t her. "As a servant, you don''t even know what job is?


    Shakira genuinely had no idea. She just wanted to annoy Walter and hadn''t paid any attention to what Levi had mentioned. She just thought, ''I came in good faith, and now Walter expects me to be a servant? I have to teach him a lesson.'' As she eyed the neatly folded clothes at the foot of the bed, an idea struck her. "You need to change first, right?" She stepped forward and pulled back the covers.


    "You!" Walter, caught off alter''s morning erection to her closeness and frowned slightly. "No wonder it hurt so much back then..."


    Suddenly, Shakira noticed


    I by her sudden


    movement, froze momentarily.


    Walter yanked the nket back, ring at her fiercely. "Get out!"


    Okay, he kicks me out anyway,'' Shakira thought yet left without a fuss. As she stepped outside, Brian looked at her, then promptly entered the room.


    Levi hurried over, concern etched on his face. "Is it okay, Ms. Nelson?"


    Shakira shook her head. "I''m fine, Levi. Don''t worry about me."


    Levi corrected himself quickly, muttering, "I was asking if Mr. Lopez is alright."


    "Uh, he''s fine," Shakira replied, trying to brush it off. "He might just be a little grumpy this morning. It''s no big deal."


    fell quiet, thinking, ''Mr. Lopez''s shout practically rattled the door. Was it really just a minor issue? Ever since that incident, Mr. Lopez has been so moody and withdrawn. Even when he was angry, he rarely showed any emotion. But this time, he was really fired up. Clearly, Ms. Nelson is someone important to him.''


    64%@


    Before long, Brian stepped-qut of the room and told Shakira, "Mr. Lopez wants something with onions for breakfast. Get it ready."


    Shakira nodded. "You got it, no problem."


    Brian turned to Levi and added, "Today, she''s in charge of breakfast. Nobody is allowed to help her."


    Shakira raised an eyebrow, ncing back into the room. ''Hmph! What a stingy guy!''


    Thirty minutester, Walter walked into the dining room, dressed in a deep blue casual outfit. He had expected to find Shakira in tears over some onions, pleading with him in a panic. But instead, he saw her standing at the head of the table, smiling with her eyes sparkling. Walter frowned slightly, tension building in his brow. As he approached the table, Levi lifted the lid on a serving dish, revealing a beautifully presented onion soup. The rich aroma filled the air, making Walter''s mouth water. "You made this?" he asked, eyeing Shakira skeptically.


    Shakira nodded proudly. "Yep, it''s


    mine."


    As Walter stared at the soup without touching it, Shakira nudged, "Aren''t you going to try it?"


    Walter nced at her and then picked up a spoon and took a sip. Expecting it to be pretty but nd, he was surprised to find himself sipping three spoonfuls in a row.


    Feeling her gaze, Walter finally paused and said, "You can leave now."


    Shakira raised an eyebrow and said, "Alright then. Just call me if you need anything." She strolled away, lookingpletely rxed.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Walter shot a look at Levi, who clearly understood and exined, "That really was made by Ms. Nelson. She didn''t want any help in the kitchen. She must be quite the cook, right?"


    "It''s okay," Walter


    alter replied, trying to act nonchnt, even as his spoon kept dipping into the soup.


    Levi smiled warmly.


    Just then, Benji burst in from outside. "Hey, Walter, why are you all alone?"


    "Where''s Walter''s future wife?" He turned to Levi, panic in his voice. ''I just chased after love for one night, and Shakira gets sent away?''


    "Ms. Nelson


    made breakfast for Mr. Walter Lopez, and now she''s gone to rest," Levi exined.


    Benji''s eyes lit up. He rushed over to Walter, practically leaning over the table. "A love-illed breakfast? Man, you''re lucky."


    Walter sighed, not wanting to engage.


    Seeing the moment fizzle out, Benji plopped down beside him, his cocky smile fading into a serious expression.


    heard?" his expression m.


    Benji nodded. Lonely Bird pulled out of his partnership with the Nelson family overnight. Our team can''t track him down at all. It''s frustrating-just when things seemed hopeful, they fell apart again." "By the way, what''s going on with the Nelsons? They not only lost Lonely Bird but also canceled their deal with Yonder Digital.


    "A few months ago, they were excited to team up with a rising star like Yonder Digital, and now... it feels like everything''s in


    Thu, Oct


    chaos. Everyone in Crescentyille is talking about it."


    Benji stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Did they offend someone?"


    Walter thought of Shakira-she had cut ties with the Nelson familyst night. His eyes deepened as he considered what fra


    geant.


    xhausted after waking up early, Shakira flopped onto her bed. Her phone buzzed with a new message, and she opened it to ind a text with a link from Sean.


    [Sorry for thete birthday gift. I know you love designing clothes when you''re bored, so I''ve started a fashion studio under Yonder Digital.]


    [From now on, this studio will focus on the clothes you love. I''ve got the manager and cleaners lined up, but I need an assistant. I''ve gathered some designer submissions online for you to check out-pick one when you''re free.]


    Shakira couldn''t help but smile, feeling both grateful and a little overwhelmed. She opened the link and found dozens of designer portfolios and sketches. As she browsed through the previews, her gaze suddenly froze on one particr design

 Chapter 12

    Shakira called Sean.


    On the other end, Sean was all smiles. "So, what do you think? Did you love the birthday gift I got you?"


    Shakiraughed meaningfully. "I love it very much."


    ''She loves it! Very much!'' Sean beamed with pride, feeling like he was floating.


    Just as he soaked in his moment of glory, Shakira asked, "Where did those design submissionse from?"


    Sean replied with excitement, "Oh, I got those through Yonder Digital. I made sure to screen the first drafts, and I only sent you the best picks. After all, your assistant needs to be top-notch."


    Even though Sean wasn''t an expert in fashion design, he was a huge fan of Shakira. To him, everything she did was gold. Even her assistant had to measure up.


    Shakira sent him a screenshot. "Take a look at this person for me"


    Sean checked the picture, his pride swelling again. "I saw real potential in this girl named ''Cherry'' right away. You think her designs are good too, right?"


    Shakira''s eyes


    darkened, her voice t. "Her sketches are all mine."


    ""What?" Sean was stunned.


    "When I went back to the Nelson residence, I took my old sketchbook with my past drafts. I even drew some new designs whenever I got bored. The submissions? They all came from my sketchbook," exined Shakira.


    She just noticed her sketchbook vanishedst night, and now, it had suddenly "shown up." Something felt off, and she couldn''t shake the feeling.


    Sean fell silent. Shakira could hear him typing heavily and she knew he was fuming.


    After a moment, Sean spoke up, his voice cold. "You''ll never guess who Cherry really is."


    Shakira stayed cool. "Yvette."


    "Damn! How did you figure that out so fast?"


    "The sketchbook went missing at the Nelson residence. Only Yvette would be bold enough to use it for her submissions."All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    On top of that, after donating a kidney in her past life, Shakira had spent a lot of time recovering at home. Under the Nelson family'' watchful eye and their "good intentions," she was pretty out of the loop. One day, she overheard some loud chatter downstairs-the family seemed to be celebrating something.


    Back then, she stood at the top of the stairs, catching bits and pieces of the conversation.


    "Yvette, we''re your brothers. How could you hide things from us?"


    "Exactly! Not only did you secretly be a signed designer for Yonder Digital, but you also won the International Design Award for Best Neer. That''s a level most fashion designers strive for their whole lives and never reach."


    "Seriously! You''re already a rising designer, and we haven''t even gotten a custom piece from you!"


    "Mitchell, if I could, I''d design for everyone, but it''s just so hectic right now. I can barely finish one sketch without pulling all-nighters."


    "You can''t pull all-nighters, Yvette. You had a kidney transnt less than six months ago, and you need rest."


    "Got it, Felix."


    Q


    Their cheerful voices had made Shakira''s heart sink. She wrapped her shawl around herself and slowly walked back to her


    room...


    Suddenly, Sean''s furious voice cut in, snapping Shakira back to reality. "That shameless fake! Stealing your family, grabbing your titles, and now she''s snagging your designs! Doesn''t she worry about getting caught and making a fool of herself?"


    Shakira''s expression tightened. ''It''s true. The design submissions went out a while ago, but I''ve just been transported backst night and cut ties with the Nelson family. Even if I hadn''t left them, those designs would eventuallye to light, and I would find out. Yvette was truly bold.


    ''In my past life, Yvette must have won awards by iming my designs as her own. Did she really think the Nelson family liked her that much? Or did she believe I wouldn''t get the chance to expose her?''


    A terrible idea struck Shakira, making her more serious than ever.


    "Shakira?" Sean''s voice pulled her from her thoughts.


    "Yeah, I''m here."


    Don''t worry. I''ll deal with her right now..."


    "Deal with her? Do you really think she''ll own up to anything?"


    "We have hard evidence. She can''t deny it."


    "Even if we catch her red-handed, she''ll shed a few tears and y the victim, and the Nelsons will forgive her in a heartbeat. What does she really stand to lose?" Shakira sneered, thinking ofst night-the Nelson family lost a hundred million dors. And Yvette? Just a few tears.


    "Damn it!" Sean fumed, his frustration bubbling over. "You can''t let this slide!"


    "I said I''m going to dim the Nelsons'' golden child, and this is the beginning,


    she wants to steal, then let her do it."


    retorted, a mocking glint in her eye. "If


    Meanwhile, chaos erupted in the Nelson residence.


    "Damn it! Yonder Digital is a hugepany; how can they stab us in the back like this? That jerk Sean must be ying us!" Mitchell paced the living room, pouring out his anger.


    Finn, who had been feeling on top of the world since bing the CEO of Nelson Group, looked just as furious.


    Yonder Digital was a fast-rising techpany, dominating the market with cutting-edge technology and resources that were light-years ahead. Landing a partnership would have doubled Nelson Group''s size and profits, and by taking advantage of Yonder Digital''s strengths, they had everything lined up for future partnerships and suppliers.


    Now that the partnership was out of reach, all their hard work felt wasted. It was like having a treasure delivered only to see it snatched away. Their stock prices were tanking, and the flood of negative news was crushing.


    Finn couldn''t wrap his head around how just days ago, Sean had been friendly during negotiations, and then-just like that


    everything changed overnight.


    Mitchell suddenly froze. "Could this be about Shakira? That Maybach-could it be Sean''s?"


    "No way," Yvette blurt out.


    When everyone turned to her, Yvette softened her tone. "I believe Shakira wouldn''t stoop so low against us..."


    Mitchell rolled his eyes. "You can''t be that sure."


    "Shakira wouldn''t do this. She doesn''t have what it takes to pull off something like that," Finn said. "Besides, Sean has a childhood sweetheart, and everyone knows about their deep connection."


    "Then what the hell is going on with Sean?" Mitchell almost erupted.


    Just then, Yvette got a call that left her both shocked and happy. Yonder Digital? The day after tomorrow? Okay, thank you."


    After hanging up, Yvette noticed everyone looking at her, puzzled. Trying to contain her excitement, she smiled, "Last month, Yonder Digital announced that their chairman, Sean, was looking for designers for his private fashion studio. I submitted a few designs, and they just told me I passed the preliminary review. I''m going to the final review the day after


    tomorrow."


    "That two-faced jerk! Yvette, don''t go!" Mitchell shouted angrily.


    "Yvette absolutely should go. Since we can''t reach Sean right now, let''s take advantage of this opportunity during her final review," Cody said, then turned to Finn. "Go for it, Finn." "Okay." Finn nodded.


    Selena let out a sigh of relief. "It''s all thanks to Yvette. None of you are as capable as she is."


    "You really help us out a lot, Yvette." Reba beamed.


    Yvette felt like she was floating with all the praises from the Nelson family. With Shakira out of the way, she was confident her future would be even brighter.

 Chapter 13

    c


    Cody wasn''t letting up. "Meeting Sean is one thing; figuring out how to get through this tough time is another."


    Finn said, his voice heavy with stress, "There''s a lot of rumors out there. Besides the projects with Yonder Digital, otherpanies we were looking to partner with have put their ns on hold. And as for the stock..." He trailed off, and the Nelson family fell silent again. Selena looked worried. "So what do we do now? If we meet Sean the day after tomorrow and he still won''t budge, are we just going to take this hit?" Reba sighed. "If f only we had signed the contract earlier. Even if Sean backed out, the heftypensation wouldn''t leave us in such a bind..."


    Finn pressed his lips together and stayed quiet.


    Cody''s expression darkened. "What do you know about business? Signing contracts isn''t something you just scribble your name on! We''re trying to maximize benefits here. Otherwise, how do you think the Nelson family got to where we are today?" He then turned to Finn. "Contact our long-term clients and thepanies we''re working with. See if we can offload the projects we were going to give to Yonder Digital. It''ll help minimize our losses."


    Fin f fout a heavy breath. "I called them all this morning. They all turned us down."


    Cody''s face soured even more.


    Amid the silence, Yvette''s voice broke in softly. "What about the Lopez family?"


    Everyone turned to look at her, and she continued, "Mr. Lopez was at the birthday partyst night. Given our engagement, the Lopez family won''t just leave us hanging, right?"


    Yvette had met Walter a couple of times. He was stunningly handsome, with an extraordinary presence-charming and edgy, even more so than some stars who relied solely on looks to get by in showbiz. It was a pity he was wheelchair-bound and had a quirky temper. Otherwise, Shakira wouldn''t stand a chance of getting engaged to him. "Yes!" Cody''s face lit up with hope. "Otherpanies will take time, but the Lopez family could take on the whole project at once."


    He stepped forward, pping Yvette on the shoulder, his eyes sparkling. "Yvette, your grandma was right-we''re all on you


    now.


    Selena beamed. "Exactly! Yvette is our family''s lucky star. With her here, everything can turn good."


    Yvette couldn''t help but smile, a proud spark lighting up her eyes.


    While Shakira was handing Sean a list of things to take care of, the Smith family called her twice. She nced at her phone and quickly hit the block button.


    Just then, there was a knock at the door, and a servant called out, "Mr. Lopez''s pet needs to be fed. The trainer is on leave, so you''ll have to do it today." Shakira couldn''t help but wonder, ''Walter the devil has a heart to keep pets?''


    When she stepped into the huge garden designed to mimic a tropical rainforest and saw the seven-feet-long crocodile lounging in the pond, she kicked herself mentally. ''How could I really doubt Walter''s devilment? That''s as ridiculous as  saying Mitchell has a brain!


    +3


    The servant pointed to a small wooden bucket in the distance, giving her an encouraging look. "That bucket has breakfast for Baby Fishy. You need to feed it to his mouth before it''ll eat.


    "Wait, what?" Shakira blinked. "It''s called Baby Fishy?"


    "Yeah, Mr. Lopez named it himself."


    "Walter started this obsession after his leg


    got hurt?"


    "No, this was a birthday gift he asked from his grandfather when he was seven."


    So


    he''s been this weird since childhood. Well, Baby Fishy is just like him-it''ll only eat if someone feeds it. What a jerk in the crocodile world!'' Shakira thought as she rolled up her sleeves, opened the iron gate, and grabbed the bucket of fish to head inside. The study in thevish vi buzzed with the energy of an international conference call. Employees were debating a development project in variousnguages passionately. Walter leaned back in his chair listening casually, his handsome face a picture of grace. The door was slightly ajar, letting him catch the worried whispers of a servant talking to Levi, who shot a cautious nce in Walter''s direction but didn''t dare interrupt.


    Walter smirked slightly, his attention shifting to a small window showing surveince of the tropical garden outside. There, a massive crocodile loomed over the petite figure of Shakira. Walter reclined further, enjoying the view while the meeting continued. The crocodile was fiercely territorial, and the moment Shakira stepped into its domain, its amber eyes locked onto her.


    Shakira approached cautiously, but when she was about seven feet away, the crocodile began to inch toward her, its powerful front limbs drawing nearer.


    Shakira froze, tossing a small fish toward its mouth. The crocodile nced at the offering but showed no interest.


    "Seriously?" Shakira muttered under her breath. ''I really have to feed it right to its face?''


    She studied the crocodile''s hefty belly and suddenly set the bucket of fish down. Instead of moving closer, she turned and dashed around the crocodile. The creature''s eyes darted around, trying to keep track, but once Shakira reached its back, it could no longer see her. The crocodile''s size made it clumsy in the tight space-it couldn''t catch Shakira, who tugged on its tail. It-thrashed and snapped, its wide jaws snapping in frustration but failing to reach her.


    Shakira kept her eyes trained on the crocodile''s shifting body. In a sh, she seized its massive tail, deftly avoiding its attempt to spin around and get her.


    After being spoiled its entire life, the crocodile gave in quickly after just ten minutes of this tug-of-war. Shakira released her grip and tossed the bucket of fish right in front of it.


    The crocodile redirected its anger into hunger, swallowing the fish whole in a few hearty bites. Satisfied, Shakira brushed off; her pants and strolled through the iron gate nonchntly. Meanwhile, in the study, Walter couldn''t help but chuckle at the scene. ''This woman... not only does she know how to get on people''s nerves, but she also knows how to push a crocodile''s buttons. Just then, Levi knocked and entered, surprised to see Walter wearing a smile he had


    shown in


    ages. Levi''s


    eyesN?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    crinkled 2/3


    B


    into a crescent as he spotted the lively Shakira on the screen. In his heart, he felt a wave of relief. ''Ms. Nelson truly is a lucky charm for Mr. Lopez.


    "Mr. Lopez, the Nelson family is here to visit," Levi announced.


    Walter''s expression returned to its usual calm, his long fingers tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Call Shakira over."


    *****


    Yvette was visiting the Lopez residence for the first time and waspletely in awe of the extravagant surroundings. She had always thought the Lopez family was on par with the Nelsons, but now she realized how clueless she had been. If the Nelsons were wealthy, the Lopezes were downrightvish. She couldn''t help but ask, "Finn, the Lopez family is this rich?"


    Finn nodded. "They''re the top one among the five major families. Thebined wealth of the other four can''t even touch what the Lopez family has." Yvette gasped in disbelief.


    Just then, mechanical sounds echoed through the hall, and she immediately put on her sweetest smile, fixing her gaze on Walter in the wheelchair.


    This was her third time seeing him, and his otherworldly looks still captivated her. She clenched her fists instinctively as she thought, What an admirable guy. Even though I don''t want him, I can''t let Shakira have him-she doesn''t deserve him at all'' "Mr. Lopez." Finn stepped forward, standing tall in front of Walter with a gentlemanly air as he extended his hand.


    Instead of epting the handshake, Walter wheeled himself past Finn to the other side of the grand hall, creating distance between them. Even in a wheelchair, he exuded a powerful presence. "What do you want?"


    Finn retracted his hand, unfazed by the cold reception, his voice calm and collected. "We want to discuss a potential coboration with you, Mr. Lopez."


    "Coboration?" Walter scoffed. "Trying to dump the unwanted problems on us?"

 Chapter 14

    Shakira walked in through the side door and heard Walter''s words. With a raised eyebrow, she leaned against the wall, choosing to hang back instead of joining them inside.


    After returning to the Nelson family in her previous life, Shakira had discreetly asked Sean to smooth over many of their business hurdles. This had allowed the Nelsons to catch up to other prominent families in just a year, which only inted their arrogance. Now, as she watched Walter put them in their ce, Shakira found it pretty entertaining. In the living room, Walter didn''t bother with pleasantries as he exposed the Nelson family''s intentions, earning a dark re


    from Finn.


    Mitchell clenched his fists, struggling to stay calm. If it weren''t for Finn''s warning not to act rashly, he would have blown his top by now. Seriously, what did a guy in a wheelchair have to be so smug about?


    Yvette might have looked down on disabled Walter, but his striking looks and the elegance he carried still made her heart race. She thought to herself that even sitting in a wheelchair, Walter had more charm and masculinity than Finn ever did.


    Even if she couldn''t marry him, wouldn''t it be thrilling to captivate a guy like himpletely? Excited by the thought, she held a small basket and moved a little closer to him.


    While her brothers wore their feelings on their sleeves, Yvette maintained her cool demeanor. Her expression was soft as she gazed at Walter shyly. "I didn''t get a chance to properly thank youst night foring to my birthday party and for your generous gift. I baked these matcha cookies myself, and I hope you''ll ept them, Mr. Lopez."


    As she spoke, she extended her hand toward him, leaning in slightly. A delicate pink diamond ne slipped out from under her light green dress, creating an elegant curve in front of her.


    "You''re Yvette?" Walter nced at Yvette, who was staring at him intensely.


    "Yeah, I''m." I''m." Yvette''s eyes lit up with surprise. ''He remembers me!


    Mitchell couldn''t help but step in front of Yvette, ring at Walter with a warning. "Walter, don''t even think about making a move on Yvette."


    Watching Mitchell''s over-the-top protection of Yvette, Shakira almostughed out loud. She genuinely wondered what kind of magic Yvette had used on him to make him act like this.


    Shakira nced over at Walter, and as she expected, he looked frustrated with Mitchell. For a moment, her grin stretched even wider.


    Yvette rolled her eyes at her annoying brother secretly and tried to slide a little closer to Walter again.


    But before she could reach Walter, Brian cut her off. "Mr. Lopez does not appreciate outsiders getting too elose, Ms. Nelson."


    "Sorry," Yvette


    Yvette replied with a charming smile, maintaining herposure. "Mr. Lopez, the Nelson family has faced a few setbacks, but I''m confident that with Finn''s skills, we''ll get back on track soon. I hope that, considering our long-standing friendship, you might lend a helping hand..." Walter pushed himself up in his wheelchair and suddenly asked, "Who let you wear that ne?"


    Still basking in the joy that Walter remembered her, Yvette froze. "Huh?"


    "That ne was a birthday gift from me to Ms. Nelson. How could you put it on?" Walter pressed, his voice icy.


    Yvette''s face went pale as her smile vanished. The shinning diamond ne around her neck now felt like it was digging


    1/3  into her skin. Walter


    didn''t hold back at all. His casual tone dripped with sarcasm. "My fianc¨¦e is already kicked out of the Nelson family. Without her, the engagement is off. So what do you even want to talk to me about?" He shot a look at an embarrassed Yvette and said, "You Nelsons love ying those role-swapping games, but I''m not buying


    into it."


    that, the Nelson trio couldn''t keep their cool anymore.


    Finn frowned. "Since you''re not interested, we''ll be leaving."


    As he motioned for Mitchell and Yvette to go, Levi stepped forward and said to Yvette, "Please return the ne."


    Yvette looked toward Walter, who


    who didn''t even nce her way-he was letting her suffer this humiliation. She couldn''t take it anymore, yanked the diamond ne off her neck, and tossed it back into Levi''s hands with a thud. Once outside and back in the car, Yvette broke down. Tears streamed down her face. "Finn, Mitchell, I''m so sorry. I messed everything up. I dragged everyone down with me..."


    Finn was already weighed down by the Lopez family''s harsh rejection, but seeing Yvette upset, he still tried tofort her. "Yvette, it''s not your fault. Don''t take it to heart."


    "Exactly! It''s Walter who''s being unreasonable!" Mitchell added, quickly grabbing tissues to dab at Yvette''s tears, ranting angrily, "It''s all Shakira''s fault! She started all this!" Finn frowned, disagreeing. "What does this have to do O with Shakira?"


    "Ever since she came back into our lives, everything has gone downhill. If she hadn''t cut ties at the worst moment, we''d still be engaged to the Lopez family. Walter would''ve had a reason to help us," Mitchell shouted. He mmed his fist against the seat, furious. "All of Yvette''s luck has been ruined by Shakira. It''s just so unfair!"


    Finn kept his eyes on the road, choosing not to argue back this time. His brows were tightly knit, a heavy tension settling in the air.


    "Are you done watching?" Walter nced over at the side door.


    Shakira then strolled in casually with her hands behind her back


    Walter looked at her with disdain. "Weren''t you the brave one? Why are you hiding out here now that the Nelsons are around?" Shakira smiled sweetly. "I didn''t want to ruin your moment of glory, Mr. Lopez."


    "Suck-up." Walter''s despise was clearer.


    Levi and the others couldn''t help but chuckle. Though Walter seemed disdainful toward both Shakira and the Nelson trio, his attitude was different when it came to her.


    Shakira walked toward Walter''s back and pushed his wheelchair forward. Leaning in slightly, she whispered in his ear, "I really appreciate how much you''re helping me."


    Her words were heartfelt. As she was with the Smiths and the Nelsons, she had never felt this kind of protection. But now, she was getting it from her "fianc¨¦". It was truly ironic.


    As Shakira spoke, the warmth of her breath made Walter''s ear tingle. He instinctively turned his head, catching a glimpse of


    213


    the delicate corbone peeking out from her top.


    Her skin looked soft and delicate. Even though Walter hadn''t seen her that night, a distant memory of touching her stirred inside him. He squinted, his gaze deep and unreadable. "After all, you''re my servant now." Shakira paused, her expression falling. ''Damn, so much for feeling appreciated.''All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

 Chapter 15

    Shakira finally epted the truth-she couldn''t expect Walter to say anything nice.


    Seeing her sulking but not daring to say anything, Walter couldn''t help but feel a bit satisfied. A rare smile flickered on his lips as he said, "Take me to the study." "Okay," Shakira said, rolling her eyes discreetly. He thinks he can boss me around, huh?" Then a mischievous thought popped into her head, and she cleared her throat. "What do you want for dinner, Mr. Lopez?" "Just a main dish is is fine," Walter replied, ncing at her. "Did you learn to cook in Bris?" Shakira shrugged. "Sort of. It''s easy."


    Her tone was light, but the truth was a bit darker. Back when she lived with the Smith family, she''d desperately tried to win their attention. She would grocery shop, cook, and study hard, thinking that if she did well enough, they might be happy- maybe even notice her. But no matter how much effort she put in, they stayed indifferent and treated her like a servant. When she finally found out she wasn''t even their biological child, she thought it wasn''t her fault. She''d just mistook them for "family."


    After everything, Shakira had hoped the Nelson family would reignite her dreams. But unfortunately, they turned out to be another dead end.


    A bitter


    r smile appeared on Shakira''s face-thanks to the Smith family, she had gained some skills during her time in Bris.


    Just as she sank deeper into her musings, Walter studied her reflection in the mirror. He noticed her drifting away, her usual boldness faded to a dull gray, as if the world had turned its back on her. An unexpected annoyance bubbled up inside him. As Walter realized his mood had shifted because of Shakira, his expression darkened. "Shakira, go clean Baby Fishy''s pond."


    "Uh?" Shakira blinked, snapping back to back to reality as she met his gaze. It It took her a a moment t to process his his words.


    "You''re calling that massiveke, which is bigger than two football fields, a pond?" She stared at him, wondering if he learned geography from a gym teacher.


    Without even looking her way, Walter wheeled himself out of the elevator. "You chose to be my servant. If you don''t like it, then leave."


    "Hey! I stick to ! I stick to my word!" Shakira shot him the finger behind his back. She couldn''t help but wonder, ''What''s wrong with this guy? One minute he seems fine, and the next, he is a total jerk!'' The rest of the


    of the afternoon passed as she scrambled around the so-called "pond." She couldn''t get back at Walter, but could she deal with a crocodile?


    The sunny afternoon morphed into Baby Fishy''s worst nightmare. The poor crocodile, with its hefty body, could only hide in the tall grass, quaking in fear while Shakira chased it around. Meanwhile, Walter sat in the study, running an international meeting, sipping coffee, and enjoying the view of the frantic Shakira from the surveince feed.


    Shakira''s frustration simmered until dinner. She rolled the food cart over, announcing, "Mr. Lopez, dinner''s ready."


    Walter nced down at the meal-all simple, homestyle fare. He nodded. "Thanks for your hard work."


    Shakira replied with a smirk, "Not hard work-just hard life."


    The other servants struggled to hold back theirughter. Even Levi fought to contain a smile.


    <


    Ever since Walter returned from his incident, the vi had been full-dreary and cold like an empty castle. But since Shakira showed up, everything had changed. Walter was now capable of anger,ughter, and even yful teasing-it was how a living person should be. Levi wiped away a tear that had formed in the corner of his eye as he felt a gentle nudge at his side. He turned to see a servant looking horrified, gesturing frantically at him. Confused Levi followed their gaze, and instantly, his face went pale.


    Walter had just popped something white into his mouth, chewed a few times, and swallowed. He frowned-the taste was savory, with a chewy and crunchy texture, but there was also an indescribable odor. He pointed to the dish and asked Shakira, "What is this?" Shakira blinked and replied cheekily, "Did you like it?"


    "It''s okay, but the taste is a bit odd," he said, trying another piece


    Levi and the others exchanged nervous looks, but none of them dared to say a word.


    Shakira smiled as she watched him swallow. "That''s kinda the point. It''s pig intestines-basically what they use to store waste. The smell might be because I didn''t clean it well enough."


    Walter''s expression changed dramatically. But before he could explode, Shakira turned and bolted out of the room.


    Levi and the others rushed to Walter''s side. "Drink some soup, Mr. Lopez. Don''t get mad."


    Even as she ran off, Shakira turned back to shout, "You never said you didn''t eat offal. Just a heads-up-there are pig intestines in that soup too."


    Walter, who had just taken a sip of soup, felt a surge of rage, his handsome face contorting into an almost monstrous expression. His voice echoed throughout the vi. "Shakira Nelson!"Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    *****


    The next morning, before Walter woke up, Shakira slipped out of Easke Valley Estate quietly. She had overheard the servants chatting about how Walter had thrown a fit the night before, spending nearly half an hour brushing his teeth. Shakira had shuddered. ''Goodness, I never thought Walter would be such a neat freak. Luckily, he didn''te looking for me. Maybe just seeing me reminds him of those pig intestines and their contents?''


    gross


    Just then, her phone buzzed with a new text. Shaking her head, she opened it and found it from Sean: [Everything''s ready.]


    Shakira replied: [I''m on my way.] She nced out the window, her eyes narrowing.


    Not long after she left, Walter''s internal clock woke him right at 7 AM. He opened his eyes and instinctively scanned the


    room.


    "Mr. Lopez," Brian knocked and entered. Noticing Walter''s peculiar expression, he hesitated for a moment before saying carefully, "Ms. Nelson left earlier this morning."


    Walter''s brows knitted together, irritation radiating from him. "I told you, I don''t want to hear about her."


    He pushed himself up, and his displeasure only grew. "Does she really think she cane and go as she pleases from the Lopez residence?"


    Brian kept his gaze low. After a moment, Walter''s gravelly voice broke the silence. "Where did she go?"


    "Uh, Ms. Nelson took a half-day off with Levi-said she had something to take care of."


    Walter fell silent, giving Brian a piercing look.


    213


    ??


    <


    Hesitantly, Brian added, "Should I go look for her?"


    Now left. quickly Walter didn''t


    as a sign and object, and Brian took Ms. Nelson or not? Lately, his feelings seem moreplicated than ever!


    that


    he was


    really


    confused. ''Does


    Mr. Lopez


    want


    to see


    In the heart of Crescentville''s new CBD, towering twin skyscrapers reached for the clouds, standing out prominently in the steel city. Their luxurious, sleek elegance was hard to ignore, drawing the attention of everyone around.

 Chapter 16

    As it was about the Nelson Group''s big crisis, the whole Nelson family arrived in style, with three sleek Mercedes surrounding a shy Bentley that caught everyone''s attention. "Wow, this building is actually Yonder Digital''s..." Yvette whispered, her eyes wide. She didn''te to the Central Business District often, but she had spotted the iconic twin towers during her shopping trips. She had thought they belonged to one of the four great families, but it turned out they were tied to Yonder Digital. Cody stepped out of the Bentley, gazing up at the towering skyscraper with a serious look on his face.


    Yonder Digital was new but quickly bing a major yer in the business world. Their rise was impressive-almost unstoppable. They weren''t just flush with cash; they had cutting-edge tech that no one else had, which put them way ahead of theirpetitors. If the Nelson family could partner up with a powerhouse like that, it would be a huge win. But if it fell into the wrong hands -say, apetitor''s-they''d be in deep trouble.


    Feeling the pressure, Cody turned to Yvette with a stern expression. "We''re counting on you today."


    Yvette


    nodded confidently. "Don''t


    Good!" Cody replied, satisfied worry, Dad. I''ll do everything I can to make the coboration happen with Yonder Digital."


    Then the Nelson family marched into the building with resolve.


    Mitchell strode towards the front desk, acting like he owned the ce. "We need to see the chairman."


    The receptionist replied coolly, "It needs an appointment."


    Mitchell was fuming. "Do you even know who we are? The chairman and CEO of Nelson Group are right here!"


    The receptionist shook her head. "Sorry, but everyone needs an appointment."


    "You!"


    Chill


    I out, Mitchell. Thepany has rules, and the employees can''t just make decisions on their own," Yvette interrupted, stepping forward smoothly. She pulled out a text message from the day before. "We''re here for the designer interview." The receptionist replied, "The interview is on the 18th floor."


    Yvette smiled warmly, leading Cody and the others toward the elevator.


    On the 100th floor, the office had a breathtaking view. Floor-to-ceiling curved windows let people there see the bustling city of Crescentville. Shakira sat back in the chairman''s chair, her icy gaze fixed on aputer screen showing the smiling Nelson family. Sean leaned casually against the desk, shaking his head. "Do they really think this is Nelson Group? Trying to boss our staff around and use the executive elevator? How ridiculous!"


    He then chuckled mischievously. "What if the Nelsons came up here and saw you in the chairman''s seat? Do you think they''d start begging for mercy?"


    "Not a chance," Shakira scoffed. She knew them too well-they''d only yell at her for acting wildly. She stood up and said, "Let''s go. Time to kick things off."


    <


    "Go!" Sean eximed, barely able to contain his excitement.


    As Shakira turned to leave, something caught her eye. "That building is..."


    Just a stone''s throw away from the twin towers, separated by Crescentville River, stood another tall building, equally impressive.


    "That building belongs to the Lopez family," Sean said. "It used to be the tallest one downtown, but that was a long time ago. Now the location isn''t as good as ours."


    Shakira withdrew her gaze and shook her head. ''Was it just my imagination? Why do I feel like someone inside that building is staring right at me? Like Walter? Ugh, it must be leftover anxiety fromst night''s pig intestine!''


    At the eighteenth floor, the elevator


    Yvette''s heart raced as she blurted ours swung open on opposite sides-Yvette and the others on one side, and Shakira, who had juste from the top floor, on the other. Their eyes locked in surprise.


    d out, "What are you doing here?"


    Mitchell stepped forward, his dislike for Shakira clear. "So, you cut ties with usst night and now you regret it? You stalking us? Looking to beg Dad for forgiveness and a spot back home?"


    Shakira smirked. "What? Is this building owned by Nelson Group?"Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Her words hit thard,


    leaving Cody and the others feeling wounded.


    As today was important, Finn wanted no surprises. He approached Shakira and lowered his voice, trying to sound like the responsible older brother. "Listen, whatever drama you''re nning, today is all about Yvette''s interview. We''ll talk about your demandster." He paused, adding, "I''ll do my best to meet your requests."


    Shakira shook her head in disappointment, taking a step back. "I thought you''d be smarter than Mitchell. Guess I overestimated you."


    Finn''s face darkened.


    [P]


    "Don''t worry. I''m not interested in your family drama," Shakira replied, smirking at the Nelson brothers'' tense expressions as they tried to keep their cool. She tilted her head and entered the venue first.


    Mitchell tried to follow, but Yvette quickly stopped him. "Mitchell, there are cameras."


    As they entered, the staff had informed them that today''s designer interview would be streamed live for fairness and transparency, and anyone who refused to be on camera would automatically lose their chance topete.


    Hence, the Nelsons felt annoyed by Sean''s arrogance but knew they couldn''t make a scene. They were here to plead, and they had to keep their heads cool.


    Finn frowned. "Shakira probably won''t cause any trouble. Let''s just get inside."


    Yvette took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. ''Sean wouldn''t reveal anyone''s designs without a contract. How could Shakira possibly know that I used one of her sketches?


    Even if she does know, what can she do? She can''t prove it''s her design at all. With Dad and my brothers here today, she has to realize what that means. There''s no way she''d risk embarrassing the Nelson family on live camera, right?'' With her thoughts settled, Yvette offered a confident smile and stepped into the venue.


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    111


    Inside, the ce buzzed with activity. Reporters from the fashion media were up front, along with professional judges, while designers hoping topete filled the back. The Nelson family took seats toward the front, and it wasn''t long before they were approached. Hey, Mr. Cody Nelson! You brought your kid for the interview?" asked John Gilbert, a former business partner of Nelson Group. He hadn''t kept up since thepany started thriving and had got booted. Cody smiled politely. "Good to see you, Mr. Gilbert."


    John leaned in, his demeanor friendly as ever. "It''s been ages. I tried to set up a lunch with you a few times, but your schedule is so tight."


    Cody chuckled, not bothering to respond.


    Unfazed, John turned to Yvette. "So, this is Ms. Nelson? You''ve grown into such a lovely youngdy." Mr. Gilbert." libert.


    "How


    Yvette


    long have you been into design, Ms. Nelson?"


    smiled gracefully. "Fashion design is just a hobby. I haven''t had any formal training."


    Her words caused gasps around her.


    "Wait, you''ve never studied fashion design? Oh my god!"


    can''t believe it! I''ve been working at it for nearly ten years and still can''t pass the interview. I practically begged for a spectator ticket just to get here, and you''re telling me you never studied?" "Talk about the gap between genius and the rest of us..


    Yvette epted thepliments with poise, while Cody and the others beamed with pride.


    But then she caught Shakira''s gaze from a dark corner. Yvette''s smile widened as she reveled in the moment. ''I was born to be the star of the show, and Shakira? She''s just a shadow lurking in the dark, destined to fade into obscurity!''

 Chapter 17

    Today''s designer audition live stream was supposed to be a niche event with only a handful of viewers. But Sean really went all out. From the moment the stream started, advertisements were everywhere-not just in Crescentville, but tionwide on billboards, public transport screens, and major streaming tforms.


    Many people tuned i in out of curiosity, and the view count shot up. As soon as they logged on, they were blown away-a young amateur designer had just outperformed tons of professionalpetitors and moved on to the next round. The audience was in awe, and the chat was buzzing withments. [Wow! If she hasn''t even studied design professionally and already has this kind of talent, just think about what she could do with some experience. She could really shake up the design world!]


    t that the girl from the Nelson family who made headlines after her birthday party a couple of days ago? Looks like being a rich kid has some serious benefits.]


    Must be nice to be wealthy. She threw a birthday bash that had got the whole town talking, and there were luxury cars lined up outside the hotel. All the elites must''ve shown up.]


    [Sounds like a PR stunt to me. I looked her up; she''s still just a college student with no formal training. If she really was this good, wouldn''t we have heard about her before?]


    !!


    I hear you on that-it seems kinda suspect. Everyone knows Yonder Digital dropped its deal with Nelson Group overnight. Looks like the Nelson family is desperate to make things right with Yonder Digital and probably paid for her slot in the auditions.] LOL, she''s a rich girl from a fancy family. She might im she hasn''t learned anything, but you know she''s had the best mentors behind the scenes.?


    [She can''t fake a live stream seen by millions. If it were a scam, it would fall apart in the next round-how embarrassing would that be?]


    With all her brothers doing so well in their fields, how bad can she be? The genes don''t lie. Quit hating.]


    *****


    The event was so grand that even caught the attention of Walter at the top floor of Lopez Group.


    "Ms. Nelson is over there in the corner," Brian said, handing Walter a tablet.


    Walter sipped his coffee and nced at the screen, his expression unreadable.


    Levi added softly, "The Nelson family is swarmed by fans, and Yvette is the star of the show. Poor Shakira is off to the side just watching."


    "She wants to join thepetition-she deserves it." Walter scoffed and nced back at the live stream. With Yvette in the spotlight, Shakira looked a bit pitiful, half her body obscured from view.


    Walter tapped his fingers on the table, asking, "Did she say why she''s heading to Yonder Digital?"


    Levi quickly replied, "Ms. Nelson mentioned she''s going to watch a show..."


    "Watch a show? Sounds like she just has time to kill," Walter sneered. He grabbed the documents aside, skimmed the pages, and signed them with ir.


    Seeing Walter so focused on work, Levi held his tongue. He knew that talking too much could backfire.


    Just as Levi felt a bit sorry for Shakira, Walter''s deep voicemanded, "Get the car ready. Go pick up my servant."


    Levi grinned, "Okay."


    The second round of interviews was about to start, and the doors to the venue slowly closed. The lights dimmed and everyone turned their attention to the stage. The host stepped forward to say a few opening words before calling out the names of the designers who would bepeting. "Lucas, Shakira, Yvette..."N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    The atmosphere in the Nelson family shifted when they heard Shakira''s name. Yvette''s heart sank, her hands clenching tightly at her sides.


    Mitchell lowered his voice, irritation clear, "I knew it! Shakira showing up here is bad news. Justst night, she said she had nothing to do with us, and now she''speting with Yvette? So jealous!"


    Finn turned to Yvette, asking, "Did you know she was entering thispetition?"


    Yvette looked at him, a hint of grievance in her eyes, "I had no idea. Shakira never shares this stuff with me.


    Cody paused before chiming


    in, "Let''s just see how it goes. If Shakira gets a spot too, it wouldn''t be that bad. We can think of it as another opportunity."


    To him, Yvette and Shakira were both just stepping stones for Nelson Group. As long as they got to meet Sean after this round, it would benefit thepany.


    Yvette picked up on Cody''s implication, and her expression flickered with unacknowledged frustration.


    The host''s voice continued. "And those are all the contestants who signed in today. Anyone not present will be disqualified.


    "Now, for today''s challenge! Each contestant will create something based on the theme of ''Hope. You will have five hours to draft your initial designs and create samples in our provided clothing studio. You''ll each be assigned two professional assistants to help with the production. The winner will be chosen by our judges and the live audience based on who stands out the most."


    Gasps filled the air at the announcement. Yonder Digital really knew how to put on a show. Even setting up a simple clothing studio was a grand affair. Money definitely made a difference.


    Once the


    the host exined the rules, thepetition officially began. Contestants moved to their backstage work areas, each getting their own private space to work without interruptions, while the live stream rolled on.


    As Walter''s car pulled up outside, he spotted Shakira entering her workroom on the stream. He paused and shot Levi a nce. "Are you sure she only took a half-day off?"


    Levi forced a smile, "Uh, maybe when Shakira said ''half-day,'' she meant she''d be taking the whole daytime?"


    Walter just scoffed. from the driver''s seat. "Should we head back?" turned


    Brian


    around


    "No." Walter furrowed his brow, frustration boiling over.


    "Huh?" Brian was confused.


    "I have to drag her back today!" Walter gritted his teeth, his gaze intense. Last night, he had missed his chance to teach her a lesson, but today, he wouldn''t let any opportunity slip away-how dare she serve him pork intestine! In her workshop on the 18th floor, Shakira couldn''t shake off a chill. She nced around suspiciously and scratched her nose. ''Why do I feel like someone is cursing me all of a sudden?" Shaking it off, Shakira turned her attention to the workspace across from hers-Yvette was in there. She knew exactly what


    ter 17


    63


    Yvette was nning to design. This was all part of her carefully set n; Shakira was confident Yvette wouldn''t let her down. Focused, she lowered her head and began sketching her own design. Five hourster, the host announced that time was up, and the twelve contestants stepped from backstage to face the audience. They lined up in alphabetical order,

 Chapter 18

    As the crew got ready for the next segment, the stage lights dimmed a bit. Yvette leaned over to Shakira and said, "Dad and the others are here today. You know why, right?" Shakira didn''t even look her way. "Yvette, you really don''t have to keep showing off how the Nelsons support you. I don''t care at all."


    Shakira''s cold vibe and smirked. ''Shakira can''t be as unfazed as she pretends. She''s filled with jealousy beneath that calm fa?ade, humph.


    Yvette blinked innocently. "What are you talking about, Shakira? Showing off? Are you saying Dad and brothers changed their busy schedules just to cheer me on at thispetition?" Feigning surprise, she added, "You''ve got it all wrong. They''re not here just for me. It''s about Yonder Digital.


    "You know how tough th?...


    they''re going through,


    are for thepany right now. Dad and brothers have tried everything, and only Yonder Digital can pull us through. So, they can''t afford any mistakes today. I know you put on a tough front, but you care more than you let on. You get what After a pause, Yvette whispered, "Actually, these past few days, Dad, Mom, and brothers have been wishing they hadn''t stopped you that night. I believe that once we get through this rough patch, everyone will be excited to have you back home." Yvette wasn''t just boasting; she was making sure Shakira knew how critical today was for the Nelson family. If anything went wrong, it could spell disaster. Shakira needed to understand that no matter what, thepany came first. If she wanted to return and earn their attention again, she had to keep it together.


    When Shakira heard Yvette''sstment, she let out a soft, almost sarcasticugh. "Oh, really? I can''t wait to see that." Yvette felt a sense of satisfaction with her response. Just look at Shakira, still hoping to win back the Nelson family. Howughable!'' Just then, the I en, the host announced, "Now, let''s check out our contestants'' works for this audition."


    On the big screen, the design drafts of each participant appeared one by one, along with models showcasing the garments freshly made backstage.


    The designs from the first few contestants were pretty, but to the professional judges, theycked originality. There was nothing technically wrong with the designs, but none of them brought a truly fresh perspective. Soon, it was Shakira''s turn. "The contestant, Shakira, presents, ''Ashes," the host dered.


    Shakira''s design lit up the screen-a floor-length dress in the deepest ck imaginable. The audience buzzed as the model emerged, wearing Shakira''s creation.


    With shattered embroidery, a strapless waistline, andrge transparent ckce connecting from the chest to the arms, the model''s figure was on full disy. The sharp contrast between the ck dress and her tender skin was striking.


    But what really drew everyone''s attention was the transparent ck organza veil draping over the model''s head. As she moved, it swayed with a mysterious grace, revealing part of her face from the shadows, like a resurrected enchantress, ready to take on the world. The room fell silent for a moment. It wasn''t until the model finished her turn and returned to Shakira that the crowd began to react.


    "This dress is stunning! So powerful!"


    15:3


    apter 18


    Totally! It''s gorgeous! But does it actually fit the theme? The title is ''Hope, and she named her piece ''Ashes?"


    "Come on, you don''t see it? The title is metaphorical. ''Ashes'' means rebirth-new hope rising from the ruins. This piece is incredible!"


    "Exactly! I think it''s way better than the first few-totally takes my breath away!" "I''m voting for her."


    "Me too.


    "Wait, there are more contestants toe."


    "I really don''t think anyone can top this."


    "Hey, did you guys notice? The designer seems to be even better in that dress than the model. She''s gorgeous, and that little beauty mark by her eye adds just the right touch-totally cool!"


    The audience gasped in admiration, leaving the Nelson family''s expressions a colorful mix.


    Cody was lost in his thoughts,pletely silent..


    Finn broke the silence, saying, "If Shakira wins, it''ll open up more opportunities for us."


    Mitchell''s eyes widened in admiration, but he quickly covered it up with a smirk. "Shakira''s no match for Yvette. Her designs are just okay-not anything special."


    Yvette had felt at ease upon hearing the name of Shakira''s design-she hadn''t used any of her portfolio pieces. Yvette''s submissions were from the early pages of Shakira''s sketchbook, and she figured Shakira probably wouldn''t even remember them. When the ck dress hit the stage, Yvette almost burst intoughter-it lookedpletely inappropriate for the theme. But as the audience buzzed with excitement, Yvette''s anxiety shot up, and an angry feeling began to well up inside her. ''Seriously? These people think Shakira''s raggedy ck creation is pretty? They must be blind!" "Next up is contestant Yvette with her piece-''Gxy!" The host''s voice sounded again.


    Yvette''s design a


    and the model took the stage, and everyone''s eyes widened. It was a stunning yellow gown that faded into a deep blue at the waist, resembling starlight against a night sky. Mitchell practically jumped up to grab his phone, eager to catch Yvette''s shining moment. But when he saw her design on-screen, he froze.


    After two years of studying art, he wasn''t a pro, but he understood the basics. The lines in Yvette''s design looked eerily simr to Shakira''s sketches. The smile slipped from Mitchell''s face, reced by worry.


    The audience didn''t know the technical details. They were just captivated by it all.


    "Wow, this dress is stunning!"Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    "I love the color-it looks like the gxy."


    "What a genius!"


    63% 63%


    did anyone notice? Both the Nelson designers have amazing work. Is there some special talent in thatst name?" "The Nelson surname isn''tmon in Crescentville. Who would''ve thought two would show up at once? Are they rted?"


    "Come on! How could they he rted? The clothes and essories on Shakira probably don''t evene close to the price of Yvette''s shoes. Not every Nelson is rich." "Enough with the elitism. Honestly, Shakira looks way better than Yvette here. She''s beautiful and talented. If she makes it big, she''ll be the one raking in the cash." "LOL, as if! She can never earn anywhere near what the Nelson family is worth. Yvettees from a century-old family business-stop being delusional."


    Yvette lifted her chin defiantly. As she scanned the audience and saw their amazed faces, she felt sure of her victory. She winked at Cody and the others, secretly thrilled.


    But then she turned her head and saw the judges in the front row, looking serious and whispering among themselves. She rolled her eyes. What could they even discuss? My Gxy is way better than Shakira''s dull Ashes!''


    Suddenly, the judges stood up and took the microphone from the host, their faces grave. "This retest is meant to ensure transparency and fairness, aiming to identify outstanding designers for our studio and contribute to the fashion industry. But we never expected to see giarism in such a prestigiouspetition!"


    Yvette''s heart dropped, and her face went pale as she instinctively took a step back. Suddenly, she felt a tight grip around her wrist.

 Chapter 19

    "Shakira, you- In a fit of rage, Yvette turned around, only to find it wasn''t Shakira holding her back but the venue''s security guard.


    The guard, with a stern look, forcefully escorted Yvette to the front of the stage. Instantly, chaos erupted among the audience and online. "What''s happening? Who''s being used of giarism?"


    "Seriously, can''t you tell? Yvette is the one who copied."


    "Wow, she''s bold enough to cheat during a nationwide livestream. Does she think she can get away with anything because she''s a rich girl? She''s totally done for now." The Nelson family stood up together, feeling the gazes directed at them.


    Cody''s face darkened with rage. "Is Sean out of his mind? Does he want to humiliate us in front of everyone?"


    Mitchell''s fists clenched, and unlike usual, he didn''t rush to defend Yvette. He knew this wasn''t just Sean''s doing-it was... His gaze zeroed in on Shakira, who remained calm and collected in the middle of the chaos. Onstage/Yvette finally grasped what was happening and started to defend herself. "What are you doing? What giarism? You''re using the wrong person!"


    Panic surged within her. ''How could I get caught? Shakira is right next to me, and she hasn''t said a thing! How could they possibly know anything?''


    A determined judge shouted, "Yvette, is Gxy your original work?"


    Without missing a beat, Yvette replied, "Of course! I created it right here onstage in front of all of you."


    Cody and the others pushed through the crowd to confront the judges and security. "What do you mean you''re using my daughter of stealing? I''m calling the Nelson familywyers right now, and you will pay for this nonsense." Cody was furious-Sean had embarrassed them by backing out of the coboration, and now he was even trying to make them look bad in front of everyone. The j judge let let out a sarcasticugh, crushing Yvette''sst attempt at defense and Cody''s pride. "During our preliminary round, we already received the design ''Gxy,'' and Yvette''s is a clear, unaltered copy. This is a disgrace to the fashion design. world." As soon as he finished speaking, the big screen lit up with a design that looked exactly like Yvette''s Gxy, but below it was another name. "Shakira Nelson!"


    "Wait, ''Gxy'' is Shakira''s work?"


    "Oh my God, Yvette was stealing in front of everyone. How dare she?"


    "Not just giarism, but from Shakira? Wow, I guess thatst name really means something. Turns out it was a second-rate copy after all-so pathetic."


    Shakira is amazing! Her designs have so much soul, and she can pull off so many styles. Is she here just to show everyone how it''s done?"


    Amidst the buzzing crowd, Yvette froze. Her eyes widened, her face drained of color, and her body went stiff. "How could


    this happen...


    85% 63%


    She had nned for everything, but she had never considered that Shakira would use that exact design from the start. She felt herself grow colder, as if losing all her heat.


    With great effort, Yvette turned back to see the Nelson family-Cody''s eyes were wild with rage, practically glowing, making her legs turn to jelly. If the guards hadn''t been holding her, she might have copsed right there. Suddenly, Cody turned to Yvette, his face a mix of shock and anger. "Yvette, what the hell is going on here?"


    He was on the edge. He hadn''t thought the family would face such a scandal in front of the whole country. And not just any scandal, but one involving Shakira, who came from humble beginnings. It only made Cody feel even more humiliated. Yvette ette trembled, panic taking over as she stuttered, "N-no, it''s not what it looks like..." Overwhelmed by fear, she squeezed her eyes shut and fainted. "Wow, the lead role just fainted."


    "Someone call an ambnce. If they wait too long, she won''t be able to keep up


    "She call


    called herself a genius. A genius to copy others?"


    this act.'' this act.


    The "Is


    "Mr.


    arena


    th Cody


    erupted into chaos, and reporters couldn''t let such juicy gossip slip by. With Yvette unconscious, they turned their cameras on Cody and Finn. Nelson, were you aware that your daughter''s giarism?"


    s all part of some n? Was the price just not right?"


    If it weren''t for Cody''s effort to stay calm, he would''veshed out at thatst dig.


    As the mess unfolded, Shakira stepped back and distanced herself from the chaos as if it had nothing to do with her. With her arms crossed, she watched as Cody got bombarded with questions, his face turned red with embarrassment. A smug smile crept onto her face. "This feels "This feels pretty great! Yvette loves to show off, right? And doesn''t the Nelson family think she''s their ticket to glory? Then they should enjoy this special show for them!" and took and the Nelson family followed behind.


    show was over. Shakira her hands and turned to leave.


    As she exited the building, she lowered her head and sent a message to Sean. Will transfer all the expenses from today to you. With all the promotions, decorations, recruiting judges, and reporters, it would easily total around a hundred grand. Meanwhile, Sean was watching the the live broadcast upstairs and quickly replied: [I''m really happy, and today''s on me.]


    Shakira smiled, but just then, a voice cut through the air like ice. "What''s there to be so happy about? Could you share with me?"


    Shakira stiffened and looked up as she tucked her phone away discreetly. She shed a sweet smile at Walter in the Maybach. "What a coincidence, Mr. Lopez. What brings you here?"


    Walter ignored her and turned his gaze away, leaving her his handsome profile.


    In the silence, Levi, seated in the front, signaled for her to get into the car.


    Shakira rushed over, only to see there was no room in the front. She nced back at the ck car convoy, saying, "There''s no space. I''ll just head to the back..."


    Walter cut in coldly, "Get in."


    "But


    "I won''t say it twice."


    Shakira hesitated, torn between facing the consequences now orter. In the end, she chose ter." She walked around to the other side and squeezed into the car, practically pressed against the door, tilting her body to fit. Walter shot her a condescending look, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes as he ordered, "Drive."


    As the car started to move, Shakira barely had a chance to settle in before it lurched forward, causing her to lean in and then back again. In the midst of that motion, she awkwardly tumbled into Walter''s space. Her body brushed against his, and the warmth of his skin sent sparks through her.


    >Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.

 Chapter 20

    Shakira lifted her gaze cautiously to meet Walter''s intense stare. His eyes were like a dark abyss, making her heart race.


    She tried to inch back toward the door, but just then, the car lurched to a stop, sending her tumbling forward again. This time, her facended on Walter''s hard, warm thigh. Rubbing her forehead, Shakira shot an annoyed look at Brian, who was driving.


    Brian exined, "It was the red light, Ms. Nelson. Just stay put."


    Shakira thought, ''Stay put? I can barely buckle my seatbelt. Irritated, she pulled herself up, about to retreat to her corner.


    Walter''s icy voice cut through, "Did you choose that seat to end up in myp next time?"


    Shakira shot her head around, unable to contain her sarcasm. "You could stand to be a little less narcissistic, you know?" Walter smirked, "Are you really going to say thosest two incidents weren''t nned?" "That was just a fluke!"


    "Oh."


    Shakira fought the urge to smack him. She then turned her attention to the outside, where billboards were still shing images of the chaos-reporters were now trailing the Nelson family to the hospital.


    Yvette had been rushed to the emergency room, and Reba and Selena showed up too, alongside the Smith family. They were all anxiously waiting outside while the Nelson family''s bodyguards blocked the reporters, refusing interviews or exnations. Online gossip about the Nelsons was spiraling out of control.


    As Shakira pondered how Yvette nned to smooth things over with her family, Walter''s voice broke her thoughts. "Shakira, what do you really want?"


    "What?" Confused, she turned to look at Walter, who had leaned in closer, his tall frame looming over her. His cold gaze like it was piercing through her.


    felt


    Tell


    "You''re not the ''Shakira'' that people talk about," he continued, his voice steady. "That ''Shakira'' is arrogant, rebellious, and clueless. But you? You''re a fantastic cook, quick-witted, and you have design talent that a lot of people wish they had. What else are you hiding from me?"


    Shakira held his gaze and didn''t flinch or show any signs of panic. "Walter, I told you, I''m here to make it up to you. I want to help you heal your leg." Each word was clear and sincere, as if she really had no hidden motives.


    They locked eyes in silence for what felt like forever. Finally, Walter smirked, a hint of sarcasm on his lips, and leaned back in his seat.


    Shakira frowned, puzzled by his attitude. She leaned closer, propping herself up beside him. "You don''t believe me? Are you scared of me?"


    "Why should I trust you?" Walter asked, getting right to the point. "I don''t know what you''ve been up to, but you''re definitely caught up in this whole Nelson family mess."All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    He lifted his hand to pinch her chin, forcing her to look at him. "Even going after your own family like that? Your intentions are murky." With that, he tightened his grip and pushed her aside.


    Shakira froze for a moment, then whispered fiercely, "That''s my business. What does it have to do with you?"


    Walter didn''t respond, and they fell into a heavy silence.


    Once they returned to the vi, Walter signaled for Brian to follow him upstairs. Levi approached Shakira, concerncing his voice. "Are you okay, Ms. Nelson?" Shakira shook her head. "I''m fine."


    Shakira


    Levi took a close look at her, making sure she truly seemed alright before rxing his worry. "Don''t take it personally. Mr. Lopez used to be cheerful, but he changed after the injury." Shakira scoffed, "Just because he can''t stand up, he got knocked down, huh?"


    Her words were too sharp, leaving Levi momentarily speechless. All he could manage was an awkwardugh.


    Shakira shrugged. "It''s all s all good. I know I owe him. Until I fix his leg, even if he acts like a total jerk, I won''t let it bother me. You can count on that, Levi."


    Seeing her sincerity, Levi let out a sigh of relief. "With you here, we can rx a bit."


    Shakira


    smiled. "Thanks for trusting me."


    Levi chuckled lightly, unintentionally spilling the beans. "Honestly, no one else can handle Mr. Lopez''s current mood like you can."


    Shakira blinked, feeling the odd sting of thement, as if she were being made a scapegoat. She couldn''t help but think that she must have been out of her mind that night. Shaking it off, she nced at the clock and headed to the kitchen to make dinner for Walter. After the chaos fromst night, the kitchen staff was on high alert, clearing out everything Walter disliked. Just in case, they peeked in to watch Shakira cook, worried she''d toss something weird into the dish-if another fallout happened, they could lose their jobs. Knowing she wasn''t weed, Shakira dropped off the dinner and left before Walter arrived.


    She sought out Levi for Walter''s medical history, but unfortunately, it was all with Walter, and no one else had ess to it. Hence, she asked Levi about Walter''s symptoms and pieced together some thoughts.


    But really, to get the urate details, she''d have to see Walter in action. Right now, the biggest problem was Walter refusing her medical help. She couldn''t stick around forever. Just then, her phone buzzed with a new message...


    *****


    At 9:30 PM, Walter rolled out of his study and back to his bedroom. When he pushed open the door, he heard running water from the bathroom. He scanned the room but didn''t see Shakira anywhere.


    ''So, she''s too embarrassed to face me after I exposed her intentions? What a hypocritical woman!'' Irritation washed over him-feelings he wouldn''t dare admit were triggered by Shakira


    Once he dismissed Brian, Walter maneuvered his wheelchair into the bathroom, where there was a servant with her back to him, checking the water temperature. "Get out," he ordered.


    The servant stood up and turned around slowly. "Mr. Lopez, it''s too dangerous for you to be alone in here. Let me help you."


    Time seemed to slow down as Walter caught a glimpse of Shakira''s beaming face. For a brief moment, surprise flickered across his expression-so quick that even he might''ve missed it. He managed to scowl. "Shakira, what are you up to now?" Shakira came up beside the wheelchair, mischief dancing in her eyes. She leaned in slightly, her tone yful. "Didn''t you ask me to take care of you? Here I am, doing just that." Walter froze, caught off guard by the view down her neckline.


    NY


    B


    Just as he was in a daze, Shakira quickly unbuttoned two buttons of his shirt. Instantly, his expre


    grasped her slender wrist, feeling it as fragile as a twig in his grip.

 Chapter 21

    darkened immediately.


    In a sh, Shakira flipped her hand over and seized the moment she twisted Walter''s wrist and mmed his arm against the armrest of the wheelchair. The sharp smack echoed in the bathroom, and for a brief moment, they both froze, eyes locked. Walter''s expression Seeing the fiery anger rising in his eyes, Shakira quickly let go. "Sorry, that was just a reflex..."


    She turned his palm over, checked, and gasped heavily. The skin on his palm and the inside of his elbow was bright red. A wave of guilt washed over her. "I didn''t think you would grab me How about I give you a little massage instead?" Walter


    r narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint shining in his gaze. "What game are you ying this time, Shakira?" Shakira wrinkled her nose. "Am I really that obvious?"


    Walter smirked. ''Does she think I''m that easy to fool


    "Hey, stop looking at me like I''m some kind of criminal. I had no idea your skin was so sensitive. Just a little touch and it''ll all be red?" Shakira retorted, ncing at his tanned skin. She could tell he was naturally fair-skinned, but it shouldn''t be that easy for him to get red. Walter red at her in silence, looking fiercer than Baby Fishy, his pet crocodile. Shakira pouted. "I just don''t want you to be mad at me."


    Her soft, sweet t voice sent a a jolt through him. There


    was something indescribable in the air that made his heart race. He kept his expression cool while retorting, "You actually care about that?" without hesitation, not noticing Walter''s expression softening just a bit.


    But then she added, "If y "If you hate me and refuse


    Of course I do," Shakira replied me and refuse to let me help with your leg, I''ll be stuck being your servant forever."


    Walter''s face


    Walter sc face darkened again as he pushed her away. He couldn''t help but think that one day he might actually lose it and strangle her.


    "Hey!" Shakira eximed, confused, feeling that dealing with him was like walking on eggshells. She shook her wrist and continued, "Also, I came here to tell you something


    at her with a cynical look. Finally ready to reveal her true self, huh?"


    Walter nced at


    "I''m starting school next week, so I won''t be around during the day," Shakira said.


    After a long silence, Walter asked in a weird tone, "Is that it?"


    "Yep! Levi said he was worried you''d get mad, so I should tell you myself


    Walter chuckled out of anger. "I don''t have time to babysit you."


    "Fine then." Shakira puffed out her cheeks, resisting the urge to snap back..


    ''It''s like he''s not the one who followed me all the way to Yonder Digital, and the one whose mood swings of his could scare anyone off. Honestly, if I weren''t afraid he might show up at my school to drag me back, I wouldn''t even care, Shakira thought, feeling frustrated. She nced back at the steaming water in the bathtub. "Alright, just take care of yourself. I''ll head out now.. "Go ahead."


    Shakira blinked, thinking she must have misheard. She pointed between him and herself. "Didn''t you just tell me to go!"


    That was then, and this is now." Walter''s expression was stoic as he added, "Since you look so sincere, I''ll give you this chance.


    ''Damn, you didn''t even look my way. What a weirdo-changing moods faster than flipping a page in a book! Grumbling to herself, Shakira bent down to help him loosen the buttons on his shirt.


    Walter stayed still, letting her be. He looked at her again-her eyes were slightly downcast, her long eyshes brushing her checks, concealing whatever emotions she was feeling. But that little red mole on her cheek stood out more vividly as her checks puffed up in irritation, making her look cuter.


    Seeing her annoyed brought him a strange sense of amusement, but it was short-lived. He wasn''t used to being touched by anyone, especially not a woman. Shakira''s fingers gliding over his skin sent an unexpected tingle through him, one he found hard to shake off. At this distance, the only one who had been this close when he was awake... was "her."


    Shakira peeled off Walter''s shirt, revealing a striking tattoo on his chest. The intricate design was so lifelike that it sent a shiver down her spine. The Jesus pendant hanging at his corbone stood out even more against the tattoo of Satan, drawing her in-she found herself momentarily captivated.


    Walter shot her a nce, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "What''s the matter? Scared of this?"


    "Not at all." Shakira snapped back to reality, her eyebrows raised. "I''m just surprised that someone like you would wear a Jesus pendant."


    She leaned She


    closer, her curiosity piqued. "This pendant doesn''t match the tattoo at all. Was it a gift from someone special?"


    Her bright, mischievous eyes locked onto Walter''s. He felt a tightening in his chest, and it took him a moment too long to push her away. "This isn''t something you should be fantasizing about Get out" "Alright, alright, I''ll drop it for now. I''ll just disappear once your leg heals up." Shakira shrugged, making her way out of the bathroom.


    Walter frowned, annoyance stirring within him. The thought of her leaving him alone again filled him with an inexplicable sense of frustration.


    In the hospital, Yvette was finally rolled into a luxurious ward after two grueling hours in emergency care. The atmosphere was tense, and the Nelson family looked conflicted while the Smiths appeared nervous. When Lago and Jessie saw the news, they had nearly freaked out What was Yvette thinking? Instead of acting like the beloveddy, she made headlines for all the wrong reasons, leaving the entire Nelson family humiliated. If it weren''t for the Ortiz familying to the rescue, the Nelsons would have been in even bigger trouble!


    "Dad, Mom, I''m so sorry. Please don''t abandon me... Yvette''s cries broke through the silence, echoing in the ward.


    Cody and Reba, along with Lago and Jessie, moved in closer. As they exchanged nces, Lago and Jessie froze in their tracks, looking nervous.


    Reba took Yvette''s cold hand in hers, feeling her heart ache. After eighteen years of raising her, the bond was undeniable. "I''m here, sweetie." Reba''s voice was soothing as she gentlyforted Yvette, like a mother lulling her child to sleep. Yvette opened her eyes. The moment she saw Cody and Reba, tears spilled down her cheeks. "Mom, Dad, I thought I lost you I was so scared..."


    Slowly Silly, dreams are not real. We would never abandon you." Reba wiped away Yvette''s tears, her heart breaking a little more with every sob. Yvette sniffled, not daring to meet Cody''s eyes. "I messed up... I hurt the Nelson Group...  U


    Cody''s expression had softened considerably since the incident at Yonder Digital, but hearing her words made him furrow his brow again. He tried to keep calm, but his tone was still serious. "Yvette. I don''t want to be hard on you, but this is too much." Reba shot him a look. "Yvette just got out of the ER, and everything is settled, right? There''s no need to keep bringing it


    up.''All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    "Mom, Dad''s right. I acted on impulse, thinking I could save the Nelson Group, I was so naive... Yvette''s voice cracked, and more tears streamed down her face. "Let him yell at me. I deserve it. I''ll take whateveres..." Gradually, Cody''s anger was giving way to guilt as he took in her remorseful state.

 Chapter 22

    But thinking about being cornered by reporters that afternoon sent a wave of humiliation to Cody. He had never felt like this before. Anger and shame stirred inside him, leaving him feeling suffocated. Yvette instinctively nced at Lago, their eyesmunicating silently. The dim light in the ward made her pale face look even more pitiful. Struggling to hold back tears, she seemed to make a decision and suddenly tossed aside the nket covering her. "Yvette?" Reba rushed to support her. Yvette climbed out of bed and bowed deeply toward Cody and Reba. "Dad, Mom, today''s mess is all my fault, and I deserve the ridicule and humiliation. But I can''t let you guys suffer because of me." Shen then turned to Mitchell and asked, her tone firm, "Are there still reporters outside, Mitchell? Mitchell, who had been lost in thought, looked up. "Yeah, just a few."


    "Well, that''s good. Yvette managed a faint smile, though her face remained pale. I''ll go out and tell the reporters the truth. I''m not the real daughter of the Nelson family, and I''m just the mistaken one: This way, they''ll focus on me and leave you alone. Her tone was calm, as if she hadpletely given up and didn''t care about anything anymore. All she wanted was to keep the Nelson family safe, and she''d do anything for that.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Reba gasped, covering her mouth, eyes brimming with tears. Oh, Yvette, how could you be so foolish?"


    Yvette''s smile widened, but everyone could tell she was forcing herself. She even turned around tofort Reba. "Mom, it''s okay. I''ve always made mistakes before and faced my share of scolding. This is nothingpared to what I''ve been through. As long as everyone is okay, I''m not scared.


    Reba held her hand tightly. "If only you had told us sooner that those designs weren''t yours... We could have figured something out."


    Yvette''s voice trembled as she began to exin her "reasons." "I know Shakira didn''t like me after she got home. I took her ce and love from Dad, Mom, and brothers. I felt guilty, and she has every right to be angry at me.


    "When I saw the portfolio that day, she hid it away, looking suspicious of me. I shouldn''t have interfered, but her designs were so good! I just wanted to help her shine.


    "So, I submitted her designs to Yonder Digital. I thought that if I got in and seeded, I could tell Shakirater, and she would be happy.


    "But I never expected her to suddenly... leave home, and everything went wrong at Yonder Digital"


    As she spoke, her voice cracked. "I wanted to tell everyone the truth, I wanted to tell Mom and Dad that the designs weren''t mine, and Shakira was the one who passed the Yonder Digital interview, not me." "But... Tears streamed down her cheeks, and her emotions broke loose. "I couldn''t find the courage to say it, I wanted to help Shakira, but I also wanted to help the family.


    "Once I got through the interviews and met the chairman of Yonder Digital, I nned to ask him not to pull out of the partnership. I thought then I could share the truth and help Shakira get a job there as a designer."


    Yvette''s tears poured down her face as she bowed her head, covering her face with her hands. "But I was wrong. I never thought Shakira would have joined thepetition too. I never expected that the challenge from Yonder Digital would be connected to her designs..."


    Yvette hunched over and sobbed silently, and the Nelson family felt their hearts soften as they realized how much she had cared about Shakira and the family. If anyone was to me, it was Sean. If he hadn''t turned his back, none of this chaos would have happened. Reba, who had felt distant from Yvette carlier, was now overwhelmed with empathy. "Alright, let''s not talk about this anymore. It''s not your fault, and you don''t have to take responsibility for it."


    Cody finally spoke up. "Reba''s right. You need to take a break. This whole situation went sideways, but you were just trying to help the family, and we all get that.


    "Plus, the Ortiz family has teamed up with us and taken over the projects that Yonder Digital has objected to. As for the giarism issue... it''ll blow over once things settle down"


    His words signaled that the embarrassment Yvette caused the Nelson family could finally be put behind them.


    Yvette was taken aback. "The Ortiz family?"


    "Yeah, right after you passed out, some folks from the Ortiz family showed up at the office. Finn has signed a contract with them. Reba patted the back of Yvette''s hand, teasing, "That Ortiz guy seems pretty worried about you."


    Yvette''s face blushed. "Mom, we''re just good friends."


    "Sure, sure. Once you''re feeling better, you should invite him over to thank him for his help today," Reba said with a wink.


    "Okay Yvette nodded. After a moment of hesitation, she asked. "Did Shakira...e in first?".


    "Let''s not talk about her, Reba said, her tone turning cold.


    Cody''s expression soured too. Today''s mess was partly Shakira''s fault. If she hadn''t stirred things up and just stayed home, would they even be in this trouble?


    Thinking about the onlinements scolding Yvette and the Nelson family, all while putting Shakira on a pedestal, made Cody and Reba furious. They couldn''t believe thoseizens didn''t see that Shakira was the real troublemaker, especially with the way theypared the two sisters-one was praised, while the other was shamed.


    Mitchell spoke up. "No, Yonder Digital has announced the rankings. Shakira dropped out of thepetition, and they'' brought in the third-ce contestant instead."


    Yvette was stunned, her nails almost digging into her palms. "What''s wrong with Shakira the ***h? After all that drama, she just backed out? Was she just trying to make me look bad?"


    Suddenly, something hit Yvette and she blurted out, "Isn''t it a little too coincidental that right after Shakira left home, the partnership with Yonder Digital fell through? And the second round of the interview just happened to be based on her design sketch? Plus, that day she got in the Maybach-was it Sean...


    She didn''t finish her thought, but the Nelson family caught on to it. Cody, having navigated the business world for years, quickly picked up on Yvette''s implications. His expression darkened, but he held his tongue.


    Mitchell, however, jumped in. "Yvette, even if there''s something going on between Shakira and Sean, they can''t control you into using that same design sketch."


    Yyette stared at Mitchel, her heart sinking. Normally, he would defend her without question, but now, he was sticking up for Shakira.

 Chapter 23

    This isn''t good. Mitchell isn''t really on my side. I can''t let this goon, Yvette thought to herself.


    She bit her lip, keeping her voice soft and steady. "Thanks for worrying about me today, everyone. I can take care of myself now, and you should go home and get some rest," "Yeah, it''s gettingte. There are murses outside. Just call them if you need anything. If somethinges up, call Dad or your brothers Cody added briefly before he and Reba left. Smith couple


    The "Mitchell," Yvette


    exchanged a nce with Yvette, silently urging her to reach outter.


    headed out of the hospital room, with Mitchell being thest to linger.


    One by one, the called


    Mitchell paused before walking over and bending slightly by her bedside. "Yvette, just make sure to take care of yourself."


    Hesitantly, she she asked, "Are you upset?"


    "Of course fot! I''m really d you''re okay." Mitchell replied, maybe a bit too quickly.


    "But you defended Shakira today." Yvette got straight to the point, her voice filled with sadness.


    Mitchell hadn''t expected her to bring that up. He instinctively shot back, "How could I side with Shakira?"


    Actually, he wasn''t siding with Shakira; it''s just that he wasn''t fully on Yvette''s side this time. Previously, he had always jumped to her defense without a second thought, scolding Shakira without hesitation.


    But this time, Yvette had genuinely messed up, and he couldn''t ignore that. So, he turned away from Yvette''s probing gaze.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    Yvette noticed right away. "It''s my fault for thinking too highly of myself, believing I could save everyone. I thought I could help Shakira regain her confidence after the awful two years she had in Bris, swept up in those rumors... But I can''t fix what my biological parents


    did.


    aid.


    "I feel useless. I can''t do anything right; I just make things worse


    Mitchell''s expression softened, and he felt the weight of her words.


    "Why am I so useless?" Yvette shouted, lifting her hand to smack her head.


    Mitchell couldn''t let her do that. He grabbed her hands hurriedly, guilt flooding through him. "How could I ever think poorly of Yvette? Mitchell Nelson, do forget how you almost got her killed? "I''m so sorry, Yvette. You''ve been caught in the middle, and I just overthought everything..." He let out a heavy sigh before adding, "Trust me, I''ll help you sort out everything online. Just focus on getting better. Your health is already fragile, and getting worked up over this isn''t worth it." Yvette looked at him carefully. "Do you me me, Mitchell?"


    "Of course not. I could never care about anyone more than you Mitchell replied, ruffling her hair affectionately.


    Yvette wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, eximing, "I feel so lucky to have met you, Mitchell


    Then, she added softly, "You were meant for Shakira originally, but because of me... No matter how angry she gets or how much she mes me, I totally deserve it.


    Mitchell tapped her on the forehead lightly. "Come on, stop saying stuff like that. A sister like Shakira? I''d dly keep my


    23


    distance," he said, his voice-filled with disdain.


    JAY


    Hearing those familiar words, Yvette finally felt at case.


    Shakira prepared a big lunch for Walter before heading out, pretending to shop for school supplies. After grabbing her things, she stepped out of the vi to find a sleek Lexus SUV walling for her. Assuming it was a ride set up by Levi, she opened the door and was about to hop in.


    In the back seat sat a sharply dressed man. The car was roomy, but he sat with his legs bent. One could picture out of the car, standing tall and confident.


    "Mr. Lopez" Shakira raised an eyebrow, surprised.


    Walter nced at her casually. "I need to head out too. Levi asked me to give you a ride."


    him stepping


    Shakira wasn''t convinced-it was hard to believe that Walter would just follow Levi''s orders like that. Still, she climbed into the car.


    After a smooth drive from Easke Valley Estate, they arrived at the biggest bookstore in the city. Shakira grabbed her backpack and said. "It might be a while. Why don''t you go take care of your stuff?"


    Walter shot her a look. "Just go back by yourself."


    "Alright, Mr. Lopez." Shakira fought back a smile before hopping out of the car.


    Walter


    r watched her cheerful figure and let out a scoff. "Drive," he ordered.


    Inside the bookstore, Shakira handed her neatly written note to a staff member, who quickly gathered the items she needed.


    Five minutester, Shakira made her purchase and hopped into a cab, heading to Harborview Medical Center. In her past life, she had had a kidney transnt there with Yvette. After that her health started to deteriorate. This visit was to clear up


    doubts.


    some


    When


    she walked into the hospital, she spotted a women''s restroom ahead. Just as she was about to enter, a sharp voice cut through the air.


    "Shakira, how dare you show your face here? You bettere with me to apologize to Yvette!" Jessie shouted, her face twisted in anger as she rushed over and grabbed Shakira''s arm.


    She thought to herself, If I could get Shakira to apologize to Yvette and post it online, maybe Yvette could avoid the bacsh. If it weren''t for that little witch, Yvette wouldn''t be dealing with all this trouble. It was just awful seeing people make fun of Yvette online! With a fierce grip, Jessie''s beautifully manicured nails felt like they were digging into Shakira''s skin, and she wished she could crush her bones.


    Shakira furrowed her brows, momentarily stunned. Once she shook off the daze, she pulled her arm away. "Let go Caught off guard, Jessie stumbled backward. Her high heels twisted her ankle, and she gasped in pain.


    Shakira had no intention of dealing wise and continued walking.


    Jessie wanted to chase hier down but felt a jolt of pain shoot through her foot the moment she lifted it. Angry and frustrated, she didn''t care about the quiet atmosphere of the hospital and shouted, "You ungrateful brat! You actually pushed me! After I raised you for eighteen years, this is how you repay me?"


    Her loud voice drew everyone''s attention. But the more people gathered, the bolder she became


    SEND


    Hands on her hips, she proimed. "Come see this injustice! I raised her with so much care, only to find out she''s not even my daughter. You guys won''t believe it! The hospital mixed her up with another baby.


    "Now that I''ve finally found my real daughter, this devilish girl tries every trick to hurt her, evennding her in the hospital. Not only won''t shee up and apologize, but now she''s alsoying her hands on me."


    0

 Chapter 24

    24


    Of course, the onlookers gathered around were standing on Jessie''s side, all pointing fingers at Shakira.


    "How W could


    I a young girl be so cruel? What a waste of such a pretty face."


    "You can''t judge a book by its cover. No matter how pretty she is on the outside, she is ugly on the inside, and there will be consequences!" "Eighteen years are enough to tame a wolf, let alone a person."


    "Isn''t she afraid her own children will treat her the same way in the future? I can''t believe a person can be so heartless!"


    Two kind-hearted elderlydies even stepped forward, full of righteous indignation, blocking Shakira''s way on either side. "Youngdy, you can''t act this way. Even if she didn''t give birth to you, she has raised you up, and that''s more important than giving birth," said one of them. "Yeah. Go apologize to your adoptive mother and her daughter right now!" the other said,


    With no way out, Shakira could only turn around. Jessie stood there, hands on her hips, looking smug, "You s***d brat, think you can run?" Shakira found it quite ridiculous. "It''s not my fault your daughter got caught giarizing. I certainly didn''t force her to copy my work.


    "By the way, you''d better not morally ckmail me just because you raised me up. Don''t forget that your daughter was raised by my parents. What have you done for me in all these years, aside from not letting me starve? Meanwhile, my real parents have treated your daughter like a princess, providing her with the best living conditions," she continued. At this point, Shakiraughed, her eyes revealing unmasked sarcasm


    "To be honest, your daughter has had a much better life in my home than in yours. Otherwise, she wouldn''t still be clinging to my family. Mrs. Smith, I''m impressed by how you defend your baby girl, but dare she call you ''Mom'' in front of everyone?" she asked. Each word Shakira spoke struck home, piercing Jessie''s heart. Jessie was stunned, unable toprehend when Shakira had started talking so harshly


    Previously, Yvette had told her that Shakira''s character had dramatically changed, but she had believed that Shakira would always be easy to bully. Now it seemed that Shakira had truly changed during those two years away.


    Jessie shouted, "That''s because my daughter is grateful. Even without blood ties, she loves her adoptive parents deeply."


    "Oh, Shakira raised an


    sed an eyebrow, elongating her voice meaningfully and sarcastically. "So, it''s because her adoptive parents raised her well that she''s grateful to them instead of her biological ones. In that case, since my adoptive parents raised me poorly, it''s natural that Jessie was so furious she nearly fainted.


    I''m not grateful to them."


    "You...


    At this point, the onlookers who had been pointing fingers at Shakira finally understood. It turned out that Shakira wasn''t ungrateful; rather, Jessie had always treated her poorly.


    They thought to themselves, ''No wonder! This young girl clearlyes across as well-mannered and considerate, yet her adoptive mother called her a stupid brat. It''s no surprise she treats her so coldly."


    Realizing the situation was turning against her, Jessie stumbled towards Shakira, trying to take her to Yvette as soon as possible. However, before she could grab Shakira''s hand, she was pulled away by the two kind-hearteddies  Ma''am,


    this is your fault-You raised your kid poorly, yet you''re scolding her. You''re old enough to know that the apple doesn''t fall far from the tree. Why can''t you reflect on yourself? one of thedies said. Jessie''s eyes widened. She spent a lot of money every year on beauty treatments, yet now she was calling old by an elderly.


    woman. woman.


    Even after being affluent for over a decade, Jessie hadn''t changed her underlying shrewish nature. She immediately exploded in fury. "Who are you calling old? This is my family matter; what''s it to you? Get lost!" Despite Jessie''s outburst, the two elderlydies were unfazed. Now that they had seen Jessie''s true colors, they fully realized they had almost been used by her.


    "It was you who asked us to mediate, and now you''re yelling at us? You really deserved to be treated coldly by both your daughter and your adopted daughter, one of thedies said.


    "Don''t worry, youngdy. You go ahead; we''ll help you teach hera lesson," the other said to Shakira.


    Shakira nodded gratefully. "Thank you."


    And so, Jessie found herself surrounded by the two elderlydies and the crowd, having no choice but watch as Shakira strode away.


    She entered the women''s restroom and came out a momentter She had changed into a ck long-sleeved shirt, wearing a ck mask and a ck cap,pletely wrapped up, and leaving only her bright eyes visible.


    She pressed the elevator button and arrived at the office of the hospital''s director, Dale Tucker, Shakira pushed the door open without any hesitation. Inside, Dale looked at her with surprise.


    Shakira lowered her voice, slightly hoarse, and said, "I''m Lonely Bird, and I''d like to discuss a coboration with you."


    Ten minutester, all the doctors from the nephrology department had gathered in the director''s office. Dale was flushed with excitement. "Dr. Lonely Bird, these are all our nephrology doctors."


    He introduced her, saying, "This is the renowned Dr. Lonely Bird. She has a new project and is interested in our hospital''s technology and resources. I hope everyone will cooperate."


    Amidst the astonished faces, Shakira slowly spoke, "I have a n for artificial kidney transntation and am looking for young patients suitable for non-urgent kidney transnts. Your nephrology department is famous nationwide, I wonder if there are any suitable candidates in the hospital. I will cover all costs and will personally follow up on their recovery."


    As soon as she finished speaking, the doctors began whispering among themselves. Dale tapped on the table. "Feel free to speak up: Dr. Lonely Bird is more than willing to hear your thoughts" One doctor stepped forward, "You''ve only done a few experiments with artificial kidneys, and you''re ready to use them on


    humans?"


    Shakira simply replied, "We''ve conducted over a thousand live experiments with a sess rate of ny percent."


    The doctor scoffed, "And you''re willing to use it with only a ny percent sess rate? If something goes wrong, who takes. responsibility? You?"


    Shakira answered unflinchingly. "The remaining failure rate is due to gic defects in the subjects themselves, not attributed to experimental error."


    The doctor was momentarily stumped, unable to respond. Then a doctor in the crowd suddenly piped up, "Isn''t there a suitable patient currently staying in our hospital?" Dale immediately asked, "Who?" .


    "The one in the SVIP ward, Ms. Yvette Nelson, the doctor said.


    Walter was in a video conference on the top floor of the Lopez Group building when Brian suddenly burst in.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Noticing Brian''s rare disy of agitation, Walter raised his hand muted the call, and turned to Brian. "Mr. Lopez, Lonely Bird has been spotted at Harborview Medical Center! Brian said. §ß§Ö §á§à§ê." Walter tightened his grip on the arm of his wheelchair slightly. Stop him. We''re heading

 Chapter 25

    25


    Walter and his team set out from the Lopez Group building.


    At the same time, after the doctor mentioned Yvette''s name, the one who had just mocked Shakira immediately interrupted. "No, it can''t be Yvettel


    Slowly, Shakira turned toward him, her lips curling into a faint, cold smile under her mask. She nced at the name tag on his chest and asked, "Dr. Jenkins, tell me, why not?"


    Dale shot a re at the impolite doctor, whose name was Paul Jenkins, then he turned to Shakira with a warm, gentle smile, exining in a soft tone. "Dr. Lonely Bird, here''s the thing. The patient in the SVIP ward is one of our hospital''s SVIP patients." "Have you heard of f the e Nelson family? They''re one of the top five wealthy families in Crescentville with a history that goes back a hundred years. This patient is the daughter of the Nelson family, and the entire hospital takes her case very seriously." he continued. "The Nelson family hold Ms. Yvette Nelson in high regard, and they certainly aren''t short on funds, so they wouldn''t ept such experimental project... From his words, it was clear how influential the Nelson family was and how much they valued Yvette. Hearing this, Shakira''s eyes darkened. "Mr. Tucker, don''t waste your time exining to her," Paul lifted his chin, ring at Shakira with obvious hostility in his eyes. "She''s just a nobody who came from nowhere and doesn''t even dare show us her face. How could she possibly be a disciple personally taught by a medical giant? She''s probably an imposter, don''t fall for her tricks!" Dale froze for a moment and instinctively nced at Shakira, suddenly realizing Paul had a point. Shakira had only shown him a letter upon entering, with no other evidence to prove she was truly Lonely Bird, not to mention that the authenticity of the letter couldn''t be confirmed. After all, all, no one had ever seen who Lonely Bird truly was Shakira, of course, noticed the scrutinizing looks from Dale and the others.


    She was about to speak when a nurse burst in, panting. "Mr. Tucker, bad news! Three patients just arrived in the ER. They''re all vomiting blood for unknown reasons and have fallen intoas. It''s serious, and the ER doctors are at a loss-they can''t figure out the cause!" Dale''s face instantly went pale. "Quick, gather all the hospital''s internal medicine specialists right away!"


    Paul spoke up at that moment, obviously setting Shakira up. "Mr Tucker, don''t worry. Don''t we have the famous Dr. Lonely Bird here with us?"


    Dale''s eyes lit up immediately, but a secondter, hesitation returned. Paul''s words had nted doubt in his mind about Shakira''s identity. If Shakira wasn''t really Lonely Bird, it could lead to a disaster to the entire hospital.


    But before Dale could make up his mind, Shakira was already heading toward the nurse at the door. "Let''s go. Take me


    there."


    The nurse didn''t know who Shakira was, but after hearing the certainty in her voice, her anxiety inexplicably eased. She hurried to lead the way. "Wait! I haven''t said anything yet!" Dale was flustered, quickly motioning for the other doctors to follow.


    By the time they reached the ER, the special care unit was already in chaos. As Shakira walked through the automatic ss doors, the patient on the outermost bed immediately coughed up blood. Shakira narrowed her eyes and swiftly approached. Paul, a step behind, deliberately raised his voice. "Lives are at stake here. Don''t pretend to know what you''re doing if you FIL


    don''t."


    His words caught the attention of everyone in the ER, and they all turned toward Shakira, suddenly feeling tense.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    Ignoring him, Shakira walked right past the nurse and took the Hand of the bleeding patient, checking his pulse.


    Seeing the way she was taking the pulse, Paul''s face darkened slightly. He snorted, thinking to himself that this impostor seemed to have some skills after all.


    He wasn''t about to joke around when lives were on the line, so he joined the other experts in checking the other patients. Once they could determine the cause, the treatment would be straightforward.


    Paul''s reputation and skill were among the best in the hospital, which was why Dale had been so shaken by his earlier words.


    He used


    his stethoscope to check the patient''s heartbeat and internal o***ns, quicklying to a conclusion. "It''s food poisoning. Send them for gastricvage.


    One of the ER doctors immediately


    One of the


    spoke up, "We initially suspected food poisoning as well, but they''ve only vomited blood -no other vomit, and no typical symptoms of food poisoning. Thanks for confirming the cause, Dr. Jenkins. Now we know what to do." Paul looked smug. "You''re stillcking experience. Spend more time in the ER, and you''ll figure things out, Get ready for thevage..."


    "If you send them for a gastricvage, they''ll just vomit more blood," Shakira interjected.


    Paul''s face darkened immediately. "What do you mean?"


    Shakira had already taken the pulses of the other two patients. She calmly stated, "While the primary cause of their shock is indeed food poisoning, the blood vomiting is due to inmmatory lesions in the lungs. If I''m not mistaken, the three of them are close rtives and all I suffer from the same lung disease. "Nonsense!" Paul barked. "I didn''t find any signs of lung disease in my examination. And you''re iming they''re close rtives? Do you think you can figure all that out just by feeling their pulses? Ridiculous." Shakira nced at him, shaking her head with a look of pity in her eyes. Without wasting time arguing, she pulled out a small pack of needles, rolled up the first patient''s shirt, and prepared to administer acupuncture, "What are you doing?" Paul rushed over, about to stop her, but the nurse interrupted urgently. "The blood tests and respiratory pathogen results for all three patients are back. They do have lung disease." Paul froze. "What?"


    He couldn''t believe it, so he grabbed the test results, flipping through them quickly. His face went


    nk


    Still reeling from the shock, Paul was interrupted by the nurse''s excited shout, "The patient''s stopped vomiting blood


    Everyone saw that after Shakira''s acupuncture, the first patient''s condition had stabilized. Shakira moved on to treat the other


    Ten minutester, all three patients were taken to the intensive care unit. Shakira was at the sterilization sink, calmly cleaning her hands and needles.


    Dale rushed over, full of gratitude. "Dr. Lonely Bird, thank goodness you were here today. We''d be in serious trouble otherwise!" Misdiagnosing and mistreating patients was no small matter-it was a matter of life and death. Shakira turned slowly, looking at Paul, though her words were directed at Dale. "T''d like to see Yvette."


    "Okay, Dr. Lonely Bird. Please follow me," Dale replied.


    G


    9


    Paul watched as Dale, full of gespect. led Shakira away. Furious, he mmed his fist into the wall. He quickly pulled out his phone, typing and sending a message.


    "Dr. Lonely Bird, this is the SVIP ward, Dale said as they arrived Our hospital only has two of these rooms, and this one has been reserved exclusively for Ms. Nelson by the Nelson family.


    There was no need for Dale to exin-Shakira already knew how carefully the Nelson family cared for Yvette.


    After a knock, they heard a response from inside, and the group stepped in. Seeing the lively room, Shakira smiled.

 Chapter 26

    26


    As soon as Walter''s car left the parking lot, it got stuck outside. Ban nced back. "Mr. Lopez, there''s been an ident ahead. Multiple roads are blocked." Walter looked at his watch, expressionless. "Clear a path. Have the hospital staff keep Lonely Bird there." "Yes, sir!" Brian replied.


    On the main boulevard of Crescentville''s CBD, all eightnes were at a standstill, with cars lined up and unable to move. Suddenly, a sharp siren pierced the air. Two motorcycles sped down the road, forcing the cars in the rightne to swerve aside. Right behind them, a sleek, luxurious Maybach cruised through smoothly. The other drivers could only watch, frustrated but silent. The moment they saw the license te, they knew better than to mess with the owner of that car. Shakira stood at the doorway, watching the scene inside the ward.


    Reba was slicing an apple, Mitchell held a cup of water, and Jessie was gently wiping Yvette''s calves, forming a loving family picture.


    Yvette


    e had tantly giarized and cheated in front of the whole world, making the Nelson family lose face in public. Yet in less than a day, the Nelson family had forgiven her. She had just fainted, and the whole family had rushed to her side, personally taking care of her, not trusting anyone else to


    do so.


    Shakira thought back to her past life. When the ident happened during her birthday party, the Nelson family had strictly forbidden her from going out and scolded her.


    When she was at her weakest, after donating her kidney, she woke up in the hospital room to find only a nurse. The Nelson family didn''t visit her for days, and when they finally did, it was just a brief stop between their busy schedules.


    It wasn''t until she returned home and overheard Yvette casually mention it that she realized why. The Nelson family had been too busy tending to Yvette, bringing her water and peeling her fruit.


    Now, the scene she had never witnessed in her past life was ying out right in front of her, and it struck Shakira as deeply ironic.


    Reba and the others stood up, watching as a group of people entered. "Mr. Tucker, what''s going on?"


    "Mrs. Nelson, this is Lonely Bird, a direct disciple of the renowned Dr. Matthew Goodman. She''s here with a project she''d like to discuss with you," Dale exined.


    Hearing this, the people in the room gasped in shock, unable to believe that Lonely Bird would personallye to them.


    Yvette looked overwhelmed with surprise, quickly turning her gaze to Shakira, who was now surrounded by the crowd. Shakira''s outfit was mysterious, concealing every inch of her skin except for her amber eyes, which were now fixed on Yvette, filled with an icy, distant detachment. Suddenly, a sh of memory struck Yvette-Shakira''s eyes. But she quickly pushed the thought out of her mind. How can I possibly associate Shakira with this important figure standing before me? That bitch can''t be Lonely Bird, she thought. Mitchell was the first to react, eyeing Shakira suspiciously. "Lonely Bird?"


    Dale quickly caught onto Mitchell''s skepticism. "Mr. Nelson, this is indeed Dr. Lonely Bird. Just earlier in the emergency room, there was an incident, and thanks to Dr. Lonely Bird, three lives were saved."  08:29 C70%


    26


    Remembering how close they came to disaster, Dale felt a cold sweat break out across his back. With Dale''s confirmation, the Nelson family finally rxed.


    Reba stepped forward, taking Shakira''s hand and offering prase. "I always thought the legendary Dr. Lonely Bird would be older. I never expected such a youngdy-so aplished at such a young agel My son Felix has been wanting to coborate with you for a while, but due to some misunderstanding, you declined. Are you here today to..


    Shakira''s a''s voice was ho**se as she replied, "A task came upst minute. As for Mr. Felix Nelson''s coboration, there will be opportunities for us to discuss it in the future."


    She paused, , her gaze shifting toward Yvette. Dale, sensing the tension, quickly exined the situation. As soon as he finished, before anyone else could respond, Jessie was the first to speak up. "Absolutely not!"


    Everyone


    Her heart


    turned


    d to look at her, and Jessie hastily added, "Yvette''s health has always been fragile, and we don''tck money. How can we let Yvette take a risk with a procedure that''s not 100% proven?" was racing-Yvette couldn''t undergo this experiment. She wasn''t truly sick; the kidney transnt was just a way to transfer Shakira''s good fortune to Yvette.


    "That''s right." Reba agreed, nodding along with Jessie''s reasoning. "Why not give this opportunity to a more suitable patient?"


    The underlying message was clear. The Nelson family didn''tck money, and Shakira should go find a poorer patient who couldn''t afford treatment.


    Behind her mask, Shakira''s a''s lips curled into a mocking smile. She spoke, "This experiment poses no health risks to the patient. There isn''t another suitable candidate in Crescentville like Ms. Yvette Nelson. Since Ms. Nelson is also in need of a kidney, why not give it a try? Doesn''t Ms. Nelson want to recover as soon as possible?" Lowering her voice, she added, "If the progress is smooth, I can finish this task early. Then the coboration with Mr. Felix Nelson can move forward sooner. Wouldn''t that be beneficial for everyone?" At first, Reba was unwilling, but hearing this, she hesitated. Felix had been passionate about medicine. When he found out there was an opportunity to coborate with Lonely Bird, he was more excited than when he got into his dream college. He even stayed up for several nights writing reports.


    After the coboration fell through, Felix locked himself in hisb for days and refused toe out. Reba felt bad for herso


    Seeing her wavering, Yvette cursed Lonely Bird inwardly for being maniptive. She immediately put on a pitiful expression. "Mom, Felix has admired Dr. Lonely Bird for a long time. If agreeing to her experiment means securing Felix''s coboration, I''m more than willing to do it him." Reba felt a wave of relief wash over her, but Yvette continued, "Td be happy to do anything for Felix. But I also remember him often saying that in medicine, every step needs to be taken with extreme caution. Sometimes even the smallest detail can cause irreversible consequences..."


    Yvette bit her lip. "Dr. Lonely Bird, are you really certain that I''m the right candidate for this experiment? And can you guarantee there won''t be anyplications?"


    Shakira''s lips curled, having seen though Yvette''s trick. "Ms. Nelson, rest assured. I would never proceed carelessly with something like this. Could you please go downstairs for a full examination right now to make sure you meet the requirements?" Paul, who had been silent up to this point, immediately spoke up. "Don''t worry, I will personally oversee Ms. Nelson''s examination." vette Yvette nodded, a hint of relief softening her expression. "Thank you, Dr. Jenkins."


    26


    Reba sped Yvette''s hand tightly. "Yvette, it makes me so happy to see how much you care about Felix."


    Yvette returned her smile. "Mom, we''re family-this is nothing.


    Shakira turned to leave, dismissing their words with a quiet sco


    Once changed, Yvette obediently entered the examination room Shakira, however, was stopped at the door by Paul. "Outsiders aren''t allowed. You''re not a doctor at this hospital. I''m sure you knows the rules," Paul said, wearing a smug look. Shakira chuckled. "Of course,Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    As the door slowly closed in front of her, Shakira''s smile faded. She moved to a corner, pulled out herptop, and tapped lightly on the keyboard. The screen soon disyed the live feed of the ongoing examination.


    Through the security camera footage, Shakira could see the monitor showing Yvette''s test results in real time. As the images of Yvette''s kidney scans appeared on her screen, Shakira''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    Outside, the Maybach glided into the hospital''s parking lot. The door opened, and Walter, expressionless, descended in a mechanical wheelchair. Brian followed closely behind, saying, Tonely Bird is in the nephrology department."


    0

 Chapter 27

    Walter slightly raised his chin. While talking, they had arrived at the elevator. Brian pressed the up button for all eight elevators, but since they were in a hospital, Walter didn''t use any privileges. They waited just like other patients. Meanwhile, in the nephrology department, Yvette emerged from the examination room, her face pale. Jessie


    rushed to her side, gripping her arm tightly with concern. In a tone only the two of them could understand, she asked, "Did the exam go well?" Yvette nodded slightly. Jessie breathed a sigh of relief, but Yvette had already shifted her attention to Reba and the others, walking toward them..


    Seeing


    her r hands empty, Jessie''s mind wandered to the earlier encounter with Shakira downstairs, recalling the hurtful words that had stung her deeply. Yvene had been calling Reba "mom," and had grown closer to her, closer than she had ever been to Jessie. Jessie felt bitter. But she could do nothing. After all, she couldn''t afford to offend the Nelson family. what''s wrong? Why is your face so pale? Are you feeling unwell?" Reba asked with concern. Of course.


    Yvette,


    "Mom, I''m fine. It''s just that every time I go in for a checkup, I can''t help but think about not having a kidney donor for the surgery, and it makes me... a little scared, answered Yvette.


    Reba immediately scolded her in a low voice, "Nonsense, Finn will have good news soon. Don''t think too much about it." Hearing this, Yvette shook her head, a smile slowly spreading across her face as she replied in a gentle voice, "Actually, the reason I agree to Dr. Lonely Bird''s checkup isn''t just so Felix could have a chance to coborate with her. I also don''t want to distract Finn. He''s already busy enough managing thepany. Besides, if I don''t need a kidney transnt, things will be easier for Shakira, too. There won''t be any more tension in the family because of my illness. If I can just make it through this, everything will get better, won''t it?" Reba was deeply moved by her words. She felt an overwhelming sense of guilt toward Yvette, thinking that she was a selfless child, who always thought of the family first, always willing to sacrifice for them, and never once considering how much pain or hardship she had endu had endured. Mitchell, who had remained silent, furrowed his brow slightly. For some reason, hearing Yvette mention Shakira gave him an odd feeling. Something about it didn''t sit right, though he couldn''t quite put his finger on it.


    Just then, Yvette spoke softly again, "You''ve given me such a privileged life. I''ve been loved and cherished since my childhood. Now it''s my turn to give back to the family. Even if one day I''m no longer with you all, I won''t have any regrets..." Reba, overwhelmed with emotion, stepped forward and hugged Yvette tightly. "You silly girl, you''ll always be my precious daughter, the darling of our entire family. Nothing, and no one, will ever change that When Shakira arrived, she caught sight of Reba hugging Yvette. Her heart remained unaffected, but her gaze toward Yvette was sharp, filled with an ice-cold chill. Just as Sha as Shakira was about to approach, Paul appeared out of nowhere, holding Yvette''s test results in hand, adopting a highly professional tone. "Ms. Nelson''s condition has worsened slightlypared to before. There''s been a mild increase in inmmation in the kidneys, and I her blood test shows she''s weak, with a low white blood cell count. She''ll need to be mindful of her emotions and ensure a proper rest schedule." Hearing this, Shakira''s lips curled into a sneer beneath her mask-biting and filled with scorn. She knew Paul was lying. Yvette didn''t have any illness. Her kidney function was perfectly normal. She didn''t need any treatment at all


    Shakira had already thought of this possibility, but now, having seen Yvette''s examination results with her own eyes, she was certain that everything in her past life had been a lie.


    The sisterhood, the kidney-transnt, the voluntary liver donation, and the sudden car ident were all parts of Yvette s n. Perhaps it wasn''t just Yvette; there were others involved. They had orchestrated a grand scheme, one that not only took Shakira''s kidney but also


    life.


    ner me.


    Shakira loathed Yvette, and she despised everyone in the Nelson family equally. Now, she was consumed with a burning desire to destroy Yvette-the deceitful, greedy maniptor who had stolen her life-and to obliterate her foolish families. who had ced their unwavering trust in the true viin.


    Without realizing it, Shakira''s fists had clenched tightly. The raging hatred in her chest surged uncontrobly, a fiery ze that threatened to consume her sanity and rationality entirely.


    Just then, the buzz of her phone in her pocket snapped her back to reality. There were several messages from Sean.


    [Boss, what are you doing at the hospital? And you''ve publicly announced you''re Lonely Bird?!


    You''re out of your mind! The people who''ve been trying every trick to get a consultation with Lonely Bird are heading to the hospital!]


    And Walter, the cripple from the Lopez family is already at the hospital!]


    "Dr. Lonely Bird, Dr. Lonely Bird?" Suddenly, she heard Paul''s voice. Shakira''s gaze slowly shifted from her phone to Paul''sAll text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    face


    Paul stood before her, speaking with an authoritative tone that left no room for argument, ''As Yvette''s attending physician, based on her test results, I cannot approve any treatment other than a kidney transnt at this time." Jessie quickly interjected, "Since Dr. Jenkins said so, maybe we should forget about the experiment. Yvette''s too fragile; we can''t let her be a test subject!"


    Yvette interrupted her, "Mom, I can make my own decisions."


    Shakira quietly put away her phone, her previously cold gaze now passing over Paul,nding on Yvette and the others, who were anxiously awaiting her verdict with bated breath.


    She finally spoke, her voice raspier than before, strained from holding back the torrent of emotions. "Fine, then forget it." Her indifferent words left everyone stunned. No one expected that it was over.


    She


    Lonely Bird, whose whereabouts had always been shrouded in mystery, stood before them, with her whole body covered that it was difficult to discern her gender. They had assumed that this was an irrevocable decision. Yet, she had so easily, so decisively, abandoned the experiment.


    Yvette bit her lip. She had wanted to continue her act of sacrifice, to make Reba and the others feel even guiltier about her. But Lonely Bird''s noncooperation left her with no room to perform. Unwilling to give up, Yvette tried again, "Dr. Lonely Bird, I can do this, I


    Shakira shot her a cold nce. "My reputation is worth more than your life."


    Yvette was left speechless. Dale, not wanting to offend either side, quickly stepped forward to smooth things over. "Ms. Nelson, I''m sure Dr. Lonely Bird is prioritizing your health. Since the test results aren''t suitable, we''ll have to put the n on hold for now. Isn''t that right, Dr. Lonely Bird?" Before Dale could finish, the elevator chimed, and the doors slid open. A group of men in ck suits stepped out in perfect formation, making way for a figure in a wheelchair-Walter, appearing like a god among mortals. He radiated authority, his sharp, eagle-like eyes narrowing as he surveyed everyone present


    08:29 Fr.

 Chapter 28

    "Where is Lonely Bird Walter''s cold, husky voice echoed, snapping everyone back to reality. Yvette


    ette couldn''t tear her eyes away from Walter''s striking profile interly captivated. Dale''s smile grew even more obsequious. "Mr. Lopez, we didn''t expect your esteemed presence. I apologize for theck of proper reception" As he spoke, Dale turned gleefully toward the space behind him Dr. Lonely Bird is right over His words trailed off, and the smile smile on his face froze. The spot where Lonely Bird had just been standing was now empty- Lonely Bind had vanished without a trace. Walter''s piercing gaze locked onto Dale. "Over where?"


    Under Walter''s stare, Dale''s heart pounded in fear, his smile fading into an expression of near panic. "Mr. Lopez, Dr. Lonely Bird was just here a moment ago, everyone saw... The other doctors, catching Dale''s desperate warning nce, quickly echoed, "Yes, yes, that''s right. None of them dared to look Walter in the eve


    Walter had earned a fearsome reputation, one that had once dominated all of Crescentville. After his legs were paralyzed, his temper had only grown more unpredictable and vtile.


    And now, this towering figure at the apex of Crescentville''s elite had suddenly appeared at the hospital, no doubt searching for the clusive Lonely Bird. But Lonely Bird had slipped away in the blink of an eye-enough to send chills down the doctors spines. Yvette, feigning nonchnce, remarked, "Dr. Lonely Bird was right here before Mr. Lopez stepped out of the elevator. Could it be that upon seeing Mr. Lopez, Dr. Lonely Bird left in a hurry?"


    Jessie quickly caught on, adding fuel to the fire. "Exactly! We were just having a conversation, and now she has disappeared. Maybe that so-called famous doctor is all talk-afraid of not being able to cure Mr. Lopez and fled at thest minute..." Before she could finish her sentence, a sharp re cut through the air, as though an invisible hand had wrapped around Jessie''s throat.


    Though the Sm Smith family had wed d their way into the fringes of high society after a windfall, Jessie had spent most of her life as a rural woman. That deep-rooted rudeness and timidity were impossible to shake.


    Subconsciously, she felt her courage crumble under the icy weight of Walter''s gaze, nearly biting her own tongue in the process. She hurried to backtrack. "Or maybe Dr. Lonely Bird had something urgent to attend to and left in a rush without saying goodbye!" Walter''s jaw clenched, and he ordered Brian, "Lonely Bird has just left. Lock down the hospital. Search every inch if you have to. Just find that person."Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Yes,


    sir!" Brian moved quickly to execute the order


    By the emergency stairwell, Shakira swiftly removed her coat, rolling it into a ball before tossing it into a nondescript trash bin in the corner. Moving quickly, she descended several flights of stairs before turning toward an elevator.


    But as she joined the crowd heading out on the ground floor, a voice suddenly called out from behind her. "Ms. Nelson?"


    Shakira cursed silently in her heart and turned around, offering a soft smile to the tall man approaching her. She feigned surprise. "Brian, what a coincidence!


    The sound of mechanical wheels echoed as Brian stepped aside, revealing Walter''s devilishly handsonfe but intimidating face. Shakira''s smile deepened, her eyes bright with mischief. "Mr. Lopez, what a coincidence for you, too. 08:29  uu.


    Walter''s mood was far from good, especially after Lonely Bird had seemingly vanished. His expression was dark, and he ignored Shakira''s attempt to tter him. "What are you doing here?


    Then.


    en. Walter seemed to be lost in thought, his eyes scrutinizing her with suspicion. Noticing the faint marks on her face, which was left by the mask, Walter suddenly reached out, his long fingers lightly brushing against the inside of her arm. A shiver of electricity shot through her, nearly causing Shakira to yelp. She hugged her arm protectively, staring at Walter in disbelief. "What are you doing?" Walter''s deep eyes fixated on her. "Wearing a mask and sweating-why are you at the hospital?" Shakira''s heart skipped a


    beat.


    How could he notice so much detail?'' She pouted, muttering, "Why? Are you keeping tabs on me now? I''m just here for a health certificate."


    certificate?" ''Walter was confused.


    Alnea "A health certific "Yes. Didn''t you know? I need one to enroll in college I only just found out, so I rushed over to get the tests done. I need it before sses start. And for some reason, the hospital is packed today, so I had to run all over the ce for the tests because the elevators were taking too long, Shakira exined. As she spoke, she handed


    over


    the checklist of tests she had justpleted to Walter. Walter nced at it, his frown deepening before rxing slightly. "What am I thinking? Do I seriously suspect that Shakira could be Lonely Bird? The thought itself seemed ridiculous, even to Walter.


    At that moment, Brian leaned in and quietly reported, "Mr. Lopez, we found what seems to be Lonely Bird''s discarded clothes in a trash can on the thirteenth floor. However, the hospital''s surveince had a half-minute glitch-someone likely tampered with it." Walter''s expression turned even darker. "Stop the search. Let''s go back


    Brian clenched his fists, a trace of frustration in his voice. "Mr. Lopez, just give me a little more time." Lonely Bird is


    I is already gone.


    Staying at the hospital won''t help, Walter''smand was firm. "We''re leaving


    Brian lowered his head. "Understood."


    Walter cast a nce at Shakira. "You''reing with me."


    Shakira opened her mouth to protest, but seeing the cold expression on his face, she silentlyplied. It was clear that failing to catch Lonely Bird had left him truly upset. Without a


    another word, Shakira stepped forward and quietly pushed Walter''s wheelchair. At that moment, Yvette, who hade downstairs to see off the Nelson family, happened to witness the scene. She stood at a distance, watching Shakira''s back, her brows furrowed. Yvette, what are you looking at?" Reba asked curiously. "Nothing. It must be Mr. Lopez''s maid," Yvette shook her head. Why do I feel that the figure resembles Shakira? It''s impossible. How can Shakira be with Mr. Lopez?"


    Reba''s face darkened. She thought back to Walter''s dramatic entrance, shutting down the hospital to search for Lonely Bird without even greeting her. His tant disregard had annoyed her.


    "Why are you bothering yourself with that disrespectful man?" Reba asked.


    Yvette replied meekly, "Mom, doesn''t Shakira have a marriage agreement with Mr. Lopez?"


    "We only have one baby girl in this family, and that''s you. You don''t have to care about Shakira like this. Mentioning Shakira only made Reba more displeased.


    Yvette bit her lip gently, as if wanting to say something, but hesitated, not wanting to upset Reba further. Reba patted her hand, offering someforting words before leaving with Mitchell. After reluctantly watching them go, Yvette turned back. As she made her way inside, Jessie, who had quietly followed her. hurried over.


    Yvette instinctively took a step back, ncing around nervously. Let''s talk in the ward."


    Seeing her daughter act distant and pretend not to know her, Jessie felt a sharp pang in her heart, remembering the hurtful words Shakira had said.


    Jessie pulled a button from her pocket. "Today''s check-up almost gave you away. You should keep this on you."


    Yvette frowned in disgust. "What is this?"


    Jessie lowered her voice, "I bumped into her at the hospital earlier, and I twisted this button off her clothes. Just keep it with you to ward off bad luck, alright?"

 Chapter 29

    Yvette''s expression turned strange as she reluctantly took the button, shoving it carelessly into her pocket. "What''s Shakira doing at the hospital?"


    "How would I know? I told her toe and apologize to you, but she had the nerve to-Jessie suddenly cut herself off, her face turning livid. She didn''t continue.


    After


    a pause, Jessie added, "Is that ne Shakira wore when she was in Bris still with you? You should wear it when you get back."


    "That''s


    just a temporary fix! Am I supposed to spend my whole life using the trash Shakira throws away?" Yvette was frustrated.


    "I know you don''t like using her things, but what else can we do? Ever since Shakira had turned rebellious, Yvette''s luck had taken a nosedive, one bad thing after another. It was fate. Yvette''s face twisted with bitterness and resentment. "Why does Shakira have such a blessed life, while I''m stuck with all this bad luck? This is so unfair-


    Jessie quickly covered her mouth before she could say more crazy things. "Don''t talk nonsense. With me, your dad, and your grandpa, you''re the one with good fortune. Just hold on for a bit longer. We''ll find a way to deal with her!" Inside the Maybach, the atmosphere was stifling. Walter hade up empty-handed and was in a foul mood. This tall man, well over six feet, sat there like an iceberg, his cold aura chilling anyone who dared to approach. Shakira, basking in the icy air, was quietly lost in thought when her phone suddenly pinged with a message. Sean had sent a news link with an apanying rant. [Damn! That woman''s got no shame!] Shakira clicked on the link, raising an eyebrow slightly. It was a video uploaded by Yvette, using the official Nelson Group


    ount


    The video showed Yvette, wearing a hospital gown, her face pale and fragile. Her eyes were still red from crying, a picture of pitiful beauty. She apologized to the public, exining the forced circumstances behind her giarism and even offered an apology to Shakira.


    In the


    Sean sent another message: [Unbelievable! Some people in thements are even saying you''ve forgiven her! What a joke!] Shakira was about to respond when Brian suddenly turned around from the front, addressing Walter. "Mr. Lopez, team couldn''t recover the hospital''s surveince footage."


    f our team can''t do it, let someone else handle it," Walter sneered. "Looks like that doctor has got some skills." Brian understood immediately. "I''ll post a task on the inte." Shakira remained silent.


    z, our tech


    08-20


    She had thought they''d given up, but it turned out they were still trying to recover the footage after all this time. Fortunately, she had been thorough andpletely destroyed the video''s contents. If not, they might have seeded :29 Fri, Oct 18 Chapter


    29


    She quickly sent a message-to Sean, who was stillining about Yvette. [Keep an eye on the hacker forums. If you see a high-paying job to recover footage, take it!


    Sean: [What? Wait, boss, can we put making money aside for a second and focus on cursing that woman together?]


    Shakira:


    No.]


    On the other end of the phone, Sean clutched his chest. He felt like all his indignation had been wasted.


    Shakira watched the angry emojis sent by Sean and turned off her phone. Just as she let out a quiet sigh, she felt a chill at the back of her neck.


    Feigning confusion, she nced at the icy-faced Walter. "Mr. Lopez, do you need to see a doctor? Is something wrong?" Walter shot a nce at the seemingly innocent Shakira. "You know the answer already."


    Clearing her throat, Shakira replied, "But I''m here, Mr. Lopez. You don''t need to find anyone else to treat your legs. You can


    count


    t on me!


    Walter scoffed.


    "If I count on you, I might have to take you to my grave when I die, since it''ll take forever for you to fix my legs


    Shakira was taken aback by Walter''s meanness. Brian, sitting in front of them, was also shocked by Walter''s words. He always knew Walter could be mean, especially when he was in a bad mood.


    Yet, he seemed to show some reluctance to let Shakira go, saying that he might have to take her to his grave, as if he didn''t want to part with her,


    Shakira was furing; if she knew what Brian was thinking, she would surely be more furious.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    As soon as they returned to the vi, Sean sent over a screenshot Walter had offered a staggering 100 million dors to restore a video.


    Shakira thought about how Finn had once paid 30 million dors to help Yvette find a kidney and scoffed. She instructed Sean to take the offer and promised toplete the task within three days.


    That night, Shakira waited for Walter to emerge from his study and quickly followed him. Walter had already lost his temper during a meeting, and when he saw her approaching, he shot her a sideways nce. "What do you want now?" "I''m here to help with your legs. We''ve wasted enough time; why not start today?" said Shakira.


    Initially, she intended to wait until his episode to offer her assistance, but she realized that, despite his facade of indifference, he was troubled badly by his paralyzed legs.


    After all, Walter had once been very vibrant a


    and proud.


    Walter wanted to refuse her, but as he looked up and saw her bright, expectant eyes, the words he had meant to say caught in his throat. Instead, he blurted out, "Go to the bedroom." "Okay!" Surprised that he didn''t reject her with harsh words again, Shakira smiled happily.


    ''She''s


    that happy about helping me with my legs? Walter thought to himself as he maneuvered his wheelchair and headed towards the bedroom. Behind him, he could hear Shakira skipping along cheerfully. What he didn''t realize was that a faint smile had appeared at the corner of his lips.


    Shakira dragged over a small stool and sat in front of Walter. She reached out towards his ankles, but the wheelchair immediately slid two feet back.


    Walter frowned. "What are you trying to do?"


    Shakira patiently exined, "I need to assess the condition first. It''s the basics-observe, ask, and feel the pulse. To treat your legs, I have to take a look at them."


    Walter, however, made an unreasonable demand. "Treat them from here."


    Shakira''s patience instantly vanished. "What part of your body haven''t I seen? You really think I''m trying to take advantage of you?"


    She stuck out her tongue after saying that, because She had lied. Although she had shared an intimate moment with Walter before, the room had been pitch ck that night, and the effects of the drug meant she hadn''t really seen him at all. is permission, rolled u "You!" Before Walter could finish, Shakira scooted her stool closer and, without waiting for his pant legs. She tutted inwardly. From the knees down, Walter''s legs were well-proportioned, long and slender. Unfortunately, after half a year in a wheelchair, his muscles had noticeably atrophied.


    Q

 Chapter 30

    Walter hadn''t expected her to dare touch him directly. His deep eyes narrowed sharply, and a multiturle ofplex emotions shed through them in an instant. "Shakira!" He bent down and grabbed her slender wrist, which felt as if it had no bones.


    But before he could say anything. Shakira quickly preempted him. "If you don''t let me treat you, do you really want to take. me to the grave with you?"


    Walter fell silent. Finally, with a dark expression, he loosened his grip. His teeth nearly ground together as he warned, "If your touch anything you shouldn''t, you''re finished." Shakira''s lips twitched. She''d made one mistake, and he really treated her like a beast ever since.


    Knowing she was in the wrong, Shakira decided to withdraw from the argument. She gently straightened his leg, holding his foot forward, and tentatively pressed a pressure point at his ankle. At the same time, she closely observed his reaction. Walter''s ''s brows furrowed slightly, and Shakira''s eyes lit up. "What do you feel here?"


    "A slight tingling, very faint, not intense. He had been sick long enough to recognize that was a pressure point. A normal person would feel sharp pain from even a light press, especially since he could see that she was applying some force. Shakira continued, "Does it hurt?" Walter shook his head. Her fingers slid up to his calf. "What about here?"


    The sensation is even fainter


    here, Walter replied.


    Shakira tested several acupuncture points between his ankle and knee. As she worked her way up, the closer she got to his knee, the weaker his sensations became.


    After she rolled his pant leg back down, Shakira slowly stood up. The nerves in your legs have sustained varying degrees of damage. There''s neuritis in a few ces at the extremities. Acupuncture is the first step.


    A flicker of surprise passed through Walter''s eyes. Then, he looked at Shakira with a newfound curiosity,


    Since the ident, he''d seen more dog doctors than i in his entire life. Yet all those renowned specialists hesitated to give a diagnosis right away after examining his legs.


    Shakira


    however, had only pressed a few points and managed to articte what it took those so-called experts days to conclude. He wondered if she was truly skilled in this field, or those doctors he had brought in were just fooling him. Walter fixed his sharp gaze on her. "You''re going to treat me with acupuncture?


    Shakira


    assumed he didn''t believe her and said inly, "I promise. I''m not making this up or fooling around."


    Just as she finished speaking, a massive bolt of lightning struck outside, seemingly right above the house. The brightly lit room was instantly plunged into darkness. Shakira''s heart skipped a beat, and instinctively, she reached out to grab the closest thing to her.


    Walter, who had been about to call for Brian, suddenly found a weight crashing into his arms. Looking down, illuminated faintly by the moonlight seeping through the window, he saw Shakira trembling, even her eyshes quivering He had seen her being sharp-tongued, or acting sweet, just like a c***g little fox. But now she was curled up in his arms. Her wide, clear eyes were moist and filled with helplessness, making her look pitifully vulnerable.


    Walter watched her, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Seems like even the lights couldn''t handle your promises.


    "It''s just a coincidence!" Shakira protested.


    "Sure, coincidence. Why are you holding onto me then?" he teaserl her.


    Grinding her mrs, Shakira tried to steady the tremor in her voice. ''In novels, when rich people get assassinated, it''s always after the lights suddenly go out. I''m risking my life to protect you, got it?"


    Walter mercilessly exposed her bluff. "When you lie, try not to let your hands shake."


    Shakira was beginning to suspect that all the sensation in his legs had somehow transferred to his brain.


    Seeing her rarely flustered, Walter found it amusing. "Shakira, you''re not afraid of anything, but you''re scared of a little thunder?" It caught him a bit by surprise.


    Since he hadn''t cruelly thrown her off him, Shakira kept her voice low and started speaking slowly. "Two years ago, out of nowhere, my adoptive parents gave me a ne ticket. They said it was a birthday gifi, a trip to Solvara. "There''s s a direct flight from Crescentville to Solvara''s capital, but those are during the day and expensive. To save money. they got me a cheap, red-eye flight with ayover in a small country in Bris," she continued. Back then, the Smith family had already achieved some level of sess and were well-known among Crescentville''s middle


    ss.


    It was the first gift Lago and Jessie had ever given her, and they''d done it in front of Eric, who was Lago''s father and the only one in the Smith family who cared for Shakira-yet had been bedridden for life after a sudden ident. She had long stopped expecting anything from Lago and Jessie, but she didn''t want to break Eric''s heart. Therefore, she boarded that flight.


    Shakira cast her gaze outside. The night sky had unknowingly filled with thickyers of oppressive clouds, heavy and foreboding.


    "That ne was packed. That night was just like tonight-pitch ck outside, the clouds so thick they seemed ready to burst, but the rain wouldn''t fall. The ne kept jolting and dropping as it passed through the clouds, several times it felt like we were in freefall," she continued. "After an agonizing hour and a half, wended at the connecting airport. But the flight to Solvara was canceled due to the weather, and there were no recements. The airport arranged hotels for us and left us to figure out our own way to Solvara," she kept telling the story. Walter''s gazeAll text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    locked onto her, listening intently as she spoke. "The next avable flights were all sold out. My only option was to head to another airport to catch a flight to Solvara. I didn''t go to the hotel. I grabbed my luggage and hailed a taxi."


    "As soon as we left the airport, the rain finally came. Lightning and thunder filled the sky, and visibility on the road was barely two feet. I got in the taxi, but he didn''t take me to the next airport," Shakira said.


    At this point, Walter felt a heavy sensation in his chest. His palm instinctively pressed against her shoulder, his voice inexplicably husky. "Alright, that''s enough."


    Shakira turned her head to look at him. Perhaps it was the dim light, but his features seemed even more defined, the contours of his face deeper and sharper.


    Suddenly, Shakira chuckled. "Did you think something terrible happened to me?"


    Walter frowned, but then she spoke in a nonchnt tone. "That airport was a total wreck, and the roads were full of potholes. Of course, I knew the driver was up to no good. I locked his throat before he could try anything. He ended up driving to the base of the mountain. I jumped out of the car first I wasn''t the one who suffered."


    Walter''s furrowed browtwitched violently. "Then what''s with the fear of thunder?"


    "Oh,e on!" Shakira eximed dramatically. "When the ne was up in the air, I could see the lightning striking all around us. The ne was dropping like a roller coaster, and we kept losing altitude. I thought I was going to die!" Walter was speechless. He was beginning to feel like he''d wasted time listening to her ramble about this nonsense. Just as he was about to push her away, suddenly, that familiar, bo***p pain surged through his legs, sharp and terrifying.

 Chapter 31

    "Argh!" Walter let out a m***ed groan from deep in his throat, and his body began to tremble involuntarily. Shakira immediately sensed what was happening. "Is it starting?" she asked.


    "Yeah," ''he hissed, his breath tightening.


    The downpour outside had already begun, the sky too dark for Shakira to see his expression. But she could feel it clearly- Walter was shaking, suffering.


    Shakira, forgetting her own fear, fumbled in the darkness for her phone. She found it, turned on the shlight, and dashed to the door. She flung it open. "Brian! I need medicine. Give me he painkillers!"


    Hurried footsteps quickly approached, and soon Brian appeared holding a shlight as he rushed up the stairs. "Is Mr. Lopez having an episode?!"


    He


    was about to charge into the room when Shakira yanked his arm. "Going in won''t help! Go get the medicine!"


    The situation was so dire that Brian didn''t even realize how strong Shakira''s grip was as she shoved him back out of the doorway.


    Frustrated and guilt-ridden, he stammered, "There''s no medicing. Mr. Lopez''s painkillers have to be stored in the freezer. Since the power went out, all the medicine in the manor is unusable, and the rest in the cer needs an electronic lock to open. We can only get new stock from the Lopez family''s private hospital!" Shakira pushed him again, fuming. "Then why are you still standing here?! Get to the hospital"


    She mmed the door shut and rushed back to Walter''s side. The light from the phone shlight was stark white, but Walter''s face looked even paler.


    Shakira saw him struggling to endure the pain and quickly went to the bathroom, returning with a folded towel. She stuffed it into his mouth. Walter shot her a re.


    Shakira, exasperated, snapped, "Bite it! Now''s not the time to act tough! Doesn''t it hurt?"


    A sarcastic smirk curled at his lips. He opened his mouth, his voice hoarse and strained, "I can handle this kind of pain.


    Shakira couldn''t help o herself but yell at him, "Fine, let it kill you then."


    Despite her sharp words, she pushed his wheelchair toward the bed. "Can you stand?"


    Before Walter could respond, she reached for him. With her arms wrapped under his armpits, she stood face to face with him, bent her knees, and pulled him up with all her strength.


    The pain pierced through him, deep into his bones, like it was tearing at his very soul. Yet Walter remained conscious. acutely aware of the woman in front of him. He saw her furrowed brow, tight with concentration. He wasn''t sure if she found him troublesome, or if she was genuinely worried. Amazingly, even Walter was surprised that someone could distract him in a moment like this. But before he could dwell on it, a fresh wave of excruciating pain surged through him, and his body went limp.


    Shakira didn''t have time to adjust her stance before Walter copsed onto her, sending both of them crashing onto the bed. Theynded with a collective thud and groaned.


    Shakira''s head smacked into a soft pillow, and she heard Walter''s groan above her. "Shakira, are you trying to kill me?"


    "Surely I am," she muttered, letting out a long breath. With a swit roll, she gracefully slid off the bed.


    Walter, still ring at her, watched as she reached behind her back and pulled out a roll of silver acupuncture needles. She had given up hope that he would ever agree to acupuncture, but now, it seemed like the perfect moment. Seeing her movements, Walter''s eyes sharpened in an instant. "Shakira, what are you doing?" "Acupuncture," she said.


    "How dare you!" Walter shouted toward the door, "Brian!"


    "Brian''s gone to the private hospital for the painkillers. I locked the door. Scream all you want-no one''sing to save you," she said.


    Shakira''s slender, pale fingers brushed over the row of silver needles, suddenly stopping. She pulled out a needle as long as a finger, pressing one hand firmly on Walter''s knee, which was reflexively curling up in pain. Walter''s eyes widened slightly, and a sh of white light crossed his vision. Five minutester, his body, which had been writhing in agony, began to rx without him even realizing it. Shakira handed him a few tissues. "Wipe yourself down." Walter nced at


    her


    "Is that really necessary?


    Shakira took a quick look at his sweat-soaked upper body and his lower half, which wasn''t exactly a sight to behold, either. She pulled the tissues back to wipe her own forehead instead. "Does it hurt less now?" she asked.


    "Yeah," he answered. In fact, there was still some pain, butpared to the torment he had just endured, it was almost nothing. He felt like he had mostly recovered.


    His gaze, which had been dulled by the overwhelming pain, turned toward Shakira, now carrying a shadow of intrigue. This time, his tone wasn''t as casual as before. "When did you learn medicine? During those two years in Bris?"


    He had I dug into her past thoroughly. Aside from those two missing years, there was no trace of her ever having the chance to learn these skills. Though her acupuncture hadn''tpletely eliminated his pain, this was the first time he had managed to endure it without taking any medication. Shakira carefully removed each of the needles and packed them away. "Yeah."Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "Who taught you this?" Walter was curious.


    "My master," Shakira replied in a joking tone.


    "Shakira, what are you trying to hide?" Walter frowned.


    "You have your secrets, and I have mine. Just because I''m working for you doesn''t mean I have to-spill all of them, right?" Shakira shrugged.


    Walter tugged at the corners of his lips, about to speak, when his expression suddenly changed again.


    Shakira frowned, puzzled. "You...


    "I''m freezing," he said.


    ''Freezing? How could that be?" She reached to check his pulse, but before she could figure it out, Walter, like a powerful beast, swiftly pulled her onto the bed, trapping her in his hold.


    His body was still slick with sweat, radiating heat, yet now he pressed against her tightly, leaving no space between them. Shakira didn''t even have time to struggle-Walter had already wrapped her up as if she were a heat source, holding her in at tight grip. "Walter, let me go, Shakira said. "Cold..." Seeing him shivering and pulling her closer, Shakira had no choice. She adjusted her position and once again. checked his pulse.


    He was having a cold. Shakira mentally cursed herself. In her haste to give him acupuncture, she hadpletely forgotten to check his pulse first. She didn''t expect that he had such a severe buildup of coldness in his body. "Walter, have you ever suffered from a cold-rted illness?" she asked.


    This time, he finally responded, "During the winter, I spent an entire day and night in the open


    He said it so lightly, but the words made Shakira''s heart tighten Abandoning any further attempts to resist, she slowly wrapped her arms around him instead. "Is this warmer?"


    "Yes. Theforting warmth gradually soothed Walter. As he felt her embracing him voluntarily, he thought for a moment and said. "If the power hadn''t gone out, I wouldn''t be using you as a heater." Without any tools, the human body was the next best source of warmth. And given the choice, he''d rather hold her than Brian or Levi.


    Shakira''s lips twitched. She bluntly called him out, "You just don''t want to hold Levi, right?"


    "Shut up," he said. Shakira obediently fell silent, not wanting to provoke him in his weakened state. Oddly enough, despite his sweaty body, he didn''t have that typical unpleasant smell of men.


    Unable to move or escape, Shakira resigned herself to the situation, settled into afortable spot, and soon found herself growing drowsy. Before long, her eyes drifted shut.

 Chapter 32

    Shakira was woken by the sunlight streaming through the window. Instinctively, she raised her hand to shield her eyes. Once her vision adjusted to the brightness, she sat up in a daze. Therge master bedroom was empty; its owner had vanished without a trace. Clearly, Walter left her after using her. "Tsk. how ungrateful, Shakira muttered to herself.


    But t then she realized that she had done the same thing before. It was good that they were birds of a feather.


    She opened the door, intending to head back to her room and freshen up, but to her surprise, Levi was waiting outside. Both of them froze for a moment.


    Levi was the first to smile widely. "Ms. Nelson, you''re awake. Are you feeling alright?"Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Uh. Levi, you might be asking the wrong person, Shakira replied, thinking to herself, ''Shouldn''t Walter be the one feeling unwell?


    Levi cleared his throat, his face suddenly full of admiration and gratitude. "Last night, thanks to you, Mr. Lopez was able to get through the episode safely. Ms. Nelson, thank you."


    "It was nothing: I just did what t I ould do. But you all should really be better prepared next time. If it happens again, he might not get off so easily," Shakira said.


    Walter was such a tall, proud, and arrogant man, and yetst night, after just ten minutes of pain, his eyes had looked so vacant. Shakira couldn''t imagine how he''d managed to endure every past episode.


    And she couldn''t help but wonder, ''In the previous life, had Walter ever gotten the chance to heal his legs? If not... Her face fell slightly.


    "Yes, all the expired painkillers have been disposed of, and Brian has arranged for ten backup generators to keep Mr. Lopez''s medication cool," said Levi


    Shakira nodded. ¡°Good. I''m going to head back to my room now


    "Okay, Ms. Nelson. Please rest well. Mr. Lopez has already gone to the office. Before he left, he told me to make sure you rest well for the next few days," Levi said..


    Shakira snorted, thinking. At least he had some sense. After spending the whole night in Walter''s sweaty embrace, Shakira felt sticky all over. She took a long shower, and when she came out, she saw a message from Sean Sean had taken up the task Brian had posted on the dark web and asked if she needed their help. Shakira typed, I''ll handle this.]


    She opened herptop, entered her password, and logged into her dark web ount. In her inbox, she found the video Sean had sent her.


    The video was from the surveince footage she had personally destroyed, and she was not going to restore it. Shakira opened the missing segment of the footage, her fingers flying across the keyboard, Half an hourter, shepressed the video and sent it out through her ¨¦mail. Finally done the task, Shakiray down on the bed, ready to enjoy a well-deserved rest.


    In the CEO''s office of Lopez Group, Walter stared at the multi-million-dor contract in front of him. Ten minutes had passed, and he hadn''t absorbed a single word His expression was slightly distracted.


    Brian stepped forward, clearing his throat. "Mr. Lopez, the hospital surveince video has been restored."


    Walter nced at him, and Brian immediately handed him the bibler. The video had cut off after Lonely Bird entered the hallway.


    Once restored, it clearly showed Lonely Bird entering the corridor. On screen, Lonely Bird removed her ck outfit to reveal a nurse''s long uniform underneath


    Still wearing a mask, Lonely Bird slipped out of the hallway, disappearing into the crowded elevator area, seamlessly with the flow of nurses. It became impossible to distinguish this person from the others.


    Although the surveince had been restored, it provided no actionable information. Walter dragged the progress bar back and forth, watching the footage twice. "Are you sure it''s reliable?"


    Brian hod nodded. "Yes, the task was handled by Toothpick, the top hacker on the dark web right now."


    Walter''s expression grew a little strange. "That ID is quite... unique.".


    "I don''t know the story, but I do know that half a year ago, Toothpick registered a new ount on the dark web and hacked through the firewall of the then top hacker, Cheetah. It was the first live-streamed hacker duel in dark web history, and Cheetah was utterly defeated. Later, it was revealed that Toothpick was doing this for Cheetah''s ex-girlfriend, who had been cheated on and dumped by him," said Brain. Walter''s expression returned to normal. "No need to continue pursuing it. Let Shakira handle it.


    Brian nodded. "Understood."


    brief


    f pause, he hesitated before asking, "Mr. Lopez, can Ms. Nelson really heal your legs?"


    Altera now." said Walter.


    "I don''t


    Then why-Brian was confused.


    "Last night, she helped me," Walter simply said.


    Those few few simple words s carried a lot of weight. Brian understood Walter''s meaning and didn''t ask any more questions,


    "I see." He was about to leave when Walter called out to him again


    Walter''s expression showed a brief flicker of hesitation. "Have you heard any updates about what I asked you to look into?" Brian blinked, quickly realizing what Walter meant. "You mean the mysterious person with the fox mask?" "Yes, that person," said Walter.


    "We''re still searching diligently. But, Mr. Lopez, without knowing if they''re male or female, and with only a fox mask and a bullet ne as clues... we''ll try again," Brian replied.


    Walter waved his hand. "Go on."


    After Brian left, Walter''s fingers unconsciously tapped the surface of his desk.


    He didn''t know why, but when he woke up this morning and saw Shakira curled up in his arms, her fists tucked against her chest, it struck him her sleeping posture was identical to that of the person with the fox mask from before. Shakira''s face briefly shed through his mind. Walter shook his head quickly, frowning. ''How could I even begin to associate Shakira with that fox mask guy? They are frompletely different worlds!''


    In the past few days, Walter hadn''t troubled Shakira or demanded that she fulfill her duties as a maid.


    Shakira enjoyed the rare free time, spending her mornings teasing Baby Fishy at the crocodile pool and taking the opportunity to review the semester''s material. Before she knew it, the school season had arrived. Baby Fishy, who had lost a few pounds due to Shakira''s tricks, finally seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.


    Shakira declined Levi''s offer of a ride and walked out of Easke Valley Estate to catch a bus. By the time she reached the


    she


    waste. She decided not to decline Levi''s offer in the future. campus,


    Two years ago, she hade to the university for registration, but then the unexpected had happened. Unlike the typical freshmen who received their eptance letters, Shakira went straight to the registrar''s office. When she exined her situation to the registrar, the registrar, whose name was Chandler Lee, didn''t bother checking her records. Leaning back in his chair, he casually replied, "You don''t need to register. Your father have alreadye here to process your withdrawal Shakira''s expression turned nk. "I submitted a reinstatement application before, and the university''s website confirmed it and sent me a notice. How was I unaware that I had been withdrawn?" website is slow to update. Coincidentally, your father just submitted the withdrawal application this morning, and it''s clearly written here," said Chandler.


    "The!


    With that, Chandler pulled out the withdrawal application, and Lago''s name was prominently signed in the parent section. Shakira''s name was also present in the student signature section.


    She pointed to the signature. "That''s not my signature. I had no knowledge of this; the withdrawal application is invalid." Chandler looked at her as if she were foolish and suddenlyughed. "Youngdy, this is Crescentville University; it''s not a ce where you call the shots. When I tell you to leave, you leave." "Really? So y


    you''re the one calls the shots here? Suddenly, someone said behind Chandler.

 Chapter 33

    33


    Chandler was full of rage, ready to reprimand the one who confronted him. However, as he turned, he met the stern gaze of Patrick Jensen, the president of Crescentville University, causing him to fall off his chair in shock. Quickly standing up, Chandler''s expression changed a lot, and he smiled obsequiously. "Mr. Jensen, what brings you here?"


    I


    "If I hadn''te, I wouldn''t have known that Crescentville University has a new authority," Patrick replied, his hairpletely white yet his demeanor lively and his eyes bright. "You''ve misunderstood!" Chandler''s face paled slightly; he dared not meet Patrick''s gaze. "Mr. Jensen, you may not know, but this student has been absent without cause for two years, not even giving notice. Now her parent havee to sign her withdrawal: I''m just following the rules." "Rules!" Shakira scoffed. "ording to Article 38 of Crescentville University''s regtions, a withdrawal must be initiated by the student in person; otherwise, it''s considered invalid Are the rules'' you speak of your own invention?" "You!" Chandler red at Shakira, but she ignored him, turning to Patrick.


    Patrick''s expression hinted at building emotions, while Shakira remained calm, exining clearly. Two years ago. I had an ident and couldn''t return home, but I followed the proper procedures to apply for a leave of absence." I''ve met all the the requirements to reinstate my enrollment had no knowledge of my withdrawal, and I no longer have a father-daughter rtionship with Lago Smith; he has no authority to withdraw me," she added. "I understand at Chandler your situation."


    "trick nodded. Without ncing at Cha


    addressed the faculty member outside. "Process her enrollment immediately."


    The faculty member acknowledged and quicklypleted the paperwork on theputer, handing Shakira her new campus ID. "Wee back."


    Shakira epted it with both hands. "Thank you."


    Patrick looked on, satisfied, and turned to leave. Chandler, feeling begrudged yet somewhat relieved, watched him go. However, just as Patrick reached the door, he suddenly stopped and said, "Mr. Lee, you''ve seriously vited the university regtions by maliciously bullying a student. Starting tomorrow, you''re no longer wee here."


    The statement effortlessly sealed Chandler''s fate. He was stunned, realizing he was losing his job over such a trivial matter. He immediately rushed forward to argue with Patrick.


    Male teachers and security guards outside quickly moved in, covering his mouth and dragging him away.


    As Shakira made her way downstairs, Patrick had not yet left; he was watching her from under a tree. She approached and slightly nodded in thanks. "Thank you, Mr. Jensen."


    The students were all in ss, and there weren''t many people on the campus path. Patrick, facing Shakira, no longer concealed his emotions; his eyes were red. "Ms. Nelson, no need to thank me. It''s been a year since west met. How have you been?" "Good: How''s Henry?" Shakira asked.


    At the mention of his son Henry, who had escaped from hell, Patrick sighed deeply.


    "Thanks to you, that rascal was able to escape from that terrifying ce. He''s quit gambling and is much more settled now, teaching art to freshmen. If he hadn''t recognized you, I wouldn''t have known you were back," he said,  W. 33All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    His expression darkened can''t believe we had such sc****m within our institution. Luckily, I arrived in time, you almost suffered a grievancel"


    Shakira shook her head. "It''s nothing serious. I didn''t mean to trouble you bying all this way."


    Patrick''s gaze was resolute. "Your matters are of great importance to us! I know there were some rumors two years ago. Don''t worry; I''ve already sent someone to handle it."


    Henry Jensen was a renowned emerging artist in Crescentville, full of talent and with a bright future ahead. Unfortunately, he fell victim to a so-called friend who led him into the depths of gambling.


    He became addicted, spiraling downwards, even deceiving his family into thinking he was studying abroad. But in reality, he ended up in Bris, where he was manipted by criminals.


    They kidnapped Henry and threatened Patrick with his fingers. At first, they demanded 300 thousand dors, then 1 million dors, 1.5 million dors, and even more. The ransom kept flowing, but their greed knew no bounds. If Shakira hadn''t rescued Henry, he would have been in serious danger.


    Shakira was startled when she faced the trembling Patrick who had stepped off the ne two years ago, pulling Henry-who was extremely weak-toward her to kneel. Now, she was much calmer.


    She didn''t refuse Patrick''s goodwill. She understood that if she didn''t let him do her a favor, he would feel guilty and ufortable.


    Thank you, Mr. Jensen. I have to head to my ss now," Shakira said.


    Alright, go ahead ahead." said Patrick.


    Shakira''s ssmates from two years ago were now seniors. Today marked the start of the semester, and the entire year was gathered in the auditorium for the first ss of the year. Shakira arrived at the teaching building just in time for the break between sses. The ssroom was noisy, but as soon as she stepped inside, it fell silent.


    Even without looking at her ssmates, she could feel their eyes on her, staring as if she were a monster. After all, she had endured such scrutiny two years ago.


    Unfazed, Shakira calmly took a seat in the


    "Oh my God, am I seeing things? Shakira ront row. She pulled out a pen and notebook, spinning the pen between her fingers with ease. Suddenly, the ssroom erupted in chatter.


    actually came back to the university?!"


    "She''s been out for two years; what''s she back for?"


    "Didn''t she go abroad to have a baby? How does she still look so good? Her hair is thick, and she seems prettier than before."


    "Ugh, my dad does business with the Smith family, so I know-she went to Bris, just like Mr. Jensen''s son, Henry. But Henry''s a guy; he just gets beat up a few times, and his wealthy family brought him back quickly. For a woman like Shakira, though, going to that ce I mean..." "Wait a minute, isn''t she the


    is like falling into a wolf''s den, if den, if you know what I


    "It''s really her! I thought she genius designer Shakira Nelson, who got her work giarized by Yvette during the Yonder Digital designerpetition livestream? The one who''s talented enough to stand out?


    looked familiar but just realized it!


    "Wow! Why did she change herst name to Nelson?"


    "Where''s Yvette Wasn''t she just in the ssroom?" Someone in the crowd asked, causing Shakira to raise an eyebrow.


    Just then, she heard amotion at the back of the ssroom andzily lifted her gaze toward the door. Yvette entered, arm-in-arm with two other girls, all smiles. As soon as she walked in, she felt the weight of everyone''s stare.


    She instinctively straightened her posture, embodying the poise of a wealthy heiress. However, the next moment, she met Shakira''s meaningful smile and nearly screamed in shock.

 Chapter 34

    "Why is Shakira here? Wasn''t she expelled? With many questions and much fear, Yvette struggled to contain her shock, but her friends had already noticed something was off. Xanthe asked with concern, "Yvette, what''s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"


    "Could it be your period?" Berry guessed


    Yvette took a few deep breaths and quickly calmed herself. Lowering her head slightly, she raised her eyes again, her eyelids tinged with red, and said in an extremely weak voice to her friends, "Shakira is back." Xanthe Sullivan came from a wealthy family. Though her family wasn''t as old as the Nelson family, it had gained some recognition in Crescentville in recent years.


    Berry White came from the White family, one of the top five wealthiest families. But she was just a distant rtive with no real connection to the main family, Xanthe''s father and Berry''s mother were siblings, and the two were the same age, so they often spent time together. Yvette had met them at a luxury goods appreciation party, and they had be good friends. After Shakira returned, Yvette naturally informed them about it. The incident at the birthday party where Shakira identally stained Yvette''s dress was attributed to them. When Yvette spoke, both Xanthe and Berry finally noticed Shakira sitting calmly in the front row, observing them. Xanthe''s face twisted in disdain. "Is she a copycat? Does she think she can just follow you here to Crescentville University?"


    Berry


    frowned. "Xanthe, don''t forget, she was here during freshman year too, but then she dropped out."


    e was


    Xanthe even more dissatisfied. "What else could she be if not a copycat? How could she show up in ss after dropping out for two years? If it weren''t for her, Yvette wouldn''t have fainted and ended up in the hospital, getting roasted online!" Having been spoiled by her family since childhood, Xanthe was filled with a sense of justice upon seeing Yvette cowering in fear. Anger surged as she headed toward Shakira.


    Yvette feigned surprise, shaking her head and whispering urgently, "Xanthe, don''t..."


    "Yvette, don''t be scared! III go teach her a lesson!" Xanthe said.


    Before Xanthe could reach Shakira, the professor, whose name was Carol Tate, returned to the ssroom. "Break time is over; let''s continue with ss"


    Seeing this, Berry spoke up first. "Ms. Tate, there''s a stranger in our ss." She pronounced the word "stranger" with emphasis


    Carol had already received instructions from her superiors just now. Remembering Patrick''s orders, she introduced Shakira to the ss. "This is Shakira Nelson, who is returning to school after applying for a two-year leave for personal reasons. She will be studying with you all again." After finishing, she walked over to Shakira''s desk and extended her hand. "Wee back, Shakira"


    Shakira stood up and shook her hand. "Thank you, Ms. Tate."All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    Carol nodded slightly and returned to the podium, casting a disapproving nce at Yvette and her friends. "Why are you all still standing?" Watching, Carol, who was usually strict, treating Shakira so gently, Yvette clenched her fists, her nails nearly digging into her skin. Damn itt What''s wrong Fri, Oct 18


    Chapter Lago had


    34


    had clearly said that the paperwork was already signed, yet they not only didn''t kick Shakira out but even weed her back. Yvette wondered if it was because of Scan. Now that Shakira had cut ties with both the Nelson family and the Smith family, Yvette couldn''t figure out who could have helped her expect people at Yonder Digital.


    After


    the humiliation Yvette suffered during the semifinals, Shaldra had gained some attention. Thus, Yvette thought she must have met Sean and said something to make him help her.


    Yvette bit her lip and pulled on Xanthe''s wrist again, whispering in a tone only the three of them could hear, "Xanthe, let it go. Maybe Shakira pulled some strings; someone might have contacted the university administrations to help her return."


    Her implication was that there was no way they couldpete with Shakira. Yvette''s maniption fueled Xanthe''s anger even more. "How could a loser like her find connections to get back into the university? No way!" Xanthe


    Xant


    stepped forward, indignantly saying, "Ms. Tate, Shakira hasn''t taken a single proper ss since freshman year! Every student in our year who fails their finals gets held back; why should she be in the same ss as us?" Berry chimed in. "Exactly! She hasn''t attended any sses; can she even keep up with our pace? I hope she doesn''t drag down our year group ranking when shees back!"


    Crescentville University had a unique grading system where students earned credits not only based on their individual performance but also from additional credits provided by their entire ss and year group. sses ranked among the top in their year, and year groups that rank high within their department, were awarded collective credits. The higher the collective credits, the less pressure students face individually, and they also have better chances of receiving schrships and opportunities for exchange programs offered by the university. Shakira''s return was a burden for both the year group and the ss. Soon, other students joined in the uproar.


    "We''ve been in the top three for two years straight! If someone clueless like her joins us, we''ll definitely drop several ranks this year!"


    "Who knows how she got into Crescentville University? She was always a poor student in high school! It''s really unfortunate/ for us to be in the same year group with her."


    "Seriously, her presence is just a burden. What''s the point of being good at fashion design if she knows nothing about our major? Why did the university even agree to let her back? No matter how much she paid to get back, I''d pay double to get her out: her out!"


    "I''ll offer ten times what it takes to get her out of here!"


    As the ruckus grew louder, Yvette felt increasingly pleased. Shakira, oh Shakira, do you think having Sean meant you could be safe? To get into Crescentville University, you need to see if you''re worthy!''


    Yvette instinctively nced at Shakira, only to meet her gaze once more. In that moment, Shakira looked at her with disdain, as if she were nothing more than a clown, leaving Yvette feeling utterly humiliated.


    Shakira then turned her gaze away and slowly stood up. "Ms. Tate, since there are objections, let''s do this by the rules."


    Carol frowned. "You mean..."


    "I''ll retakest semester''s final exam. If I pass, I stay; if I fail, I''ll leave," said Shakira.


    Hearing this, Yvette nearly burst outughing. The exam fromst semester was problematic; the questions were from material only taught in junior year.


    Even the top students in their grade night struggle to pass. If the professor hadn''t discovered the problem before the exam and added a pre-test" session, their passing rate would have been in serious trouble. Shakira, who hadn''t taken a single professional course, was impossible to pass the exam.


    D


    Carol was aware of this situation since the college had held an emergency meetingst semester to discuss countermeasures. She couldn''t be too direct, though. "Shakira, are you sure? You haven''t taken any of the professional courses." Shakira insisted. "I''m sure."


    Carol opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing more. Before long, the counselor returned with the exam papers.


    Carol looked


    I over the situation. "For time''s sake, you can send a few representatives to choose fifteen questions from these papers. If Shakira answers ten correctly, she passes. Do you have any objections?" The students all replied, "No."


    A few top students went up to pick the questions, and Xanthe selected one as well. Finally, Carol ced the marked exam papers


    in front of Shakira. "You have one hour toplete the exam. Begin


    Shakira nced at the questions and then began writing. Sitting in the front row, she was two rows ahead of the other students, who couldn''t see what she was writing at all.


    Berry was astonished. "She just nced at the questions and started writing? Is she that good?


    Xanthe mocked, "She''s probably just scribbling. I''m sure this is herst hour on campus; let''s wait and see!"


    Yvette kept her head down, her smile unwavering. She was eager to witness Shakira beingughed at by the entire grade. After all the ridicule and mockery she had endured, she felt that Shakira was finally getting her karma.

 Chapter 35

    Outside, the sunlight streamed in brightly, illuminating Shakira profile as she focused intently on her exam. Her skin was smooth, and her features were elegant and ning. Amidst the Jaughter of those mocking her, different voices began to


    emerge.


    "Why didn''t I notice before? Shakira is actually quite beautiful."


    "Yeah. She even has a beauty mark. If she hadn''t left in her freshman year, Yvette probably wouldn''t be the prettiest girl in our department. "Definitely! Shakira is way prettier than Yvette; they''re not even in the same league!"


    "Do you think she really knows the answers? She barely looked at the questions before she started writing. Even if she''s guessing, she has to think." knows? Maybe she prepared in advance for her return; otherwise, why would shee back just to embarrass herself?"


    Who knows?


    if Shakira''s back, how will Yvette survive at Crescentville University? She can''t be the prettiest girl in our department anymore, and she had copied Shakira''s designs..." shot them a a fierce re. "Yvette is making sacrifices for her family! You selfish, poor loser''s really understand nothing!"


    Hearing this, Xanthe


    As a spoiled rich kid, Xanthe enjoyed a strong position in this grade. The others'' expressions soured, but they didn''t dare confront her.


    After scolding them, Xanthe, who thought she knew the truth, turned tofort Yvette. "Don''t be upset, Yvette. Those idiots) don''t know the truth; they''re just blinded by Shakira''s pretty facel" Yvette forced a smile, clearly strained. T''m fine, Xanthe"


    In fact, Yvette was seething with rage at the thought that anyone would dare say she wasn''t as pretty as Shakira, thinking that her ssmates were a bunch of tasteless fools.


    With forty minutes psed, Shakira put down her pen and looked up at Carol, who asked in surprise, "Shakira, are you done?


    "Yeah," said Shakira.


    A gasp rippled through the ssroom. The students couldn''t believe that Shakira had finished so early, thinking that she was taking a gamble.


    Carol approached Shakira''s desk and picked up the paper. As she reviewed the questions one by one, her frown deepened


    After a moment, she called the students who had selected the questions toe forward. "Since you chose the questions, you can grade the paper."


    A group of top students gathered around to mark the exams, with Xanthe moving slowly, unconcerned. "Xanthe, aren''t you going up?" Berry asked. Xanthe remained calm and finally got up to join the group. "It''s not like she''ll have many right answers anyway..."


    She got this one right!"


    She got


    the


    one I chose correct, tool"


    "Wait, she got fourteeit questions right?"


    Hearing the stunned exmations from the top students 14


    grab


    the paper. "What nonsense are you spouting?"


    frown deepened as she pushed through the crowd to


    But secondster, Xan Xanthe''s e''s expression darkened further. When she reached thest question, which was nk, she felt utterly humiliated.


    Shakira had answered fourteen questions correctly, leaving the one she had chosen unanswered-clearly a provocation. She was telling Xanthe that even without answering the question she chose, she would still pass the test Xanthe threw the exam paper back, ring at Shakira with a mix of hatred and irritation. Shakira met her malicious gaze with indifference, raising an eyebrow, "Is there a problem?" She


    She seemedpletely careless, as if Xanthe didn''t even register in her mind. Xanthe gritted her teeth. "What''s there to be so smug about?"


    Shakira shrugged. "Why shouldn''t I be? I didn''t cheat."


    The words struck Yvette like a bolt of like a bolt of lightning.


    Xanthe stomped back to her seat angrily.


    After themotion, Carol formally announced Shakira''s return. The students returned to their seats to continue the interrupted lesson.


    For the next stretch of time, Yvette and her friends were left in torment. Finally making it to the end of ss, Yvette hurried out, determined to find Lago. She had to question him about what foolishness he had done. Suddenly, she heard S I Shakira call her name. She knew Shakira''s voice well and she detested it. gave she could


    a few steps closer to Yvette, whose body instantly stiffened. The closer Shakira got, the clearer


    Shakira, arms s crossed, took af


    see


    the familiar, hypocritical face of Yvette, which made her blood burn and her an urge to destroy everything- Shakira tightened her jaw, managing a calm smile. "Yvette, you''ve forgotten something."


    "What?" Meeting Shakira''s


    Shakira''s frosty


    gaze, an uneasy feeling washed over Yvette.


    Shakira let out a meaningfulugh. "Aren''t you going to apologize to me? How could you forget what you''ve said in front of an audience online?"


    Yvette''s pupils constricted. That b***h! How dare she? she cursed Shakira inwardly.


    Xanthe erupted, "Shakira, are you out of your mind? Yvette has already apologized! What more do you want from her?" Shakira tilted her head, pretending to think for a moment. "She apologized to me? When was that?" "Didn''t you see the video online?" Xanthe shouted. "Didn''t your parents teach you how to apologize? Shakira asked Xanthe.


    Then,


    , her gaze shifted from Xanthe to Yvette. Though Shakira was wearing a smile, her eyes were icy. "How funny, Your parents didn''t teach you how to apologize, either?"


    Yvette thought Shakira must have lost her mind, even cursing her own parents. She struggled to contain herself, her mouth twisting in anger.


    the curious stares of their ssmate


    Avoiding she lowered her voice, pleadingly asking. "Sis... Shakira, can we talk somewhere else


    35


    chatood her ground. This ce is just fine."


    @K 66%


    Yvette nearly stumbled, taking arge step to the side. Berry quickly rushed to support her. "Yvette, are you okay?" Xanthe was so angry that she raised her hand to p Shakira. "That''s enough, you b***h!" Shakira swiftly caught Xanthe''s wrist, pushing her slightly toward Yvette.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "Argh!" Yvette screamed. In the end, it was her who got pped by Xanthe.


    The pain almost made Yvette curse them in public. She thought her friends were so useless that they were no match for Shakira.


    The students who had been yelled at by Xanthe could no longer hold back. "Hey, she just asked for an apology! Why is there even a fight?"


    "Exactly! Yvette was the one who promised online that she would apologize to Shakira sincerely. So, was that just empty talk?"


    "She''s a liar! Though she acts like she did it for her family, she is just bullying Shakira, who has no power!"


    "She''s so disgusting!"


    Yvette covered her face, and when she saw someone nearby holding up a phone, she had no choice but to give in. She squeezed her eyes shut, overwhelmed with humiliation. I''m sorry, I shouldn''t have used your design. It''s all my fault!" Without waiting for Shakira to respond, she buried her face in her hands and began to sob, her shoulders shaking, looking utterly victimized. "She apologized. Are you satisfied now?" Xanthe shot a fierce re at Shakira and shielded Yvette as they turned to leave. "Yvette, let''s go."


    As Yvette turned away, Shakira''s gaze was suddenly caught by a glint of something.

 Chapter 36

    36


    "Boss, did you say that Yvette turned the button from your discarded shirt into a bracelet?" Sean asked in astonishment. Back at the small vi, Shakira locked the door, operating herptop while calling Sean and casually mentioned the incident.


    "Yeah," She thought carefully for a moment. That shirt was the one I wore a few days ago when I went to the hospital. If I remember correctly, Jessie was the one who tore off the button. Sean''s voice immediately grew louder. "Jessie? Damn, that shameless hag bullied you?"


    With a sigh, Shakira had no choice but to briefly exin the whole story. Sean continued cursing on the other end of the line. Hearing what he said, Shakira felt helpless but strangely warmed.


    IL


    It was absurd that her adoptive parents, biological parents, and brothers had all treated her like dirt, yet the masters she had met on the ind and friends like Sean truly cared for her. She had been too silly in her past life, trapped in the dead-end of keep her button. "Huh? Cathy? You''re in You''re in Crescentville?" Shakira asked in surprise.


    But she still didn''t understand why Yvette would dead-end of family ties. But now, she had seen it through. Who said only parents and siblings could be considered family? Shakira''s parents and siblings treated her worse than an animal, so they were dead to her.


    Just as Shakira was pondering over this, a pleasant female voice came from Sean''s end of the call. "Boss, you''d better be careful!"


    Cathy, like Sean, was part of Shakira''s team. She was Matthew''s daughter, but she had no interest in medicine. Cathy was obsessed with tarot cards, and she had millions of followers on social media for her fortune-telling- I kust got here old man is tying to set me up on another blind date, so I ran over to Sean''s ce to hide. Cathy giggled, then her tone became serious. "Boss, have you ever heard of fortune borrowing?" ould respond, interjected with a sarcastic tone. "We''re in the business of science. How could we believe in supernatural nonsense?" Cathy''s voice took on a spooky quality. Just because you don''t believe it doesn''t mean it''s not real. Shakira kira might


    Before


    If it were befor


    before,


    Sean


    I haveughed it off. But she had been transported back.


    Shakira furrowed her brow. "I''ve read read about it online before. It''s where someone transfers another person''s good luck to themselves, right?"


    "Exactly! That button isn''t some precious item. Yvette doesn''t need to wear it, especially since it belonged to someone she hates, So... Cathy gave Shakira a hint. "That button is useful to her," Shakira said calmly.


    "Bingo! Boss, you''re so smart," said Cathy.


    Sean muttered, "No way, this is just ridiculous"


    Cathy stood proudly with her hands on her hips. "Well then, genus, exin why Yvette is wearing our boss''s button. Are you going to tell me she has secret crush on her?"


    Without hesitation, Sean responded, "That''s even more ridiculous!"


    Shakira massaged her forehead. "It''s fine to make wild guesses, but don''t go too far."


    2K 91%


    After a brief pause, she added. "Alright, I''ll figure this out. Cathy, settle down at Sean''s ce. Let''s meet up when we have time"


    Sean quickly chimed in, "Boss, I''ve already arranged for the trolls to go after Yvette. I guarantee they''ll roast that piece of trash!"


    Cathy whistled. "Boss, you''re always one step ahead. Yvette thought she could hide behind the inte and y the victim for sympathy. Now you can show everyone how shameless she really is." "Thanks, Shakira smirked.


    Just moments earlier, she had uploaded a video taken by her ssmate to the official Nelson Group ount, pushing Yvette''s public apology video down to the second spot.


    She had even set restrictions, making it impossible for anyone to delete the video or remove its pinned status. As the flood. ofments began pouring in, Shakira felt a deep sense of satisfaction.


    ??


    This whole n had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, but she couldn''t deny how gratifying it was to humiliate Yvette, who had always considered herself a princess.


    Since the Nelson family was so intent on protecting Yvette''s image, Shakira was determined to thwart them at every turn.


    After hanging up the phone, Shakira organized her thoughts. In her past life, the kidney transnt had been the turning point in her downfall. Afterward, Yvette seemed to flourish in everything-academically, professionally, and even with her doting and perfect fianc¨¦. But Yvette''s illness had been faked. If she wasn''t actually sick, the kidney was unnecessary. If Yvette just wanted Shakira deal she could have used other methods. Suddenly, Shakira made a wild guess.


    Shakira spe, are you still wake wa gente knock came from the door.


    opened the door. what''s going on?"


    Levi smiled warmly. "Ms. Nelson, the attending physician overseeing Mr. Lopez''s condition has arrived today. She is currently examining him. Would you like to go and have a look?"


    Shakira nodded. "Yes, of course."


    Walter certainly had a unique way of doing things. He was having his checkup right next to the crocodile pool


    When Shakira arrived, she saw Walter wearing ck food service gloves, feeding Baby Fishy dried fish.


    Shakira had always thought crocodiles were cold-blooded creatures that didn''t recognize people, but in front of Walter, the huge crocodile behaved like a docilemb. It obediently opened its mouth wide to eat the fish, far too tame for such a fierce creature. Behind


    Walter''s wheelchair stood a female doctor in a white coat, whose name was Fiona Banks. She was clearly nervous around Baby Fishy, keeping a safe distance behind it. Shakira narrowed her eyes as she observed for a moment, then chuckled. Fiona had waist-length wavy hair, and she was -wearing 4-inch high heels, a form-fitting camisole dress beneath theb coat, and makeup more morous than a movie star''s.


    No wonder Walter''s legs hadn''t improved in all this time. The doctor didn''t look like she was there to treat him; she looked more like she was there to seduce him. Shakira quietly approached, just in time to hear Fiona speaking in a sickly sweet voice, "Walter, you should take more of the


    medication I prescribed for your neuritis. It''ll help your legs."


    @%91%


    Shakira felt a wave of goosebumps wash over her. She couldn''t resist taking a bigger step forward, but identally stepped on the tip of Baby Fishy''s tail.


    The crocodile, feeling the pain, turned around and opened its massive jaws, ready to attack. But when it saw Shakira, it quickly swished its tail and scurried in the opposite direction, recreating to a corner behind Walter, where it opened its mouth wide, gasping. It was obvious the creature was terrified, and if it could speak, it would be swearing profusely. Walter''s eyelid twitched violently. He turned to stare at Shakira, who looked thoroughly embarrassed. "Is this how you normally take care of my pet?"


    Shakira scratched her


    Shak


    I her face. That was an ident! I guess it just doesn''t like me."


    Walter scoffed. "Just doesn''t like you?"


    Shakira hesitated, then chose her words carefully. "Fine. Maybe it hates me."


    Walter didn''t hold back. Judging by its reaction, it looks more like you''re mortal enemies."


    Shakira pouted. "It''s not that serious!"


    Walter sneered. "Huh."


    Fiona watched in shock as Walter, who had always been indifferent and distant towards her, casually bantered with a mer maid. His words were sharp, but his face showed no hint of the usual coldness or disdain. Instead, he seemed to be enjoying the exchange. Fiona had known Walter for over a decade, and she had never seen him like this.


    Immediately, her wary gaze shifted to Shakira, who, without a trace of makeup, looked radiant. After sizing her up, Fiona''s intuition red a loud rm.


    "How dare you, a mere maid, talk back to Walter after making a mistake?" Fiona yelled at Shakira.


    Then, in themanding tone of thedy of the house, she turned to Levi and ordered, "Throw this insolent girl out! She is never to appear before Walter again!"N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

 Chapter 37

    As Fiona spoke, she cast a haughty and disdainful nce at Shakira


    However, instead of kicking Shakira out, Levi walked over to her Levi''s tone was detached. "Dr. Banks, as a guest, you''re overstepping your bounds." Shakira ¨¤ couldn''t


    ShaN?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    help butugh at Levi''s rare disy of sarcasin, something unexpected from someone usually polite.


    Fiona was stunned by Levi''s attitude, her eyes wide with disbelief. When she heard Shakira''sughter, her anger red, making her look like a mouse whose tail was stepped on by someone. She immediately turned to Walter, her voice full of grievance. "Walter, I was only trying to discipline your servant for your sake. Am I wrong to do so?"


    Walter picked up a plump dried fish and expertly tossed it at Baby Fishy, who had remained in the corner. The crocodile, converting its anger into appetite, snapped it up in one bite. Waller looked at the crocodile nkly, replied, "No need for your help, "You!" With even alter refusing to side with her, Fiona''s meticulously made-up face twisted with rage Walter shifted his gaze toward Shakira akira and, in a calm tone, asked. "Where are your manners when greeting guests?


    His tone was like gently reminding his kid to say hello to a guest Levi, with a kind smile, noticed the protective undertone in Walter''s casualmand, even if it wasn''t overtly obvious. Shakira pursed her lips and said tly, "Hello, Dr. Banks."


    the


    not lower herself to the maid''s level.


    Fiona scoffed, deciding to let the slight go and no medications were personally formted by me. You took themst month, right? And during the power outagest week, you managed to get through without needing any painkillers. That proves the medication works. If She tried to persuade Walter again. "Walter, those medic


    you continue to take them, I believe your symptoms will be less painful with each re-up.


    Walter nced


    at Fiona, who was shamelessly seeking credit, and then turned his attention back to Shakira. "What do you think?"


    Shakira blinked, suppressing the urge to call Fiona out for her brazenness. She stepped forward, saying, "Dr. Banks, may I see the pills you''ve prepared?"


    Fiona''s expression soured. "Who are you to see them? Don''t dirty my-


    Before she could finish, Walter handed the small bottle of pills to Shakira, Fiona fell silent.


    Shakira held a small white tablet between her fingers, applying slight pressure until it crumbled into powder


    Fiona shrieked furiously, "What are you doing? Do you even know how much one of those costs? You couldn''t afford it with a month''s sry!"


    The main ingredients are methyl cobmin and vitamin B12, bothmonly used to treat neuritis. Given Mr. Lopez''s condition, this medication won''t do much for him. And the otherponents are zinc and vitamin D, said Shakira. Shakira''s eyes briefly swept over Walter, her voice dripping with subtle irony, "Mr. Lopez''s kidneys seem to be in perfect health. So, why does this medication include supplements for kidney function?"


    Walter''s face darkened immediately, and the atmosphere chilled in an instant.


    Fiona, having been exposed in front of others, was overwhelmed with shame. She hadn''t expected Shakira to understand medicine. "Walter, don''t listen to her. These are just supplements for your health. I''m only looking out for you..." "Unnecessary!" Walter ordered. "Levi, please escort Dr. Banks out I won''t need her services anymore.


    Fiona was stunned, thinking she must have misheard. "Walter, you must be joking. If I don''te, who will help treat your


    "She''s enough," Walter said inly.


    "She?" Fiona stood there, dumbfounded. Before she could ask more questions, Levi had already started guiding her out firmly.


    Shakira walked over to Walter. "Do you still want these pills?"


    Walter shot her a sidelong nce. "Do you want me to throw you out as well?"


    Shakira waved her hand dismissively, "Mr. Lopez, you''re misunderstanding me."


    With that, she poured all the pills into the artificial pond. Though Walter didn''t need them, the crocodile could benefit from the supplements. Walter watched as she grabbed a piece of dried fish to tease Baby Fishy, her figure slender and graceful. Baby Fishy recoiled nervously as she taunted it, making Shakira chuckle. Her radiant smile, paired with the small red mole near her eye, gave her a touch of irresistible charm.


    After having her fun, Shakira turned back to Walter, grinning. "Anything else, Mr. Lopez? If not, I''ll be on my way."


    Walter slowly withdrew his gaze from her, his expression unreadable. What''s the rush? Are you that busy?"


    Shakira couldn''t discern whether his tone was serious deal with Dr. Banks?"


    or not. She furrowed her brows. "Didn''t you call me over just to help


    meone as clueless as Fiona would fail to see through


    His motive was all too obvious. He had used her as a distraction. Only it, which was why she had dared to act so brazenly in front of him.


    Walter sneered. "You think you''re so clever?"


    Shakira smacked her forehead, pretending to be regretful "Oh no, did I misunderstand your intention? I''ll go tell Levi to bring Dr. Banks back right away"


    Walter ground his teeth. "Shakira!"


    He 1 took a few breaths to calm himself before continuing Fiona is the granddaughter of one of my grandfather''s close friends. She used to make my grandfather happy. After my ident, none of the doctors were of much help, but I kept her around to avoid upsetting my grandfather." However, Wa Walter''s grandfather hadn''t lived long enough to see his legs healed.


    Shakira''s teasing demeanor faded. From the first moment she saw him, even sitting in a wheelchair, Walter had seemed untouchable, as lofty as a god.


    But now, she glimpsed a vulnerability beneath his seemingly unbreakable exterior. After all, no matter how strong or powerful someone appears, everyone has weak points.


    Shakira hesitated for a moment before gently cing her hand on the armrest of his wheelchair. "Mr. Lopez, won''t disappoint you."


    asked, "You finished with your sses today?"


    Finally, he ask


    don''t worry. I


    I had to attend an introductory ss today," answered Shakira.


    "Good. Send your ss schedule to Levi. Work resumes as usual, Water said.


    Shakira blinked, caught off f guard by his abrupt shift in conversation. "Work?"


    Walter gazed at her leisurely. "What? I gave you a few days off, and now you think you don''t have to serve me anymore?"


    "Fine," Shakira sighed, feeling a pang of regret for ever sympathizing with him. She realized Walter''s heart was stone-cold.


    Meanwhile, Yvette, still fuming after her humiliating encounter with Shakira, angrily sent messages to Lago as soon as she got in the car, venting her frustration.


    Even after that, she felt unsatisfied. Comforted by Xanthe and Berry, the three of them decided to go shopping at the newly opened mall.


    But even in the luxury boutiques, Yvette couldn''t shake the feeling that people were whispering and pointing at her. She was beginning to grow suspicious when Reba called her. Yvette answered in a soft and sweet voice. "Mom, Celeste Couture just released two new bags. How about we each get one?

 Chapter 38

    38


    When she finished, Reba''s breath became heavier, as if she was repressing something. "Where are you?" Reba asked.


    Tm at Celeste Couture in Grand Mall. What happened?" Yvette was confused, but the only response she got was the click of the line going dead. Yvette was baffled, having no idea what had just happened. After saying goodbye to Xanthe and Berry, she walked out of the store. Just then, she heard a voice from a passerby''s phone, which astonished her. "Tim sorry, I shouldn''t have used your design. It''s all my fault!" Suddenly, Yvette realized something. She rushed over and took the passerby''s phone. "What are you doing?" the passerby got mad, but then he recognized Yvette in surprise. "Wait, you''re Yvette Nelson? The girl


    in the video?"


    Yvette stared at the screen, eyes wide as she saw a video posted on the official Nelson Group ount. "Who? Who did this?" she screamed.


    The passerby, startled by her outburst, quickly grabbed their phone back and stepped away, turning his camera on her. "How could a rich girl be like this? Just like in the video, no ss at all!" Yvette red at him. "Stop filming! Put that phone dow down!"


    Themotion drew more onlookers, and soon, a small crowd had gathered. More people raised their phones, recording her.


    "That''s the rich kid who stole someone else''s design for thepetition? Wow, what a spoiled brat, dirty and unapologetic.


    "Yeah, didn''t she say she''d sincerely apologize in thatst video? And now she''s acting like nothing happened. When confronted, she ys dumb and cries like a victim."


    "Exactly! The person she


    copied from must be so fed up. Yvette publicly said she''d apologize, but when it came time, she cried like she was being bullied." "She''s just pulling a a pity card. Does she really think we''re that gullible? Cry a little, and the public will take her side? She really thinks she is wronged."


    "Huh, should


    should we praise her for her crying skills? What a great performance of ying the victim!"


    The murmurs and usations around her grew louder, and Yvette tried to keep herposure.


    But now, these stupid trolls were right in front of her, taunting her in person. And they were all losers who dressed in cheap clothes Yvette''s anger boiled over.


    What a


    t are you filming for? This has nothing to do with you!" She lost control and swung at the nearest phone, knocking it out of the person''s hand. The phone hit the ground with a sharp crack, shattering into pieces. Then, Mitchell arrived, witnessing the scene "Yvette!"


    "Mitchell! You''re finally here!" Tears welled up in Yvette''s eyes as she threw herself into Mitchell''s arms, looking weak and pitiful. They''re all bullying me..."


    "I''m taking you out of here Mitchell wrapped an arm around her, shielding her from the agitated crowd as he led her toward the parking lot, finally getting her into the car.


    Mitchell let out a sigh of relief as he shut the car door behind them. The past ten minutes had been some of the most chaotic of his life. In the scuttle, someone had even yanked on Yvette''s hair, and his silk shirt had been torn in the process


    08:22 08:22


    Oct 19 Oct


    Now, looking at Yvette''s usually well-maintained hair, which was now a tangled mess with knots, Mitchell couldn''t help but


    frown.


    Yvette was on the verge of tears. "What are those idiots even doing? I can''t take this. I''m calling the police. I''m going to sue them¡ª''Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yvette, how could you smack that person''s hand?" Mitchell asked. His question stunned Yvette, leaving her momentarily speechless.


    Tears quickly welled up and streamed down her face. "Mitchell, are you ming me, too? Is it my fault for bringing trouble to the family? Everyone is mocking me, criticizing ine, and I''m just supposed to take it without fighting back?"


    In the past, no matter what, Mitchell would alwaysfort her when she cried, without questioning right or wrong. But now he felt an unexinable irritation.


    Especially since he had seen her furious expression when she knocked that person''s phone out of his hand, he found Yvette. his cherished little sister, felt so unfamiliar to him. He wondered how she turned out like this.


    Mitchell rolled down the window, letting the breeze cool his temper. "ude, get in touch with the person whose phone was broken. Offer him ten times thepensation." Mr. Mitchell Nelson," said ude.


    Yvette was angrier, for she thought Mitchell shouldn''t offer that loser ten times thepensation.


    "Yvette, you saw the video, didn''t you?" Mitchell took a deep breath and turned back to face Yvette, locking eyes with her. "Didn''t you tell me that you would apologize to Shakira?"


    "I was going to apologize, but I didn''t say I''d do it in front of the whole ss!" Yvette''s expression twisted with difort. It was right after ss, and everyone was watching."


    As she spoke, she began to sob. "I begged Shakira. I asked her if we could talk somewhere else, but she refused. She even said maybe Mom and Dad hadn''t taught me properly. She used Mom and Dad to threaten me. What was I supposed to do?" Her face tilted upward, tears of anguish rolling down her cheeks her eyes filled with helplessness. "Do you also think I''m wrong, Mitchell? It''s Shakira who won''t let me off."


    Mitchell clenched his fists, his breathing heavy. "But Yvette, it doesn''t matter where you apologize. In any situation, it''s the same. We-the Nelson family-can admit when we''re wrong. If she asks for an apology, you should apologize to her. But you... Mitchell wanted to ask her what she was crying for. But before he could ask this question, Yvette had already lowered her head, burying her face in her knees, sobbing uncontrobly.


    "How could you me me like this? You''re not my brother anymore. You''re siding with Shakira All of you are siding with her! Fine, I''m sorry, okay? I''m the one who''s always causing trouble. I''m the disaster that brings everyone grief!" she shouted Mitchell''s face remained tense. This time, he didn''t console Yvette like he usually did. Instead, he silently turned his head


    away.


    He wanted to take Yvette''s side, but now he couldn''t bring himself to do it.


    In the past, he had never really reflected on whether they had been too harsh on Shakira, whether they had hurt her deeply. As a man and an older brother, he had always believed it was no big deal for Shakira to make some concessions for Yvette. But this giarism incident had shaken him. For the first time, le felt that Yvette had brought this upon herself. Yvette


    e continued her fake sobbing, crying for a long time, waiting for Mitchell to apologize to her as he had countless times before-softly, patiently, humbly coaxing her.


    But the


    then her heart missed a beat. Peeking through her fingers, she saw Mitchell''s back turned toward her, cold and distant. A chill ran through her.


    Yvette''s body began to tremble involuntarily. ''Shakira-this is all because of Shakira! She has humiliated me time and time again, made me the subject of ridicule, and now, Shakira has even cost her Mitchell''s care and affection!" Biting her lip, Yvette''s tear-filled eyes slowly filled with hatred.


    Meanwhile, Shakira finished helping Walter with dinner and his evening routine, then returned to her small room. She opened her tablet again, noticing that the Nelson family had already managed to clean up most of the online bacsh. Shakira had expected as much and let out a silent, mockingugh


    Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind. She picked up her phone and unblocked a certain number from her cklist. The moment she did, dozens of missed calls and text messages flooded her screen.

 Chapter 39

    Shakira sneered. She knew Lago was a fool, but she didn''t expect him to be so foolish that he kept calling after so many having been ignored.


    Calls


    It was pure luck that he managed to make a name for himself in Crescentville. Just as Shakira was mocking him inwardly. Lago called again. He really wouldn''t give up. Shakira answered, but there was a brief pause before Lago''s voice came through, filled with hesitation and disbelief. "Shakira


    "It''s me." she replied coolly, then moved the phone away from her ear.


    As she e


    expected, the next second, Lago erupted into a furious tirade on the other end. Shakira hung up immediately.


    After a second''s pause, she called back. This time, before Lago could start yelling, she said, "If you keep cursing, I''ll hang up again


    This n girl! Lago h**uffed in anger, thinking that after being proud for so long, Shakira was finally caving in anding to him for help.


    You


    must


    He believed that Shakira had nowhere to go after being kicked out by the Nelson family, and he guessed she had to answer his call because she had run out of money. feel I miserable and alone after leaving the Nelson family, Shakira. We could kindly let you back, but since you humiliated Yvette at college, you have to pay the price!" With that in mind, Lago adopted a condescending tone, filled with jealousy and arr


    "Oh, and what do you suggest?" She was genuinely curious about his delusional ideas.


    Without hesitation, Lago said, "If you kneel before Yvette, apologize, and go to the hospital to sign a consent form for a kidney donation, I might consider it!"


    Lago was eager to hear Shakira''s humble plea for forgiveness. Just like back in the Smith family, as long as he and Jessic gave her a bit of attention, Shakira would obediently do as they said. for him, this time he only heard Shakiraughing as if she had heard a joke. "Why should I listen to you? I look down on the Nelson family. Who do you think you are?"


    Unfortul Lago was at


    "Aren''t you


    "If you''re talking about that, then we have nothing more to discuss," said Shakira


    Realizing Shakira was about to hang up, Lago finally remembered the important matter at hand. He quickly spoke up, "Shakira, you don''t care about Hannah''s life anymore, do you?"


    paused, her breath slightly deepening. Hannah, as Lago mentioned, was his own mother


    Hannah lived in the countryside and was only brought to the city during summer and winter breaks to help care for her grandchildren. During those times, Shakira could feel a bit of warmth of a family.


    But Hannah had trouble walking, when Shakira was in elementary school, she had been sent to a nursing home due to paralysis, spending her days confined to bed. In her previous life, after returning to the Nelson family, Shakira never had the chance to visit Hannah. Later, after undergoing the kidney transnt, Shakira was too weak to visit Hannah. Before she could recover, Hannah had left the world.


    Shakira tightened her grip on the phone, her tone calm. "What do you want to say?" want to sout


    Lago maintained a serious demeanor. "You know Hannah''s condition; she''s been paralyzed for so many years, and her health is declining. The doctors say she can''t hold on much longer. However, there''s an imported medication that can alleviate her suffering and prolong her life a bit." Shakira remained silent. Lago listened to Shakira''s low breaths on the other end. Since she didn''t hang up,


    urgency.


    he


    felt no


    "Unfortunately, that medication is incredibly expensive, Hannah needs it once a month, and it costs 200 thousand dors each time. Do the math, Shakira-over a year, three years, five years... It adds up to nearly 20 million dors, at the very least," he said. Shakira narrowed her eyes with no expression. "She''s your mother."


    "And so what? The medication is pricey. Who can afford that on an ordinary sry? But you''re different, Shakira. You know Finn offered 30 million dors to find a kidney for Yvette, right? If you donate a kidney to Yvette, Hannah could live an extra five or six years, and you could make some money. This opportunity is all thanks to Yvette," Lago said.


    Even though she was somewhat prepared, Shakira couldn''t believe Lago could be this shameless. "Lago, you''re disgusting!" Shakira eximed.


    The Smith family, while not as wealthy as the Nelson family, was still quite affluent. For Yvette''s birthday, Lago and Jessie had given her a luxury apartment in the city center, worth at least 3 million dors. Lago could totally spend 200 thousand dors to treat Hannah, but he just didn''t want to do so.


    Lago became even more excited when Shakira cursed at him. He hadn''t expected Hannah to still be of some use, helping him manipte Shakira.


    "I''m not even asking you to repay the money you spent during your ten years with us. I''ll make it clear; either you sign the kidney donation papers, or you help Hannah with the 20 million dors. Choose one, and Hannah can continue livingfortably. Think it over," he said. Salu.


    Lagoughed maniacally on the other end. "How long she lives depends on your conscience, Shakira."N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    With that, he hung up. Shakira threw her phone onto the bed and covered her eyes with her hand. After a while, she slowly clenched her fist, her eyes cold as ice..


    The next morning, in the small vi''s dining room, Walter had a tablet in front of him, disying today''s international


    news


    He took a sip of ck coffee and nced icily at Shakira, who sat with her hands folded in front of her. He noticed her eyes were bloodshot.


    After breakfast, Shakira said a quick goodbye and left for school Walter took the damp towel from the butler to wipe his hands and asked casually, "What''s going on with her?"


    Levi had been holding it in all night and finally found an outlet Mr. Lopez, Ms. Nelson was bullied at college yesterday."


    Walter scoffed, not believing it. "There''s someone who could bully Shakira?" He thought Shakira was more likely to be the bully


    Levi recounted the events he''d seen online, animatedly. "Even if Ms. Nelson had a bad reputation before, she''s changed! Yesterday, in front of the whole grade, she only got one question wrong on a test. She must have worked so hard to redeem herself!" ***Nelson is such a poor girl. She just wanted an apology, but that girl Yvette morally ckmailed her. If everyone hadn''t


    R


    been rational and able to see through it, Ms. Nelson would have been med Let''s not forget, she is the real daughter of the Nelson family, while Yvette is the one who stole her ce. It''s outrageous!" he added. By the end. Levi was irritated. Having no parental support and being bullied by someone who took away her family. Shakira was truly unfortunate.


    Listening, Walter furrowed his brow slightly. "Why didn''t she say anything about this yesterday?"


    "Mr. Lopez, you know Ms. Nelson. Whenever she feels wronged, she always bears it alone," said Levi.


    Walter recalled how smug she appeared when addressing him, and he snorted. He believed Shakira wasn''t just enduring: she was like a cunning fox, waiting for the right moment to strike back.


    Shakira, having not refused Levi''s offer of a ride today, arrivedfortably at the college. She instructed the driver to drop her off at a corner just before the entrance, and she walked the rest of the way. As she reached the gate, a shy Ferrari drifted in and came to a stop right in front of the gate.


    0


    L

 Chapter 40

    A handsome man in a designer tracksuit got out of the driver''s seat. He walked around to the passenger side, opened the door, and elegantly extended his hand. Yvette, with a shy blush on her face, took his hand and stepped out of the car. Joe, thank you for bringing me to school," she said, her cheeks flushed. Joe gently tucked a stray hair behind her ear, smoothing down the wind-tousled strands. "It''s nothing. Let''s go inside." "Okay,"


    They


    Yvette


    replied.


    a nce, and Joe smoothly closed the car door. The couple walked into the school side by side, their attractive pairing drawing everyone''s attention. "Joe is so handsome! He''s rich, smart, and even got a national schrship. He''s the pride of the rich kids!"


    exchanged a he best


    "The


    part is he''s so gentle. Who wouldn''t want a boyfriend like that?"


    "Come on you all are just swooning. Didn''t you hear Yvette say that Joe brought her to the campus himself?"


    Joe has his own ce near the campus and even went to pick Yvette up early in the morning"


    Yvette is definitely ying the victim again. She embarrassed herself in front of so many people yesterday, I thought she wouldn''t daree to school today. But now she has Joe to protect her, making us all envious!" "I really don''t get it. How did Joe end up with Yvette? She doesn''t deserve to be with the hottest guy in the campus!" "Don''t be so sure. I heard Joe was really rebellious in high school, even had a nickname "Walter Junior, and he used to race cars at the Desperate Cliff. Back then, he had a girl by his side, too, a typical bad girl" "Yeah, I heard that gossip too! That girl also got into this university!" Yeah. "Who is it?"


    "I can''t quite remember. It seems like we haven''t heard anything about her in years. Joe has turned over a new leaf; they must have broken up by now."


    As


    Shakira walked through the hall, listening to the gossip, she turned into the ssroom building. But before she could head upstairs, a hand suddenly reached out from the side and pulled her into an empty ssroom next door. The door opened and closed without anyone noticing. Shakira found herself pressed against the door, and when she looked up, she saw Joe in front of her. Her clear eyes showed no emotion


    Joe''s gaze was intense as he focused on her. In public, he acted like a gentleman, but now, his charming eyes were filled with fury. didn''t youe to me?" he asked.


    Shakira shot back, "Why should I?"


    "You promised that after graduation, we''d go to Crescentville University together, and you''d be my girlfriend in college." Joe tightened his grip on her wrist, his breathing heavier. "You disappeared without a word, and now that you''re back, why are you pretending like we''re strangers?"


    Shakira met his gaze squarely, not backing down. "Those were your words, not mine. And besides, you already have a girlfriend."


    1Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    "She and I are not what you think. It''s because-Joe tried to exin.


    "No matter the reason, when the Nelson family was having financial issues, you''re the one who let the Ortiz family help them. And today, you personally brought Yvette here," Shakira said. In her past life, Joe had been Yvette''s brilliant fiance, whom she often bragged about.


    Shakira spoke slowly, deliberately, and raised her other hand to pry his fingers off one by one. "We might have a chance to be friends in the future, but right now, I can''t consider you one! Whether Joe was involved i in the dirty schemes in the past life, he was already tainted by his association with Yvette. Shakira pushed Joe away, ignoring his stunned expression, and walked out of the ssroom. Just as she had half a flight of up half a gone of stairs, she heard footsteps following her. Shakira was tired. "Do you have to follow Turning her rhead, she was taken aback for a moment, then frowned, "What do you want?"" Mitchell looked serious. "I need to talk to you."


    "I have nothing to say to you." Sh


    ." Shakira continued up the stairs, but Mitchell stepped up three steps at once, blocking her way, "I... I''m here to apologize." The word apologize made Mitchell''s voice drop low, whether out of shame or difort. Shakira was about to sidestep him when she heard that and felt as if she''d heard something unbelievable. She reached out, almost as if checking for a fever, and touched Mitchell''s forehead. What are you doing?" Mitchell a asked, cont confused.


    Shakira furrowed her brow, thinking hard, and finally asked uncertainly, "Did Finn really switch your brain?"


    "Shakira, I''m serious today." Mitchell took a deep breath. This apology is not just from me but from Yvette, too. She copied your design, and she owes you a real apology. I''m here to make up for that."


    At that moment, his sincerity was evident as they faced each other calmly. It was the first time in their two lifetimesbined, and probably the only time.


    Shakira''s lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Setting everything else aside, you''re doing a pretty good job as an older brother.


    Mitchell waspletely taken aback. For some reason, he found it somewhat ironic. By blood, he was also Shakira''s brother."...


    "Mitchell? What... what are you doing here?" Yvette asked.


    At the bottom of the stairs, Yvette clung to Joe''s arm. Joe was expressionless, while a sh of hatred crossed Yvette''s eyes as she observed the two struggling on the staircase. Why is Shakira everywhere!'' She thought, feeling annoyed.


    Mitchell, surprised to see Yvette, replied, "Yvette, didn''t Mom say you should rest at home for the next few days?" Yvette''s expression shifted slightly, instinctively shrinking closer to Joe, so joc interjected, "I brought Yvette here." Mitchell walked down the steps to face Joe. The two men, both over six feet tall, seemed evenly matched, "Do you


    know how embarrassing it was yesterday? What if Yvette encounters trouble from those with ill intentions today?" Mitchell said


    "I''m here to protect Yvette. Since I brought her out, I''ll make sure she gets back safely." Joe said nonchntly "Mr. Ortiz, you really talk big. How many people can you take on by yourself?" Mitchell asked.


    08:22


    Nearby students noticed, drawn to the tense standoff between the two impressive men. Yvette felt a rush of satisfaction, reveling in the attention.


    She instinctively nced up the stairs, ready to unt her situation, only to find that Shakira had vanished.


    Suddenly, her earlier confidence diminished significantly. She stepped in between the two men. "Mitchell, Joe, you''re both looking out for me, but I''m an adult now. I can make my own decisions."


    To Mitchell, she said. "You should head back, Mitchell. I have Joe here; I''ll be fine."


    Mitchell felt frustrated, but with Yvette holding onto Joe''s arm, there was no way to separate them. He turned to see Shakira had already left, feeling a little upset. Fine, do what you want," he said. Mitchell stormed off, and Yvette tightened her grip on Joe''s arm, her voice sweetly dripping with affection. "Joe, I''m sorry for dragging you into this."


    "It''s nothing. Are you okay?" Joe noticed her pale face.


    Yvette forced a smile and shook her head, her voice suddenly low and choked with emotion. "I''m fine, and it''s not the first time. I''ve gotten used to it."


    0

 Chapter 41

    41


    The words caught Dakota''s attention. "What do you mean it''s not the first time, Yvette? Isn''t Mitchell always good to you? Has he been bullying you?"


    "It''s not exactly bullying... Dakota, let''s go to ss!" said Yvette. She turned her face away, unwilling to borate. But Dakota saw the restrained hesitation in her expression. "Yvette, if you don''t tell me the truth, I''ll ask Mitchell Dakota, who was usually gentle and polite in front of Yvette, now showed an unusual stubbornness and sternness. "Don''t, Dakota, please don''t..." Yvette bit her lower lip, and under Dakota''s insistence, she had no choice but to voice her grievances. "Mitchell has always been very caring towards me. He''s been the best among all my brothers. No matter what happened, he always protected me, but after my sister returned, he changed a bit.


    "They are rted by blood. Though all my familyforted me saying that their love for me wouldn''t diminish because of Shakira''s arrival, and Mitchell said the same, I can feel that Mitchell cares more about her. Like this giarism scandal in thepetition, as soon as the video of me apologizing to my sister went viral yesterday, Mitchell found me. He med me for crying in front of Shakira."


    Yvette''s eyes welled up with tears, "I didn''t want to cry, but I was doing it for the family. I was wronged, too. If it wasn''t necessary, how could I touch my sister''s design drafts? But Mitchell has been holding a grudge about this. I don''t know what to do Dakota, what should I do! Can Mitchell forgive me?"


    She looked up with her pure eyes brimmed with tears, hoping to find an answer from him.


    Dakota couldn''t bear to see her and pulled her into aforting embrace. He sighed deeply, "You''ve been wronged." After? pause, a thought crossed his mind, and he suggested. "I have an idea that might help ease the current stalemate between Shakira... and the Yvette''s


    Nelson heat skipped a beat."What is it?"


    "Next week is my grandma''s birthday celebration. Why don''t we invite her as a guest? Maybe with my grandma''s help, she might forgive you."


    Two years ago, Dakota and Shakira often got into trouble, and it was always Martha, Dakota''s grandma who faced up to it. Shakira held Martha in high regard.


    Yvette had met Martha a few times, and each time she was distant, even asking Dakota in front of her why Shakira hadn''te to visit her. Thinking of this, a venomous jealousy was in Yvette''s eyes as she nestled in his arms. "Yvette, what t do you think?" Dakota asked.


    "This is a wonderful idea," said Yvette as she smiled cheerfully. Thank you, Dakota, for helping me."


    Dakota smiled back, "No need to thank me. It''s what I should do.


    Yvette and Dakota arrivedte, and their joint appearance in the ssroom caused quite a stir among their ssmates.


    Xanthe Sullivan and Berry White were sitting behind Shakira, loudly teasing, "Yvette, Dakota apanied you to ss again today?


    Shakira pretended not to hear, focusing on his textbook.


    Yvette, blushing, sat down next to them with Dakota. "Xanthe, don''t tease me and Dakota like that.


    08-2


    8-22 Sat, Oct 19


    FO


    "Oh, there''s no need to be shy about it. You two are the acknowledged sweethearts on campus; it''smon knowledge, replied Xanthe.


    Dakota smiled warmly, and his caring gaze casually swept over Shakira who was sitting in front of them.


    He said, "I''ve ordered some snacks for you all. It will be delivered soon. In this new semester, please be nice to Yvette as always."


    "Wow! Dakota is so generous!"


    I''m so jealous. When will sweet lovee my way..


    deliberately spoke i in the direction of Shakira, "Someone was aggressive yesterday, and I don''t know if she has the decency to share the milk shake."


    anthe, don''t say that. Yvette gently stopped her.


    Xanthe was indignant. "It''s the truth. She got you scolded yesterday, and today she''s acting like nothing happened. So annoying!"N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Dakota squinted, saying, "Please watch your words for the sake of the school''s reputation.


    Hearing this, Xanthe felt displeased and said sarcastically, "Dakota, I''m just trying to help Yvette. not Shakira''s, right?"


    Dakota clenched his fists.


    Yvette was almost furious with Xanthe upon what she said.


    ''re Yvette''s boyfriend.


    She was trying to hold back her anger when three tall, handsome guys dressed in suits appeared at the door. The logos on their nametes were strikingly conspicuous. The three men knocked on the door politely, "Excuse me, is there a Miss Nelson? Your delivery is here."


    Xanthe''s attention was immediately captured. "Aren''t these the hotshot delivery guys from the White Swan, which is all the rage online right now?"


    "I hear that their cakes have to be ordered two weeks in advance. And all the ingredients are flown in from abroad. Even the smallest pastries are quite expensive!"


    "It''s really from White Swan. Dakota is so thoughtful!"


    "This is just showing off wealth!"


    Yvette pped her hands in delight, ''Dakota, you''re so good to me. She said, then walked briskly like a butterfly to the door to sign for the delivery.


    Dakota frowned, feeling a bit strange, wondering, I arranged for the snacks just yesterday. Is it from this ce?


    One


    of the delivery guys asked, "Are you, Miss. Nelson?"


    Yvette walked up to the three men and said, "Yes."


    "Alright, please check the cake first, and if there''s no issue, sign for it."


    "Okay, sure."


    Each of them took out a cake from the boxes behind them, and they were all the signature treasures of White Swan-three Swan Velvet Cakes! Not only were the cake delivery guys pleasing to the eye, but the cakes themselves were like works of art,


    41


    So


    luxurious!


    "I''ve only seen this cake on disy at the store. One costs 35,000 dors, and here there are three..."


    "My goodness, Dakota is so generous!"


    "Dakota


    so dotes on Yvette!"


    Compared to the onlookers, Shakira nced over and shook his head. She thought, ''I didn''t think that Dakota didn''t mature a bit after those years. He''s still a show-off. He and Yvette are indeed a perfect match Even Xanthe sighed with envy, "I asked my dad to buy this cake for my birthday, and he said he''d get it for me when I get married."


    But for Yvette, Dakota treated everyone to it as if it were just a snack. Even Xanthe, who had been spoiled since childhood. felt a sour jealousy.


    Under the envious gazes of everyone, Yvette''s heart pounded rapidly. "The cake is fine. Do I sign here?"


    She scribbled her name on it and turned to Xanthe and Berry, "Help me cut the cake and share it with everyone, okay?" "Wait a minute. The delivery guy stopped them from taking the cake knife, "The name is wrong."

 Chapter 42

    42


    "It''s just a name. What''s the big deal? Yvette''s signature is fancy and you''re not cultured enough to understand it." Xanthe scolded mercilessly. The young delivery guy confirmed with Yvette again, "Excuse me, are you Ms Shakira Nelson?" Yvette''s voice caught in her throat as she was about to respond. "Who?"


    Xanthe got angry before Yvette could. "You mean these three cakes were ordered for Shakira?" The three delivery men spoke in unison. "Yes, it''s for Shakira. Which one of you is Ms. Shakira?" "It''s me." Shakira was also puzzled. "But I didn''t order any cakes." She took the receipt and saw that her name was indeed on it.


    She thought, Who in the world would


    I spend money on me like this? Sean? No way, she has to go and scold him. Who in their right mind buys such expensive cakes?"


    Xanthe, with her arms crossed, mocked. "You can''t even afford to order one. It costs 60,000 dors each!"


    At that moment, another delivery guy came in. "Thirty-two cups of milk shake ordered by Mr. Dakota Ortiz have arrived. Please sign for them."


    Everyone looked at the dozens of affordable milk shake, then at the luxurious, high-end 60,000 dors cakes, and felt quite awkward.


    Shakira put away the cake receipt, thanked the three delivery guys, and nced at Xanthe "Fine, you can afford it, maybe


    should treat everyone to one cake tomorrow.


    you


    Xanthe was shocked. "What?" Xanthe thought, ''She''s not made of money, and she can''t afford to treat everyone to one!"


    Shakira, looking at Yvette''s embarrassed face, with a barely noticeable smile, said to the ss monitor, "Could you please distribute the cakes among everyone? "Uh, sure, thank you, Shakira," said the ss monitor.


    "You''re wee," Shakira replied.


    Shakira cut a small piece for herself and returned to her seat to savor it slowly.


    Everyone snapped back and chose I the 60,000 dors cake over the affordable milk shake silently.


    Dakota Ortiz quickly calmed down. "You guys could also try the milk shake."


    "Sure, sure, thank you, Dakota," said the ssmates.


    Xanthe did not allow Berry White to get that cake. "We''re not eating it, we don''t care about that stupid cake


    Berry nced at the beautiful White Swan cake, wanted to say something but stopped, and in the end, didn''t dare to contradict Xanthe.


    Although they had yed together since childhood, she didn''t dare to upset Xanthe.


    Back at her seat, seeing Shakira still looking at the phone number on the receipt, Xanthe said in a sarcastic tone, "Who in their right mind would send her such an expensive cake, must not on the ball!"


    Yvette clenched her fists tigluly, she felt humiliated and disgraced, which was driving her mad.


    Her eyes turned red in anger, and she suddenly murmured. "Is it the owner of that Maybach from before?"


    "Maybach?" Xanthe thought of something and suddenly shouted, "Oh, someone is really hiding their light under a bushel, being able to buy three 60,000 dors cakes at once, Shakira, who''s the rich old man you''re with?" Shakira kira looked up from the phone number, just as Dakota Ortiz came to her with a cup of milk shake, she took it without hesitation and sshed it all over Xanthe. Xanthe was


    Xanthe drenched, sticky and


    sweet. She screamed and jumped up. "Shakira, Are you crazy?" "School rule number thirty-eight, be honest, trustworthy, and polite to others. IfAll text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    If anyone fabricates and spreads false facts that are sufficient to degrade other''s character and reputation, the liar will be dealt with by expulsion."


    Shakira looked at her sharply. "I don''t mind taking this to the principal, let''s see who''s going to be crazy in the end." Berry White quietly hinted Xanthe. "Xanthe, let it go, it''s terrible to make a big fuss.


    She thought. The principal is well-known for his integrity, they would definitely be at a disadvantage.


    the stared at Shakira, but for a moment she felt a chill from Shakira''s menacing gaze. She breathed deeply in anger, but said nothing more.


    Xanthe Dakota


    a Ortiz nced at Xanthe, who was angry but didn''t dare to show it, and said to Shakira, "Next Sunday is my grandmother''s birthday, and I''ll be inviting ssmates to join. Miss Nelson... Shakira, you shoulde too."


    He paused, then lowere


    lowered his voice and added. "My grandmother has been talking about wanting to meet you."


    Shakira walked out with her phone. Thanks for the kind invitation, but I''m not avable that day."


    After sshing milk shake on Xanthe, her hands were also stained with sticky syrup, so she went to the restroom to wash up


    It was ss


    ss time now, so the restroom was not crowded. She turned off the faucet with one hand and dialed the phone number from the receipt she remembered.


    As soon as the call connected, without waiting the one who answer it to speak, Shakira let out a barrage. "Spending thousands of dors on three cakes, are you crazy? Or are you ufortable for the money you have? So you must spend every dor you have?" the other end of end of the phone. Shakira a nced at the call timer


    There was a long silence on still running on her screen and erupted again. "Say Something! If you buy the cakes, you must have the guts to speak up!"


    Finally, Walter replied, his voice icy, "I have the gut to speak up, and then what?"


    Shakira was shocked. After a pause, she ended the call abruptly, trembling.


    Shak


    She thought, ''No way, it''s Sean who ordered the cake, how could it be Walter who answered the phone!! Could it be that


    Shakira felt so nervous and redialed.


    As soon as the call connected this time, Shakira switched to a sweet voice. "Mr. Walter, Shakiraughed awkwardly. "The three cakes, did you order them?" "Not me." Just as Shakira was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Winston Lopez said, "It was Levi."


    Shakiraughed awkwardly again. "So it''s Levi, why on earth would he order cakes for me?" 9190


    BK 91%


    Winston Lopez replied calmly, "He said you''re being bullied at school, and bribing your ssmates might make things easier for you.


    Shakira was speechless, not expecting such a mix-up. "Oh, convey my thanks to Levi, he''s so kind."


    She was thinking about how to exin to Winston Lopez, when he asked, "Are those cakes very expensive?"


    "Indeed! It It costs 60,000


    60,000 dors each, and there are three of them. If he bought ordinary cake with that much money, then I couldn''t eat them out in my lifetime, no, not even in ten lifetimet Quickly trying to make up for it, Shakira tteringly said, "Thank you, Mr. Walter, for caring so much about me, you''ve spent a lot."


    All she could hear was a deep, attractive chuckle from the phone


    Shakira shivered instinctively, then heard Winston Lopez''s heardless, and unreasonable reply, "No loss for me, whatever was spent will be deducted from your sry." What?" Shakira was shocked. "I have a sry? How much?"


    "Three thousand dors a month, and you''ll keep working until it''s paid off."


    Three thousand dors a month, wouldn''t she have to work for him for free for more than twenty months thought


    Shakira.


    "Also,


    your shouting just now caused mental trauma on me, along with the following damage on my work will also be deducted from your sry," added Winston Lopez. "No-shouted Shakira


    But what answered her was only the beep after the phone was called off.


    Walter thought, He could already picture Shakira''s vivid expression of despair on the other end."


    A faint smile yed on his lips, disappearing as quickly as it came.


    Walter raised his eyes and swept a look around at the stunned executives. "Let''s continue the meeting."


    The executives snap out of their imagination and hurriedly tried to focus on the meeting.


    But their curiosity was killing them.


    They thought, "How could Winston Lopez was still want tough after being scolded by a woman? Goodness, were they still asleep or had Winston Lopez gone mad?

 Chapter 43

    Shakira didn''t return to Easke Valley Estate after ss, but detoured to the Crescentville Private Nursing Home. Hannah was paralyzed, and Lago wanted to send her back to the countryside directly.


    The


    e medical conditions in the countryside are backward, and the children are riot around. How could those distant rtives possibly take good care of a paralyzed elderly person? It was Shakira who insisted to transfer Hammal to this nursing home and paid the hospitalization fees.


    It was also Shakira who won the first ce in three motorcycle races at the Desperate Cliff, earning arge sum of money. and paid Hannah''s ten-year hospitalization fee in one go. After the race, she fell unconscious with a soaked and


    "Shakira. Is that you?" The nurse L, recognized Shakira Smelly in bed for three days, during which no one at home came to ask. It also led to her skipping ss on the first day of high school and gaining a bad reputation


    took out some money and handed it to L.


    a level,


    ¨¤ at a nce when she came, and said with tears of excitement in her eyes, "I haven''t seen you for two years, I thought you were... Shakira smiled. "I''ve been abroad for two years. Thank you for working so hard to take care of my grandma


    As


    she spoke, Shakir


    t I don''t need this, you already paid me a huge sry," said L


    kira after pocket despite her polite rejection


    "Oh, you''re too kind to to me, but I don''Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    L was hired by Shakira after careful


    Shakira put the money into her pocket desideration. Her husband was a drunkard, and she was a very honesty woman who had three daughters to support


    And she said,


    This is not for you, it''s for the three girls to buy new clothes. How has my grandma been these two years?"


    L went into detail. "Hannah is quite healthy, but her hearing has gotten worse. One of her ears couldn''t hear clearly before, now the other ear has also- also started to lose its capacity. She woke up only two or three hours a day, and when the weather is cold, the pain is harder to bear. Oh, has Mr. Smith told you about the special medicine? The doctor said that if your grandma can use it, her pain could be reduced by seventy to eighty percent." Shakira nodded and said. "He did."


    "Right, the medicine is expensive, but Mr. Smith is so wealthy, he will definitely buy it for the olddy, so she won''t suffer so much."


    Shakira lowered her eyes. "You may have a rest L, I''ll stay with grandma


    L wiped the tears from her eyes. "Okay, I''ll go out and buy you something to eat."


    Opening the door, even knowing that her grandma has a poor hearing, Shakira also slowed her steps.


    Lying on the bed, Hannah closed her eyes and breathed gently, but her eyebrows were wrinkled tightly, looking not quite at ease in her sleep,


    Tears sparkled in Shakira''s eyes as as she slowly approaching to the bed, and she didn''t realize it.


    Finally, she arrived at the bedside.


    08-23 Sat, Oct 19


    She reached out to touch the Hannah''s white hair, but in the end, she stopped.


    She


    I didn''t expect my grandmother to age so quickly in just two years. Was she too painful?


    Shakira took out a thin needle and inserted it into several acupuncture points on Hannah.


    After a moment, Hannah''s tightly furrowed brows gradually rxed,


    G


    3 91%


    Seeing this, Shakira became even more resolute and thought, ''Grandma, you''ll be able to use the best medicine soon, and then you won''t suffer anymore. "Really, what''s so good about that old woman that you had to rush over to see her." Jessie''s voice was heard from outside the door.


    Shakira frowned, looked around, and finally fixed her gaze on the nearly transparent


    window.


    "Keep it down. You could never understand it!" Lago grumbled as he entered and nced around, only to find the curtains. swaying in the wind.


    "She''s already deaf and slept like a vegetable every day, why whisper? Jessie snorted, "Well, Shakira didn''t show up herself, but hired a nurse to watch over the old hag Lago double-locked the door, looked around the room cautiously, peeked out the window, and then closed ht


    After


    making sure no one was around, he removed the oxygen tube from Hannah''s nose.


    Within half a minute, Hannah''s face turned ashen fromck of oxygen.


    Jessie, watching his actions, was terrified and almost I bit her tongue as she spoke, "Wh what are you doing, will she die for this?"


    Lago snorted. "It''s less than a minute, she won''t die."


    He timed it, waiting for Hannah''s expression to turn to pain in her sleep, opening her mouth gradually and trying to breathe fresh air.


    He took out his phone, took several photos of Hannah, and then reconnected the oxygen tube for her.


    Jessie was confused. "What are you doing?"


    hakira hasn''t


    asn''t responded I since yesterday, if we don''t give her a strong warning, how can we make her obey?"


    had already sent the high-definition photos to Shakira.


    Just as he clicked send, he seemed to hear some strange noise.


    But Jessie''s voice interrupted him. "Will this work? Shakira already knows we''re not her true parents, can-she still care about this old hag?"


    "That''s why I say you women are overly sentimental. No matter how proud Shakirats now, she''s also a woman."


    Lago was very confident, and he was almost certain of sess by using Hannah to control Shakira.


    f she didn''t care about Hannah, she wouldn''t have paid for her to stay in such a high-end nursing home in the first ce." Jessie gradually understood, a sly smile of sess appearing on her face as well. "Honey, you''re amazing." "How could I do then, rely on you?" Lago sneered, "When Yvette hadn''t been born yet, her grandfather foresaw that she was born with bad luck, and would be gued by disasters, even dragging the family down. If it weren''t for meing up with 08-23  91%


    08-


    the idea of stealing Shakira''s fortune to change our daughter''s, our family would still be raising pigs and cleaning manure in the countryside. Even if the old woman died of illness, she wouldn''t be able to stay in such a good ward!" Jessie was startled and quickly covered his mouth. "Are you crazy? What if someone hears about it?"


    Lago shook off her hand and said gloomily, "Did''t you say my mom is deaf and can''t hear? What are you afraid of? Besides, would anyone believe there''s such a thing as a curse that steals others fortunes?"


    No one in the world believes it, but they not only did it, but also seeded!


    Jessie patted I her chest, and suddenly thought of something after recalling the past. And her expression was full of indignation and dissatisfaction.


    "That wretched girl. Shakira, has such a good fortune. Since her birth, we''ve been transferring her luck to Yvette. Poor Yvette has always had to use her second-hand staff. Moreover, she hasn''t been able to take over all of Shakira''s fortune. We thought that by the time she turned eighteen, we couldpletely get nd of Shakira and send her to Bris that she couldn''t earn living. To my surprise, she survived and even powerful enough to bully our daughter. God, you''re so biased!"


    Lago was quiteposed. "Isn''t that good? It''s precisely because of her predestined good fortune that our daughter can enjoy the wealth she has now. Our family has also benefited from her luck to leave the countryside and establish ourselves in Crescentville. Fortunately, Shakira didn''t die. Once Yvette gets her kidney and fully inherits the fortune from her, We''ve got good timesing our way!"


    After


    r hearing that, Jessie covered her mouth andughed. "Haha, you''re right. Although that wretched girl has a good fate. she''s still being used by our family," Jessieughedcently


    After gloating, the two were in no mood to stay longer in the gloomy ward and left with a swagger.


    After the door closed, a sound came from the silent ward.


    Shakira came out from the wardrobe with the anger that filled her.

 Chapter 44

    ''So that is... the truth, Shakira thought to herself.


    It wasn''t a


    a careless mistake by the nurse who switched the babies. It was a scheme meticulously nned by Lago and Jessie all along.


    Their daughter, Yvette, was born unlucky, and they were using Yvette''s good fortune to flip the script and change the fate of their daughter.


    They exchanged the children, allowing Yvette to naturally enjoy the affection of the Nelson family, reaping the benefits that came from her good luck.


    But they treated her like dirt, showing her no affection, constantly suppressing her, letting the rumors tear her down, and in the end, tricked her into Bris-a ce full of dangers-hoping to keep her away so Yvette couldfortably take over her identity and live as the cherished daughter of the Nelson family for the rest of her life. No wonder, in her past life, she lost a kidney, and her luck plummeted, turning her into a barely surviving shell of a person. She could only helplessly watch as Yvette narrowly escaped with her life while she was consumed by mes. And Yvette soared to sess, enjoying the good life as the most envied wealthy heiress in Crescentville, showered with love from her family and admiration from everyone around her."


    Yvette, Lago, and Jessie-They walked all over her, devouring her flesh, transforming her from rural poverty into a life of luxury that everyone admired.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Cody, Yoel, and the I the Nelson brothers-


    Unknowingly, Shakira''s eyes turned They were blind and heartless, treating their true blood daughter as their precious gem. They were the aplices who had inflicted so much pain on her in her past life.


    dalmost red with anger. She denched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her skin, yet she didn''t feel a thing.


    After being reborn, she hated them all. Nor


    NOW!!


    that she knew the truth, her hatred multiplied.


    Jessie had been right. Even fate was favoring her.


    It gave her a second chance, revealed the truth, and provided her with the opportunity to shatter the dreams of those viins one by one and crush them.


    Shakira thought, They wanted to take my good fortune. Fine, let theme! Everything they took from me, I''ll make them spit it all back out! For everything they did to hurt me and cause me suffering, I''ll make them pay back a hundredfold! "Shakira, Shakira, what''s wrong? Did something happen?" L returned and saw Shakira standing there, her whole demeanor icy and distant. Getting too close was rming, making L''s voice tremble in response to the unfamiliar tension.


    Shakira took a few deep breaths, finally calming her pounding heart.


    She turned to L, forcing a smile "I''m fine. Thanks for taking care of my grandma."


    After a pause, Shakira continued, "I''ll hire a couple of bodyguards to keep watch. If there are any issues, you can talk to them directly or reach out to me


    "Uh? Bodyguards? The hospital has its security, don''t waste money on that," replied L.


    "It''s okay. The Nelson family will cover it," Shakira assured her. Also, I hope you can keep my visit to grandma a secret"  08:23


    "Uh, okay, Shakira, I''ll follow your lead" Although L didn''t fully understand Shakira''s intentions, she trusted herpletely." Shakira, you need to take care of yourself. Your grandma doesn''t have much time left when she''s awake, but she''ll always be thinking of you and wanting you to do well out there."


    Shakira nced back at the slumbering elder and said in a serious tone, ''Don''t worry. I will."


    After leaving the rehabilitation center, Shakira returned to Easke Valley Estate.


    Once home, she locked herself in her room and erased all traces of her visit from the security footage.


    Then, she opened her phone to review the photos Lago had sent her, quickly blocked him again, and dug out an old number she hadn''t used in ages. She crafted a message along with a photo and hit send.


    As Walter arrived at the dining room for dinner, the tempting aroma of delicious food hit him.


    "Mr. Lopez Come on and have dinner." Shakira wheeled him to the head of the table.


    Walter took a nce at thevish spread, then shot her a sidelong look, hitting the nail on the head. "Oh, so now you want to butter me up? Isn''t that a bitte?"


    Shakiraid a napkin across hisp. "You''re mistaken, Mr. Lopez I''ve been devotedly serving you every day


    "Serving me and talking back, wishing I''d choke on pig intestines!"


    Shakira didn''t answer. It was clear that


    a good memory wasn''t always a blessing. He certainly held a grudge for a long time.


    With a serious expi


    expression, Shakira raised her hand in a mock oath. "It''s true. When I first came here, I didn''t know you well, but now it''s different."


    Walter raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint breaking through his typically serious demeanor. "In what way is it different now?" Shakira beamed, her face lively with excitement. "Now, I''ve helped you get through a tough night. I might even be the future hero who can cure your leg. Doesn''t that mean I''ve already made a major leap in my status?"" Walter stared at her self-satisfied expression, a smile barely hidden. "You know how to give yourself apliment."


    "Oh, I today was a good day toe home, and look at all this delicious food waiting for me. Benji''s shout echoed as he rushed into the dining room and was at the table in an instant He eagerly


    [rigued


    "Owl" Benji shouted.


    I his fork, ready to pounce on the food, but Walter quickly rapped his knuckles with a fork.


    Walter''s tone was sharp. "Did I approve you to eat?"


    Benji


    i clutched his sore hand, his eyes full of puppy-like pleading. ''Come on, Walter. It''s been ages since I was home. At least let me eat something."


    Walter took his time with his meal, ignoring him.


    Levi stepped i I in, grinning as he spoke. "Benji, these dishes were all made by Miss Nelson. If you want to eat, maybe just let the kitchen prepare something for you." Benji''s eyes lit up. "Wow, so my brother is already that close with his future wife? Nice!"


    Then an


    idea struck him "Since Grandma Ortiz''s birthday is next week, Walter, why not take your wife along?"


    Before Walter Before


    could respond, Shakira interjected. "I''m not going


    Walter''s gaze turned deep and piercing as he nced at her.


    Benji thought she was just shy. "Come on, Shakira. It''s not every day my brother shows a soft side. Go out with him and show off a little."


    Shakira rolled her eyes, ready to retort, when Walter''s deep voice cut in, "Alright."


    Shakira thought, "What''s this "alright" about?"


    ent for a


    Before she could refuse, Walter''smanding voicended like heavyweight, "You''re going too. It''ll be your payment cake.


    Shakira clenched her teeth. "F-Fine."


    Unaware of the cake drama, Benji rubbed his chin with a mischievous grin. "Looks like my big brother has finally figured out love. He''s even getting into some couple''s fun with cake now. Not bad!" Shakira was speechless, thinking it might be best if this mischief maker stayed away.


    Martha''s birthday party was being held at the luxurious Seven Stars Grand Hotel in Crescentville. The main road in front of the hotel waspletely blocked by fancy cars.


    As the Ortiz family was known as the elite of Crescentville, many influential figures hade to show their support.


    Walter had to attend an impromptu meeting for work that day, so Shakira had to arrive on her own.


    The traffic jam stopped her a few hundred meters from the hotel, and Shakira didn''t want to waste any more time in the car She got out and decided to walk the rest of the way.


    After just a few steps, her phone buzzed with a text from Dakota asking if she had arrived and if he shoulde pick her up. Shakira didn''t care how he got her number. She read it but didn''s respond. While all the luxury cars were stuck in traffic, she quickly reached the hotel entrance.


    In a Mercedes stuck outside the parking lot, Xanthe suddenly grabbed Yvette''s arm, fuming, "Isn''t that Shakira? Didn''t she say she wasn''ting? How shameless can you get?" Yvette watched as Shakira confidently walked into the venue, her beautifully made-up eyes narrowing in disdain.


    She suddenly said, "Xanthe, Berry, I''m worried that my sister might do something reckless out of spite Fm afraid she could mess things up for Grandma Ortiz. Can you help me out?"

 Chapter 45

    45


    The Ortiz family had made a name for themselves in recent years, thanks to their groundbreaking electric vehicle battery. technology. Before that, they were a stable middle-ss business focused on automotive chip production. Their sess today couldrgely be credited to Martha, who had been the driving force behind the family''s transitions. Decades ago, she led the family from running auto repair shops in producing chips, and in recent years, she championed the development of new battery technology.


    Not only that, but Martha also established an elderly care foundation, actively addressing the challenges older people face in healthcare and retirement. Her efforts earned her national recognition.. Crescentville, she was revered as a pioneering figure and a role model for many. and effortlessly entered the banquet hall.


    In both the industry and throughouer had given her a


    Shakira held the business card


    The venue was extravagant and elegantly decorated, showcasing the Ortiz family''s deep respect for their matriarch.


    From a


    a distance, through the crowd, Shakira spotted Martha surrounded by several guests. Among there were the familiar faces of Cody and Yoel.


    With her trendy Peach-colored hair and lively demeanor, Martha looked much younger than her seventy years, maintaining a fit physique that would make many believe she was Yoel''s older sister. Today, Shakira Shakira had no interest in stealing the spotlight; she just wanted to find a quiet corner to enjoy the show.


    But her thoughts were interrupted by a voice calling out to her. "Shakira.¡°


    As the host for the evening, Dakot Dakota


    a looked sharp in his suit, exuding charm. When he saw Shakira, a subtle smile appeared on his face. "Yvette, I''m so d you''re here." unimpressed. "You don''t need to be so d. I''m not here for you."


    Shakira shrugged, Dakota didn''t seem bothered by her indifference. "Sure, you came for Grandma''s sake. That makes me happy too."


    This time, Shakira didn''t respond. While it was s true that


    she had


    "Shakira, can we find some time to sit down and talk? I know Yvette and I are together now, but that''s out of obligation. You know, two years ago, I wanted to confess my feelings for you. I like- "We don''t have anything to discuss. The Shakira from two years ago is not the same as the Shakira nowContent from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Shakira turned to meet his gaze, her eyes cool and steady. "Back then, you promised to join me in Bris. When I waited for you at the airport and you never showed, our past was over Dakota tensed at her gaze and the words she spoke.


    He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white Tm sorry. If I hadn''t let you down, at least I would have been there for you when you needed me the most-


    "No need for that. Having you around might make things worse. I''m not saying this to make you feel guilty. I''m just making it clear that we have our boundaries now, understand, Dakota?"


    Shakira spoke her mind-frankly. Whether he had intended to board that ne didn''t matter anymore.


    In this new life, she understood exactly what she wanted and realized she could only rely on herself, not hold onto impossible hopes for others.


    Dakota felt a a mix of frustration and I regret at her words. He couldn''t argue. All he wanted was to escape the conversation.


    "Let''s not talk about this today. I''ll take you to see Grandma Ortiz. She''ll be so surprised to see you." In a moment of desperation, Dakota slipped his arm around her shoulders, just like he used to do two years ago. Shakira swiftly stepped back, avoiding his touch. But just then, afflustered figure rushed over, bumping her to the side.


    "Dakota." Yvette firmly intertwined her arm with Dakota''s, ring at Shakira with a protective look. "What were you two talking about so closely?"


    Dakota stood there, stunned, looking at the distance between him and Shakira, realizing how far apart they suddenly felt.


    "Nothing, I was just gonna take Shakira to see Grandma Ortiz.


    Though Yvette felt a pang of unease, she put on a smile and said "Grandma Ortiz will be busy greeting the elders. Let''s wait until she has a moment to chat with us, okay?"


    He nodded, "Yeah."


    "Oh, Dakota, I just saw Uncle Ortiz looking for you. Maybe you should check in with him?" said Yvette.


    Sure.


    Yvette, please take care of Shakira. I''ll head over first."


    As Dakota walked away, Xanthe and Berry swapped to their usual sharp-tongued selves and surrounded Shakira Xanthe scoffed, "Shakira, Dakota is Yvette''s boyfriend. You''re not thinking about going after him, are you?" Berry chimed in with a mockingugh, "Haha, take a look in the mirror, Shakira. Dakota is out of your league!" Shakira a nodded,pletely agreeing. "Exactly! Only someone like Yvette would match Dakota." Yvette''s expression darkened with the words.


    Xanthe''s expression also changed. Just as she raised her hand, Shakira shot her a look, shaking the wine ss in her hand. "Still want to get sshed?" "You bitch!" shouted Xanthe


    Yvette


    swallowed her anger and stepped forward to ease the tension, "Xanthe, Berry, we''re all ssmates. Can we just stop the fighting?"


    Turning to Shakira, her voice dripping with desperation, she continued, "Sister, even if you don''t care about me, can you at least consider Martha''s feelings?" I''m more than happy to give Martha that courtesy."


    Seeing Shakira relent, Yvette let out a big sigh of relief.


    Shakira couldn''t help but smile at her expression. She thought, Did Yvette see herself as a future member of the Ortiz family? Maybe in a past life that dream could havee true, but now... Shakira raised an eyebrow coolly


    As Yvette turned to pull Xanthe and Berry away, Berry suddenly grasped Yvette''s left hand. "Yvette, where''s your ring?" "Ring?" It took Yvette a moment to register, her face paling. "Is my ring from Dakota gone?"


    ?


    Xanthe rushed over and slipped her hand into Shakira''s pocket, pulling out a yellow diamond ring. "Thief! So, you did steal Yvette''s engagement ring." Yvette clutched the ring with reverence, looking at Shakira with disappointment. "Sister, how could you do this?"


    Berry signaled to the bodyguards. "She''s a thiefl Get her out of here!"


    The bodyguards nced at each other, the evidence clear, and moved in.


    As their hypocritical charades unfolded, Shakira understood their foolish intentions all too well. She lowered her head, a sneer of disdain crossing her face. She thought, ''Outnumbered? Then let you all feel the consequences!


    When she lifted her head again, her eyes glimmered with a cold fury.


    Suddenly, she raised her hand and smashed the wine ss on the ground. The pristine marble floor shattered the silence with a sharp crack.

 Chapter 46

    46


    The ss shattered into pieces, with shards of ss mixed with red wine everywhere.


    Shakira was dressed in jeans while Yvette and her friends wore luxury brand gowns, revealing their long legs.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    They thought that they could easily drive Shakira away, but they didn''t expect that she would suddenly lose her temper and smash the ss. Without the protection of clothes, their legs were all injured, with small cuts from the ss and stains from the i red wine. Nanthe, who was closest to Shakira, slumped on the ground and screamed in pain, "My legs hurt so much!"


    Berry wasn''t any better. She quickly brushed away the ss shards from her legs, only to injure her hands as well. She cried out in distress. "Get me a doctor!" Yvette, standing behind them, wasn''t seriously hurt. However, she still screamed in pain and stared at Shakira in disbelief, furious. "Are you crazy?"


    She thought, "How dare you refuse to leave and even hurt people at this event, Shakira? Without the Nelson family backing you, you''ll be done this time!''


    "What''s going identally broke a wine on?" Joe quickly made his way through, squeezing through the crowd. Seeing the mess on the door, he quickly had someone go find the hotel''s on-call doctor and signaled the security guards to disperse the crowd.


    "Nothing. We just


    Xanthe was relentless. "This bitc did it on purpose! I''m calling the police. My legs are injured and I''m going to break hers


    Shakira, looking at Xanthe who was making a


    ss..." said said Yvette.


    Yvette? Cody,


    over a tiny scratch on her leg, said calmly, "I don''t understand why you would wish harm upon yourself." Reba, Lago, and Jessie came over.


    "Why i is it it always you, Shakira? Are Are you okay,


    Yvette shook her head gently. Tm fine, but Xanthe and Berry are more stred with her is bound to have bad luck." Jessie said sarcastically, "Shakira is "Shakira is everywhere, a and whoever gets involved


    ??


    Cody and Reba''s faces darkened a little when they heard this. Shakira noticed it but said nothing. The Ortiz family also came over upon hearing themotion Seeing Shakira, Martha was surprised and quickly calmed down. She took charge and asked, "You tell me what happened. Instead of asking the girls, she asked the bodyguard that Berry had called over. The bodyguard recounted the whole story. Xanthe added, "She stole Yvette and Joe''s engagement ring. She came here to disgust people on purpose, and she even tried to seduce someone''s boyfriends. What a shameless woman!"


    Hearing this, everyone looked at Shakira with contempt and disdain, naturally pinning the me on her based on the one-sided words of the three girls.


    "Where did this bumpkin wearing a T-shirt and jeanse from? How dare she steal things here? She''s being too disrespectful to the Ortiz family!"


    "Is she one of the college students helped by the Ortiz family? Mrs. Ortiz is kind-hearted, but this girl is not only ungrateful but also steals at her birthday banquet. She''s too pathetic!"


    "Wait. Is she your daughter, Mr. Smith?".


    Lago quickly disassociated himself. "No, the hospital nurse got the wrong baby when she was born. She''s not my biological


    daughter, and she has nothing to do with the Smith family anymore!"


    H


    Cody and Reba even more unpleasant.


    Really, thest sentence, cord away''s rumors became, saying that Mr. Smith''s daughter was rebellious and constantly causing trouble. It turns out that she''s not your biological daughter. She must be from a poor family and picked up bad habits from her parents." Just then, there was amotion near the entrance, and the next second, the crowd unconsciously made way.


    The crowd somehow stopped talking. A silver mechanical wheelchair, under everyone''s gaze, slowly came to the center of the crowd.


    The man with an unparalleled handsome face naturally became the focus of the entire room as soon as he appeared. Even Xanthe and Berry, who were crying out in pain on the ground, were distracted by the exceptionally charming man.


    The man said in a husky voice, "It seems that I missed a lot."


    As everyone was captivated by Walter''s appearance, he slightly raised his hand and waved at Shakira. "Aren''t youing?"


    Shakira hadn''t moved when facing everyone''s usations just now. Now that Walter had called her, she took a wet tissue from the neighboring table to clean her hands and walked to him. Like a little white rabbit, she obediently returned to the fierce beast, docile andpliant.


    Only then did everyonee to their senses. "Mr. Lopez, is she


    Walter nced sideways at the person who had spoken with a stern face, his profile exuding arrogance. "She''s with me.


    What?


    What?


    Gasps echoed throughout the room, and the person was so intimidated by Walter''s gaze that he dared not continue.


    Yvette and her friends werepletely stunned. They thought. When did Shakira get involved with Walter? Could the owner of the Maybach be not an old man, but Walter?"


    I at Xanthe, startling her so much that she instinctively arched her back. Berry, standing beside her, was fearful and couldn''t help but stare at Walter''s handsome face... She was captivated by him. She I seen various handsome men with Xanthe, and even the most popr male celebrity in the entertainment industry had shown up on Xanthe''s birthday. However, none of them couldpare to Walter in the wheelchair.


    Xanthe wasn''t willing to let it go, and with the bossy Walter iming Shakira as his girl, she was even more furious. "She stole things and hurt us. No matter who she is with, she can''t get away with this!" Walter nced at She had Walterzily with" Shakira replied,


    Walter


    asked,


    "Why?"


    his gaze and turned to Shakira, asking her ''Did you do this?"


    So far, Walter was the only one who asked her why.


    ?


    Shakira smiled faintly and said, "They falsely used me of stealing and wanted to have me driven out. I was just defending -myself


    Xanthe''s eyes widened. "You''re lying! You stole Yvette''s ring and deliberately hurt us!"


    Hearing this, Walterughed, domineering and arrogant. "I have everything she wants. Why would she steal?"


    This statement was extremely humiliating, but they found it hard to argue with Walter.

 Chapter 47

    "Got it." Brian nodded and immediately turned to leave..


    Everyone present felt a chill run down their spine after hearing Walter''s words. It was hard to imagine that this once infamous big shot in Crescentville still had such an intimidating aura even after losing his legs. Xanthe and Berry had never encountered such an incident. They just wanted to drive Shakira out, fearing she would stay and cause more trouble, but they never expected Walter to cond to defend her. Yvette panicked. She hated Shakira deeply and was afraid that Brian would uncover the truth. If it were exposed in front of so many people, she would be done. Therefore, Yvette suggested, "Don''t bother, Mr. Lopez Today is Grandma Martha''s birthday and we shouldn''t waste time on this...


    Xanthe quickly agreed, looking around in guilt. That''s right. Shakira also hurt us. Can''t we just let it go?"


    "Mrs. Ortiz." Shakira raised her voice over theirs, bowing to Martha. "I didn''t want to disturb you on your birthday, but this matter concerns my reputation. I hope that you will give me some time to find out the truth." Martha waved her hand. "Sure. I''ve e had countless birthday parties but never seen such an incident. I''m sorry for this. No matter what, this matter must be thoroughly investigated"" Yveue and and the other two girls felt a chill run through their entire bodies.


    "Since Mrs. Ortiz says so, this matter must be rified. Reba Came over and held Yvette''s hand, gently patting her on her trembling back. "Don''t be afraid. Mom and Dad are by your side and we must bring you justice." Yvette forced a smile. Thank you, Mom"


    Watching the touching scene of Rebaforting Yvette so gently, Shakira sneered and said nothing.


    Walter happened to see her sneer, and his eyes darkened, remainingposed.


    Soon,


    Brian returned with two people in uniforms. "The Identification Department''s experts are here, Mr. Lopez" Walter lifted his chin,manding like a boss, "Let''s get started.


    The two experts took the ring from Yvette and collected fingerprints from all four of them forparison, and soon, they got the results. "Three sets of fingerprints were found on the ring, and excluding Ms. Shakira Nelson, all three others haveplete fingerprints remaining, and there are no signs of wiping off fingerprints on the ring.


    Shakira smiled and looked at Xanthe and Yvette, whose faces had turned pale. "All three of your fingerprints are on it. Since you used me of stealing the ring, Berry has never touched it, but her fingerprints are still on it, so you can''t use me of deliberately wiping away the fingerprints."


    After the analysis, she drawled, "Oh, it turns out that some people are the real thieves."


    The room erupted in an uproar, and no one expected such a twist


    Yvette clenched her wrist tightly and looked up at Shakira. Then she suddenly turned her head and said in shock. "How could you do such a thing, Xanthe?"


    Shakira raised her eyebrows, the mockery on her face bing even more conspicuous. She thought, What a cruel woman Yvette i isContent from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Xanthe''s eyes widened,pletely stunned. Under the gaze of everyone, a chill ran down her back, and she suddenly


    08:23 08:23


    realized something. What do you mean, Yvette? Things are exposed and you''re selling me out, right? It was you who asked me and Berry to help you drive Shakira out, and now that we''ve been found out, you put the me on me. You made me SICK!


    sick!"


    Yvette curled up fearfully in Reba''s arms with tears in her eyes. "Berry and I had no idea about this. Xanthe. I know you''ve always had a hard time getting along with Shakira and constantly picked on her, but I never thought you would make such a scene at Grandma Martha''s birthday banquet


    Xanthe was so angry that she grabbed Berry and said, "You know the full story, Berry. Tell them that Yvette asked us in the car to help her. Say something!"


    Berry covered her face and cried uncontrobly, "I don''t know...


    "Stop crying! Just tell them the truth!" yelled Xanthe


    "Enough, Xanthe! You stole Yvette''s ring and framed Shakira. Now that the evidence is clear, who else do you want to me?" Joemanded the bodyguards, "Take her to the police station!"


    Xanthe looked at the two people who had turned against her and burst into crazyughter. Suddenly, she lunged at Yvette, grabbing her hair and pping her hard. "Ah!" Yvette screamed.


    "Yvette! Take this crazy woman away!" said someone.


    The scene was in chaos. Xanthe kept cursing, but she was eventually taken away by the bodyguards.


    Yvette''s face was swollen, her carefully styled hairpletely ruined, and the pain in her face and legs made her cry uncontrobly, losing all her dignity. Cody, Reba, Lago, and Jessie looked extremely mad. "Xanthe is Yvette''s close friend. I didn''t expect that she would do


    this


    this


    "Take Ms. Nelson to get her wounds treated, Joe," Martha said.


    "Wait." Walter interrupted, "Now that the matter has been cleared up and it turned out that you wronged someone. Aren''t you going to apologize?"


    Hearing his words, the Nelson family''s expressions became even more unpleasant.


    Shakira looked at him in surprise, feeling something indescribable. He had been protecting her from the startrand she had never experienced such favoritism.


    She knew Walter''s intentions, so she boldly yed along, smiling and saying, "Well, I won''t force anyone. After all, Ms. Nelson cried so pitifully thest time she apologized. As the saying goes, like father, like daughter. Since Mr. Nelson is also here, as a father, why don''t you set an example for your daughter and apologize to me?" Her words caused everyone to gasp again. They couldn''t believe what they just heard.


    The upper circles also love gossip, and many people present had already recognized Shakira as one of the heroines from the Nelson family''s official announcements.


    They had spected about Shakira''s background when they saw her confront the Nelson family. Now, seeing the man sitting calmly in the wheelchair behind her, theypletely understood what was going on.


    Cody was extremely furious, thinking. How dare you, brat!"


    Yvette hurriedly cried out, "I apologize, Shakira I''m so sorry."

 Chapter 48

    Shakira smiled and said, "You''ve apologized to me so many times, yet you keep provoking me again and again. Isn''t your apology too cheap?" She turned to Cody. "What do you think, Mr. Nelson?" "Don''t get too far, Shakira!" Reba warned in a low voice from behind.


    Walter snorted and said. "Mrs. Nelson has already gone too far." He was going to defend Shakira no matter what.


    Yvette was mad. She still remembered thest time she saw Walter when he mocked her. She thought, ''How could someone as arrogant and capricious as him favor Shakir so much? Has Shakira cast a spell on him? Shakira nced at Reba indifferently. Then she continued to stare at Cody, looking at him squarely and with dignity.


    Cody gritted his teeth. However, under pressure, he had to step forward and slightly bowed to Shakira. "I''m sorry my daughter has offended you, Ms. Nelson. Please forgive her


    Shakira looked at Cody, who had slightly lowered his head in front of her, and the smile on her face grew even wider. She knew that Cody must hate her to death right now, but she thought that he asked for it Shet thought. Yvette, as the daughter of the Nelson family, shares the family''s honor as well as disgrace. I won''t let any of them off the h***


    let out a t a sigh and took the embarrassed Yvette out of the venue


    Cody Who


    held onto by Yvette,


    Joe, who was being held


    Yvette, took onest look at Shakira and Walter and then left as well. The mess on the ground had been cleaned up, and Martha gestured, saying, "Let the banquet continue."


    The crowd dispersed, and Shakira pushed Walter to a corner. Now that there was no one noticing. Shakira immediately put on a ttering smile, squatting in front of him. "You arrived just in time, Mr. Lopez! You came like a hero and saved me!" Walter nced at at her indifferently. "Does it feel good to use my name to intimidate them?" Shakira rubbed her nose guiltily, pretending to be innocent. "What are you talking about?" Saying nothing. Walter directly reached for her neck. Shakira a quickly pleaded for mercy. "I''m Walter sneered and said, "Should I be


    Mr. Lopez. Are you referring to me forcing Cody to apologize? I did use your name, but I did it for your good too!"


    of the fragmenting. Everyone knows I''m with you. M. Lopez, vt balles me, the humiliates you to. napalogy from her is to cheap. Se is not even qualified to page to you. The apology has tobe from someone who


    ner


    matches your status, or it won''t make any difference!"


    Seeing her speak without any hesitation, Walter reached out again and flicked her forehead. Tve found that not only are you good at acupuncture, but you also get a sharp tongue." Shakira covered her aching forehead and said, "Don''t you think so, Mr. Lopez


    Walter thought for a while and said, "Fair enough


    Brian. watching Walter being brainwashed, thought to himself, What? Why would Mr. Lopez believe such nonsense?"


    08:23


    Shakira rubbed her forehead, and her stomach growled. She smiled and asked Walter, "You just rushed over from a meeting. You haven''t eaten yet, right?"


    "I''m not hungry. Don''t mind me," said Walter.


    get some for you. Maybe you''ll need themter, Mr. Lopez, said Shakira.


    Walter watched her cheerfully leave, frowning. His intuition told him that Shakira was still hiding something from him.


    The banquet resumed its liveliness, with many celebrities taking the opportunity to get to know each other, talking cheerfully, and seeking potential business partners for future cooperation. Lago, apanied by Jessie, went around to greet the guests. Later, they went to Martha.


    The fact that Yvette was not the biological daughter of the Nelson family was certainly known to the Ortiz family.


    "Mrs. Ortiz, I... I am a rtive of Yvette''s, Lago spoke ambiguously, and Martha, being astute, immediately understood what meant.


    he


    "I wish you all the best, Mrs. Ortiz. In the future, we might be family, and I hope that you will support us." Lago, being too drunk, dared to speak boldly.


    Martha had a meaningful look on her face, and she pretended not to understand the implications of Lago''s words. With so many big shots around, she did notmit to anything but instructed the servants, "Mr. Smith is drunk. Take him to have some rest.


    Lago was not pleased. "I''m not drunk, Mrs. Ortiz. You understand what I''m saying, right? I''m Yvette''s...


    Jessie, sensing trouble, quickly covered Lago''s mouth to prevent him from talking nonsense.


    However, the next second, someone roared not far away, "Lago! You heartless a***e!"


    A crude man dressed in a vest and shorts squeezed through the crowd. His eyes were bloodshot as he stormed straight Towards Lago.


    A


    Jessie''s


    widened in shock. "William Evans? What are you doing here? What do you want?"


    Jessie eyes widened inContent from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    William


    grabbed Lago and punched him to the ground.


    Lago, whose mind went nk to the alcohol, was brought back to his senses by the punch. He looked at William in horror, who was about to throw another punch, and was startled. ''Help! He''s killing me!"


    The bodyguards quickly stepped forward to hold William back, and the hotel management was terrified. They thought, "I never expected such amotion at Mrs. Ortiz''s birthday banquet. Who would dare to hold a banquet at our hotel in the future?" "Mrs. Ortiz, this man imed to be Mr. Smith''s nephew and wanted to deliver something to him. That''s why we let him in We didn''t expect... the bodyguard said.


    Martha waved her hand. She was quite delighted with the lively evening. "It''s okay Is this your nephew, Mr. Smith?"


    Lago was stunned. "Yes, doing here?"


    e''s my nephew, but why aren''t you at home, William! What are y


    William spat towards Lago. "If I didn''te here, no one would know that you nearly got your mother killed!"


    Tago''s face darkened instantly. What nonsense are you talking about?"


    the truth! I''ve heard of your great reputation, Mrs. Ortiz, and I know you are a kind person who does good dreds. Please help my grandaun!!"


    I''m telling th


    "Shut up, William. This is not the ce for you to make a scene "This is the Ortiz family''s banquet, and it''s not up to you to mak


    William got excited and quickly said, "My grandaunt, who is La from pain every day, Lago, after making a fortune and binj paid by his daughter Shakira. This ungrateful man didn''t even sp medicine that can heal my grandaunt''s illness. Lago refuses to s the illness. She can''t hold on much longer!" As William spoke, he broke free from the bodyguards'' grip, took grandaunt is even younger than you, Mrs. Ortiz, but she''s dying!


    08-24 Sat, Oct 19

 Chapter 49

    "Stop that! This is not a ce for you bumpkins to make a scene. William..." Lago suddenly stopped when he saw the photos.


    The photo on William''s phone showed a seriously ill old woman lying in a hospital bed, her face covered with wrinkles. Her eyes were tightly shut, but the expression on her face was wrinkled. It was just a photo but it magnified the old woman''s pain and suffering. "It was the photo I sent to Shakira. How could it be in William''snds? Lago suddenly thought of something, and he looked around the room with a vicious gaze. Soon, he spotted Shakira in the corner, leisurely savoring a delicious cake. Seeing him look over, she smiled at him. He thought, How dare she smile?


    "This is your mother, Lago, the one who gave birth to you and raised you. After making a career, you abandoned her and wouldn''t even spend a penny to treat her illness. Aren''t you afraid of karma?" William used him. "Nonsense! How could I not take care of my mother!" Lago looked around in a panic. The big shots who had been chatting happily just now all shook their heads, whispered to each other, and looked at him with contempt in their eyes.


    §ß§Ö


    He


    panicked. When he looked at Martha again, he saw her stem face and had a bad feeling.


    He hurriedly exined, "This is a huge misunderstanding, Mrs. Ortiz. He is my distant rtive who has always lived in the countryside and doesn''t know anything about my mother in Crescentville. She is now in a nursing home and has a nanny taking care of her, I have done everything I can to care for her. This man is clearly being bribed by someone to frame mer


    Martha snorted and said immediately, "This is your family matter and I won''t interfere, Mr. Smith, but... Since this olddy is in Crescentville, our association won''t just stand by!"


    William was overjoyed. "Thank you, Mrs. Ortiz. I knew you were a kind person. Thank you for saving my grandaunt!"Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    I


    "This isn''t appropriate, Mrs. Ortiz!" said Lago. I can''t make you do anything, Mr. Smith, and you can''t stop me an old woman, from helping my friend." Martha said to William. "Young man, give me your address and phone number, and I will send someone to check on the olddy. I''ll pay for the medical fee if necessary."


    Lago and Jessie were terrified. William and his family had always been in the countryside. They had repeatedly asked to borrow money from them, and Lago had never agreed. If he got in touch with Martha, he would probably say ill of them in front of her. They were afraid that he would say something crazy


    Lago was sweating profusely, and he quickly stood in front of William with a ttering and pleading expression. "I dare not trouble you with my family business, Mrs. Ortiz. I swear that as long as I''m alive, I will treat my mother''s illness and that no matter how much it costs or how expensive the medicine is, I will not hesitate to treat her. If I go back on my words, II. "You''ll end up badly!" William interrupted.


    Lago


    was speechless.


    William didn''t trust him at all. Fearing that he would go back on his words, he said, "Why don''t you finish your words?" Lago gritted his teeth. "If I go back on my words, I''ll end up badly! "Great!" Martha was the first to respond, "It seems that Mr. Smith is determined. I hope you can keep your promise." Lago wiped the sweat from his checks, Definitely. Please trust me, Mrs. Ortiz." William snorted at Lago and said, "You''d better keep your word. If my grandaunt doesn''t live long, you''re the one to me!"  08:24


    B%91%


    If it weren''t for the special asion, Lago would definitely have hit William. He thought, This asshole humiliated me in public. No, it was all Shakira''s doing. I won''t let this ***b***h off the h***k! Not far away, Yvette had bandaged her injuries and changed into a low-key outfit, returning to the venue. Seeing William making a scene, she was gritting her teeth in frustration.


    She''s


    ''s just a maid, showing off with Walter''s backing" A sarcastic voice came from behind. Yvette traced the sound and saw a woman, dressed elegantly, scornfully looking in the direction of Shakira. She raised her eyebrows and walked towards the woman. "Excuse me, do you know Mr. Lopez?" "You are.


    e... Fiona Banks, on guard, sized up Yvette suspiciously. Then, as if recalling something, she said in surprise, "You''re from the Nelson family. Yvette Nelson, right?" Yvette was surprised. Do you know me?"


    "The Nelson family is quite well-known in Crescentville, and you''re also a patient of my junior. I''m Fiona Banks from the Banks family of Ryston," said Fiona. "Is your junior Dr. Jenkins?" asked Yvette. said Frona.


    yettev


    delighted. "I didn''t expect us to have such a connection, Ms. Banks. I just heard you mention a maid. Is the maid you''re referring to Shakira?" "Who else could it be?" At the mention of Shakira, Fiona''s pretty face immediately twisted with jealousy. "She works as a maid in Walter''s house and has no manners. She always fights with people outside. If it weren''t for Walter''s favoritism, she wouldn''t have the audacity to be so rude!" "I see..." Yvett ." Yvette nodded, feeling a sudden sense of relief. She couldn''t figure out why Shakira would be treated differently by Walter earlier. She thought, ''It turned out that after leaving the Nelson family, she went to work as a maid for the Lopez family, serving them Wasn''t that what she used to love doing at the Smith and Nelson residences? residen


    "Mr. Lopez has a mercurial temperament and is extremely protective of his people. His help to her was likely just to save face for the Lopez family. The Lopez family is incredibly wealthy, and perhaps the Maybach Shakira was seen in a few times was just the car the Lopez''s housekeeper used to go grocery shopping. Thinking of this, Yvette couldn''t help but snicker.


    Suddenly, she thought of something and took out a ne from around her neck, stroking it. It seemed this item worked. She was extremely unlucky when she wasn''t wearing it, but now with it on, good news came her way.


    Martha was surrounded by people while Walter exuded a cold aura that deterred anyone from approaching.


    Walter tapped lightly on the armrest of his wheelchair with his slender fingers. He turned his head and just happened to see Shakira, her mouth full, eyes narrowed, eating while smirking-


    "That person was brought by you," said he


    Shakira shook her head, not denying it. "He''s my rtive. He wanted to see his grandaunt and I just bought him a train


    ticket." ticket.


    Walter snorted and said, "A train ticket for a good show, What a smart girl."


    Do you also think it''s exciting, Mr. Lopez?" asked she.


    "No. It''s annoying," said he,


    Shakira thought, "What? You''re so boring. You''ll miss a lot of fi her food like an indignant little squirrel while Walter looked si

 Chapter 50

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    "Aren''t you eating anything, Mr. Lopez? What are you looking at? Shakira noticed that Walter seemed serious, so she curiously followed his gaze but saw nothing, which was quite strange. "Nothing." Walter sighed and then remained silent, not saying a word. "You''re so weird." Shakira didn''t bother him further and continued to eat the food.


    After


    going back to the Easke Valley Estate, Walter called Brian to his study. "Look into Yvette." Brian was surprised and confused. "What exactly do you want to investigate, Mr. Lopez?"


    Walter''s


    r''s voice was h***se. "The ne she''s wearing" Brian pondered for a moment, his eyes widening in disbelief. You mean the bullet ne, right, Mr. Lopez?" said Walter.


    "Yes,


    "But didn''t you say that the person stayed in Bris for two years? Ms. Nelson has always been in Crescentville and it''s known to everyone. How could she..." said Brian. Walter frowned and said, "Then find out where exactly she got that ne from!"


    After leaving the banquet at the Ortiz residence, Lago stormed angrily to the nursing home. It was past visiting hours, but he barged in regardless of the security. However, before he could reach Hannah''s room, he was blocked by two bodyguards at the door. Lago almost jumped. "Where did youe from? I never hired bodyguards!" The two men, nearly 6 feet 3 inch tall, looked quite intimidating in front of the short Lago. "We are hired by Ms. Shakira Nelson."


    Lago was p***d, thinking, Shakira again!" He roared, "Get out of here. My mom doesn''t need any d***n bodyguards!"


    The bodyguard said, "Sorry, we only take orders from Ms. Shakira Nelson. You have no right to make us leave."


    "Fine, if you won''t leave, I''ll call the police and report you for harassing my mom!" said Lago.


    The bodyguard said, "Ms. Nelson has a recording for you, Mr. Smith."


    Lagoughed as if he had heard a joke. "Who does Shakira think she is? I don''t have to listen to her!"


    The bodyguard said, "Ms. Nelson said that if you don''t listen to it yourself, we can y it publicly, and it will be you who gets humiliated."


    Lago was about to be driven mad by Shakira. He snatched the recorder from the bodyguard and went outside the hospital to y the recording:


    It was Shakira''s voice. "William is the first surprise I prepared for you, Lago. He''s been livingfortably in the countryside, all thanks to the pension card Grandma gave him before she came to Crescentville, so he''s more concerned about Grandma''s health than anyone else. I advise you to behave and not to have any ill intentions towards Grandma. If anything happens to her, William would go berserk and no one would be able to stop him. Oh, and don''t even think about bribing him. He probably wouldn''t believe you even if you kneli." At the end of the recording, there was Shakira''s yful and triumphantughter. Lago''s face turned red with anger. He threw the voice recorder on the ground and stomped on it with both feet, venting his anger. . 06.24


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    He panted, looking fierce. He nced at the two big burly guys guarding the door of the ward, picked up his phone, and


    called someone.


    The next day, Yvette''s face was even worse, and due to her falling out with Xanthe, she stayed home to recuperate.


    "You have a visitor, Ms. Nelson," said the servant.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Yvette came out and saw Brian. "Mr. Lopez wants to see you, Ms. Nelson."


    Yvette suddenly remembered Walter''s aloof and handsome face, so she got into the car without hesitation. She asked Brian, "Um, does Mr. Lopez own several Maybachs?"


    Brian nced at her. "Yes"


    "Most people can''t get a ride, right?" After all, she was now in a Mercedes-Benz E-ss.


    question


    Brian didn''t know why she was asking such a pointless question, so he casually replied, "Only the Lopez family can use


    them."


    Yvette nodded, feeling much more at ease. As expected, Shakira could get a ride in a Maybach only because of her status as a maid in the Lopez family. Otherwise, no matter how hard she tried, she would never be her match. Soon, Yvette was taken to the Lopez Group.


    She had seen this building from across the river several times while in the Nelson Group. However, only after entering the building did she realize that even though they were both century-old families, the Lopez family was clearly wealthier. The building was a perfectbination of intelligent technology and business, with no awkward jarring at all. Soon,


    she was led by Brian to the CEO''s office. Brian tapped themunication screen on the door. "She''s here, Mr. Lopez."


    The screen disyed ess granted, and Brian gestured for Yvette to go in.


    Yvette entered the office alone, and what she saw was the curved wraparound floor-to-ceiling windows, out of which was the most bustling district of Crescentville.


    The man in the center of the office slowly turned around in his wheelchair, his handsome face as if crafted by god, once again stunned Yvette.


    His eyes were like the bottomless sea, dark and deep, like a whirlpool that one cannot help but be drawn into.


    "Mr. Lopez." Seeing his intimidating gaze, Yvette couldn''t help but blush and feel her heart race. She took a few steps closer


    Walter.


    However, before she could get close, Walter said coldly, "Stay there and unbutton your clothes."


    Yvette thought she had misheard. Having realized that he was not joking, she was so excited that she wanted to undress immediately.


    However, she took a deep breath and put on a modest demeanor "Mr. Lopez, I''m not the kind of girl..."


    Give me your ne," said Walter.


    "What?" Yvette was surprised.


    "Didn''t you hear me?" said he


    Yvette dared not resist and obediently took off the ne and handed it over.


    As soon as Walter gol the ne, he immediately looked for something on the bullet. Sure enough, there was a scratch about the length of a fingernail on the tip of the bullet. Walter gripped the ne tightly with a trembling hand, saying seriously, "Where did you get this ne from?"


    His interrogation made Yvette''s heart race. Countless thoughts were shing through her mind. "Do you recognize this ne, Mr. Lopez?"


    "Just answer my question. You''re not allowed to question me," said Walter.


    Yvette felt as if she was being choked. "L..."


    Seeing her hesitant and unwilling to confess, Walter''s eyes were filled with danger. "You want to say that this ne belongs to you, don''t you?" He stared at her as if he was going to strangle her any time if she nodded. Yvette couldn''t bear such pressure and sat down on the ground with weak legs. Suddenly, she thought of a possibility and nervously pinched the palm of her hand. "The ne belongs to a friend of mine. She left the country for three years, when she came back, she gave me this ne, saying it could bring me luck... and


    She slowly raised her head. "If you want to find the owner of the ne, Mr. Lopez, I can help."

 Chapter 51

    Last night at Martha''s birthday banquet, Berry was forced by Yvette to betray Xanthe, and when she got home, she was severely scolded by her parents and grounded. When Yvette came over, Berry''s parents were a little displeased, but for the sake of the Nelson family, they didn''t show it. "Berry is in her bedroom, Ms. Nelson. Make yourself at home." Yvette said, "Okay, thank you, Mr. and Mrs. White."


    Berry was quite surprised to see Yvette. She warily kept her distance and growled, "Don''te any closer. What do you want from me?" Yvette smiled at h at her gently and s acting. Yvette!" said Berry.


    Stop


    and said, "What''s wrong, Berry? Why are you afraid of me?"


    When Yvette turned against Xanthe without hesitationst night, Berry and Xanthe finally realized how selfish and malicious their friend was. Yvette didn''t bother to pretend in front of Berry anymore. She had always found Berry useless among them, but she didn''t expect that Berry would have a chance to help her. She got straight to the point and said, "I won''t beat around the bush with you. Let''s work team up." "Who would dare to cooperate with someone as hypocritical as you, Yvette? I''m not a fool like Xanthe," said Berry.


    Hearing this, Yvette smiled with her eyes, which had always been as innocent as those of a bunny, now revealing her scheming. "Aren''t you going to thank me for what happenedst night?"


    Berry seemed to I to have heard a


    I came to you


    I a joke. "We were just using each other. You know that if it was me who you put the me on, the stubborn Xanthe wouldn''t have listened to you." Berry, hit by the truth, bit her lower lip tightly. "Alright, I


    "I know. You hate Xanthe too, don''t you? You should thank me. It''s a win-win situation." Yvette said slowly, "First, someone takes the me for me, and second, I punished the girl who has always overshadowed you since childhood."


    this time for an important thing." With that, Yvette took out a ne with a half-broken bullet. "When you meet Mr. Lopezter, you should say that this ne was a gift from you to me."


    "Mr. Lopez?" Berry was confused.


    Yvette exined the whole story to Berry, which shocked her. "Are you crazy, Yvette? You want me to lie to Mr. Lopez, right? Don''t get me involved in this!"


    Compared to the panicked Berry, Yvette was much moreposed. "We''re just telling him the truth. I don''t know why Mr. Lopez is looking for the owner of this ne, but it''s clear that he only has this ne as a clue. Your memories from the


    abroad have been erased by the White family, and when you came back, you imed to have lost the three years past memory of those three years and it can''t be recovered, which can perfectly fill this gap."


    As Yvette spoke, she got up from the armchair and put the ne on the stunned Berry''s neck. Seeing Berry''s timid appearance, she was quite disdainful. She wouldn''t let Berry do this if she had another choice.


    Yvette stared at her intently. "Berry, don''t you want someone to back you up so you can act like Shakira who acted recklesslyst night with Mr. Lopez''s support?"


    Berry was in a daze, feeling every word Yvette said was like an extremely tempting spell. She kept warfing herself not to believe it and not to cooperate with this hypocritical woman, but..


    @92%


    Her hands werepletely out of control, unable to resist the temptation.


    +0


    She absolutely wanted it. Since childhood, she had always been overshadowed by Xanthe. She was a child of the prestigious White family, one of the five major families, yet because her father was just a distant rtive of their family with no power, she bore a surname I was highly esteemed in Crescentville but lived a life akin to that of the lower ss. If there was someone to back her up, she wouldn''t have been sent away three years ago.


    Berry thought of something, and she slowly raised her hand, grasping the ne. It seemed that she had made her mind. After a while, she said in a low voice, "Do you know where I have been in the past three years?"


    up


    "Bris." Yvette answered without hesitation, "Just tell Mr. L¨®pez that you went to Bris and that you suffered an ident upon your return that caused memory loss." "What if the owner of this nees for it? You know who the owner is, don''t you?" said Berry.


    Yvette didn''t answer directly but instead blinked. "Don''t worry, once you''re recognized by Mr. Lopez with the ne, you can find an excuse not to take it out, and no one will know." She continued, "Besides, you''ve lost all memory from your past three years in Bris, so you don''t know how you got the ne either. You had it from the very beginning.".


    Hearing this, Berry shuddered subconsciously. She stared fearfully at Yvette. "You''re really terrifying. It seems that Xanthe and I have been used by you all these years!" "What''s done cannot be undone, but from now on, we''ll be allies. Berry, you''ll have to help me more in the future."


    Half an hourter, apanied by Yvette, Berry secretly climbed over the wall from the backyard of the White residence and got into the Rolls-Royce parked outside. the car door closed, Walter had already


    AsN?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Have


    Walter''s cologne filled the air. Berry kept her head down, and pinched her palms tightly, feeling even more nervous and agitated than Yvette.


    had Brian investigate Berry''s background, which showed a three-year gap with no information. Even the Lopez family couldn''t find any traces. Few people in this world could do this.


    you lost all your memories from the past three years?" Walter said abruptly, startling Berry and causing her to shrink in fear. It was clear that she was terrified of him. Her subconscious reaction made Walter frown. He thought, ''How could she be so timid?''


    nervously swallowed. "Yes. I had a high fever that wouldn''t subside while I was away. That was why I came back." "Don''t you remember a single thing?" he asked.


    Bet


    "Yes..."


    said Berry..


    "What about the ne? Who gave it to you?" asked he.


    "I don''t remember, but I''ve been wearing it ever since I came back." Fearing that Walter would see through her lie, she lowered her head. Walter''s eyes were filled with displeasure. "Open your palm and let me see."


    "Okay." Berry, confused, opened her hands and presented them to Walter.


    Walter nced at them and slowly pressed his temples with his hand. Berry''s hands were covered in calluses and old scars. Everything seemed just right.


    He had thought that the owner of the ne might have been disguised as a man, but if she was the timid Berry, he would be very disappointed. "You saved me in Bris a year ago, and I will pay you back. Tomorrow, I''ll have ''Brian take you to the Lopez family''s private hospital for a check-up to see if there''s any way to restore your memory. Take my number and you


    ww


    can reach me anytime you want."


    Looking at the ck and gold business card Walter handed her choking her. On a whim, she said, "May I ask you for a favor, M


    18

 Chapter 52

    Shakira enjoyed a peaceful day at school with Yvette, Xanthe, and Berry out of the picture. At lunchtime, she made a special trip to the canteen in the east.


    There were three canteens at Crescentville University, the top one located in the east of campus where students could find higher-end private rooms,plete with separate lounges and esports rooms, so it attracted thergest number of rich students. On the way, from a distance, Shakira spotted Joe chatting andughing with a few friends, all of them from noble families. They were heading upstairs to the private rooms. Shakira called out to Joe. Joe turned around and his eyes were filled with surprise and delight when he saw Shakira. "Shakira!" eximed Joe delightedly. His friends nudged and and teased,


    t it. She''s Shakira. She''s disse


    "Shut it.


    Joe retorted,Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ,bro, got a lea!"


    them behind as he hurried downstairs.


    He came over to Shakira quickly and said, "Shakira, I''m so happy you came to see me."


    Shakira handed him a red velvet box directly and said, "This is a birthday gift for Grandma Martha. I only got it this morning. Considering what happenedst night, I''m afraid that I won''t have the chance to visit herter. Please pass it on to her for me." Joe took it with both hands and replied, "Okay. She will love it."


    Then Joe paused and then then cautiously asked, "Last night, between you and Walter...?"


    However, Shakira mercilessly interrupted, "It''s none of your business. I don''t want to mention that. I''m only asking you to pass on the gift."


    After f


    r finishing her words, Shakira left and made her way to have lunch.


    She found a quiet corner to sit and eat. However, as soon as she settled down, someone else took the seat next to her. Shakira lifted her eyes and cursed in her heart. It was Mitchell!


    Why does he always show up right after Joe? Are they ying tricks on me?'' thought Shakira speechlessly.


    "Mitchell, what brought you to school? Don''t you have to deal withpany affairs? Oh, right, your sister should lose lots of brand cooperation. No wonder you have much time."


    Mitchell instinctively wanted to retort but held back. He parted his mouth as if to say something but nothing came out of it. Suddenly, he noticed that there was only a bun and two vegetarian dishes on Shakira''s tes. Then Mitchell looked at Shakira withplex emotions, which made Shakira feel a little uneasy.


    Shakira asked, "Are you possessed or something?"


    "Can''t you be nice to me, Shakira?" said Mitchell.


    to others. But with you... it''s tough," said Shakira in a straightforward way.


    Mitchell was speechless. Then he suddenly snatched her meal card from the table. Shakira cast a nce at Mitchell indifferently without any intention of stopping him since she found it hard to understand his behavior, so she just waited to see what he was going to do with it. Sun, Oct 20


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    Soon, Mitchell returned with a teful of food, mainly different types of meat. Then he settled it in front of Shakira and said, "You should eat more."


    "Come on, Mitchell, are you trying to stuff me to death with food?" Shakirained


    It''s a new way he created to make fun of me?'' Shakira couldn''t help but think.


    Mitchell couldn''t restrain himself and rolled his eyes at her, "Alright, Shakira, you don''t have to disguise yourself. I know it''s not easy to work in the Lopez family." Mitchell returned the meal card to Shakira and added, "I''ve put 3 thousand dors on it. You can order anything you want at school."


    Amused


    by Mitchell''s words, Shakira stared at Mitchell and asked, "Who told you I''ve been treated badly by the Lopez family?"


    "Hey, Shakira, you can open up to me. If not, how can you have such a poor meal?" insisted Mitchell.


    "I''m very impressed by your incredible perceptions and logic," joked Shakira.


    I chose vegetables just because I''ve had too much meat at home... thought Shakira speechlessly.


    Shakira


    seemed to to think about something and held the meal card between her fingers, confirming, "You said you put 3 thousand dors on it?" I be enough for a year, right?" said Mitchell with a grin.


    men "Yeah, it should be Yean,


    said Shakira firmly.


    "I won''t be paying you back," said Sha


    Mitchell replied i in a cause tone, "You


    You don''t have to. It''s the maximum deposit amount, otherwise, I could add more."


    Shakira revealed a meaningful smile and asked, "Mitchell, you''re being so nice to me because you want to ask me to help Yvette, right?"


    Mitchell instinctively replied, "No, I don''t said with an icy gaze, "You mean you did this without any purpose, or are you just pitying me?"


    Shakira immediately pulled her face and


    For a moment, Mitchell had no idea what to say. Facing Shakira''s cold stare, Mitchell just felt nervous and agitated.


    He suddenly stood up and i and increased I his voice, asking, "What are you doing? Haven''t I already apologized? Do you have to be so aggressive to me?"


    "Yes, you have. But it Shakira


    n''t mean I have to forgive you and let it go."


    ut it doesn''t tilted her face up, her bright eyes fixed on him, the ruthlessness on her face utterly decisive. "I''ll remember everything your family has done to me and never forgive any of you." Mitchell staggered back in shock since he was blown by Shakira''s decisiveness and hatred of him.


    After a while, Mitchell turned away in a huff and roared, "I just wasted my time and money on someone ungrateful!"


    Mitchell depart, Shakira continued to finish her lunch ignoring the nces from the surrounding students who were drawn by Mitchell''sst shout, Suddenly, a message helping


    some matters since


    Cathy: [Shakira, I''ve consulted a reliable master. He said borrowing someone else''s luck is a very vicious spell. It can cause irreversible damage to the energy and life length of the victim.] Shakira: [How do they cast that spell?]


    Cathy: [There are three ways. Firstly, the spell can work through something thates from the victim like hair or blood. Second, through personal items on the victim''s body, such as underwear or jewelry. Finally, it doesn''t need anything. It''s the most difficult and vicious method." After reading Cathy''s messages, Shakira deliberated for a while, ''So, over the years, Yvette must have been using some personal items that I wore to cast a spell on me, but clearly, that''s not enough for her now. She wants a permanent solution.'' Then Shakira sent a message to Cathy again.


    [Is there any way to break it?]


    Cathy: [Well, it depends on the specific method that person used. Generally, if that person casts a spell on you through your personal items, you have to find it out and destroy it. As for the hardest one, you have to use counter-spells... I''ll send you more detailster.] Shakira: [Okay, thanks.]


    Cathy: [Shakira, the master warned you to stay away from people with bad intentions and keep an eye on your belongings.]


    Shakira: [Okay. I will.]


    Then Shakira took a nap in the library after lunch and arrived at the teaching building at 2 PM. As soon as she entered the ssroom, she saw a crowd gathered around Yvette and Berry, fawning and ttering them. Shakira''s eyebrows knitted.

 Chapter 53

    53


    "Berry, you''re so kind to buy each of us a set of limited-edition seasonal lipsticks. That''s so generous!" one girl said delightedly.


    "Not a big deal. We''re all ssmates. I''m d you like them," replied Berry.


    It was the first time that Berry was in the spotlight at school. In the past, she was the invisible one among her girls group- Yvette, Xanthe, and Berry. Shakira didn''t expect that Berry and Yvette could still be close friends after that birthday banquet incident, but she quickly epted it considering Berry and Yvette gave up in Xanthe at the same time that night.. ''Birds of a feather do flock together,'' thought Shakira. Shakira took her seat in the fro front t row as before and soon overheard Berry answering a phone call with surprise and delight.


    "Really? I''m


    I''m invited to the party tonight hosted by Mr. White. Of course, I won''t mess things up. I''m not the same person I was before. Don''t worry, Mom, " promised Berry in a cheerful voice. Berry hung up the phone with a beaming smile.


    The students sitting behind her asked with curiosity, "Berry, who is Mr. White...?"


    Berry straightened her back and answered with superiority, "He just returned from abroad and is hosting a wee-back banquet tonight. He deliberately invited me to join him for dinner." Yvette blinked her eyes and asked, "Is i sit Kyle White? He''s an alumnus with my brother, Felix. I''ve heard from my brother that they both received the Outstanding Student Award. Didn''t expect hee back home so soon." hendedst night," said Berry.


    ette''s lit up and mumbled. "I''ll ask Felix if he''s returned too."


    The other students listened to their conversation andmented with envy, "Wow, no wonder you''re recognized as one of the top five wealthy families. Those families must be in a close rtionship."


    "I''ve never heard you talk about your family before. Berry, so your family is one of the top five wealthy families?"


    Berry chuckled lightly and exined, "We share the same surname, but Kyle is the direct heir, while I''m from a coteral branch."


    "But you must be close to Kyle and probably hang out with him regrly. You''re so humble, Berry. How could you never mention it before!" said a girl excitedly.


    "Berry, it''s rumored that Kyle i is a handsome gentle man. He has a very good reputation among the descendants of those well-known families. Is that true?" asked one girl with blond hair


    Berry hesitated for a moment for actually, she had never met Kyle in person. Although they originated from one family, there was a huge gap between them. She guessed that she was about to attend tonight''s banquet due to Walter... Berry said simply, "Pretty much, he i s busy with his studies and seldom interferes with family affairs. I haven''t seen him in a long time either."


    Meanwhile, Yvette also got a message from Felix. She said with a hint of disappointment, "It seems Kyle came back alone this time. My brother will be back a bitter."


    "Oh, Yvette, are you going with me tonight?" Berry asked.


    Yvette gave Berry a meaningful look, inwardly despising Berry for already considering herself as someone rising from the


    "No, I''ll go home. I''ve promised my mom to have a meal with her," replied Yvette.


    ashes, thinking she could do as she pleased.


    Saying this, Yvette nced over at Shakira, who was ying on her phone with her head down, not paying attention to what was happening around them. Yvette felt a little bit frustrated. Shakira received a text message from Walter: [No need to cook tonight.]


    Shakira raised an eyebrow and thought, ''So, Walter is attending the banquet tonight too.


    Among the top five rich families, the youngsters of the other four families always hung out together,pletely excluding the Nelson family, so her family drifted apart from the other four families over the years. In Shakira''s previous life, she had done a lot secretly to help her family steadily catch up with the other four families. As for now, without her support, there would probably be new the top four rich families.


    The ss bell rang, and the tutor entered the ssroom, making an announcement, "From this semester, we''re going to take a quiz every month, you''d better prepare for that."


    As soon as he finished speaking, the whole ss let out a howl of despair.


    "What? Come That''s t


    omeo we have to go for far?"


    hat''s too cruel.


    "It''s over. This term is going to be horrible, isn''t it?"


    Listening to theints from the students, the tutor felt a little dissatisfied and said sternly, "You should put more time and effort into your study. Anyone who can''t ept it can transfer to other departments. I hope you guys don''t mention my name after you graduate in the future in terms of your academic performance right now!"


    The tutor patrolled around the school and asked, "Who wants to back out now?"


    In an instant, no one dared to speak anything, not even breathe heavily.


    Suddenly, Yvette raised her hand.


    The tutor gave a cold look, and Yvette spoke up softly, "We have a ssmate who took a two-year break and just returned to school. I''m a little worried if she''s good enough to catch up on our course." Shakira squinted her eyes and looked at Yvette, sneering, "How considerate you''re to think about me."


    Yvette shrank and said timidly, "Shakira, I just don''t want you to push yourself too hard. You know, I don''t have attention..."


    any


    bad


    Dad


    "That''s right, Shakira, Yvette is right. Even if you pass the test to get into our ss, it doesn''t mean you''re good enough to handle it," Berry chimed in, folding her arms in front of her chest.


    The tutor had heard about Shakira since she made a ssh on the first day of school. He pushed his sses into ce, looked at Shakira, and suddenly asked, "What do you think of the current domestic economic situation?"


    The students were shocked as none of them were ready for the sudden test. However, they all felt relieved that it wasn''t them who were being tested, waiting to see poor Shakira get embarrassed because she had never attended a ss before. Yvette and Berry exchanged nces, both looking forward to seeing Shakira make a fool of herself.


    Shakira stood up from her seat, only pondering for a moment, and then spoke out her opinions confidently and calmly. Some students didn''t even catch her ideas but it was obvious that the tutor''s hard face softened little by little as he listened to  Oct 20


    Oct 20


    the speech of Shakira.


    "Good. Quite impressive. Sit down, Shakira," said the tutor.


    "Wow, Shakira analyzed do well."


    "It''s incredible when she made aparison between the economic situation of Bris and the domestic?"


    "Look how confident she is!"


    Listening to the praise from everyone, Yvette and Berry grew jealous.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "It''s just because she has stayed in Bris before! Don''t make a fuss,"mented Berry.


    The next second, the tutor called Berry''s name and said, "How about you talk about your idea?"


    0

 Chapter 54

    54


    Berry was stiffened. It was only after Yvette discreetly nudged her arm that Berry regained herposure and stood up reluctantly.


    The tutor said in an encouraging tone, "It''s okay. Just say whatever you think."


    Berry hesitated for a long moment before she slowly opened her mouth and began to stutter out words. However, her speech was totally incoherent and illogicalpared with the one that Shakira had delivered. Sweat gradually collected on her forehead as she searched for words. for words. The tutor frowned slightly and said, "All right, sit down, please. I suggements on other students."


    you''


    u''d better focus on yourself instead of making


    Berry''s


    y''s face turned bright red with embarrassment. She wished she could disappear under the desk. Yvette also kept her head down, not daring to say another word for fear of being called upon by the teacher to answer to get stuck in an embarrassing situation as well. Both of them felt pretty suffered and fretful in ss. Finally, the ss ended, the tutor deliberately came to Shakira''s seat and said something encouraging, and other top students also gathered around her desk. Watching the scene, Berry and Yvette clenched their teeth with jealousy. "What''s the big deal to get a good score? Look at her face when she boasted about her experience in Bris," mocked Berry.


    In a sh, something came into Berry''s mind and her face changed slightly as she linked the words of Bris, two years, ne together.


    §®§Ñ


    She grabbed Yvette''s wrist tightly, so hard that Yvette winced and cried out, "Berry, you''re hurting me!"


    "Come with me!" said Berry forcefully.


    Berry pulled Yvette to a corner of the terrace outside the teaching building and asked with a sullen face, "So, Shakira is the one that Walter''s been looking for, right?" Yvette was surprised for a moment, then sheughed, "You''re quite smart."


    ''OMG! It''s true!'' thought Berry.


    She quickly covered I her mouth in case she shouted out. The next second, she lunged forward and grabbed Yvette''s neck, tightening her grip.


    "Yvette, are you crazy? Shakira is right next to Walter, and you actually asked me to pretend to be the owner of the ne. You''re trying to get me into trouble!" shouted Berry.


    Berry


    uldn''t imagine what was going to happen if Walter found out the truth!


    "Let go of me!" Yvette said through her teeth.


    Watching Yvette''s face grow purple, Berry finally loosened her grip.


    "Berry, do you want to kill me?" Yvette said, coughing violently.


    "You got me into shit! What do you think!" said Berry.


    Hearing this, Yvette couldn''t help but sneer. "What are you afraid of? Shakira is right under Walter''s nose, but Walter''s still looking for her madly. Do you know what it means? Walter has no idea who Shakira is and Shakira doesn''t know he''s looking for her." Berry got confused and mumbled, "How can that be? Aren''t they Sun, Oct 20


    Yvette said with disdain, "Shakira is just a maid. Probably she has no chance to see Walter at all, let alone speak to him. If she knew that she had saved his life and he''s looking for her now, do you think she would let go of such a great opportunity?" Yvette fixed her eyes on Berry and added, "Just like you, your family treats you totally differently due to a few words of Walter. Now, you even get the opportunity to see Kyle. Are you willing to be trampled by a maid now?" Berry panted and clenched her fists, confirming, "Are you sure they don''t know each other so far?"


    "Rest assured, they won''t find out too," said Yvette confidently. Afraid that Afraid Berry would mess things up, she added, "I''ve gotten the ne when Shakira was brought back. I promise no one will find it out." then did Berry finally breathe a sigh of relief.


    Only the


    "But..." Yvette paused here deliberately and moved on, "Just in case, you know we''d better do something to keep it a secret forever. Now we are in the same boat, Berry, you are a smart girl, you should know what we need to do, right?"


    erry thoN?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    of the embarrassing experience she just had in ss and the harshments on her by other students when theypared her with Shakira, Berry snorted, "Walter belongs to me! Shakira must disappear!" A malicious smile touched her lips. thought with a malicious smile, ''As long as Shakira disappears forever, no one will know the truth!'' Shakira could finally get a break after she didn''t have to make dinner for Walter. Then she started to sort out the items she brought from home. She didn''t have too many things but she had beencking time checking her stuff since she came back. After going through all her packages and reorganizing them, Shakira surprisingly found that she had lost many small items Most of them were bought or gotten in Bris, What surprised her the most was that she found her shell ne nowhere! Shakira''s


    s turned red and she cursed, "damn it, it must be Yvette. Why didn''t I find it out earlie


    When Shakira got annoyed and frustrated, someone outside, "Ms. Nelson, may I talk to you now?"


    Shakira took a deep breath and opened the door, only to see a young maid. "What''s the matter?" asked Shakira.


    "Ms. Nelson, could you do me a favor..." the maid said timidly, not even daring to look up at Shakira. "I have a distant rtive who has a strange disease. His legs get red rush, which causes no pain, but every morning when he wakes up, his limbs get numb. It takes a while to recover. He has done a lot of examinations and taken a lot of medicine, but it didn''t work. I''m wondering if you can help me take a look at him. Is it okay?"


    "Of course, no problem," Shakira answered directly, looking at the time and adding, "Give me the address, and I''ll


    go


    now."


    "Okay! Thank you, Ms. Nelson!" the maid said excitedly.


    Half an hourter, Shakira arrived in the old city area.


    Crescentville had witnessed a dramatic change in the past 20 years, the city expanding as twice asrge as it used to be, the city center moving to the east. Now, the old city area looked somewhat tattered and chaotic. There are many vendors along the side of the roads. Since the car was too eye-catching, Shakira asked the driver to park it in the parking lot of the mall and wait for her over there while she headed to her destination alone, Shakira walked up and down narrow alleys ording to the digital map. Suddenly, she seemed to realize something and put away her mobile phone, walking forward into a dead-end alley.


    She turned around slowly in an attempt to leave but was blocked by three big men.


    They approached Shakira with nasty facial expressions, "Hey, pr

 Chapter 55

    "Stop here."


    A striking Maybach cruised through the busiest street in the old part of town. Suddenly, the man in the back seatmanded in a low voice. The driver pulled over, confused, anil followed the man''s gaze out the window. He saw a slender woman turn into a nondescript alley, followed closely by three burly men. Sir, I''ll go and help."


    The man in the car chuckled softly, his slender, well-proportioned wrist resting on the window frame as he fixed his eyes on the alley entrance.


    No."


    *****


    The driver looked bewildered. "Huh?" If I wasn''t going to help, then why stop the car? The driver thought. In the alley.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    The men slowly approached, stopping less than two meters in front of Shakira. She furrowed her brow slightly, scanning their arms and hands. It was clear that all three of them had the build of someone who worked out regrly; they didn''t look like typical punks hanging around the old part of town. Afleeting understanding shed in Shakira''s eyes, but her face remained mostly expressionless. "You guys are clearly professionals. I''m afraid I can''t keep up with that." The three men were taken aback, exchanging nces with each other before continuing to close in on Shakira. "Smart girls like


    you


    I can get into a lot of trouble," one of them said, and all three lunged at Shakira simultaneously. Her eyes turned cold, and she spun around, spotting the slight limp in the left man''s step. Shakira targeted him as a weak point. Soon, the dark alley echoed with screams and cries of pain, which eventually turned into pleas for mercy. "Sorry, sorry! Please spare us, Miss!" The three meny on the ground, unable to even crawl. They never expected that such a slender woman would be so agile. Even worse, with just a few needles, she had them feeling like all their muscles had been drained, leaving them helpless and at her mercy!


    As akira approached, the men''s eyes widened as if they had seen a ghost. Shakira kicked the man who had spoken. "Who''s your ''Miss''?" "Ms. Nelson, you''re our boss! Please have mercy!"


    "Ms. Nelson, we didn''t know who we were dealing with! Please spare us, please!" The three burly men, each twice her size, were now wailing and pleading. Shakira slowly retracted her leg, which she had been about to use for a second kick. "Who sent you here?" "No, no, it was just a coincidence."


    "Yeah, we work for Mr. Booth, collecting payments. We had a few drinks after finishing our collections today, and we just happened to see you."


    Shakira looked at their expressions and sneered. She delivered three more needles, ensuring they wouldn''t be able to stand for at least a year, targeting a very sensitive area. Then, she dusted off her hands and walked away, leaving them in pain and humiliation. Stenning out of the alley, Shakira immediately spotted the conspicuous Maybach. As if on cue, the car''s window rolled down peared in her line of sight. She walked over, looking puzzled. "Aren''t you supposed


    to be at dinner tonight? Shakira asked.


    3


    Kyle raised an eyebrow, a faint smile ying on his lips. "It''s been so long since west met, and you already know I had dinner tonight?"


    As he spoke, he noticed that Shakira''s right knuckles were slightly red.


    "You''re injured," he said.


    Shakira nced at her hand. "Oh, they''re tougher than I am. In ten more minutes, it would have..." But before she could finish, Kyle had already pulled her into the car and opened the emergency medical kit, pulling out some anti-inmmatory medicine. "Has been healed."


    Shakira sighed, answering his previous question. "The heir of the White family returning to the country is bound to cause a stir in Crescentville. Plus, I happen to have a ssmate who''s attending the wee banquet tonight." "Since it''s such a coincidence, why don''t youe along?"


    Shakira frowned, instinctively replying, "Kyle, didn''t we agree that after leaving there, we would act like...?"


    "Strangers."


    continued, "Everything that happened there is ssified. After leaving, we were supposed to forget everything, but since we''ve met again, it seems we have the fate to be friends." Shakira didn''t say anything. Back then, it was only because of an unexpected incident that she and Kyle had seen each other''s true faces.


    Shak


    Ten


    Kyle had already taken care of Shakira''s small wound. He extended his hand toward her. "Nice to meet you, I''m Kyle White. I happened to pass by and helped Ms. Nelson. So, would it be okay if Ms. Nelson joined me at my wee banquet?" Shakira pped his hand away, rolling her eyes. "How did you know myst name was Nelson if this is our first meeting?" minutester, Shakira still I ended up following Kyle. The banquet was being held at Veiled Vine, the most famous and discreet private restaurant in Crescentville. It was a members-only establishment that didn''t ept outside guests; only the owner''s friends and their acquaintances had the privilege of dining there. Behind the solemn old-fashioned wooden doorsy a traditional garden setting,plete with pavilions, terraces, winding streams, and vibrant flower beds. Each part of the garden was meticulously designed, as if crafted by an artist. Shakira marveled, "I''ve heard so much about this private restaurant. I always thought it was in the expensive new district, but I never imagined it would be in the old town. Just restoring the building must have cost a fortune!" §¬§å§Ý§Ñ§Ü§ä§Ñ exined, "We did a lot of research when choosing the location. This ce used to be the residence of a famous figure, and we decided to preserve the old architectural style, so we settled here."


    Shakira tilted her head and looked at him. "So, you''re the owner? How do you know all this?"


    "Yeah, I am," Kyle replied.


    Shakira was so surprised that she was speechless.


    Wow,


    I had just asked the wealthy owner himself! How bold of me! Turning a corner, Shakira suddenly stopped. "You go in first. I need to use the restroom." Sun, Oct


    Kyle smiled gently. "Okay, the private room is just ahead. Don''t get lost."


    Shakira waved her hand. "Don''t worry, I won''t."


    3


    Even the restroom here wasvishly decorated. Shakira washed her hands and then wandered around, idly touching and examining things to pass the time. She noticed an orchid on the wall that looked so real it was hard to tell if it was fake. Curiously, she reached out to touch it when a snide, mocking voice came from the back. "A low-ss person from a humble background,ing to a high-end ce and even trying to steal the flowers. No wonder you''re only fit to be a maid in your lifetime."


    Shakira turned around to see Fiona standing there, dressed as mboyantly as a peacock, with her arms crossed and chin raised, her face full of disdain and mockery.


    Behind Fiona stood three other rich girls who had decked themselves out to the nines. Hearing Fiona''s words, they all turned their eyes to Shakira. One of them asked, "Fiona, who is she? Which family''s maid could have caught your attention?" Another one teased, "Who else could Fiona possibly remember? It must be a maid from the household of Fiona''s crush."


    Another one sneered, "Even if she''s a bit pretty, she''s still just a maid. I doubt she couldn''t even touch Mr. Lopez''s shoes. For years, the only woman by Mr. Lopez''s side has been Fiona."


    Fiona blushed, looking coy, but then she heard Shakira chuckle. "Alright, I haven''t touched Mr. Lopez''s shoes, but I have touched his abs."

 Chapter 56

    56


    As soon as those words were spoken, the expressions of the others changed dramatically. The blush on Fiona''s face turned into a furious re.


    "You- you''re despicable! Shameless! How dare you nder and insult Walter!"


    Fiona was so angry that she was shaking. Shakira couldn''t help butugh at the sight. She thought to herself, ''I''m just saying it, but Fiona acts like Walter has been terribly humiliated and vited. But in reality...


    Shakira''s smile grew even wider, and she decided to push Fiona''s buttons even further. "It''s all true. I didn''t just touch his abs; I kissed his lips too. Don''t let its thinness fool you-it''s pretty nice to kiss. And there''s more..."


    "What else?" a cold, almost icy voice came from behind her. Shakira''s smug smile froze on her face. She stood there, practically frozen for several seconds, before slowly turning around like a broken machine about to shut down. Somehow, arge group of people had appeared behind Shakira Walter, with his piercing re that seemed to want to shoot Shakira through with a thousand arrows; Benji, with a satisfied smile on his face; Kyle, as gentle as a breeze; Joe, looking furious and unwilling; and several other rich second-generation heirs and servers Shakira had never seen before, all staring at Shakira with wide eyes.


    Shakira was shocked.


    "Was the world out to get her? Did they have to show up all at once like this?" She thought.


    Walter''s face was expressionless. "What else? Why don''t you continue?"


    Gathering her courage, Shakira forced a smile, though it looked rather strained. "N-nothing. There''s nothing more." "Hmm, you were quite talkative just now. Now that I''m here, you have nothing to say?" Walter said with a hint of sarcasm. Shakira quickly lowered her head. At this critical moment, admitting defeat was the best option. "Mr. Lopez, I was wrong."


    Benji opened his mouth, "Future-"


    Walter shot him a cold re, and Benji quickly swallowed his words. "Uh, I mean, what exactly did you do wrong?"


    Shakira, following Benji''s lead, tried to smooth things over. "I shouldn''t have joked about Mr. Lopez. I truly know I was wrong."


    "Walter, we can''t just let this go!" Fiona walked over, trying to pout and appeal to Walter. "She dared to spread such lies and nder you in public. Luckily, only a few of us heard it this time, but if she keeps talking like that in the future and someone with ill intentions hears it, the Lopez family''s reputation will be damaged!"


    Shakira rubbed her nose and muttered, "I was just trying to rile you up. I wouldn''t say such things in public."


    Fiona red at her. "You-"


    Walter, who had been gripping the armrest with his knuckles turning white, finally released his grip. "Take me back."


    Shakira was taken aback for a moment but quickly understood, switching to an overly attentive and subservient tone. "Of course, Mr. Lopez!"


    Everyone was surprised as they watched Shakira and Walter return to the private room.


    Calton''s mouth gaped open, and he blinked in disbelief. "Just like that... it''s over?"


    10:0


    Gavin looked at Brian, Has your master ordered you


    10


    assassinate that little maid?"


    D


    91%1 +5


    Benji smiled mysteriously. "Oh, don''t worry. My brother won''t do anything to...to her."


    "Why? This is the first time I''ve seen Walter on the verge


    be that they really...?"


    of losing his temper and a 114


    managing to control it. Could it


    "Impossible! There''s no way Walter would be interested in someone like her!" Fiona interrupted sharply. Calton and Gavin exchanged a nce, shrugged, and decided not to say anything more. A look between them said it all-better not to provoke Fiona; they didn''t want the hassle. "Mr. Lopez, you all came out here."


    Walter gave her a sidelong nce. "What do you think?"


    Shakira waspletely confused. ''What was I supposed to say? I had no idea.


    There were still a few people who hadn''t left the private room. When Shakira looked up, her eyes met Berry, who was sitting nearby and looking somewhat nervous and ufortable.


    Shakira averted her gaze and pushed Walter to his seat. While Shakira remained calm andposed, Berry''s heart was nearly pounding out of her chest. Earlier, when the guest of honor, Kyle, arrived at the wee banquet, he casually mentioned picking up a girl who was being bullied by some thugs on the way. The other brothers had teased him about it, but Walter had remainedpletely indifferent. However, as soon as Kyle mentioned the girl''s name, Walter had immediately rushed out without hesitation.


    Berry lowered her head, clenching her fists at the mere thought of it. No matter what, there was no way Shakira could be by Mr. Lopez''s side!


    The others outside had returned to the room and taken their seats.


    seats were on the other side When Fiona walked in with a sour face, the only empty seat left was next to Walter. All the othe of the room. The three girls politely went to the corner, and as Fiona approached Walter, she hadn''t even had a chance to sit down when he suddenly spoke up, "How long are you nning to stand there?"


    Fiona froze halfway through sitting down, feeling incredibly awkward.


    Shakira noticed everyone looking at her and quickly responded, "It''s okay, I''m not hungry."


    "I am," Walter said matter-of-factly. "Sit down and get some food"


    "Okay."


    Even though she was annoyed, she felt guilty and had no choice but toply! It was all because of her big mouth. Why did she have to speak up right when Walter came in? Shakira looked at Fiona, who was taking up half the chair and refusing to move. Without hesitation, she gently pushed Fiona out of the way. Fiona red at her with pure fury.


    Shakira shrugged helplessly, "Ms. Banks, why don''t you find another seat?" "Shakira, don''t get too smug!" Fiona snapped before storming off in a huff. Shakira wasn''t fazed. She was about to put on her full "suck-up" show.


    "Mr. Lopez, have some soup, but be careful, it''s hot."All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    "Mr. Lopez, I''ve already removed the fish bones, you can eat without worry."  w.


    "Mr. Lopez, this is one of your favorite dishes. Let me get you some more."


    "Mr. Lopez..."


    Throughout the entire meal, Shakira didn''t stop for a moment, constantly piling food onto Walter''s te. Fiona was sitting in thest remaining seat, directly across from them. Watching Shakira fawn over Walter with such enthusiasm, she turned green with envy. She was so angry that she forgot her table manners, grinding her teeth and practically chewing the food in her mouth as if it were Shakira, "That wicked woman is doing this on purpose!"


    Simrly, Berry''s eyes were zing with jealousy on the other side of the table. Shakira was well aware that several pairs of eyes were fixed on her, but she didn''t care about them at all. "The most important thing right now was to soothe the tiger and stroke his fur, to make sure he didn''t hold a grudge and snap my neckter.'' Shakira thought.


    Benji watched the "harmonious" scene between Walter and Shakira, his eyes crinkling with amusement.


    "Kyle, are you back for good this time? Did you take care of everything outside?"


    "Yeah, everything''s taken care of," Kyle replied.


    Benji sighed, "That''s good. We''ve been brothers since we were kids, but as soon as we hit adulthood, you all started running off and disappearing for years at a time! First Walter, then you...


    Kyle''s eyes twinkled with amusement as he subtly nced over at the cold man who was enjoying Shakira''s attentive service. He suddenly asked, "Walter, did you find the person I was helping you look for?"

 Chapter 57

    Kyle''s sudden question startled Berry so much that her spoon fell right into the soup, sshing hot liquid everywhere.


    She burned her hand but tried to keep a straight face. She nced around nervously but was relieved no one seemed to notice.


    Her heart was racing uncontrobly.


    Walter turned around and met Kyle''s calm gaze. After a brief pause, he said, "Yes, I found it."


    Kyle was surprised. He nced over at Shakira, who was still focused on removing fish bones for Walter, then quickly looked away. "That''s great to hear." sighed in relief, thinking, "Thankfully, Mr. Lopez didn''t make a fuss."


    Berry


    "Hold on, whe He scratched his chin, as if suddenlying up with something, and grinned. "Looks like Mr. Lopez found a woman." Calton''s eyes widened in shock. "Seriously? Walter, you''ve finally found someone?"


    what are you two talking about? I''mpletely lost!" Calton turned to Gavin, confused. "And you, old buddy?" Gavin shrugged, equally baffled.


    Benji, always eager for gossip, realized he missed a big story and, in his excitement, blurted out. "Wait, who are you looking for? Don''t you already have a fianc¨¦e?" stressed. "Af "A fianc¨¦e?"


    Kyle


    Gavin''s teasing look turned to disbelief. "No way, I was just making a joke, but it''s true? Mr. Lopez, you''ve been keeping secrets from us?"


    Calton threw gas over the fire. "Yeah, yeah, is the new fianc¨¦e really that shy?"


    Fiona''s face turned dark with jealousy, as if she had been cheated on. "Who is it already?"


    Walter was speechless. He shot a cold stare at everyone, finally focusing on Benji. "Do you want to die?"


    Benji, feeling righteous, wanted to stand up for the future fianc¨¦e. But less than a minuteter, he quickly backed down. He thought, ''Fine, let him be arrogant for now. When he gets home, the future fianc¨¦e will surely put him in his ce!" shut up, turned back to food, and pretended nothing happened. Fiona was still


    to their food.


    The others itching to ask more but, seeing Walter''s anger, bit her lip and kept quiet.


    Fiona Was Sull


    Walter looked away. He nced down and saw arge piece of delicious fish added to his te.


    Shakira, noticing h him staring, t shed


    Ia big smile and asked, "Mr. Lopez, would you like some more?"


    Seeing her carefree attitude, Walter felt a pang of irritation.


    His mood darkened, and he suddenly lost interest. "I''m full."


    Shakira sighed with relief. "Alright, since you''re full, it''s my turn to eat."


    She hadn''t eaten much, having spent the whole time serving him.


    Walter''s expression grew even darker. "Kyle, I''m leaving. We''ll catch up another time."


    Shakira, who had barely started eating, thought, ''Is he a demon or something?! He finishes eating and just leaves, like I don''t even matter?''


    Shakira quickly shoveled more food into her mouth.


    Fiona looked at her eating like a ravenous beast and was utterly disgusted.


    Kyle''s smiling eyes drifted over Shakira''s frantic eating. "Alright, I''ll check in on your recovery in a few days."


    "Mm, thanks," Walter lifted his hand and, with a casual motion, picked up Shakira, who was still eating, by the back of her neck. He raised an eyebrow. "Still eating?"


    I


    With her neck pinched, Shakira quietly set down her fork. Before leaving, she grabbed the twenty-year-old wine from the table and took a big swig, then followed Walter out.


    She thought, "This


    "This ce is fantastic. Next time, I''lle here without Walter and really enjoy myself!''


    At the Nelson residence, the family was eating in silence, and the atmosphere was a bit tense.


    Yvette''s phone buzzed beside her. She looked at it and, in her distraction, identally made her fork tter against her te.


    The strictly traditional Mrs. Nelson frowned slightly. "Yvette, no phones at the table."


    Yvette quickly locked her screen. "Yes, Grandma."


    After hesitating a moment, she couldn''t help but speak up, "Today, Mr. White hosted a wee dinner, and Berry was there. She sent me a message."


    Finn said, "Yeah, Kyle invited me and Mitchell, but I just don''t have the time to go."


    Mitchell scoffed. "I don''t hang out with those people anyway. It''d be boring."


    "Berry?" After the incident at the birthday banquet, Reba became especially concerned about her daughter''s two close friends. "I remember you said she''s a distant rtive of the White family? Is she close with Kyle?" Yvette


    "I


    "I guess so." didn''t borate, just added. "Mr. Lopez was there too, and my sister went along... as Mr. Lopez''s maid." Cody mmed his fork down on the marble table with a loud tter. "Why bring her up? It''s so annoying!" The tab I silent immediately.


    Yvette was startled and clutched her chest, looking scared.


    She cautiously asked, "Dad, I know I shouldn''t have mentioned my sister, but she''s having a really tough time. Is there any chance we could bring her back?"


    Before Cody


    could respond, Mrs. Nelson was already fuming. "Bring her back? Hmph! She was so arrogant when she left, causing our family so much trouble. Now that she''s hit rock bottom, it''s her own fault! Shamelessly working like a servant for the Lopez family is her fate. Why on earth would we want her back?"


    Yvette bit her lip gently. "Maybe she regrets it now."N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    "If she really regretted it, she would havee back begging ages ago, instead of constantly opposing you and shing with the whole family!"


    Mom,


    don''t be angry Yvette''s always been soft-hearted," Reba quickly intervened to calm Mrs. Nelson.


    Yvette also got up quickly to pat Mrs. Nelson''s back.


    Mrs.


    Nelson fook Yvette''s hand and, with a serious tone, said, "Yvette, we know you''re kind and feel like you took Shakira''s ce, leading to her downfall. But think about it-didn''t she bring this on herself? "We brought her back from Bris after the mix-up. Has the Nelson family ever treated her poorly?


    +3


    e''s just too ambitious and resentful, thinking we owe her something and need to make it up to her! That''s why she acted out, thinking she could control us! Someone so arrogant and short-sighted doesn''t deserve to be part of the Nelson family,


    Mrs. Nelson''s voice grew more insistent. "Since we''ve cut ties, there''s no way she''ll ever return to the Nelson family!"


    Reba advised Yvette, "Yvette, just act like that whole thing never happened. You don''t need to feel guilty about her anymore."


    Yvette obediently nodded. "Alright, I''ll listen to you and Grandma. I won''t bring her up again."


    "Good girl.


    1. We''re happy to have you as our precious granddaughter," Mrs. Nelson patted her hand with warmth.


    Yvette was deeply touched. She hugged Mrs. Nelson, pressing her face against the wrinkled cheek. "Grandma, don''t worry. I''ll always be your devoted little one, taking care of you." Mrs. N¨¦lson said, "Good."


    The loving scene between grandmother and granddaughter was one that had yed out many times at home.


    But this time, Mitchell felt an uneasy stirring inside.

 Chapter 58

    He used to think just like his parents and grandparents.


    He believed Shakira was always targeting Yvette, bullying her, and being too aggressive.


    She


    took advantage of the mix-up to do whatever she wanted aftering back, thinking the whole family owed her. But now, he was starting to have doubts.


    Shakira seemed like she hadn''t really done anything wrong?'' thought he.


    Mitchell didn''t know why he was thinking this. After the giarism incident, he developed more empathy and started feeling sorry for Shakira.


    He looked at things from outside his family''s perspective. Clearly, Shakira hadn''t done anything to provoke anyone.


    Yet, just because Yvette mentioned her ''innocently,'' Shakira suddenly became the target of everyone''s anger. this happened before?


    Shakira had suffered unjustly, and people''s opinions of her had soured. So every time something went wrong, they''d instinctively me Shakira.


    But not every bad thing was Shakira''s fault.


    It almost seemed like Yvette was intentionally doing this, stepping on Shakira to win sympathy and attention from the family, creating a biased view against her. Mitchell frowned, looking at Yvette, who was smiling and massaging their grandmother''s shoulders.


    His beloved little sister, whom he had cherished and protected for years, suddenly seemed unfamiliar.


    The Maybach glided smoothly down the road.


    the back seat, Shakira sat upright, her hands neatly resting on her knees, her posture straight, eyes fixed ahead. Walter nced at t her before turning his gaze out the window.


    After a while, when they looked back, Shakira was still in the same position.


    Walter snorted disdainfully and said, "You think ttering me and pretending to be nice will make me forgive you?"


    Shakira didn''t say a word; she just sat there like a statue.


    Walter


    r''s patience was gone, and he warned sharply. "Shakira!"


    The car was filled with an intense, icy atmosphere.


    Brian, in the front passenger seat, wanted to suggest Shakira apologize, but when he turned around, he was shocked. "Mr. Lopez, Ms. Nelson..." "What, are you going to plead for her too?"


    "No, Ms. Nelson seems to be drunk."


    ''Drunk?'' Walter frowned and reached out to grab her arm.


    Her skin was smooth and warm, like fine silk, and he could feel her warmth even through his fingers.


    Walter was momentarily distracted.


    a


    d


    That night, when he was hit by a sudden illness, he woke up to find Shakira curled up in his arms, sleeping peacefully.


    Her body was burning with heat, absorbing his warmth. Her skin was so soft and warm.


    Walter''s expression darkened. He pulled her easily into his arms, and she slumped against him, almost lifeless.


    Shakira''s


    eyes were zed, her cheeks flushed.


    Walter sneered. "With your low alcohol tolerance, how dare you drink so much!"


    Shakira suddenly reacted like a cat that had its tail stepped on. "I''m not drunk! I can drink more!"


    Walter pushed her hand back down firmly, gritting his teeth. "Not only did you pass out after one drink, but you also have terrible drinking habits!" He showed no mercy, holding her hand tightly to keep her from moving.


    He seemed to feel something and flipped her palm over to check.


    Her hand was covered in calluses, clearly showing signs of wear over time.


    Shakira tried to pull her hand back, but Walter noticed redness on the back of her hand, squinting his eyes and pressing her hand down again. Stuck and unable to move, Shakira leaned in. "What are you looking at?"


    Walter pressed on the back of her hand, causing her to yelp. "Ouch!". Walter eased up and gently rubbed her injured hand. He continued to tinued to speak coldly, "Serves you Shakira pouted, looking a


    "Even


    right. Instead


    I of staying at the vi, you were out wandering around."


    a bit upset. "Someone asked


    so, it''s your fau


    asked me toe and help them; that''s why I went out..." fault. If it weren''t for Kyle, you''d be in real trouble."


    She pouted even more, her face a rosy pink, looking like soft dough in his hands,pletely pliable. Walter couldn''t resist and and started pinching her here and there.


    He had always wanted to strangle this sassy woman who talked back to him every day.


    Now, though, strangling her seemed too lenient. Pinching her every day was much more entertaining.


    Brian and the driver, seeing the scene in the rearview mirror, quickly looked away. They thought, ''Probably only Ms. Nelson could make the Mr. Lopez act like this!'' Shakira winced in pain and tried to fight back, but Walter had her firmly in his grasp.


    In frustration, she suddenly bit down hard on Walter''s neck.


    The driver mmed on the brakes, and Brian was shocked. "Mr. Lopez!"


    Walter hissed. "Keep driving, It''s fine."


    He patted Shakira on the head, then slid his hand down her hair to grip the back of her neck.


    His palm rubbed gently as he spoke in a low, threatening voice, "Bite me again, and I''ll break your neck."


    "Mmm, mmm!" Even in her drunken state, Shakira had enough sense to protest a bit before finally letting go.


    3


    She sat up, her eyes dazed, and saw the bite mark on Walter''s neck. She immediately felt guilty. "You started it by pinching


    me!"


    me!


    Walter ignored her and checked his neck with his phone''s camera.


    Seeing what he was doing, Shakira quickly moved in to try again.


    This time, she didn''t bite him again. Instead, she pressed her lips against the bite marks. Gently, she puckered her lips and blew on them.


    A tingling sensation shot through Walter''s whole body. He shivered and his voice turned hoarse. "Shakira, what are you doing?"


    "I''m sorry, don''t strangle me. I''ll blow on it for you. My grandma used to say that blowing on a hurt spot helps it heal faster." She continued to blow


    to blow on it.


    Walter tensed sed up all over..


    Her sweet osmanthus scent, the heat from her body pressing against him as she squirmed, and...


    He hated being touched by others, but Shakira kept pushing his boundaries and breaking his rules.


    Walter grabbed her chin and lifted her face to his.


    Seeing her dazed, tipsy look, he asked hoarsely, "Shakira, what''s your real goal here?"


    Shakira tilted her head slightly. "I''m here to heal you."Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "Why?"


    "Well, since I slept with you, I have to make it up to you."


    "Pfft!"


    The two people in the front couldn''t hold theirughter anymore. Before Walter''s menacing re could reach them, they quickly put up the partition. Now, the vibe in the back seat felt even more tense and sticky.

 Chapter 59

    Walter felt a bit hot. He loosened his cor, revealing the edge of a Jesus pendant and a tattoo. Shakira nced at it but was quickly forced by him to lift her chin again.


    His hand wasrge, and Shakira''s face seemed tiny in it, like a doll he could easily manipte.


    Walter ran his pinky gently along her jawline. Unintentionally, they ended up even closer. Their noses were almost touching.


    Shakira blinked, and Walter could feel her eyshes brushing against his face.


    Walter spoke again, his breath carrying the sweet, intoxicating scent of osmanthus from her lips, making Shakira even more entranced.


    But his words were like ice, making Shakira shiver. "If you ever bring this up again, I''ll snap your neck without hesitation."


    Shakira''s eyes widened in fear.


    Instinctively, she let out a hup and covered her face with her hands, starting to whine. "The big bad guy is scaring me again. Besides breaking necks, what else can you do!" Walter narrowed his eyes dangerously. "Big bad guy?"


    Shakira didn''t notice the cold storm brewing in his eyes and continued in her own world. "Yeah, the evil big bad guy! If you hadn''t shown up, I would''ve driven Fiona crazy!"


    "Heh." Walter suddenly seemed interested. "So, what would you have said if I hadn''te?"


    "Hehe, I''d have said that not only have I touched his abs, but I''ve also kissed his lips. They''re soft and warm, like jelly-really nice to kiss. And sitting on him was like a roller coaster, so much fun. I want to do it again-mmph mmph!" Walter''s face turned dark. He had only one thought now. ''Shut her


    up and her from rambling!"


    stop


    Walter grabbed the back of her head and, with a forceful kiss, shut her up. Shakira, who was only good at talking, was no match for him.


    Overwhelmed by the taste of alcohol, Shakira went limp and slumped against his chest.


    Walter panted heavily. "Still going to talk?"


    Shakira''s lips were numb, and her eyes were watery. "I won''t talk anymore, I promise..."


    Walter covered her eyes with his hand. No one noticed that his ears had turned bright red. "Alright, if you''re drunk, just settle down and sleep." Shakira, already dizzy, now saw only darkness. She leaned against him, closed her eyes, and fell asleep.


    The next morning, Shakira woke up with a sharp pain in the back of her head.


    ''Ugh, that drink had a strong aftereffect.'' She thought it was just some fruit wine and had drunk a lot for fun. ''But why do my lips hurt too?'' Standing in front of the mirror, Shakira saw that she had a cut on her lip.


    She thought for a long time, with fragmented images shing through her mind, but she couldn''t remember any specifics.


    Shakira packed up and went to the dining room.


    Walter was sipping coffee, nced at her briefly, and stayed calm


    The butler saw her and gave a warm smile, though there was a hint of ambiguity.


    Shakira shivered a little. "Levi, how did I get homest night?"


    Levi was thrilled to exin. "Ms. Nelson, you were drunkst night. The Mr. Lopez carried you home."


    Shakira was stunned. "He carried me?"


    "Yes." Levi grinned widely. "You werepletely out of it, no matter how much we tried to wake you, you wouldn''t stir. Brian tried to carry you, but the Mr. Lopez stopped him and took you home himself. Don''t you remember?" Shakira shook her head vigorously. She remembered nothing at all!


    Yet, even with Levi''s description, she found it hard to believe. She thought, ''Walter could really be this nice to her?'' Shakira shook her head and wanted to ask Walter what really happenedst night.


    As she got closer and saw the bite mark on his neck, she froze, feeling a chill run down her back.


    His neck was injured, and her mouth was injured. It must be her who did it.


    Walter set his coffee cup down. "Aren''t youing over?"


    "Mr. Lopez..." Shakira quickly bowed her head. "I''m sorry." She was getting faster at apologizing each time.


    Walter sneered. "Oh? Then tell me, what are you apologizing for?"


    She definitely wasn''t going to admit she bit himst night.


    Shakira thought quickly. "I didn''t manage to get you home safelyst night and ended up passing out myself. I''m really sorry about that."


    "You''re good at dodging the real issue."


    Shakira yed dumb. "Did I make any other mistakes? You are so generous, you surely won''t hold it against me."


    Walter didn''t say anything but looked pointedly at the corner of her lips.


    There was his mark. Like a beast having marked its territory, Walter felt strangely pleased. "Fine, but if it happens again..."


    "If it happens again, punish me however you like!"


    Walter raised his chin slightly, showing unusual leniency. "That''s a deal."


    Shakira kept agreeing, breathing a sigh of relief. Her neck was saved, for now.


    After ss in the morning, as Shakira walked out, someone she didn''t want to see followed her immediately.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Shakira turned around and walked away without a word.


    "Shakira!" Joe caught up and demanded. "What''s your rtionship with Walter?"


    The usatory tone almost made Shakiraugh.


    She slowed her pace slightly, and Joe quickly moved in front of her.


    Seeing the cut on her lips, Joe''s expression was something else. Sost night, you two-"


    + 10%


    "Joe, whatever my rtionship with Walter or what happenedst night, it''s none of your business." She said coldly, "Get lost."


    Shakira walked past him without stopping.


    But Joe followed her again. "Is it money you want? I can give you money. You can be with Walter, but you could also be with me. Whatever he offers, I can offer more!" Without hesitation, Shakira pped him across the face, sharp and to the point.


    Instantly, everyone around was shocked by their confrontation. "Oh my god, has Shakira lost it? She actually hit Joe!"


    Joe could taste the blood in his mouth, and when he looked at Shakira, her face was as cold as ice. "Joe, you make me feel sick for ever being friends with you." Shakira was genuinely repulsed by him.


    "I don''t want to be friends with you; I just want to be with you as a lover," Joe said, clenching his fists. "From the start, I never saw you as just a friend!"


    Before Shakira could act, Mitchell suddenly came up from behind, grabbed Joe by the cor, and punched him hard. "Damn it, Joe, are you even a man? You took advantage of my sister and now you''re still thinking about her?" Shakira was speechless. She thought, ''Come on, I''m not your sister. Seriously, who do you think you are?''

 Chapter 60

    60


    Since freshman year, Yvette had always been the center of attention at school. She had a handsome boyfriend and several older brothers who spoiled her, with Mitchell being a regr guest to Crescentville University. Everyone knew him. The students around them started screaming again, and everyone pulled out their phones to snap pictures. "Whoa, what''s happening? Joe even got beaten by Mitchell!"


    "So does this mean... Joe was dating Yvette while trying to get close to Shakira too?" does Joe even need to


    "Come on,


    to chase after Shakira? I bet someone just threw themselves at him."


    I keep mentioning ''sister''? Yvette is his sister, but is Shakira too?"


    "But does Mitchell But why


    "Well, that just means Mitchell is interested in Shakira and is probably pursuing her too." They continued to gossip incessantly.


    Joe


    t out the blood in his mouth, stood up, and faced Mitchell.


    spat out


    He sneered. "Mitchell, what does Shakira''s business have to do with you?"


    Mitchell blurted out. "How could it not? She is my..."


    You''re right, my issues have nothing to do with Mitchell, and they''re the same with you, Joe." Shakira couldn''t be bothered with them and turned to leave.


    Joe tried to follow, but Mitchell yanked him back.


    He put an arm around Joe''s shoulder and leaned in to speak in a low voice, "No matter what, Yvette is the daughter of the Nelson family, and Shakira has our blood too. If you betray Yvette, our entire family won''t forgive you!" After that warning, Mitchell pushed Joe away and ran after Shakira.


    "Shakira, wait for me!" Mitchell had to jog a few steps to catch up. "Why do you walk so fast?"


    Shakira walked briskly. "If you''re being chased by a mad dog, wouldn''t you run faster to avoid getting bitten?"


    "A mad dog?" Mitchell looked back, then realized. "Hey, are you calling me a mad dog?"


    Shakira looked at him with a hint of sympathy. "Has Finn really not helped you find your brain?"


    Mitchell was so angry he seemed ready to explode. "You!"


    Just then, a bank card appeared in front of him. "What''s this?"


    Shakira smiled lightly. "It''s the money you gave me for the meal card. I''m returning it."


    Mitchell was surprised and confused. "I didn''t ask for it back. Why? Isn''t it tough earning money as a maid? Just keep it." After a pause, he added. "If it''s not enough, I can give you more..."


    Shakira stared at him, her smile still there, but her eyes werepletely serious.


    She suddenly understood Walter now. No wonder he was so resistant and wanted to humiliate her by making her a maid when she went to find him back then. Now, she felt the same way toward Mitchell.


    "What, do you think you can win me over with money?" Shakira scoffed. "I wouldn''t even look at Finn''s 30 million dors. 08:17 Mon, Oc


    How much are you nning to give to help Yvette? 60 million? 100 million?"


    "No, Shakira, you misunderstood me, " Saying that, Mitchell felt a bit awkward. The situation felt oddly reversed.


    His indifference to Shakira used to be just like how Shakira now disregarded him.


    3


    Mitchell tightened his grip and spoke seriously, "I know you''re upset about the past and Yvette stealing your designs..."


    "Yvette didn''t just steal my design drafts," Shakira suddenly interrupted loudly.


    This time, her gaze was fierce, and each word seemed to carry immense pain and bitterness, "Design drafts, family, identity... everything of mine has been stolen by her!"


    Mitchell was stunned into silence by the intense scarlet of her gaze.


    It took him a while to regain his voice, and when he did, his throat was strangely hoarse. "I already know all of this."


    Shakira took a deep breath. "No, Mitchell. You only think you know." She gave him a long look. "If you don''t believe me, go find out for yourself how much Yvette really took." With that, Shakira turned and walked away without a second thought. Mitchell was left standing there, still in shock. He wondered, ''What else has Yvette taken from Shakira?"


    He was confused as he went home, wanting to ask Yvette about it.


    "Mr.


    Miss Yvette hasn''te back yet," said a maid cleaning Yvette''s room.


    Lopez, Miss


    Mitchell nodded a and was was about t to leave when he noticed something.


    He walked into Yvette''s princess-like room and pointed to an object in the maid''s hand. "What''s that?"


    The maid replied, "It looks like Miss Yvette''s bracelet. She forgot to wear it today and left it on the table."


    ''A bracelet? No.'' Mitchell frowned and took the bracelet, examining it closely. He realized it was actually a button.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    And the button is poorly made. Yvette has always been surrounded by luxury; even her buttons came from high-end stores There''s no way she''ll use something this badly made. As he thought about this, the maid suddenly said, "I thought it looked familiar! The button is just like one on Shakira''s shirt..." "Whose shirt?" shirt?" Mitchell''s I''s voice rose sharply, startling the maid, who quickly lowered her head in fear. Her voice trembled. "M-Miss Shakira''s. I hand-washed one of her shirts, and it had a button just like this one." Suddenly, Shakira''s intense eyes shed in his mind. Mitchell clenched his s fists


    and asked in a low voice, "Have any of Shakira''s things shown up in Yvette''s room before?"


    "I-I''m not sure," the maid said, shaking her head. But Mitchell''s anger made her blurt out. "But sometimes when we clean, we find strange things in Yvette''s room, things that don''t match her status. We always thought they were gifts from her friends." This maid had worked for the Nelson family for ten years, always cleaning Yvette''s room with another person. She knew every detail about Yvette''s belongings.


    Mitchell asked, "Where are those things?"


    "But Miss Yvette strictly said not to touch them. If she finds out, we''ll be fired."


    "If you don''t tell me now, I''ll fire you myself!"


    The maid shivered in fear and quickly said, "They''re over here."


    Under the drawer of Yvette''s bedside table was a small box.


    The maid brought it out and held it up to Mitchell. "Mr. Lopez, Mitchell took the box with a nk expression and unlocked the

 Chapter 61

    61


    The box was packed with various little trinkets for young girls.


    Leather straps, bracelets, nes, charms, small cards, and tiny dolls-All in and unremarkable, with no brand names, yet the box was crammed full. Mitchell stood there, stunned, overwhelmed by a surge ofplex emotions.


    Looking at the items, he murmured, "These. all belong to Shakira?"


    The maid hesitated, unsure how to answer. How could she be certain?


    Mitchell, usually friendly aing. I don''t know for sure, but when Yvette brought them back, they looked old, not new..."


    never angry with the staff, was now extremely stern. "Answer me!"


    The maid jumped, trembling. "I


    With a snap, Mitchell mmed the box shut and stormed off.


    The maid hurried after him, panicked. "Mr. Lopez? Where are you taking Yvette''s things?"


    "Returning them to their rightful owner." He paused on the stairs, turned to the maid, and said, "If Yvette asks, tell her the truth."


    The maid watched Mitchell leave, her eyes about to well up.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    *****


    The entire revolving restaurant was booked, its floor-to-ceiling windows reflecting the city''s dazzling night lights. A man and a woman sat facing each other. "Thank you, Mr. Lopez." Berry, dressed in a glittering golden strapless dress, looked shyly at the charming man in front of her. "Thanks to you, I got to enjoy such delicious food."


    "If you like i it, just


    have more." Walter signaled the waiter to pass the untouched te in front of him to Berry.


    "Mr. Lopez, aren''t y you I going to eat?" Berry, ttered, remembered how Shakira had fawned over Walterst night. She cut a piece of steak and offered it to him. "Mr. Lopez, give it a try. It''s really good." Walter''s r''s cold stare shifted from the steak Berry was insisting on to her face. He coldly replied, "I''m not hungry. Berry''s smile froze as the man rejected her without hesitation.


    She awkwardly pulled back her hand and ate the steak herself.


    The atmosphere turned incredibly tense.


    After a while, Berry sniffled and began to cry softly. "I''m sorry, Mr. Lopez. If I''d known you didn''t like this, I wouldn''t have bothered you."


    Walter frowned. He hated seeing women cry.


    She hadn''t shed a tear even when things were tough on the ind.


    ''Did losing her memory change her personality too?'' Walter wasn''t sure. He took a deep breath and said, "It''s not about you. Just eat your meal."


    Berry kept sobbing. "Mr. Lopez, you don''t need tofort me. I understand. You reserved the whole restaurant so no one


    08:17 Mon,


    would see us together...


    5


    She had been hoping Walter would introduce her at Kyle''s wee party. But the one who stole the showst night was Shakira. Even when they left, Walter didn''t give her a single nce. Nothing was as she had imagined. Thinking about how, after Walter and Shakira left, everyone at the table discussed their rumored romance, Berry felt like she had been made a fool of.


    Walter''s intense gaze locked onto her face. "What kind of rtionship do you want with me?" Berry''s f face turned red. "I..."


    Walter seemed to see right through her thoughts. "What you''re imagining isn''t going to happen."


    Berry''s s face went pale. Walter continued.


    "The check-up this afternoon was fine. You''ve had a head injury causing some memory loss. You might recover some memoriester, and when you do, you''ll understand why it''s best we don''t get too involved." He implied. "It''s safer for both of us." Berry clenched her hands tightly, thinking, ''What memories am I supposed to recover?! What did Walter mean? He''s given me a chance to get close and shown me favor no other woman has, but now he was saying we shouldn''t get too involved? Was it that I couldn''t be involved, but but Shakira could?!"


    Jealousy burned fiercely in Berry''s heart. "Alright, I''ll listen to you, Mr. Lopez. I''ll behave and not cause you any trouble." After a moment of hesitation, Berry said, "Mr. Lopez, there''s something I''m not sure whether to tell you."


    Walter frowned, as he disliked indecisive women. He sighed. "Just say it."


    "It''s


    this about Shakira. I know she''s just your maid, and this might seem like a small matter, but.. Bemy pulled up her phone and showed Walter the photos of Shakira posted online by students that afternoon. "Joe has a girlfriend, and she didn''t let him go. She even got the the family to fight for At Martha''s birthday party, she boasted about her rtionship with you. a woman like that tarnishing your reputation?"


    In the photo, Joe, held back by Mitchell, was gazing at Shakira with intense affection. Shakira had her back turned, but Walter could see she was indifferent to him.


    ''But she is is different to that other man, Walter found the photo extremely unpleasant.


    He suddenly moved his wheelchair. "I have work at thepany. I need to leave."


    Berry was taken aback. "Mr. Lopez!"


    She tried to follow him, but Brian stopped her. "Ms. White, please stay and finish your meal. There''s no need to see him off."


    Berry bit her lip and had no choice but to sit back down.


    At the


    Easke Valley Estate, Shakira was trying to figure out how to get back what Yvette had taken from her when the maid came in to say someone was looking for her outside.


    Who would be visiting the Lopez residence looking for me?'' When Shakira went outside, her surprise quickly turned to indifference.


    She scoffed. "Oh, Mr. Lopez, what a rare visitor. What brings you here sote at night?"


    Shakira''s sarcastic tone made Mitchell uneasy. He walked up to her, holding a box, and said heavily, "I''m here... to return


    08:17


    what belongs to its rightful owner." As he spoke, he opened the b


    Shakira''s casual gaze turned cold when she saw the items that use


    Her expression grew darker with each passing moment. "Well, it


    Letting go of her clenched fists, Shakira reached out and picked visible stitches.


    She recalled and said, "When I was little, I had to sleep alone in t thundered constantly. I was so scared and wanted to sleep in Lag locked me in alone. I remembered a fairy tale I read that said ha bear from my nket, stuffed it with cotton, and made it into a t Mon,

 Chapter 62

    Mitchell''s tall frame of over six feet swayed slightly. In an instant, he felt the wooden box in his hand zing hot, almost as if it were burning through his heart.


    Shakira pulled out a small card, "Every time there''s a parents'' meeting at school, no one shows up. The other kids say I''m an orphan. They bully me and look down on me. I only made my first friend in the second grade-she was the first to want to y with me and do homework together. But soon, she moved away. Before leaving, she gave me a card with her new address and phone number, telling me to visit her. I was so scared of losing that card that I carried it with me every day. But one day, it suddenly disappeared, and I knew I was alone again, with no friends."


    Then she had a talisman that had seen better days, a charm adorned with symbols that once protected her, but it was lost. "When I was in sixth grade, I fell seriously ill. I had a fever that wouldn''t break, and my heart raced at night-I just couldn''t get better. My grandma, dragging her tired legs, went to a church. At the church, she prayed for this talisman..."


    "That''s enough!" Mitchell''s heart felt heavy, almost suffocating. Even though these memories had nothing to do with him, he felt overwhelmed with emotion.


    He closed the box and shoved it into Shakira''s hands. He struggled to speak, his wordsing out choked, "Now, everything belongs to its rightful owner."


    Shakira ced the items back in the box just as she had taken them out. Suddenly, she giggled softly, her eyes shining with a kind of icy rity. "You really think giving me these things means they''re back where they belong? All my precious belongings from childhood were taken by Yvette. What about the rest? Can the life she stole from me ever be returned?"


    Mitchell clenched his fists, "I will find out the truth. Don''t worry, I''ll make it right."


    "Hah, it''s unnecessary," Shakira replied coldly, dismissing his concern, "What happened in the past doesn''t matter anymore. I just care about the future."


    She looked deep into Mitchell''s tormented expression, "You gave me these things, but does Yvette even know?"


    Mitchell replied, "She hasn''te back yet."


    "When she returns, she''ll be furious." Shakira hinted.


    Mitchell didn''t know, but Shakira was well aware of the significance of those items-the ones meant to strip away her fortune. Without them, Yvette would face a string of misfortunes. Realizing this, Shakira said, "I don''t owe you anything. Let''s call these things a purchase." Mitchell instinctively protested, "You don''t have to."


    Shakira said, "Yvette helped Lago make the connection, so Lago could negotiate the Southville development project with the Nelson family."


    Mitchell was taken aback. "That''s insider info. How do you know..?"


    Shakira said, "Of course, I know."


    During her recovery, she had overheard her family arguing about it. Lago wanted the project, but his skills were limited, so he had to rely on the Nelson family. This way, he could get a cut of the profits.


    Unfortunately, Lago thought he could confidently rake in big bucks, but a traitor in hispany stabbed the project team in the back and sold the bidding numbers to thepetition, causing them to fail in the auction.


    With support from the Nelson family, Lago had only suffered minimal losses, while the Nelson family itself had lost several


    08:18 Mon,


    lucrative projects in the process.


    3


    In her past life, Finn rushed abroad overnight to reim the lost business, but now, the Nelson family had embarrassed themselves and was already struggling to keep afloat, likely putting all their hopes on thi project. When the time came... they would probably end up losing even more!


    Shakira furrowed her brow and whispered to Mitchell, "You don''t need to know how I know this, but you should tell Finn to stay away from this coboration."


    Mitchell instinctively responded, "Finn just mentioned this the other day. He''s already drafted a proposal to make back the losses from before. He won''t easily give up on it."


    Shakira nodded a hint of resignation in her tone. "I figured as much; Finn has invested a lot into this."


    She gave Mitchell a pointed look and added, "Anyway, this is my way of repaying your kindness. This project is off-limits. If they touch it, they''ll ruin everything. I''ve said my piece; whether you believe me or Finn listens is entirely up to you." She was only willing to offer this much. She thought, "The Nelson family''s financial troubles had nothing to do with me.''


    "Alright, if there''s nothing else, you can go back now." With that, Shakira turned to leave.


    Mitchell was still pondering, "Wait, I still-" Just as he grabbed her elbow, a sudden blinding light illuminated the area, engulfing the two of them in a piercing white re.


    They instinctively raised their hands to shield their eyes from the headlights of a luxury car, a distinguished Maybach that slowly came to a halt before them.


    The door swung open, and a wheelchair rolled out. Walter, his eyes cold as frost, stared at them with an impassive expression. "What are you two doing?"


    His question startled Shakira. She quickly shoved Mitchell away, feeling a strange, inexplicable tension. She thought, ''Why did it feel like I was caught on a date with someone when my partner showed up unexpectedly? Ugh, no, no, no!'' Shaking her head, she approached Walter''s side. "Mr. Lopez, why are you back?"


    Walter smirked, "What''s it to you if I return home?"


    Shakira was momentarily speechless and thought, ''Why Is he in a bad mood?" "Well, didn''t you say you''d be out for dinner tonight? Howe you''re back so soon?" His face darkened, "No appetite."


    Shakira rubbed her nose sheepishly. "Oh." Internally, she wondered, ''Who''d gotten on Walter''s bad side. Look at that! The moment he returned, he was in a bad mood. Walter''s frosty gaze shifted from Shakira to Mitchell, who was still standing stiffly. "Mr. Nelson, what brings you here?"


    Mitchell thought, ''The tone was exactly like Shakira''s moments ago. Who was imitating whom?" He straightened up and replied, "I''m looking for Shakira regarding something. Does Mr. Lopez need to pry into a servant''s personal matters?" "I don''t remember the Lopez family having your sister." Walter scoffed, throwing a sharp retort.


    "You!" Mitchell felt his temper rising.


    Shakira, sensing the tension and worried about coteral damage, said to Mitchell, "Just go back."


    Mitchell held his breath, wanting tosh out but couldn''t find the words. He pulled Shakira several steps away, his face darkening with frustration. "Are you really nning to stay close to Walter?"


    "I think I like it here just fine," Shakira replied.


    E-Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "Fine! Since you''re so keen on him... whatever you need, just let me know. I''ll do my best to help," he said before shooting a re at Walter and storming off.


    Shakira stood there, stunned, her heart racing with annoyance. She thought, ''Since when did I have an affinity for Walter? Mitchell seriously had a way of twisting things!''

 Chapter 63

    Back at the Nelson family residence, Mitchell''s mind was filled with the tales of Shakira''s traumatic past-the calmness on her face contrasting with the heartbreak in her stories. It weighed heavily on him.


    The things she described were unimaginable to someone like Mitchell, who grew up sheltered in a loving home. The Smith family seemed well-off, but Shakira''s childhood experiences were a world apart from Yvette''s. Even more troubling was the fact that all of Shakira''s childhood belongings ended up with Yvette. He thought, ''It was just two years ago that we''d unearthed the truth about the mix-up. Could it be possible...?'' Mitchell pushed open his bedroom door, lost in thought. The room was pitch ck. As he flicked on the light, he spotted Yvette sitting on her favorite armchair, her face streaked with tear stains, her makeup ruined from crying. "Mitchell... "Yvette''s voice cracked, barely above a whisper.


    Mitchell''s emotions churned, feeling torn inside. After struggling for what felt like ages, he turned to leave.


    Panic gripped Yvette. She leaped off the chair, but in her hurry, she tripped andnded with a thud on the floor.


    Mitchell instinctively turned back, and through her tears, she stumbled to him and wrapped her arms around his legs. "Please, don''t leave me!"


    Yvette was terrified. Ever since she learned that Mitchell had confronted Joe at school on Shakira''s behalf, she hadn''t had a chance to vent her frustrations; then the servant had mentioned that Mitchell had taken a box containing Shakira''s things from her room... Yvette felt like the sky was about to cave in on her.


    She thought, ''If Mitchell discovered what was inside that box, or worse, found out more about the truth... Her heart raced with fear as she carefully gathered information from their parents, trying to confirm that Mitchell hadn''t approached them. Only then could she breathe a slight sigh of relief. Now, sitting here anxiously awaiting his return, every second felt like an eternity.


    Mitchell had never seen Yvette cry so pitifully before, her tears clinging to her eyshes, smudging her makeuppletely. He found himself momentarily lost in thought, remembering the image of a small figure almost swept away by the sea. But no matter how he tried, he couldn''t quite connect that memory with the Yvette in front of him.


    They remained in this tense silence for what felt like forever until he heard faint voices outside, likely the servants chatting. Yvette flinched, her back arching as if she had been caught doing something wrong. Mitchell tightened his grip on the doorknob and quickly shut the door again.


    Gently, he pushed Yvette aside and sank down despondently onto the floor. He covered his eyes with his hand, not wanting to look at her. "Just tell me, where did those thingse from?" he asked.


    Yvette trembled, continuing to cry, trying to y the helpless card to soften Mitchell''s heart. But his avoidance left her feeling utterly powerless.


    She sniffled and said, "Mitchell, if I did something wrong, will you forgive me?"


    Mitchell instantly clenched his teeth. "That depends. What exactly did you


    do?"


    Yvette cried, "I don''t know, Mitchell... I didn''t know back then..."


    "Back then?" he echoed.


    "Mitchell, do you remember that time when I was taken home by another kid''s parents after school?" Yvette recalled, her voice shaky.


    Mitchell murmured, "I remember. You were losing your baby teeth, and we forbade you from eating candy, so you went


    home with a ssmate hoping to sneak some sweets."


    "That was when I first met Lago..." Yvette said.


    Mitchell''s eyes widened, fury shing in his gaze.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    Yvette flinched and started to cry harder, clutching his arm. "No, no! But I didn''t know who he was! He said he had a daughter my age who was just as cute as me. He didn''t have a good rtionship with her but preferred me. He gave me all sorts of things... the things you took away. He hoped I could keep them so it would be like his daughter was still with him."


    "He looked so pitiful and even gave me candy, so I... I agreed. I was scared Mom and Dad would be mad, so I didn''t tell anyone..."


    Mitchell clenched his jaw, his expression darkening. "So you''re saying that it wasn''t until two years ago that you finally recognized Lago?"


    "Yes, it was two years ago! That''s when I found out I wasn''t Mom and Dad''s daughter, not your sister either!" Yvette shook her head, desperate to exin.


    Hearing this, Mitchell seemed to rx slightly, but his tone remained harsh. "No matter what, those things belong to Shakira. You shouldn''t have kept them for yourself."


    me..."


    "I didn''t know at first." Yvette protested, feeling wronged. "I only realizedter, but I was so afraid Shakira would be angry if I told Mom and Dad or you guys... I didn''t want everyone to think I was a bad kid or that I stole from someone else. I just wanted everyone to love "Mitchell, you know how much it hurts here when you''re mad at me..." Yvette pointed to her heart, tears flowing down her cheeks without end.


    "I used to think I was so lucky. Heaven blessed me with a family that loved and protected me. I felt so happy, but then I realized I was the worst kid in the world, a horrible criminal who stole Shakira''s happy life."


    After crying for so long, she was having trouble breathing. "I betrayed Shakira. I''d do anything to atone, but I can''t bear to lose my family. I''m too scared to say anything. I''m really, really scared. I don''t want to lose Mom, Dad, and you, my brother..."


    Shakira said, "Mitchell, am I really selfish? I know that you guys aren''t my real family, yet I still refuse to leave."


    "But then I think, since everyone dislikes Shakira and she doesn''t want to stay here, does that mean I can continue living here? I''m not recing her; I just want to do what I want and be with everyone, living happily as a family..." Watching his precious little sister, whom he had cherished and protected for over ten years, sob uncontrobly was tearing Mitchell apart. Yet he couldn''t bring himself to cut her off.


    After a while, he took Yvette''s hand and spoke softly, "I know it''s not your fault."


    Yvette perked up, about to smile, but then she heard Mitchell''s suddenly cold words, "The most suspicious part of this whole situation is Lago. Don''t worry, I''ll get to the bottom of this and find out who''s trying to y us for fools in the Nelson family!" Yvette trembled but felt a bit reassured. She thought, ''Mitchell didn''t doubt me, so for now, I was safe. As for what happened next... A dark glimmer shed in her eyes.


    *****


    Shakira asked the butler for a metal bucket, took a small wooden box, and began burning the contents one by one as instructed by Cathy. The fierce mes flickered on her face, reflecting a stark, cold indifference.


    Half an hourter, Shakira walked into the study with a bowl of chicken soup.


    3


    Water nced at her, his attention drifting from theputer, then


    returning, utterly unphased.


    Shakira puffed up her cheeks. She thought, ''Who made him grumpy tonight? He''s hard to please!''

 Chapter 64

    Shakira leaned in and pushed the bowl of chicken soup toward Walter''s desk. "Mr. Lopez, this soup took the chef over an hour to make! It smells so good!"


    Walter didn''t even look at it, maintaining his emotionless face. "Are you thinking of cleaning the floor?"


    Shakira quickly scooted the soup back, worried that he''d sweep it off the table with a flick of his wrist, leaving her to mop up the mess. "Mr. Lopez, you didn''t eat anything for dinner. Aren''t you hungry? Or is there something you want to eat? I can make it for you?" He remained indifferent. "No appetite."


    She almost wanted to smack the back of his head. She thought, ''Seriously, he was acting all cool just because he had no appetite.''


    Thinking for a moment, she suddenly blurted out, "Is it because I bit down too hardst night? Does your neck.hurt, which is why you have no appetite?"


    Walter lost words.


    "Cough!" Beside him, Brian nearly lost his bnce. He thought, "What on earth was Ms. Nelson saying? Those were some bold words...


    Walter shot her a cold, piercing look. Shakira quickly waved her hands,ughing nervously, "Haha, I was just kidding."


    Suddenly, a thought struck her. "Got it! I know just what to make you have appetite." With that, she surprisingly moved to push Walter''s wheelchair and headed for the door.


    Brian waspletely stunned, never expecting Shakira to take Walter out like this. "Where are you taking him, Ms. Nelson?"


    Shakira replied, "To get some good food, of course."


    Brian said, "But it''s almost ten..." He thought, ''Unless there was an emergency, Mr. Lopez was usually very punctual with his routine.''


    Shakira was already huffing and puffing as she navigated Walter into the elevator. She waved dismissively, "He can''t sleep on an empty stomach! I promise to feed him well and get him back. Brian, you can head home."


    Brian wanted to protest, but seeing that Walter had a stern expression but wasn''t stopping her or showing any signs of anger, he could only back down. He thought, ''Maybe Mr. Lopez wanted Ms. Nelson to cheer him up.


    Shakira was quick and didn''t even wait for Levi to arrange a car. She pushed Walter to the parking garage, found the most inconspicuous business car, and drove off.


    Walter sneered coldly as he watched her clumsily trying to figure out the buttons on the steering wheel. "You don''t know how to drive and you want to kidnap me?"


    "I just haven''t driven in a while," Shakira shot back, and suddenly she realized something. "Hey, buckle your seatbelt,"Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Walter turned his head, looking like a grumpy old man,pletely ignoring her words.


    Clenching her fists, Shakira thought, ''You really don''t care about your own safety, do you?'' But then noticing the unmistakable mark on his neck fromst night, she remembered how she''d pushed her luck without him throwing her out... With a little pout, she climbed over the center console and buckled him in.


    Her warmth instantly enveloped him, andst night''s vivid memories flooded back into Walter''s mind. Instinctively, he held his breath, his body tensing up reflexively. He sat still as if waiting for something.


    6%


    With a click, Shakira crawled back to the driver''s seat. Walter gradually realized what had just happened, and his entire face turned dark. He thought, ''Damn it!''


    Shakira didn''t notice the change in the man''s face. She started the car and said, "Hold on tight, Mr. Lopez! I''m taking you to get something delicious!" With that, the car roared to life and shot forward.


    Shakira drove to a food street in the old downtown area of Crescentville. It was alreadyte at night, yet the ce was still bright and buzzing with people.


    Shakira parked the car, jumped out, and quickly walked around to Walter''s side. Pulling a mask from her pocket, she nced at his stunningly handsome face. "This might help us stay a little under the radar?" That face was way too striking for a small market.


    Walter frowned, showing his clear distaste. "Shakira, you''re getting bolder by the day."


    "Hehe, that confidence definitelyes from you, Mr. Lopez." She was quite skilled at taking advantage of situations like this.


    Walter huffed, his expression as unreadable as ever. Shakira pushed him into the crowd, expertly navigating through the throngs of people at the night market, carefully steering him away from anyone who bumped into them. They turned left and right, fmally entering a narrow alleyway. Inside was a small food stand converted from a residential home.


    Shakira skillfully pushed him to a quieter corner and got him settled in. She called out, "Hey there, can we get an order of Sopa de Lima?"


    "Shakira?" The owner, holding a menu, came out of the kitchen, her face lighting up at the sight of Shakira''s bright smile. "It''s been so long! Where have you been?"


    "I just had to leave Crescentville for a bit, but I''m back now and here to support your business," Shakira replied enthusiastically.


    "I was starting to think you''d forgotten about us..." The owner hesitated, then turned her attention to Walter. Even in a wheelchair, he exuded an air that was hard to approach.


    "The menu''s right here, you can also order through our phone..." The owner stepped closer to Shakira, her gaze teasing. "Is this your new boyfriend?"


    Caught off guard, Shakira quickly waved her hands. "No, no! This is my boss! I''ll just order for us!"


    "Alright, just let me know when you two are ready, and I''ll get your food fast." The owner was called away by other customers, and Shakira let out a sigh of relief.


    As she turned around, she met Walter''s icy re, as if he could freeze her in ce with just a look. "New boyfriend, huh? You''re quite the charmer, Ms. Nelson. Guess your romantic history is rich."


    "No way! I''m always single." Shakira emphasized, "It means I haven''t dated anyone."


    Walter looked like he didn''t believe her at all.


    Ignoring his skepticism, Shakira busily ced her order, not bothering to ask him what he wanted. Instead, she grabbed some napkins and expertly wiped the table, pouring hot water into bowls." Seeing how at ease she was with everything in the ce only made Walter more restless.


    Suddenly, he blurted, "You used toe here with Joe, right?"


    Shakira froze for a moment. "How do you know that?"


    Walter''s face twisted into a mocking smile. "So you''re finally admitting it."


    "Ah, no! It''s not like that! I didn''t bring him here; he followed me!" Shakira continued fiddling with the utensils, meticulously pouring boiling water over Walter''s bowl twice.


    "I used to work here, back when Joe was always following me around. You were the first one I brought here. Don''t worry, Mr. Lopez; the owner is super nice. She washes all the dishes herself every day after closing up." Hearing her say that he was the first, Walter''s icy demeanor eased a bit.


    As soon as she finished speaking, the owner came out with Sopa de Lima. "I made this just how you liked it, Shakira."


    Shakira quickly helped her out, "Thanks!"


    Walter stared at the soup in front of him, the fragrant sour aroma wafting up, making his throat tighten.


    Shakira noticed right away, her eyes brightening. "Looks like you''ve got an appetite now!"


    Walter raised an eyebrow, "How do you know I like this?"


    Shakira started eating. "Of course I do! I noticed that you tend to go for the tangy and sour dishes when we eat."


    Walter fixed his sharp gaze on her flushed face as the steam from the soup kissed her cheeks. "Care About My Tastes So Much?"

 Chapter 65

    "Absolutely!" Shakira answered without missing a beat. "It''s part of my job to pay attention to these things!"


    But Shakira didn''t say it outright. She realized that he had a taste for sour vors not just back in Easke Valley Estate Valley, but before that too. In that ce, they often went hungry in the wild, and during those times, Walter loved to pick fruits to fill his stomach. One moment that stuck out in Shakira''s mind was when they had hunted a hyena for lunch. She couldn''t stomach it and stepped away, only for Walter to approach her with a few gourd-like fruits in his hands, blocking out the zing sun above him as he stood there tall and imposing. "Want some?"


    Stuck between starving and nibbling a little, Shakira chose thetter option. Walter, seeing her take one, bit into the remaining fruits he held, devouring most of one with a single bite.


    Shakira watched as he devoured the fruit herself, taking a big-bite, which had her reeling from the intense sourness.


    Walter chuckled, "This fruit just gets better the more you eat it."


    Shakira was speechless.


    Shakira skeptically finished the entire fruit. By the end, her mouth feltpletely numb. At first, it was just sour, but by thest bite, it was unbearably astringent. Since that moment, she realized Walter had a taste for this vor that most people simply couldn''t handle. "Of course, I love it," Shakira answered without hesitation, a shadow passing over Walter''s expression as he raised an eyebrow at her. His smirk held a hint of sarcasm. "I can''t believe how much you''vee to love your job now."


    Shakira caught the mockery in his tone. She had brought him out for a good time, so she didn''t feel like arguing with him. Nodding enthusiastically, she said, "Yep! If you love what you do, it''s worth it." She thought, ''I was sacrificing so much, he should feel better, right?'' It turned out that Shakira was being too na?ve. Walter was enjoying the hot and sour pot, but whenever he looked at her, his expression was icy.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Shakira kept serving, trying her best to please him, but she couldn''t wrap her head around it. She thought, ''Everything was fine, so why on earth was Walter so mad? Could it be...? Yeah, he had said they would eat out, but now he was back with that sour expression and no appetite. It had to be that!''


    Suddenly inspired, Shakira asked, "Mr. Lopez, did you go on a date with that mysteriousdy today?"


    Walter frowned, "Who?"


    "Ohe on, stop pretending," she said, seeing right through him. "Thedy who was mentioned at the wee dinner the other night. You didn''t say anything then and even used me as a buffer. She must be someone important to you." Walter looked at her with a raised brow, "And if I say yes? What then?"


    His admission caught Shakira off guard. She blinked in surprise, "Nothing much, really. You and yourdy friend have ns; what does it matter to me?"


    With that, she ignored him and scooped the chicken from the soup into her bowl, eating greedily. She thought, ''Seriously? He was annoyed about a date with someone else, and now he was looking for me to vent his frustrations on. Unbelievable!'' Watching Shakira''s increasingly flustered expression, Walter arched an eyebrow. He thought, ''She pretended to be unconcerned but was getting more upset. As expected, women were always full of contradictions.''


    Feeling amused, Walter picked up his spoon to eat and asionally tossed some of his least favorite dishes onto Shakira''s


    bowl.


    Shakira thought to herself, ''Seriously? He''s just trying to take out his frustrations on me!'' Look at that smug expression on his face... it made her fists itch to take a swing.


    After they finished eating, Shakira stood up to pay the bill and said her goodbyes to the owner.


    "No need for that! You rarelye back, so let me treat you!" the owner insisted.


    Shakira didn''t listen to her refusal and quickly paid the bill.


    "Hey, wait a second, Shakira!" the owner called out, shaking her head in exasperation.


    Just then, the owner came out of the back holding a small ss jar. "Here''s the sour soup base. This should be enough to make a few meals. If you want some, just make it at home," she said cheerfully. Shakira was taken aback but couldn''t argue with her kindness. She epted the jar, saying, "Thank you."


    "It''s nothing," the owner replied with a bright smile. "Shakira, your boyfriend seems like a good guy after all."


    "He''s really not my boyfriend..." Shakira protested.


    "Oh, silly girl! I''ve been through that stage before. When I was pursuing my husband, he was just as aloof, but his eyes told a different story," the owner said knowingly. "He cares about you."


    Shakira didn''t know how to rify that. Then the owner added, "But you kids should take it easy, you know? I read somewhere online that the neck area can be pretty risky, so be gentle!"


    ''What? That''s not me! Ugh, wait, actually, it kinda was... Shakira thought, wanting to cry. No matter how she exined it, nothing wasing out right.


    Seeing Shakira''s face turn red, the owner smiled wider. She had previously thought, ''Shakira was carefree and naive about rtionships, but it was clear now that Shakira had figured things out on her own.


    If Shakira knew what the owner was really thinking, she''d probably want to bang her head against a wall.


    Back at Easke Valley Estate, it was nearing midnight. Brian and Levi had been waiting at the door, and they finally rxed when they saw the two return safely.


    With the lingering smell of that soup, Shakira took a hot shower. Even after that, her stomach still felt full, so she grabbed herptop and started typing furiously, not realizing she had stayed up until the early hours of the morning.


    The next day, as soon as Shakira stepped into the ssroom, she sensed the odd atmosphere. Scanning the room, she raised an eyebrow.


    A few days ago, Yvette, Berry, and Xanthe were the core trio of the ss. Wherever they went, students flocked around them, trying to win their favor.


    Today, Xanthe, who had been absent, returned to ss, but Yvette and Berry still held the limelight. Meanwhile, Xanthe sat all alone in the front row, isted from the rest of the ss.


    Yvette''s nerves were on high alert when she spotted Shakira. Just yesterday, Joe had chased after Shakira and had been punched by Michele. She could''ve confronted Shakira as Joe''s girlfriend.


    She thought, ''Michele ruining my ns, I didn''t dare approach Shakira at all. In fact, she couldn''t even bear to look at her, sneaking nces from the corner of her eye instead.


    Seeing that Shakira was sitting in her usual spot without any signs of wanting to confront her, Yvette finally managed to rx after a sleepless night..


    100


    @76% +5


    Thinking it over, Yvette concluded that she had been overthinking. She thought, ''So what if Michele returned everything to Shakira? Bawling my eyes out might lead Michele to promise to keep my secret.


    ''What could happen then? No matter how stubborn or upset Shakira might be, would anyone believe her if she raised a fuss in the Nelson family? Plus, Shakira wouldn''t even think that those things were meant to steal her luck!''

 Chapter 66

    As soon as Shakira sat down, she opened her textbook and began to read. After a flurry of noise and conversation, someone plopped down beside her.


    ncing over at Xanthe, who had moved across the room, Shakira maintained her usual calm demeanor. "You really love Yvette, but if she set you up to take the me, are you really willing to be herpdog ande after me?" Xanthe bared her teeth, ready for a fight. "I''m itching to bite someone, but it''s those two backstabbing brats who pushed me into this mess!" Shakira raised an eyebrow. "Then go ahead. Why are you here bothering me?" "Come on, Shakira! You can''t stand Yvette and Berry, right?" "Xanthe''s eyes sparkled with desperation as she seemed eager for some kind of validation. That "can''t" was used just right. Shakira wasn''t interested in getting tangled up in their "best friends" drama. She looked up and met Xanthe''s intense gaze. "You know what? I can''t stand you either." Xanthe froz froze. her expression morphing into one of pure embarrassment. Recalling the times when Yvette had subtly manipted her into thinking Shakira was her greatest enemy, she felt a simmering rage. She had wanted nothing more than to tear Shakira apart. Countless times, she led the she led the charge against Shakira, while everyone assumed she was just being impulsive and foolish. Meanwhile, Yvette yed the pity card, hiding behind a facade of vulnerability, crying just enough to gain sympathy from everyone. That''s how things escted to this point-Shakira always came out on top, while Xanthe was painted as the bitter one, attempting to retaliate against Shakira, while the true instigator, Yvette, conveniently absconded unscathed, keeping her sweet and innocent image intact. The more she the tighter Xanthe''s fists clenched, her anger bubbling just below the surface. She knew she was being shameless by evening to find Shakira... She thought, ''But honestly, who else could I turn to?" With her head Xanthe fell silent. But she didn''t give up. All day long, she shadowed Shakira-wherever Shakira went, Xanthe followed. Even when Shakira went to the bathroom, she didn''t let up. Xanthe stubbornly dered, "I have everything that you have, and even more than what you don''t. So why would you be scared of me?"


    She down.


    Shakira was speechless.


    When they finally made it to the canteen, Shakira managed to find a solitary corner table. But just as she settled in another unwanted presence joined her. Mitchell casually shooed away the student upying the seat, iming three spots in total to sit down, and Xanthe quickly seized her chance to sit beside him. The two exchanged nces after a brief moment. Mitchell''s eyes narrowed with suspicion. "How long are you going to follow Shakira around?" Xanthe, now full of disdain for Yvette, said, "Mr. Nelson, eat less! Your sister''s over there!" She pointed to Yvette, who was seated diagonally across the room. Mitchell shot back sarcastically, "Xanthe, you''re really something, aren''t you? I''m wondering how Shakira upset you so much that you''re fixated on her." Xantheughed derisively. "Oh,e on, Mitchell! It''s hrious that just the other day you were all about Yvette, and now


    13th


    you''re running after Shakira instead. What''s wrong? Did you finally see her true colors and regret it?"


    Mitchell


    chell said, "Ugh! Xanthe, you keep targeting Shakira with your petty tricks and nderous tactics. Now you want to act all. noble? Please, save it!"


    Xanthe retorted, "Oh, please! You''ve been pushing Shakira to donate a kidney to your precious sister; let''s not pretend to be the moralpass here. You''re such a disgusting act!" Mitchell was fuming. "Shut your mouth, you gossip!"


    Xanthe fired back, "And you''re the dumbest loser around!"


    Shakira sat back, watching the two of them trade insults like it was the main event of a reality show, their faces turning red as they yelled at each other. She found it amusing. She suddenly seemed a lot more appetizing. Maybe she could even eat more. Not far away, Yvette was watching Mitchell and Xanthe squabble across the table, feeling very displeased. It was like a spotlight had shifted from her to Shakira! Mitchell no longer catered to her every whim, and her hard-earned friendship with Xanthe seemed to be slipping right through her fingers.


    "Yvette, do you think Xanthe is trying to team up with Shakira to get back at us?" Berry asked, worry creeping into her tone, revealing a malicious glint in her eyes


    She had once been a nobody, timid and insecure. Now that she had tasted what it felt like to be treated as special, the idea of losing that status was unbearable. She was determined not to let any upheaval ruin her newfound fairy-tale life.


    Seeing Berry''s transformation, Yvette felt surprised. All these years, Berry had been so quiet. It turned out she was just waiting for the right opportunity. Now that she was climbing up the socialdder, she was more relentless than Yvette had ever imagined. "Rx," Yvette said dismissively. "Xanthe can''t make waves anymore. Why are you still scared of her?"


    Berry said, "Wh "What t do I have to be scared of? My parents always told me to be nice to her because of her family. But now, I''ve got Mr. Lopez. What do I care?"


    Yvette''s eyes gleamed with intrigue. "So, how was your first date with Mr. Lopezst night?"


    Berry''s face lit up with a big smile. "He rented the whole revolving restaurant! Just the two of us had dinner together. I was surprised-he seems so cold on the outside, but he''s actually really romantic!"


    Yvette felt a twinge of jealousy stirs inside her. She thought, ''Even though Joe and I were considered a model couple, how could the Ortiz familypare to the prestigious Lopez family? Even if Walter was a disabled waste, he was still the heir of the Lopez family, born into wealth and privilege!"


    She couldn''t stand the fact that Shakira was thriving while she was not. Simrly, Berry didn''t deserve this happiness. She thought, ''What would Berry even have without my help?''


    Yet, Yvette kept herposure and smiled. "Congrattions, Berry! I''m so happy to see you this!"Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "You don''t have to worry about a thing. Once I marry Mr. Lopez and be Mrs. Lopez, I won''t forget you," Berry boasted.


    Yvette forced augh, mentally cursing Berry a thousand times in her mind


    Just then, Shakira finished her meal and was about to clear the table, when Mitchell and Xanthe caught her again. She frowned, her patience wearing thin. "What do you two want?" Mitchell said, "Just thought you looked bored, so here I am to keep youpany."


    "Shakira, I want to team up with you!" Xanthe dered boldly.

 Chapter 67

    67


    Both of them fell silent after speaking, then urgently blurted out in unison. "Who believes your c*p?" "*You''re really good at painting a rosy picture!" Wasn''t that ironic?


    Shakira looked at them and found it quite ironic. In a past life, even not long ago, one of them had been hysterical towards her, while the other treated her like dirt. Yet at this very moment, one was offering to apany her, and the other wanted to coborate with her. The mockery was in on Shakira''s face, without any attempt to hide it.


    Simrly, upon hearing each other''s words, they both showed an shock and contempt face. Each snorted and red at Shakira.


    Compared to their tense rivalry, Shakira was quite at ease. Suddenly, an idea came to her, and a subtle smile appeared on her beautiful face.


    "Mitchell, did you pass on what I told you that night to Finn?" Mitchell came to his senses, "I haven''t had the chance to tell Finn yet."


    Shakira


    nodded understandingly, then said, "Of course, it''s normal for you not to trust me."


    Mitchell exined, "I do trust you, it''s just that something happened when I went backst night." His voice gradually lowered. After going backst night, Yvette had cried in his room and pleaded with him for so long that he indeed dyed this facing Shakira''s


    matter.


    Now


    open and honest attitude, Mitchell couldn''t help but feel guilty.


    He thought, ''After all, I was tender-hearted towards Yvettest night and promised to keep her secret.


    Both of


    of them were my sisters, and I didn''t want Yvette to be heartbroken. And likewise, I also felt remorse towards Shakira? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    I admitted that I had been too impulsive before, misunderstanding Shakira and saying many mean words, but now that I knew I was wrong. It would be fine if I make it up to her properly.


    As for those past matters of the Smith family, they had nothing to do with my family. If it escted now, it would only make Yvette more awkward.''


    Seeing Mitchell with his head down, not saying anything and seemingly lost in thought, Shakira tapped the table. "Since you say you trust me, shouldn''t you back it up with action?" Mitchell raised his head up. His eyes sparkled as if he suddenly understood Shakira''s intention.


    "Of course, I trust you. You mean, if I go and tell Finn about this, you''ll let bygones be bygones with me?" said Mitchell.


    Shakira''s tapping on the table paused, but her smile was even brighter. "It''s your business, it has nothing to do with me."


    But Mitchell took this as an admission. He was filled with energy and stood


    up


    abruptly.


    Xanthe, sitting next to him, almost got knocked over by his sudden movement.


    "I''m going to thepany to find Finn now!" said Mitchell.


    Shakira reminded him kindly. "Don''t forget your tray."


    Crescentville University canteen were self-service, and Mitchell had walked quite a few steps before turning back to grab his


    things and hurriedly left.


    Xanthe was stunned, taking a while before she looked at Shakira in disbelief. "Are you that easy to appease?"


    Thanks to Yvette, Xanthe and Berry had also heard quite a bit about Shakira''s affairs. Honestly, she now felt a bit of sympathy for Shakira.


    Yvette


    had done were so disgusting. For the injustice that left one speechless, Xanthe felt it was unbearable after just one experience, let alone Shakira, who had even been betrayed by her closest kin. Just at Yvette''s birthday party, how rude Mitchell was when he scolded Shakira. It''s like that he didn''t treat her like a human being at all.


    What


    Could Shakira a just


    t let bygones be bygones with just this one request?


    Shakira leaned back in her chair, looking chill and indifferent. "Did I say I'' OK with that?"


    Xanthe realized her intention and gave Shakira a thumbs-up. "I knew it, if you said you forgave him just for this, I would really look down on you."


    Shakira replied, "When have you ever looked up to me?"


    Xanthe was embarrassed.


    After Mitchell, and now it''s Xanthe''s turn to be blushing and flustered.


    Thinking about how she was used by Yvette as a pawn to do wrong things to Shakira like an idiot, she even want to bang her head against the wall. It''s utterly embarrassing!


    At the same time, she felt even more angry. "Who knew that double-faced b***h was such a good actress, I waspletely fooled by her!"


    Shakira was also also curious. "Aren''t you not afraid of her?"


    Speaking about this, Xanthe got angry. "I don''t know what she and Berry are plotting, my parents actually told me not to cause trouble for Berry. Even if we can''t be friends, I shouldn''t offend her. It''s really p***g me off!" Shakira frowned slightly. "For so many years, it seems like you''ve always gain the upper hand in this rtionship, right?" "Of course! Although Berry is one of the Whites, her family has no connection to the main White family at all. For so many years, they''ve barely managed with some resources from my parents. Now she''s h***k up with the main family. So she get bold now, and act evilly in collusion with Yvette!" said Xanthe.


    The more she talked, the angrier Xanthe became, as if her eyes were about to ze with fire. "After all these years, my family has given her so many benefits, and now that ungrateful b***h is conspiring with Yvette to frame me, she deserves no good end!" Shakira was shocked slightly, and she t expect f there to be such things.


    banquet for Kyle, but she didn''t pay much attention to her at the time.


    She remembered that Berry was also at the


    A foxy idea came up in Shakira''s mind as she looked at the indignant Xanthe. "You want to cooperate with me, but why should I trust you?"


    "If you can trust Mitchell, why can''t


    you trust


    me? At least I really want to tear those two b***es apart now!" said Xanthe.


    Shakira nodded and said, "What you say does seem to make sense. There''s something that


    can you


    do."


    Hurry up, I know you''ve got a whole bunch of bad ns to get yvette, and I can''t wait any longer!" Seeing Xanthe''s


    Tue,


    expression, Shakira couldn''t help butugh.


    60 00 74%%


    She thought, Xanthe''s always in such a hurry. She was hurry when she stood up for Yvette and trouble on her, and now she''s also hurry when she turns her back and seeks revenge.'' Shakira intrigued her deliberately. "I have my own ns, which are not the same as your desire to just seek revenge, and it''s difficult for you, do you really want to join in?"


    Xanthe''s eyes widened, she clenched her fists and waved them in front of Shakira, "As long as it can bring them big trouble, I can even pick up dog poop for you!" Shakira was a little bit speechless.


    What a nonsense!


    Sure enough, Mitchell and Xanthe are Yvette''s good helpers. Both of them are reckless.


    Shakira rubbed her forehead and whispered to Xanthe. "You should persuade your dad to bid against the Smith family for the Southville Project."


    Xanthe opened her mouth, but Shakira didn''t give her a chance to speak. "Don''t ask the reason."


    Xanthe hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded firmly. "Alright!" Shakira smiled and said, "Then I''ll be waiting for your good news."

 Chapter 68

    3


    Mitchell only found out at thepany that Finn was out making deals, so he had no choice but to go home and wait.


    At dinner time, the Nelson family sat around the table. Mitchell was still looking for a chance to talk to Finn, but before the meal started, Cody brought up the matter of the Southville Project.


    "This project requires our utmost attention. The developinent of Southville is rted to the nning of Crescentville for the next twenty to thirty years. As long as we secure this project, we can get back on track with the business projects we''ve lost money on before!" said Cody. Finn nodded and said, "The bid is already in the works, and with Mr. Smith''s connections, our chances of sess are good."


    Reba smiled and praised, "This is all thanks to Yvette. If it weren''t for her efforts to secure this deal with Mr. Smith, things might not have gone so smoothly."


    Yvette waved her hand, full of modesty and respect. "It''s all thanks to Dad and big brother, I didn''t really do much."


    Reba held her hand and said, "You''re such a silly girl, without you, how could our family have made it in time for the bidding?"


    Selena nodded with satisfaction. "Yvette was warm-hearted, always thinking of our family when there''s something beneficial."


    Even Cody said, "Once we win the bid, Dad will grant you a wish, what do you want, Yvette?"


    Being praised by the Nelsons, Yvette felt being immensed with satisfaction and vanity. She had even thought about the gift she wanted to ask for from Cody once everything was settled. Mitchell, who had not been part of the conversation, suddenly interjected in such a warm and harmonious atmosphere. "Dad, big brother, we can''t participate in this project." cold


    into a furnace, causing a huge reaction from everyone.


    It was as if a basin of faded, and her gaze towards Mitchell carried a hint of annoyance. "Mitchell, why are you saying this out of the blue?" The doting Selena was the first to inquire gently.


    s face c


    The red glow on Yvette''s


    Mitchell was just stubborn and repeated, "Anyway, we can''t get involved in this project, because something bad will happen it we do this."


    As soon as he said this, everyone''s feeling at the table changed.


    Finn, knowing his brother''s character well, asked, "Mitchell, have you heard about something?"


    Cody pondered for a moment and said calmly, "Everyone is paying attention to this profitable project, it''s normal to have some gossip." Mitchell''s objections were not taken into consideration.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Mitchell didn''t expect things to be like this. But somehow, thinking of the look on Shakira''s face when she told him about this, and the sneaky things Lago had done before, he chose to trust Shakira!


    For the sake of thepany,'' thought he. Taking a deep breath, Mitchell said, "It was Shakira who told me this. She asked me to pass on to Finn that we shouldn''t join in this project. If we did, everything is ruined. She also said it''s none of her business and all depends on Finn."


    When thatst sentence came out, the whole family''s attitude changed dramatically.


    How harsh and unlucky it sounds!


    3


    "Nonsense!" Cody had refrained from anger out of respect for his son. But after learning that Shakira was the one causing trouble, he became furious.


    Finn was upset and said, "Mitchell, it is too hasty for you to against this project just based on the words of Shakira."


    Mitchell exined urgently, "No, she was very certain when she said it, I could say that what she said is true!"


    Cody was very disappointed at Mitchell. "How foolish can you be to listen to the words of that madwoman?" Reba coul Rebec couldn''t help but speak up, "Mitchell, do you know that you''re hurting Yvette''s feelings when you say things like this?" Mitchell paused and looked at Yvette. And sure enough, she was biting her lower lip, and there''s already tears in her eyes. Clearly, she felt wronged but didn''t say anything.


    This kind of


    of attitude made the Nelson family even more sympathetic to her. Simrly, there was more resentment towards Shakira.


    "That wretched girl can''t leave us in peace even after she''s gone, causing chaos in our family. Now that we''re finally seeing a glimmer of hope, she''s back to causing trouble, that curse!" Selena was furious and said, "Even Mitchell has been deceived by her. What on earth did we owe her in our past life that we have to be haunted by her in this one!" "Grandma, it''s not that Shakira deceived me, it''s really..." replied Mitchell.


    Cody was furious and said, "This project is profitable, and who wouldn''t want to join in? What''s Shakira''s reason for preventing us from getting involved?"


    she didn''t say that," replied Mitchell.


    "You''re going to give me a heart attack!" Cody couldn''t even look at him.


    Finn calmed down and pondered for a long time. "Could it be that Mr. Lopezopez has heard some news?"


    Mitchell''s eyes lit


    lit up. "Yes, yes, that might be the truth!"


    "What? it''s clearly a baseless rumor, nonsense!" Cody snorted coldly, but Finn''s words somewhat swayed him, "Finn, check it out when you''re free and keep up with Mr. Smith to avoid any potential mistakes."


    Finn agreed and said, "Okay."


    Reba quickly smoothed things over, "The food is getting cold let''s start to eat." She served Yvette some food and said, "Yvette, don''t take it for real, Mitchell didn''t mean anything else."


    "Yes,


    I know, Mom. When ites to business matters, my brothers are the professionals." She seemed unaffected, rubbed the corners of her eyes, and continued to eat.


    These days, everyone at Easke Valley Estate was on edge. Because the time for Walter''s illness to strike was drawing nearer.


    After thest power outage incident, Benji, who was usually easygoing and approachable, had thrown a fit, and no one dared


    to be careless this time.


    The first thing Shakira did every day when she came back was to feel Walter''s pulse, which was indeed much more restless than it had been in the first half of the month. Even Fiona kept running over, iming to be worried about Walter.


    Tue, Oct 22 08:20


    08:20


    Before long, it was ate weekend night. As soon as Shakiray down, she heard the sound of people running outside. What did they do at this time?'' She suddenly thought of something and threw on her coat and ran to Walter''s room immediately. door open and seeing Levi and in Shakira''s face changed


    Walter!" "The tall man was curled up on the bed, and his face was pale. Cold sweat was seeping from his forehead as he was trying his best to endure the pain.


    Hearing Shakira''s voice, Walter opened his eyes slightly. And his already furrowed brows furrowed even more when seeing Shakira''s loose and sloppy cor because of her rushing over.


    But before


    he could speak, the pain he felt was even more intense. He bit his lip so hard that he couldn''t let out any sound. Shakira took out the needles. But before she could use them on him, Fiona knocked her aside from behind.


    "The painkiller is here!" Caught off guard, Shakira hit the bedside table and watched as Fiona ordered the doctor to inject the medication into Walter''s body. "Alright, after the painkiller, Walter''s pain will soon be stopped."


    She then turned to mock Shakira who was sitting on the ground holding her bag of needles. "You should know your ce. Walter doesn''t need that junk!"


    Shakira didn''t say a word, got up, and stood behind. She nned to go back to sleep once Walter was better.


    However, ten minutes passed, and there''s no sign rxation on Walter''s face. Instead, he began to shiver from the pain.


    Levi was almost in tears. "Why is Mr. Lopezopez still in pain?"


    Fiona turned to the doctor and questioned, "What''s going on? Didn''t you get the wrong medicine, did you?"


    The doctor was startled. "The medicine is definitely fine, we have no idea why it''s not working for Mr. Lopezopez this time!" Shakira took a deep breath and said, "Step aside, let me handle this."

 Chapter 69

    69


    Fiona, as if hearing some kind of absurd tale, grabbed Shakira who was trying to touch Walter. "What? What nonsense are you spouting. Such a lowly maid can never do this." "I was able to ensure Walter''s safetyst time, while you were helpless beyond giving painkillers!"


    After saying this, Shakira twisted her wrist and effortlessly handcuffed Fiona''s hands behind her back. Then with a skillful push, she sent Fiona crashing face-first onto the floor. Fiona was shocked and turned her head to look at Shakira, the woman who had just acted against her, standing bedside and looking down at her with superiority.


    Fiona was so angry that she clenched her fists, with her eyes bursting with boundless jealousy and hatred. "Shakira, if Walter doesn''t get better, I''ll let you die for it!" said she. Ignoring her, Shakira signaled to Brian to help her position Walter correctly, and pulled out the needles and began acupuncture without hesitation.


    But the pain hadsted too long, Walter''s muscles were tightly wound, and the silver needles couldn''t be fully inserted. "Walter, rx." Shakira ced her palm on Walter''s forehead and softly repeated by his ear, "Rx, it will be over soon." Fiona had gotten up and was standing by the bed and staring at Shakira''s actions hatefully. How could Walter possibly listen to her nonsense!'' thought she.


    In his semi-conscious state, Walter faintly heard Shakira''s voice,


    He struggled to open his sweat-blurred eyes to look at Shakira again. He heard what she said to him clearly, and Walter tried his best to control his shivering muscles, exhaling a long breath. Seeing that he was cooperating with her, Shakira acted decisively and swiftly inserted the silver needles into several key acupoints on Walter''s legs.


    Everyone held their breath, and after a minute, Walter''s trembling gradually slowed down...


    Brian was delighted and looked up at Shakira. "Ms. Nelson, Mr. Lopezopez is no longer trembling."


    Levi shed tears of excitement and said, "Mr. Lopezopez, does it hurt now?"


    Shakira didn''t let up but continued to insert silver needles into other minor acupoints.


    4-


    #


    "I''ve helped ease some of his pain for now, but it will take time to fully get through this." Shakira nced back at them, "Everyone who''s not needed should get out of here."


    "Sure, sure." Levi was very excited, "Thank God, it''s a blessing that the god sent Ms. Nelson to Mr. Lopez. That''s the only reason he''s getting through this. I''ll go to offer incense to the ancestors!"


    Levi called out, ushering Fiona and several doctors out of the master bedroom and asked them to rest in the living room downstairs.


    Fiona was filled with jealousy. But seeing Walter''s breathing gradually bing calm, no matter how reluctant she was, she had to turn and leave.


    After Levi left the living room, Fiona turned around and pped the doctor across the face. "Such administer a pain shot properly!"


    an idiot,


    you


    can''t even


    08:20 00:20


    The doctor, holding his face, was on the verge of tears. "Ms. Banks, we double-checked that medicine, there''s no way it could be wrong, the only possibility is..." Fiona''s eyes widened and said, "What is it?"


    "As we''ve mentioned before, due to the excessive use of the drug, Mr. Lopezopez might have developed a resistance to the painkiller, and that''s why it''s not working. We should have increased the dosage and given him a few more shots..." Before she could finish her sentence, Fionashed out with two more ps. She let all her frustrations she got from Shakira goes to the doctor. "Those needles are so poisonous, significantly.


    "ould you inject so many into Walter!" Her gaze was as ruthless and her voice dropped


    "If it''s disc discovered that there''s


    The doctor was shocked and addictive substances in the painkillers, you won''t even know how you''ll die!" said she.


    weakened in the knees, copsing onto the ground.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    It was Fiona who had forced them to research drugs for Mr. Lopez. At that time, they were out of options. Because no matter how skilled they were, they were helpless against Mr. Lopez''s illness.


    But Fiona stiggested that they increase the dosage of addictive anesthesia in the painkillers, and they had no other choice but to give it a try.


    They dared not


    They never to speak the truth, as Fiona forced them to keep it a secret, even offering generous rewards to silence them.


    t it could actually reduce the pain Mr. Lopez experienced temporarily during his episodes.


    Moreover, leveraging Mr. Lopez''s influence, their reputation and prestige had risen to several levels in the past half year, which is iparable to their past status.


    be exposed now, they would all be in deep trouble, and it would be impossible to continue in this profession!


    With her arms crossed, Fiona turned her face away, still as mean as ever, "A bunch of useless idiots, you guys are not evenparable to a maid!"


    The doctor felt very wronged. He thought carefully for a moment, then suddenly realized something, "Matthew, it''s Matthew!"


    ""Who is Matthew?" asked Fiona. Who is


    The doctor was excited and said, "When I was young, I had the honor of attending a public lecture by the foremost traditional medicine practitioner, Matthew. That maid''s acupuncture technique is almost identical to Matthew''s!". Hearing this, Fiona sneered coldly. "Youpare a maid to Matthew? I think you''ve lost your mind." "No, it''s really the same. I only attended Matthew''s ss once, but I can remember it for a lifetime!" the doctor was quite sure about it, "Moreover, Mr. Lopez''s leg has been treated by many famous doctors, but none could cure itpletely. Perhaps only Matthew might have a chance to try..." Seeing his attitude, Fiona had some doubts. "Are you saying Matthew can cure Walter''s illness?"


    "There''s a 70-80% chance, but Matthew retired from Clusia Hospital a few years ago and went traveling around the world. He''spletely out of touch, and finding him might be harder than catching the wind..."


    "It''s impossible, Walter''s leg will definitely get better!" Fiona''s face was filled with determination, "What could Shakira do? Matthew, right? I will definitely find him out!"  O


    *****


    The master bedroom


    Walter had gradually calmed down. He''s so weak and drained that he fell into a deep sleep.


    Brian looked at Shakira with gratitude. "Thank you, Ms. Nelson


    "I promised him anyway,


    It''s go and rest, Brian."


    gettingte, you


    Brian looked at Walter and said, "But Mr. Lopez..."


    "I''ll stay and watch over him, it''s okay," replied Shakira.


    Brian thought for a moment. "Then I''ll leave him in your hands, Ms. Nelson."


    00749


    Brian took onest worried look at Walter before finally leaving the bedroom, not forgetting to close the door behind him.


    Shakira let out a breath and wiped her face instinctively, only to find her hand covered in sweat. She had been so focused that her own body was damp with cold sweat.


    Shakira checked on Walter to make sure he wouldn''t wake up suddenly, then got up and went into the bathroom.


    "This guy, doesn''t he even have an extra towel?" Shakira searched everywhere but couldn''t find a new towel.


    In the end, after hesitating for a few seconds, she pulled down the dark blue towel. Her body was sticky with sweat, so she wiped herself off and threw the towel away, nning to ask Levi to get Walter a new one tomorrow. As she was thinking, she put the clean towel inside her clothes to wipe her chest, and then heard a voiceing from outside. "Shakira..." said Walter.

 Chapter 70

    C


    Walter actually propped himself up on his arms and sat up by himself.


    Shakira trotted out from the bathroom, her heart leaping to her throat at the sight of him, looking like he could fall back down at any moment.


    "Don''t move!" she rushed over to support his back, "You''re so weak now, why are you sitting up?"


    Walter narrowed his eyes dangerous


    "Who are you calling weak?"


    "It''s me. I''m weak, okay?" Shakira sneered. ''Seriously, still keeping score at a time like this!


    Walter nced at the towel in her hand and snatched it to press against his face.


    Shakira was toote to stop him. "Walter, don''t-"


    She had just wiped herself with this towel without washing it!


    The cool towel wiped away the sweat on his face, making Walter feel much refreshed.


    He looked at Shakira''s strange expression and said, "I wanted to wipe off the sweat, is there a problem?"


    Shakira silently closed her open mouth. "No, no problem."


    Anyway, he had already wiped with it. If I mentioned now that I had used the towel on my stomach and chest, this demon would probably jump up and strangle me. It''s better that only I knows about this,'' thought she. Walter wiped his face a couple of times and threw the towel back to her. "You ran out without wringing out the water," He raised an eyebrow, his voice dropping slightly, "Are you worried about me so much?" Shakira was speechless.


    She moved her lips, but in the end, she swallowed the words back. Withoutint, she went in, fetched a basin of water, and wiped Walter down again. Watching her bow her head, diligently wiping his arm, not even missing a single finger. Walter watched her quietly.


    She hade in a hurry, her hair simply tucked behind her ears, cascading down her back like a waterfall, with a few yful strands sticking to her cheeks, outlining her face. Her nightgown was thin, barely covering her skin, highlighting her beautiful figure. It was the first time Walter had seen her with her hair down. He always thought her face was not big to begin with, about the size of his palm. Now with her hair down, it seemed to make her face look even smaller? Her skin was fair, her eyebrows and eyes gentle. Walter was softened unconsciously and said, "You save my life again."


    Shakira lifted his pajama top, her gaze falling on the man''s well-defined abs, without changing expression. "There will be a next time."


    Walter smiled slightly, neither confirming nor denying. After catching sight of the syringe by the bedside, a touch of self- mockery tugging at the corner of his lips. "These meds, they''re starting to be ineffective too." Shakira''s movements paused, then continued and said, "You won''t need these meds when you''re better."


    Walter gazed at her and said, "You''re so confident."Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    This time, Shakira looked up, meeting his gaze head-on. The man''s face was reflected in the woman''s clear eyes.


    "Walier, I will do my utmost to cure you," said Shakira.


    Walter''s smile grew more brighter. "Fine," said he. This time, he did not continue to refuse her.


    Shakira also smiled. After simply drying Walter''s sweat, Shakira also found him a new set of pajamas, helping him change his top, as for the pants.... , I won''t peek."


    She turned her back and said, "You change it yoursel But Shakira soon discovered...there was actually a reflection on the floor-to-ceiling window!


    Walter hummed, followed by t d by the sound of rustling cloth.


    It clearly and distinctly showed Walter''s long legs after he took off his pants, and further up was..


    Shakira quickly


    lowered her head, pretending to busy herself with the syringe to divert her attention.


    She casually picked up the opened medicine and examined it, curious about the ingredients. But the packaging was nk, with no details specified.


    Shakira held the packaging to her nose and took a gentle sniff.


    Then, she frowned.


    "What are you doing?" said Walter.


    Shakira turned around and said, "Was this painkiller prescribed for you?"


    Walter nced


    and said, "Fiona''s medical team give it to me."


    "The doctor who just gave you the injection, is he also from her team?"


    "Yeah, I''ve tried many methods, the only thing that works is this painkiller. What you saw in the medical room before, that''s it, but I reced them after the power outage." Walter was good at reading people and noticed a subtle change in her expression, "What''s wrong?"


    Shakira shook her head. "No, I''d like to take it for research, can I? Besides acupuncture, I also need to prescribe medication for you. Later, your people can test it first, and you can take it when the medicine is confirmed to be fine." Walter looked at her serious little face and said, "Okay."


    Late at night, the study in the Smith residence was still brightly lit.


    Lago viciously threw the milk that Jessie had sent onto the floor.


    Jessie was so frightened that she covered her face, "Ah!"


    "That little brat, daring to try to stir up trouble for the Nelson family!" Lago''s gaunt face was filled with rage, twisted and terrifying.


    "I should have found someone more capable to destroy her that time!" said he.


    Jessie was shocked. "That time? You took action against Shakira, when?"


    Lago, with a face full of anger, said irritably, "Why do you need to know so much, woman?"


    "I''m worried that the people you sent might no happen to our Yvette?"


    know their limits. What if, just in case, they hurt her kidneys, what will


    "what? They didn''t even touch her hair!" Thinking about that incident made Lago angry, and he kicked the table again.


    "Cody Nelson and Finn Nelson must be insane to believe her nonsense, and they even asked me to give them all the detailed background checks on the project! Am I their dog?"


    Yvette, on theputer screen''s video call, saw Lago over there smashing things and losing his temper in a fit of impotent rage, and she was quite disdainful.


    "Of course they don''t believe Shakira, but no.


    Shakira has Mr. Lopez as a backer, they think Shakira heard the news from him." Mentioning Walter, Yvette''s eyes showed aplex array of emotions.


    "No wonder! That wretched girl has messed up my ns again and again, and she was also the one who caused the death of that old hag!" Lago''s eyes were almost bursting with crimson hatred.


    "What''s a little treatment cost? I Didn''t y


    Lago


    t you also say that as long as we get this project, we can make at least 30 million dors?" Yvette said leisurely from the other side, "Just find a way to get the information out to Dad and big brother, wouldn''t that be fine?" had his eye on this project first. the Smith family doesn''t have the capability. To take on such arge-scale project, theirpetitiveness is far behind others in the industry.


    Unfortunately, the


    In fact, That was why Lago asked Yvette to help persuade the Nelson family to get involved.


    Although they wouldn''t get the lion''s share, they could still get a slice of the pie.


    Lago was embarrassed and said, "It''s not that I won''t give the information, but... that project indeed has risks. I''m afraid that once the Nelson family knows, they will weigh the pros and cons and withdraw."


    Yvette became suspicious andquestioned, "Lago, you''re not trying to trick me, are you?"


    "How could I? I would harm anyone but not my precious daughter!" Lago changed to a ttering and humble tone when speaking to Yvette, "Yvette, believe Dad, this risk is just a little bit. It''s just that people in the construction industry like to exaggerate it. Don''t worry, Dad will think of something."


    "Hurry up!" Yvette lost her patience and ended the call directly.


    Lago and Jessie asked her to call them Dad and Mom, iming it sounded better and more fashionable than calling them in the Nelson family. Yvette just felt it disgusted.

 Chapter 71

    71


    Kyle rushed over early in the morning. The next day, upon learning that Walter had ate-night health scare, Kyle rushed over early in the morning.


    At that time, Walter hadn''t fully recovered yet; he was barely propped up against the headboard. His shirt was open, and his bony arms stretched out from under the covers. After checking his heartbeat, Kyle''s slender fingers rested lightly on Walter''s pulse. Noticing Kyle''s silence, Walter raised an eyebrow. "Am I worse off than before?" Even the usually gentle Kyle couldn''


    help but give him a cold re.


    He withdrew his hand and adjusted Walter''s nket. "You''re probably the only person who would joke about your health like this."


    Walter just smiled and said I smiled and said nothing.


    Kyle looked serious as he replied, "Even though I delve deeper into medical pharmacology, I can still pick up on regr pulses. Walter, your health is actually a bit better than thest time I checked." Hearing this, the corners of


    Walter''s


    in lips curled slightly. "Isn''t that a good thing?"


    "Exactly


    because it''s good news that I checked several times to be sure," Kyle said, his face lighting up. "It seems like you''ve held on and finally found some hope; those medicines aren''t useless after all." The real help isn''t the medicine; it''s the people," Walter said slowly.


    Kyle looked puzzled. "People?"


    Walter Walter didn''t hold back


    hold back and directly exined, "Shakira has done acupuncture on me a few times, and it really worked- much better than those meds." Kyle''s expression showed surprise, but he quickly regained hisposure.


    Walter studied his expression and suddenly found it amusing. "Your reaction to Shakira''s acupuncture skills isn''t as strong as I expected."Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "You never keep outsiders around, but Ms. Nelson is an exception. I had some guesses about that," Kyle answered honestly, his expression unchanged, his handsome features revealing no ws. Walter stared at him for a moment before bursting intoughter "You really are Mr. White; just one meeting and you''ve figured me out."


    Kyle thought for a moment and asked, "Is it because of Ms. Nelson''s medical skills that you''ve kept her close?"


    Walter chuckled. "Yes and no."


    That answer was hard to decipher. Kyle''s expression shifted slightly, and he couldn''t help but ask, "About the ne owner you wanted me to find-who is it?"


    "You''ve met her," Walter said directly, since it was just the two of them in the room. "The one I asked you to bring before- Berry."


    This time, Kyle''s face showed surprise. He muttered in disbelief, "How could it be her?" Shouldn''t it be...''


    Walter found his reaction interesting. "I thought you were different from Calton and Gavin, but it turns out you''re much more concerned about my gossip than Shakira''s matter."


    "That''s not it..." Kyle hesitated for a moment but said, "I remember you asked me to help you find someone. Even though I didn''t know their gender, I do recall you said they were agile, quirky, and clever-none of that sounds like Berry."


    "True, it doesn''t fit." Walter thought of the person from his memory, wearing a half-moon fox mask, full of mischief-so different from the timid Berry. He lowered his eyes, his voice dropping unconsciously. "The ne isn''t wrong; Berry was abroad at that time, her exact whereabouts are a mystery, and she suffered a head injury which caused some memory loss- maybe that has affected her." Kyle frowned deeply, falling silent.


    Just then, Shakira knocked and entered. Seeing Kyle and Walter sitting face to face, with Walter''s shirt wide open, it was quite a sight. Two strikingly handsome men, the scene was incredibly harmonious. Shakira covered her eyes. "Oh, I''m sorry! I didn''t know you two were... I''ll leave now."


    Before she could fully close the door, Walter''s teeth clenched as he called out, "Shakira, get in here!"


    Shakira immediately pushed the door open, obediently wiping the smirk off her face.


    Walter''s expression darkened. "What did you mean by that just now?"


    Shakira


    shook her hea head in


    denial. "I didn''t mean anything, sir."


    "Oh please, you clearly found it amusing!"


    She thought, Walter must be feeling guilty!''


    Kyle cleared his throat and spoke up to ease the tension. "Since Walter''s okay, I''ll take my leave now." Turning around, he faced Shakira while turning his back to Walter. In Walter''s blind spot, Kyle discreetly pointed at his phone. Shakira smoothly shifted her gaze. "Mr. White, take care! I won''t see you off," she said, but when she caught Walter''s icy re, she instantly yed innocent.


    After taking care of Walter''s washing up and breakfast, Shakira returned to her room. Her phone quietly held two messages


    Kyle: [Tomorrow night at Veiled Vine]


    Xanthe: [You got my tasks done? Just a small thing!]


    A smile tugged at the corners of Shakira''s lips.


    ****


    Lago grumbled and reluctantly sent the documents to Finn the next day. While he was at it, he made an unexpected discovery. It turned out that the official in charge of the Southville development, Arturo Joyce''s secretary, had ties to Jessie''s father. To be specific, they were from the same hometown, and Jessie''s father had helped him out. Lago worked hard to get in touch and arranged a meeting, also inviting the Nelson family along. Lago really put in the effort and reserved an SVIP ward at Veiled Vine. At seven that evening, Lago and his wife, along with Cody, Finn, and the key intermediary Yvette, stood at the entrance of Veiled Vine, waiting for Arturo to arrive.


    It was lightly raining that night, drizzling softly. Veiled Vine was hidden away in the old town and rarely known to outsiders. Moreover, they only served familiar guests and required reservations in advance, making it eerily quiet even during peak dining hours.


    Yvette was attending a business dinner like this for the first time. Seeing that there wasn''t a single fly around Veiled Vine, she felt a bit dissatisfied. She discreetly tugged at Jessie''s sleeve, her voiceced with disdain, "Isn''t it a bit low-ss to invite Mr. Joyce here? We should at least go to a seven-star hotel."


    Lago nearly widened his eyes in disbelief. riously? Is Veiled Vine low-ss?"


    +3


    Finn patiently exined to his sister, "Veiled Vine is more business-oriented and keeps a low profile. We can''t be too loud about meeting Mr. Joyce; there''s no ce more suitable than Veiled Vine in Crescentville." Yvette finally understood, her face flushing slightly. "I didn''t know better; thanks for the heads-up,


    Lago quickly added. "I specifically checked with the butler; there are only two tables reserved tonight. Aside from us, there''s only one other table, so we won''t run into anyone else." Cody nced at his watch. "It''s about time: Should be here soon."


    Just as he finished speaking, a ck Volkswagen


    Owly pulled up in front of Veiled Vine.


    "Such an ordinary car! It must be our Mr. Joyce serving the public!" Lago eximed excitedly, quickly grabbing the umbre beside him to go greet the car.


    The car door slowly opened, and a person in the back seat bent down to get out-


    0000

 Chapter 72

    Lago eagerly tilted the umbre towards the car door. But when he saw who got out, his expression changed. "Shakira, what are you doing here?" Not just Lago, but everyone else was equally shocked.


    Surprisingly, Shakira seemed... taken aback too. Her expression was calm as she nced over them, and with their neat arrangement, she probably guessed why they ere there.


    Yvette covered her mouth in surprise


    "Is


    y sistering to Veiled Vine? Does that mean..."


    Jessie was the first to shout, her voice especially sharp in the old-fashioned Veiled Vine alley, "Well, well, you little brat! You''re here to cause trouble again!"


    The two of them joined forces, practically pinning Shakira with their usations. Cody and Finn frowned, their expressions darkening.


    Shakira raised an eyebrow andughed, herughter cool and mocking. "I must say, you all really love to embellish your own image."


    Cody shot back angrily, "Shakira, don''t keep pushing our patience. You need to leave right now; there''s still time."


    "I had no idea Mr. Nelson was such a tyrant as the owner of Veiled Vine," she retorted.


    Cody''s face turned pale instantly.


    Lago finally realized he had been bending over to hold the umbre for Shakira while getting soaked himself. He red angrily. "You little brat, you have no right to speak! Just get lost! Saying this, he yanked the car door handle and tried to m it shut, not caring if Shakira got hurt, just wanting to shove her back inside. A cold light flickered in Shakira''s eyes. She pushed against the car door and kicked Lago hard. He lost his bnce and fell face-first to the wet ground, like a turtle on its back.


    "Spit, spit, spit!"


    "Honey!" Jessie quickly rushed over to help Lago up. He had fallen onto the wet floor, his fancy suit now a mess, his face smeared with dirt.


    You little brat, I''m gonna get you" Jessie shouted, but just then, another car drove up.


    Lago quickly said This time it''s Mr. Joyce! You go and wee him; I''ll head to the restroom and clean up!" He shot a fierce re at Shakira, who was still enjoying the drama. "You wait for me!" Shakira smiled, and while they all bowed and nodded to wee the person from the car, she calmly walked into Veiled


    Vine. Vine.


    Yvette wore a smile, but her eyes caught sight of Shakira walking in as if she owned the ce, and her expression turned icy.


    Kyle heard themotion outside and was about to step out to greet Shakira when he opened the door and bumped right into her. "Shakira, you..."


    "Go inside first." Shakira shoved him in and immediately asked, "Who else is being hosted at Veiled Vine today?"


    Kyle was taken aback but quickly called for the butler.


    08:20 Tue,


    Oct 22


    "Mr. White, we only have two reservations today. The other is for Mr. Smith from Shiheng Architecture. All the guests have arrived, and the meal has started." Shakira didn''t say anything, just kept smiling at Kyle.


    Kyle knew what she was thinking. He sighed helplessly, "Just check who the guests are."This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Kyle


    "


    The butler soon returned with the guest list, mentioning everyone, and there was only one person Shakira didn''t recognize. pointed out, "A "Arturo is a secretary who was transferred from outside the province. I heard he''s responsible for the Southville development project." Shakira''s a''s eyes lit up with realization. "So they''re trying to build connections, huh?" Kyle gestured for the but butler to to leave and noticed Shakira holding a coffee cup, her bright eyes sparkling with mischief. He could easily tell, "You''re nning to get involved?" "With such a huge project, there''s no way I can interfere, but causing a little trouble shouldn''t be a problem, right?" Shakira tilted her head and shed a sly smile. Joyce! Mr.


    Mr.


    Mr. Joyce! I apologize for not weing you properly; I''ll drink three cups as punishment?


    Veiled Vine''s service was efficient; Lago got cleaned up quickly and re-entered the private room with a face full of ttery. Arturo was a middle-aged man who, unlike the rigid official types, was in great shape with thick hair, even at nearly fifty. "Mr. Smith? Mrs. Smith just introduced duced me to you; you can just call me Arturo. Arturo smiled warmly, "I didn''t expect to see a fellow local here in Crescentville."


    "I didn''t expect Mr. Joyce to have such ties with my father-inw either! Come, let me toast you!" Lago immediately got friendly with Arturo, downing several drinks together. their expressions somewhat displeased.


    early, the Nelson


    Cody and Finn samily was I


    . it''s fate! Mr. Joyce has leading this coboration, holding the majority share, yet Lago was stealing the spotlight, currying favor with the big shot.


    me in the past, and thanks to your advice, I''vee this far. I''ve always remembered this kindness! By the way, how is Mr. Joyce doing?"


    Speaking of his father-inw, Lago sighed. "To be honest, my father-inw has been living in the countryside for a long time. It''s too remote there, so we seldom get to contact him."


    Arturo


    noticed Yvett Yvette


    "I heard about that. I understand Mr. Joyce has been praying for his lost granddaughter, moving to the mountains to cultivate. I''ve always wanted to return the favor, but I never got the chance to see him." As he spoke next to Jessie and his eyes lit up. "Is this Mr. Joyce''s granddaughter?" Yvette shyly nodded. "Mr. Joyce, hello! I''m Yvette."


    "Oh, what a lovely child! You''ve grown so much; you''re adorable!"


    Yvette sweetly ttered Arturo, and he beamed with joy, constantly praising her as a good child.


    Lago and Jessie chimed in, embellishing Yvette''splicated background and how her grandfather cherished her, making Arturo sigh repeatedly. "I never expected that; no wonder Mr. Joyce..."


    Lago wiped his face, seamlessly steering the conversation back on track. "Thankfully, life has improved for everyone. With Yvette as our bridge, we thought we''d coborate on the Southville project."


    5


    Arturo was sharp as a tack. Before he arrived, he had already prepared himself, knowing what requests they would make. He didn''t beat around the bush, saying, "I''m here to return a favor for Mr. Joyce. But I won''t take sides; we''ll follow the proper process." Lago''s face lit up with a huge smile. "Mr. Joyce, you''re being too modest! With your help, we''re sure to win this bid!" The room buzzed with excitement as everyone finished eating and drinking. When Arturo suggested leaving, the group walked him to the door. But just then, someone unexpected showed up.


    "Mr. Joyce, what a coincidence! Long time no see!" Enrique Sullivan got out of his car from across the street, looking like he had been waiting forever.


    Lago''s eyes widened in disbelief, and he got angry. "Enrique, what are you doing here?"


    Yvette frowned. Enrique was Xanthe''s father, and the Sullivan family had a lot of business ovep with the Smith family.


    Enrique chuckled, "Just finished eating and taking a stroll. Didn''t expect to bump into an old friend. Mr. Joyce, how about we y some ball to work off the meal?"


    Arturo, feeling the effects of the alcohol, was half-pushed, half-dragged away by Enrique.


    As the car drove off, the exhaust fumes cleared Lago and the others'' heads a bit. "Damn it, does Enrique want to get in the Southville project? But how did he know Mr. Joyce was here?" Yvette suddenly whispered, "Could it be that my sister is behind this?" involved

 Chapter 73

    73


    With everyone''s eyes on her, Yvette bit her lip, lowered her gaze and wore a hint of helplessness and sadness on her face. "After Grandma Martha''s birthday, Xanthe started distancing herself from me. Ever since, she''s been hanging out with my sister, and they seem to get along really well now. Mitchell''s with them too... I shouldn''t assume the worst about my sister, but it all feels way too coincidental..." Jessie immediately jumped in, her expression fierce. "Coincidence? I think Shakira nned this! They used to be like oil and water, but now they''re all buddy-buddy? Shakira shows up, and right after, Enrique is outside taking Mr. Joyce away. They must be in cahoots!" Fueled by anger, Lago clenched his fists tightly. "If she tries to ruin our ns, I swear I''ll make her pay!" The thought of Shakira scheming against them made them feel vengeful. Cody''s y''s face grew darker, his expression grim. It was clear he believed Yvette''s suspicion. ''Otherwise, how could Shakira, a mere maid from the Lopez family, waltz into Veiled Vine with no problem? She''s definitely plotting something!" Finn added. "This is serious; we need to keep this under wraps."


    Lago reassured them multiple times, "Mr. Nelson can rx. I even hired the best risk expert from Crescentville to evaluate our investment. Tomorrow, I''ll have my secretary send the final results to the Nelson Group. Plus, with Mr. Joyce''s connections and Yvette''s grandpa backing us, we''ll definitelye out on top. No matter how hard Enrique tries, he can''tpete with us." Cody maintained a businessman''s polite smile, though it didn''t quite reach his eyes. "Alright, then we''ll wait for good news from Mr. Smith."


    Finn nodded slightly. "We should be on our way


    now.


    smiled. "Take care, you two."


    Once the Nelson family''s car drove off, Lago''s ttering smile fadedpletely. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number, his face turning ominous. "Get me a few people-make sure they know what they''re doing!" Inside a private room, Shakira leisurely enjoyed some fancy snacks. When she saw a text from Xanthe, a smile crept onto her face. Kyle, pouring coffee from the pot, filled her little cup. "Did the sabotage go well?" Shakira set down her phone, her eyes sparkling with joy. "Almost there." She looked at the table full of delicious food. "You didn''t invite me over just for a meal, did you?" chuckled. "I thought you weren''t curious. Seems like you''re all about pranking others before worrying about me." "Seventy percent," Shakira replied without hesitation. "The remaining thirty percent needs a better healer to finish the job."


    Kust showing


    inhaled slightly. "You mean..."


    on Walter''s recovery?"


    Matthew, Shakira said, sipping her coffee. The fresh aroma cleared her pte of the sweet pastries, leaving her feeling much more refreshed.


    Kyle looked troubled. He confessed to Shakira, "After Matthew retired, he became hard to track down. Our families have luck." been trying to locate him for Walter, but we haven''t had


    any


    It wasn''t an exaggeration; the White family''s informationwork was global. The intel passed down through generations


    was their greatest advantage, If they couldn''t find someone, it would be nearly impossible...


    Shakira said slowly, "I know where he is, but the information from that ce is really tight, making it hard to find him." was shocked and instinctively nced at Shakira''s hands. "Matthew is your...


    Shakira shrugged. You could say he''s my mentor.


    Kyle''s expression froze. The calm and gentle young man couldn''t hide his surprise. "To be so casual about it, calling him ''that old guy'' and ''mentor...


    Kyle slowly put the pieces together. "No wonder your acupuncture skills are so incredible, able to treat leg injuries that leave other famous doctors stumped. With Matthew around, Walter''s leg will heal quickly!" "Yeah, hopefully." At first, Shakira hadn''t wanted to bother him. That old man and his friends were all about enjoying life,pletely cut off from the world. They wouldn''t want to deal with outside problems. Even if she wanted to find Matthew, it wouldn''t be easy.


    Shakira nodded thoughtfully and then


    Kyle a knowing look. "If there''s more, just spill it."


    Kyle was taken aback. "Am I that obvioued, can still pick up on your emotions if I pay close attention," Shakira analyzed.


    "Even though you seem calm and


    Heughed helplessly. "There''s actually something else... You''re hiding your identity from Walter?"? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Shakira replied without missing a beat, "What identity do I even have?"


    Kyle was at a loss for words. .He knew


    they had to keep things under wraps. His expression grew serious. "After Walter got hurt, he asked us to look for Matthew, but he also wanted us to keep an eye on someone." "I know, the woman, right? Isn''t he supposed to have found her already?"


    "It''s about the owner of that shell ne, the one he went through thick and thin with-the ''Fox.""


    Kyle''s voice dropped low. "And Berry has that ne. Walter thinks she''s the Fox."


    Shakira suddenly understood. "So that''s the deal."


    "How did your ne end up with Berry?"


    "A lot of my things were stolen by Yvette, and I guess she gave that ne to Berry a long time ago. It was probably just a coincidence." Just thinking about it, Shakira could figure out what had happened. She could easily guess that, knowing Yvette''s selfish and domineering nature, she must have realized she couldn''t pull off a fake herself, so she pushed the favor onto Berry. That way, she could use Berry to get something good from Walter while keeping Shakira in check-killing two birds with one stone. Seeing her so calm, Kyle started to feel uneasy. "You''re not mad that Berry is impersonating you?"


    "What''s there to be mad about? Besides..." Shakira''s lips curled slightly, a spark in her eyes. "If she has the guts to impersonate, she better be ready to face the consequences when she gets caught."


    Kyle stared at her, caught off guard. He felt like Shakira was different now-she seemed more confident, brighter, and


    wilder.


    After stepping out of Veiled Vine, Shakira opened her phone and saw several messages from Xanthe: [Oh no! Shakira''s n failed! My old man didn''t seed...]

 Chapter 74

    Shakira typed back: [Weren''t you confident about it?]


    Xanthe replied quickly: [Who knows? Damn it, Yvette''s grandpa actually has a favor from Mr. Joyce. Mr. Joyce has worked with my family so many times, and to return the favor, he turned us down!] Yvette''s grandpa?'' A A fleeting cold glint crossed Shakira''s eyes. Meanwhile, the impatient Xanthe couldn''t wait any longer and called her.


    Shakira had no choice but to pick up.


    As soon as she answered, Xanthe''s panicked scream sted through the phone, "Ahhh, Shakira, what do I do? I''m going to explode! I can already picture Yvette''s smug face!"


    Shakira


    quietly moved the phone away from her ear. That screech was terrifying. "Stay calm."


    Xanthe was anything but calm. "Can''t you just panic a bit?"


    Shakira smiled lightly, "There''s no point in panicking, and Mr. Sullivan gave up that quickly?"


    "The old


    The I man did say he wants to to keep trying, but I just don''t think there''s much hope. The Smith family not only has connections but also the Nelson family backing them up. Even a fool would pick them." Well, you''re just boosting someone else''s ego and killing your own spirit. Not my problem."


    Before Xanthe could freak out again, Shakira chuckled, "Have your uncle keep trying. Whether it works or not, just getting under Lago''s skin is good enough."


    "What good would that do? When theynd the project, they''ll probablye back andugh at my dad!"


    The taxi sped through the streets of Crescentville. Neon lights shed by the window, casting shifting shadows on Shakira''s face.


    Her voice dropped a little, hiding deep emotions. "Lago won''tnd the project. Just rile him up, put somepetitive pressure on him to increase his investment costs, and he''ll end up with nothing." Xanthe was confused. "What do you mean? I don''t get it."


    "Not


    t understanding is probably for the best. Just act cute with Mr. Sullivan-that''s your job. As for Mr. Sullivan''s business, who knows? He might even get lucky and hear good news."


    "Huh?"


    Shakira didn''t care if Xanthe understood. She hung up and messaged Sean, then turned to look out the window.


    She rolled down half the window, and the warm summer breeze flowed in, feeling great Shakira lifted her hand, letting her fingers savor the realness of the moment. It felt good to be alive... She intended to get everything back from those who wronged her in her past life, one by one, with interest!


    *****


    When the three of them got home, Mitchell jumped up from the living room where he''d been anxiously waiting. "Dad, Finn, what happened?"


    Yvette followed behind, looking downcast, and couldn''t help but quietlyin, "Mitchell, don''t let your sister fool you..."


    O


    Mitchell looked at her. "What do you mean?"


    Reba and Selena also turned their curious gazes towards her


    Yvette bit her lip, her eyes red, and nced nervously at Finn.


    Finn took off his gold-rimmed sses, rubbing his tired eyes, and quickly summarized what happened.


    After hearing him out, Selena was the first to lean on her cane and angrily shout, "This is ridiculous! This troublemaker just won''t let us go! I knew she wouldn''t easily cut ties with us; she''s just trying to wear us down!"


    I


    "Oh dear, how did we end up with such a jinx? If I had known, we shouldn''t have let her grow up!" Reba looked a bit Ia bit embarrassed, biting her lip in silence, her face showing anger.


    Cody remained serious. "She''s just a girl; she can''t cause much trouble."


    But Mitchell didn''t believe that. Simr things had happened too many times before... Every time, they had misunderstood her. This time, instead of joining his family in resenting and doubting Shakira, he believed in her even more. wanted to say something else, but Cody shot him a look. "Business decisions are up to Finn. Stay out of it!" As the eldest brother, Finn said to the gloomy Mitchell, "Come with me." The two brothers went to sit in the pavilion in the backyard. and I looked at his younger brother, curious. "Why are you defending Shakira this time?" believe in her "


    Michas much colder a


    Finn was


    "I just... believe a blind decisions isn''t wise."


    Mitchell, making blind


    "I know, but Finn, don''t you find it suspicious?" Mitchell couldn''t help but point out, "Shakira is so smart; she''s not dumb. If she wanted to hurt our family, she could do it without leaving a trace, so why be so obvious?"


    Finn frowned, saying nothing.


    Mitchell continued, "And she said it was to return a favor that she told me. I only helped her by chance; if I hadn''t gone to her, she might not have given me a hint. Maybe this project really does have issues?" Finn thought for a moment before speaking softly, "I had strong feelings about this project, but after tonight, I''ve definitely got more doubts." Mitchell pressed for the reason.


    Finn shook his head, showing some helplessness on his face. "Like you, it''s just a gut feeling." "What?"


    "I''ve never really dealt with Yvette''s biological parents. This coboration is my first time getting deep into it. He came to my office a few times before, and I didn''t like the look in his eyes-there''s always this greed. And tonight, at the dinner, he was way too eager to please, trying too hard. From my years of experience in business, he seems all about the money and doesn''t care about anything else. Sure, having a partner like that might bring in some quick profits, but for long-term -coboration, you''ve got to be on guard around someone ke him." Mitchell blurted out, "Finn, you think Lago''s not trustworthy too, right?"Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    like


    Finn raised an eyebrow. "Really? When have you dealt with him?


    Mitchell almost bit his tongue. He nearly let slip about Yvette... He can''t tell Finn that Lago has been secretly giving Yvette


    M


    Shakira''s stuff. "I, I can just see it, Finn. We''re brothers after all; I can read people pretty well!"


    Finn quipped. "You can read people? News to me!"


    Mitchell thought, ''Why does Finn''s tone sou


    just back out of the deal?"


    3


    just like Shakira''s "Since you think Lago''s not trustworthy, maybe we should


    Finn didn''t reply right away, just said, "Let''s wait and see." After a moment, he seemed curious, "Weren''t you always not fond of Shakira? Why the sudden interest now?"


    now?"


    princely that I''m interested. I just... feel sorry for her." His voice caught, and he


    Mitchell''s expression shifted awkwardly, "It''s not sounded a bit down, "Yvette is like a litt With foster parents like Lago and Jessie, it''s


    in our house, but Shakira has never had a good life in the Smith family. no she''s got a bad attitude and is rebellious."


    onde


    Finn was surprised that Mitchell was trying to empathize with Shakira. This was something the pampered younger brother had never done before. He thought for a moment and replied, "I get what you mean. I''ll think it over."


    0

 Chapter 75

    The Nelson family restaurant has a beautiful European-style terrace that looks out over the backyard. Yvette used the excuse of getting hot milk toe over here.


    But after trying for a long time, she couldn''t catch a single word of the conversation between the two brothers. Yvette was really annoyed. ''What kind of spell has Shakira cast on Mitchell? Why is he defending her so much now!'' Just then, Yvette received a message on her phone, and a cold smirk crept into her jealous eyes. ''Shakira, let''s see how long you can keep this up!''


    In the following days, all thepanies interested in bidding for the Southville development were secretlypeting and pulling all sorts of tricks to ensure they secured the project.


    Shakira was also super busy, arranging hot baths and acupuncture for Walter. She thought Walter wouldn''t cooperate with the treatment, but surprisingly, he was the one who asked her when she could give him acupuncture. When she first heard it, she was taken aback, "Are you getting hooked on the needles?"


    Walter''s handsome face turned dark with anger.


    Shakira quickly decided not not to


    Walter''s leg had been injured Joke around anymore and got serious. "Actually, I want to stabilize your cold condition before treating your leg injury. Once that''s under control, the treatment will go better."


    I for over half a year; he wasn''t in a rush. Besides, he somehow trusted Shakira''s abilities. "Alright, we''ll go with what you said."


    "Great! So three hot baths a week, with about ten sessions in total. After soaking for half an hour, we''ll do the acupuncture. Can we start around nine every other evening?" After saying that, Shakira murmured to herself, "Wait, I forgot you need to rest by ten. That might affect your sleep. But I But I have apetitioning up, and I need to attend a simtion ss after school, so I''ll be back a bitter..." "Let''s stick to this schedule; I can make it work."


    This arrangement gave Shakira more time to breathe. Before she knew it, only two days were left before the bidding.


    Shakira learned from Xanthe that the Smith family was feeling confident about the bidding. In contrast, Xanthe had lost all faith and was feeling down. She told Xanthe to cheer up Enrique at home; until the bidding was over, anything could happen.


    After ss, Shakira walked out of campus as usual. She needed to stop by a privateb to pick up the results for Walter''s pain medication, which she had sent for testing. As she stepped out, she sensed something off and turned to look back. Behind her were groups of students leaving campus; nothing seemed unusual.


    Shakira turned back and hailed a taxi. Once the taxi drove off, a van slowly crept out from around the corner, stealthily following the taxi. Inside a nearby business car, an assistant watched the situation and quietly reported, "Mr. Nelson, Ms. Nelson is being followed." Finn looked up from his documents, frowning. "Follow them."


    Theb was located in a quieter area of the new district, almost deserted at the entrance. Shakira asked the driver to wait a bit and paid him in advance, then quickly walked into theb. The van parked closely behind and out stepped six intimidating, muscr men, charging aggressively toward the taxi. But before they got too close, a ck business car spun around and blocked their path.


    Finn rolled down the window. "Before you go after my sister, why don''t we have a little chat?"


    *****


    08:21


    Shakira arrived at theb and headed straight to the office of the senior manager. Jasmin Sullivan, who had looked serious earlier, jumped up to close the door as soon as she saw Shakira. "You finally made it! That thing you asked me to test... Oh my god, it almost scared me to death!" Shakira raised an eyebrow. "Was theposition what I guessed?"


    "No! There''s an anesthetic ingredient in it, and it''s banned here because it has a very serious side effect, which is..."


    Shakira took theposition report from him, her expression turning grave. "Using it in excessive amounts can lead to addiction."


    Jasmin nodded rapidly. "Luckily, I personally tested it in a private office. No one else knows. If this leaks, you''ll be in big Jasmin nodded rapidly. "Luckily, I personally tested it in a pr


    trouble!"


    "Whether I''m in trouble is up for debate, but someone definitely is," Shakira said, tossing the report into the shredder, watching it turn to scraps. She turned to Jasmin, who was staring at her with wide eyes, practically leaning in. Shakira couldn''t help but ask, "Aren''t you male? Don''t you like women?" Jasmin huffed. "I have an eye for beauty! You really are gorgeous Uncle-in-arms."


    Shakira took hisment as apliment. "You''re not bad looking either." She had only seen Jasmin twice, but he had the natural advantage of being a pretty boy, and he took great care of his appearance-something few women could rival.


    +6


    Ath


    At herpliment, Jasmin wasn''t happy. He covered his face, gazing at Shakira with a woeful expression. "You don''t know! I used to be even better looking! But two years ago, my master got the news about the ancient teacher recruiting disciples. He sat up in shock, dragging me back for training, insisting I couldn''t lose to the ancient teacher''s disciples..." Shakira organized her thoughts. "So it seems the training didn''t have the desired effect?"


    Jasmin


    minined, "Not at all! He just thinks I''m not manly enough for you. My master wouldn''t dare topare his medical skills with the ancient teacher." Shakira was speechless. ''So this mysterious senior brother has some self-awareness after all.'' Shakira took out a letter from her bag. "I have a letter for my master. At the end of the month, Uncle-in-arms will send someone to deliver the usual supplies; can you help me take it there?"ke Jasmin epted the letter. "No problem."


    As Shakira left theb, she noticed two tire marks on the ground that hadn''t been there before she entered. She looked around cautiously to make sure there was nothing unusual and then left.


    The bidding meeting for the Southville development was held at the official office. Eachpany could send only three representatives to the meeting, and there were twenty seats for public oversight, with the whole meeting being broadcast live. In the audience, Shakira sat at the veryst position, looking stunning with just a hint of makeup. Her naturally beautiful face now had a touch of allure, catching the eyes of many around. She scanned the room and noticed Finn and Lago sitting far apart, both wearing displeased expressions when they nced at each other. Shakira raised her eyebrows in surprise. Xanthe, who had no high hopes but came to watch the show, squeezed into the seat behind her.


    Seeing her look over there, Xanthe was also surprised. "Aren''t they supposed to attend the bidding together? Why are they separated? Do they n to bid separately for a better chance?"This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Shakira leisurely said, "Why don''t you mention that they couldn''t agree on the price?"

 Chapter 76

    This might have made Xanthe beam with joy; if it weren''t so quiet around, she would have pped her thighs in excitement. "Oh right! How did I not think of that? I need to ask my dad!" With that, Xanthe dashed off to find Enrique. Before long, Xanthe, who had just left smiling, returned with a serious expression. Shakira asked her, "What did your dad say?"


    "My dad just got the news too. The Nelson family and the Smith family were getting along just fine, but then the other night, Finn personally met with Lago and suddenly decided to back out of the deal, even paying a penalty fee. But the Nelson family had put in a bid themselves, so they just happened to be in the right ce at the right time." Shakira was surprised too. They had just canceled the partnership two days ago. Did they discover something they hadn''t noticed before? But then again, if they had noticed something, why not just drop Lago''s project team instead? ing, it seemed more like they couldn''t stand each other. Shakira thought about it and saw Arturo in the front row turn slightly to share a nce with Lago. Lago, without hesitation, shed a smile, and when Arturo looked away, Lago puffed ant!" Xanthe spat "Whether the Nelson family and the Smith family work together or not, they''re still Yvette''s parents." As soon as she said that, her expression changed slightly as she nced at Shakira. "Sorry, I didn''t mean anything by that, I just- Shakira''s expression didn''t change. "You''re right, they are her parents, but I wonder who she really favors."


    But looking at how t


    out his chest, look hings were going. I


    "Ugh, what a sycophant!" Xanthe spat


    Xanthe thought for a moment and blurted out, "She probably leans towards the Nelson family, since they''ve been together for over ten years."


    Shakira just smiled without saying anything.


    At that moment, Lago looked over at her. His expression twisted into something fierce and threatening, as if he wanted to swallow her whole.


    just


    Shakira didn''t even nce at him and j


    turned back.


    "That little brat really has nine lives!" Lago hissed, each word dripping with anger.


    Jessie, sitting next to him, looked anxious and muttered, "How did she get a ticket in the audience? I couldn''t even get one,"


    Instinctively, she tensed up. "What if she she did I something sneaky on the side?"


    "What if she did? That clueless little blonde can''t do anything to me. Who would she rely on? That useless heir from the Lopez family?" Lago scoffed. "Mr. Joyce already told me we''re practically guaranteed to win this!"


    He sneered at Finn from across the room. "That kid from the Nelson family is so clueless. Once our family gets even bigger and better, he''ll be begging me to coborate, and I still won''t want to!"


    Jessie sighed. "How could you not realize that getting someone to teach Shakira a lesson would get Finn''s attention? Yvette already told me Finn is really stubborn. Now he''s clearly set on opposing us, especially since he didn''t even bring Yvette along


    "Ha! What can that kid from the Nelson family do? Just because they have money doesn''t mean they can win this bidding!" Lago''s expression was wild with excitement. "If he won''t work with us, I won''t even care! Luckily, I have a lot of connections and managed to scrape together funding. As long as we get through this phase, all the profits from the project will be ours!" The host on stage finished exining the bidding rules and the meeting etiquette, and then they moved on to the opening of the bids. The bidders had already gotten the scoop through their connections, so this part didn''t excite anyone much.  GT. 08.23  0375%


    Finally, they reached the moment everyone had been waiting for-the bid announcement. The supervising staff opened the sealed bid documents and announced the contents aloud, recording everything for transparency. Once that was done, they moved on to the evaluation phase.


    Xanthe was already dozing off shortly after the bidding session began. She looked at Shakira in front of her, who was wide awake and paying close attention. Curiously, she asked, "Can you even understand this?" Shakira replied, "Can''t you?" "Wow, that stung."


    "I can''t understand it, and honestly, I don''t want to. If I hear that the Smith family won, I might just lose it." Xanthe let out a small sigh of relief. "At least Yvette''s not here; otherwise, I''d really embarrass myself." family is the main event today" Xanthe still seemed uninterested. She didn''t quite get why Shakira was so eager. It felt like she was absolutely sure the Smith family would lose badly this time..


    No need t to worry; the Smith


    The bid announcements continued on stage, and Shakira paid special attention. The first bidder was an established constructionpany, the second was the Sullivan family, and then it was the Nelson family''s turn.


    The Nelson family''s qualifications were outstanding and and matched the first two bidders. Then came the Smith family, who had slightly-less favorable conditions but offered a more flexible adjustment n.


    Finally, thest bidder was theirpetitor, who had taken their bidding documents in a past life. Shakira closed her eyes, deep in thought, listening carefully to the host''s announcement. The documents were consistent, the ns were the same, and the price... Suddenly, Shakira opened her eyes wide. Their quoted price was a full ten million less than the Smith family''s. Her eyes widened in shock. She couldn''t believe it. In the past, they lost out because their price was higher. Shakira abruptly turned to look at at Lago''s direction. The project manager for their bid was sitting right next to him.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    After the bid announcements ended, Lago linked arms with the manager, and the two of them wereughing loudly, as if they already knew they were the big winners before the evaluation even started. The atmosphere in the room brightened significantly as they entered the evaluation phase.


    Lago even swaggered over to Enrique. "Hey, Enrique, you''ve been so busytely you''ve lost a lot of weight! You''ll need new pants soon, right?"


    Without waiting for Enrique to respond, Lagoughed heartily. "Oh, I know what I''m saying-if you don''t get the project, how will you have time to buy new clothes?"


    Enrique snorted coldly,pletely ignoring Lago.


    Shakira was quite impressed with Enrique; he seemed veryposed,


    Just that...


    Xanthe was furious, clenching her fists. "That old loser, I''ll kill him!"


    Shakira held her back. "Just wait until the bids are announced."


    Lago not only showed off in front of Enrique but also turned to Finn next. "Hey, little Mr. Nelson, why don''t you listen to your dad! If you just hold on, we could work together and benene both families!" Before he could finish, the host''s voice rang out excitedly. The evaluation results are in! I announce that the winner of the Southville development bid is... Enriquel

 Chapter 77

    Lago


    shock.


    stood frozen, as if struck by lightning, Jessie and his department manager both turned pale, springing to their feet in


    ''How could it be Enrique? This bid was clearly theirs for the taking; it couldn''t be Enrique!*


    Apuse erupted in the room as the other bidders and the audience congratted the equally surprised Enrique. "Congrattions, Mr. Sullivan!"? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    "Congrats on winning the Southville development, Mr. Sullivan! Let''s coborate more in the future and make money together!"


    Enrique snapped back to reality, beaming with joy, his eyes nearly squinting into slits. "Thank you, everyone! I appreciate the congrattions. Let''smunicate and cooperate more in the future!"


    Finn slowly stood up, buttoning his jacket, and cast a cold nce at Lago, who was still frozen in shock. "Mr. Smith, it might be wise to be more cautious about unpredictable oues from now on." With that, he walked over to Enrique to congratte him.


    Jessie was crying uncontrobly, shaking Lago, who seemed paralyzed by shock. "Honey, say something! What''s going on?!"


    The manager''s expression was equally grim. If it weren''t for Lago putting everything he had on the line for this project, believing he could secure it and make a bigger profit in future contracts, I wouldn''t have turned down the olive branch from the otherpany. But now... I can''t believe I was blind enough to pick a useless fool!''


    "This can''t be happening! We agreed on thisst night-there''s no way!" Lago finally came to his senses. Suddenly remembering something, he rushed to the front desk, shouting, Mr. Joyce, you said-"


    Before Lago could finish, Arturo''s assistant yelled, "What are you doing? This isn''t the ce for your nonsense!"


    Lago snapped back to reality, realizing he almost let his anger get the better of him. But he still couldn''t ept it, ring intensely at Arturo. His eyes were bloodshot with rage. How could he ept this? He had borrowed over thirty million from loan sharks, and now that he lost the project, the daily interest was piling up-it meant all his hard work this year was for nothing!


    Arturo gestured for his colleagues to leave and stepped closer to Lago, trying tofort him. ''I know missing out on the bid hurts, but sometimes you just have to look ahead."


    Lago wasn''t ready to back down. "Mr. Joyce, you promised mest night!"


    Arturo lowered his voice, "This is an emergency. This morning, our city''s top leaders met with Sean, the president of Yonder Digital. Sean said they would support all smart projects in Southville for free, but only if they participated in this evaluation." He pointed to a room on the second floor, enclosed in champagne-colored ss. "That vote went to Enrique. Sometimes, you just have to ept it. Next time, III try to help you more."


    While saying this, Arturo pressed his palm down on Lago''s shoulder, applying a bit more pressure.


    Lago felt a sharp pain in his bones and sensed Arturo''s threat


    Arturo gave him onest intense look, waved his hand, and left the inner area.


    Lago couldn''t hold on any longer; his body went limp, and he copsed onto the floor....


    In the crowd, everyone was loud and boisterous, but Shakira paid them no mind. She was focused solely on Lago. She watched as he seemed so confident and cocky, then witnessed hisplete breakdown, like a shell of it person 08-24 Wed, Oct 23 GY


    The smile on Shakira''s lips only grew deeper, and soon, she everughed out loud. It had been a long time since she felt this happy.


    Shakira''s phone buzzed, and a message preview popped up.


    Sean: [Got it! Boss, you''re donating your entire year''s bonus to charity now!]


    Shakira replied: [No worries, I have other bonuses from differentpanies.]


    Scan:... Well, having money makes you special!]


    "Shakira!" Xanthe, who was so happy she was practically dancing suddenly remembered her and pulled her outside. "Hurry! Let''s go take a big group photo, then we can feast at the celebration banquet! My dad booked the most luxurious rotating restaurant in Crescentville. Let''s eat our fill!"


    Shakira struggled to keep up with Xanthe. Once they were outside, she spotted Cody and a few others nearby.


    Xanthe''s eyes twinkled mischievously as she pulled Shakira in a wide arc. "Wow, I can''t believe our family actually defeated the Nelson family from the top five wealthy families to win the bid! The Smiths were still bragging at the meeting, and now look-they''re totally embarrassed! How satisfying!" Shakira caught on to Xanthe''s intention and smirked slightly, choosing not to call her out.


    The Nelson family members red at them as they approached, their expressions growing cold. Yvette clenched her fists tightly.


    Xanthe shot Yvette a nce and raised her voice dramatically. "Hey, Shakira, did your mouth get some special magic? You said my dad''s business wouldnd good news, and look how quickly it came true! You really are our family''s great benefactor!" Enrique, hearing his daughter''s words, turned around and sincerely bowed to Shakira. He was overwhelmed with emotion, tears brimming in his eyes. "Xanthe is right! Ms. Nelson, you are truly our family''s treasure and good luck charm! If it weren''t for you encouraging Xanthe, I might have given up longago


    Enrique knew he hadgged behind others in the bidding and faced ridicule from Lago for his efforts. If it weren''t for his daughter''s support, he definitely would have quit.


    Shakira waved her hand, trying to decline, but Enrique and Xanthe nked her and pulled her to the center for a photo.


    The center spot has to be for Ms. Nelson!"


    Meanwhile, the Sullivan family was celebrating on the other side, while the Nelson family looked very gloomy. Selena was fuming at Enrique''s words calling Shakira a ''benefactor'' and ''good luck charm


    "What an ignorant fool! How can Shakira be considered a benefactor or good luck charm?" "She''s clearly a disaster-her involvement is what caused the Nelson family to lose the bid!'' Cody frowned, and Reba''s expression was equally.plicated. They didn''t say it out loud, but they were clearly frustrated watching the Sullivan family celebrate, wishing it were them who had won the bid


    Yvette''s voice was shaky, almost in tears as she could barely lift her head, fearing the disappointment in her family''s eyes. "I''m sorry, Dad, Mom, Grandma, Finn. It''s my fault. I never expected things would turn out like this. I feel like I let everyone


    down...


    Finn had decided two days earlier to abandon the project, so he ferpained calm. He suddenly said, "Actually, Enrique might be right. The reason they won the bid could very well be because of Shakira. We should have dropped out when Mitchell first suggested it." Yvette turned pale, feelingpletely alone without anyone tofort her.


    Cody was furious, "Then why didn''t she say something earlier? She''s turning her back on us!"


    Reba chimed in with herints. "Exactly! The Lopez family probably knew the inside scoop and chose not to bid. If Shakira had told us sooner, we wouldn''t have wasted our time here!"


    "She never considered that we might support our own people! The elderly woman was furious.


    Finn sighed, baffled by why the elders were being so unreasonable.


    Yvette listened as the discussion turned against Shakira, bitterness boiling inside her Shakira, what are you even worth? Her nails dug into her palm, and pain shot through her.

 Chapter 78

    ¦°


    78


    Shakira had talked so much that she finally convinced Xanthe to let her skip the celebration banquet and go homeUpstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Xanthe looked at Shakira and thought she was bing cuter. "Wow, I didn''t realize our connection was so special! Not long ago, I wanted to chop you up, but now I find you adorable and even want to kiss you!" Shakira grimaced. You''ve been brainwashed by Yvette too much."


    Speaking of Yvette made Xanthe even happier. "Did you see her face? She was so mad it was hrious!" Xantheughed until her stomach hurt, then pouted, "But seriously, why didn''t she go in with Lago? Watching her shocked expression would have been even better!" Shakira lowered her eyes and said softly. "Even if she did, she wouldn''t side with the Smith family. After all, she wouldn''t want to tip the bnce." Since Finn wasn''t cooperating with Lago, Yvette wouldn''t throw away the Nelson family for a small project. Yvette was no


    Tool.


    fool.


    Xanthe suddenly got it. "Ah, I see! Shakira, you''re so smart. Having you as a friend makes me smarter took


    Shakira raised an eyebrow and countered, "Since when did we be friends? I don''t recall that."


    Xanthe ignored her and wrapped her arms around Shakira''s neck. "Stop pretending to be cool. I know you need my amazing skills!"


    With that shameless attitude... Shakira couldn''t even argue back


    "That''s not right, Xanthe suddenly stared at her beautiful face, studying it closely for a while. "You even put on makeup today, and you''ve been encouraging my dad not to give up. Did you know something beforehand?"


    Shakira blinked, her expression surprisingly nk. "How could I know?"


    "Yeah, it is it is... This is official insider info. If Lago couldn''t win with Mr. Joyce backing him, what chance do you have?" Xanthe replied, looking at her knowingly. "Wait, you have Mr. Lopez, right?" She gave Shakira a look that said she wasn''t going to be fooled. "You''re Mr.


    Lopez''s ginnend, so you must know so "Xanthe, don''t say that I''m just his..."


    Shakira nearly choked, shoving her away.


    "I get it, his maid, right?" Xanthe nodded repeatedly. "I understand; it''s all part of your little game, I get it!"


    I


    Shakira was speechless. All she wanted to do was scream at the sky. You really didn''t understand!"


    Back at Easke Valley Estate, as soon as Shakira walked in, she heard chattering voicesing from inside. "Walter, I can definitely cure your leg this time! You know, I heard Matthew ising to Crescentville


    Shakira paused in her steps and quietly made her way to the living room. To her surprise, it was lively today-Fiona was there, and even Benji was around.


    "What? Matthew''sing? Is that true? Howe I didn''t hear about it?" Benji seemed more excited than Walter himself, jumping up from the sofa.


    Fiona was glowing with pride. She spoke softly to Walter but ha a more aloof attitude toward Benji "Of course you didn''t hear, Benji. Matthew''s return is very low-key-only a few top executives at Clusia Hospital know. My teacher has connections with Director Dong, Matthew''s junior, who helped me get the scoop" 08:24 Wer


    Benji didn''t seem bothered. That makes sense," he said, turning excitedly to Walter. "That''s awesome. Finn! Compared to everyone else''s excitement, Walter didn''t show much happiness on his face.


    Fiona knelt in front of Walter''s wheelchair, her eyes shimmering with emotion. "Walter, I will do everything I can to bring Matthew here to help you." replied calmly. "Thank you for your effort.


    Walter "It''s what I should do. Walter, don''t be polite Fiona smiled bashfully, then suddenly remembered something. Her gaze flickered, and she spoke in a sweet, high-pitched voice. "Walier, heard there''s a little maid helping you with your treatmenttely?" Seeing Walter stay silent, as if he was agreeing. Fiona grew anxious and urged, "Matthew can be a bit temperamental. He''s more about feelings when treating others. Walter, I worry he might mind having someone inexperienced treating you. That could really undermine his authority! What What if he finds out and refuses to treat you?" Just then, a small snicker came from behind her.


    Fiona instantly grew furious. "Who''sughing?" she snapped, turning around to see Shakira, who had emerged without her noticing. Shakira met her re without a hint of fear, making Fiona''s anger re even more. "Oh, look, Shakira, you dare show up in front of me again? I haven''t forgotten how you pushed me downst time!


    Shakira calmly raised her brows, feigning surprise. "Wow, Ms. Banks remembers my name? I wonder who was just being sarcastici


    Enough! Who gave you the


    e guts to be so arrogant in front of me?" Fiona stormed over, raising her hand to p Shakira. Benji couldn''t react in time and shouted, "Fiona, what are you doing?" wrist a


    away with force, sending her stumbling back.


    Shakira''s eyes turned cold, and she pushed Fiona''s


    Fiona stumbled back a couple of steps, her wrist stinging and swelling from the push. She immediately turned to Walter, crying in protest, "Walter, look at her! She''s getting more and more out of control-she even hit me!" "You had thating! Why would you mess with my future sister-inw?"


    Benji sighed in relief andughed at Flonds when she thought, "Well, now it''s not just Xanthe wanting to chop me up; it''s Fiona wanting to tear me to shreds.


    Shakira was about to tell him to stop talking wher


    Sure enough, Fiona covered her ears and screamed in disbelief. Ahh! Benji, have you lost your mind? Who did you say is your future sister-inw?!"


    Benji stood confidently next to Shakira, saying, "Who else could it be but her?" Then he turned to Shakira and added, "Don''t worry, sis. I was just a bit slow to react. If Fiona wants to fight you, I''ll kick her away in a heartbeat!"


    His tant double standard is just too obvious. Shakira facepalmed. This shy little brother, Walter, really makes her want to kick him away!"


    Fiona simply couldn''t ept it. She clutched her head, feeling like she was about to go insane from Shakira and Benji''s antics. She turned to Walter for help again, saying, "Walter, you''ve got to scold Benji! He''s totally brainwashed by Shakira! How could Shakira possibly be-" "What does this have to do with you?" Walter interrupted her calmly. "Fiona, who do you think you are to question me?" Seeing the cold, indifferent man in front of her, Fiona burst into tears, "Walter, I''m trying to help you!"


    I don''t need it Walter replied coldly, his demeanor even more frigid. "And who told you Shakira is treating me?"

 Chapter 79

    ¦°


    The man exuded a natural domineering presence, filled with a fierce anger that shocked Fiona, who had hoped to findfort from him. The room echoed with gasps as Walter''s fury swept through. Fiona felt guilty and stuttered, "Walter, I just heard the maids talking... Walter pressed her. "Which maid?" Fiona''s lips trembled, "L. I can''t remember... W-Walter, please don''t do this! I''m scared...!" Tears didn''t sway him in the least.


    Walter ordered Levi, "Check the security footage. Bring in every maid who has interacted with her, one by one, so she cant identify them." His voice was filled with icy ruthlessness. "If she likes gossiping about the family, let her go back and chat all she wants!"


    Fiona waspletely terrified, too scared even to cry now. She dared not say another word to Walter, fearing it might provoke his unpredictable wrath again.


    Walter i


    I


    ignored them and headed upstairs. After he left, the oppressive atmosphere in the living room gradually eased.


    Even Benji was patting his chest, mumbling to himself, I''ve never seen Finn this angry at Fiona before." Shakira silently thought to herself, That''s nothing; when she first stepped into the vi and he nearly choked her, that was way scarter!" He scratched his chin and suddenly brightened up, looking excitedly at Shakira. "I revenge! Wow, I never knew my brother could be so thoughtful what a revtion!" et in Finn is helping his sister-inw get


    Shakira thought, ''Now I understand why Benji''s past girlfriends always have nice things to say about him. He''s such a love-struck fool; no wonder they all adore him!" Looks like the Lopez family is quite fair Walter got the brains, and Benji got the emotional smarts, perfectly bnced. Meanwhile, the Nelson family is a mess-Selena''s lost her mind, and Mitchell''s brain is elsewhere. What a disaster! "No way! Benji, have


    you


    lost your mind? Are you being yed by Shakira?" Fiona saw her chance to show off again while Benji was distracted.


    Benji had long since disliked her attitude, always acting like she owned the ce. If it weren''t for their grandfather enjoying herpany, he wouldn''t bother with her. He stuck his tongue out at her, imitating Walter''s previous tone. "What does that have to do with you?" Fiona was furious, her eyes nearly popping out. "Ah! I''m so mad right now!


    Levi approached, speaking with calm authority, "The maids are waiting by the door, Ms. Banks. Pleasee with me."


    Fiona bit her lip and shot Shakira a fierce re, reluctantly following her outside. Soon, Shakira heard the maid''s cries for help and Fiona''s disgusted insults echoing from outside.


    Shakira furrowed her brow and headed straight upstairs. She knocked on the study door and, hearing a man''s voice from inside, pushed the door open. Walter was on the extended terrace, his expression nk as he watched Fiona bossing Levi around, forcing the used maid out. Shakira spoke softly, a hint of hoarseness in her voice, "She''s innocent." It was obvious to anyone with eyes acting all high and mighty, treating the situation like a trivial matter.


    know."


    I know.


    that Fiona was


    Shakira clenched her fists. Then why are you letting Levi throw her out? She''s the maid responsible for Baby Fishy, Fiona wouldn''t dare go near the crocodile pool; how could she possibly have bothered her?" It was rare for Shakira to be this emotionally charged..


    Walter frowned slightly and turned his wheelchair around.


    Shakira''s eyes shed with a moment of panic and disappointment, but she quickly turned her face away, hiding the emotions she had identally revealed.


    Walter I looked surprised.


    din. The information department found that Aunt Li''s son has been making transactions with Ms. Banks recently."


    "Mr. Lopez." Brian walked in,


    "Alright, I get it. Tell Levi to handle it."


    !


    "Yes." Brian nodded and, noticing the tense atmosphere between Walter and Shakira, left without saying more, closing the door behind him


    Walter noticed Shakira''s face showing clear surprise and frustration. He smirked coldly. "What, did you think I''d just recklessly deal with an innocent maid and curse me in your mind?* Shakira blurted out, "No way!"


    Walter stared at her, his face saying he didn''t believe her.


    Shakira pouted, "I only cursed you once."


    "Go on


    "Are you really that eager to hear it?" Shakira instinctively stepped back, "I didn''t say anything: are you just looking for a reason to throttle me?"


    it."


    Say it.


    Shakira swallowed hard, exhaling slowly, and finally confessed, I called you an idiot"


    Walter raised his hand as if to throttle her out of anger.


    Shakira quickly covered her neck. "Mr. Lopez, hold on! III handle it myself!"


    Walter snorted, "Ifl w


    I was easy on you


    you, I''d have more reason to choke you!"


    Realizing she was in the wrong, Shakira waved her hands in indignation, "Alright, I admit it! I overlooked your extraordinary brilliance and unmatched wisdom! How could I possibly be fooled by Fiona''s little tricks!"


    Walter rolled his eyes at her ttery. It was getting more polished with eachpliment. He steadied his expression and looked deeply into Shakira''s eyes. "When you see that maid being wrongly used, you''re reminded of your own past experiences. It''s not that you feel sorry for her; you''re feeling sorry for your past self. He said this with certainty.


    Shakira paused for a moment, then slowly lowered her hands. A self-deprecating smile crept onto her face. "Maybe that''s true. But honestly, I feel more foolish. I''ve been hurt time and again, yet I still wait and hope they''ll notice me and give me some warmth. But that''s impossible. If they can''t see you, they won''t ever notice you."This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Seeing her darkened expression, Walter''s thoughts shifted. After some consideration, he said what he thought was aforting line, "Don''t dwell on the past, Being foolish for a moment doesn''t mean you''ll be foolish forever."" Shakira was speechless, thinking, ''Should I even thank you for that?


    Noticing her expression retuning to normal, Walter suddenly said. "You heard everything Fiona said in the living room earlier.''


    Shakira was surprised, "You knew I had alreadye back?" Then she realized it was a pointless remark; he used to hear her sneaking up on him from twenty meters away in the jungle, even with his eyes closed.

 Chapter 80

    Walter looked at her with a knowing expression, "How do you feel about asking Matthew to treat me


    Shakira was confused. Isn''t that a normal thing to do? What''s there to consider? Wait... Her lips curled into a sly smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief, "Are you worried someone will rece me and make me angry?"


    Walter frowned. Although that wasn''t his initial thought, it could make sense to exin it that way. But the word ''worried- he scoffed at it. Why would I be worried about Shakira? Still, he didn''t refute her; he somewhat epted that notion. Shakira''s smile deepened, nearly crooked now, "Hey, if someone can help lighten my load, I''d be thrilled!" After all, I can''t exactly say that I''m not sure myself; so Lasked the old man for help, right?" Walter narrowed his eyes at her for a moment before sneering coldly, "Shakira, you''re trying to dodge responsibility"


    Shakira''s eyes widened, almost bursting out with a curse. "I am not!" Realizing the dangerous gaze Walter was locking onto her, she quickly backtracked, trying to please him, Tm just happy for you! Even though I''d love to help you heal your leg myself, if there''s a more skilled expert who can get you back on your feet sooner, I''d be really happy!"? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Walter stared at her intensely. "You''d better remember this: you owe me. If you don''t treat my leg, you have to stick around to make it up to me


    Shakira nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes, you''re right, Mr. Lopez Typical capitalist, not letting even a bit of lettuce go to waste. Once I''m done with what I need to do, you think you can find me again? Not a chance! She quickly found an excuse and made a hasty exit. Walter watched her flee like she was being chased by a dog, silently scoffing. He was about to maneuver his wheelchair when his wrist identally brushed against his knee, triggering a reflex. He froze, realizing he hadn''t felt anything for a long time, Even the slightest change had never happened, during his six months of treatment! Walter pressed his palm against his knee." a rare look of joy appearing on his face.


    "Yvette, please help us! Save the Smith family! We just need 2 million, Yvette, just 2 million! If I don''t pay them back soon, they really will cut off my hand


    The Smith family was in a frenzy after a mix of anger and helplessness. Lago was desperate, determined to secure the project he had his eyes set on. After borrowing tens of millions, he immediately bought a luxury car, several antiques, and even ordered a pool full of koi worth over a million! What he thought would be a rise to sess had all shattered into pieces. overnight! Now, looking at the ever-increasing interest rates and hearing about the thugs showing up at his door after his failed bids, Lago was scrambling to borrow money, trying to patch the hole he''d dug for himself. Despite his desperate pleas and bending over backward to beg everyone, no one was willing to help! Even the antique vase he bought for millions had no buyers! Not even a pawn shop would take it!


    "Mr. Smith, it''s not that I don''t want your antique vase, but... think about who you''ve upset recently. Nobody is going to take your stuff off your hands anytime soon, except maybe your family!"


    Lago was on the brink of madness. Which bastard is plotting against me in the shadows? It must be one of thosepetitors who can''tpete fairly and hides behind backhanded tricks! I need to pull myself together; I can still make it big again and crush those lowlifes!'' With no other choice, Lago called Yvette back, begging her with tears.


    Yvette looked at Lago with disgust. He was a mess, eyes ringed with dark circles and stubbly facial hair. ''Remember how the Nelson family was struggling? Cody and Finn still managed to keep theirposure. Rural folk, no matter how much money they made, would neverpare to those raised in nobility 08-24 Wed, Oct 23


    Yvette pushed his hand away, "2 million? You can kill me, but I can''t give you that much!"


    "Dad knows you''re broke, but Cody, Finn, and the others have money!" Lago''s eyes sparkled with greed. "You''ve got five brothers who give you pocket money every year. Those jewelry and luxury items must add up! Yvette, you have to help me! Otherwise, they really, really will cut off my hand!"


    When Yvette heard Lago say this, it felt like a fairy tale. Am I out of my mind? That''s my own money, my savings from all these years! Why should I just give it to Lago? No way!"


    "Absolutely not!" Yvette shot back firmly, noticing Lago''s face twist in distress. She quickly put on a pitiful look. "Dad, you know Shakira''s always watching me, just waiting for a chance to put me down, right? Remember when the Nelson family had a crisis? I didn''t sell off any of their gifts for cash. If they find out I sold their presents to give you money, what would they think of me? They won''t be nice to me anymore! And I still want to help the Smith family with some things; will I even have that chance?"


    As she spoke, Yvette began to tear up, feeling heartbroken and helpless. "I want to help you, seeing you like this hurts me too, but what can I do? This all happened because of Shakira! If she hadn''t jumped in and told Mitchell and Finn not to bid. Finn would have sent someone to follow Shakira and found out about you!" Tears streamed down her face. "Now Mitchell and Finn are both siding with Shakira. I''m already so upset, and you''re still pushing me like this..."


    Lago listened, his expression darkening inch by inch. "Yeah, it''s all Shakira''s fault! That little witch has ruined everything for


    mel


    "Right... Dad, if you really need my help. I''ll do whatever you say. You''re my biological father, without you, there wouldn''t be a Yvette today! If you want me to sell everything, just say the word. I don''t care what the Nelson family thinks of me or the consequences-Ill go all out!"

 Chapter 81

    81


    As Yvette stood there, her unwavering determination was just as she said-she was ready to give up everything for Lago


    Earlier, Lago had begged Shakira for help, but now, it was Shakira who had offered to help him, and Lago hesitated. After thinking it over... Yvette is right. I came from nothing, living in a big vi and running apany now. How did I get here By using Yvette to gain favor with the Nelson family! I''ve raised someone else''s daughter for years. If Yvette loses the Nelson family''s support, all my efforts will be wasted Sering Lago silent. Yvette let out a breath of telief. She knew he wasn''t foolish enough to jeopardize the long-term rtionship with the Nelson family over a short-term crisis!


    Just then Jessie, who had been eavesdropping outside, couldn''t wait to burst in. She had been anxious for days, fearing Lago might get hurt and that their current good fortune would vanish, leaving her embarrassed in front of her wealthy friends. She grabbed Lago''s arm and shook him, "What are you waiting for? Say something! Our daughter is here to help your Lago snapped back to reality, his expression suddenly changing. He swung his arm and pped Jessie hard across the face, sending her crashing to the floor.


    His eyes were bloodshot, making him look like a terrifying beast ready to pounce. "You idiot! Do you want the Nelson family to turn against our daughter?" Lago vented his anger, now seeming more stable than before. "Yvette, you''re right. Thanks for reminding me. I almost messed everything up!"


    A grateful smile spread across Yvette''s face. "Dad, I''m d you see it clearly." She paused, then suggested, "If you can''t sell those antiques you just bought, give them to me. Felix ising back soon, and I can use them as gifts. Felix is always reluctant to let me spend money, so he''ll definitely send me the full amount back. Then I''ll give the money to you, and everyone wins."


    Lago still worried Yvette might side with the Nelson family and hesitate to bring money home. But hearing her idea made him quite pleased. Blood is thicker than water, my own daughter is definitely on my sider "Right, you can sell them to Felix But that''s a long shot. I need to think of a way to deal with this immediate issue..."


    Yvette lowered her gaze and fell silent, leaving only Jessie sobbing quietly on the floor, covering her face.


    After a while, Lago mmed his hand on the table, "It''s all that little witch''s fault! If it weren''t for her, I wouldn''t be in this


    mess!


    Hearing this. Yvette raised an eyebrow and said softly, "If it''s all your sister''s fault, why not have her pay for it?"


    "That little brat wants to give me money?! That''s impossible!


    "Dad, some money doesn''t necessarily require her willingness."


    Lago frowned, "You mean..."? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Yvette didn''t answer but changed the subject. "A few days ago, Joe got beat up at school by Mitchell because he told your sister he had feelings for her."


    "What?! Joe, that punk, what does he mean? Does he want to ditch you and be with that little brat instead?!"


    Lago saw Joe as a sort of future son-inw. After the Ortiz family learned about Yvette''s background, Lago had secretly benefited from connections through this potential son-inw. Now that Shakira had swooped in and taken what was rightfully his, Lago was furious! Yvette spoke softly, "Joe is a good person; how could we me him? The real issue is your sister! If she had any feelings for Joe, it would only be because she liked the Ortiz family. If she had a more reliable option, she wouldn''t try to ruin things between Joe and me," she subtly revealed.  GT.


    Just as Yvette finished speaking, Lago suddenly had a lightbulb moment and smacked his forehead in frustration. "Right! How did I not think of that? I can sell her off! When I took her to parties before, a bunch of big bosses gave me their cards. If she hadn''t refused to go, I could have made a fortune by now! She''s caused me so much trouble; whether she wants to or not, she must help me carn that money back!" Lago''s eyes were filled with greed and a twisted sense of purpose.


    When Yvette returned to the Nelson family, she was in a good mood, humming a little tune. After getting out of the car, she ordered the maid to take the antique vases from the trunk to Felix''s room.


    "Yvette" Mitchell stepped out from inside, his gaze sweeping over the vases she brought back. He had just left Finn''s study and learned some things about Lago. He now knew Lago had borrowed arge sum of money before securing the project and spent it extravagantly, racking up debts in the millions. Yvette had gone to the Smith family ande back with these things, even delivering them to the Felix''s room. How could Mitchell not see through it?


    His face darkened as he approached Yvette, lowering his voice. Yvette, Lago is reaping what he sowed. Are you really going to let the fourth son waste his money on him?"


    Feeling exposed. Yvette became angry and flustered. "Mitchell! What''s wrong with you? Do you want me to just watch my own father be cornered by those bad guys, having his hands and feet cut off?"


    "And you? Haven''t you changed!" Mitchell looked at her, disappointment evident in his eyes. He took a couple of steps back and couldn''t help but ask, "Just because he''s your dad, doesn''t that mean we aren''t siblings?" Yvette''s heart sank! She was scared Mitchell would cause a scene and attract attention, so she quickly pulled him into the backyard.


    "Mitchell, please, help me one more time! Just one more time? In an instant, Yvette was crying, Thave no choice! He begged me, even hurting himself! Mitchell, Felix, you''re my family, and so is he!" Tears streamed down her face as she felt wronged. "I know I shouldn''t let my family pay for his mistakes, Mitchell, just give me time. Thepany has already started getting me new projects. Once I make some money, no matter how much, I promise to pay Felix back. Please, I''m begging you!"


    Seeing her cry so heartbreakingly. Mitchell felt numb inside. He didn''t know when his little sister had be so unfamiliar. He thought it was just a temporary mistake, but now... he couldn''t control his feelings anymore; he couldn''t trust her unconditionally again. "Fine, but this is what you said. Mitchell grabbed her hand and pushed it away. "Yvette, don''t let me down again."


    "Mitchell, I promise I will pay you back! Trust me!"


    Mitchell turned and walked away. Yvette slowly wiped her tears and put on a smile, trying to look brave. What''s wrong with me? I shouldn''t have cried like this; it was so humiliating! I''m not the same Yvette anymore!"


    Shakira increasingly felt that life was getting tough. ''Dealing with Walter at Easke Valley Estate is hard enough. At school.... I can''t shake off these two nuisances!'' Xanthe was following her around like a lucky star, while Mitchell was even more ridiculous, iming his actions had forced Finn to abandon Southville Project. Now, he expected her to put the past behind them and ept him. He even said... "Hey, you haven''t called me Mitchell in a while, right? It feels nostalgic, why don''t you call me?"

 Chapter 82

    5%


    were fixated on


    Hearing this unreasonable request, Shakira took a deep breath. Her delicate, fair face and those clear eyes wer the smug Mitchell, and all she felt was indifference. She curled her lips into a mocking smile. "Do you think I''m your dog? If you want to hear me call you, you''ll have to make me." Mitchell, who was joking around, realized something was off and let his smile fade. "I didn''t mean it like that; I just..."


    "Yes, you just said it casually. You think your esteemed status as Mr. Lopez from the Nelson family gives you the right tomand others?" She shot back. Just like right now, it''s you telling me not to call you Mitchell, and yet you want me to call you!" Shakira recalled her first day back with on family. She had stood in the living room, anxious and out of ce among them on the sofa.


    the


    the


    Perhaps too much time had passed, and Shakira had forgotten how brave she had to be just to speak up back then. But after she called out just once, Mitchell had stood up in disgust. "Shut up! My only sister is Yvette; you''re not allowed to call me brother!" Clearly, Mitchell was now reminded of that moment, and his smile disappearedpletely. He felt a mix of annoyance, regret, and humiliation....


    He was overwhelmed, even a bit panicked, wanting to plead for forgiveness. "Shakira, I didn''t mean it; don''t be mad. If you don''t want to call me, then don''t."


    "Listen, you''re ordering me around again. Why shouldn''t I be mad?" Shakira interrupted him, still mocking, her voice cold as ice. Her gaze felt like a blizzard, sending chills straight to the heart.


    Just


    like when I was at the Nelson family, everything I could or couldn''t do depended on your whims. I used to be such apdog, even if you humiliated me for myck of manners or called me rebellious and malicious. Just calling out ''grandma was enough to make the elderly matriarch lose her appetite. You''re so high and mighty; how could I dare to taint your ears with my words?" "L.." Shakira''s every word made Mitchell unable to lift his head. The tall man appeared defeated, slightly swaying. After a long while, he finally took a deep breath. Suddenly, he raised his hand and pped himself hard across the face. Mitchell opened his


    The sound of the p echoed throughout the canteen, leaving all the surrounding students stunned, staring in shock as Mitchell''s self-inflicted strike drew blood from the corner of his mouth.


    mouth again, his voice hoarse and dark, "I''m sorry"


    Shakira showed no response; she didn''t acknowledge his apology. ''Now you say sorry? It''s toote!


    "I''m sorry, I''m sorry. I will take responsibility for the mistakes I''ve made," Mitchell said, gazing deeply at her cold expression. "I will do my utmostjo make it up to you, whether you ept or reject it, the decision is yours. After saying this, he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, leaving a ring stain on his hand.


    He stood up, holding his tray, and before leaving, he said, "The name Mitchell... I will wait for the day you are willing to call


    iL


    After saying this, as if afraid of hearing Shakira''s rejection and disdain, he quickly walked away.


    Shakira seemed unaffected, ignoring the astonishedments of those around her. She poked at her cold, hardened rice ball and continued to eat.


    After taking two bites, a small tuft of hair appeared in her view. Frowning. Shakira turned to see Xanthe sitting nearby, covering her mouth and whimpering.


    Once Xanthe released her hand, she cried loudly, her speech punctuated by hups. "Wah wah wah! I''m guilty too! That little witch Yvette, who said your parents and brothers should suffer, told me about this, and Iughed at with that fool


    you


    GY


    Berry. Wah wah wah. I''m so sorry, Shakira... Since Mitchell hit himself, can''t I just hit myself too? I pulled out a few strands of hair; please don''t be mad at me! Wooo....


    Shakira was speechless, thinking. "These two are truly two peas in a pod!"


    Her phone rang, it was Levi calling. Shakira picked up, and she heard Levi''s excited voice on the other end, "Ms. Nelson! Ms. Banks found Matthew for Mr. Lopez! He will meet with Matthew this afternoon. Do you want to go with him?" Found the old man? That''s impossible. If he came to Crescentville, how could I not have received any news? Shakira wondered. She quickly replied, "Levi, please give me the address, I''ll go this afternoon." "Sure!" Sure!


    Without dy, Shakira stopped eating and quickly walked outside. She got in the car and messaged Jasmin to inquire about the old man. However, Jasmin didn''t reply, and her phone was off; she must be in surgery. It didn''t matter, whether it''s the old man or not. I''ll know when I see him. The address Levi sent was in another upscale residential area near Easke Valley Estate. This area features luxurious homes co-developed by a high-end brand and Crescentville''s local real estate, all in apartment style, making it a popr choice for the new wealthy generation in recent years. Fiona a also had a residence here. Upon arriving at the apartment entrance, Shakira saw a disy of luxury brand shoes and bags in a crystal cab, confirming it was Fiona''s home. Only someone as showy as Fiona would dare to leave bags at the door and set up five or six cameras aimed at such trivial matters. Shakira pressed the doorbell, and after a while, someone insidezily answered the video call. "Tsk, what''s a little maid you doing here? Wherever Walter goes, you have to follow?" Fiona''s eyes were filled with disdain, leaving no room for Shakira''s refusal. "You should go back; my house doesn''t wee you." Shakira''s gaze darkened, "I''m here to see Mr. Lopez."


    "Walter is with Matthew right now, so he doesn''t have time for you, little maid." Fiona, like a victorious peacock, waved her hand arrogantly, "Bye..." with keen ears,


    Fiona''s bo


    heard a faint, familiar voice in the background Before Fiona could hang up, Shakira yelled at the top of her lungs, "Mr. Lopez! I''m at the door; someone let me in a''s heavily made-up smile instantly turned to frustration. "You Sure enough, a voice from the other side said, ''Let her in."


    Mimicking Fiona''s earlier expression, Shakira turned to her and said, "Ms. Banks, Mr. Lopez is looking for me."


    Fiona immediately cut off the video.


    A few secondster, the front door''s password lock popped open and Shakira walked in calmly. No one came to greet her. Luckily, when Sean helped her pick an apartment, he had sent her theyout, so she remembered some of it. She turned left and right, sessfully making her way to the living room. The people there were all present.


    Walter was sitting across from someone, but two servants blocked her view, preventing her from seeing clearly.


    "Mr.


    Lopez Shakira approached Walter''s side, smiled at him, and slowly turned to the sofa opposite.


    08:25


    08:25


    Wed, OctUpstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    This time, she finally got a clear look at Matthew.

 Chapter 83

    Rather than saying she saw "Matthew," it would be more urate to say she saw the elderly man before her wrapped up in strange clothing. He wore a mask and sunsses, with only his hands exposed. It was hard to tell his appearance, let alone his gender. Shakira''s gaze shifted downward, focusing on the man''s hands, which did look like those of an older gentleman. Shakira smirked, opening with a remark full of meaning. "Matthew, you truly deserve to be the number one doctor; you can even perform the basic diagnosis techniques while wearing sunsses"


    A hint of intrigue appeared on Walter''s otherwise expressionless face.


    As soon ¨¤ as Shakira entered the territory, Fiona radiated discontent. Hearing this sarcasticment, she immediately took it why personally, her face flushed with anger, filled with disdainful res and sharp voices. "You''re only good at acupuncture: would that impress What status does does Matthew have that allow like you to criticize him?" Oh? This youngdy can perform acupuncture?" "Matthew looked at Shakira with apparent surprise, his voice sounding muffled as if it wereing through severalyers of fabric.


    She could clearly feel the gaze behind the sunsses scrutinizing her.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    That gaze felt extremely unfamiliar.


    ''He''s not an old man at all; he''s a counterfeit scammer!'' Shakira''s smile deepened, carrying a hint of icy disdain. "I kriow a bit.


    "Well, that''s something. Nowadays, young people are so restless, brainwashed by Western medicine, and look down on the medical arts that have been passed down for thousands of years in our country. Your willingness to learn acupuncture shows you have some awareness," Matthew''s said with calmposure, seemingly unaffected by Shakira''s rudeness, even praising her, instantly elevating his stature as an elder.


    Fiona, however, was seething, "Matthew, don''t be fooled by her; she only knows some tricks; she''s not on the same level.


    Shakira nodded. "Yes, yes, Ms. Banks is right; I only know a little It''s just a bit better than the painkillers produced by the team Ms. Banks leads."


    Feeling her pride


    trampled by Shakira, Fiona''s face turned red with fury, wishing she could tear Shakira apart!


    "Come here." Just then, Walt Walter spoke i in a a deep voice. He nced at Shakira, who immediately obediently retreated behind. him, appearing like a well-behaved little maid.


    She leaned close to Walter, whispering in his car under Fiona''s murderous gaze. "Mr. Lopez, do you really think he is Matthew?"


    The woman''s voice was soft and close, her breath brushing against his car, sending a tingling sensation. Walter''s heartbeat quickened unexpectedly. He suppressed the rising emotions within him and turned his head. The two remained close without stepping back, Walter''s nose lightly brushed against Shakira''s lips, making her feel as if she had been touched by something hot. "This feeling... is quite strange."


    Before she could think further, Walter''s voice came again, low and cautious, "Not sure, but his outfit is strikingly simr to that of his apprentice, Lonely Bird: it seems they share amon style." Shakira thought, What? Walter''s criteria for recognizing peoples based on their attire? Isn''t that a hasty? However, she couldn''t refute it at all. Isn''t this akin to lifting a rock to smash on my own feet?"


    "Shakira, how dare you touch Walter in front of me!" Fiona could no longer tolerate the sight of their Heads almost touching, and she rushed forward, determined to push Shakira away with force. 08.25 Wed,  G


    A cold glint flickered in Shakira''s eyes as she prepared to retaliate, but just then, Walter grabbed Fiona''s elbow, preventing her from getting any closer. The man''s tone was cool. "Enough, don''t make a fool of yourself in front of Matthew."


    Fiona


    was


    immobilized and wanted toin further, but seeing the anger on Walter''s face, she reluctantly gave up "Walter, I only let her off this time because of you. If there''s a next time, I won''t hold back!" Fiona had tolerated Shakira for far too long. Walter is just too kind-hearted, easily deceived by this useless maid! Once Matthew heals Walter''s legs, he won''t need her anymore, and I''ll have every reason to kick her out! She jerked her hand away, feigning anger, but then sat beside Walter, ring fiercely at Shakira. It was as if she would show no mercy if Shakira dared to breach the distance again. indifferent


    Shak


    Shakira didn''t didn''t even nce at Walter turned to ''Matthew'' and


    and


    nd continued the topic he hadn''t finished earlier. "I came here today with an ufortable request, hoping Matthew can help treat these legs." Matthew'' leaned back on the sofa, hands sped in front of him, his thumbs unconsciously rotating. After a long moment of ''Matthew'' "I''ve already retired quietly, no longer dealing with worldly troubles. Mr. Lopez should seek another capable healer." that, ''Matthew'' pretended to leave. With that,


    With the continued contemtion, he replied, "I came to Crescentville for personal matters and won''t be staying long Walter narrowed his eyes slightly. "If Matthew has any concerns, please feel free to speak."


    Fiona panicked. "No, Matthew, you can''t go! Please help Walter with his treatment! I''ll agree to anything, no matter the co She rushed to stand in front of Matthew, her previous arrogance reced by humility and pleading. "You''re a kind-hearted healer. Walter is so exceptional; how can he be burdened by these legs for a lifetime? Please, Matthew, help him!" ''Matthew'' hesitated, appearing to be moved by Fiona''s earnestness.


    "Ms. Banks, you...e on Matthew'' sighed heavily, "Since Ms. Banks is so sincere, I''ll give it a try!" He turned to Walter, saying, "Mr. Lopez has such a heartfelt friend in Ms. Banks; I envy you.


    Hearing this, Fiona beamed, her gaze fixed intently on Walter. "For Walter, everything is worth it."


    Watching this scene, Shakira couldn''t help but chuckle. This Matthew'' is way too easy to sway!"


    He


    at back down on the sofa and seemed to deliberate before speaking again. "But I previously swore to my peers t wouldn''t treat anyone unless absolutely necessary... After a moment of thought, he added. ''How about this? I''ll donate the fee for Mr. Lopez''s treatment to the Clusia Hospital''s medical research department, contributing to national medical research, which wouldn''t vite my oath."


    Walter asked, "What price are you proposing, Matthew?"


    Matthew'' replied without hesitation, "One thousand."


    Wed,

 Chapter 84

    Upon hearing this price, Fiona couldn''t help butugh. "Matthey, you''ve been out of the game for too long. A thousand won''t get you far; I''ll give you ten million!"


    ''Matthew'' shook his head. "One thousand per needle; that thousand refers to 50 kg of gold."


    The room filled with gasps of astonishment.


    Even Fiona was left dumbfounded, standing there in shock. "How much?" She had just mocked the low offer and was nowpletely taken aback!


    Shakira leisurely calcted, a cold smile ying on her lips. "Fifty thousand grams of gold at today''s price-Matthew, isn''t this price a bit steep? One injection costs tens of millions; why not just rob a mint?"


    Just then, Shakira''s phone vibrated twice. She picked it up and saw a message from Jasmin.


    [I''m with my master now; he just scolded me for two hours T-T Uncle-in-arms, do you want to get in touch and build some rapport?]Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Shakira''s eyes glinted as she quickly typed back.


    ''Matthew'' feigned profundity. "I have my own principles; if Mr. Lopez is dissatisfied with the price, then I''ll have to take my leave.


    He stood up again, and Fiona, anxious, nced toward Walter.


    Walter''s expression wasplex; after a moment of contemtion, he spoke to retain him. "I can agree to Matthew''s request, but I have a condition of my own. Let''s not dy-Matthew, please help me with the first treatment now." Walter didn''t want to wait any longer since the opportunity was right before him.


    "Young man, your ailment has been ongoing for a while; it won''t be resolved in just one or two treatments, so don''t rush it ''Matthew'' changed his tone. "However, I can amodate you, but it will only be basic treatment, three injections at a time. this will count as the treatment, and you must pay for all three injections."


    Walter raised his hand, and Brian produced a check, handing it to him.


    Walter uncapped his pen, scribbled a figure on the check, tore it off, and passed it to Matthew. "Three injections for 30 million dors; I can pay immediately."


    ''Matthew'' took the check that Brian handed to him, realizing his own eagerness. He coughed lightly. "Mr. Lopez is indeed a straightforward man; let''s not dy. Shall we begin now?" "Matthew, please."


    "Matthew approached Walter, pulling out a golden needle wrapped in silk. He pinched one needle between his fingers, gently gliding the other hand over Walter''s leg. Suddenly, he gripped Walter''s wrist, his fingertip pinpointing a spot, and without hesitation, he inserted the needle.


    Walter''s brow furrowed tightly.


    Shakira was also stunned. ''Goodness! This ''Matthew'' is quick and precise with the needle. Walter is here for leg treatment, yet he''s jabbing Walter''s arm instead! Incredible!"


    Fiona was shocked too. "Matthew, isn''t Walter supposed to be treated for his legs? Why?"


    Matthew'' said in a calm voice, "Don''t interrupt me while I''m administering treatment."


    Fiona quickly covered her mouth, obediently falling silent.


    After administering the first injection, Matthew swiftlypleted the remaining two, all in Walter''s arm. After about five minutes, he asked Walter, "Do you feel anything unusual?" Walter''s brow remained tightly knit. "Nothing"


    "Nothing is normal; your legs... are indeed seriously injured. No wonder you''ve been unable to find a cure. ''Matthew'' said in a deep tone. "Fortunately, you met me. After that, he casually pressed down on Walter''s leg, his techniquecking in precision. Suddenly, he touched a specific spot on Walter''s knee, causing Walter''s left leg to twitch unexpectedly.


    Fiona gasped in shock, "It moved! Walter, you can move it!"


    Brian was also pleasantly surprised, "Mr. Lopez, you''re feeling it As expected of Matthew, he''s truly different; these three needles are more effective than the treatments of the past six months!"


    ''Matthew'' received high praise and, after a moment of stunned silence, felt a bit light-headed with pride, "This is quite ordinary. If the three needles had no effect, wouldn''t that be a waste of my reputation?


    Shakira, standing behind them, couldn''t help butugh. This person has one story in front and another behind; he''s so good at making excuses for himself. Fiona really has some skill to find such aical fraud.


    Unable to watch any longer, Shakira interjected, "Matthew''s three needles target acupoints for treating insothnia and kidney deficiency. How could that possibly have any therapeutic effect on Walter''s legs? It''s not like he can attack from a distance!"


    Fiona shot Shakira a re, then pretended to understand, "Shakira, are you afraid that if Matthew cures Walter, you''ll be kicked out of the Lopez family? Is that why you''re making sarcasticments?"


    ''Matthew'' remained calm and gently advised Shakira, "Youngdy, your words show that your knowledge of acupuncture is quite superficial. Ignorance breeds boldness; I won''t me you, but you really need to study harder in the future."


    "Is that so?" Shakira waved her phone, "Just so happens I know a fellow disciple of yours, Matthew; why don''t you two have a chat?" After saying this, Shakira pointed the phone''s camera at ''Matthew. On the screen appeared an elderly man in a specially made white coat from Clusia Hospital. He leaned in close, wearing reading sses, with a t face magnified on the screen. "Let me see, you brat, can''t you get a bigger phone? I can''t see clearly... Master, is that you? Why didn''t you tell me when you came to Crescentville? Hey, why are you dressed like this? Didn''t you hate wearing sunsses? You look ridiculous."


    As soon as those words were spoken, Walter began to sense something and his expression darkened immediately.


    ''Matthew'' jumped up in fright, looking as if he had been startled, and darted behind the sofa, "Who are you? Get that away from me, quickly!"


    Seeing


    this, Fiona shouted angrily, "Shakira, what are you doing? We finally persuaded Matthew to treat Walter; if you anger him and he refuses, I''ll kill you!"


    Shakira looked at the sprightly old man and couldn''t help butugh. Fiona, this is Matthew''s disciple, currently the special invited director of the medical research department at Clusia Hospital; he''s here and knows more about Matthew than we do. But the Matthew you invited doesn''t even recognize him!" Shakira pointed at the person who had already darted behind the sofa, "He''s not Matthew at all; he''s just a fraud!"


    "You''re talking nonsense. He is Matthew; he-


    "Brian, bring Matthew over. Waltermanded, and Brian quickly, jumped onto the sofa, grabbing the person from behind the sofa as if picking up a chick. He directly removed the sunsses and mask from Matthew, revealing a middle-aged man with a pockmarked face." 08-25 Wed, Oct

 Chapter 85

    Shakira looked at the real face of ''Matthew'' in front of her and couldn''t help but smirk sarcastically, "Impressive! Matthew is truly the top national doctor; not only can he treat illnesses, but he can also beautify himself and turn back the clock by twenty or thirty years!" Fiona felt something was off as well. But in this situation, I can''t let Shakira run wild on my turf "Shut up! Shakira, you think you can just identify him as not being Matthew because you found someone else?"


    "What else can I say? Ms. Banks, when you had long hair, couldnt you have grown some brain cells too? Matthew was already seventy years old before retiring, no matter how well he takes care of himself, he couldn''t look like him!"


    Fiona''s eyes widened, and she was infuriated yet had no idea how to refute.


    Ignoring her, Shakira turned the camera back to her phone, and it switched back to Jasmin.


    Jasmin spoke quickly, "Someone is impersonating Matthew and deceiving others, greatly damaging the reputation of Matthew and Clusia Hospital. My master has already gone to the police to report this. By the way, my master asked if the victim has lost any money or suffered other losses; remember to keep the evidence!"


    Shakira casually smiled. "No worries, the person is caught and can''t escape. As for the losses, it''s just 30 million dors."


    "Oh, 30 million dors.. how much???" Jasmin was left stunned


    Seeing Walter''s face turn furious, Shakira dared not provoke the tiger''s temper further, "The police will be here soon I''ll send you the address, we can chatter. With that, she quickly hung up the call.


    Walter''s icy gaze shifted away from Shakira, and he stared expressionlessly at the imposter.


    He had unknowingly clenched his jaw and said coldly, "Brian, take him away; you handle it personally."


    The imposter was so frightened by Walter''s chilling aura that he knelt on the ground, "Mr. Lopez, I didn''t recognize the great mountain, if I had known the patient was you, I would never havee! Please, spare me this time; Fll return the check... Brian wouldn''t give him a chance to finish his sentence, covering his incessantly chattering mouth and dragging him out.


    Fiona was still in a daze, "How could it be fake? How could this happen... Suddenly, her fierce gaze locked onto Shakira again, "You''ve known Matthew all along, haven''t you? You''ve been hiding it from us?"


    ''Fiona doesn''t reflect on how she almost ruined Walter''s life by bringing in a fraud; now she''s ming me. Truly a spoiled and unreasonable youngdy. Shakira raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean, Ms. Banks!"


    "Oh, what do I mean? Shakira, with so many secrets, what''s your purpose in getting close to Walter?" She asked sharply, and even Walter looked over, his gaze heavy with understanding.


    "What secrets have I hidden?" Shakira feigned ignorance, "Oh, are you referring to my connection with Matthew''s disciple? "Shakira, you''re pretending not to know!" Fiona grew more agitated, observing Shakira''s strange behavior after seeing the imposter, even more convinced that Shakira must know about Matthew, "Walter! Shakira definitely knows Matthew; her behavior towards that imposter was odd, as if she already knew he was a fraud but deliberately didn''t say anything, just watching us being fooled by a con artist!" Reflecting on how she and once treated that fraud as a distinguished guest, hoping he could cure Walter''s leg. Now thinking back... It''s simply an enormous humiliation! If this gets out, won''t I be mocked by the second-generation elites in the circle?!


    Fiona''s eyes turned red, "Shakira, you think it''s amusing to watch me and Walter be made fools of, don''t you?"


    Shakira smirked silently, "What do you mean, Ms. Banks? Now that you''re questioning me, would you have believed it if 1 80 75%


    had said he was a fake Matthew when I arrived?"


    Shakira snickered. "You''d probably have someone kick me out, fearing I would offend the Matthew you worked so hard to invite


    Fiona clenched her jaw, at a loss for words.


    Shakira didn''t care about her and turned to Walter.


    The man''s face was gloomy, and Shakira was unsure if he had taken in Fiona''s words.


    Shakira exhaled, "Indeed, the first time I saw him, I found it strange; the Matthew described by the outside world is mysterious, but he isn''t someone with an aloof and arrogant demeanor, how could he hide his face to see a patient? He didn''t even do the basic assessments of looking, hearing, asking, and feeling


    "Moreover, he was reluctant to treat and acted more like a haggler at a marketce, retreating to advance. Matthew isn''t a person who would seek fame; if he truly wished to donate to medicine, he wouldn''t ept such an exorbitant consultation


    fee


    "As for knowing Matthew''s disciple.. that was indeed a coincidence. I didn''t know that highly reputable director but identally learned that the head of a beauty salon I visited was that director''s student, which led me to think of contacting him for confirmation." Shakira exined everything at once, exhaling sofily. "If I''m still to be med for this, then I have nothing to say."


    Fiona scoffed, "You''ve spoken both good and bad, and now you say you have nothing to say? Walter


    "Shut up.


    "Did you hear that? Walter told you to shut up." Fiona shot a provocative nce at Shakira.


    Walter''s voice lowered further, "Fiona, I said to shut up."


    Fiona trembled, feeling both wronged and hurt, "Walter, 1..."


    "You can''t me anyone else for causing this mess."


    After saying that, Walter nced at Shakira, "Let''s go back."


    Shakira understood and pushed him out of Fiona''s house.


    Walter left coldly and mercilessly, and in a fit of rage, Fiona smashed the delicate antique coffee cups on the table into pieces. The servants trembled in fear, and Fiona warned them fiercely. "If any of you dare to leak a word about today''s events, you''ll regret it!" Shakira pushed Walter into the elevator; when the doors closed, they were the only two in the ten-square-meter space. She nced at the mirrored ss and caught a glimpse of Walter-his expression was indeed terrifying? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively straightened her back. "Ah


    Walter stared at her with a resentful gaze. "What effect do those three acupuncture points he used on me have?"


    Shakira answered honestly. "The first point is for calming the mind, and the second and third are for treating kidney deficiency...


    Walter gritted his teeth. "Since you know, why didn''t you stop him!"


    "Mainly because those are minor points; they won''t harm the vital areas. Besides, he knows acupuncture; it''s fine to asionally use one or two needles." Shakira intended tofort him, but as soon as she finished speaking, she felt an event colder atmosphere in the elevator.


    "Are you saying I need treatment for kidney deficiency?"


    This, this..."


    A chill ran up


    out.


    Shakira''s spine. She swallowed hard, just then, the elevator arrived at their floor, and she hurriedly stepped


    Unexpectedly, the man behind her suddenly grasped her wrist. Shakira was startled, tripping slightly, and her whole body leaned backward-

 Chapter 86

    86


    The elevator had ample space, but Walter''s wheelchair upied the central position. Shakira didn''t dare move too much and stepped back two or three paces, only to find herself tumbling straight into Walter''s embrace. The heat radiating from his body was overwhelming.


    Shakira was taken aback; it seems Walter was not just furious, but also burning up!"


    In the next moment, her chin was grabbed, forcing her to tilt her head at a ny-degree angle to meet Walter''s furious yet chilling gaze. He pressed her again, "What do I need to treat?"


    The wless faceing closer was too perfect to be true, and the man''s highly attractive, hormoneden aura pressed down on her. Shakira instinctively held her breathi, feeling an uncontroble heartbeat echoing loudly-thump, thump, thump. It was so loud she almost thought it would reach Walter''s cars.


    Her clear, water-like eyes gazed up at him. Deep within her pupils, his image was reflected. Walter, unable to help himself. tightened his grip on her chin slightly.


    An invisible tension filled the air, as if an unseen force was pulling them closer-


    Just as Walter''s thin lips were about to brush against the corner of Shakira''s mouth, a loud, furious shout approached from


    afar.


    "What are you two doing!" Mitchell doubted whether he was seeing things! Confirming that the pair was about to kiss in the elevator was none other than Shakira. He rushed over, leaving the car door wide open, as if struck by artillery hire.


    The voice interrupted the intimate atmosphere between the two


    Shakira immediately jumped up, stepping in front of Walter before Mitchell could reach them. She frowned. "Mitchell, what''s wrong with you this time?"


    "What''s wrong with me?" Mitchell pointed at the man in the wheelchair who had just exited the elevator, "The crazy one is this cripple; how could he do such a thing to you!"


    Shakira maintained a stern face, unamused. "What he does to me has nothing to do with Mr. Lopez."


    "Of course, it does! You''re my... You''re just a maid in the Lopez family, not his lover! How can you be so close? Shakira, he''s not sincere towards women; don''t be deceived by him!"


    The mockery in Shakira''s eyes nearly overflowed. "Lover? Mr. Lopez loves to use me unjustly."


    "No, Shakira, I didn''t mean to insult you; I" Mitchell almost bit his tongue. The words came out without thinking, and he wasn''t trying to nder Shakira, but-


    Walter''s icy gaze pierced through him. "My fianc¨¦e and I are close; what business is it of yours, Mitchell?"


    Mitchell was taken aback. "Fianc¨¦e?"


    ""You''re not saying..."


    At that moment, Brian had finished dealing with the counterfeit goods issue and was approaching with his bodyguards. Shakira ignored Mitchell and followed Walter to the car with Brian''s escort,


    Watching the Maybach drive away, Mitchell stood still, stunned Eke, a statue, unable toprehend. I didn''t expect them to end up together again after all this! While deep in thought, his friend de Parry approached and patted him on the back. "Hey, buddy, you back with us?" He looked at Mitchell in surprise. "Didn''t know you were still such a romantic!"


    "What nonsense are you spouting?" Mitchell pushed him away angrily. de had just returned from abroad and was unaware of much of the context.


    Mitchell sighed, "She''s my sister who got swapped at birth."


    "Huh? Her? You mean Shakira?"Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    This time it was Mitchell''s turn to be astonished. "You know my sister?" Then he remembered, "Right, you used to race in the same amateur racing team as Joe. Did Joe mention her?"


    "More than that, I''ve seen her several times. de had his hands in his pockets, looking nonchnt. "She used to live in the building next to mine; she was quite the legend at our school. I remember her grades were excellent when she first started, but then they dropped rapidly for some reason. You know how our principal is; if a parent didn''t attend the parent-teacher meeting, they''d be publicly criticized the next day. I recall Shakira being publicly criticized for three whole years."


    As he continued, he remembered something else. "Oh, and she was beautiful, quite eye-catching at school. She got close to the school hunk. Joe, and a lot of girls who liked Joe gave her a hard time. Whenever something happened, those girls" parents wouldin to the office. But she had no one to back her up. I passed by the office a few times and saw her being humiliated by the homeroom teacher... I thought back then that her parents must have favored boys over girls. Now that I think about it, those parents who swapped her must have been cruel. She endured all that gossip for so long; her parents were partly to me."


    As Mitchell listened, each word felt like a burning brand searing into his heart.


    "Lago, Jessie, those two worthless scum!" Mitchell''s eyes darkened with deep anger. They had known all along that Shakira was not their daughter. They had also known Yvette was their child. Yvette lived luxuriously in the Nelson family and was treated like a treasure by everyone. Lago and the others couldn''t possibly be unaware! But what about them, who had swapped the true daughter of the Nelson family? They didn''t regard Shakira as human! All those years, Yvette had never faced any hardship. And what about Shakira? If only they had protected her a little, shown her some kindness... ''She wouldn''t have been entangled in all kinds of rumors, wouldn''t have been misunderstood as a bad person, wouldn''t have been imagined to be selfish and greedy, onlypeting with Yvette for affection. for? It


    Looking back now, Mitchell felt incredibly foolish. "Why did Shakira need topete? What was there topete was all rightfully hers! Uncontrobly, he thought of Shakira''s past with the Nelson family, her resolute departure; it made him feel like he was choking on blood, overwhelmed with difort! Mitchell suddenly felt ashamed and hateful. Yeah, what right do I have to criticize her and Walter? They are in a free rtionship and have confirmed they are engaged. Walter can protect Shakira openly, while I, as her brother... lost my own standing!


    Immediately, Mitchell felt dejected, and de put his arm around his shoulder. "Come on, brother, even without a sister, you still have brothers. Let''s drink until we drop today!"


    Inside the car, Shakira gradually came to her senses, still feeling a bit dazed. She thought for a moment, then scooted closer to Walter, feeling it wasn''t close enough, and shifted again. Walter nced at her, and Shakira quickly spoke up, "Mr. Lopez, when you said to Mitchell that I''m your fianc¨¦e, what did


    that mean?"


    Just as she finished speaking, Brian, who was driving in front, was startled and almost made a wrong turn. Indeed, Mr. Lopez is the one getting deeper, eager to solidify his rtionship with Ms. Nelson!

 Chapter 87

    Shakira felt a bit uneasy inside. To be honest, she was also surprised when Walter said those three words earlier. Recalling the intensity in his eyes in the elevator, she worried that if Walter took it seriously... "What do you mean... are you very concerned?" Before Shakira could think further, Walter''s voice interrupted her thoughts,


    She subconsciously looked up to see his expression. The man''s brows were as deep as ever, his eyes dark and unfathomable, making it impossible to discern his true thoughts. Shakira thought for a moment and said, "In general, when girls hear such words, they tend to care, right?"


    Hearing this response, Walter''s lips curled into a faint smile. The earlier anger had now thawed; after the fog and clouds dispersed, there was a warm light. His gaze was intensely fixed on the woman right in front of him, his maic voice carrying a hint of pleasure and an undeniable air of arrogance, "It''s just that I don''t like the Nelson family, letting you get rid of a hassle sooner."


    "Really?"


    "Really." Walter stared at her intently, "Are you disappointed by this answer?"


    "How could be!" Shakira eximed, taking a big breath, "You scared me! I thought you really... heh heh, as expected of the young master, you''re so clever."


    Seeing her bright smile, which didn''t seem forced, Walter''s expression darkened instantly. "What do you mean? Do you really think I would look at you?" The proud man was as cold as ever, his tone disdainful, "Dream on."


    Shakira was not defeated by his words. Confirming that Walter had no other thoughts about her, she felt light as a feather and utterly rxed. "Yes, yes, yes, you''re absolutely right, young master. As a mere maid, how could I dare to cover someone at the pinnacle of the pyramid?"


    Shakira smirked, moving back to her original position. I''m very self-aware, you know,"


    Brian didn''t dare to breathe loudly, cautiously peeking through the rearview mirror to check his master''s expression. The cold and sharp look,bined with an overwhelming anger that he had to suppress, made him want to destroy the entire car! And then he nced at Ms. Nelson, who was happily admiring the scenery outside the window... Brian felt a headacheing on for his young master. "Ms. Nelson, please be a bit more cautious!


    After returning from Fiona''s apartment, Shakira sensed that Walter was not in a good mood. She spected it might be because he was angered by the fake Matthew. After returning, she also thanked Jasmin, grateful that he provided her with a reason to expose that imposter.


    Jasmin sighed. "I never expected that after so many years out of the limelight, someone would impersonate him and scam people, even getting away with 30 million dors! That''s ruthless!"


    Shakira smiled. "It''s not every time that so much money can be scammed."


    Jasmin chuckled, gossiping about the aftermath. "Hey, not to mention, after sending him to the police station, they discovered he had scammed many ordinary patients as well. They were given much less, only hundreds or thousands, but this time it was different. My master is still wondering where such a big fool came from to be scammed out of so much money! Haha, originally that imposter could have retired with this sum, but it''s just his bad luck to encounter my Uncle-in- arms!"


    Shakira replied, "I should say I helped him. If he had sessfully run away with the money, 30 million dors, Walter would definitely turn Crescentville upside down to find him."


    "Haha, that''s true. Jasmin changed the subject, "Uncle-in-arms, my master is asking when you''lle to Clusia Hospital to


    help promote Uncle-in-army medical skills?"


    Shakira blinked and stated directly, "I have no intention of doing that. When I apprenticed, I mentioned this to my master, and he promised not to pressure me."


    "Got it. My master is like that. After all, with a proud disciple like me opening a beauty hospital and testing agency, the students in the institute have mixed abilities, which troubles him quite a bit."


    Shakira said nothing. After all, she couldn''t help with these matters. After hanging up, she thought about asking Walter what he wanted for dinner, only to realize he had left without a word. Shakira felt a bit slow on the uptake, "Why do I feel like this guy is angry with me?" Just then, Shakira received a text message on her phone. Looking at the content, her gaze suddenly turned cold.


    On the top floor of the seven-star hotel in Crescentville, Calton and the others heard that Walter had been scammed out of 30 million dors by the fake Matthew and immediately organized a drinking party, calling it a fort for the brother."


    *30 million dors! I''ve finally witnessed Mr. Lopez''s extravagance today!" Caltonughed so hard he could barely hold his drink, ruining the million-dor top-ss sofa beneath himProperty of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Gavin kicked him. "Alright, you! Keepughing and be careful Walter might kill you." He made a slitting motion across his neck.


    Calton hurriedly sat up straight, but within two seconds, he broke down again, rolling away tough, knowing better than to stay close to Walter''s cold gaze.


    Kyle felt helpless as he poured Walter a ss of champagne, sofilyforting him. "It''s good that nothing major happened,


    Walter took the ss and gulped it down in one go, as if venting his frustrations.


    Kyle felt somewhat surprised. ''He knows Walter''s mood; he''s not one to care about face. Why is he so furious about almost being scammed? Could it be... he''s angry about something else? Instinctively, Kyle recalled that bright, beautiful face. He quickly shook his head, thinking he was being overly sensitive.


    The heavy rosewood doors swung open, and Berry, dressed elegantly, scanned the room before walking over to Walter with a smile. "Mr. Lopez, what a coincidence." She approached him with a shy smile, bending forward, revealing a generous view from her neckline. "My parents are hosting dinner downstairs, and I heard from the manager that you were here, so I came to say hello." She gazed at the man''s handsome profile, her eyes aze, "I hope I''m not interrupting you?"


    The Lopez family had investments in the hotel, and under her parents'' persuasion, Berry had asked Walter for an SVIP card. This was an unprecedented special treatment, and the hotel manager naturally thought Berry was of exceptional status next 10 Mr. Lopez, treating her with great care.


    Noticing this, Kyle frowned slightly, while Calton and Gavin became animated,


    "Hey, isn''t this from the wee banquet Kyle hostedst time? Calton asked.


    Gavinughed. "Could it be that Mr. Lopez has finally fallen for someone? And it''s the one right in front of him?"


    Hearing their teasing, Berry''s face lit up with joy, radiant and alluring.


    Walterpletely ignored them and didn''t even look at Berry. His voice was cold, "As the host, it''s impolite to leave your seat without permission."


    wed,


    F

 Chapter 88

    Berry, who had been smiling brightly, suddenly turned pale. For a moment, she stood there stiffly, not knowing how to proceed. Calton found it amusing. "Tsk, Mr. Lopez is reallycking in romantic understanding. She came all the way to find you!"


    Gavin chimed in with the wisdom of experience. "Exactly! You should be touched and say, ''So I''m that important in your heart!"Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    The man''s chiseled features were now taut. His icy gaze swept over the two friendsughing at him before finallynding on Berry, his patience wearing thin, showing signs of depletion.


    With the two "assistants providingmentary, Berry recalled the tricks Yvette had taught her, forcing herself to suppress her feelings and emitting a nasal sound.


    She lowered her eyes, struggling to hold back her grievances, "I was careless before, but Mr. Lopez, may I ask you for a


    favor


    "Speak"


    Berry slightly lowered her head. "Well... my parents are hosting dinner today to discuss a coboration. They''ve tried several times, but the other party just won''t budge at thest moment. When they heard Mr. Lopez was here, they asked me to inquire...


    The more she spoke, the smaller her voice became, as if filled with extreme shame, but she felt she had no choice but to bring it up. "Could I borrow this opportunity to let Mr. Lopez apany me down to the private room? If you''re there, the other party will definitely agree to the coboration right away. After speaking, Berry carefully observed Walter''s expression.


    Seeing him maintain a serious face, unable to read his emotions, she seemed worried he might get angry and hurriedly added. "Im sorry, Mr. Lopez! I shouldn''t have made such unreasonable requests. Please forget I said anything!"


    This request was indeed too ridiculous for Walter. Not to mention that it was just a branch of the White family, even Kyle wouldn''t dare to use him so openly.


    Walter felt no particr emotion. After "finding" her, he had Brian investigate her situation in the White family. Berry''s parents favored males over females, and in her home, she was treated like a servant, bullied by her parents and brothers, constantly oppressed. It was because of him that Berry began to regain some attention and her life improved a bit. But after her recent arrogance, Walter couldn''t help but sneer, "You really think of me as a friend?"


    Walter listened to her pleading. Although he was displeased that she came over without greeting him, he suppressed his dissatisfaction


    He had promised before that he would help her. Even though she had now lost that memory and be so timid and helpless


    "Lead the way."


    Berry was shocked, thinking she had misheard. "Mr. Lopez, are you saying..."


    "He''s saying he agreed to help you, you slow-witted one. How dare you even speak to Mr. Lopez?" Calton couldn''t help butugh.


    Gavin stroked his chin, staring intently at Walter, increasingly meaningfully. "I never expected that the man who used to keep women at arm''s length, Mr. Lopez, would make an exception and be so shameless as to lend his face out."


    Tll be backter to drink your wine." Walter nced at them and steered his wheelchair out


    ) GY


    Berry''s face lit up, quickly following after him. "Thank you, Mr. Lopez" She felt as if she were stepping on cotton candy, her feet feeling dizzy. She was overwhelmed with happiness! After living for over a decade, she was experiencing for the first time what it felt like to be the center of attention, to be favored by a man who was the focus of everyone''s gaze! It was so wonderfull At Kyle''s wee banquet, she could only watch with envy as Shakira was discussed. Now she had reced Shakira, enjoying the ultimate honor that countless women dreamt of. The more she thought about it, the wider her smile grew, and her greed deepened.


    Meanwhile, downstairs at the hotel, a taxi stopped in front of the magnificent entrance.


    Shakira got out of the car, and after reporting her room number at the front desk, she was led to the restaurant private room on the fortieth floor. "Miss, the guest is in room 4004 ahead."


    "Okay." Just as Shakira took a step, a charming voice came from behind her. "Mr. Lopez, over here.


    Shakira paused, turning to see Berry, whose face was glowing with happiness, ncing back at the man behind her.


    Shakira raised an eyebrow, just in time to see the man in the wheelchair looking directly at her, his gaze unwavering.


    Across the two or three meters of hotel corridor, their eyes met. So, the young master isn''t having dinner at home but has an appointment with a beauty?" Shakira said meaningfully, stretching her tone. Watching the fleeting look of shock and panic on Berry''s face, Shakira couldn''t help butugh. Tm really curious, how did the timid Berry suddenly grow a bear''s heart and a leopard''s gall? She dares to deceive Walter. Isn''t she afraid of exposing the truth and losing everything""


    Berry quickly regained herposure and took the initiative, Tinvited Mr. Lopez, Shakira, are you going to question Mr. Lopez now?"


    Shakira crossed her arms. "You said it, I didn''t confirm it!


    Berry was flustered by her ambiguous tone and instinctively nced at Walter.


    To her surprise, Walter didn''t notice her at all, his deep gaze fixated on Shakira. He furrowed his brows, "What are you doing here?"


    Shakira casually replied, "Dealing with old matters. I''ll go in first: enjoy yourself, young master." After saying that, she entered the room. Through the crack of the door, Walter saw Lago inside. He withdrew his gaze, his expression darkening.


    The air conditioning in the corridor was sufficient, but a strange restlessness simmered in Walter''s heart. When Berry pleaded with him earlier, he absurdly thought of Shakira. That woman... no matter in the Smith family or the Nelson family. clearly had it much harder than Berry, Berry knew toe to him for support. But what about her? Usually so sharp-tongued and clever, she never once came to him for help regarding this matter. He helped her, and she still got mad at him. ''How many women are fighting for the title of Walter''s fianc¨¦e! Afraid I''ll take advantage of her.. and now she won''t even say a word. Walter clenched his teeth. Such an ungrateful woman!*


    "Mr. Lopez..." Berry called out cautiously.


    Walter coldly ordered, "Open the door."


    Berry hurriedly opened the private room door, and soon the people inside came out, surprised to see Mr. Lopez''s arrival


    Even Berry, who had been standing next to Walter unconsciously, received praise. Her mother shamelessly said how beautiful her daughter and Mr. Lopez were together.


    Walter''s expression was stern, exuding a powerful aura. He casually responded for half a minute before leaving.


    Even so, the group felt honored, and seeing Walter favor Berry so much, they immediately finalized the contract.


    On the other side, Shakira pushed the door open and walked in. In the spacious private room, there were only two people. Shakira rested her hand on the door handle, expressionless as she looked at them.

 Chapter 89

    Lago and Jessie were momentarily stunned, then hurriedly stood up. "Shakira, you''re here! Please sit down!" Their faces wore ttering smiles never seen before. If Shakira hadn''t been calm enough, she might have thought she was dreaming.


    However, she kept a wary eye. ''I won''t sit. Give me the card; I''m leaving right away." The reason she came here tonight was due to a message from Lago. He said thepany was encountering some difficulties, and his personal credit was also problematic, with only 300 thousand dors on hand, barely enough to cover Grandma Shi''s medical expenses for a year. He wanted Shakira to keep it for him. If it weren''t for Grandma Shl, Shakira wouldn''t havee here at all. ''I don''tck that money, but it belongs to Grandma Shi; I must get it back for her


    "You little brat, whoes in asking for money right away? You don''t have any manners at all. Jessie covered her mouth, yfully scolding. Shakira tilted her head to look at her, retorting mockingly, "Shouldn''t you be the one teaching me manners? The problem lies with you, Mrs. Smith."


    Jessie still wanted to retort, but Lago quickly reprimanded her. "We''ve finally met Shakira; do you want to scare her away?" With that, he turned to Shakira with a smile, "Shakira, don''t take your aunt''s words to heart; she''s just straightforward, no malice. Please sit down! A lot has happenedtely. I''ve be ustomed to the ups and downs of human rtionships, Indeed, things I couldn''t have imagined before, I now see clearly. Most of all, I feel guilty towards you


    Lago came in front of her, sighed deeply, his voice filled with helplessness and regret. "As parents, we didn''t support or care for you properly while you were growing up. Now we understand the taste of being abandoned and betrayed; we can empathize with your emotions back then." Watching him trying to appeal to her reason and emotions, Shakira remained unmoved. "Mr. Smith, your acting skills are quite good," Shakira gave a rarepliment, extending her hand. "Give me the card."


    Lago, who thought he had already moved her, was almost infuriated by Shakira''s indifference. His face reddened as he took out a bank card from his pocket.


    Just as Shakira epted it, Lago didn''t let go. "Shakira, we''ve ordered all your favorite dishes tonight; please stay and eat before you leave. We genuinely want to apologize to you."


    "Yes, yes, it''s all your favorites," Jessie chimed in quickly.


    Shakira nced at the table, smiling. "Are you sure these are my favorites?" Shakira''s voice turned cold, causing both of them to pause.


    "Aren''t they? The housekeeper said you always eat these..."


    "Chicken feet, fish tails, shrimp heads... Ha, it''s impressive that you could order these, Shakira''s voice rose, her eyes filled with scorn and indifference. "The reason I always eat these in the Smith family is that you always left these for me. If I don''t eat these leftovers, What else can I eat?"


    The two''s expressions turned awkward. Lago hurriedly called for the waiter. "We''ll order new dishes. Shakira, please feel free to order anything you want; tonight is on the house."


    Taking advantage of his distraction, Shakira pulled the card out from her grip. "No need." She turned to leave just as the door opened, revealing a portly man with sparse white hair on his head, looking quite greasy. "Mr. Smith!"


    "Oh, Mr. Blondel! What a coincidence to see you here!" Lago almost messed up the act as he saw Donavan Blondel, constantly giving him signals.


    Donavan''s gaze couldn''t care less about Lago; his greasy, lustful eyes were fixed on Shakira, nearly drooling. This is Shakira, right? Long time no see, little beauty, you''re even prettier now." Donavan reached out his short, thick hand. "Do you remember me? A few years ago, your father brought you to my estate''s opening ceremony. I liked you back then."


    The moment Donavan appeared, Shakira''s eyes were already filled with frost!


    08-26 Wed,


    How could she possibly forget? That year, Lago had dressed her up so beautifully for the first time, buying her a princess dress and even bringing a stylist to do her makeup. He had uncharacteristically decided to take her to a business banquet. Shakira had felt overjoyed and touched, believing that after so long of trying, she had finally earned Lago''s approval. Unfortunately, his rare kindness was just a way to push her into deep abyss disguised as a sweet trap! Shakira stepped aside, no longer lingering. "You all chat: 111 take my leave first."


    "Hey, wait a minute! I just got here, why are you in such a hurry to leave?" Donavan pointedly addressed Lago, appearing displeased. "Mr. Smith, doesn''t your daughter care about my feelings?" Lago


    o was so frightened that he kept waving his hands.


    Shakira didn''t give him a chance to exin and coldly stated, "Mr. Blondel is the one out of touch. I''m not Mr. Smith''s biological daughter; we''ve severed our ties."


    "Shakira, how can you talk like that? Even if we''re not rted by blood, we''ve raised you for over ten years. Without us, would you have what you have today?" Jessie scolded angrily.


    Shakira had no intention of responding. She directly bypassed Donavan and headed for the exit.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    To her surprise, Donavan actually reached out to her again. "Exactly! Even if we''re not rted, there''s still a debt of gratitude. Since we have such a fateful encounter today, let''s enjoy it together..." Shakira yanked the Hermes scarf from around his neck, twisted it into a bundle, and whipped it at him fiercely, Enjoy this, you jerk!"


    As Donavan screamed in pain, Shakira opened the door and stepped outside. But just a few steps in, that familiar yet strange feeling-hot and tingling-quickly spread throughout her body, exactly like that night at the birthday party! She had been schemed against again! Even worse, this sensation was more intense, stronger than the previous drug! Did Lago think that since thest time didn''t work, he would just increase the dosage I was so careful, how could I fall for this? Suddenly, she thought of something and looked down at the bank card in her hand. A fierce light shed in Shakira''s eyes. "Lago is asking for death!''


    Hearing sounds from inside, Shakira pricked her hand with a needle to release some blood, forcing herself to maintain her sanity and painfully move forward. Walter! Walter was right in front of her... She leaned against the wall and managed to walk to the private room where they had just been, pushing the door open with all her strength. The room was in disarray with wine sses scattered around, only remnants of food left-there was no sign of anyonel Shakira immediately looked down the hallway and just then saw Berry sh by the corner,


    At that moment, footsteps approached from behind. "Little beatny, after hitting me, I''ming to get you back tonight"


    Shakira turned around indifferently.


    But before she could raise her hand, Donavan suddenly sprayed something in her face from behind with a malicious grin. Shakira was caught off guard, inhaling a mouthful and copsing weakly to the ground-

 Chapter 90

    Donavan grinned maniacally as he approached Shakira. Just as he bent down to pick up the evening''s feast, he was suddenly struck by a painful sensation from the arm that Shakira had whipped with her scarf. Lago Jessie followed out and, seeing Shakira already on the ground with no way to escape, finally breathed a sigh of relief Thankfully, they had made preparations in advance; Shakira was 100 wary of them! "Mr. Blondel, let''s have a drink and discuss our cooperation. My wife will send the person to your room," Lago ttered with a cheerfulugh. His tone was as if he were discussing a simple transaction of ordinary goods. Jessie rushed forward, roughly pulling Shakira.


    Donavan immediately expressed his dissatisfaction. "If she gets hurt and ruins her looks, the price will definitely be discounted."


    "You old hag, be gentle!" Lago eximed, clearly agitated. This was about money; he couldn''t afford any mistakes.


    Jessie instantly became gentle, pressing Shakira down. She struggled to hold herself up, forcing a smile on her face. "Mr. Blondel, don''t worry, I guarantee she won''t lose a single hair."


    Donavan waved his hand dismissively. "Let''s hurry up and finish so I can get to work."


    Lago hunched over, guiding them toward the private room. "Yes, yes, Mr. Blondel, right


    this way...


    Jessie maintained her smile until Donavan entered the room, at which point she dropped the facade. Gritting her teeth, she raised her hand high toward the unconscious Shakira. "You little slut, still being arrogant with me!" Just as she was about to strike that smooth face, Jessie abruptly stopped


    Filled with reluctance and resentment, she quickly reced it with a smile, her eyes gleaming with bitterness transformed into pleasure. "What good is being arrogant? You''ll still be yed out by men!"


    Donavan was somewhat infamous in the circle-not only was he sessful in business, but his reputation was also quite terrible. He was known for being cruel and perverted in affairs, once leaving someone paralyzed, and then easily settling it with money.


    Tonight, Shakira will either be ruined or left in tatters! Thinking that Shakira would be a broken shoe by tomorrow, Jessie felt quite pleased and dragged her into the elevator.


    To curry favor with Donavan, Lago had booked the high-end diamond suite on the top floor. As the elevator doors opened, before she could pull Shakira out, they collided with a group of then in suits.


    "I heard the top five wealthy families are upstairs; should we go say hello?" The men all looked toward Mitchell at the center. "No, Mitchell replied irritably and then turned to see the two in the elevator.


    "Shakira?" Mitchell immediately recognized Shakira and then noticed Jessie. Seeing that Shakira was already unconscious, he reached out and grasped her arm, feeling her burning body. lowe you two are together? What happened to her?"


    Jessie was taken aback. "Mr. Lopez? We, we had dinner together tonight; Shakira was happy and drank too much, so I''m taking her to her room to rest. Saying this, she hurriedly tried to drag Shakira away.


    However, Mitchell was suspicious. He didn''t smell any alcohol on Shakira, and he knew how much she despised Lago and Jessie, there was no way she would get drunk with them! Something was definitely wrong! Realizing this. Mitchell forcefully took Shakira away from Jessie.


    Jessie''s face changed drastically as she attem


    to snatch her back. "Hey, Mr. Lopez..."


    Mitchell protected Sisakira heltind him. "No need to worry, Mrs Jessie; I''ll take my sister myself."


    3


    Without needing Mitchell to say it, several of his friends, having received his signal, immediately pushed Jessie back into the elevator. Surrounded by several big men, Jessie could only watch in anger as Mitchell took Shakira away, nearly driving her crazy! Mitchell quickly had a suite opened by a waiter. Heid Shakira on the sofa and pped her face. "Shakira, Shakira, wake up. Shakiral


    Shakira felt pain on her face, slowly mumbling, "Don''t... don''t touch me... I''m so hot, so hot... She squinted, her eyes shimmering with moisture, and her face gradually flushed. She almost lost her consciousness, instinctively trying to pull off her clothes. years


    After experience, Mitchell could easily tell the situation now, "Damn it! They actually drugged you! Hospital, I''m taking you to the hospital!" Just as he was about to carry her, Shakira reached out to touch him. Mitchell was so startled that he jumped back immediately. "No, I''m not; Shakira, wake up!" Seeing Shakira in such distress, he suddenly thought of something and quickly walked out. "Wait for me; someone wille to save you soon!"? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Walter returned to the top floor, ignoring his friends'' teasing and jokes; his expression was worse.


    Calton whistled, puzzled. "Isn''t Mr. Lopez personally backing the little flower? Why does hee back looking like this? Which blind idiot angered our Mr. Lopez?"


    Gavin smiled. "Walter, you little flower, you''re quite bold. Generally, women wouldn''t dare to ask you for such favors so easily.


    Walter sipped his drink, his tone unhappy. "I owe her a favor; you don''t understand, so don''t talk nonsense."


    "Huh? A favor? Are you sure you''re not talking about love?"


    Kyle couldn''t help but shake his head, kindly reminding him, "You guys should talk less; be careful he gets angry and takes it out on you.


    The two exchanged nces and made a zipping motion over their mouths, not daring to provoke further.


    Just then, there was amotion outside, and the door was kicked open. "Walter!" Mitchell rushed in, striding straight toward Walter.


    Walter''s eyelid twitched, and he cast a cold nce, continuing to drink his alcohol.


    Brian stepped in front. "Mitchell, what do you want?"


    Mitchell tried to push Brian aside but realized he couldn''t budge him at all. Having run over, he was already drenched int sweat. Grabbing Brian''s clothes, he looked over him at Walter, who waspletely ignoring him, and in his urgency, he shouted, "You need toe with me right now; Shakira is in trouble!"


    Walter''s grip on the ss froze.


    Walter rushed to the room, and as soon as he swiped open the door, he saw a woman in the living room who had torn off most of her clothing, exposing her entire fair back. Walter''s eyelids twitched fiercely, blocking Mitchell, who was eager to enter.


    Mitchell, equally anxious, shouted, "What are you blocking for? Just go


    Walter smirked slightly. "Are you sure Mr. Lopez also wants to go in during this time?"


    1 x 75%


    Mitchell paused, btedly realizing something, and he became furious in an instant, grabbing Walter by the cor. "You bastard!"


    "Mr. Lopez, don''t forget what our rtionship is." Walter said, forcefully pushing him away as he pried his hands apart.


    "Brian, take him away, clear the entire floor, and secure it.


    ""Understood, sir."


    Mitchell reluctantly followed Brian out.


    Only Walter was left alone in the corridor. He pushed the door open again, and to his surprise, a shadow flitted by. The soft Shakira had already lunged at him. "Wuwuwu Walter, you finally came to save me!"

 Chapter 91

    and again!"


    Walter paused, pressing her small face in front of him.


    Walter embraced her tightly, the unique fragrance from her body filling his heartpletely. Instinctively, a softer look appeared in Walter''s eyes, but his tone remained harsh, scolding her, even a bit annoyed. "Shakira, you''re really stupid, falling into the same trap again Shakira ignored his words, feeling a bit morefortable in his embrace, but soon felt dissatisfied. She was already skilled at this maneuver, tearing open his shirt, the string of Jesus pendants and the tattoo on his chest constantly testing herst bit of rationality. Shakira''s face flushed bright red, while mes of desire ignited in Walter''s eyes. "Shakira, what do you think I am?" Shakira felt ufortable and unsatisfied, starting to struggle, "Wuwu, are you still a man? Wuwu, I feel so bad..." Walter''srge hand dangerously stopped at the back of her neck, "Look closely at who I am."


    Shakira was a almost pushed to the brink, "I don''t want to see this Walter! Walter, if you won''t help me, I''ll find someone else- ah!" Walter mmed the door shut,pletely cutting off the sounds inside.


    Shakira didn''t know how long she had slept. When she opened her eyes, the entire room was gray, the sunlight blocked by the curtains. She tried to open her mouth but found her throat extremely dry, like she was dehydrated. Her body ached all over, making her feel very ufortable. Memories ofst night shed through her mind like a slideshow... She shivered and instinctively looked to her side. On the other side of the king-sized bed, the many facing away from her, breathing steadily. The "Satan" on his chest rose and fell with his breath, vividly noticeable. Shakira held her breath, carefully rolling out of the silk quilt. Just as she got out of bed, her legs immediately went weak, and she almost cried out. ''Damn, it felt worse than the first time! How hard did that Walter gost night?'' She exerted a lot of effort to stand up and tiptoed toward the door... With a snap, the curtains slowly opened, a flood of sunlight pouring into the room. A mocking coldugh contrasted sharply with the warm sunlight, chilling enough to send shivers down her spine. "After consuming everything, you want to run away a second time?" Shakira immediately froze, her hair standing on end. Realizing she was feeling a draft, she hurriedly hid back under the


    covers.


    She forced a smile, the man''s handsome yet infuriatingly beautiful face right in front of her.


    If he didn''t have that murderous look in his eyes, Shakira thought she would definitely be very happy.


    "Good morning, sir. You woke up so early."


    The man remained silent, just staring at her coldly.


    Shakira swallowed hard, quickly trying to exin, "How could I possibly run away? Besides, if the monk runs away, he can''t escape the temple; where could I go?" She added. "I was thinking that since you worked so hardst night, I would go prepare some good food for you to replenish your strength."


    Hearing this, Walter let out an ambiguous chuckle. "It was indeed hard work."


    Shakira recalled a few memories, her face flushing red. It was really too mortifying.


    Watching her face blush and ovepping with the memories ofst night, Walter felt his interest piqued. The first time he waspletely unconscious, afterward filled with overwhelming anger, wanting to kill that woman who didn''t know how high the sky was. But this time he was fully awake and in control ''I didn''t expect this to be more pleasurable than I imagined. "Shakira, tell me, how will you make it up to me this time?"


    "Uh... huh?" What could she possibly do to make it up to him? She didn''t want to! But given the situationst night, she was also caught off guard. At that time, in a daze, she wanted to control herself, but upon hearing Walter''s voice outside, she immediately gave up her struggle. That person was Walter; she was willing. ''Maybe it was because of past experience? Or was it trust?'' Shakira herself couldn''t figure it out. "You werepletely awakest night; why should I make it up to you?" Shakira pouted, almost saying, "It takes two to tango; you clearly have your problems too!" Walter raised an eyebrow, retorting, "Do you mean thatst night I should have let you suffer?"


    "Not really, I just thought there might be other ways, it doesn''t have to be... Heh, which


    woman was itst night who grabbed me and said I wasn''t a man, saying if I didn''t help her, she''d go find someone else..."


    His words recalled the memory, making Shakira feel ashamed, her scalp tingling. She quickly begged for mercy, "I was wrong, I was wrong! I''ll make it up to you; you''re my great benefactor, I''ll do whatever you say." "Do what I say?" Walter stared at Shakira nodded without hesitation, "Of course!" She was afraid if she countered, Walter would pin a bigger crime on her!


    at her, "Are you sure you''ll agree to whatever I say?


    Walter seemed to think seriously for a long time, then spoke again, his deep voice carrying a hint of hoarseness, "Shakira, there has never been another woman beside me." After speaking, he paused, his gaze locked onto her, deeply intense. Realizing, Shakira hurriedly chimed in, "Yes, yes, yes! You''re innocent and chaste; the sun and moon can testify." Walter was finally slightly satisfied, continuing. "And you, time and time again, have caused me to break my principles. Shakira dded again. "Yes, yes, yes! It''s all because of me; I''ve gone too far."


    "Every time you''re in trouble, Il I help you. help, help! I will I definitely


    This time, shouldn''t it be your turn to help me?"


    help..." Shakira instinctively responded, then became a bit stunned, "What am I supposed to help with?"


    "Help


    Walter looked deeply at her, the emotions in his eyesplex and dark, "You make me feel something for you and not want to restrain myself. What do you think you can help me with?"


    Shakira never expected to hear such direct words from Walter; she widened her eyes in disbelief. "Should I help you find a girlfriend?"


    Walter almost died of anger at her thought process, "Shakira, are you looking to die!"


    Shakira quickly corrected herself amid his roar, "You mean, you want me to make our betrothal act real?"


    Walter snorted, "Not impossible."This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    "No way!"


    "What do you mean?" Walter''s face darkened.


    6


    "I mean... I feel like I can''t afford to be with a young master." Shakira''s heart raced, and she felt a bit flustered herself. She didn''t mind having a rtionship with Walter; in fact, she enjoyed it, but... suddenly an idea popped into her head, "What if we both get what we want and don''t disturb each other?" She spoke tactfully, but Walter was smart and would definitely understand her meaning.


    Walter narrowed his eyes and, after a moment, coldly chuckled, Alright, that saves a lot of trouble."


    Shakira smiled and said, "Yes, if you find someone you like in the future, I would just be an obstacle between you two."


    Walterughed darkly, "You''re quite considerate for me."


    "Then it''s settled." Shakira, seeing he didn''t refute her, hurriedly wrapped herself in the nket and hid in the bathroom. Her heart was still pounding, and she d

 Chapter 92

    After finishing her wash, Shakira realized she hadn''t brought any clothes with her. She hesitated for a while before stepping out of the bathroom, only to find Walter was already gone from the room. Just as Shakira sighed in relief, someone knocked on the door. Peeking through the crack, she was surprised to see the little maid who had been wronged by Fiona. The little maid was holding a bag with both hands, beaming, "Ms. Nelson, the young master asked me to buy you some clothes. Please see if they fit." "Thank you." Shakira took the bag. Inside was a set of light green intricately embroidered modern qipao, a style that was quite particr about body shape and size, along with some fitted underwear. Standing i in front of the mirror, Sh Shakira gazed at the seemingly custom-tailored outfit and couldn''t help but daydream. Wait, how did Walter know her measurements?? Thinking of a certain possibility, Shakira shuddered from the goosebumps on her skin. She returned to the bedside and picked up her phone, which was flooded with Lago and Jessie''s vile insults and curses. "You b****h, do you know I''m about to die because of you! Hurry up ande back! I''m giving you onest chance; go apologize to Mr. Blondel today and ept all his punishments, and I won''t pursue this matter any further! Shakira, do you think just reading and ignoring will make everything fine? I''m telling you, if I go down, that olddy won''t get her treatment and will be sent straight to the crematorium!" Only I Lago could be so shameless as to thre to threaten aplete stranger using her own mother. Shakira could almost picture Lago''s furious, ugly face on the other side of the screen. She logged into her mobile banking to check the bnce on the card fromst night. There was only the ten yuan for opening the ount. 300 thousand dors? Just a a load of nonsense! Lago must have nned to sell me to Donavan for money!'' Shakira self-deprecatingly curled her lips. She hadn''t acted quickly enough, allowing Lago to scheme against her! With a cold face, Shakira dialed Sean''s number while opening the door and stepping out. Who would have thought that in the living room of the suite, several men were sitting together. Mitchell, Calton, Gavin, Kyle... and in the center, with a deep gaze directed at her, was Walter. As Shakira''s call connected, Sean''s voice burst through, "Hey? Old-" Shakira decisively hung up the phone, putting her hand behind her back. "What are you all... doing here?" The morning light streamed through the ss window, casting a perfect glow in this direction. Against the backdrop of the light green qipao, the woman''s skin appeared translucent, nearly reflecting light, her figure graceful; the waist-hugging design left much to the imagination... How delicate could that waist be! The men present gazed at her with changing expressions. Walter, who had touched this exclusive territoryst night, noticed this shift. The heat in his eyes gradually cooled, reced by a hint of coldness. He nced around at the others, "What are you staring at?" "Hawk!" The men hastily averted their gazes.


    Calton couldn''t help but tease, raising his eyebrows, "I knew it; no wonder Mr. Lopez''s blossoming posture was bit off yesterday. Turns out we mistook the flower all along."


    Last night''s Berry had such an open neckline that Walter hadn''t even bothered to look at her. Let alone her deliberately exposing herself; they could see some of it from their angle. But Walter didn''t care at all! Yet today was different... This qipao was worn so properly, with no skin exposed apart from her arms, and even her neck was covered. ''Even with this, Walter still wouldn''t show us! What a dog of a man!'' Walter shot a cold re. "Get lost."


    Mitchell stood up, surprised to see Shakira dressed this way. He blurted out, "You look just as good in these clothes as Yvette does. Why didn''t you dress up before?" His words were sincere. Having been in the entertainment industry, he had seen all sorts of beauties. He wasn''t attracted to women, and for him, Yvette, who loved to buy colorful clothes and bags and looked good after makeup, was enough. But now seeing Shakira... Like a natural beauty, untouched by embellishments. With her clearplexion and bright eyes like the moon, even with the faint shadows under her eyes fromck of sleepst night, 08.19


    she was still so beautiful that one couldn''t help but gaze.


    any


    Shakira stepped out, still seething from the Lago incident. Hearing Mitchell''s words, she felt displeased. "I don''t have these things. How can you expect me to dress up, wearing Yvette''s second-hand clothes?" She looked at him coldly, "I find them disgusting."


    of


    Mitchell immediately realized, meeting Shakira''s indifferent gaze. He remembered something. When they had just brought Shakira back, there was a discussion about her amodation. Yvette had been very generous, saying she was willing to return everything that belonged to Shakira because it was originSince she hade back, it should be returned to its rightful owner. Everyone in the house had felt heartbroken when she said that. Reba, who had originally instructed the butler to prepare some new items, then told them to prepare an extra set for Yvette. The intention was to let Yvette know that even with Shakira''s return, she would still be the little princess of the Nelson family, and everyone would continue to love her just the same.


    Yvette was deeply touched, and when Shakira returned, she took her to her wardrobe to pick clothes.


    What happened next, Mitchell didn''t dn''t pay attention to. He was focused on not letting his precious sister be wronged, so the next day, he went to a luxury store and bought a few new bags, giving them all to Yvette. In the end, when Shakira left, the only luggage she had was what she brought when she came. The Nelson family had prepared things for her, but she hadn''t used or taken any of it. She didn''t care at all. Mitchell pursed his lips, the regret in his chest rolling like a storm, unsure of what to say.


    At that moment, Brian walked in, breaking the awkward silence. "Young master, Donavan transferred 1 million to Lagost night, right when Ms. Nelson was taken to the rooftop."? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Shakira''s smile grew even colder. "1 million, Lago really sold me for a good price."


    "Far from it," Walter said, his voiceced with an ice-cold treachery that could destroy everything, "There will still be a bnce after this transaction."


    Shakira''s smile turned even colder.


    Mitchell couldn''t hold back his concerns, staring at Shakira, unable to resist asking, "What exactly happenedst night? How did you end up with the Smith family?"


    Jo.19

 Chapter 93

    Shakira maintained a neutral expression, calmly recounting, "Lago didn''t secure Southville Project and racked up huge debts. When enemies came knocking, he was afraid it would implicate Grandma Shi, so he asked me toe here to find him. He entrusted me with Grandma Shi''s medical expenses for the year." After hearing this, Mitchell was furious, pacing back and forth. "This sounds like nonsense. How could you believe him?"


    "I don''t believe him, but I want to try," Shakira turned her head, coldlyin


    Why shouldn''t I try to get them back for her?"


    expensThose are Grandma Shi''s medical


    at him, "Those


    Mitchell frowned tightly, "That''s Lago''s own mother. If he doesn''t care, why should you?"


    §á§Ñ


    "Ha!" Shakira let out a coldugh. "In both the Nelson family and the Smith family, the only person who has truly treated me well since childhood is Grandma Shi." Mitchell trembled at her words.


    Shakira continued to


    I to look at him, noticing his somewhat flustered expression. "I can''t help her much. If I don''t even try, what''s the difference between me and that heartless Lago?" Mitchell looked stunned. After a while, he quietly said, "I''m sorry!"


    "I don''t need your apology, and you don''t need to apologize to me," Shakira said, each word piercing like a needle into Mitchell''s heart. "I honestly don''t care how you think of me, so it''s unnecessary!" In front of so many people, Shakira was quite harsh on Mitchell. Walter''s gaze was deep as he watched Shakira without saying anything. However, Calton and Gavin, unaware of the situation, disagreed.


    "Ms. Nelson, that''s a bit too much. You were in dangerst night, and it was Mitchell who found Walter, allowing you to be saved. You didn''t see the scene; he rushed in, grabbing Walter as if he wanted to drag him to you."


    Shakira raised an eyebrow. Some of her memories fromst night were hazy; she didn''t remember that part with Mitchell "You helped mest night?"


    Mitchell straightened up, finally finding his confidence in front of her. "Jessie helped you out of the elevator. I noticed you Vile!


    so vile!"


    were burning up, and something was wrong, so I took you away... I didn''t expect them to beUpstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    "So that''s how it was!" Shakira turned to him, genuinely thanking him. "Thank you, Mitchell."


    "You don''t have to be so polite with me..."


    Shakira said, "I keep my private and public lives separate. You''ve helped me a lot, so of course I''ll return the favor." "Really, no need...


    "It''s fine if you can''t think of anything right now. Just let me know when you do," Shakira firmly left a note, "I don''t want to owe you anything."


    Mitchell, who wanted to refuse again, opened his mouth but found it hard to respond, Clearly, it was a serious matter that -nearly damaged his reputation, yet he still drew a clear line between himself and Shakira, making him feel even more embarrassed. "Alright, when I think of somethingter, I''ll tell you." A bitter smile appeared on his face, and Shakira, observing his emotions, didn''t care at all. It was one thing that he saved her once.


    But that didn''t mean she would feel any sympathy for him.


    Mitchell quicklyposed himself and looked at Brian. At that moment, ayer of ruthlessness and gloom shadowed his


    face. "Where is that Donavan? If he dares to... to Shakira, I won''t let him go!"


    T


    Brian didn''t answer right away but nced at Walter. When Walter, Brian continued, "Donavan threw a tantrum at the hotelst night and only left this morning." kenis


    "You had a part in this hotel, right?" Mitchell turned to Walter, his eyes "I want the surveince footage fromst night."


    "What do you want to do with it?"


    Mitchell gritted his teeth, "I want to send him to the police!""


    "On what grounds do you think your can send him in?"


    Hearing this, Shakiraughed before Walter could respond. "What does having the footage even mean? What can it prove? Can it show how they used me for a transaction? How they sent me into Donavan''s room?"


    Mitchell stared in disbelief, "Are you really going to let it go like this?!"


    "Who said I was going to let it go? Mitchell, when are you going to start using your brain?" Shakira sarcastically retorted.


    ""


    "Mitchell, this evidence really isn''t very useful." Kyle, who had been silent, finally spoke. His voice was gentle but carried a heavy pressure. "If this matter goes public, it will only subject Ms. Nelson to more rumors. They won''t suffer any damage." Mitchell immediately understood and felt regretful. "Sorry, I was too impulsive."


    Walter looked at Shakira with a serious expression. "How do you want to handle this?" Shakira met Walter''s gaze and raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to help me?" night, I was a also one of the victims. What do you think?"


    Last


    Shakira''s face flushed, nearly cursing him out. How dare Walter say he was a victim! Did he have no shame? She had a n in mind but didn''t want to show her hand too clearly, so she obediently lowered her head. "I''ll listen to you, Young Master. that case, let''s Walter smiled slightly. "In t do it my way." He waved his hand, and Brian understood, leaving the room. "The matter has been resolved; we''ll take our leave." Walter nced at Shakira, who stepped forward and pushed his wheelchair out of the suite. nk stares.


    The remaining few exchanged "Wait, are we just leaving? Aren''t we waiting to see what happens next?" Calton was not happy. He hadn''t gone home all night just to watch a show, and now it felt like the show wasn''t even finished yet! What a letdown. Gavin, however, was indifferent. "Don''t worry, you''ll hear news soon enough. Walter is not someone who keeps a low profile."


    Lago paced around the house all day, feeling extremely restless. There was no news from Shakira, Donavan was cursing him and demanding repayment, and those debt collectors had already tracked him down to the entrance of themunity. He feltpletely surrounded, as if he were losing his mind! Jessie came crying down from upstairs. "What should we do, darling? Yvette isn''t answering the phone. What should we do- huh?" As she approached Lago, she was brutally pped to the ground by him.


    "Useless thing, you can''t even keep an eye on one person!" Lago was angry and excited, punching and kicking her. "If it


    weren''t for you, I would have paid off the debt long ago! What kind of sin did Imit in my past life to end up with such bad luck marrying you!"


    Jessie cried out in pain, her hair viciously pulled by Lago, with no chance to hide.


    At that moment, Lago''s assistant called. "Mr. Smith, Mr. Blondel''spany has been found guilty of viting regtions, tax evasion, and hiding over a hundred million. He has already been taken in for review; he probably won''t be out for decades!"


    45


    45


    Lago''s violent actions froze, and he was in a daze for a while. Then heughed with a sense of relief. "Heaven is still helping me! Heaven is on my side! Donavan is finished, and that money we traded privately wasn''t notarized. I don''t have to pay it back!" Jessie, bloodied and bruised, got up from the ground, her mouth bleeding, and sheughed along. "That''s great! Oh, darling, we''re saved..."


    Just as she finished speaking, the door of the Smith family was suddenly kicked open.


    The couple''s faces changed in an instant as they looked over-

 Chapter 94

    Lago instinctively trembled. "Mr. Max! What brings you here..."


    "mily, followed by three muscr thugs holding baseball bats. "Where''s the


    A man in a floral shirt strode into the Smith famil money?"


    The smile on Lago''s face instantly vanished, and his legs went weak, nearly copsing as he raised his hands in surrender. "Didn''t we agree to give a three-day grace period? Today is only the first day!" "It''s only right to pay back debts. I can take my money whenever I want!" After saying this, Max gestured to his men, and one of them raised his bat and smashed the ornamental koi pond at the entrance. A dozen plump koi flopped on the ground, struggling desperately. Lago''s eyes bulged in shock; that was over a million worth


    ¦¯¦© ¦ª¦¯¦©


    of koi!


    He dared not express his anger, and the forced smile on his face was more painful than crying. "Max, you''re right, but I truly don''t have money right now..."


    "No money?" Max''s face twisted into a cold smile. "My brothers are getting restless today and are itching to vent their frustrations. No money is just the right opportunity for them to practice!" After saying that, Max signaled with his hand. Before Lago could finish speaking, the three thugs swung their bats down.


    "Ah! Max, please spare me! Max, please spare me!" Lago cried out in despair, begging for mercy.


    all over. She didn''t dare approach and could only hide far away, fearing that these debt collectors might turn on her too!


    Jessie watched i din horror, trembling all ove


    Those in this line of work have their own unique ways of teaching lessons. They hit hard so that the pain is memorable but can''t hit too hard; otherwise, how would they leave a life for them to repay? In the end, Lago couldn''t hold on any longer and h***ly shouted, "I''ll pay! Max, I''ll pay back 300 thousand first..." The thugs stopped. After a beating, Lagoy on the ground, barely conscious.


    "How much?" Max squatted in front of Lago, digging in his ear and letting the dust fall on Lago''s head, casually remarking, heard you have 1 million; hiding 200 million, what do you n to do?"


    Lago instantly felt a chill all over. He originally wanted to use 1 million to gamble; if he won, he could pay off his debts and maybe even make a big profit! But now...


    Before he could exin again, Max casually picked up a baseball bat from someone nearby and swung it hard against Lago''s left hand.


    With a loud c**k, Lago couldn''t even scream; his face turned ashen like a corpse. Cold sweat mixed with tears of blood, and Lago trembled, "I''ll pay back... 1 million, I will..."


    Shakira got into the Maybach with Walter, heading back to the vi.


    On the way, while Walter was looking at his phone, Shakira quickly messaged Sean. After some time, she heard the man''s cold voice, "You really don''t want to handle this yourself?" The abruptness of the topic caught Shakira off guard for a moment, but she quickly caught up.


    Thu,


    Shakira pursed her lips, "I hate them, I wish they would die, but there''s no need to dirty my own hands."


    Walter turned his gaze towards her. The woman''s clear eyes showed calmness, but upon closer inspection, there was no emotion in them at all.


    Walter looked away and stared straight ahead, "Fine."


    Shakira was a bit confused. ''What does he mean by ''fine''? This guy is so mysterious.


    45


    45


    Upon arriving at Easke Valley Estate, the car slowed to a stop, and the butler and s***nts were waiting in front of the car.


    Walter casually gave an order, "Move her things to my room."


    The butler and s***nts: ?


    The


    Shakira, getting out from the other side: ??Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    The butler was thrilled but uncertain, his voice trembling with excitement, "Young master, when you say Ms. Nelson?" ''her,'' do you


    mean


    Walter replied, "Is there a problem?"


    "No! We''ll arrange it right away, and make sure Ms. Nelson''s belongings are moved to your bedroom intact!" After finishing, the butler hurried off with the s***ts, eager to act before the young master changed his mind. Shakira couldn''t reach out in time to stop him. Her face flushed as she questioned Walter, "Why didn''t you tell me we were living together?"


    He had an attitude of not needing to give prior notice, as if it was a given, "Since we''ve agreed, why not live together?"


    He looked at her deeply, his tone meaningful, "I neverpromise on my ownfort."


    still a bit stunned, unable to process it.


    Shakira was speechless. She was still a


    Her phone vibrated several times, receiving multiple messages. All from Sean: [Boss, I''m back...]


    ¦°


    [I didn''t even get a chance to act; that idiot, Lago and Donavan just had to offend Walter? I just went to Donavan''s ce, and he got arrested by his own secretary for tax evasion! I hurried to the Smith family, gave some money to Brian, his assistant, to make trouble for Lago every day. By the time my people got there, Lago was half-dead; if theye again, he might not make it! I went for nothing!] [Damn, it drives me crazy! I waited so long for a chance to teach that scoundrel a lesson, and he gets beaten first! What the hell! Is Walter out of his mind?]


    Watching the lengthyints from Sean, Shakira couldpletely understand how disappointed and frustrated he felt. She also didn''t expect Walter''s way of handling things to align with her thoughts...


    At this moment, Sean sent another message: [Boss, does Walter have a crush on you?]


    Shakira''s temples throbbed; unable to endure it any longer, she pressed send on a voice message, angrily cursing, "Crush my a***!" "This Sean is... his brain must be about to be overtaken by Mitchell!''


    ***


    At the Nelson residence, when Mitchell returned, he immediately called Finn and his parents to the study with a serious face.


    Yvette entered from the garden and saw them going upstairs one after another, a glimmer passing through her eyes.


    Thinking about the message Lago sent her

 Chapter 95

    That one sentence stirred up a storm.


    Cody and Reba''s expressions changed instantly, surprise, confusion, panic, disappointment, and anger-almost in an instant, passing through severalplex emotions. Finally, Cody struggled to suppress his restless agitation and sternly scolded Mitchell, "Mitchell, gotten into youtely, repeatedly helping an outsider!" The emphasis on ''outsider'' was heavy. "No, Dad, even if what''s if we cut ties, Shakira still has the blood of the Nelson family; she is your daughter, our sister." "Nonsense!" Cody angrily pointed his finger at have one sister in this lifetime? You drove her awaUpstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    No,


    tchell''s nose, "You used to be very clear about this, didn''t you say you only and now you want her back? Mitchell, I think you''re losing your mind!" Listening to t to this scolding, Mitchell lowered his head in shame. "Yes, at that time, I didn''t know what her life was like; Dad, she hasn''t been treated well in the Smith family; she was like a servant, lowered her status-she wasn''t as terrible as they said..." "Shut up! No matter how she was in the Smith family, it was caused by us? When she was in the Nelson family, she was always restless, causing chaos for the entire household!" Reba looked at her husband, feeling somewhat agitated, and stepped forward tofort him. Afterward, she cam over to rest her hand on her son''s shoulder, gently advising, "Mitchell,


    I know you have a a kind heart;


    you brothers are all good-hearted, but you don''t understand the malice of the world..."


    Mitchell was shocked beyond belief and couldn''t believe his mother would say such a thing about her own daughter. "Mom, do you suspect that Shakira has ulterior motives in using me?" For the first time, he felt that his parents were utterly ridiculous. He couldn''t help but feel a sense of sorrow for Shakira. When I faced the usations of being ''abandoned by my family'' at the Nelson family, didn''t I feel the same sense of frustration and helplessness?" Finn, who had been silent, frowned at at his parents'' reaction. ''Am I overthinking this? Why do my parents hold such malicious bias against Shakira?'' Finn had been busy withpany matters and rarely involved himself in family affairs. Now, after watching a few exchanges, he i increasingly felt felt that there was something they didn''t know.


    Reba''s


    to sell


    a''s poised and elegant demeanor briefly showed an unusual expression. "Mom isn''t doubting her; she wants to protect you and Yvette. Otherwise, tell me, why would she insist on cutting ties with the whole family and now confuse you into feeling pity for her?" Attempt clenched his fists toght, vt has nothing to do with her. She''s always been cold to me and doesn''t want to see me at all. It''s my own decision to follow her and observe certain things." He lowered his voice, briefly mentioning the incident where Lago Jessie Donavan. After hearing this, the couple''s expressions darkened further. "How outrageous!" Cody''s face turned ck with anger. "Lago has brought this upon himself, and now he wants to sell Shakira for money?" Even if Cody and Reba disliked Shakira and regarded her as a thorn in their side, they wouldn''t allow anyone else to touch that thorn. "It''s precisely because Lago has gone too far that I know if we let her be, more people wille to harm her in the future. If she holds the identity of a Nelson family child, who would darey their hands on her?" Cody and Reba fell silent, and Finn spoke up. "Dad, no matter what, the Smith family did wrong in this matter. Shakira was indeed nearly harmed; if Mitchell hadn''t been there, the consequences would have been unimaginable." "Yes, Finn Finn is right. She even helped you during the Southville development; her heart isn''t as bad as we think..." Mitchell gritted his teeth. "The worst are those two from the Smith family! They didn''t raise Shakira properly and now want to use herto settle their debts. It''s truly despicable!"


    Finn nced at his parents and suggested, "We don''t need to rush the recognition; instead, why don''t we invite her over for dinner? Under my name, as a form of gratitude." Mitchell''s eyes lit up. "Finn!"


    Cody and Reba exchanged nces. "Alright, eldest son, you take care of it."


    ng 19 Thu,


    Mitchell pressed further, "Fiun, we can''t let Lap


    and d Jessie think they can target the Nelson family without consequences..."


    "Ah-" Before Mitchell could finish, screams from downstairs interrupted. The group rushed out of the study and found Yvette lying at the bottom of the staircase, surrounded by shards of ss and blood seeping out.


    "Yvette!" Reba rushed to her side. "Yvette, what happened?" Cody shouted at the people nearby, "Call an ambnce now!"


    study when she received a call. She missed a step and fell down the


    A servant exined, "Miss Yvette was taking coffee to stairs!" Stairs!


    Yvette was already in tears, crying uncontrobly. "Mom, Dad, I don''t deserve to be your daughter! The Smith family-they did something so cruel to my sister! Lago, that beast, got severely beaten up by the debt collectors and is in the hospital, and he''s forcing me to pay for him. If I don''t, he''ll jump off a building and dere to the world that I''m his daughter, letting the collectorse after me..." Overwhelmed with emotion, Yvette clutched her chest and began to retch. "What evil have I done in my past life to deserve such a beast of a father in this one?"


    "What! Lago that filthy dog, how dare he!" Cody turned green with rage. Lago''s actions were an open challenge to the Nelson family, trampling their dignity underfoot!


    Yvette continued to cry out, bing increasingly disoriented. In the end, her emotions overwhelmed her, and she fainted. The Nelson family was thrown into chaos, rushing her to the hospital. The parents followed, while Finn went to deal with Lago. Mitchell was left alone in the house. He looked up at the ornate spiral staircase and, in a daze, a certain thought gradually became clearer in his mind.


    When Shakira returned to her room, her little bedroom had beenpletely restored to its previous state in Walter''s master bedroom. She felt a bit dazed, as if everything before her was a dream.Is this really a dream?'' She couldn''t help but pinch her arm. "Is there really such a method to verify reality from dreams? Shakira, how foolish can you be?" Walter appeared behind her unexpectedly, startling her.


    Shakira turned around, blinking. She didn''t know how her courage had grown so bold as she reached out to pinch Walter''s firm arm muscle again.


    Walter let out a hiss. "Shakira!"


    "I used a clever method; the young master should praise me!"


    He was speechless. He just wanted to strangle her!

 Chapter 96

    Noticing Walter''s fierce re, Shakira quickly took a few steps back. It was important to preserve her life.


    Walter shot her a look before turning to his changing room. This space had previously been solely his, filled with his clothes and essories. Now, Shakira''s items also filled the area, adding a ssh of color to the otherwise deep-toned space. It was somewhat abrupt, but Walter found it rather pleasing. However. Walter frowned slightly, his expression a bit displeased. "Is that all your clothes?" In the several dozen square meters of the walk-in closet, Shakira''s clothes upied less than one-tenth. He didn''t know how much clothing other women should have, but looking at Shakira''s collection, he was quite certain it was abnormally little. Moreover, everything was very ordinary and simple in style. Walter''s gaze shifted to the tight dress Shakira was wearing, a hint of light flickering in the depths of his blue eyes.


    Shakira shrugged. "Yeah, this is enough to wear."


    "I''ll have Levi take you to get some more tomorrow."


    Shakira waved her hand, "No, no need." ''Shopping for clothes is such a hassle.


    Yet Walter suddenly said, "Or do you want me to go shopping with you?"


    ''Having Walter apany me would be even scarier!" "Then let Levi..."


    Before she could finish, Levi knocked on the door. "Young Master, Mitchell sent some items for Ms. Nelson. Should I let them in?"


    Shakira was baffled. "What is Mitchell up to now?" When she walked out, her temples were throbbing. ''Is Mitchell crazy? She saw over a dozen maids in the hallway, pushing a row of clothing racks filled with over a hundred new clothes with tags still attached! Levi reported without missing a word, "These are from Mitchell, sent by several luxury store managers. There are a total of one hundred and twenty new outfits, and the managers left business cards, stating they will regrly send new arrivals every quarter." Walter also stepped out, and upon seeing this scene, his face immediately darkened.


    Shakira held her forehead. "Levi, are those people still here? Tell them..."


    "Tell them to return the clothes." Walter interrupted Shakira''s voice directly and issued amand.


    Levi showed a hesitant expression. "The managers have already left. They ryed Mitchell''s message that if Ms. Nelson refuses, she can dispose of them as she pleases."


    Shakira couldn''t contain her anger and blurted out, "Does he have money to burn?" Looking at these high-end custom clothes that many women dream of, Shakira didn''t reveal much emotion. She let out a deep breath. "Levi, please help me send these to the maids in the vi, whether they wear them or sell them is up to them."


    The maids who had brought the clothes were stunned. They had initially envied Shakira, but now they were all excited after hearing this!


    Levi looked at Walter instinctively, surprised.


    Upon hearing her words, Walter''s lips slightly curled up. "Do as she says."


    "Yes."


    Walter looked at her leisurely. "What will you do about Mitchell now?"


    Shakira was feeling quite annoyed. "Just ignore him; he said I could handle it as I wish."


    08:19


    Walter smiled and said, "I can help you solve this, so you won''t owe anyone a favor."


    3Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Shakira''s eyes lit up, and she immediately jumped behind him, cagerly massaging his shoulders and arms. "You always have good ideas, Young Master! But how are we going to solve this?"


    Walter didn''t say a word; he simply picked up his phone and, without revealing how he found Mitchell''s banking information, entered a long string of zeros and confirmed the transfer.


    His actions were so fluid that the massive payment went through in an instant, and Shakira didn''t have time to stop him!


    "It''s done." Walter raised an eyebrow at her, amused by her astonished expression. "This one million will be deducted from your sry."


    ''You''re not worried about spending my money, are you? Those clothes don''t cost one million!''


    In the hospital. Mitchell eventually drove over. Yvette''s wounds had been treated, and she underwent a routine checkup. Her attending physician gave them a severe reprimand, emphasizing that they should not take advantage of Yvette''s ability to manage her condition with medication and recklessly harm her body.


    After waking up, Yvette looked at Reba and Cody and immediately burst into tears. "It''s all my fault, I''ve let everyone down. I''m so terrible..."


    "Silly girl, don''t cry! Your body is still weak; it''s not your fault. It''s all Lago''s fault for being so foolish. Who would have thought he could be so cruel, not even sparing his own daughter!" Reba reassured her, urging her not to worry about Lago and to focus on recovering. Mitchell stood in the corner, hearing Reba''s words, his hand holding the phone trembled involuntarily. A self-deprecating smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.


    ''Back then, my mother judged her own biological daughter, who had suffered alone, with the utmost malice. But now, she protects her adopted daughter, who has taken the identity of her biological child, with the greatest maternal love. Isn''t this the height of irony? I really don''t understand why they can be so biased, with such double standards. Is it just because Shakira isn''t a child of the Nelson family? At the same time, watching everything unfold as an outsider, he felt an indescribable bitterness and regret. ''Once upon a time, I was just as cruel to Shakira!"


    Lost in thought, Mitchell''s phone vibrated twice. He saw a message in the WeChat group from several managers confirming that the items had been sent. He took a small breath of relief. He was genuinely afraid of Shakira''s reaction. Would she scold him outright? Or would she throw away all those clothes? The thought of her disdainful, cold demeanor towards him made him anxious... This was the first time he had given someone a gift, and he was feeling the tension of it.


    After waiting about half an hour, a message finally popped up on his phone. He quickly straightened up, opened it, and found a text from the bank. His heart sank in disappointment; he opened it casually, only to see the amount. ''I million?! What does Walter mean?!'' Mitchell gritted his teeth in anger as another message quickly came through. Walter: [My woman doesn''t need Mitchell to worry.]


    Mitchell felt infuriated by Walter. After all, he was going to be his future brother-inw. Last night, he had even sought him out on the rooftop for help regarding Shakira... ''Damn it, what an ungrateful wretch!*


    After the small vi''s servants received the clothes, they came over to thank Shakira. One of the younger maids, who was familiar with Shakira, even winked at her while holding her hand, saying, "To thank Ms. Nelson for the beautiful clothes; we''ve prepared a return gift for you." "No need to be so polite."


    "Hehe, we''ve already prepared it. You''ll find out when Ms. Nelson is resting!"


    Shakira was momentarily confused. But when she returned to her master bedroom that night and saw the deep blue bed set

 Chapter 97

    "This isn''t a return gift; it''s clearly repaying kindness with malice Hearing someone talking outside the corridor, Shakira nearly jumped up. She hurriedly rushed to gather the rose petals off the bed. However, she searched the entire room and couldn''t find a trash bin! The mechanical sound of a wheelchair was seemingly close behind the door. Shakira quickly stuffed the rose petals into her clothes and dashed to the bathroom. She locked the bathroom door with a loud bang.


    Walter pushed open the bedroom door and heard themotion. A fleeting moment of fierceness shed in his eyes, but when he saw the small backpack on the cab, his expression softened. He almost forgot about Shakira moving in. He approached the bathroom door, where the sound of running water was heard. "Shakira?"


    "Ah, I''m washing up. Just a moment."


    Walter returned to the bedroom, noticing the wrinkled bed set that looked like someone had rolled around on it. He couldn''t help but nce at the bathroom. "This woman, acting indifferent on the surface, must be thrilled, rolling around on my bed while I''m away. Is she overjoyed? A confident, pleased smile crept onto his handsome face as he tidied the bed. Just as he picked up a pillow, two items unexpectedly slipped out...


    In the bathroom, Shakira, painfully sacrificing one of her old clothes, stuffed all the petals into the trash bin. ''If Walter sees this, he''ll surelyugh at me; he might even think it was my idea! Shakira shook her head, removed her clothes, and sank into the bathtub. The bathroom amenities in Walter''s ce are way morefortable than my little room; the massage function is too good. Affer soaking for a while, Shakira finally got up to change. When she reached for the hanger, her hand touched something silky and thin. Unfolding it, she found a sheer, sensual spaghetti strap dress. Shakira froze, "Why are there more gifts...?" After some hesitation, she wrapped herself in a men''s bathrobe that reached her ankles and walked out.


    Walter nced at her, his eyes deepening. His voice carried a hint of hoarseness, "All done?"


    "Um... I''ll get you a new bathrobe." Shakira felt a little uneasy, avoiding his gaze. Walter''s prating stare followed her until he entered the bathroom on his own. By the time he finished washing up, Shakira had already changed into her own ordinary sleepwear, a simple top and long pants.


    Walter silently got into bed from the other side. Seeing him act so naturally, Shakira didn''t feel shy either; shey down and covered herself with the nket.


    However, with someone else in bed, she found it hard to fall asleep, tossing and turning. During one of her many turns, the man beside her suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her close,


    Shakira gasped, her body tensing up. "Walter, what are you doing?!" A soft yellow light remained lit at the head of the bed, casting a warm glow on the man''s handsome face, adding ayer of ambiguity.


    He tightened his grip, their bodies almost impossibly close. "You''ve been anticipating this all night, haven''t you?" Shakira''s eyes widened, her hands pushing against his chest. His bathrobe loosened slightly during the struggle, and her handsnded on the tattoo on his chest, the man''s intense body heat and powerful heartbeat were hard to ignore.


    "Who, who was anticipating this?!"


    "Heh, ying hard to get?" Walter took out two items from the bedside cab. "Did you think hiding them under the pillow would keep me from knowing?"


    What is this..." Shakira picked it up and nearly cked out. A baby onesie and a tiny book titled "A Couple''s Basic Knowledge Guide," containing pictures that made her blush instantly.


    Walter looked at her with an expression of confirmation, "Do you still want to deny it?"


    "I really want to deny it, al-no, wait, this has nothing to do with me, I didn''t prepare this!" Shakira stammered, trying to clear her name, exining about the rose petals and her sleepwear as well. Seeing the sleepwear she had changed out of, Walter frowned, "Really not you?"


    "I''m genuinely innocent; I never expected them to be so bold..."


    Walter fell silent, but his expression clearly showed he was not pleased. Shakira quickly dered her alignment with him, "My heart is with you, young master! They really went too far!"


    Walter looked at her with disdain, "Who''s on the same side as you?" His gaze was filled with deep resentment.


    Shakira was perplexed, not knowing where she went wrong again. She thought for a moment and then sat on the bed, deciding to stop resisting. "Actually, even if you want to satisfy... that need, you didn''t have to let me move in, right?" Walter frowned at her, "What do you mean?"


    "I owe you a favor, and I''m repaying you. When you want it, we can discuss it further. There''s no need to live together; it just raises misunderstandings about our rtionship." Shakira paused, "Besides, didn''t you finally find the person you were looking for? If she knows I live here, wouldn''t it be difficult for you?"


    Walter fixed his gaze on her face. In the dim light, the man''s expression was ambiguous, making it impossible to discern his true emotions.


    "Heh." He chuckled lightly, his tone chilling. "You''re actually considering my feelings?"


    "I don''t like being a burden. I think you and I are simr people."? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    "How ridiculous. Since when do I need a maid to worry about my affairs?" Walter''s voice suddenly turned cold and harsh. "And I won''t allow you to meddle in my business with others!"


    Shakira was taken aback by his sudden anger, her eyes widening in confusion as she stared at him. Walter turned away, showing his back to her with indifference. "If you don''t want to sleep, go to the hallway."


    "Tsk, Walter is inexplicably angry again... Shakira didn''t want to sleep in the hallway. She pouted, pulled the nket back over herself, andy down again. An indescribable emotion swelled inside her-sour and heavy, a bit of grievance. But what right did she have to feel wronged? Walter was right; she had no ce to meddle in his affairs.

 Chapter 98

    Shakira was carefree and quickly moved past her emotions, soon drifting into sleep. Meanwhile, Walter, who had turned his back, remained silent, listening to the sounds behind him. As proud as he was, he expected Shakira toe and coax him, to admit her mistake and apologize, and he could reluctantly forgive her. However, he maintained this posture for a long time, and despite half of his body going numb, he still didn''t hear her stir.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Walter''s face was filled with brewing anger. When he finally turned around, he saw Shakira lying on her side, already curled up and sound asleep.


    Walter thought, ''I must be insane for letting her move in to irritate me!''


    In the hospital, Yvette only had external skin injuries, but the chief physician still advised her to stay in the hospital for observation overnight. Reba apanied her for the night and when visiting hours were over, she reminded Yvette to take good care of herself before leaving.


    As soon as the Nelson family left, the weakened Yvette immediately got out of bed, locked the door, and made a video call. Soon, Jessie appeared on the screen, her face swollen and speaking sluggishly, "Yvette, how are you? Do you think the Nelson family will me you?"


    Yvette smiled proudly, "Of course everyone feels sorry for me; they know this isn''t my fault. Finn has already taken care of it."


    She had overheard themotion in the study during the day and learned that Lago had done something foolish behind her back. In a moment of desperation, she could only think of using a scapegoat to get out of it. Thankfully, the Nelson family didn''t suspect her; they looked at her injuries with concern and felt sorry for her instead.


    Jessie sighed in relief, "That''s good to hear. Yvette, your dad is running out of options. You''re the hope of our whole family; you can''t mess this up!"


    A sh of disdain crossed Yvette''s eyes, "Who told you to take matters into your own hands with Shakira? You didn''t even do it well; you deserve this!" ''If things had gone as nned and Shakira was ruined by that despicable pervert, I would have been delighted. But now, Lago and the others have failed and put themselves in danger! What bad luck!"


    Before Jessie could exin, Lago suddenly struggled to sit up in his hospital bed. His face was wrapped up like a mummy, still cursing, "It''s all Mitchell''s fault! If he hadn''t interfered, I would have paid off my debts by now and wouldn''t have gotten beaten like this!" After venting, Lago winced in pain.


    Hearing this, Yvette narrowed her eyes, her tone cold and biting, "He''s no longer the Mitchell who only sees me as his precious little sister. Recently, he''s been favoring Shakira and ruining our ns."


    "Exactly! If he hadn''t returned everything to Shakira, we wouldn''t be in this mess today!" Jessie added angrily. "He proposed to our parents today that they bring Shakira back home."


    "What!" Lago eximed in shock. "What did the Nelson family say?"


    "Of course, Mom and Dad disagreed!" Yvette lifted her chin defiantly. "But if this continues, Mitchell will only be more of a nuisance. If he finds out things he shouldn''t know... I don''t mind getting rid of a brother who only brings me trouble," she added nonchntly, her eyes glinting as she said, "Can Grandpa help us?"


    Both Lago and Jessie froze for a moment, exchanging nces that spoke volumes. Jessie said, "I''ll go back to the countryside to find your grandpa tomorrow. We absolutely cannot let our precious girl suffer!"


    Yvette smirked and urged, "No matter how, you need to get that money sorted out quickly. I can''t help now; it''s your fault for making a move on Shakira. No matter how much the Nelson family dislikes Shakira, your actions are undoubtedly pping them in the face." Lago knew the gravity of the situation. "If Dad finds out, you''d better think of a way to help me."


    00,00


    Yvette replied nonchntly, "Got it."


    The next day, when Shakira woke up, Walter was long gone from the next room. She didn''t mind and walked into the bathroom while checking her phone, where she saw a message from Sean: [Lago is really desperate now, even selling his house and car. He''s got nowhere to run, haha!]


    Shakira turned on the tap to wash up, slipped in a Bluetooth earbud, and made a call.


    After a while, a soft, sleepy voice picked up, "Boss! is it so early..."


    Shakira could almost imagine Cathy rubbing her eyes on the other end, her cute expression barely able to open them. She softened her voice, "Cathy, still sleeping?"


    Cathy yawned, "Yeah, I identally stayed up all night..."


    Shakira chided her, "You need to watch your rest. Don''t you want to grow a few more centimeters?"


    Cathy whined. "Boss, my bones have already passed the growth stage; I can''t grow taller..."


    Shakiraughed. "I need a favor from you; it might involve some divination stuff." Mentioning divination instantly perked Cathy up. After briefly exining what she needed, Shakira couldn''t help but remind her to sleep well and eat properly. After hanging up the call, Shakira looked up and gasped. Walter had appeared outside the door, and she didn''t know how long he had been listening. She quickly took off her earbud, "Why didn''t you knock beforeing in?"


    Walter had a nk expression, "This is my room."


    Shakira went silent. ''Well, Walter''s room is where Walter can walk around freely.''


    Walter shot her a cold re before turning to leave. Shakira pouted, relieved that he hadn''t seemed to hear much. However she noticed the dark circles under his eyes. ''Could it be he didn''t sleep wellst night?'' No wonder he was in a bad mood so early in the morning. As it turned out, Walter''s mood was quite foul today. After Shakira finished breakfast and tidied up a bit, she headed to the study to prepare for Walter''s acupuncture treatment. Just outside the door, she overheard him furiously cursing the overseas management team in fluent Yarovian during a conference call. After listening for a while, she felt enlightened. ''I didn''t know Yarovia, known for its elegant gentlemen worldwide, had such foulnguage. Walter really knows them all! No wonder he''s Walter; his sharp tongue is hard to match!" "What are you standing there for?" Walter''s icy voice made Shakira hurry to push the door open. She held up what she was carrying, "Young Master, it''s time for acupuncture."


    The management team in the video eagerly awaited Mr. Lopez to shift his anger onto the maid who had interrupted him at such a crucial moment. They thought, "Scold her already; we can''t take it anymore!"

 Chapter 99

    The crowd raised their heads in anticipation, watching as the terrifyingly cold gaze of Walter, powerful enough to freeze everything in its path, stared at the maid outside the screen. They couldn''t see her, but they could hear some movement, as she continued to set things on the table. She even identally knocked over the ss that Walter had on hand. The crowd let out a sigh of relief. ''It''s done for, this maid is definitely going to be scolded." Shakira, of course, had no idea they were hoping for her misfortune. Feeling Walter''s intense gaze on her, she felt a bit


    nervous.


    She identally knocked something over. The ss was on the side of Walter''s hand; Shakira eximed and hurriedly bent down to pick it up. Just as she half-leaned over, she unexpectedly appeared in the screen, making it seem like she was trying to pounce on Mr. Lopez.


    The crowd gasped; this maid was truly brave to provoke Mr. Lopez at such a tense moment!


    Walter''s cold eyes narrowed when Shakira pressed down on him. Just as she managed to grasp the ss and was about to stand up, Walter''s hand reached beneath the table to grasp her waist. Shakira pressed against his chest again, her eyes wide in surprise. "You..." "Was that on purpose?" As soon as she spoke, he used her first


    Shakira''s eyes widened like saucers, "I didn''t mean to!"


    "Didn''t mean to lean on me?"


    Shakira red at him, unable to tolerate his snarky attitude, "Yes, yes, yes, it was intentional! If you''re not happy, why don''t you push me back down?" She widened her eyes, which sparkled with moisture, looking like a little creature puffed up in anger.


    Walter chuckled softly. "Reverse psychology won''t work on me." After saying that, he released his grip. Shakira was almost fuming.


    ''What kind of person is Walter?! No, wait, not a person, a dog!!!''


    The people in the video were waiting for Mr. Lopez to explode. To their surprise, after a long pause, the little maid left the screen, and Mr. Lopez unexpectedly... looked rxed. Walter adjusted his expression, "The proposal needs to be redone. If I don''t get a satisfactory answer tomorrow, all of you can return to the grassroots." After that, he hung up the meeting abruptly. The others felt deted. This wasn''t at all what they had expected.


    Shakira helped Walter with his acupuncture. While he closed his eyes to rest, she checked his pulse. The man slowly half- opened his eyes, watching the seriously focused woman. "How is it?" After a moment, he asked.


    Shakira ced his hand back down. "The cold symptoms are showing signs of improvement. The medicinal bath needs to continue; in a few months, you should be nearly healed."


    "Hmm." Walter wanted to say something more, but his phone rang. He nced at it, "Answer it for me." It was an unknown number, with no note.


    Shakira had no choice but to pick it up, "Hello, Mr. Lopez is not avable to take your call right now."


    When Berry heard Shakira''s voice, she felt like a bucket of cold water was dumped on him. Upon realizing Berry was listening, Shakira repeated. "He is not avable to take calls at the moment, but if you need it, I can help ry your message to him." Berry took a moment before speaking, "Shakira, it''s Berry. I need to talk to Mr. Lopez."? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Shakira narrowed her eyes-slightly. She didn''t expect it to be her Remembering the fleeting image fromst night in the hallway, Shakira wasn''t in a good mood. "Didn''t I just say that twice? Are you deaf?"


    Berry didn''t expect Shakira to be so unreasonable towards her. Angrily, she retorted, "What do you mean, Shakira? You''re just a maid! Who gave you the right to take Mr. Lopez''s call?"


    5


    Before Berry could finish her sentence, Shakira had already pressed the speaker button. Berry''s frantic, disheveled voice was clearly heard by Walter. Shakira raised an eyebrow, watching him with amusement. She mouthed silently, as if saying, "Look, it''s your problem, you sort it out yourself."


    Walter shot Shakira a deep look and coldly said, "I told her to take it."


    Berry was stunned. "Mr. Lopez, are you listening?!"


    "Yes." The man''s extremely cold voice sent a chill down Berry''s spine. She had been pretending to be gentle and timid in front of Walter, but in her fury, she never considered that Walter was listening!


    ''It must be Shakira! It must be Shakira who did this on purpose! Berry struggled to suppress her fear and anger, adopting a very aggrieved tone, "Mr. Lopez, I''m sorry! I was just anxious, thinking Shakira was doing something behind your back, which is why I got upset..." She wanted to exin and salvage her image as ady in front of Walter. Moreover, she conveyed an important message: her anger wasn''t directed at Shakira but was for his sake!


    Shakira held up her phone, unable to suppress a coldugh. Tsk, this Berry is quite the dramatist. It seems she learned well from Yvette. Looking at Walter... he appeared to be simrly annoyed by the cutesy tone of the woman on the other end. Shakira felt quite pleased inside.


    Hearing Shakira''s inadvertent chuckle, Walter shot her a re. He wasn''t in a good mood and had little patience for Berry. "What do you want?"


    Berry felt awkward for a moment and hurriedly spoke, "I know Mr. Lopez is very busy with many matters, and I don''t want to trouble you. However, there''s one thing I can only think of you for...." Not receiving a response from the other end, Berry steeled herself and continued, "Mr. Lopez knows about Yvette, right? She had some history with you before, and she''s now my good friend. Last night, her biological parents did something that seems to have offended some dangerous people. Yvette came to me in tears, and I feel sorry for her. I was wondering if I could ask Mr. Lopez to help Yvette?"


    Listening to Berry''s whiny tone, Shakira''s smile gradually faded. By the end, it waspletely gone, reced by a cold frost. Shakira''s eyes were filled with mockery. ''Yvette really knows how to scheme. Knowing what happenedst night, she still sent Berry to plead with Walter.''


    ''Hah... Walter''s eyes slowly narrowed. "Do you know what your request means?"


    Berry was taken aback, and through the phone, she didn''t immediately grasp the change in the man''s mood. She instinctively replied, "I know Mr. Smith did something badst night, but he has already received the punishment he deseryes. Now he''s the hospital threatening tomit suicide... I think he''s already suffering enough, and Yvette is my good friend. I can''t just watch her fall into despair!"


    "Mr. Lopez said before that he would try to help with what I want. So, can you help me with this?"

 Chapter 100

    The air in the study was quiet to the extreme, and Berry''s voiceing from the phone speaker sounded especially sharp and grating. On the other end, with a tone that seemed to assume Walter would handle it as a matter of course, Shakira listened, her beautiful face gradually breaking into an increasingly cold smile. Meanwhile, her gaze turned towards Walter. She seemed to have anticipated this oue. ''Walter had Brian deal with Lago, which was just him protecting his own interests, feeling like his possessions were infringed upon. But Berry is different. She is the one he spent so much effort finding. Compared to me, the maid he could easily do away with, what''s theparison?'' Unconsciously, Shakira didn''t even realize she had developed a hint of self-mockery at the corners of her lips. Simrly, Walter''s instinctive reaction was to raise his eyes to look at Shakira. Upon seeing the obvious curve at the corners of her lips, the man''s dark pupils constricted sharply. As clever as he was, how could he not understand the deeper meaning behind her reaction? Before I give an answer, she has already assumed I would help Berry? This woman!'' Walter slightly narrowed his eyes, feeling even more anger rising in his chest. Not knowing that the tension on the other end of the call was growing, Berry hesitantly asked, "Mr. Lopez? Can you hear me?"


    "I can hear you." "Walter asked gravely, "Did Yvette send you to find me?"


    "No, Yvette is kind-hearted; how could she make things difficult for me? I want to help her." Berry exined urgently, fearing Walter misunderstood Yvette. In her mind, she thought, I''m thinking purely of others; Mr. Lopez will surely appreciate this, right?'' Just as a slight smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, she heard the man''s voice again on the other end, "Since it has nothing to do with you, don''t meddle in other people''s affairs." Berry was stunned,pletely not expecting Walter to refuse her.


    Walter mercilessly criticized, "Think a little before helping others; not everyone is worth wasting my goodwill on." After saying this, he didn''t wait for Berry to speak again and hung up the phone. was Berry on the other end


    Not only was


    Noticing her somewhat dazed and unable to recover, but Shakira was also in a daze. ''Walter actually... rejected Berry and stood on her side?''


    I expression, Walter asked irritably, "What''s that look on your face?"


    Shakira blinked her eyes and replied honestly, "I thought you would agree to Berry."


    Walter sneered, "I''m not that foolish to be manipted."


    Shakira''s curved with smile, "Ind Her good


    Her


    mile, "Indeed, Master is wise!"


    mood was fully disyed in front of him. Just a moment ago, she resembled a hedgehog with its quills raised, full of vignce, now she was like azy cat exposing her belly, stretching out her paws in front of him. Is she really that happy? Walter''s eyes sparkled with profound meaning as he said, "It seems you''re not indifferent either."


    Shakira understood the implication of his words, gazing intently at him, her expression serious, "Though the decision is yours, if you help someone I loathe, I will consider you one of them."


    Meeting her expression, Walter''s heart stirred. He scoffed, "How unreasonable."


    Shakira raised an eyebrow, "Isn''t that what you taught me?" Walter''s lips twitched slightly; he really couldn''t refute that. Yes, he was indeed that unreasonable a person.  88%


    Berry listened to the busy signal on the phone,pletely stunned. Until Yvette''s call came in, she finally came to her senses. She bit her lip tightly, seeing Yvette''s name shing on the screen, a look of irritation appeared in her eyes. ''Mr. Lopez''s attitude was clearly angry! All of this is Yvette''s fault! She dragged me into this mess! I shouldn''t have listened to her and asked Mr. Lopez for help; now I''ve definitely left a bad impression on him!'' With frustration building inside, Berry reluctantly answered the call, her tone charged, "What''s up? Yvette heard her voice and had already guessed the oue. A smirk appeared on her face. She didn''t expect Shakira to have some skills, managing to get Walter to refuse Berry''s request. But then again, how could Berry, who was so stupid, possiblypete with Shakira?!


    "Berkettes voice was much calmer, not reveal with venatious, eam and in convenient to interv


    ¨ª talked to Mr. Lopez. Yvette, Mr. Lopez is busy with official business and isn''t convenient to intervene in these small matters. You should think of another way." Berry said casually. Yvette nearly cursed. In front of her, Berry was still putting on a show!


    "Alright, thank you, Berry. My father''s situation is indeed tooplicated. I understand Mr. Lopez''s refusal."


    Berry''s expression changed, and she heard Yvette add, "Butst night, Shakira took such strong medication; I don''t know how she resolved it in the end. Mr. Lopez is so supportive of her maybe there''s a reason behind that."


    Berry suddenly felt like a startled bird. "Yvette, what are you saying? What do you mean? Are you saying Shakira was with Mr. Lopezst night-"Thest half of her sentence ended in a shriek, twisted with jealousy.


    Yvette secretly delighted, still pretending to be innocent, "I-I don''t know! My dad added some heavy stuff to get things done, but who would have thought Shakira could escape like this? Now she''s safe and sound, someone must have helped her neutralize the drugs. I don''t know who it could be... Berry, don''t overthink it; I didn''t mean anything by it. Mr. Lopez''s rtionship with you is iparable." After finishing her sentence, Yvette made an excuse and hung up the phone.


    Left alone, Berry was lost in her thoughts, feeling anxious and frustrated.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    **


    Jessie bought the fastest bus ticket back to the countryside. Meanwhile, Lago secretly slipped back home from the hospital. With everything that had happened, he felt cornered; even the business was gradually cooling down, and the shareholders kept nagging him about whether a crisis had arisen... Lago clenched his teeth and had no choice but to sell his house and car first. ''No matter what, I''ve made it through this hurdle; I, Lago, will have plenty of chances to make aeback in the future!''


    The agent arranged for the clients who wanted to view the house toe over. Lago specifically had the servants clean and tidy the entire house, and he also changed into a suit and came down to greet them in a presentable manner. "Mr. Smith, this is Knighton, who is here to view the house."


    Lago wore a warm smile, shaking hands with Knighton, "Knighton, it''s an honor to meet you. I''ve heard you''re doing quite well in business overseas."


    The agent had specifically mentioned that this prospective buyer came from Yarovia and was quite sessful in business abroad. Now, he wanted to return to the country to buy a ce casually to stay in and had plenty of money. "It''s just a small business. It''s nothingpared to Mr. Smith''s bigpany." Knighton replied humbly with a smile, "Since Mr. Smith is here, shall we take a look at the house?" "Of course! Let me show Knighton around!"

 Chapter 101

    Though he imed to be introducing the house, as Lago spoke, he began to tell his own sess story, bragging about how tough it was for him to move from the countryside to Crescentville, this big city. He boasted about how lucky he had been since buying this house, and how wealth had been pouring in. Knighton, having just returned from abroad, was unaware of many recent events and was mesmerized by Lago''s words.


    He couldn''t help but exim, "The first time I saw Mr. Smith, I thought you looked particrly well. Although I grew up. abroad, I''ve always admired the Feng Shui beliefs of Hua Country. I believe Mr. Smith''s achievements today must be closely tied to this vi." Lago replied excitedly, "Exactly! This house is indeed great; whoever lives here flourishes, especially in business. If we have good fortune, our careers can only go up from here!"


    12


    12.


    Knighton nodded, nowpletely convinced by Lago''s words, "But if this house is so good, why would Mr. Smith want to sell it?"


    Lago''s smile suddenly froze, and he quickly found an excuse, "Hahaha, while this house has sentimental value, I have some special needs now and need to move elsewhere for convenience. Knighton realized. "It seems Mr. Smith is going to live in a better, bigger house."


    Lago smiled but didn''t respond.


    Knighton turned to the agent. "I really like this house. Let''s go with this one. I have a check ready, and I can pay in full."


    The agent was overjoyed. Without saying a word, he could earn tens of thousands inmission.


    Lago was also beaming with pride. The heavens were still favoring him; despite his bad luck, a big fish hade knocking at his door.


    "Great! Knighton, our contract is ready. If you''re sure there are no issues, just sign here.


    Laure chucked, no preci, preparing to take out the check to sign it..."Sorry, I need to take this call." Just as he was about to write, Knighton''s phone rang.


    "No problem,


    Knighton stepped aside and benton, go ahead."


    conversing in Y in Ynguage.


    Lago, not understanding thenguage, aske asked the agent, "What''s he talking about?"


    The agent checked the contract, "Oh, it should it should be Knighton''s wife." He nced over at


    and whispered to


    is involved in purchasing and maternal-infant overseas,work his is thanks to her


    is that so?" Lago scrutinized Knighton for several moments. He looked about the same age as him, short and chubby, and not as handsome. Lago touched his own face, wondering why he didn''t have such good luck to marry a wife who could help him. Thinking of Jessie,


    who only drags him down, Lago felt quite disgusted.


    At that moment, Knighton returned from his call. He had gone from smiling to furious in an instant, his eyes filled with anger. "You liar!" He immediately scolded Lago, "This lousy house has such bad Feng Shui! You''ve been doing poorly in business, and you still want to deceive me? You''re a heartless crook, shameless!" He even included the agent in his tirade, "You dirty scoundrels are in cahoots!" Lago''s expression darkened, "What do you mean?"  G


    +6


    "My wife told me everything! Luckily, she saw the guide from a divination master about choosing houses. We even asked her to help us divine the luck of your house, and it''s terrible! Whoever lives there is doomed!" With that, Knighton hurried away, fearing that staying even a second longer would bring him bad luck.


    ""What do you mean doomed? Damn it, you soft-handed leech,e back! Who''s house is doomed?"


    Lago cursed angrily, wanting to chase after him to fight, but the agent quickly stopped him.


    "Mr. Smith, let''s talk this out calmly."


    "Calmly talk my a*****


    The agent looked helpless, "I know you''re in a tough spot right now, but you can''t deceive clients with false information to sell the house!" red at him I at him fiercely, "Why didn''t you say anything earlier? You''re no saint either, profiting from me while turning your elbows outwards!" The agent''s expression turned sour; he wanted to make money but had his dignity too!


    Lago


    "Mr.


    Smith,


    I won''t sell this house anymore. Get someone else to help you!" Saying that, he shoved the contract back at Lago and walked away.


    Lago was dumbfounde


    If you don''t know a gooney, it''s just a real estate agent! You have a temper? No wonder you''ll only ever be a second-rate agent, living at the bottom of the world!"


    when you see it, there are plenty of people who want to buy my house!" He cursed loudly for a while. Unable to hold back his anger, Lago quickly sent his secretary to find a new agency.


    Before long, however, the secretary frantically called back.


    Lago exploded, "What? No one wants to take my house?"


    The secretary struggled to exin, "Yes, Mr. Smith, I''ve pleaded with several agencies; it seems... they''ve all cklisted you and your vi."


    Lago felt dizzy and nearly stumbled, "What do you mean?"


    "It appears your house has bad Feng Shui; news s has spread online, and now the entire second-hand housing market knows about it..."


    Before Lago could rage, the secretary sent him a video. It was a short video posted by a blogger on a short video tform, detailing tips on selecting second-hand houses and taboos.


    Lago opened it to it to see a petite girl who looked like she was still in school, with long golden hair and dressed in strange ck clothes. She casually drew several cards and began exining that houses with certain orientations, positions, andyouts were bad.


    The more he listened, the more Lago''s expression soured. Everything the girl said matched his house! Every single point hit the mark! Lago''s face twisted with anger as he opened thement section to prepare a harsh response to this young girl. But upon opening it, he saw a pinnedment with an address+[Combining the big guy''s tips, this house in Crescentville is simply a minefield. Everyone, when buying a second-hand house, must avoid it!]


    [Wow, isn''t this the house in my neighboringmunity? I almost bought it!]? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Lucky for the person above, but the current owner must be in big trouble living there, right?]


    [Does anyone know the owner? Should we notify him? Feng Shu is something that should be believed in...]


    G


    Q


    (Don''t sympathize with the owner of this house; he''s indeed in big trouble, but it''s all his fault!]

 Chapter 102

    Right below thisment, someone with insider knowledge spilled some gossip, revealing Lago''s "aplishments" over the years, like kicking his daughter out once he found out she wasn''t his biological child, neglecting his own mother in a nursing home, engaging in maliciouspetition with peers, and the reasons behind his current financial troubles-allid bare without a shred of dignity left.izens eating the gossip couldn''t help but exim:


    The


    [See, this is what they call karma-it''s not that it doesn''t happen; the timing just wasn''t right!]


    [How can someone so wealthy treat his own mother and adopted daughter so poorly? Who would dare to do business with him? Anyone who partners with him must always be on guard against being cheated!]


    "I''m currently house-hunting in Crescentville, and I didn''t expect to be able to witness this kind of gossip; the inte is just too entertaining!"


    I attended the Southville development bidding meeting for work, and Lago had no idea where he got the confidence, thinking the bid was in the bag. He was unting himself even before the results were announced, and then it all backfired spectacrly! He was dumb


    [Hahaha, I can vouch for this gossmbfounded!]


    [Wow! Did he know some insider informatio


    advance? Did Did he use connections s to o bribe some leaders? Can someone look


    in adva


    into this person? I''m sure if you investigate, you''ll find plenty!]


    [Agreed, a social parasite like him living in such a nice vi deserves to be investigated!]


    @Crescentville business bureau, wake up! Don''t just sleep on the job!


    Lago saw thestment and cursed. Damn it! They even want to call someone to check on me! These deadbeats, I''ll kill them!!!'' Lago shouted at his secretary on the other end of the phone, "What are you waiting for? Have that person delete the video, delete it!" He was furious, anxious, guilty, and terrified; all theseplex emotions collided together, and the nerves in the back of his head throbbed wildly. He felt like he was going insane.


    What kind of mess is this?!'' The secretarymented, "Mr. Smith, I tried to contact this blogger before reaching out to you, but it''s a private ount, and she doesn''t work for any organization. Shepletely ignored me and is impossible to contact..."


    Lagoshed out, "She ndered my property and caused me losses; I want her to pay!"


    The secretary, listening to his unreasonable demands, felt like crying, "Mr. Smith, she didn''t even specifically say it was your house. She just analyzed some unsuitable feng shui positions based on whatizens exposed... As for theizen who exposed this, their IP is from overseas, and it''s impossible to track!"


    "How did I end


    I end up with such a useless assistant like you?!" Lago was so angry his head was about to explode. He shouted like a madman, causing the neighbors to hear, and people passing by his yard pointed and whispered Lago mmed the door shut and instinctively raised his phone to throw it on the ground. He lifted his hand high, but suddenly thought of something and stopped, only to angrily fling his slippers across the room.


    "Hahaha, boss, your move is genius! Not only is Lago everyone. Thepany is in an uproar!"


    house unseble now, but all his dirty deeds are also known to


    At first,izens didn''t even know who Lago was, but as the gossip spread, the public was drawn into the frenzy. Fri, Oct 25


    just t a few hours, Lago and his housended in the top ten trending topics on short video tforms.


    In j


    Sean heard the news from Cathy and hurried over to find Shakira. He was eagerly waiting to see the Nelson family and the Smith family face theireuppance, and now Lago was reaping what he sowed-he was loving it! Cathy, holding arge bag of chips, shook her head, "This is called using his own tactics against him. Let''s see if they dare to continue riding on the boss''s coattails."


    In the bathroom, Shakira had the exhaust fan on, sitting on the toilet, watching the video footage of the two people, and couldn''t help but smile. "Just wait a few more days; when the public uproar grows bigger and thepany shareholders be more anxious, we can buy the shares from those retail investors at a a low price."This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Sean made a gesture, "I''ve got someone monitoring the situation, but boss, why would you want to buy Lago''spany? Isn''t that just giving him money for nothing?"


    Shakira raised an eyebrow, "Who said I wanted to buy his shares?"


    Sean was puzzled. "Then what do you want to do by buying absolute controlling shares?"


    Shakira ced her index finger on her


    Sean


    r lips, "You''ll knowter."


    said, "How "How sad; the boss has secrets from me now!" He looked at Cathy, fuming as he snatched a chip from her. Then he suddenly noticed something, "Boss, are you... in the bathroom?" "No, I''m just in the bathroom, getting ready to wash up.


    "Oh, oh, boss, you still haven''t told us where you live. You''ve left the Nelson family, so why note find us?"


    "I got caught up with some things; let''s talkter, okay?" Shakira heard some sounds outside, "I''ll wash up first; you guys should rest early." After saying that, she hurriedly hung up the video call. Sean stared at the darkened screen, still a bit dazed. He looked at the clock, unsure, "It''s not even nine o''clock yet; our boss, who usually stays upte, is going to sleep?"


    Cathy tilted her head and blinked her pretty eyes, "Do you think it''s possible that the boss is dating?"


    Sean''s eyes nearly popped out. "Who? The boss? Dating?" He immediately shook his head without thinking, "Our boss? She''s a hardcore straight woman! The odds of her going to the moon are higher than her dating someone!"


    Cathy


    silently protected her chips and shook her head, "You irond straight man, don''t eat my chips."


    Shakira just came out of the bathroom when Walter stared at her suspiciously. "What were you doing in there for an hour?" "Cough, do you believe me if I say I was sitting on the toilet?"


    Walter, not expecting such a shocking excuse from Shakira, immediately showed a look of disdain on his face. "Get ready; we''re going out together in a couple of days."


    "Pack my bags? Where are we going?"


    Walter''s eyes darkened slightly. "To Oberlin. It''s my parents'' death anniversary."


    Shakira was surprised for a moment but didn''t ask more. "Okay,"


    The next day, they got up early. Shakira specifically wore all ck, and Walter stole a few nces at her in the room, his thin lips pressed together.


    G


    09:10


    Even Benji, who hadn''t been home for a few days, came back specifically, bringing arge bouquet of white chrysanthemums.


    He rarely put away his usual yful demeanor and looked serious. "Finn, why don''t I apany you to see Uncle and Aunt?"


    Walter''s tone was indifferent. "It''s fine; you stay here. Shakira will go back with me."


    Benji nced at Shakira and nodded. "That works. Uncle and Aunt will feel at ease seeing your wife in person."


    After having breakfast, the two of them got into the car, and the convoy headed east.


    The atmosphere in the car was gloomy; Shakira held bouquet, her eyes downcast, lost in thought.


    a


    It was Walter, who had been quiet sincest night, who suddenly

 Chapter 103

    The man stared straight ahead, his indifferent, deep eyes seemed to be nk, or perhaps he was gazing at something far away, with a hint of sorrow.


    "I was abroad when they passed away, in a ce I couldn''t return to. I hadn''t seen my mom for over a year, and she said she missed me, wanted to see where she could see me. My dad said, ''Let''s go to Oberlin; it''s close to the sea, maybe we can see him across the water." As he spoke, his voice gradually grew hoarse, as if he was choking on something. "On the way to Oberlin, they had a car ident, caught between tworge trucks; their car was crushed in the middle. I never got to see them onest time." hakira listened quietly to him. In fact, this was the second time he had shared these words with her. The first time was in Bris. Back then, they had both been wearing masks, unable to see each other''s expressions. He kept drinking, drunk andmenting his regrets. Now... Shakira knew he was still deeply saddened. Unconsciously, she lifted her hand and gently ced it on his shoulder. Some words slipped out as if by an unseen force, "Even though they can''t be by your side, they''ve be stars in the sky, and they can always Watch over you."


    Walter


    ''s body trembled slightly. With surprise, he suddenly grasped Shakira''s arm. There was a sharp edge in his tone as he pressed, "Who told you that?" Back in Bris, he had been seven parts drunk and three parts sober when the fox had said that to him, and he remembered it. But now, Shakira unexpectedly said it again... He suddenly grew agitated, not realizing how hard he was gripping her; Shakira frowned slightly in pain. She met his scrutinizing gaze, staring directly at him without any evasion. "I said it because I wanted to; it has nothing to do with anyone else."


    Walter fixed his gaze on her but couldn''t discern anything unusual in her expression. Finally, he released her hand and turned his gaze away. "I don''t want them to see me like this, looking like I''ve got nothing going on." Shakira exhaled deeply. "Your leg will heal; just give me some more time." Walter snorted coldly, and ultimately, he fell silent. Silent.


    Three hourster, the convoy arrived in Oberlin. Shakira thought Walter would stay at a hotel, but unexpectedly, the convoy drove straight into a neighborhood surrounded by mountains, with beautiful and refreshing scenery. The car slowly stopped in front of a vi, where a man and a woman were already waiting; they were faces Shakira had never seen before As she got out of the car, they rushed over, looking excited to see Walter. "Walter, it''s been a long journey; you must be tired;e inside and rest."


    The woman leading the way looked somewhat aged but was well-maintained, standing next to a man of simr age and temperament; he was presumably her husband. The way they looked at Walter was filled with affection, as if they were gazing at their own child. "It''s been a while; Walter looks even better than before!"


    Walter nodded slightly. "Aunt, Uncle." He turned to Shakira, and she understood, quickly stepping forward to assist with his wheelchair.


    At this moment, the couple noticed Shakira. "Who is this girl...?" "She is my...


    #


    "I''m the young master''s caretaker; you can just call me Shakira," Shakira interjected before Walter could finish. Walter''s expression darkened, his profile tightening slightly, clearly showing his displeasure. Shakira noticed his subtle reaction but pretended not to see it. What she said was the truth; ''why should he be angry? Walter has been in a bad mood these days; I mustn''t provoke him.


    Sk Inwood exchanged nces with her husband, their eyes revealing a hint of meaning. "Walter rarely has females around him... Shakira, I''ll leave Walter in your care."


    "It''s what I should do.


    FII,


    Walter spoke coldly, "Let''s go inside."


    The couple''s house wasn''t as grand as the Easke Valley Estate, nor was it the kind of ostentatious disy typical of the newly wealthy. The house had a rustic style, decorated warmly, and various artworks were disyed throughout, clearly showcasing the owners'' good taste.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Under Sk''s guidance, Shakira pushed Walter into a small suite on the first floor. As soon as they entered, Shakira was stunned. Walter realized something, but it was toote to speak. "Shakira, you give me-"


    92%1 92%1


    "Wow, i


    is this the young master in a dress with braids?" Shakira walked straight to a dresser facing the door, picking up a childhood photo ced on it. Seeing the small face that was a miniature version of Walter''s, Shakira was thrilled. She never expected Walter to have such embarrassing photos! Shakira''s gaze instinctively wandered to that significant part...


    Walter''s face darkened. The grinding of his teeth could be heard from several meters away. "Shakira! Put that down!"


    Reluctantly, Shakira set it down but then discovered something new, "Oh no, is this the young master in open-crotch pants?!"


    Walter thought, ''I


    ''I should have just thrown her out on the way!"


    Shakira was filled with wonder and interest in the room, and Sk, standing at the door, couldn''t help but cover her mouth andugh.


    ''I knew it, Walter has never been spoiled since he was a child; he has be independent. Even now, despite his inconvenience, he wouldn''t let a girl follow him. Now look at this....


    The teasing glint in Sk''s eyes deepened, and she smiled as she exined, "When Walter was little, his parents often brought him to Oberlin, but he was so naughty that he couldn''t sit still. His mother would send him to interest sses, and they took photos of activities during that t time."


    Shakira nodded. "I thought so; being able to take those photos means the young master must have been young. If he had grown a couple more years, how could he have done such embarrassing things?" Sk chuckled, "You both rest for a bit; I''ll go make dinner."


    As soon as Sk left, the previously dark-faced Walter could no longer hold back and steered his wheelchair directly toward Shakira. The room was small, and there was no way for Shakira to dodge. Like a chick, she was caught by Walter in an instant. With a wall behind her and an angry man in front, Shakira raised her hands in surrender, yet the corners of her mouth couldn''t suppress a smile, lifting high, "I will definitely keep the young master''s secrets; I won''t let anyone know about the diapers and braids..." Seeing her chatter on, still with a teasing smile, Walter''s eyes darkened, and he suddenly grasped her waist, pinching her chin and pulling her into his embrace. His thin lips, filled with anger, pressed down as a form of punishment!

 Chapter 104

    The man''s undeniable fervor instantly overwhelmed Shakira''s every breath. Her eyes, filled with mockery, widened in disbelief! ''He actually-


    Walter''s kiss was unstructured, clumsy, and awkward; it felt more like a bite than a kiss. However, when he pressed his lips to her, it was decisively skilled, as if he had done it many times before... Shakirapletely forgot how to respond, dazed as if her mind had been paused, and she felt her thoughts bing a mess. In reality, she was almost being turned into mush...


    It wasn''t until her lower lip was bitten hard enough to bring pain that Shakira suddenly awoke from her stupor, pushing him away abruptly.


    With this motion, Walter withdrew a bit, his breath ragged, and his face flushed from neck to ear. He leisurely gazed at Shakira, who looked both shy and angry, his tongue lightly brushing his lip corner.


    With that cold, strikingly handsome face making such a move, it''s simply outrageous! Even Shakira found it hard to resist such temptation, staring at him wide-eyed.


    He spoke, "Still want to say it?"


    Shakira swallowed nervously, "...I won''t say it anymore!" Her face felt so hot she could barely control it. Without looking in a mirror, she knew just how red she was. ''And this feeling seems... oddly familiar!'' In an instant, Shakira''s mind buzzed as if recalling a certain image-taking a sharp breath, she wasn''t quite sure but felt a strong urge to confirm it.


    As Walter was preparing to leave in his wheelchair, Shakira suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist. Her ears were also burning and she almost bit her own tongue. "Um,st time I got drunk, I woke up with a cut on my lip. Could it be..."


    Walter peered at her quietly, with a terrifying heat in his eyes. ''Ah, has this forgetful woman finally remembered?''


    Without hesitation, Walter voluntarily admitted, "That''s right, just likest time."


    "That time you were just talking nonsense, I got tired of it, I have to shut your mouth."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    "So, from now on, stop talking nonsense in front of me. Whether it''sst time, this time, or next time.. if you say it once, I''ll kiss you once; if you say it twice, I''ll..."


    Before he could finish such a blunt statement that left people feeling embarrassed, Shakira hurriedly interrupted, "I got it, I got it, I won''t dare anymore!"


    Walter snorted, "Then remember well; I''m always watching you."


    Shakira felt a chill run down her spine under his intense gaze. This time, she genuinely felt intimidated, unable to look around the room or speak. ''Just the thought of being pressed against the wall and kissed by Walter again... That feeling of my head swelling and legs going weak... too terrifying''


    When Sk came to call them for dinner, Shakira dashed downstairs as if she had been saved.


    Seeing her awkwardly shy, resembling a little woman, Walter''s lips curled into a deeper smile.


    In the dining room, the table was filled with home-cooked dishes. Shakira recognized at a nce that these were all Walter''s favorites; it seemed that Sk and her husband really cared for him.


    Brian also sat down for dinner under Sk''s warm invitation. He rarely dined with Walter, so he appeared quite restrained, stiff, and awkward. Even the usually bold Shakira mirrored Brian''s demeanor... Sk exchanged nces with her husband and ced a piece of rib on Shakira''s te. "Shakira, eat more; that way you can


    G


    grow."


    "Auntie, she''s already an adult; no matter how much she cats, she won''t grow anymore."


    Shakira choked a bit, casting a resentful nce at Walter, then expressed her gratitude to Sk, "Thank you, ma''am." Sk looked at Shakira with eyes full of affection, "No need to be so polite; you can call me Auntie just like Walter does."


    Shakira wanted to refuse, but Sk seemed to predict what she would say and smiled. "When Brian was little, he called me Auntie too."


    Brian, being called out, straightened up and nodded in agreement when his wife gave him a nce, "Yes."


    With the conversation pushed this far, Shakira had no choice but to agree, "Okay, thank you, Auntie." "Oh, good girl, eat more."


    "Auntie worked hard to cook, so you should eat more too."


    Back and forth in this way, Shakira ended up stuffing herself during this meal, letting out several loud burps.


    Oberlin had its own worship customs. In the afternoon, they gathered in a pavilion in the small garden to sort out the items needed for worship. Walter sat alone in his wheelchair, quietly folding paper money.


    It was Shakira''s first time seeing this; she watched as Walter took a piece of purple paper money, folding it several times until it resembled a lc. After observing closely for a while, she sat down in a small corner, ncing over at Walter. However, Walter was quick, and even after trying to follow his movements twice, she still couldn''t get it right. Walter didn''t turn around but seemed to sense her presence. Unconsciously, he slowed his pace, allowing Shakira to keep


    1. up.


    Atst, Shakira could finally match his speed, mimicking the motions with her hands, slowly transforming the square paper into a flower shape.


    A gentle afternoon breeze rustled, and the two in the pavilion spoke not a word, focusing on folding flowers. It was a tranquil and harmonious scene, like a painting that made one unconsciously rx.


    "Elvis, look," Sk called softly to her husband.


    Elvis Parry turned to look in the direction his wife pointed. A gentle smile of contentment appeared on Sk''s serene face. "Lcs were your sister''s favorite flowers; Walter used to fold them by himself and never let anyone help."


    "Yeah, Walter now is different from a few months ago." Back then, when they rushed to Crescentville, Waltery in bed, filled with anger that frightened everyone. He couldn''t help but sigh, "Perhaps it''s because of this child." Sk rubbed the corner of her eyes, "Your sister and brother-inw will be so happy to see them this year."


    Elvis nodded gently, wrapping his arms around his wife.


    West Vige, due to its geography, rarely sees the sun, is often rainy and damp, andbined with the vige''s poverty and backwardness, young people keep leaving, and the elderly are gradually aging. The entire vige has be quiet and decayed, with several houses already abandoned and uninhabited.


    Jessie changed buses several times before returning to West Vige. She started her journey from Crescentville looking fresh and bright. By the time she arrived back in the vige, her white leather shoes were caked with yellow mud, and she felt utterly exhausted. She struggled to climb halfway up a hill and reached her doorstep. Under the eaves hung many strings of animal bones wrapped in red canvas, swaying in the wind. She bent down to avoid them and pushed open the half-tilted


    92% +5


    door, a musty smell rushing out to greet her. She peeked inside and saw it was dim and eerie, which scared her.


    "Dad? Dad? Are you not home?" She cautiously leaned her head in to look, when suddenly, a voice full of weariness and age came from behind her, "What are you doing here?"

 Chapter 105

    +5 0


    The sudden voice startled Jessie, making her shiver. She turned around to see an old man, so emaciated he looked like he was made of skin and bones.


    "Dad!" Jessie pressed a hand to her chest, "Why didn''t you say anything? You scared me to death."


    Modis Joyce didn''t even nce at her, hunched over as he entered the house. In the center of the gloomy living room, on the table,y a ck-and-white photo of a gentle-looking young woman. Modis bent down,boriously pulling out a small chipped porcin cup from a drawer still muddy from the yellow dirt.


    Jessie pouted, "I traveled all the way back, and there''s not even a decent cup in the house?"


    Modis remained silent, rinsing the small cup two or three times, confirming it was clean before pouring a cup of warm water and cing it, precisely in front of the ck-and-white photo.


    He lowered his voice, with a tone full of lingering tenderness, "I caught a loach in the back river today; do you want it braised or steamed?"


    "Deep-fried? That won''t do; you have pharyngitis. Be careful, or your throat will itch again at night after eating fried food."


    Ignored after a long day of travel, Jessie felt a surge of annoyance. She walked over to Modis, her voice sharp, "Mom made you promise to take care of me before she died. Now you and your granddaughter are struggling to get by, and you still want to y dumb?" Modis slowly turned around. His wrinkled face and murky eyes fixated on Jessie. "Back then, when I helped you, it was you who was never satisfied, bing greedier and greedier, which led to today''s situation."


    "Dad! People aim for higher ces. If it weren''t for my husband''s idea, relying solely on us farming and growing fruit in the countryside, how would we raise Yvette? Now she gets the best education, enjoys everything, and bes a superior person Our family has also settled in Crescentville, and our life can only get better!"


    "I also said, if you want to seize someone else''s fate, you


    will face retribution."


    "Retribution for what? What heinous acts have wemitted? Did we kill someone or set fire to something?" Jessie sneered, "Isn''t Shakira doing well? If she hadn''t caused trouble and refused to donate a kidney to Yvette, we wouldn''t be in such a bad situation!"


    Modis watched his daughter''s face, twisted with jealousy and malice, like a beast with sharp fangs and an ugly visage. He turned away again.


    He looked at the woman in the photo, who smiled gently, and after a long while, slowly spoke, "What do you want?"This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Jessie''s eyes lit up as she briefly recounted the events following Shakira''s fallout with the Nelson family, causing Modis to frown deeper with concern.


    "Yvette has no items from that girl left by her side?"


    "None! They''ve all been taken back!" Jessie replied angrily.


    Modis shook his head. "If you want to harness her good fortune, you''ll need a medium for the spell. Without any items, I''m powerless."


    Jessie grew anxious. "This won''t do! You have to think of something! We''re really having a rough time; everything we do is going wrong! Debtors areing to our door, yelling and threatening to cut us down!" She added. "And Yvette, she''s in an awkward position with the Nelson family too, overshadowed by Shakira. Yvette is the only granddaughter! She loves children so much; if her mother were still alive, she would be heartbroken for Yvette... Mom, you saw it, right? Dad is ruthless; he won''t help us!"


    Modis''s face was stern. Enough! Don''t disturb your mother''s rest!" He shot Jessie a re and slowly moved into the house.


    After a while, he came back out holding two talismans. "If you manage to get that girl''s personal items, ce them with these talismans under Yvette''s waist; it should help calm things down for a while."


    Jessie quickly grabbed the talismans. However, she was still unsatisfied and continued to press, "How long is ''a while''? What will we do afterward?"


    Modis fixed her with a serious gaze, his eyes slowly gathering an eerie darkness, almost ghostly. "Her fate is growing ever stronger; just a kidney swap isn''t enough... If you want Yvette to be free of this burden for good, you must bury a drop of her heart''s blood along with a strand of Yvette''s hair on the highest mountain in Crescentville, to rece itpletely!"


    The next morning, Shakira was awakened by the sound of heavy rain outside. The sky was hazy, and when she nced at the time, it was already past eight.


    She quickly finished washing up and went downstairs, finding Walter and others already seated in the dining room, with her being thest to arrive. "Sorry, I overslept."


    Elvis emerged from the kitchen, cing oatmeal on the table. "You didn''t oversleep; the timing is just right."


    Sk also smiled warmly. "I was just about toe get you; hurry and sit down for breakfast."


    "Okay." Shakira took a seat beside Walter, who was unusually dressed in a white suit with a ck silk handkerchief in his pocket.


    Noticing her staring, Walter''s eyes twitched slightly. "We''re taking the mountain path today; make sure to eat more." Shakira blinked. "Sure."


    Sk observed the two and couldn''t help butugh, "Walter actually cares about people now."


    Walter scoffed. "I''m just worried she''ll hold us back."


    Shakira shook her head. "You don''t need to worry; I always rank high in physical tests at school. It''s just a mountain; I''ll be fine!"


    Walter nced at her again and snorted.


    An hourter, Shakira felt like her body was going numb. Her physical strength was decent... but no one mentioned that she had to carry the ceremonial items up the mountain.


    Brian was also carrying a load, but he moved swiftly and soon vanished from sight.


    Shakira leaned on her knees, breathing heavily.


    Walter, behind her, was effortlessly climbing the steps in his high-tech wheelchair. He easily passed Shakira, then turned back to check on her, asking, "Ranked high in physical tests, huh? How are you holding up?"


    "I can do it!" she stubbornly clenched her fists and took two more steps, only to stop and rest again...


    Sk and Elvis each held a trekking pole. "Shakira, take a break; let us handle it."


    Hearing this, Shakira quickly straightened her back and walked forward. "No, no! I''ll manage! You guys take your time; I''ll go ahead!" She said this and quickly climbed ahead.


    The two shared a helpless smile.

 Chapter 106

    Oberlin, as its name suggests, was a city surrounded by continuous mountains, and from the summit, one could see the vast ocean. It was nearing noon, the light rain had gradually stopped, and the sun broke through, casting its rays over the deep blue sea, a sight truly refreshing. Shakira stood quietly for a moment, and soon she heard Walter and the others arriving behind her.


    "Shakira, thank you for your hard work. Are you exhausted?"? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Sk expressed her gratitude, offering Shakira and Brian warm water. "Take a rest; we''ll tidy up a bit." Some time had passed, and new nts had grown around the gravestone, looking a bit wild. Shakira nodded, feeling tired, and sat down on arge rock with Brian.


    Walter approached and handed her a dry towel. "You''re soaked with sweat; wipe yourself down."


    Shakira felt


    Shak


    Telt her head, "This isn''t sweat; it''s rainwater."


    Walter tossed the


    towel


    I into her arms. "Stinky."


    "That Walter with his sharp tongue!'' thought Shakira. Brian remarked from the side, "The young master may seem cold, but he''s actually caring for Ms. Nelson."


    Shakira, annoyed, wiped the dampness from her head, "I think he''s just taking this opportunity to criticize me."


    Brian scratched his nose, falling silent. After all, it''s not the first time the young master has been so childish with Ms. Nelson


    The ceremony itself went smoothly, attended only by their family. Sk sat before the grave, carefullyying out the offerings, talking about many things. By the end, tears filled her eyes, and Elvis helped her to another area to calm down. Walter stayed in front of the grave for a long time. Unlike Sk, who chattered away, Walter remained silent, quietly burning all the offerings until they turned to ashes.


    An hourter, the group made their way back down the mountain.


    Before leaving, Shakira walked to the grave. With a determined gaze, she murmured, "Uncle and Aunt, please rest assured, I will do my utmost to heal Walter''s legs." After finishing, she bowed and then turned to leave.


    Perhaps it was a blessing from the heavens; the weather was beautiful for about an hour on the mountain.


    Halfway dow


    down the mountain, dark clouds began to gather above them again. They quickened their pace, but in the end, they still got wet getting into the car.


    As soon as Shakira sat in the car, she sneezed.


    Walter nced at her, slightly furrowing his brows, "Already caught a cold?"


    Shakira sniffed, "What? I''m perfectly healthy, I... Ah-choo!" Before she could finish her sentence, she sneezed again.


    Walter''s expression darkened as he signaled Brian to turn up the temperature in the car and raise the partition between the


    back


    seats.


    Noticing that Shakira''s clothes were already mostly soaked, he said, "Take off your clothes."


    Shakira almost bit her tongue and instinctively hugged herself, "Wh-what?"


    G


    Walter looked at her with disdain and scoffed, "Who''s interested in you? It''s still over an hour back, you want to wear wet clothes, go ahead."


    Fine, so I was the one overthinking. But... At the thought of this, she said, "I don''t have any other clothes to change into; you can''t expect me to go without wearing anything."


    Walter tossed his suit jacket onto her. He had kept it in the car before going up the mountain; it was warm and dry.


    Feeling ufortable in her damp clothes, Shakira didn''t hesitate. She turned around, quickly took off the outer garment, and wrapped herself in the man''s jacket. Then, she slipped her hands into the loose suit and took off her inner shirt. She immediately felt much warmer.


    When Shakira turned back around, she saw Walter still in his wet clothes and smiled at him, "Thank you, sir, for your generous offer; you really are such a gentleman!"


    "Heh, the way you looked at me just now didn''t seem very gentlemanly."


    Shakiraughed, "Haha, that was a misunderstanding! Who knew Walter would suddenly show kindness!"


    Walter snorted, his gaze inadvertently, drifting to therge expanse of corbone exposed by her suit. His eyes darkened slightly.


    He pretended to casually look away and spoke in a rigid tone, "My parents don''t like crowds, so I didn''t bring too many


    badly." people with me.


    You and Brian can take the stuff up. I won''t treat you


    Shakira suddenly understood. ''So that''s why. I also didn''t dwell on why Walter only gave his clothes to me and not to Brian. "It''s fine; if you feel like you''ve shortchanged me, just give me a raise or something, and I''d be very satisfied!" Last time Mitchell sent so many clothes, Walter bought them without a second thought, yet he still remembers my debt! When will I be able to pay it off without a raise!?


    Walter smirked. "Then it''s better not to satisfy you; otherwise, you''ll lose your motivation to work."


    ''Great, kindness doesn''t exist in Walter''s world!''


    After returning to the vi, the Sk couple prepared a simple lunch for everyone before heading to a nearby church to


    pray


    Shakira was exhausted, so she went back to her room to rest. After taking a hot shower and preparing to lie down, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen as if something had dropped. Shakira immediately jumped up from the bed. "Why is this happening now!" She quickly grabbed her phone and rushed into the bathroom. Sitting on the toilet, she felt awful. This time, it arrived nearly a week early, and her lower abdomen started to ache. Shakira was so used to this feeling that she knew she would feel miserable in a few hours.


    She hadn''t prepared anything, and Sk wasn''t home. With no other options, Shakira could only call Walter.


    After a few rings, the call connected. The man''s voice was sticky, as if he had just been woken from sleep, with a hint of uncertainty, "Shakira?"


    Shakira let out a low hum, "It''s me..."


    Walter detected the weakness in her voice, "Where are you? When did you go out?"


    "I didn''t go out... Uh!" A sudden wave of pain made Shakira let out a small


    whimper.


    Howev


    Walter didn''t wait for her to finish and quickly hung up the phone.


    after, Shakira heard the sound of her door being pushed open, and the man''s slightlybored breathing came through


    the door, "Shakira!"


    "I''m here..." she responded softly. The next moment, he pushed the bathroom door open without hesitation.


    Their eyes met, and Shakira stared in disbelief, watching Walter''s expression change from worry to panic, and finally retreating awkwardly to close the door.


    With a loud bang, Shakira began to doubt if the small bathroom door could hold.


    0


    Walter seemed to take a moment outside topose himself before asking Shakira, "Where do you feel unwell? Stomach pain?"


    "My period came early; I got caught in the rain and feel awful..."


    "I''ll have Brian take you to the hospital."


    $2,


    "Come back! I just need you to do me a favor." Shakira urgently called out.


    "I ordered sanitary pads through delivery; could you please go to the door and get them for me?"


    There was silence outside the door. Shakira muttered softly to herself, "I know this request might be a bit difficult for him. If I wasn''t feeling so bad, I could go myself; it''s mainly because I''m worn out from the rain this morning..."

 Chapter 107

    "Where''s the delivery?" The man''s extremely hoarse voice came slowly from behind the door.


    Shakira smiled, looking at the order on her phone, "It''s less than fifty meters away; it should be at the door soon." "I''ll go get it for you."


    "Thank you, sir! You''re the best!"


    The sound that responded to Shakira''s ttery was the cold, unfeeling roll of the mechanical wheelchair.


    After a while, Walter returned. "I put it outside; you cane out and get it."


    "If I get up, I''ll dirty it... Could you open the door just a crack and toss it in?"


    Outside, there was a long silence again.


    Just when Shakira thought Walter had given up on her, the bathroom door cracked open.


    A long, bony hand, holding a small pink square, reached in.


    Through the gap, Shakira could see him maintaining that position, sitting sideways in his wheelchair, turning his head and stretching out his arm. "Did you get it?"Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Shakira snapped back to reality. "A little more to the left."


    The big hand moved left.


    Shakira reached out and grabbed it. "That''s good, thank you."


    "Women are really troublesome," he muttered as he mmed the door shut again. ''Although he has a bad temper, he''s notpletely indifferent.


    Shakira quickly tidied up and hurried to bed, burying herself under the covers. She needed to warm herself up so the next while would be more bearable. As she pressed on acupressure points to ease her difort, the door was pushed open again. "Young master?" Walter''s face was dark as he ced a thermos on the bedside. "I saw online that women should drink more hot water at times like this."


    ''Forget it, I can''t refuse Walter''s kindness. Under his piercing gaze, Shakira gulped down most of the hot water. Her body felt warmer, but herplexion remained pale.


    Walter frowned. "Drinking hot water doesn''t help?"


    Shakira couldn''t help but nce at him. "It''s not medicine, of course it''s not that miraculous, but it does make me feel a little better."


    Hearing this, the man''s already furrowed brow tightened even more, wearing a look of deep distress. "I''ll have my aunte. back."


    "Don''t! Even if my auntes back, I still won''t feel well. That''s perfectly normal; my health has always been poor."


    "So what do you n to do now?"


    "I need to fall asleep quickly I used to feel unwell too, but this time it''s so sudden. I think I''ll feel worse in a few hours, so sleeping will help."


    Walter looked at her expression, which subtly revealed her difort. "Are you sure you can sleep now?"


    "I''ll try hard; young master, you don''t need to worry about me. I can handle it myself." As Shakira spoke, she wrapped herself in the nket and began mindlessly scrolling through a short video site.


    Just then, the algorithm picked up on her intention to sleep and suggested a male voice-over blogger who was singing and ying guitar. His voice was soft and gentle, humming a melody. ''It''s actually quite nice! After listening for a while, Shakira clicked into the live stream, putting her phone down to let the sound lull her into sleep.


    However... "Strange, why is it getting colder?" Shakira suddenly felt a chill at the back of her head and pulled the nket tighter.


    Suddenly, the man''s icy voice cut in unexpectedly, "You can handle it just fine, but you''re listening to a man sing?"


    Shakira jumped, turning to face the coldly furious Walter, and stared nkly. "You haven''t left yet?"


    Walter snorted, sarcastically. "Am I interrupting your listening to a man sing?"


    "No... his voice is actually quite nice. It''s soft, and if I listen for a while, maybe I can fall asleep."


    "Oh, his voice is nice and you want to listen, but my voice is bad, so you want me to leave?"


    Shakira felt dizzy. ''Is it the pain from my period that''s making my brain go nk? Why can''t I understand why Walter is suddenly so irrationally angry?" "No, young master''s voice is definitely better than his..."


    Walter emphasized each word sarcastically, "My voice is nice, and you want me to leave."


    Shakira sighed in resignation. "Young master has a nice voice, but young master won''t sing for me."


    Walter frowned in annoyance. "Do you have to listen to songs to sleep?"


    ""Not necessarily; stories work too."


    up


    This time, without waiting for Walter to speak, Shakira blinked at him expectantly and took the initiative. "Are you going to tell me a story instead of letting me listen to songs?"


    *****


    In the evening, the Sk couple returned from church.


    The house was quiet. Sk noticed Brian sitting in the living room using theputer and lowered her voice to ask, "Are Walter and Shakira resting?"


    Brian nodded, then shook his head. "The young master isn''t sleeping, but Ms. Nelson is."


    Sk nced at the time. "It''s gettingte. I''ll go wake Shakira so she doesn''t sleep too long. Otherwise, she won''t be able to sleep tonight, and you all need to head back tomorrow."


    She tiptoed to Shakira''s room and gently turned the doorknob. But just as she pushed, the door open, she heard a low, gentle -voiceing from inside the room. It sounded more like... storytelling?


    Sk wasn''t sure and looked again. "This is definitely Shakira''s room, but why is Walter inside?'' Taking a deep breath, she opened the door wider. Sure enough, Walter''s voice grew clearer This time, she could finally hear that he was indeed telling a story, specifically historical tales from his elementary school textbooks. Sk was extremely surprised and couldn''t help but peek in to see more. Atst, she saw Shakira curled up in the small bed, sleeping soundly, her cheeks flushed with color. Walter sat at the bedside, one hand under the nket, seemingly rubbing Shakira''s belly. Meanwhile, a book was spread


    G.


    across hisp; it was one of his childhood extracurricr reading materials.


    Hearing the noise, Walter looked up at her and gestured for silence.


    Sk understood and winked at him, quietly backing out.


    Just then, Elvis walked over, and Sk gestured to him, pulling him away.


    Elvis couldn''t help but chuckle at his wife''s expression. "What''s going on here?"


    Skughed happily. "Walter is in Shakira''s room telling her a story to help her sleep."


    Elvis was taken aback. "Walter? Telling stories?" "This is utterly absurd!''


    "You''re surprised too, right? I was shocked as well. I didn''t expect Walter to take care of the girl like this."


    Elvis smiled. "When you meet someone you like, even the impossible bes instinct."


    £¤92%


    Sk beamed with joy. "Then I won''t disturb the little couple. I''ll heat up some food and wait for Shakira to wake up to eat!"


    Elvis hugged his wife andughed. "Okay."


    The next day, Walter and the others left Oberlin for Crescentville.


    After a restful night, Shakira sprang back to life. As she bid farewell to Sk, Sk held her hand tightly, beaming with joy, saying she should stay longer next time.


    Shakira wanted to say that she might not be at the Lopez family next time, but thought better of it and kept it to herself. In the car, Walter, who hadn''t slept much the previous night, was resting with his eyes closed.


    Feeling guilty, Shakira touched her nose, not daring to disturb him. I didn''t expect that I''d just mentioned it casually, and he really sat on the bed for hours, rubbing my belly and telling stories until his voice was hoarse... Shakira huddled in the corner and picked up her phone, only to find several text messages hade in overnight.


    [xx Coffee: Ms. Nelson, congrattions! You''ve be our lucky anniversary customer and won a ssic fragrance bag. Please send us your address for delivery.]


    [xxx Bookstore: Congrattions, Ms. Nelson! You''ve won 300 thousand dor cash prize in our lucky draw. Please provide your bank card information to im your reward.]


    [xxx Fast Food: Ms. Nelson has won the annual dining first prize, which is a seventy-year lease on a luxury apartment in the Yujing Mansion. The apartment is fully furnished and ready for you to move in. The ess code is Ms. Nelson''s birthday.] Shakira thought, ''Did I identally poke a tel scam ring?"

 Chapter 108

    Not only that, Shakira continued to receive iing texts, all of them congratting her on winning prizes and inviting her to im rewards. Shakira was utterly speechless. Who has so much time on their hands to prank me and put me on a spam list? Frustrated with the


    incessant messages, Shakira activated a blocking system on her phone, intercepting all texts with the word "win" in them/


    ***? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Overlooking the city center of Crescentville, Mitchell paced back and forth on the expansive balcony of his luxurious apartment. His initial excitement gradually morphed into anxiety. "Wait, you sent out that many messages, and she hasn''t replied to a single one?" Around the open te dining table, about ten staff members were on their phones, looking quite distressed. "Mr. Lopez, we followed your instructions and sent Ms. Nelson the prize information, but we haven''t received any replies..." "Could it be that Ms. Nelson hasn''t seen them?"


    "That shouldn''t be the case. We started sending messages intermittently yesterday afternoon. Even if she missed them yesterday, she should''ve seen them by today."


    Mitchell''s friend de lounged on an artistic sofa, shaking his head as he watched Mitchell work himself up over such a trivial matter. "If Mitchell put this much effort into picking up women, I bet there wouldn''t be a single woman in Crescentville who could escape his grasp."


    "Quit with the nonsense," Mitchell replied irritably, too preupied to joke around with de. "Do you think she just doesn''t care about these things?"


    de, taking it seriously, analyzed the situation with him, nodding in agreement. "It''s possible. Since she''s with Mr. Lopez, she''s probably notcking for anything."


    Hearing "Mr. Lopez" made a hint of displeasure cross Mitchell''s face. "Walter is Walter, and I''m me. Buying gifts for my sister has nothing to do with him!" If it weren''t for Walter being in the way, would I have to be so constrained about giving Shakira gifts? de, understanding Mitchell''s mindset, knew he was getting worked up but wasn''t about to reason with him. "Then give her something special, something meaningful. Wasn''t she part of a racing team? Get her a racing motorcycle."


    As soon as de finished speaking, Mitchell barked orders at the staff, "Hurry up and find out which motorcycle is the best." de thought, ''Mitchell has really lost it!''


    "This time, don''t send a text. Call her directly! Yes, just call her!" Mitchell was running out of


    out of patience.


    The staff followed his orders, dialing Shakira''s number. But to their dismay... "User busy, please try againter."


    ""Mr. Lopez, we can''t reach her."


    133


    "How is it possible to not reach her? Change the caller." They couldn''t get through with anyone, even the virtual numbers from their entire team. It could only mean one thing. de burst outughing, clutching his stomach on the sofa. "Looks like your your numbers."


    sister thinks you guys are scams and blocked all


    An awkward silence filled the room, and Mitchell''s expression darkened. Seriously... all I wanted was to send something nice to Shakira as a gesture of goodwill. Why is it so hard?! Seeing him so defeated, de couldn''t help but feel amused. "Getting a girl''s


    tention isn''t this difficult. But women are


    G.


    generally soft-hearted. If you send her these things indirectly, it might be better if you hand them to her personally. If she refuses, just keep sending them. Eventually, you''ll touch her heart."


    45


    Mitchell''s eyes lit up. "That''s a good idea! You''re onto something de. No wonder they call you a yboy. Being a yboy takes effort!"


    de thought, ''What a brat! I''m helping you, and you''re throwing shade at me!''


    The convoy returned to Easke Valley Estate. As soon as the car door opened, Shakira sneezed unexpectedly. Walter, with his eyes still closed, slowly opened them and looked at her, frowning slightly. "Still not better?" His voice was low and hoarse, sounding as if he had something stuck in his throat. Shakira rubbed her nose. "Just a bit itchy. I''m fine." She nced at him, feeling guilty. "Your voice...


    "I''ll be fine after a few days of rest." Walter nced at her meaningfully. When Levi approached, he casually instructed, "Have the kitchen prepare some nourishing food in the next few days." After a moment''s pause, he recalled reading online that women often experience difort during their periods due to insufficient energy and added. "Make sure it''s something to replenish her energy."


    ''Replenish energy?!'' Levi immediately looked at Shakira with a newfound respect, his gaze shifting from tender affection to sheer excitement. "Got it! I''ll tell the kitchen to take good care of Ms. Nelson''s needs. By the way, the young master needs some replenishing too; your voice is hoarse." Levi''s hands trembled slightly in his excitement. ''Surely Mr. and Mrs. Lopez are watching over them from above. That''s why there''s been such substantial progress between the young master and Ms. Nelson! At this rate, will there be good news at home soon?!''


    Shakira watched Levi''s ecstatic expression, her mouth twitching. She could guarantee that Levi hadpletely


    misunderstood! Before she could exin, a pair of brightly dressed individuals emerged from the living room. They looked to be of different ages, almost like a mother and son.


    Levi whispered, "Young Master, your cousin and Mr. Blondel havee again." Shakira raised an eyebrow. The way Levi said "again" had some implications. Walter''s expression remained calm. "I see them."


    "Walter, we finally waited for you toe back," Angie said, approaching Walter in a familiar manner, attempting to hug him.


    Brian stepped forward to block her. "Cousin, the young master doesn''t like outsiders getting too close."


    Derrick Blondel, following behind, shot a re at Brian. "You mutt, my mom is his cousin; how can she be considered an outsider?"


    Walter shot Derrick a nce, his voice t. "I indeed don''t like others getting too close, not even my own cousin." Derrick''s expression immediately turned awkward.


    Angie, unfazed, scolded her son, "You should know better. Your cousin is not in good health and can''t bepared to before." Then, turning back to Walter with a smile, she added. "Walter, it''s been tough at Oberlin, huh? Your cousin and his wife insist on being buried so far away; why can''t they rest here in Crescentville? Our estate is spacious, and the feng shui is so good!"


    Now Shakira understood. Even the lofty Mr. Lopez couldn''t escape the clutches of pesky rtives...


    Walter''s expression had turned serious, revealing his displeasure "What do you want?"


    Angie, undeterred, shamelessly said, "Oh, it''s the anniversary of your cousin and his wife''s passing. As their cousin, of course, I have toe and check on you." Just as she finished speaking, she heard a soft chuckle. She immediately turned to Shakira, who was covering her mouth inughter, surprised to find a woman by Walter''s side. After a quick nce at Shakira,


    G


    she was convinced that her outfit didn''t cost more than a thousand bucks. Angie''s expression turned scornful, and she immediately snapped, "You little brat, what are youughing at? Don''t you dareugh at me!"


    Shakira straightened her expression and nonchntly nodded, saying, "Yes, thedy of the house understands the customs and has specially dressed up to pay respects."


    0

 Chapter 109

    Angie''s face showed panic and tension. Although she was merely a distant rtive of the Lopez family, only Walter and Benji remained as the main family members, leaving her without any older rtives of higher standing. Angie didn''t care about any rules. With Benji absent and Walter being useless, who would dare to criticize her? Just then, a girl suddenly appeared and publicly mocked her!


    Before Angie could get angry, Derrick, who was nearby, disdainfully questioned Shakira, "This is the Lopez family. Who do you think you are to speak here?" He had noticed Shakira earlier, the man''s eyes flickered with admiration. The woman was youthful and radiant, her figure graceful-she could be considered a beauty even in Crescentville. It was a pity that she was with Walter, a waste of talent.


    Angie straightened her posture, lifted her chin arrogantly, and said, "That''s right, this is the territory of the Lopez family. Our family matters are not for an outsider like you to meddle in She spoke with a righteous expression, feigning hurt from being wronged, "I know we should wear ck and white for the memorial, but the atmosphere in this house is so dreary. I thought wearing something brighter would cheer Walter up. I had good intentions, yet I''m being stirred against by an outsider!"


    Shakira couldn''t help but smile coldly. ''What a shameless rtive Walter is...


    Continuing Angie approached Walter, getting a bit closer. "And my cousin came here today to bring good news." She proudly pulled Derrick beside her, "Your cousin has graduated with a master''s degree from Yarovia College. Now he''s officially joining the Lopez Group to be your right-hand man!"


    "Pfft!" Shakira once again couldn''t hold back herughter, sounding clearly mocking.


    Angie''s expression instantly changed, her heavily made-up face bing harsh and sinister as she pointed at Shakira and shouted angrily, "Who do you think you are, you poor thing? You''re not even worthy to hold our family''s shoes; what are youughing at?" Levi timely spoke up, a hint of warning in his tone, "Madam, this is Shakira, Ms. Nelson."


    "What Shakira? I don''t recognize... wait, did you say herst name is... Nelson?" Angie widened her eyes in disbelief, staring at Shakira as if she''d seen a ghost. "You''re the one the Lopez family found from outside, the one who has an engagement with Walter?!" ''All these years, I''ve been trying to find women to put next to Walter and Benji, not only to build rtionships but also for future opportunities to take over the main family. However, Benji changes women faster than changing clothes, and Walter has brought up an engagement with the Nelson family. But due to the child-switching incident, the Nelson family has raised someone else''s child as their treasure. Who would have thought that their own daughter would end up being raised poorly, wildly, and stupidly, with a tarnished reputation? She even eloped to Bris, probably already sullied! The Nelson family themselves don''t even want her; they haven''t announced anything about her. I''ve already assumed the engagement is null and void. How could she even move to Walter''s side! Truly a shameless creature, willing to go to any lengths for money and power, even to court a cripple!'' Angie screeched, "No! Walter, how could someone like her be worthy of being your wife?"


    Walter remained expressionless, his handsome face cold and profound, exuding an undeniable pride. "My fianc¨¦e does not need anyone else''s approval."


    Angie didn''t take Shakira''s words to heart. However, with Walter protecting her, she was still surprised. Walter hadn''t turned against her despite Angie''s disy of superiority. She smirked lightly, speaking casually, "Relying on your cousin''s age to bully others, using the excuse of a memorial to shove your son, who''s barely managed to get a degree, into the talented Lopez Group at this age-shouldn''t you have a bit of self-respect?"


    Angie''s face turned pale, "What did you say?"This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Derrick, like a cat whose tail was stepped on, retorted, "You shameless witch! I''m a legitimate high-educated master''s graduate!"


    Shakira wore a cold smile, not backing down, "You dumb idiot, your ancestors'' ashes couldn''t even make it into the world-


    ranked university''s name with your pathetic school!"


    3


    Angie and Derrick red fiercely at Shakira, their eyes practically turning into daggers aimed at her. Angie shouted louder to Walter, "Walter, I''m your dear cousin! She''s the outsider! Walter, you''re being deceived by this woman-she''s both stupid and wicked, raised without any guidance, and look at her! She''s even insulted us! And..." She hesitated, as if it was hard to speak but had to for Walter''s sake. "She''s already lost her purity; the whole of Crescentville knows about her dirty deeds in Bris. Even the Nelson family doesn''t want her. Walter, how can you be so-" Before she could finish, Angie found herself unable to continue. She had never seen Walter looking so cold and icy. The man in the wheelchair simply stared at her, emanating a chilling aura.


    Walter''s tone was ruthless, "If I hear anyone speaking ill of her, I won''t spare them, no matter who they are!" His eyes were icy, as if she uttered another word, he wouldn''t care about her being his cousin at all!


    Angie shivered and instinctively took a few steps back, fear causing tears to form. "Walter, I''m only looking out for you!" she cried, her hands covering her eyes, ring fiercely at Shakira.


    Just then, Levi received a message from the security room, "Young Master, Mitchell is here again."


    Shakira couldn''t smile anymore. Suddenly, she remembered something and btedly realized where those scam messages hade from...


    Angie quickly shouted, "Let him in to manage this family''s disaster!"


    Walter cast a deep nce at Angie, signaling Levi to let him in. Soon after, several cars formed a convoy, slowly approaching them. Mitchell stepped out of a shy Ferrari, looking quite impressive, and whistled at the crowd, "What a lively scene!" He walked over to Shakira, feigning a bit of grievance and helplessness, "Why did you ck all those short messages?" Shakira facepalmed. ''Great, it really was one of Mitchell''s bizarre ideas!"


    Angie called out to Mitchell, "Mitchell, you came at the right time. I believe the Nelson family is an honest family. You know Shakira''s true nature, right? You should judge whether someone like her can be Walter''s fianc¨¦e!" "This Shakira relies on her fox-like face to charm Walter, thinking she can step on me, but surely the Nelson family would care about their reputation? They should at least apologize to me and take Shakira back to teach her a lesson!''


    Mitchell looked stunned, "Who are you?"


    Angie was almost enraged to death by Mitchell''sck of respect, I''m Walter''s cousin, the matriarch of the Lopez family."


    "Oh." Mitchell stood protectively in front of Shakira, directly addressing Walter, "You, as the head of the family, let a distant rtive older than you disrespect your fianc¨¦e. Walter, can you still manage?" Angie was astonished.


    Walter was rendered speechless,


    I

 Chapter 110

    Chapter110


    Hearing Mitchell''s words, Angie and Derrick almost fainted, their faces showing a mix of green and white, creating quite the spectacle. They finally understood! No wonder Shakira dared to be so arrogant-turns out the Nelson family is filled with bad apples themselves. Shakira raised her eyebrows slightly, a smirk ying at the corners of her mouth. Although she was quite disdainful of Mitchell... his sudden cleverness was not without its uses. At least his sharp tongue was always on point. Mitchell paid no attention to these unimportant people. When He turned back to Shakira, his expression softened instantly. "You still haven''t told me how you managed to block those calls. Shakira sighed. "They were annoying."


    Annoying? She just ignored so many winning messages, and she dares to call it annoying?! Truly, she is my sister Mitchell, so cool!''


    Shakira raised an eyebrow, "What, just because I blocked the numbers, you came all the way here to pick a fight with me?"


    "Of course not! Look-" Mitchell gestured for the group of cars that had followed him to step forward. There was also arge truck behind them. "I told you I''d make it up to you. Including this year, I brought a total of eighteen birthday gifts for you." As he finished speaking, about ten people holding gifts lined up neatly before them. There were luxury bags, clothing, a big box of cash, a set of keys... and when they got to thest truck, the driver jumped out and operated a smart machine, slowly revealing a heavy motorcycle from the back, dominating the scene with its grandeur! Derrick, who was already stunned, couldn''t help but exim, "Encode T!"


    Angie pulled her son, "What did you just say?"


    "That motorcycle is racing-grade, worth over 600 thousand dors!".


    One


    motorcycle as a birthday gift costs over 600 thousand dors?'' Angie gasped in shock. ''Wait a minute, didn''t they say the Nelson family looked down on their adopted daughter and wouldn''t let her return home, treating their biological daughter like a treasure? Why was it so different now...?") "So, how about it? I carefully picked these gifts for you. Do you like them?"


    Looking at the spectacle before her, Shakira''s face showed no significant change, almost devoid of any emotion. If it were her former self, she would have probably burst into tears at such an overwhelming disy of gifts. But s, there are no ''what ifs. Reality is ironic and amusing. Noticing Shakira''s silence andck of excitement, Mitchell''s smile gradually faded. Slowly, he clenched his fists, his body trembling slightly. He forced a bitter smile and said, "Are you thinking about the birthday party from a while back?" Shakira replied tly, "It''s none of my concern, so there''s no need to think about it."


    Mitchell''s entire body jolted. The bitterness on his face deepened Indeed, that birthday party had nothing to do with Shakira. Their entire family had prepared for so long, but the only guest of honor was someone else. It had no relevance to Shakira at all. He took a deep breath, "It''s fine, I didn''t expect you to forgive me right away. Regardless of whether you forgive me or not, I respect your decision. These gifts are for you; whether you take them or not, I will continue sending daily essentials. They''re here, do as you wish." With that, Mitchell turned to the grim-faced Walter. "Mr. Lopez, although my sister lives in your house, she does have support behind her." He nced meaningfully at Angie and Derrick. "If my sister suffers any grievances in your home, I won''t let it go easily!" After saying this, Mitchell left the gifts behind and led his group away.


    Walter had a face full of indifference.


    Angie''s heart was racing, and she still wanted to struggle a bit, "Walter, I..."


    G


    0


    "Cousin,"


    ''Walter suddenly called out to her, but Angie felt no sense of pride; instead, her heart tensed up. "I remember when my parents were alive, they rarely invited you to visit, and that won''t change in the future."


    This was a direct deprivation of her right to freely enter the main household. Angie couldn''t ept it and wanted to plead further. But when Walter''s deep, seemingly all-seeing gaze swept over her, she felt instantly frozen in ce.


    Derrick, however, was unwilling to give up and tried to fight for himself, "Cousin, I''ve graduated and can work at Lopez Group just like my second cousin."


    "Benji started from the grassroots. You want to enter Lopez Group?" Walter coldly waved his hand, "Then go to Africa to toughen up for three years before talking."


    Go to Africa for three years? Will I even survive toe back?" "I''m not going, cousin, I''m not going!" Derrick just wanted to go home!


    Walter''s smirk deepened with cold mockery, "There''s one more thing."


    The two felt an instinctive chill run down their backs, "What?"


    "Apologize to Shakira."


    Angie suspected she had misheard, "Why should we apologize to Shakira?"


    Walterughed coldly, "My fianc¨¦e, is someone you can nder and insult with those rumors from the outside. His smile was chilling and terrifying!


    Over the years, few members of the Lopez family remained, and Walter, remembering their bond, didn''t want to hold it against them. Angie almost forgot that Walter of the Lopez family used to be someone who was absolute and no one dared to defy! She felt deted, like a punctured balloon. Angie pulled Derrick, and despite their reluctance, they had to bow their heads, "I''m sorry, we spoke wrongly. Please, Ms. Nelson, forgive us and don''t hold it against us." Shakira aldr Shakira didn''t t initially care about them, but since Walter defended her, she still had to give him some face. She nced at Walter and said to them, "Alright, for the sake of... Walter, I''ll forgive you this time." Her nonchnt tone made Angie and her son feel greatly humiliated. But they had to endure it!


    Walter didn''t care how despondent they looked, "Levi, see them out."


    Levi had a smile in his eyes; every time Angie came over, she acted like thedy of the house, bossing him around. This time, the young master finally didn''t give them any face, and he felt a sense of relief! This was the power of love; the young master was defending Ms. Nelson! Levi stood tall, "Yes, Mr. Lopez." He then turned to thetwo. "Mrs. Blondel and Mr. Blondel, please."This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    The two left with pale faces, leaving in shame.


    Walter turned to Shakira, who was wearing a faint smile, and coldly said, "Brian, take stock of these items and transfer them to Mitchell after calcting the total."


    Shakira was like, ''What? Transfer again? If this keeps up, I''ll be a maid for eternity!''

 Chapter 111

    Shakira bargained with him. "I don''t think it''s necessary to pay him back every time."


    Walter squinted slightly, brewing a dangerous aura, "So, are you going to ept the gifts he sent?"


    "I won''t ept them, but I can''t just give him back the money from my sry every time he sends something; that would be too unfair to me!" Shakira said angrily, clenching her fists. "That''s true; then let''s just throw them all away."


    Throw them away? Seriously, you rich people can''t be so excessive!" "Wait a minute." Shakira scratched her face, "Let''s hold onto them for now; just put them in my old room, and I''ll return them when I have the chance." Walter raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you sure?"


    Yes


    Yes.


    "Alright." Walter looked at Levi, who had just seen the guests off, Calcte the rental price for that guest room and let her store her things there."


    Shakira was confused.


    Walter smiled slightly, "As an exception, I''ll give you an 80% discount." ''Shameless! A bloodsucker!''


    *****


    After Angie and Derrick got into the car, their submissive expressions disappeared in an instant. "D***n! That waste is so arrogant; just because he was born into a better family, what does he have to be so proud of!" Derrick mmed the steering wheel in a fit of rage, cursing.


    "Son, be gentle; does your hand hurt?" Angie felt extreme heartache, "What can we do? He came from the Lopez family, and he''s born with a silver spoon!" Not to mention Derrick was upset she was ***h get to act so high and mighty?" Derrick''s eyes flickered with a sinister light, "Tch, she''s not worthy of my apology. I''ll make her pay for it when I have the chance!" Just as he finished speaking, the car was suddenly hit by something heavy from behind, and the mother and son, who weren''t wearing seatbelts, bumped their heads hard, shocked. Holding their bleeding heads, Derrick nced in the rearview mirror, fuming, and unbuckled his seatbelt to get out. "D***n it, can''t you drive properly!" Looking at the maning from behind the car, Derrick widened his eyes, It''s you! Mitchell leaned casually against the car door with one hand in his pocket, looking arrogant.


    Angie also got out of the car. "Mitchell, what do you mean? Are you going to oppose the Lopez family?!"


    "Ha, the Lopez family?" Mitchell seemed to find it hrious, "I just found out that you''re an outsider married to the general manager of Fangsheng Company; what kind of Lopez family member are you?" Angie''s face turned ashen.


    Mitchell''s previously carefree expression suddenly became sharp, "A little Fang family dares to lecture the youngdy of the Nelson family; you really have guts!"


    They now understood. Mitchell was waiting to cause trouble for them to get back at Shakira! Earlier, they couldn''t say much because Walter was present, but now she had no intention of holding back. "The Nelson family, Mitchell, are you crazy? Your adopted daughter from the Nelson family is rude and vulgar, and who knows how many dirty men from Bris she''s been


    with... Ah!"


    With a loud bang, Mitchell kicked the rear end of their damaged car, and the back cover fell off, copsing instantly.


    Angie''s heart raced in fear. Upon meeting Mitchell''s expression, she instinctively took several steps back. She tried to maintain herposure, "Are you insane?! I won''t let this matter go; the Nelson family must give me an exnation!"


    Mitchell''s eyes burned with rage, veins bulging on his neck, "If I hear you ndering my sister again, next time it won''t just be kicking the car." After saying that, he shot them a fierce nce and drove away.


    In the passenger seat, de whistled at the entire scene. "Awesome, Mr. Lopez, are you that angry?" de said meaningfully, "I always knew you were a protective brother; I thought you only cared for Yvette, but it seems... being your sister is quite a blessing!" Mitchell drove the car, and upon hearing this, he tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "Heh, you can have her; I don''t want her." deughed and cursed, "Go to hell!"


    Mitchell was silent for a moment before suddenly saying, "Can you do me a favor?"


    The online buzz about the fortune-telling incidentsted for several days. As for Lago, there were no inquiries about selling his house, let alone any buyers. It was even harder for him to sell off other assets; no one showed interest. Consequently, business partnerships fell apart, and those who had signed contracts kept calling to urge progress, which made Lago extremely anxious. The shareholders and employees in thepany were all on edge, and with creditors blocking his door, Lago had no choice but to mortgage his house and car to scrape together some funds to pay off his debts. Yvette only dared to meet him after she knew Lago had resolved his issues. She was also annoyed with Lago for asking her for money. Having been dragged down by him, how could she possibly help him? In just a few days, Lago had lost a lot of weight; his already sharp features looked even more cruel and terrifying after such rapid weight loss. Yvette felt disgusted just looking at him and directly asked Jessie, "What did Grandpa say?" Jessie took out two charms from her pocket and ryed Modis''s words to Yvette. Jessie awkwardly Yvette


    I in annoyance,


    Yvette took the items but frowned already quite powerful. There aren''t many spells that can be cast without a medium." Lago spoke hoarsely, "If we can''t secretly take her things, then let''s do it openly and make her willingly give them to us." do we "Why still need Shakira''s stuff? It was already returned by Mitchell. How am I supposed to get it back? Can''t we get something more powerful?"


    replied, "These are


    Jessie hesitantly epted, "Alright, I''ll think of a way." After a pause, she asked, "Is there anything else?"


    but eventually handed over another item. It was a small figure made of white cloth. "This is a curse doll, very sinister. I once secretly saw someone ask your grandpa for this doll., Writing the person''s birth date on its back will bring them great misfortune." Finally, a smile appeared on Yvette''s face as she snatched it away "Why didn''t you take this good stuff out sooner?" This i isn''t a good thing. Using it can easily backfire and bring disaster!"Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Yvette was unconcerned, "My life is already bad enough; what do I have to fear? Isn''t Shakira supposed to be destined for good fortune? Once I obtain her luck, no misfortune can touch me." Jessie wanted to say more, but Lago scolded her angrily. "What are you hesitating for at a time like this? Thankfully, my daughter isn''t like you; she can get things done!"


    Yvette secretly scoffed at Lago''s self-praise. Holding the doll, a malevolent glint filled her eyes.


    9


    After a few days off, Shakira returned to school the next day. As soon as she entered the ssroom, she received good news from Sean. "Boss, those small shareholders in Lago''spany have run off. I bought all their shares, and we signed all the contracts today; I now hold 47% of the shares." Shakira asked, "Lago holds 48%, what about the remaining 5%?"

 Chapter 112

    Seanughed, "Guess what?"


    Shakira thought for a moment, and a cold smile crept onto her lips. "Yvette."


    "Wow! You really are the Boss; you guessed it right away!" Sean eximed excitedly on the other end. "Lago is c***ng; the remaining 5% shares pose a risk to his control. He wouldn''t easily transfer them to someone he doesn''t trust." Sean clicked ked his tongue. "So, At this moment, Shakira heard fo you want to guess when Lago transferred the shares to vette


    familia.


    voices at the ssroom door. She raised her eyes slightly while holding her phone and saw Yvette walking in with a cheerful expression. Their gazes met, and Shakira clearly noticed the fleeting shock and disgust on Yvette''s face, as well as the c***ng calctions hidden deep within her gaze. Shakira''s smile deepened, and she lowered her voice, "It must have been when she was still small, at least before it was publicly confirmed that the two families had swapped their children."


    amazing!" Sean sounded thrilled on the phone, "The shares in Yvette''s name are shares, out the same established thepany!" Shakira calcted. "Six years ago, when Yvette and I were twelve, Lago started thepany at the beginning of the year." She remembered this timeline very clearly. During thepany''s founding, Lago often left home early and returnedte. Shakira woulde home from school and immediately start cooking, cleaning, and washing the piles of clothes that had umted throughout the day. It was just the start of spring; the weather hadn''t fully warmed up yet, and by the time Shakira finished her chores, it was nearly midnight, with her hands frozen and stiff. That month, Shakira got her first period, which wastepared to most girls her age. She had learned about the physiological process but didn''t know how ufortable it would be. With aching lower abdomen and sore back, she finally finished her chores andy down. Lago came back drunk and threw up at the door. Jessie knocked hard on her door, clearly displeased. "What are you sleepin, for? Get up and clean this mess outside!"


    Shakira, enduring her stomach pain, opened the door to reveal a pale face, "Mom, I don''t feel well; can I clean it tomorrow?"


    "What? You want to wait until tomorrow?" Jessie raised her hand, hitting her hard on the forehead, "What are you pretending for? Just because you do a little work here and there, you think you''re someone special? We work hard to provide for you; you think you can justze around?" Shakira nearly got dizzy from the blow to her head. In the end, she still gritted her teeth through the pain and cleaned up the filth outside. "Boss, are you still there?" Sean''s voice pulled Shakira back to reality.


    She suppressed the coldness in her eyes and replied calmly, "I understand; I will handle her shares."


    Just as she "Waiting for


    for me?


    up, someone tapped her on the shoulder. Shakira looked up to see Xanthe jumping in front of her, "You finally came to ss! I''ve been waiting for you for several days."


    "Yes, you''re my only friend left, of course, I thought of you."


    caught her off guard. Xanthe leaned closer, seemingly bursting with words after a long wait, chatting This sudden friend v non-stop about everything that had happened at school while she was away, including how busy her dad had been with


    made connections with important figures. Southville Project and how he


    "All of this is thanks to you, Shakira!" As she spoke, Xanthe caught sight of Yvette approaching them and suddenly raised her


    voice, her glee all too evident.


    84% +5


    "Hey Shakira, have you been following the fortune-telling drama online? Someone''s house in Crescentville is in terrible shape, and they bought a multi-million dor vi. The owner is a heartless businessman who now can''t even sell the house to make money. Bad people get what they deserve; it''s so satisfying to see!" Xanthe pped her hands in delight? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    She then added, "That person is your ck-hearted adoptive father, Lago! No wonder your luck was always bad; it must have been cursed by his family''s bad luck!" Shakira''s smile twitched as she noticed Yvette''s disgusted expression and couldn''t help butugh.


    Yvette clenched her fists, struggling to endure, and finally convinced herself to ignore Xanthe. "Shakira, you finally came to school." Yvette''s fake, exaggerated expression was easy to read, "You don''t know how worried I''ve been about you these past few days." Yvette cautiously looked at her, lowering her voice, "Lago has done something bad to you. Although I don''t know the details, he... I can apologize to you on his behalf, can I?" Xanthe''s face i instantly changed, almost jumping up in anger, "What did he do, Shakira? That b**rd Lago harmed you?" She turned to Yvette, ring fiercely, "You hypocrite! You''re clearly in cahoots with him; stop pretending!"


    Yvette stepped back in fright, looking even more pitiful, "Xanthe, you misunderstood me! I really didn''t know he would send Shakira to be with a man..." Yvette''s voice was loud enough for everyone around to hear. Though she didn''t finish her sentence, her expression and tone made it easy for others to draw their own conclusions.


    The crowd gasped in shock, "No way, did Shakira really go to be with a man?"


    "What the heck, that''s so dirty.


    Xanthe was stunned, ring at Yvette, "You shameless liar! Do you want me to tear your mouth apart?" Xanthe''s protective actions for Shakira, in the eyes of the crowd, seemed like a cover-up.


    Yvette wasughing her head off inside. ''Xanthe, that fool, is really useful!''


    Shakira looked at Yvette with a nk expression. Observing Yvette''s smug and malicious demeanor, Shakira casually raised a faint smile. She remained calm, as if the gossip about her reputation didn''t concern her at all. Instead, she calmly countered Yvette''s statement, "What position do you have to apologize to me on behalf of Lago? Are you the Miss of the Nelson family, or Lago''s biological daughter?"

 Chapter 113

    With a single sentence, Shakira effortlessly shifted the focus of public opinion onto Yvette! In an instant, the smile on Yvette''s facepletely froze, and her pupils dted in panic. ''How dare Shakira expose my identity like that!" Before she could get angry, gasps of astonishment echoed around her. A chilling sensation crept up Yvette''s body from the soles of her feet. "Oh my God! Yvette is Lago''s biological daughter?!"


    "No way, is that true? Isn''t Yvette the daughter of the Nelson family? Her birthday party a few months ago was the biggest event in Crescentville; it couldn''t have been that extravagant if she wasn''t his real daughter!" Shakira is is the adopted daughter of the Smith family; she must know who the real daughter of the Smith family is.


    "But


    "I saw some gossip before saying that the daughter of a prominent family in Crescentville was swapped at birth and has been living in someone else''s home for years. Now that the real daughter is back, she''s not leaving. Could it be Yvette?"


    "I thought it was strange before, but now it all makes sense! Don''t you find it odd? Shakira isn''t the Smith family''s real daughter, so changing herst name makes sense, but why did she take the surname Nan?" "What else could it be? Shakira is the daughter of the Nelson family!"


    "That ties everything together! Shakira and Yvette are the swapped daughters!"


    then Yvette is disgusting for stealing someone else''s identity and not returning to her real parents!"


    "If this is true, then


    "You know what they say: Dragons give birth to dragons, and rats'' children dig holes! It''s not surprising that Lago''s daughter would do something like this!"


    "Wow, this gossip is huge and shocking!"


    Listening to the chatter from all directions, Yvette felt incredibly tense, on the verge of breaking down! She couldn''t bear the suspicion and criticisms. Covering her ears, she shot Shakira a furious nce and turned to leave. But before she could get far, she almost bumped into the head of her grade. "ss is starting! Where are you going? Get back to your seat!"


    "..." Yvette froze, feeling stuck-neither leaving nor staying was an option. Finally, she gripped her fists tightly and reluctantly returned to her seat under everyone''s gaze.


    Shakira leisurely sat back down, surprisingly impressed by howposed Yvette was.


    The head of the grade nced around, "What are you all making noise about? It''s time for ss." The chatter in the ssroom instantly quieted down.


    end of the ss, Yvette felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.


    By the end


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the head of the grade stopped everyone. "I have something to announce: our school has taken on a one-on-one assistance program for universities in remote areas, promoting donations from the entire school. This is voluntary; those who wish to donate can report to the ss monitor, Each grade has its own charity tasks, and for our grade, we''ll be doing a donation of old clothes. Let''s discuss how to implement it. Any thoughts or suggestions?"


    The students began discussing, and Berry caught Yyette''s gaze, sending a look toward a certain spot at the back. A female student in the back raised her hand, "Teacher, since short videos are so popr now, why don''t we use them to promote our grade''s charity?" Soon, others chimed in. "That''s a great idea! We can shoot short videos in groups to document the process!"


    "Yes! Let''s include the process of selecting old clothes to show everyone is sincerely contributing to charity; that way, it''s authentic and meaningful!" The head of the grade nodded. "That''s a good point. Any other ideas or opinions?"


    More students expressed their agreement with the idea. The head of the grade decisively stated, "Then it''s settled! Groups will be formed based on student numbers, fifteen people per group. This task is urgent, so please make sure to submit your group''s video and the donated clothes in the next couple of days" Everyone responded in unison, "Okay!!"


    After the head of the grade left, the students organized themselves into groups.


    Xanthe looked displeased as she watched Yvette and Berry being grouped together, whispering to Shakira, "What kind of luck is this? How unlucky!"


    Shakira nced at Yvette, her eyes shining with understanding. Suddenly, she realized what Yvette''s expression meant when she entered the ssroom. "So that''s why... no wonder Yvette was soposed earlier." Shakira took out her phone and sent


    a message.


    Berry volunteered to be the group leader, and several girls in the group had received skincare products from herst week, so they all supported Berry''s leadership. Xanthe felt even more disgruntled. "Those things were fed to the dogs!"


    The others heard Xanthe''s remark. They knew her family had secured Southville Project and would have a bright future. But they had already fallen out with her, and now returning to her would be awkward. "Berry is the daughter of the White family; sticking with her shouldn''t be too bad, right?"


    ting Berry smirked at Xanthe and immediately started making decisions, "Our group has fifteen people, with ten ssmates living on campus and fivemuting. Since the task is heavy, let''s focus on recording videos at the homes of ssmates today." She scanned the room and saw no one objecting, "As the group leader, I''ll take the lead and film at my ce first. To ensure the authenticity of the donation campaign, group members can supervise the video shooting. Who wants toe to my house?" Looking at the time, she added. "Right now, my family''s maid is preparing afternoon coffee, so everyone is wee."


    Xanthe scoffed at Berry''s seemingly casual bragging.


    The others responded enthusiastically, and Berry smiled. "Since everyone wants to go, let''s all go together. But will it be inconvenient to visit other ssmates'' homes afterward?" Xanthe huffed, "My sofa is over twenty meters long; there''s plenty of room for everyone!"


    Berry gritted her teeth in frustration, thinking, "What a nouveau riche, what''s there to be proud of?"


    Anothermuting ssmate also agreed to let everyone visit her home. Finally, only... Yvette, with red-rimmed eyes, bit her lip gently, "My house also wees everyone, but... I worry some ssmates might not want toe to my home." She didn''t name names, but everyone knew who she was referring to, especially after such a big scandal had just broken. They were curious and didn''t know what was going on with the Nelson family; rather thanpleting the task, they were more eager to investigate the gossip. Shakira met Yvette''s gaze, her face calm. "I don''t mind either."


    Without further ado, several cars set off one after another. On the way, Berry called home, and Mrs. Wen personally came out to greet them, warm and friendly, providing a generous wee. After a light afternoon coffee, they entered Berry''s room, and several girls squealed in delight. ''So this is what the White family is like; they''re really wealthy! In the city center, even the walk-in closet takes up a whole room! That''s so luxurious!'' Berry filmed a video while packing a small bag of old designer items, and then they hurried on to the next house.


    70Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    When they arrived at Xanthe''s house, everyone was astonished. There was such arge fountain, and the small garden was about a hundred square meters. The sofa truly was over twenty meters long; fifteen people could sitfortably with extra- space! The entire house glittered with gold, showcasing wealth beyondpare.


    Knowing they were doing charity, Xanthe''s mother rolled up her sleeves and gathered two suitcases full of clothes, stuffing them to the brim.


    If Xanthe hadn''t repeatedly said "that''s enough," her mom would have packed another suitcase.


    Berry''s


    expression darkened. ''Xanthe really went all out just to outdo me!''


    Afterward, the the group debated whether to visit Yvette or Shakira''s home first.


    house?"


    Someone murmured, "Wait, shouldn''t they be living in the same hou


    really. Shakira probably doesn''t live with the Nelson family; it seems like they don''t like her."


    "Isn''t Shakira with Mr. Lopez? She should have a decent background."


    "The Lopez family, the top family in the top five wealthy families-we really can go there?!"


    Hearing this, Yvette scoffed internally, ''She''s just a maid; what kind of background could she possibly have?! No matter how extravagant the Lopez family is, isn''t Shakira still surrounded by shabby old clothes? Mr. Lopez probably wouldn''t even let her bring anyone in!'' Yvette imagined Shakira''s embarrassment and difort soon, smiling slightly. "Let''s go to my house first; I think Shakira''s home needs some preparation. What do you say, Shakira?" Shakira remained unfazed. "Sure, I have no objections."


    Yvette was increasingly irritated. ''Shakira, let''s see how long you can keep this up!''

 Chapter 114

    On the way to the Nelson family''s house, the ssmates were noticeably more excited than when they went to the Wen and Xu families. In just a few hours, gossip had already begun circting on the school forum about the 18-year mix-up between Shakira and Yvette, with doubts about the authenticity of their identities. Mysterious insiders had evene forward to confirm the truth of the matter, igniting a wave of discussions on the school forum: "I can''t believe it! Shakira is actually the biological daughter of the Nelson family!"


    "This was hidden too well. The Nelson family was protective of Yvette during that giarism incident, so did they really abandon Shakira?"


    "Fake and real daughters, the favored adopted daughter distancing herself from her biological sister. D***n, it''s like a clich¨¦ romance novele to life!"


    "Yvette still lives with the Nelson family, and she''s driven to school by their chauffeur. Meanwhile, Shakira took the bus on the first day of school; it''s so pitiful..."


    "Damn, I used to dislike Shakira for being troublesome, but now I totally understand! Foster parents are disgusting, and biological parents are indifferent; how can one not go crazy with a life like that?" "Wow, Shakira is hakira beautiful and talented in design, but just because of a life mix-up, her life went downhill... what a tragic yet strong character!"


    On the bus, the group was excitedly scrolling through the forum, curious about how Shakira would fare when she met the Nelson family, imagining how dramatic it would be!


    Meanwhile,


    Xanthe, who was anonymously leaking information on the forum, was typing furiously on her phone, her fingers flying across the keyboard so fast that the screen seemed to blur-any programmer would be amazed. After typing for a while, she suddenly looked up at Yvette. "Shakira, be carefulter." "Huh


    Shakira was surprised. "Huh?" "Look at how calm Yvette is; she must be hiding something bad."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Xanthe nodded toward Yvette.


    Shakira smirked. ¡°Really? I''m quite curious to see what her tricks are."


    Xanthe thought, ''My new best friend is really carefree!


    §Þ§å


    the car slowly entered themunity, arriving at the Nelson family''s residence. At the entrance, the butler, apanied by two maids, had been waiting for a long time and handed out damp towels for everyone to wipe their hands. Compared to the opulence of the White family and the extravagance of the Sullivan family, the Nelson family exuded a more cultured, inherited elegance. The group quickly took out their phones to take pictures, marveling at the Nelson family''s taste, as even their house seemed like a work of art. Once inside, they found Reba arranging flowers at the elegant marble ind. Yvette sweetly called out, "Mom." She happily **ed over to Reba, casually h**ng her arm around her shoulder and introducing her ssmates, "I brought my friends over for a visit Reba sm smiled I warmly and graciously nodded at everyone, saying, "Wee, students. Thank you for taking care of my daughter Yvette at school."


    The ssmates respectfully greeted Mrs. Nelson, feeling awestruck. As expected from ady of one of the top five wealthy families, her aura is exceptional, every gesture elegant, making us hesitant to approach. Compared to Mrs. Xu and Mrs. Wen, who feel more down- to-earth, she seems so out of reach.'' Meanwhile, they secretly observed Shakira''s reaction. Mrs. Nelson and Shakira seemed likeplete strangers! If it weren''t for Shakira saying Yvette was Lago''s daughter, and Yvette not refuting it, they wouldn''t have believed it to be true! ''Sure enough, Yvette is the little princess of the Nelson family. 2.


    Whether she is the biological daughter or not doesn''t change anything. This favoritism is so enviable...


    @84%


    Yvette cuddled closer to Reba, acting sweetly for a moment, then led everyone upstairs toplete their task. Yvette''s dressing room was the first room at the corner of the staircase. As she opened the door, they were greeted by a dazzling array of luxury items, resembling a high-end second-hand luxury boutique.


    Yvette sped her hands together and smiled softly, "This is my dressing room. I''ll see what fits, and you all help me look too, so I don''t miss anything." The group eximed, "Yvette, your dressing room is bigger than my whole room!"


    "It''s not that big; it used to be a quest room. After being u''s indifferent attitude towards her life beingpletely overshadowed, Yvette secretly clenched her fists. unused for a while, I turned it into my dressing room, so some clothes I rarely wear are here." As Yvette ette spoke, she nced at Shakira. Seeing "Wait a Walt a Yvette, aren''t we supposed to donate old clothes? Most of these are practically new; have you worn them?" Yvette


    casually looked around, slightly furrowing her brow in thought, "This one, I think. I wore it once or twice? I can''t remember, But it''s fine, as long as it helps someone in need; I have plenty of clothes." She smiled sweetly, inadvertently boasting, "Felix ising back soon. He bought me several sets of LK runway custom pieces that aren''t avable in the country. I''ll just wear the new clothes he bought me!"


    "Oh my God, is it the legendary luxury brand LK? And runway pieces! Isn''t it for super wealthy people to get a chance to buy?"


    "What nonsense are you talking about? Yvette''s family is super rich..."


    "Yvette, isn''t Felix in medical research? He''s spoiling you so much, buying you clothes even with his busy schedule."


    ''s smile deepened. "Felix often gives me gifts. When he went to Africa for research, he only went out once a month to buy things for me."


    Waaah, having a brother is so great! Having a wealthy brother is even better!"


    "Oh


    my


    God, I feel like I was born to work for the rich!"


    Berry casually chimed in, "Not to mention, Yvette''s brother Mitchell knows she wants to enter the entertainment industry, so years ago he started his own entertainmentpany, and now he''s Yvette''s exclusive manager." Yvette feigned shyness. "Berry, don''t tease me. My brother and I are just joking around."


    "Oh please, joking around? In just a few years, it''s now one of the top five entertainmentpanies in the country. The resources Mitchell has are just waiting for you to graduate. Even if you change your mind about entering the entertainment industry, you could still work at your Finnpany; you''re starting from the highest point in life!" "Berry, stop talking. Let''s hurry up and pack; we still have to go to Shakira''s houseter!"


    Amid the yful banter between the two best friends, every ssmate listening was filled with envy and jealousy. As Berry said, Yvette was born standing at a height that most people would struggle their entire lives to reach! They pitied themselves, and even more, they sympathized with Shakira. ''Everything Yvette has now originally belonged to Shakira. What a pity... she doesn''t have that kind of fate!'' With thisparison, they felt much better inside.


    After packing up a pile of nearly brand-new clothes from Yvette''s room, they turned to their next destination. As night fell, the car gradually entered Crescentville''srgest affluent area, Easke Valley Estate. The sight of thismunity, taking up Crescentville''s most expensivend, was shrouded in an air of mystery, vast and imposing, making everyone reluctant to blink, hurriedly pulling out their phones to record videos. 09:31 Sat,


    "Oh my God, who would have thought that my first time visiting Easke Valley Estate would be to a ssmate''s house?"


    "No wonder the riche here to retire. ***n, it feels like visiting a seven-star resort; just thend under that tree must cost thirty thousand dors!"


    "Is it possible that tree costs several hundred thousand to millions?"


    "Waaah, so this is the scent of money? Not at all foul, it smells simply amazing!"


    Berry, who had never been to Easke Valley Estate, disdainfully scoffed at their remarks. "Tsk, if you''re so envious, you can work hard and be a maid for the Lopez familyter."

 Chapter 115

    The group fell silent, and the implications of Berry''s words were unmistakable. Xanthe exploded, ready to rush over and confront Berry if it weren''t for Shakira holding her back. "Berry, can''t you just keep quiet for once?"


    "Well,


    I''m j just telling the truth."


    Xanthe


    cut in


    "Some people t


    talk a big game about being noble, but deep down, they all want to be Mr. Lopez''s personal servant. Unfortunately, Mr. Lopez doesn''t even look at them!" clenched her fists and red back fiercely. having gained the upper hand, stuck out her tongue at her and sat back down.


    anthe, I


    Seeing that Shakira was unfazed, Xanthe became even more confident, "Berry''s really sour. By the time we get there, she''ll probably be so jealous she can''t sleep for a month!" Then, out of curiosity, she whispered, "Shakira, is your room big?" Shakira thought for a moment and said, "I don''t have my own room."


    Xanthe nodded and said matter-of-factly, "You live with Mr. Lopez, huh? That''s settled then. Berry''s probably going to be jealous enough not to sleep for this whole month."


    She had reason to suspect that Xanthe had set up surveince in the vi; otherwise, how could she be so urate.


    Shakira was speechless.


    Ten minutester,


    the minibus finally drove into the Lopez family''s territory, slowly approaching the buildingplex. Inside the vehicle, everyone was stunned by the several vis arranged in a picturesque manner, and in the distance, they could vaguely see servants and bodyguards dressed in uniforms lined I up in rows, their jaws nearly dropping. "This.... this is the Lopez family? Are you sure it''s not a vimunity or a resort?" "So many servants could practically form a smallpany! Just their monthly wages would be enough for me to live my whole life!"


    "Wow, look at this garden! It''s like a resort. Honestly, just the maintenance costs would let us live for eight hundred years!" "I finally understand-we''re just here to make up the numbers in this world..."


    "Wow, with so many ces to stay, will we even be able to explore them anaken.


    Even Xanthe, who prided herself on being worldly, felt her worldview being


    Meanwhile, Berry remained silent, her eyes reflecting the boundless luxury that symbolized unattainable power and wealth. Her heart raced faster and faster. ''Everything here belongs to Walter alone. Once I be the mistress of the Lopez family, all of this-everything that countless women dream of and can never reach-will all be mine! Gradually, her initial shock transformed into greed and a dominating determination to possess it all.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Shakira, on the other hand, couldn''t help but feel a twitch in her eyelids. ''Is there some task or activity today? Why did Levi bring so many people out?'' Just as she was thinking, the minibus came to a stop.


    Everyone got out of the vehicle, still in shock and unable to regain theirposure.


    Levi, smiling brightly, led the servants forward and said in unison, their voices resonating throughout the estate, "Wee, Ms. Nelson, home-"


    Shakira stared in disbelief, pping her face in shock.


    Shakira works as a maid in the Lopez family? This situation looks more like that of a mistress?!''


    The first to react was Xanthe. "Wow! Shakira, the way you''re weed home is amazing!"


    84% 84%


    Hearing this, Levi felt very assured and smiled kindly, "Everyone, pleasee inside; it''s already dinner time. What would you like to eat? Our kitchen can make anything."


    Xanthe blurted out, "Really anything? Suddenly I want to cat Wagyu and king crab!"


    "Sure, we''ll arrange that for Ms. Sullivan."


    Xanthe was surprised, "Wow, you know me?"


    Levi smiled, "It''s


    Levi smiled, Ms. Nelson''s first time bringing ssmates over so I had to do my homework. Ms. Sullivan likes seafood; this is ssmate Lin, right? From Spicy Pepper City, likes strong vors, and this is ssmate Yang, who needs light meals due to a stomach issue..." "Levi urately mentioned ioned several ssmates!


    "This is impressive! Is this how top-notch families entertain guests? It''s unbelievably considerate!"


    "The key is not just being thoughtful to guests, but especially to Shakira-what kind of treatment does a maid get when bringing friends home?" "Exactly! This is more attention than we received at the three other ces we visited!"


    Xanthe was


    "Is Shakira really a maid here, not the mistress?"


    Someone even identally voice, the actual party involved, "Not bad, not bad! You''re much smarter than Berry." happier than Shakira, face darkened with Simrly, Yvette, who had jealousy, nearly contorted.


    been waiting to see Shakira embarrass herself, also looked terrible. She was still clinging to herst hope, ''This must be a ruse; Shakira must have colluded with these servants to put on a show for us!''


    Shakira helplessly facepalmed. "Let''s finish the task first."


    Levi said, "Everything


    has


    s been arranged ording to Ms. Nelson''s instructions."


    this, Shakira felt a little a little more at ease. However, when they arrived at the guest room where she originally stayed, looking at the dazzling array of unfamiliar clothes in the room, Shakira was stunned... ''Wait, where did all thesee from? Is it Mitchell? Or "Wow, Shakira, your wardrobe is twice the size of Yvette''s!"


    Walter? They won''t deduct from my wages again, will they?!!"


    "And they''re all ssic pieces from major luxury brands, with many high-end collections..."


    "The key is, all these clothes still have tags on them-they''ve never been worn, and they''re all this year''s new arrivals!"


    "LK! There''s an entire cab full of LK!! With this quantity, it''s almost seventy to eighty percent of LK''s collection. There can''t be that much stock in LK stores worldwide!"


    "Mr. Lopez is such a perfect boyfriend; Shakira, you''re so lucky!!


    "No wonder you don''t return to the Nelson family. What''s there to go back to? Isn''t Mr. Lopez''s ce much better?!" Yvette was astonished.


    Yvette, who waspletely outdone, felt her eyes redden with anger without realizing it. Those opportunistic wallflowers


    and deadbeats! ''A bunchof-fools, can''t they tell these are all staged photos? Isn''t it obvious they''re fake? Shakira''s reputation is in tatters; everyone in Crescentville knows about her troubles in Bris! Walter can actually look up to her and treat her so well? No normal man would ept such an insult!'' Yvette spoke softly, "These aren''t t the clothes you usually wear, are they, Shakira? We''re here to do charity, not to seek attention. Isn''t this a bit too deliberate?" Xanthe immediately mocked, "Oh, just now I didn''t know who was still showing off, and now they find out they can''tpete and start to criticize others? How shameless!" Yvette secretly clenched her fists. Shakira nced at her and then looked at Levi.


    Levi quickly said, "Ms. Nelson''s old clothes have been brought over." He pulled out a rectangr basket from the corner, filled with ordinary, unremarkable clothes. Among the luxury items, they indeed seemed a bit shabby. Yvette took a look; they were indeed clothes that Shakira had worn before in the Nelson family. Watching Shakira pack up the clothes with a grim expression, Yvette finally managed a slight smile. ''Once I get these clothes, Shakira, oh Shakira, you won''t be able to show off anymore!'' Just then, someone eximed, "Everyone, quick, look at the forum! Shakira, you''re trending again!"


    18

 Chapter 116

    116


    Upon hearing this, Yvette Berry instinctively revealed a look of delight. For them, Shakira''s misfortune was a wonderful opportunity! "What happened now?"


    Berry asked, her voice barely concealing her amusement. "Two y vocational school students came to our university looking for Shakira, iming to be her high school ssmates, but they couldn''t find her and ended up at the broadcasting room." High school? Shakira''s brow furrowed slightly. going on?"


    What''s


    "I don''t know, but someone is live-streaming from the broadcasting room. Let''s quickly check the official website."


    Now everyone eagerly pulled out their phones and entered the official live-stream website. Sure enough, two socially dressed girls were awkwardly standing in the broadcasting room, looking at the camera with expressions of embarrassment and shame Xanthe also hurriedly opened her phone and brought it in front of Shakira. Shakira took a nce, her brow tightening further. I remember these two; they were my ssmates in high school, and they used to be Joe''s admirers. When Joe pursued me fiercely, they cornered me in the girls'' restroom to warn and threaten me. I beat them up, and they didn''t dare to mess with me after that. So now they are... "Shakira, do you remember us? We were your ssmates in high school." The girl on the left spoke with a choked voice, trembling slightly. "In our second year, rumors started spreading about you, saying you were promiscuous and had intimate rtionships with multiple men... We were the ones who spread those rumors." The girl on the right continued, tears streaming down he face as she expressed fear "We didn''t know it and anguish, It would


    you a lesson so that fewer people get out of hand; we just wanted to teach you a lesson. You were so proud, and Joe pursued you like a puppy for so long while you unted it. The girls in our grade were all saying you were just showing off! So, we wanted to teach


    would like you, and that Joe wouldn''t keep chasing after you!"


    After speaking, both girls covered their eyes, sobbing uncontrobly.


    Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked-


    "What the hell? Shakira was actually the victim?!"


    "Wait, this must be fake. Why are they suddenlying out to rify? Are they bored?"


    "Yeah, Yeah, the t


    timing is just too deliberate. What''s going on? Even a regr college student has a special PR team now?"


    "It can''t be fake, right? Isn''t it worse to say this? Especially about Joe, saying he''s infatuated with Shakira... Shakira has no power or status now; who would risk offending Joe for her? Isn''t that just beingpletely unreasonable?" Just as everyone was skeptical, a low male voice came from off-screen, "And there''s more."


    Many didn''t catch it, but how could Shakira not recognize that voice? Who else could it be besides Mitchell? This guy really has too much free time.


    Not just Shakira; Yvette certainly recognized it too. Her expression had unknowingly darkened, and upon hearing Mitchell''s appearance, her jealousy and hatred peaked-  This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    3


    The two girls in the live-stream cried even harder, stumbling over their words as they bowed deeply to the camera, "Shakira, we''re sorry. We''re guilty for teaming up with so many jealous girls to bully you. We''re so sorry!"


    After several deep apologies, two police officers entered the frame, the mood shifting from a lighthearted spectacle to one of righteous authority. "We are here to take you both in on charges of defaming someone''s reputation. Pleasee with us for an investigation." The live stream nearly exploded; those who had desperately defended Shakira''s false redemption were all pped in the face! [What the hell? The gossip scene just turned into a legal scene?!]


    And someone still says this is a script? Can your own PR team even call the police? Don''t they just usually fake calls?]


    so right. Honestly, this plot twist is more powerful than any celebrity''s redemption announcement! This is a true example of an innocent victim!]


    Hahaha, you''re This twist twist is so unexpected; Shakira is so unfortunate! She was supposed to be a wealthy youngdy but had her identity reversed, falsely used out of jealousy. Luckily, heaven blessed her with a beautiful face and design talent; she''s the real strong, beautiful, and tragic figure!] [Fun fact: S Shakira doesn''t just have design talent; she''s also a top student. She took two years off and kept up with her studies, and when school started, she aced the exam in front of the whole grade!]


    I used to think Joe had poor taste; how could he like Yvette? But now it seems... he actually had pretty good taste back then! No wonder he still wants to win Shakira back.] really have to be so heartless up there, haha!]


    Do you


    Thements went on.


    While everyone was enjoying the excitement, Shakira had already packed up the old clothes and filmed a video. "That''s it; let''s head to the next ce."


    Berry''s face turned pale as she instinctively nced at Yvette. Seeing her expression, it seemed she could hardly hold on any longer.


    Berry said sternly, "You''ve been stalling too long; it''s gettingte. Let''s talk about this tomorrow." She addressed her ssmates, "Let''s call it a day; everyone go home." Shakira looked at the two of them, whose expressions were nearing their limits, and smirked slightly, "I have no objections; let''s stay for a meal before leaving." Xanthe, who had just watched the live stream with exhration, immediately agreed, "Sure, sounds great!"


    Others chimed in happily; they probably wouldn''t have another chance like this in their lives, opportunity to enjoy the life of the elite?


    Yvette, with a cold expression, said, "My family is waiting for me to have dinner; I''ll


    Berry followed suit, "Me too."


    so why not take the


    back first."


    Shakira didn''t try to keep them, saying, "You can go back first. Take care,


    I won''t


    you off."


    Yvette turned and left, while Berry, unwilling to ept this, shot a re at Shakira. Finally, she resentfully scanned the room filled with luxury items before storming out. That night, the dining room in the small vi hadn''t been this lively in a long time. The ssmates were also quite sensible; after finishing their meal, they suggested leaving.


    Xanthe was thest to leave, giving Shakira a heavy pat on the shoulder. "It''s all thanks to you! You know how to infuriate those two little b**es, Yvette and Berry!" Xantheughed heartily, "Their faces were just a mix of jealousy and rage when they left. It was simply delightful


    Shakira cleared her throat, looking at Xanthe, who seemed even happier than herself... and shook her head helplessly.


    After seeing Xanthe off, Shakira thanked Levi and the servants who had helped with the hospitality.


    The servants were taken aback, while Levi pointed to the study on the second floor, saying, "Ms. Nelson might have thanked the wrong person."

 Chapter 117

    Shakira widened her eyes in "Is Walter home?"


    disbel


    Levi smiled affectionately, "The young


    er hasn''t left the house all day."


    3


    ''So, Walter was here since I returned in the afternoon? I thought he hadn''te back! Otherwise, with Walter''s temper, wouldn''t he have sent Brian down to crush us with all the noise we made?'' Shakira couldn''t help but think. ''So, those clothes in the small guest room were also prepared by Walter... She swallowed nervously. Suddenly realizing something, Shakira quickly asked Levi, "Then he hasn''t had dinner yet?" "An hour ago, the young master said he


    sn''t hungry. Ms. Nelson, what do you think we should do?"


    "I''ll go check the kitchen."


    Shakira said this and entered the kitchen. Not long after, a delicious aroma wafted out.


    Levi covered his mouth, chuckling, and let the chefs, who were conflicted about preparing ate-night snack for the young master, leave early. ''With Ms. Nelson here, they are all unnecessary!''


    Ten minutester, Shakira entered the study, carrying a te of tomato and egg pancake, gently knocking on the door.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Walter was sitting at the desk, looking at some documents.


    "Young master, I made you a pancake. Wa Want to try i it?"


    Walter nced at her and began to eat without hesitation.


    Shakira moved to the other side, beaming with a smile, "Young master, thank you for supporting me today!"


    Walter, focused on his screen, asked knowingly, "What did I help you with?"


    Shakira immediately under understood Wal


    Walter''s intention. ''What a repressed guy; he wants to hear me praise him!"


    "Thank you, young master, for having Levi and the others help me out. With so many servants and clothes, only the young master canmand them all!"


    "Then you''re being overly sentimental." Walter replied indifferently, "Levi and the others did it voluntarily; it has nothing to do with me. As for those clothes..."


    Shakira shuddered, fearing Walter would say he''d deduct her wages, and quickly interjected, "I get it, I get it! Young master, it''s just a matter of saying the word to get those clothes here. Of course, taking them away is also just a word from you!" Walter looked at Shakira''s kira''s sparkling eyes, which were eagerly fixed on him, reflecting his image.


    Walter looked a


    At that moment, Shakira resembled a tail-wagging fox, her excitement and joy entirely dependent on his words. Without realizing it, Walter''s lips curled slightly, directly exposing her thoughts, "Don''t want to spend money?"


    ?


    Shakira felt like crying without t tears, can''t spend any more; if I do, I''ll go bankrupt.


    Walter raised an eyebrow, his handsome expression teasing, "You''re not bankrupt yet?"


    Shakira thought, I want to choke him. I''m getting poorer every day because of who?!"


    She was furious, gritting her teeth to defend her dignity. "If you want me to pay, I don''t have a single penny!"


    After thinking for a moment, she quickly added. "I won''t have a penny for the rest of my life!"


    Walter clicked his tongue and coldly scoffed, "If you want to give, then forget it."


    Shakira was taken aback, "Forget it?"


    "Yeah, I''ll just give it to you."


    ''Give it to me? Let''s not even mention other brands; those LK items are worth over ten million!''


    Seeing her suspicious and wary expression, her beautiful eyes darting around, with one side of her mouth unintentionally puffed out.


    Almost instinctively, Walter raised his hand and pinched her cheek. It was smooth and soft, with a pleasant feel. Walter held on without letting go, raising an eyebrow and asking, "What? Do you think I''m stingy and wouldn''t give you anything?" Shakira tried to push his hand away, but as soon as she raised her hand, he shot her a nce. Shakira silently put her hand Shakir tried to push his hand away, butas son as the rais down, lifting the corners of her mouth, "It''s not that I think you''re stingy; it''s just that happiness hase too quickly, and I can hardly believe it!"


    "Then you still think I''m stingy." Walter chuckled, then suddenly said casually, "When Joe was pursuing you, was he this stingy?"


    Shakira found it hard to keep up with his train of thought, "What does Joe have to do with this?"


    Seeing her confused expression, Walter suddenly frowned and cursed inwardly. ''I don''t know why I''m asking such silly questions!''


    "Nothing."


    He let go, his expression subtly impatient, "I said I''ll give it to you. If you ask more questions, I won''t give it."


    "Thank you, young master! You''re so generous! I''ll go wash the te for you!"


    With that, Shakira dashed off. She was so quick that she didn''t even take the empty te from the table. Walter was speechless.


    When Yvette returned home, the Nelson family was in the living room, listening to Cody ask Mitchell about the apology video. Mitchell was anxiously helping Shakira exin, trying to change the Nelson family''s terrible impression of Shakirapletely. Yvette clenched her fists and hurried back to her room, where she pulled out the little figure Jessie had given her a few days ago from the very bottom of her drawer. Yvette held it tightly, her eyes stinging, filled with a deep darkness.


    "Mitchell, this is all your doing!" she murmured. "I am the true miss of the Nelson family; I''m your sister! After all these years as siblings, you should be helping Shakira!" Taking out a small knife, she cut her finger. Instantly, blood began to flow.


    She pressed down hard on the blood droplets, drawing on the little figure. "I never intended to go this far, but now you have no reason to continue existing. Mitchell, go die!" With Yvette''s dark, twisted voice, a line of bloody text appeared on the figure, shocking to behold! Just as she was about to dispose of the figure, an unknown notification popped up in her phone''s inbox. Yvette nced at it casually, and her whole body went stiff. [If you want to keep it a secret, don''t do it in the first ce. Yvette, you and LagoJessie are doing terrible things without fear of retribution?] Suddenly, Yvette''s hand shook, causing the figure to fall to the floor. Her heart raced; and she instinctively began frantically


    searching for something in her room. Then she fixed her gaze on the screen. Sure enough, the other party sent another email: [Three months ago, at the ninth warehouse at night, your family of three had a clear image taken. If that surveince footage goes viral...] "The ninth warehouse... wasn''t that where we nned to throw the birthday party and where Shakira was caught fooling around with a man?'' Yvette''s eyes widened, and she began typing quickly on the keyboard, [How much do you want?] Yvette knew very well that when an email came at a time like this, it could only be about money. She bit her finger, the blue light from her phone reflecting on her ghostly face, making her look so cold and dark. Soon, she saw the next reply sh on the screen. [30 million dors.]

 Chapter 118

    118


    s seeing things. She thought, ''30 million dors! I could never have that


    Seeing the number pop up, Yvette thought she much money! Even if I did, I wouldn''t just give it away.''


    Yvette clenched her jaw, gripping her phone so hard she nearly broke the screen. [30 thousand dors, not a penny more!]


    On the other end came a picture, a screenshot. It was the upload screen of tiktok, and the thumbnail was a still from the security footage of Warehouse 9''s door that day Yvette wasn''t afraid of public gossip, but


    e couldn''t let the Nelson family suspect her now. Her heart turned cold instantly. [300 thousand dors! I don''t have any more than that!]


    Feeling a bit panicked, she quickly typed: [You''ve definitely been digging into our affairs. You''ve seen the recent news. Lago doesn''t have money, and I have even less. 300 thousand dors, ept it. Or you can just upload it, then you won''t get a penny!] After hitting send, Yvette anxiously waited. The whole thing came out of nowhere, especially since she was just...


    Yvette was too guilt-ridden to even think about questioning Lago. However, she didn''t have much respect for him deep down. She thought, ''He can''t even handle such a small issue; asking him is pointless. Now he had me threatened!"


    To Yvette, that single minute felt like an entire century. Finally, the other party responded: [Ms. Nelson, there is something else you can trade.]


    Yvette was a a bit cautious. [What do do you mean?]


    [5% of Lago Corporation''s shares.] Seeing this line, Yvette was taken aback.


    She thought, ''Lago Corporation is in a steep decline right now. Forget 300 thousand dors, even half of it might not be enough to sell these shares. She had a nagging feeling that something was wrong, but in the next second, she received two attachments in an email. One was One share transfer contract, and the other showed the progress of a video upload, which had already reached 100%. Her mouse hovered over the confirm publish button. [You can only choose one; countdown starts at ten. Ten. Nine.]


    The other side was pressing her relentlessly, and Yvette felt like her heart was being tightly controlled, leaving her no time to think!


    [Four.


    Three. Two.]


    Watch is the


    the numbers get closer, Yvette shut her eyes tight, opened the transfer contract, approved it, signed her name electronically, and sent it back. Afterpleting this step, she let out a big sigh of relief, feeling heavy-hearted. She waited for a reply, but none came. the email, Yvette found that all their previous chat emails had disappeared! It was as if what had just happened was something she dreamed up herself.


    "How could this happen..." Yvette paused in shock for a moment. Then, with a dyed realization, she quickly put the old clothes and the talisman she got from Shakira together, and ced them under the bed.


    Yvette plopped down on the bed, her racing heart gradually calming down. "It''s okay, things will soon go back to how they were," she murmured to herself, trying to reassure herself


    At the small vi in Easke Valley Estate, Shakira nced at the signed contract disyed on the screen, her eyes flickering slightly. She moved the screenshot to the trash and emptied itpletely. Then, she forwarded the contract to Sean with a note: [Put this together and set up a shareholders'' meeting.]


    Sean messaged back: [OMG! You''re amazing, boss! I''ll get on it right away!]


    1,83% +5This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Wit


    With a slight curl of her lips, Shakira closed herptop. Just then a young maid knocked and entered, carrying a basket that gave off an odd smell. "Ms. Nelson," she greeted.


    Shakira nced at the basket and said, "Thank you, but I don''t need these clothes anymore." The young maid looked surprised for a moment, then shook her head. "Ms. Nelson, you''re too kind. The olddy who picks up trash outside has never had proper clothing. If it weren''t for your kindness in giving her clothes, she wouldn''t have gotten through this winter."


    Kyle was having dinner with Walter and a


    Shakira smiled slightly. "I should thank her for helping me a lot." The young maid was confused. "Huh?" a few others, talking about a new smart medical project theirpanies nned to work on together. The Veiled Vine had some new dishes that weren''t to Walter''s taste, but he thought Shakira would like them. He originally nned to bring her along, but Shakira said she had something to do. Walter was distracted, thinking, ''What''s she really busy with at home? Studying?'' Calton delivered a lengthy speech, leaving him thirsty. He gulped down several sips of tea and noticed that Walter''s eyes were unfocused. Annoyed, he burst out, "Seriously? I talked so much, and you, big shot, didn''t even hear?" Walter rxed the corner of his eye slightly. "Hmm?"


    This made Calton even more frustrated. "Hmm? What are you thinking, man!"


    Walter blinked without any guilt, then calmly looked at Kyle. "Can you pack this up for me?"


    Kyle stueave, pack up some of the new dishes for me." was momentarily stunned before he replied, "Yeah, we can."


    Dekang this, Calton nearly choked. "Wait, aren''t we discussing a multi-billion dor project right now? And you''re thinking about taking food home? What are you doing, dude?"


    Gavin, standing nearby, smiled knowingly. "Don''t you understand yet? Mr. Lopez is thinking about the little maid at home Since she couldn''te, he''s packing these dishes for her to try. Calton looked like he had just heard something ridiculous, his face resembling someone who had juste out of a haunted house. "What''s this all about?"


    Gavin''s smile broadened, and he spoke with certainty. "Mr. Lopez


    has fallen in love, can''t contain himself. Naturally, he wants to share the best things with his girlfriend first!" Walter gave him a deep look but said nothing. Didn''t admit i dmit it, but but also... ... didn''t deny it!


    Seeing Walter''s reaction, Kyle was shocked. Calton let out a heartfelt wail. "No way, Walter, you''re actually a potential love- struck person? I''m totally amazed!" Just then, Walter''s phone rang. It was connected to the conference disy, and without hesitating, Calton answered it and put it on speaker.


    Who would''ve guessed, it wasn''t the little maid''s voice on the other end, but a sweet, flirtatious one instead. "Mr. Lopez, are you busy?"


    Berry held her breath, cautiously. After leaving Easke Valley Estate, she returned to her room and vented all her


    stop thinking about everything she''d seen at Easke Valley, consumed frustrations. Her eyes were red, and she couldn with jealousy to the point of madness!

 Chapter 119

    Calton and his friends were disappointed immediately. ''Not the young maid, it''s no fun at all, they thought.


    Walter was clearly a bit disappointed too, his tone indifferent. "It''s fine, go ahead."


    Berry hesitated on the other end. "Mr. Lopez, I, I feel like I haven''t seen you in ages. Can we meet?"


    Calton hushed nosily while Walter frowned. "Is there something going on?"


    "No, I don''t want to bother you, Mr. quicker, buttely, I haven''t been sleeping well, and my headaches are severe. I was hoping I''d remember something, but it''s still not clear." Opez. I just wanted to see you... You told me to rest and heal so I''d regain my memory


    Hearing Berry''s words, Kyle frowned deeply. Walter thought for a moment. "I understand. Tomorrow, I''ll have Brian find a neurospecialist to give you a thorough check-up." Berry waspletely stunned by Walter''s unexpected response. "Mr. Lopez, I..."


    "I''m still in a meeting, you go ahead and rest." With that, he hung up. On the other end, Berry was shocked, and so were Calton and his friends on the Veiled Vine''s side.


    "I thought Walter was finally started to fall in love with someone and he''d show some tenderness, but... it''s the same old story!"


    Shakira teased, "Old Walter only turns it on for Shakira." Walter replied calmly, "Don''t test my patience."


    "Oh really, testing your patience? We''ve been talking about you for a while now and you''re not angry. If I said you liked that... what''s-her-name, wouldn''t you strangle me?"


    Calton had just finished his teasing words when Walter shot him a re that was ice-cold. Calton zipped his lips immediately. Kyle tried to smooth things over, "Alright, let''s continue the meeting. The sooner we finish, the sooner we ger to go home. You guys chat, I''ll head to the kitchen to check on something."


    Walter said, "Thanks." Hearing this, Kyle gave Walter a pat on the shoulder and got up to leave.


    He walked past a railing, instructed the server to prepare the dishes, then took out his phone to find Berry''s contact and dialed her number.


    Berry was clearly surprised. "Mr. Kyle?"


    "It''s me," Kyle stated bluntly, his usually polite demeanor now carrying an undeniable tone of authority. "Walter is not someone you should even think about. Keep your distance." Without waiting for Berry''s response, he hung up. Holding the phone, Berry listened to the busy signal for a long time, lost in thought. She had already felt the sting of rejection from Walter, and now Kyle''s words hit her like a harsh p to the face!


    She thought, ''Why is that? It''s one thing if Walter is cold to me, but now even Kyle is warning me off? If I can''t dream of being with Mr. Lopez, then who can? Shakira? I''m part of the White family too, and being with Mr. Lopez would only bring us benefits. Yet, as the head of the family, Kyle tells me to stay away from Walter? How ridiculous and ironic!


    Berry felt deeply humiliated! Tears streamed down her face as she clenched her fists, filled with jealousy and resentment. She thought, "They look down on me and refuse to let me have what I wants, but I will get it anyway!"


    Shakira finished up at the Smith residence and was waiting for Walter toe back. By the time he finally arrived, it was almost eleven o''clock, and she was supposed to give him acupuncture tonight.


    Hearing the car pull up, Shakira quickly ran downstairs in her pajamas and slippers. Seeing Walter get out of the car, she couldn''t help butin, "Why are you sote getting back?" Walter raised an eyebrow, a light tone of amusement in his voice. "Have you been waiting for me all this time?"


    Shakira shed a bright smile. "Did you forget about tonight''s acupuncture session?" Without any word on Matthew''s schedule, Shakira couldn''t afford to ck off and diligently kept up with her acupuncture and massage routine. She took a few steps closer and smelled the alcohol on him, immediately feeling displeased. "You were drinking? How can we do acupuncture if you''ve been drinking?"


    Listening to her insisting on acupuncture, eager not to waste any chances or time to get this over with, Walter frowned and became stern. "If we can''t do it, then let''s not." With that, he walked past Shakira into the house.


    "Hey, you..." Shakira was confused. "Seriously, getting angry over nothing again."


    Brian stepped up and handed over a thermal bag. "Ms. Nelson," Shakira epted it, feeling its weight. "What''s this?"


    "Mr. Lopez went to Veiled Vine tonight and brought back their new dishes for you, Ms. Nelson." Brian paused, even though he felt like he might be overstepping, he wanted to defend his boss. "Mr. Lopez didn''t drink; it was Mr.Jennings and Mr. Clifton who had a few drinks."


    Shakira was moved. She thought, ''He went to discuss business but still thought of bringing me some food. Holding the warmte-night takeaway close, her heart felt a little full.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Suddenly, she hurried inside holding the takeout and dashed up the stairs. "Walter!"


    Walter had already taken fresh clothes into the bathroom, halfway out of his shirt when Shakira barged in without hesitation. Now used to seeing a man''s body, Shakira confidently walked up to him and began pushing his wheelchair out.


    Walter frowned darkly. "Shakira, are you looking for trouble?" Shakira pushed him in front of the footstool, facing her directly.


    Her eyes were bright and clear, like the full moon outside the window. They curved slightly, softening her tone with a touch of coaxing. "You''re quite something, not drinking at all-why don''t you just say so?"


    Walter said coldly, "You don''t need to do this." He brushed off her hand and made to leave.


    Shakira quickly hugged his foot. "Hey, hold on, didn''t you bring me some snacks for the night? I''ll give you an injection, and then we can eat together."


    "Who said I brought it for you?" Walter sneered. "That''s for feeding the fish in the pool tomorrow."


    Shakira''s eyes formed into mischievous crescents, a wicked smile hiding beneath. "Oh sure, feed the crocodile with snacks, salt it to death!"


    Walter said, "..."


    "Alright, earlier was a misunderstanding, and it was my mistake. Can I apologize?" Seeing Walter still not happy, Shakira thought for a moment and continued, "I''m not trying to pressure you, but since you''ve been working so hard, why not stick with it a little longer?" Walter said softly, "You only think about curing me."


    Shakira blurted out, "Of course, I want to."


    Walter stared at her, his deep eyes seeming to hold a chill.


    Shakira took out a needle kit she had prepared earlier and rolled up his pant leg, unaware of his mood, continuing, "I want


    @83%


    to see you stand up again, to be as confident as you used to be. And it''s not just me. Benji, Levi, Brian, and your friends, your chosen family, are all waiting for that day."


    She located the familiar acupoint and confidently inserted the needle. "So, we can''t give up. You never know, there might be new hope just around the corner."

 Chapter 120

    With practiced precision, Shakira inserted the silver needle into the acupoint, then naturally extended her hand, taking Walter''s left hand to feel his pulse. Beneath her fingertips, Shakira felt the man''s pulse pounding intensely, which slightly surprised her. She instinctively looked up. "Why is your heart beating so fast?" Suddenly, Shakira found herself in an intense gaze with the man. She froze, just as Walter was the first to look away, his handsome profile turned slightly from her. The only light in the room was a soft yellow glow Shakira had left on earlier, which conveniently covered most of the blush on Walter''s ears.


    His response was calm, "Because you made me angry."


    Shakira went silent. She thought, ''I have every reason to suspect Walter is shifting the me, but I can''t argue against it.''


    Shakira puffed her cheeks and continued to check his pulse. After a while, she smiled. "The illness has mostly been dispelled, but we can''t rx just yet. The remaining part is more stubborn and needs prolonged and consistent treatment." Knowing medicine." ''his temper well, Shakira couldn''t help but mumble, "You better not throw a tantrum and skip your


    Thement sounded like she was soothing a child. Walter turned his gaze towards her, looking at her with an expression that seemed both simple and faintly promising. "Got it." Shakira reluctantly decided to believe him this time. While Walter was undergoing acupuncture, Shakira opened the food he had brought back. "Wow, it smells amazing," she eximed as she searched around. "Where''s the peach blossom brew fromst time..." Walter''s tone was very deep. "What, are you nning on getting drunk and causing a scene again?"


    Shakira was speechless.


    When


    he said that, she immediately thought of those images she had tried hard to forget, but which were bing cleare in her mind. With Walter''s eyes on her, Shakira''s face turned red. "I''m going downstairs to warm it up before eating!" she said, quickly slipping away in a rush. Walter watched her hasty retreat, his lips curling into a slow smile. Shakira ran so fast that she didn''t even notice her needle kit falling to the ground.


    Walter bent down to pick it up, but even the slightest movement made him feel an ufortable weight pressing against the front of his thigh. He stopped suddenly, staring at his own legs in disbelief, and couldn''t move for a long time.. There''s a


    a saying, "When the wall falls, everyone pushes." Lago thought he still had a bit more time to struggle, believing that if he could get through, a new opportunity woulde. But he never expected that no one would give him another chance. After the gossip and scandals erupted, he couldn''tnd any new deals, and nearly all his previous coborations were halted. To make matters worse, his products were randomly chosen for inspection and were sent back after failing the quality test! Lago was dumbfounded, pleading everywhere he could for a re-examination, only to be turned away each time.


    Inside thepany, things were even more chaotic, with people not seeing eye to eye. Most of the long-time employees and key staff resigned, and the original major projects were either put on hold orcked anyone responsible to continue them!


    The debt collectors kicked open the Smith residence door, barging in as if they owned the ce. They scared Lago and Jessie so much that they woke up in fear every night. As Lago was overwhelmed with stress, he received a notice about an emergency shareholders'' meeting. He immediately called his secretary. "What shareholders'' meeting? I''m the biggest


    shareholder, and I didn''t say anything about this. Who approved it?"


    3


    The secretary was equally puzzled. "I-I don''t know, Mr. Smith. I just got the notice myself. Maybe you should go check it out?"


    Lago scolded the secretary harshly, leaving them covered in criticism before he stormed into the meeting room angrily.


    §ä§à.


    With a bang, Lago pushed the door open. The meeting room was empty, except for a hunching cleaner. Lago''s eyes, intense and menacing, swept the room before he settled into the main seat.


    "You, go get me a cup of tea," Lago ordered the cleaner. The cleaner nodded and left, returning a little whileter with a stic cup filled with yellow tea.


    Lago looked at it with disdain, reaching out to take it. However, the moment he touched the stic cup, it crumpled slightly, burning his hand and making him furious. He angrily poured the hot tea onto the cleaner, using him to vent his frustration:


    "You useless fool! I spend so much money hiring you to work, and you can''t even make a good cup of tea! You deserve to sweep trash your whole life. People like you with no brains are destined to be lowly losers forever!" "Ah!" The cleaner cried out in pain, quickly jumping back a few steps, feeling humiliated by Lago''s harsh words.


    "Mr. Smith sure is impressive," Shakira remarked as she walked in from the doorway, just in time to see Lago scolding someone. Her eyes flickered with an unusual emotion, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.


    Lago abruptly stopped, staring in disbelief at Shakira, who looked stunning in her simple casual outfit. "Why are you here?"


    Shakira didn''t reply and inst


    and instead casually sat down on the other side of the long table. Thewyer apanying her spread the stock contract in front of Lago.


    Lago took one look and hisUpstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Suddenly, Lago felt a cold.c


    immediately widened. "Those fools actually sold all mypany shares?" What shocked him even more was that the person who bought all the shares was Shakira! And today''s shareholders meeting was also called by Shakira! chill down his back.. Looking at Shakira at the other end of the conference table, Lago shook with anger. You little witch, where did you get all that money? tapped her slender fingers on the table. "Isn''t that something you shouldn''t be concerned about, Mr. Smith?"


    He suddenly realized something, and everything became clear. "It''s Mr. Lopez, isn''t it? No wonder you insisted on leaving the Nelson residence, you''ve found yourself a better supporter!"


    Lago was furious and full of hatred. He thought, ''How does this little brat have such good luck to catch Walter''s attention?''


    He suddenly thought of something, and his angry expression gradually calmed. Sitting back in his chair, Lago focused his devious gaze on Shakira. "I knew it! There''s no way that everything at thepany could be going wrong by coincidence. It turns out you''ve been sabotaging things behind the scenes."


    "You''ve been pretending to be innocent for so many years, and now you want revenge on me? You''re still just a young girl, too inexperienced! Do you really think that using Walter''s connections to pressure me and buying shares in mypany will bring me down?" Shakira humbly asked, "So, ording to Mr. Smith, did I approach this the wrong way?" trouble!"


    "Not just wrong, absolutely wrong!" Lago showed a nasty smirk. "All you''ve done is annoy me for a while, but now we''re stuck in the same boat. You better think carefully about how much you spent buying those shares before making any Shakira shrugged. "Not too bad. Mr. Smith''spany is barely hanging on. Buying those shares only cost about a million." I had dedicated over a decade of my efforts to this, and now Shakira viewed it as worthless,'' Lago thought. He had a


    -


    malicious smile on his face, but there was a strong urge to tear Shakira apart.


    0

 Chapter 121

    He gripped the edge of the conference table tightly, a cruel smile on his face. "Shakira, there''s no need to provoke me. I''m not falling for your tricks!"


    Shakira nodded approvingly. "Mr. Smith, seeing you this calm reassures me as your partner."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Lago sneered. "Cut the nonsense, what''s your real n?"


    "In that case, let''s make today''s meeting quick and easy," Shakira spoke up. "Under Mr. Smith''s leadership, thepany has faced serious business problems. Now, as thergest shareholder, I have the right to propose a change in management." Lago chuckled dismissively and stared at Shakira hatefully. "You''re still inexperienced, yet you think you can run mypany? Ridiculous!"


    "Even if you bought all the stray shares, so what? I''m thergest shareholder and hold the controlling interest!" Lago dered confidently, sneering at Shakira. "Even if I run thispany into the ground, you''ll never get a piece of it!"


    "Is that so?" Shakira gestured to thewyer, who presented thest stock transfer contract.


    Lago nced at it casually, and suddenly, he froze as if struck by lightning. There, in clear ck and white was Yvette''s signature,


    "H-How can this be possible?" he stuttered, a shiver running down his spine; feeling as if the sky was falling. He thought, ''I personally gave the shares to Yvette, repeatedly stressing that under no circumstances should she hand them over to anyone else, not even Jessie. Yet now, they had ended up in Shakira''s hands!"


    "This is impossible, how could this happen, how could this happen!" Lago never expected that the one to betray him and deliver the final blow would be his own daughter!


    Shakira observed Lago''s broken expression and calmly stated, "The scattered shares ount for 47%. With Yvette''s additional 5%, I now hold absolute control and can determine thepany''s decisions."


    "Now, I announce that Lago is removed from the CEO position, and... you will take over." Shakira''s slender wrist turned, pointing to the cleaner in the corner, who was awkwardly dealing with the water stains on himself.


    The entire conference room was so quiet that even the sound of a pin dropping would have echoed loudly.


    The cleaner slowly lifted his head, looking at Shakira in disbelief, gradually realizing what was going on, and stammered, "You mean, I''m the boss?"


    Shakira''s eyes swung slightly. "That''s the idea."


    Lago snapped out of his daze, his eyes burning with anger. "Shakira! Are you out of your mind? You''re letting a janitor run mypany? You''re aware of how much money you''ve put into this, over 300 thousand dors!" He thought, ''I thought Shakira had gone through all the trouble of buying so many shares just to take away my power. But who would have expected she was actually handing mypany over to a cleaner?'' To Lago, this was the ultimate humiliation.


    "Since I now own the most shares and have absolute control, you can only me Mr. Smith for being too greedy and losing his ownpany," Shakira said, resting her chin on her hand with a slight smirk that showed a hint of regret. "Losing everything for just over a million dors seems like quite a deal, don''t you think?:


    Lago stood frozen, finally understanding. He thought, ''Her revenge is topletely ruin my life! The car, the house, thepany... she is systematically destroying everything I have.


    Lago let out a crazed scream, stepping onto the office chair like a lunatic, then onto the conference table, wobbling as he charged at Shakira like an enraged beast.


    .


    The bodyguards Shakira had brought jumped onto the table too quickly restraining Lago. He was pinned against the table, struggling fiercely, his eyes ring at Shakira with a fierce hatred as if he wanted to kill her.


    "Shakira, I''ll kill you! How dare you destroy what I''ve worked so hard for?! I won''t let you get away with this!!" Lago''s eyes were filled with such a vicious re it would send chills down anyone''s spine. But Shakira just looked on calmly, even with a bit of a knowing smile ying on her lips.


    "But was it really your hard work, Lago? You never had the capability to start thispany in the first ce," Shakira said, her words carrying a deeper meaning. But Lago was too blinded by anger to even notice the implication.


    The janitor looked anxious and was terrified of the furious Lago. "N-no, miss, uh, I mean, boss?" The janitor stood in front of Shakira, nervously fumbling with his hands, unsure of what to do. "Boss, are you seriously asking me to manage the


    Shakira''s smile widened, her voice gentle. "That''s even better."


    "What?" Shakira''s tone seemed like she was being entrusted with a big responsibility, but what she actually said was, "Work hard. This is a great opportunity for you. Work so hard that you end up closing thepany down."


    This time, the janitor seemed to understand, nodding with uncertainty. "I''ll do my best not to disappoint you, boss." Shakira smiled slightly and turned to leave.


    Behind her, Lago was shouting and cursing. "Shakira, how dare you! I''ll kill you, I swear!"


    Listening to his hysterical, hoarse shouting, Shakira entered the elevator. In the mirrored wall, her exquisite and beautiful face was reflected with a wild and vibrant smile.


    *****


    At the dining table in the Nelson residence, Mitchell was still persistently trying to persuade the family to give Shakira another chance, suggesting they all sit down and have a proper conversation.


    Yvette was getting fed up with it all, especially since she hadn''t been sleeping well these past few nights. It felt like there were bugs in her bed biting her at night, causing mysterious red spots to appear on her skin. Just as she was thinking of finding an excuse to leave, her phone on the table suddenly vibrated several times.


    A call notification from Lago appeared on the screen. Yvette nced at it and immediately hung up. Right after, a barrage of angry texts came in from Lago, who hadn''t gotten through. [Idiot! Monster! How did I give birth to such a disaster? You''ve ruined my life!]


    [I entrusted you with mypany shares, and yet you gave them to Shakira. I sent you to the Nelson residence to enjoy wealth and luxury, and in the end, you betrayed me and left me with nothing! If I had known this would happen, I would have cursed you with misfortune for life!]


    Yvette nced at the message popping up on her screen, and her face instantly turned pale-

 Chapter 122

    0


    Yvette thought. Was the person threatening me with surveince videos to transfer my shares actually Shakira? I know it was them who had set me up at the birthday party. So, was this an entirely Shakira''s doing, or did Mitchell also get involved?! All sorts of guesses and questions filled her mind.


    Yvette identally brushed her hand against the small butter knife, and it fell to the ground. A servant hurried over to pick it up, surprising Yvette into locking her phone''s screen quickly. "Miss, do you need a new knife?" they asked. Yvette''s heart was pounding hard. "No, no, thank you." At that moment, alerted by the noise, the Nelson family turned their attention toward her.


    Cody asked, "Yvette, what do you think about this?"


    Yvette was a bit confused, having not kept up. "What?"


    Reba thought Yvette was overthinking and getting upset, so she quickly went over tofort her. "Yvette, don''t keep things bottled up. If you don''t want us to meet Shakira, just say it. Everyone will respect your opinion." Yvette felt her mind getting heavy. "I..." she pressed her lips together, as if thinking deeply and making a decision, before looking up again. "Mom, Mitchell must have a reason for what he''s doing. I support his decision." At that moment, Mitchell had been watching her, and Yvette happened to meet his intense gaze. Her heart skipped a beat, but she managed a smile on her pale face, trying her best. "I''ll follow your lead, Mitchell," she said. Mitchell sighed deeply. "Yvette, I''m d you feel this way because it shows everyone''s efforts in caring for you haven''t been wasted. Actually, I want to take this chance to formally apologize to Shakira, as the issue partly started because of me..."


    "Silly child, this has nothing to do with you; it was Lago who was too arrogant and self-centered!" Reba said, gently squeezing her hand. "Lago has already faced the consequences he deserves, and thepany''s practically done for because of his own actions, so stop dwelling on it!"


    Without knowing the exact details, Yvette''s brow furrowed. "What happened to hispany..."


    Finn, who hadn''t said anything until now, spoke up. "Lago''spany hasn''t been managed well and is experiencing serious financial issues. Most of the key staff and employees have voluntarily resigned, leaving it as just an empty shell. The minor shareholders have already sold off their shares, and it probably won''tst much longer."


    After a brief pause, Finn spoke again with some uncertainty. "My team just received news that someone has bought all the remaining stocks of hispany, and today an emergency shareholders'' meeting was convened to remove Lago from his position. I heard they put a cleaner in charge of thepany."This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Mitchell burst intoughter, feeling extremely pleased. "A cleaner? Hahaha, who came up with such a clever idea to exhaust Lago? It''s absolutely brilliant!"


    Yvette''s face turned pale. She thought, ''No wonder Lago sent those messages to insult me. He must really hate me now!''


    Finn shook his head. "We haven''t gotten to the bottom of it yet, but I suspect it''s from the Lopez family." Reba frowned. "Walter? What''s his involvement in this?"


    "Of course it matters. Now that Shakira and Walter are dating, it''s only normal for Walter to retaliate when his girlfriend is bullied by Lago. Isn''t that understandable?"


    Mitchell said, "Originally, this matter should have been handled by our Nelson family. Now it seems outsiders are getting involved."


    "Alright, let''s not talk about that family''s issues in our home anymore. It''s not worth our attention," Cody said seriously.


    Mitchell pursed his lips. "Alright, it''s decided then. I''ll book the hotel and schedule a time with Shakira. No matter what harshments she makes this time, we''ll just ept it." He lowered his gaze, eyebrows furrowing. "After all, it was our fault to begin with." Cody didn''t object, which meant he agreed. Mitchell''s face lit up with a hint of happiness. He thought. ''It''s a good sign that my parents are willing to give Shakira another chance!


    Finally getting through the meal, Yvette was just about to go upstairs when she saw Mitchell take a phone call and sneak away mysteriously. Feeling uneasy, she instinctively followed him quietly.


    At the end of the hallway, around the corner, Mitchell leaned against the wall as he took the call. "How''s the investigation going?"


    "Are you sure you can''t find it? That can''t be right, don''t hospitals keep records of all births? How can it be impossible to track down?"

 Chapter 123

    Shakira exited Lago''spany and got into a Rolls-Royce Phantom parked nearby. Inside the car, Sean, who had listened to the entire board meeting upstairs via his Bluetooth headset, poured a ss of red wine and handed it to Shakira casually. "Congrattions,


    boss!"


    Shakira sat next to him, took the wine ss, and gently swirled it her eyes slightly raised. "What''s there to celebrate?"


    "Getting revenge isn''t worth a toast?" Shakira paused her swirling, then tilted her head back, finishing the wine with a soft.ugh. "This is far from over."


    Sean didn''t quite catch it and was about to ask when Shakira''s phone rang. It was Mitchell calling.


    Before Shakira could answer, Sean swiftly grabbed the phone and connected the call, putting it on speaker with ease, looking eager to see what tricks that guy from the Nelson residence was up to. Shakira fell silent.


    Mitchell couldn''t wait any longer. "Shakira, I''ve got some great news for you-Lago is in big trouble, hispany''s about to go under!"


    Shakira replied, "I know." She thought, ''Not only do I know, but I was the one who orchestrated the whole thing.


    Mitchell eximed in surprise, "Oh, did Walter tell you? My memory isn''t great, sorry about that."


    "Is that all you wanted to tell me?"


    "Wait, don''t hang up! There''s something really important," Mitchell shouted anxiously. "Shakira, when do you have time? Let''s sit down together as a family, have a nice meal, and talk things over calmly, okay?" ''Calmly?'' Shakira thought and chuckled sarcastically. "Are you sure that the Nelson family can be calm when they see me?"


    Mitchell felt embarrassed and immediately promised, "Don''t worry, I''ve already talked to Mom, Dad, and Finn. They realized the past conflicts were just misunderstandings, and they also felt bad that you almost got caught up in Lago''s schemes. Maybe if we sit down as a family, we can really clear things up once and for all?"


    Listening to Mitchell, Shakira thought he was naive. Just like she had been naive in her past life.


    Shakira let out a silent, coldugh. "No need. I don''t waste my time with strangers." With that, Shakira hung up, leaving Sean no time to react. "No way, boss! Did you just shut them down like that?"


    Shakira retorted, "What, you expect me to jump into that pit of snakes at the Nelson residence?"


    "No way that''s happening!" Sean fumed. "You should agree to meet them. Then when they''re begging you toe back, you can really stick it to them!"


    Shakira leaned back, her clear eyes looking cold. "No way. Those people, always thinking they''re better than everyone else, will never see their own mistakes, let alone say sorry."This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    She thought, ''In my past life, I naively had hope for the Nelson family. Now, I wouldn''t even think about it. Like what I''ve said, there''s no need.


    Sean squinted. "Is this Nelson kid just a decoy, trying to trick you?"


    "If it were someone else from the Nelson residence, maybe. But Mitchell... he doesn''t have the brains for that."


    "True, but on another note, why did Mitchell say it was Walter who told you about Lago? Boss, do you know someone from the Lopez family Mon, Oct 20


    Shakira instinctively sat up siraight. "No idea, he''s just making things up."


    Sean scratched his head, feeling like something was off. "Really?" Shakira looked down at her phone, pretending to know nothing.


    Sean kept trying to persuade Shakira to let him drive her home, so he could also remember the way.


    Shakira firmly refused, insisting he drop her off by the road. Sean didn''t dare oppose her wishes, looking like an obedient puppy left behind by its owner. Shakira watched the Rolls-Royce drive away. She opened her phone to call for a ride. Just then, she noticed a suspicious figure on the side of the road...


    Sean came back again. Shakira sighed and rubbed her forehead in frustration. ''Is this guy really this persistent or what?'' she thought. She decided against calling for a ride and instead opened a delivery app. Before long, a young female college student in a delivery uniform stopped in front of her on a small scooter, checking the order details. "Hi, are you the one who needs to send stuff to Easke Valley Estate?" Shakira said, "Yes."


    "What is it? the girl asked.


    "Me," Shakira said.


    "What?" the girl was surprised.


    Shakira took the helmet from her and got onto the scooter. "Hold on tight around my waist, little sister."


    "Huh? Ah!" The delivery girl was caught off guard when her slow scooter suddenly shot off like an arrow, scaring her into clinging tightly to Shakira''s slim waist.


    "Holy crap!" Sean jumped up. "Did the boss see me? No way!" Unwilling to believe it, he waved the car back and urgently patted the driver''s shoulder. "Hurry, follow that scooter up ahead!"


    Shakira cranked up the speed of her scooter to the max, maneuvering swiftly through the bustling streets. As she approached a traffic light, she mmed on the brakes to a sudden stop. Nearby, a group of guys on motorcycles pulled up, lifted their visors, and burst outughing when they saw her and her tiny scooter.


    The young delivery girl, just recovering from the thrill of the speedy chase, heard their mockingughter from both sides and shot them a sidelong nce. "What''s so funny? Even our scooter can be cool, alright!"


    Her mumbling didn''t escape them, and the guysughed even louder. "How fast can that scooter go? Thirty miles per hour? Hahaha."


    Her face flushed red. "It can still be cool!"


    With the red light counting down, Shakira softly instructed her, "Hold on tight." Arms wrapped securely around her waist, and as soon as the light turned green, Shakira shot off thene at full power.


    The bikers were stunned, quickly scrambling to catch up. Behind them was Sean''s Rolls-Royce. The nimble scooter swiftly overtook vehicles, leaving them all in the dust. It zipped through the next intersection just before the light turned red, disappearing from sight in no time! They thought, ''Are you kidding me? How did we even run into the legendary scooter girl? The group of bikers stopped on the side of the road, staring at each other in disbelief. Then a Rolls-Royce pulled up beside them, and someone anxiously stuck their head out from the back seat. "Where''s that little electric scooter you guys were chasing?"


    The guys stood there, stunned. "We lost him."


    You can''t even catch upro little electric scooter? You guys are useless


    Seriously? You couldn''t catch up in your Rolls-Royce either, and you''re calling us useless? The guys rolled their eyes.


    When Shakira finally rode her little electric scooter to Easke Valley Estate, the battery was nearly dead. She paid triple the price, and the delivery girl, now her driver, looked at her with awe. "You''re so cool! Can I add you on WeChat?"


    Shakira smirked. "Sorry, can I say no?"


    "Of course, I''m sorry for being so forward."


    "Thanks for bringing me back. Next time we meet, I''ll let you." Shakira gestured as she entered the estate.


    The young girl watched Shakira''s cool and stylish figure disappear, unable to recover from the moment. Then she remembered to grab her phone and snapped some photos of Shakira, uploading them to social media. [I always thought I was into guys, but now I realize being into girls is great too!]


    Shakira had just entered the small vi when she heard a sarcastic voiceing from upstairs. "I didn''t expect my maid to be so capable, just casually buying apany and bing its CEO."

 Chapter 124

    Hearing the noise, Shakira looked over to see Walter standing on the second-floor railing, gazing down at her with a cool and handsome expression.


    Shakira''s heart skipped a beat. Walter sure got news quickly... "I in exin this," Shakira said, jogging up the spiral staircase, slightly out of breath when she stood before Walter.


    Walter''s voice was cold. "There''s no need to exin to me; we''re not that close.


    Shakira pouted, not giving Walter any face. "I don''t believe you. If you didn''t want to hear my exnation, you wouldn''t have waited here for me." Walter was silent.


    Brian, standing nearby, couldn''t help but cough and quietly walked away.


    Shakira squatted down slightly, her gaze was clear, and her tone was calmer and moreposed than ever. "You''ve looked into everything about my past, how I was at the Smith residence and the Nelson residence; you know it best. I''ve told you before, I don''t need anyone to interfere in these matters; I''ll handle them myself."


    Walter gazed at her with a deep stare. "Buying out Lago''spany, is that your revenge?"


    Shakira did not hide anything; she waspletely open. "I want him to lose everything." Her eyes shone with firm determination.


    Walter was silent for a moment. Ever since the first day Shakira appeared before him, he knew she was different from ordinary women.


    Her face revealed many emotions, but he always felt she was hiding more inside. There were many secrets about her that he couldn''t uncover.


    Walter never cared about this before. As long as she wasn''t a threat to him, it didn''t matter. She was just a way to kill time; there was no need to invest any effort in her. But now, his thoughts seemed to be shifting.


    He wanted to know her likes, her dislikes, and more about who she really was. Like right now, she had made a massive move without his knowledge, and he learned about it only through others.


    Realizing he himself had such feelings about it was confusing for Walter. "What''s happening to me?" But at the same time, he was sure he didn''t want to control these feelings. So, as Shakira mentioned, he was just waiting here now.


    Walter lowered his eyes, asking without any emotion, "Where did the moneye from?"


    "Uh," Shakira''s eyes darted around. "Well, Walter, you agree that I''m pretty good at medicine. I''ve handled quite a few difficult cases before..." She was making it up. Walter was her first real patient, and she never willingly helped anyone with medicine. But she couldn''t bepletely honest with Walter.


    Walter scoffed, "So you''re keeping a secret stash behind my back!


    Shakira froze, finally realizing why Walter was picking a fight. ''Good grief, typical capitalist. It''s all about the money!''


    She immediately wailed, "I''m innocent, Walter! It''s not that I don''t want to pay back the money, but some things are more pressing. I can''t just spend all my hard-earned savings on cakes and clothes can I? Don''t worry, I''ll find time to work and pay you back soon enough!" Walter realized Shakira misunderstood him, and his face darkened. "When did I ever ask you to pay me back?"


    "But you weren''t..."


    ""Enough, shut your mouth. I don''t want to hear it."


    567


    He feared if Shakira continued to speak, he''d lose it. ''Ungrateful woman, I just asked a few questions, and she thought I was being stingy. Do I seem like I amcking a few million? he thought.


    Seeing the grim look on Walter''s face, Shakira silently zipped her lips. Seriously, he changed moods faster than turning a page!


    After the charity event, the ssmates who had visited the Lopez farily spread the gossip about Shakira being treated as important there, and it becamemon knowledge throughout the school. While some secretly mocked Shakira for being a maid at the Lopez family, they now realized this ''maid'' was nearly at the level of the mistress, and the tide turned.


    like her be just a maid!]


    [I told you. Shakira is so beautiful, there''s no way Mr. Lopez would let


    meone


    [Did you all forget about when Shakira treated her ssmates to Swan Bakery cakes? If she was really a maid, would she have been so generous?]


    [Oh my gosh, I''m crying! This is like a modern Cindere story, right?]This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    [It feels more like Beauty and the Beast. Mr. Lopez isn''t quite a prince yet.]


    [Wow, people are spending too much time online these days. How could anyone look down on the richest guy? Even if Mr. Lopez were a fool, he''s still got a fortune!]


    [Exactly, and Mr. Lopez''s face is top-notch, not just in Crescentville, but among the global rich. Who needs money when just looking at that face is pleasing enough?]


    [Plus, there were rumors about Mr. Lopez having a quirky, unpredictable temper, but now it seems when ites to love, he''s way better than any ordinary guy. He''s not miserly, he''s considerate, and he has a sense of humor. The perfect boyfriend!]


    [The funniest one though is Yvette. People used to say she was fortunate, even if she was mistakenly swapped, she went from billionaire heiress to millionaire''s daughter, like having VIP treatment in life, always a rich kid wherever she went. But now, it seems Shakira''s the truly lucky one! Born with a great background and found an even better partner!]


    It''s hrious! How could Yvette still be a millionaire heiress? The Smith family''spany is nearly bankrupt, right? Plus, that giarism incident of hers nearly ruined the Nelson residencepletely. If it hadn''t been for her boyfriend rescuing them, the Nelsons might have already fallen out from the top five wealthy families!]


    [She''s not lucky; she''s really a jinx! Anyone who gets close to her ends up with bad luck!]


    Hearing thesements nearly made Yvette burst with anger. If she didn''t care about her image, she would''ve charged over and ripped the mouths of those mocking her. ''Useless nobodies, they''ll always be lower ss. They''re just jealous of me!'' she thought. Yvette secretly red daggers at Shakira countless times, bing even more annoyed by Mitchell constantly hovering around Shakira every day!


    Even though Shakira firmly rejected Mitchell over the phone, he wouldn''t give up. When the phone didn''t work, he went straight to the school.


    "Shakira, why don''t you think about it again?"


    "It''s really just a family meal; no pressure on you."


    I haven''t told the family that you''ve already turned me down. Finn has cleared his schedule, and it coincides with the day Felix returns, this Friday evening, at the Seven Stars Grand Hotel. We''re having a wee dinner for Felix, and you should join us. It''s a family dinner.


    Shakira paid no attention, letting it pass by like a light breeze. She thought, With someone like Mitchell, give him a little and he''ll take a lot.


    Mitchell talked until his mouth went dry, and as the deadline approached, he had no choice but to use his secret weap Do you remember you owe me a favor?


    ?T

 Chapter 125

    Shakira stopped walking. Her eyes, calm andposel, turned toward Mitchell. She said, "When Lago tried to hurt me that time, you saved me. Are you calling in that favor now?"


    Mitchell was struggling, for between options. He never intendell for Shakira to repay him, nor did he want to use this ro confine her. But now, things were different and he really had no her option. Mitchell''s expression was incredibly strained, and he just said, "I just hope that one day, we can truly be a family."


    Shakira nodded and said, "Okay, I understand."


    "I''lle tomorrow night, but I must tell you, your hope will nevere true. After speaking, she gave Mitchell a deep look before turning around to leave.


    Behind her, Mitchell remained hopeful and shouted, "I believe that day wille!"


    Shakira didn''t stop, continuing her way forward. In her mind, she silently thought, ''It would never happen! Even if I die!"


    On Friday night, Shakira arrived five minutes early at the entrance of the Paniago Hotel. There were high society figures in designer clothes all around and luxury cars came and went in an orderly manner.


    In her simple white shirt and worn-out jeans, Shakira seemed out of ce here.


    The Nelson family arrived around the same time and could easily spot the striking Shakira from the entrance.


    Reba''s face instantly darkened inside the car. "What''s with her dressing up like she''s picking up trash and dining with us at an event like this? Isn''t she embarrassing us all?"


    Cody also wasn''t pleased. He thought, ''The Paniago Hotel is one of Crescentville''s top business venues, where many big-time entrepreneurs choose to discuss deals. There''s a chance we might run into someone we know the moment we get out of the car.''


    He mused, ''If an old friend saw us hanging out with Shakira looking like that, it wouldpletely ruin the Nelson family''s image.


    Cody, with a stern face, instructed the driver, "Drive around once and thene back."


    Yvette, who was in the same car, linked arms with Reba and whispered, "Don''t you think Shakira will even get through the hotel entrance dressed like that? Should I go down and help her?"


    "If she can''t get in, let her stay there! If she wants to embarrass herself, she better not drag us down with her!" Reba cursed under her breath, while a gentle smile tugged at the corners of Yvette''s lips.


    Just then, the driver in front eximed, "Oh, Ms. Shakira Nelson just went in..."


    They all quickly looked over and saw the lobby manager striding out with a wide smile, going over to greet her. Not only did he not stop Shakira at the door, but he personally escorted her inside.


    The Nelson family watched in disbelief as Shakira entered the VIP elevator. They were all speechless.


    The driver meekly asked, "Sir, Shakira has already gone in. Should we still drive around?"


    Cody said with a gloomy face, "Stop right here!"


    Yvette had a very forced smile, trying to smooth things over for Cody, "Maybe it''s because of Mr. Lopez. Even though


    16:04


    Shakira is officially a maid for the Lopez family, everyone knows he''s fond of her...


    Reba straightened her neck, her disdain evident and sarcastic She said, "To be a maid like her, you wouldn''t find many others!"


    Cody frowned and said, "Alright, when we get out of the car, keep your mouth shut." He thought, Domestic shame should not be made public..


    Inside the VIP elevator. The manager was very courteous, bowing and nodding to Shakira, "Ms. Shakira Nelson, your private room has always been kept for you ording to Mr. Reynolds''s structions. Should we head there now?" Shakira said coolly, "No need, I''ve been invited for dinner."


    The manager asked, "Which room is it? Should we put it on your ount?"


    Shakira gave him a sideways look, "Why put it on my ount? I''m not that familiar with them!"


    Suddenly she remembered something and chuckled, "Oh right, get the best bottle in your wine cer, and they''ll pay for it!"


    ""Sure!" said the manager.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Finn, Mitchell, and the recently returned Felix had arrived earlier than the others and were already waiting in the private room.


    The waiter opened the door, and Shakira entered the roomzily. Mitchell, who was fiddling with his phone and talking to himself, immediately jumped up. He said, "Hey! Shakira, why didn''t you reply to my messages? I said I would wait for you downstairs!" Shakira said, "I blocked you." It was only then that Finn and Felix turned their attention to them.


    Finn remained quiteposed, but Felix''s eyes briefly shed with surprise and admiration when he saw Shakira. When Shakira was first brought back, he saw her once before he went abroad to study.


    He wasn''t interested in anything outside of his research. The only person he often thought about at home was his sister, Yvette, the one he grew up with and who liked to act spoiled with him.


    He wasn''t too concerned about his actual sister, Shakira. To him, blood rtions were just indifferent data with little meaning.


    His only impression of Shakira was that she was timid, self-conscious, and a foolish woman who once tried to ruin his research report.


    But now, seeing her again... She seemed different from what he remembered of Shakira.


    Felix raised an eyebrow. He knew Mitchell''s temper, so he didn''t expect that Shakira dared say something like that. He thought, ''Isn''t she afraid of being scolded by Mitchell?''


    However, Felix didn''t see the scene he had imagined. Instead, he watched as the usually super arrogant and self-important Mitchell shed a big smile at Shakira.


    Mitchell was seemingly unfazed by Shakira''s disdain, as he was used to it. He thoughtfully looked for solutions like a devoted follower and said, "What? Did I get blocked? No problem, I have three more SIM cards. I''ll just use another number to contact you next time." Shakira fell silent. Finn was speechless.


    Felix, feeling unsure, took off his sses and cleaned them, then put them back on and looked again carefully. He still found it unbelievable, Finn, was Mitchell swapped too?"


    Finn took a sip of tea totale his surprise. It''s as real as it gets"


    Felix said, "Shakira was so rude to him, and he didn''t curse her out? That''s not normal?


    Finn nced at him and said, "Sometimes science can''t exin everything."


    Felix was silent.


    Mitchell warinly pulled Shakira over and introduced them. "This is Finn, you know him. And this is your fourth brother. Felix. He just got off the ne this afternoon. You''ve met before, right?" Felix remained seated, giving Shakira a few indifferent nces, "Yes, we''ve met once.


    Shakira said nothing. Seeing this, Felix frowned with an air of arrogance. "Didn''t your former family teach you any


    manners?"


    Shakira replied, "No."


    Felix''s eyes darkened, about tosh out when Mitchell irritably interrupted, "The Smith family is a dump. It''s better they didn''t teach you anything because nothing goodes from what they teach!" Just then, Cody and two others pushed the door open, just in time to hear this conversation. Yvette''s smile almost wavered.


    tv

 Chapter 126

    Shakira turned her head just in time, ncing at Yvette''s face and letting out a barely audible chuckle.


    This made Yvette even more embarrassed. But she quickly regaified her signature smile and sweetly called out, "Finn, Mitchell, Felix."


    Compared to


    I to Shakira''s earlier coldness and rudeness when she entered, Yvette seemed much cuter and more obedient. Felix got up to greet Yvette, and the siblings shared a brief hug. Felix frowned, "It''s only been a short while, and you''ve lost so much weight again. Are you skipping meals secretly?" Yvette pouted yfully and said, "Felix, you''re wrongly using me! I''ve been taking fitness ssestely, my weight hasn''t changed, and I''m just getting in better shape!" She rolled up her sleeves to show Felix and said, "If you don''t believe me, Felix, feel this! I''ve even built some muscle. If you came back anyter, I''d have abs by now." Felix chuckled a kled and shook his head. "That''s impressive! If Ie back next time, you might end uppeting in bodybuildingpetitions!" ""Felix!" Yvette "Yvette yfully scolded, giving Felix a light tap for teasing her.


    aroundfortably,


    a warm and harmonious scene. creating


    The siblings a smiled warmly, but when they looked at Shakira, their smiles disappeared, reced by a sense of indifference and distance.


    Cody and Rebas Shakira wasn''t surprised and naturally took a seat in the farthest corner from them. She came to the meal to repay a favor to Mitchell but never promised to chat warmly and pretend to enjoy it. Finn spoke up, "Mom, Dad, please sit down. I''ve sit down. I''ve already ordered all of Felix''s favorite dishes." siblings, your dad and I can rx," Reba gently patted Finn''s shoulder. Once everyone sat down, Mitchell sat next to Shakira and casually poured her some coffee.


    "That''s great. With you looking after r your


    Felix watched secretly, puzzled by what he saw. He thought, ''Among the brothers, Mitchell was the one who pampered Yvette the most. Why is he suddenly doting on Shakira today, and not really paying attention to Yvette? Even if Shakira is their own sister, she can''t be more important than Yvette, right?''


    Thinking about this, Fel


    tthis, Felix''s look at Shakira showed a bit more dissatisfaction.


    The conversation at the


    at the table mainly centered on Felix.


    Cody asked Felix about his research abroad, while Finn asionally added his thoughts. Reba was worried about whether her son was eating well and staying warm.


    The family atmosphere was warm and friendly. Shakira, however, feltpletely out of ce.


    Yvette casually asked, "Felix, did you run into Matthew or Lonely Bird at the institute?"


    Felix shook his head, "Even though we''re on an SS-level project, Matthew has retired and Lonely Bird is always elusive. We haven''t had any chance to meet. "Is that so..." Yvette said. Tue, Oct 29


    Felix said, "Mitchell had mentioned to me before about helping me get in touch with Dr. Lonely Bird."


    Yvette gave a small smile and said, "Sorry, Felix, I messed it up..." 19484


    Felix patted Yvette''s head, "It''s not a big deal. You wanted to help for the family''s sake but identally got deceived by outsiders. Why would I me you?"


    Cody spoke up, "I''ve heard rumors recently that the leaders have an important task and need some highly respected, experienced veterans like Matthew toe out of retirement. They''ll be arriving in Crescentville soon, and when they do, I''ll try to connect you with them. Let''s see if Matthew might ept you as his apprentice."


    "Really?" Felix''s eyes lit up, filled with longing, "I don''t need to be Matthew''s apprentice. I just want to study and learn with Dr. Lonely Bird, the only genius healer Matthew has ever praised. Working with him would surely be rewarding!" "You''re my son, Cody! How could you be any less capable than Lonely Bird? It''s just that he met Matthew first. If Matthew saw you, he''d definitely think you''re even more impressive." Codyughed and said carelessly.


    Shakira paused her peanut-eating, using her pinky finger to scratch her ear, unable to resist. leaned in and


    Mitch


    Shakira


    I in and asked, "Is your ear itchy?"


    answered lightly, "My old habit-I can''t stand listening to people boast."


    Mitchell was speechless.


    Felix frowned, disapproving of his father''s conceited tone, "Dad, there are plenty of people in the research institute who perform about the same as I do. Dr. Lonely Bird has a talent in medicine that can''t be matched by most. Otherwise, Matthew, who never took on a student, would wouldn''t have chosen him. You really shouldn''t say things like that."


    Cody''s expression softened slightly, and Yvette chimed in with a sweet voice, "Felix, of course you''re the best in our eyes, the pride of our whole family. It''s just a family chat, why take it so seriously with Dad?"


    Felix''s expression cleared up a bit, and he confessed his mistake to Cody, "Sorry Dad, I might have spoken a bit strongly earlier."


    "I know you''re only into medicine, other things just don''t grab your attention."


    Cody looked approvingly at Yvette for smoothing things over and to Reba personally served soup to her children, giving each of them a bowl. But when she got to Shakira, Reba paused, treating her as if she were invisible.


    Mright, alright, we re family, there''s no poid, "Thi


    I pushed his bowl to Shakira and


    told Felix,


    Reba felt a surge of


    of anger in her


    t in arguing. Let''s just eat.dish Paniagounched this year, made from the finest choicembs transported in daily from Niowwa, limited supply. Give it a try."


    Shakira responded softly and in her chest, frustrated by Mitchell''s thoughtless action


    Yvette nced over, her eyes subtly gleaming in the dim light. She then stood up, walked over to the couch, and picked up a bag. "Felix, here''s a wee back gift I picked just for you." Felix opened it, revealing a sapphire-studded tie clip that was both elegant and luxurious.


    Reba praised, "It does look nice. Felix has an award ceremony to attend in a few days, and this tie clip would match perfectly with a blue suit."


    Felix put away the gift and said, "Thanks, Yvette."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Yvette''s face flushed with shyness. "It''s just a small gift, as long as Felix likes it."


    out 04%


    She mer


    mentioned casually, "I assume Shakira must have also prepared a gift for Felix, right?" As soon as she finished speaking. everyone''s eyes turned towards Shakira. Shakira gracefully put down the spoon, her gaze sweeping past yette and settling on Felix.


    "There''s a gift for you." She pressed the service bell on the table, and soon a waiter came into the room holding a bottle of imported wine.


    0000000000 000000000 000


    Reba forced a smile and said, "A bottle of imported wine from the hotel? Is this the gift you''re giving to Felix?"


    The waiter introduced it with a smile, "This is a bottle of Remy Martin ck Pearl Louis XIII brandy, an exclusive hotel collection, priced at 60,000 dors." 60,000 dors! Cody immediately sneered, "Isn''t the cost of this wineing out of the Nelson family''s pockets?"


    Shakira didn''t back down and retorted, "Wasn''t Yvette''s gift to Felix paid for by the Nelson family? Are you suggesting it was paid for by the Smith family?" They were all speechless.

 Chapter 127

    Yvette''s face turned pale as snow, and her smile was barely holding on.


    She initially aimed to seize the opportunity to put Shakira down But to her surprise, Cody''s boomerang attack came back to


    hit her.


    People on the table fell silent. Yvette tightly pressed her lips together and lowered her head, not daring to take a deep breath.


    Because Shakira hit the nail on the head. Yvette kept saying she would work hard in the future to earn money, be good to her parents, and buy gifts for her brothers, yet over the years, she continued to spend the Nelson family''s money extravagantly. Simrly, she used the same lines with Lago and Jessie. Before Lago ran into trouble, he had given her quite a bit of spending money.


    Cody''s expression darkened significantly, unable to find the words to refute, as nothing he could say would be right.


    He looked down on Shakira, believing she could never afford such expensive brandy by herself.


    But he forgot that Shakira had a gift for design, and just one sketch sold to a studio could earn her a considerable sum. He Iwas totally embarrassed.


    Felix gave Shakira, who effortlessly silenced everyone with just one sentence, a deep look. He spoke casually, breaking the awkward silence, "Thanks for your gift."


    With dinner nearly over, Mitchell, who had been waiting all evening, was starting to feel restless. He quietly urged, "Dad, shouldn''t we talk about the important stuff now?"


    "You brat, why the rush?" Cody scoffed, adjusted his expression, and finally looked directly at Shakira.


    He spoke with theposed tone of an elder, casually starting the conversation, "We heard from Mitchell about the trap Lago and his wife set for you the other day. Hope you''re alright now." Shakira smirked and said, "It''s been so long, I''ve almost forgotten about it."


    Cody said, "I''m d to hear that. With Mr. Lopez stepping in to help you out and even making you thergest shareholder in Lago''spany, you should have vented all your frustrations by now." Shakira silently sneered and said, "Then why pretend to care, Mr. Nelson? Isn''t that hypocritical?"


    Cody''s expression changed immediately. He thought, ''How dare she not appreciate my rare act of kindness and concern?'' He was about to get angry, but Mitchell called out to him softly, and Cody held back with effort. Cody looked at Shakira with a gaze of supposed benevolence.


    He said, "Mitchell told us a lot about what you went through at the Smith family. You had a tough time there; they didn''t treat you sincerely or raise you right. Now that you''ve cut ties with them, you shouldn''t go back. If you had been a bit wiser before, you wouldn''t have fallen for their schemes.


    "It''s understandable to have some distance and conflicts with us. We can overlook your previous reckless behavior as long as you listen and make amends. There''s still time for you to change your ways.


    "As for Mr. Lopez, you already have an engagement with him. I won''t stop you from being together, but you must cut off any inappropriate ties you''ve made at the Smith family. Forget all the flirtatious tricks you learned there to impress Mr. Lopez: When you return, your mother will personally teach you how to be a good high-society matron, so you can represent both yourself and the Nelson family honorably at the Lopez family."  BBB.


    It was the first time Cody spoke so much to her in one breath, and Shakira was taken aback. The more Shakira listened, the closer she was to bursting intoughter.


    She was still too naive, thinking Cody was pretending to care about her... But in reality, they couldn''t even be bothered to fake it.


    She thought, ''After one scheine set up by Lago and Jessie, they assumed that I had beenpletely ruined by the Smith family.


    ''Do they think that I can live well after leaving the Nelson family and stay at the Lopez family only by selling myself?''


    In the end, she couldn''t hold back augh, resting one hand on the table and throwing her head back.


    She thought Lago and Jessie were the most shameless parents she had ever met, but it turned out that Cody and Reba were nothing but trouble.


    Cody mmed the spoon on the table, feeling utterly humiliated by Shakira''s reaction.


    Cody was boiling with authoritative rage and he said, "Shakira, what''s with your attitude?"


    Shakira wiped the corners of her eyes with her fingers. Her eyes were wet with tears fromughter.


    Shakira ignored Cody, turning instead to look at Mitchell, who was equally stunned by his father''s outburst.


    The sarcasm in her eyes deepened further. "You asked me here for dinner, so I came. Now that I''ve finished eating, can I leave?"


    Cody was furious andpletely ignored, "I told you I''d only give you one chance, Shakira! Are you really that stubborn?" Even Reba stood up with disdain and said, "At the end of the day, she was raised at the Smith family. She''s been influenced for years, and the bad in her nature can''t change!" Mitchell was on the verge of breaking down. "Dad! Mom! This isn''t what we agreed on in the beginning!"


    Cody tightened his expression, frustrated, "How foolish you are! You were deceived by her! Do you believe everything she says? Do I have to let this brat tread all over me to make you happy?"


    Reba tried to reason with him, "Son, what kind of spell has she put on you? Yvette is the one who truly belongs in the Nelson family; she''s the sister who deserves your protection. Shakira never considered us family, let alone you as a brother. She''s just using you to disgrace our whole family!"


    "You''re right." Shakira stood up, took the napkin off herp, and tossed it onto the table.


    "I honestly don''t want anything to do with a family like this. If your son hadn''t insisted Ie, I wouldn''t have bothered with your nonsense." Shakira spoke with a cold voice as she walked towards the door. Before stepping out, she remembered something and turned back to say, "There''s one thing Mrs. Nelson got right, Yvette truly fits your family''s mold for a daughter."


    With a smirk, she articted each word clearly, "Because you all share the same... disgusting traits." With that, Shakira turned around and left without looking back. The remaining family members were left to fume and curse behind the closed doors of the private room. Cody smashed several bowls in frustration, still seething with anger. Pointing at Mitchell, he yelled, "Look at the mess you''ve made! You''ve ruined your brother''s wee banquet, and Shakira has once again mocked your sister. Are you happy now?" Finn stood up and stopped him. "Dad, Mitchell just hopes our family can be okay."


    Mitchell looked dazed, as if he''d just been totally overwhelmed. Why do you insist on saying things like that?"


    He said, "Can''t you realize how hurtful those words were?


    "Shakira was used by the people at the Smith family. She didn''t want that. How can you use her of using unfair means to be with Walter?"This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    He stood up too, the corners of his eyes slightly red. "You''re all being totally unreasonable!"


    Cody retorted, "You little punk, what do you know? Birds of a feather flock together. Do you think Shakira could stay clean after being with the Smith family for so long? If she didn''t have tricks, would she have been able to fool you into arguing with us?" Mitchell said, "But it''s us who let her down!"


    Reba choked up, "What''s there to let her down? The mix-up was an ident, what could we have done!"


    Mitchell clenched his fists, and just then, a message came through on his phone: [I found the nurse responsible for the babies back then!]

 Chapter 128

    Mitchell''s face lit up with a smile as he suddenly strode outside.


    "Where do you think you''re going, you brat!" Cody was visibly upset.


    Mitchell opened the door but paused. He said, "What happened back then wasn''t an ident. You''ll soon regret everything you said today!"


    After stating that, Mitchell closed the door and left, leaving the Nelson family with mixed expressions.


    Reba clutched her heaving chest, thinking about Mitchell''s parting words, frowning in confusion. "What did Mitchell mean by that? It wasn''t an ident back then?"


    Felix frowned and said, "Could it be that what Mitchell was talking about was that the switched-at-birth incident wasn''t an ident?"


    "If it wasn''t an ident, then what was it?" Cody''s face changed drastically, and he said angrily, "He''s beenpletely manipted by Shakira and can''t even tell truth from lies anymore!"


    Finn rubbed his temples, feeling a bit uneasy. "Mitchell is impulsive. I''ll have someone keep an eye on him just in case." Yvette, who was drinking soup with her head down, suddenly paused, nearly dropping the spoon into the bowl Cody waved his hand impatiently, "No need, he should learn from hitting the wall himself!" Hearing this, Finn had no choice but to give up.


    Mitchell walked out of the Paniago Hotel, got in the car, and found an old phone. Once it powered on, he dialed Shakira''s number..


    After two rings, Shakira answered the phone. Her voice was clear and cold, "Mitchell."


    Mitchell was surprised, "How did you know it was me? You really are my sister, so smart!"


    Before she could speak, Mitchell chuckled softly, then adjusted his tone and said, "I apologize for tonight. If I had known they would say such hurtful things, I wouldn''t have insisted on youing." Shakira could sense the sadness in his voice from that sentence. Shakira brushed it off, "It''s fine. I expected it."


    Mitchellughed at himself, "Is that why you didn''t agree from the start?"


    Suddenly, Mitchell''s throat tightened and asked, "Have you already lost hope in the whole family?"


    Shakira promptly responded with certainty, "Yes."


    Mitchell took a deep breath, "But it''s alright, they''re just in the dark and don''t know the truth. Give me a little more time, and soon, very soon, they will change their minds."


    At this moment, Shakira was already on her way back to the Easke Valley Estate. The streets on both sides were bustling, with colorful neon lights shing across the car windows.


    The vibrant colors flowed into the car, reflecting on Shakira''s face. The shifting lights created a patchwork of light and shadow, making it hard to discern her true emotions.


    She didn''t know what Mitchell intended to do, but she was more certain that no matter what he did, it wouldn''t change anything for her. She disdained the hope offered by the Nelson family. Holding her phone, she said to Mitchell in a calm voice, "Stop struggling, just give up."


    BBB.


    "No way!" Mitchell said firmly, "This time, I''m not going to let you down. Just wait and see!"


    After that he hung it up. He looked at the location sent to him and started the navigation. The red Porsche shot off like a dart from a b¨®w.


    The address was more than two hundred kilometers from Crescentville, in a nearby small town.


    Mitchell had never been to that ce, but he was agitated and eager to find the nurse and clear things up from back then.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    So many coincidences couldn''t just be chance. He had a strong feeling that something was definitely wrong with the Smith family.


    On the highway, he floored the gas pedal. It was almost dawn when Mitchell arrived at the town indicated by the location.


    He asked the toll booth staff and found out that the location was in the mountains. The staff said, "To get up there, you''ll have to go through several winding roads. Outsiders without experience wouldn''t dare driving up at night. Young man, you''d better find a ce to rest and go tomorrow."


    Mitchell thanked him and said, "No worries, I''m a seasoned driver." The staff wanted to advise him further, but Mitchell was already stepping on the gas pedal.


    He followed the location up the winding mountain roads, and the narrow, curvy paths started to wear on him after hours of continuous driving.


    He kept his eyes fixed ahead, gripping the steering wheel tightly, and continued driving forward. The higher he went, the steeper the hill became, and even the high-performance sports car started to struggle a bit.


    The winding road ahead seemed endless, and Mitchell felt a bit annoyed, so he made a phone call. Soon, the call connected. and the background noise on de''s end was loud, like he was in a bustling bar.


    Mitchell had to call out several times before de finally understood. "de, are you sure she''s really in these mountains? Why would she be hiding out here?"


    de was totally confused, "What are you talking about? What mountains?"


    Mitchell cursed, "Did you get drunk or something? Wasn''t it you who sent me the location?!"


    de was even more bewildered after being scolded, "No way, bro, you must be mistaken. I''ve been here drinking and hanging out all night. You said you wanted to wee your brother, so I didn''t bother your family reunion. When did I send you any message?" Mitchell suddenly mmed on the brakes, a thought quickly formed in his mind.


    "Damn, I''ve been tricked!" He hung up on de and dialed the number again.


    The text was indeed sent under "de''s" name. But that wasn''t de''s phone number; someone had used his phone to assign a random number andbeled it as "de".


    At that time, he was so upset that when he saw the text, he didn''t even think to check with de before jumping into his car and driving straight over.


    He thought, ''My phone is practically glued to me. How could anyone mess with it? Unless... It must be someone close to me!" Mitchell''s mind was buzzing; a terrifying and chilling thought was starting to be clear.


    "Damn it!" Mitchell''s eyes were red, emotions surging inside him like a wild beast ready to break free.


    The only thing he wanted to do n

 Chapter 129

    After ending the call with Mitchell, Shakira immediately dialed Jasmin''s number. That''s when it became clear that what Cody said to Felix at the dinner table wasn''t just empty words.


    Jasmin was surprised, "Shakira, you don''t know yet? I thought Matthew would have given you a heads-up..."


    Shakira sighed and said, "No, the old guy still hasn''t replied to my message. Who knows what sneaky n he''s cooking up."


    Jasmin was speechless. The nation''s most revered doctor, whom everyone wanted to meet, was described by Shakira as nothing more than a scheming old man. Only Matthew''s personal disciple could manage that. Shakira wasn''t in a rush; instead, she started making her preparations..


    The next morning, Shakira, rubbing her eyes, leaned against the bathroom doorframe and asked Walter, who was getting ready, "Are you going to be busy these days?"


    Walter looked at her in the mirror and asked, "Is there something you need?"


    "I want to take you to the hospital for a full-body check-up with thetest equipment."


    Walter furrowed his brows slightly and asked, "With equipment?


    "Yes," Shakira said. "We''ve been doing acupuncture and herbal baths for a while now. I want to check the recovery progress. The body might still be sluggish and not fully showing results yet, but the machines can give us a clearer picture." Hearing this, a flicker of darkness crossed Walter''s eyes. Maybe it was the early morning, but his voice was slightly husky. His


    you do?" intense gaze locked onto Shakira''s fair face. "What if the tests show no progress? What will


    Shakira frowned and instinctively said, "That''s impossible. There has to be improvement!"


    Walter raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "So confident?"


    "Of course!" Shakira was ny percent sure that even if Walter couldn''t stand uppletely yet, some basic nerve and joint movements had definitely shown significant recovery.


    She wanted to check the results of this test, so when Matthew arrived, she could quickly sync with the current treatment progress. Shakira was very confident, taking great care with her medical skills.


    Walter had a slight change of thoughts. Before he could speak, the butler''s urgent voice came from outside, "Mr. Lopez, Mr. Nelson has barged in!"


    Shakira''s face immediately darkened. She spoke up quickly before Walter could, "I''ll go handle it."


    As she turned to leave, Walter stopped her with a call. He said, "Strangers are causing trouble at the Lopez residence. Why are you going?"


    Walter nced at her, his tone allowing no argument, "Push me over there."


    Shakira couldn''t find a way to argue, so she reluctantly went over to push him downstairs.


    Before stepping out of the elevator, they heard Cody angrily shouting. "Shakira! You little brat,e out here!"


    Shakira''s face turned cold, and she instinctively tightened her grip on the wheelchair handles.


    They reached the guest room, where Walter''s voice rang out, icy and sharp, "Mr. Nelson, being this audacious, are you ignoring me?" Walter exuded a chilling presence, not yielding at all to Cody, his elder.


    Cody turned to look over, and when he saw Shakira, his anger red even more inside him.


    84% +5


    Instinctively, he took a few steps towards Shakira, his expression fierce. But the next second, faced with Walter''s chilling gaze that seemed to disregard everything, he froze in his tracks, a shiver running through him.


    Still, Cody didn''t back down verbally and said, "Stop with the nonsense, Walter. Our families have been on friendly terms for over a century, and I''m old friends with your parents. Are you really going to defy your elders and ruin our longstanding rtionship over a woman?"


    At the Lopez family, the only thing he could rely on was his status as an elder!


    Hearing this, Walter burst intoughter. He scoffed coldly, full of disdain. "There''s no elder in the Lopez family now. I''m the head of the family. You knew my parents in the past, but what does that have to do with me?"Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Cody''s eyes widened, choking on his words, "You!"


    He could only turn to Shakira, ring at her fiercely. "You ungrateful traitor, I knew you would cause trouble for my family. Now you finally couldn''t hold back, and you''ve targeted Mitchell, haven''t you!"


    Shakira''s face was impassive and said, "I don''t understand what Mr. Nelson is barking about."


    Cody gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! Still ying dumb?"


    He pulled out a stack of papers from his pocket, tossed them on the ground, and pointed at Shakira''s face, his gesture full of humiliation and anger.


    He said, "You keep saying you''ve cut ties with the Nelson family, but how much money have you secretly taken from that fool Mitchell! He''s drained all his ounts, maxed out his credit cards, and he''s spending millions each month buying you clothes and luxury items! "After you leftst night, Mitchell also left, insisting it wasn''t an ident back then. Sincest night, he''s been unreachable. His sports car and phone location are both off. I just found out this morning that hisst call was to you!"


    Cody''s eyes were red. "And you dare say you don''t know!"


    Shakira was stunned. She wondered, ''Mitchell is missing?"


    Shakira thought about the phone call she got from Mitchellst night. There was something unusual in her eyes. He asked her to give him a little more time.


    Shakira''s expression didn''t change, a cold, mocking smile on her lips as she looked at Cody. "So Mr. Nelson went to make a fuss at the Lopez residence early in the morning because he was too ipetent to find his own son." Cody''s face turned green. "Mitchell is missing because of you! Don''t you have any conscience, Shakira? He gave all his money to you, and now nobody knows where he is. You''re just indifferent to everything!"


    "I didn''t ask for his money." Shakira exined calmly, "He offered it to me himself. I never asked him for it, and I have no idea where he is now."


    Cody was furious. "Shakira, you really have no shame!"


    Seeing Shakira still looking indifferent, Cody was at his wit''s end. Frustrated, he finally, attempted to provoke Walter.


    He said, "Mr. Lopez, you heard it yourself. Shakira has no heart! She won''t appreciate how well you treat or protect her. She''ll just take it for granted. If someone more powerfules along, she''ll dump you and move on to the next big shot!"


    Walter didn''t care much. He seemed like a ruler bewitched by Shakira''s beauty, and said bluntly, hurting Cody''s fragile heart, "Mr. Nelson, don''t worry. The Lopez family won''t decline like yours. No matter what happens, I''ll always be Shakira''s biggest and strongest support."


    040


    Cody was shocked by his words. The young, handsome man was so bold and daring that Cody waspletely at a loss. After all, Walter had the confidence and strength to back it up.


    He was so frustrated that he wanted to point at Walter and curse him. He thought, ''How does the Lopez family produce such a troublemaker!*


    Shakira almost burst outughing. Walter''s sharp tongue never failed to hit the mark.


    Seeing Cody shaking with anger, Shakira kindly suggested, "Mr. Nelson, maybe you should hurry home to find your son. If you stay any longer, you might end up in the hospital and be a burden to your family."


    0

 Chapter 130

    Cody couldn''t get any information about Mitchell from Shakira and stormed off, his face dark with anger,


    Seeing Cody trip slightly as he left, Shakira''s eyes crinkled with amusement.


    Turning to Walter, she smoothly shifted into ttery mode, "Wow, the young master was truly amazing just now, a single word and bam! If not for his brilliance, I''d have been in real trouble!" Walter let out a coldugh. "If I wasn''t around, Cody might have had to leave on a stretcher."


    Shakira''s eyes widened-was she really that sharp-tongued?


    Before she could respond, Shakira''s phone rang. It was an unknown number and she answered it.


    "Is this


    Shakira?"


    A man''s uncertain voice came through, "Is


    Shakira raised an eyebrow, it''s me. Are you a friend of Mitchell''s?"


    "Yes,


    de sounded quite surprised, "You know me?"


    Shakira answered truthfully, "Last time at the apartment parking lot, you were with Mitchell. I recognized your voice." de was even more amazed, praising her repeatedly, "You remember that and recognized me too? That''s impressive!" He couldn''t wait to ask, "Did the Nelson familye looking for you?"


    Shakira raised an eyebrow, "How do you know that?"


    She didn''t deny it, which was a clear confirmation.


    de quickly apologized, feeling guilty, "I''m sorry! Yvette called me early this morning, asking where Mitchell was.


    "I was still hazy from drinkingst night and identally mentioned Mitchell''s suspicion that the nurse might have switch


    4


    4


    babies at the hospital and that he drove out of townst night to find someone..."


    Shakira''s eyshes fluttered gently, but she didn''t say a word.


    It was obvious de hadn''t sobered up yet, still rambling to himself over there,


    "Mitchell repeatedly warned me not to tell you about this until he had figured everything out and could tell you himself. But now... sigh! Anyway, I can''t reach him. I don''t know what misunderstanding happened between you two siblings, but Mitchell is really trying his best to make it up to you.


    "That kid was really impulsive! He called mest night, saying it was the fake address I sent him... I was dumbfounded, as I''d been drinking the whole time and hadn''t sent him anything.


    "He asked me to help find someone to check it out, but so far, my guys couldn''t find anything. How could I have told him where that nurse is?" de said.


    Hearing this, Shakira''s eyes suddenly narrowed, "Are you saying someone impersonated you and tricked him with a fake address?"


    "Yes!" de replied, his voice trembling.


    Shakira thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, "What time did Mitchell call youst night?"


    de checked the call log, "It was almost one in the morning."


    A shadow crossed Shakira''s eyes.


    Cody imed that thest person Mitchell contacted was her, indicating that they hadn''t checked with de yet. But Yvette was able to quickly reach out to de to find out where Mitchell was..." This means Yvette knew where Mitchell was going because de told her.


    Shakira thought for a


    a moment and asked de, "When he called youst night, did he mention where he was or describe the ce?" "I think he did say something, but I was drinkingst night, I... darn it, why was I drinking like that!" de cursed himself in frustration, trying hard to remember. patiently waited without rushing him.


    Shakira


    After a while, de suddenly eximed, "I remember now! He asked me if I was sure the person was really in the mountains. I could hear loud engine noises in the background like he was struggling to climb a hill.¡± Shakira casually asked, "Do you know what car he was drivingst night?"


    de was taken aback, "A Porsche, I think. He''s been driving his 911 a lottely."


    "Okay". Shakira abruptly hung up, leaving de on the other end confused.


    r''s deep, unfathomable


    eyes.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    She lifted her gaze and met Walter want to look for him?"


    Walter spoke, asking simply, "Do


    Shakira blinked,


    her expression indifferent, just as she had been cool and rxed dealing with Cody earlier.


    "Why ask like that? The Nelson family will handle it themselves."


    She nced at the time and hurried upstairs. "I''m almostte for school, so I''m heading out now!" Walter kept his eyes fixed on her figure.


    After Shakira entered the elevator, Walter turned to Brian and said, "Send someone to look for her."


    Brian was puzzled and couldn''t help but ask, "Sir, didn''t Ms. Nelson say not to look?"


    Walter nced at him and said calmly, "She ims not to care, but whenever Mitchell''s friends call, she inquires everything. If she really didn''t want to find him, she wouldn''t ask a single thing." about


    Hearing this, Brian suddenly understood and couldn''t help but remark, "I see, Master, you''re getting to know Ms. Nelson better and better."


    Walter snorted, his tone carrying a hint of pride he wasn''t even aware of himself, "The smallest move she makes, like raising her tail, and I can already guess her little schemes."


    Brian muttered to himself, "So Ms. Nelson has already figured out the situation and doesn''t want the Master to find her because she wants to handle it herself?"


    In an instant, the smile vanished from the man in the wheelchair, and his expression turned as cold as ice.


    Realizing his mistake, Brian quickly added, "Perhaps Ms. Nelson just doesn''t want to trouble the Master."


    Walter''s face darkened as he snapped sharply, "Who cares about her business!"


    After saying that, he maneuvered his wheelchair and turned to leave.


    C


    Brian stood there, quite troubled, wondering whether he should search or not.


    Shakira grabbed her backpack and headed out the door.


    On her way to school, she opened the satellite map app on her phone and had a small calctor window on the screen.


    She calcted the speed of Mitchell''s Porsche 911 and drew several circles on the map.


    Then she sent an address to Sean: [Can you check if there was a Porsche 911 exiting any highway stations between 9 PM and 1 AMst night?]


    Sean called right away, "Didn''t you already give up on the Nelson family? Why are you helping them find someone now?"


    Shakira was taken aback, "You know about Mitchell''s disappearance?"


    "Of course! The Nelson family made a huge scene early this morning and even wanted to borrow our tech staff from Yonder Digital. No way I''m lending them!" Shakira nodded, "You''re right, don''t lend them any help."


    Sean was just starting to feel smug, thinking of praising the boss for keeping a clear head.


    But the next moment, he heard Shakira say, "Lend me your team, find them quickly."


    "No way, this could easily be an internal issue with the Nelson residence. They might even me you for it, and you''re still helping them?" Sean asked,


    Shakira looked out at the street through the car window, her face showing no emotion, "I''m not helping the Nelson residence, I''m helping myself."

 Chapter 131

    Sean lookedpletely baffled, "What do you mean?"


    Shakira said, "If I''m not mistaken, Mitchell''s disappearance is the work of Yvette and Lago."


    Sean took a sharp breath, "No way! Wasn''t Mitchell guarding her like a mother hen protects its chicks? Why would she do that, what''s her motive?" Support


    A dark flicker passed through Shakira''s eyes, "Because Mitchell doesn''t blindly her like before, now he''s in her way."


    Sean trembled all over. Although he usually acted casually, when it came to serious matters, he was more thorough than


    anyone.


    He immediately guessed the situation, "Recently, Mitchell has been frequently trying to get on your good side and persuading people at the Nelson residence to reconnect with you. This undoubtedly threatened Yvette''s interests!" Shakira spoke calmly, "Mitchell disappeared on his way to find the nurse involved in the past mix-up. The address was deliberately given to lead him into a trap. They want the Nelsons to believe Mitchell got into trouble because of me, increasing their hatred towards me." Shakira lowered her voice, "I don''t want to get involved in this mess, but I also won''t take the me." By t


    then, Sean realized the seriousness of the situation. He stopped joking and set aside his bias against Mitchell, replying seriously, "I''ll have someone look into it right away." The tech experts under Sean were some of the best in the country, and it didn''t take them long to pinpoint the county where Mitchell had exited the freeway right before the incident. But they still couldn''t i


    n''t figure out exactly where Mitchell had gone.


    "That county is quite underdeveloped, with only a few cameras on the main roads. Only three managed to capture Mitchell''s Porsche, but they couldn''t determine which vige he was heading towards." Sean couldn''t help butin, "Mitchell must be crazy,ing out to this deserted rural area in the middle of the night to meet someone. Was it really that urgent? Couldn''t he have waited till morning?" Shakira stared intently at the traffic camera footage she received on her phone.


    The image quality was poor, but you could vaguely see Mitchell looking anxious and restless while waiting at the traffic lights.


    He was really anxious as if he couldn''t wait for another second.


    A flicker of something crossed Shakira''s eyes, "Sean, get me a sports car."


    Sean understood what she meant and quickly chimed in, "I''ming too!"


    *****


    In the police station, "This is Mr. Fraser Gibbs," Joe introduced, "Mr. Gibbs, these are Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, whom I -mentioned to you before."


    eyes


    Reba was crying so much that her were red and swollen. She saw Fraser as herst hope. "Mr. Gibbs, you help us find our son!" have to


    Cody, looking extremely exhausted, tightly grasped the hands of the man in front of him and said earnestly, "Mr. Gibbs, son is not an irresponsible kid who just fools around. If he''s been out all night and unreachable, something must have


    my


    B BO


    happened.


    0


    "I know it hasn''t been 48 hours yet, so it''s unusual to ask the police for such an extensive search, but I know my son. I have to beg you for your help!"


    Fraser nodded, "Rules are set, but humans are flexible. Don''t worry too much. I''ve reached out to various parties to help locate Mr. Nelson. I''m confident we''ll have news soon."


    "Thank you so much, Mr. Gibbs."


    11N?velDrama.Org content.


    11


    "There''s no need to thank me. It''s our job. You two should take a short break while I handle the arrangements," said Fraser.


    After Fraser left,


    Yvette gently reassured Reba, "Mom and Dad, Fraser is really good at this kind of search. I''m sure we''ll hear news about Mitchell soon. You haven''t slept all night; how about resting in the car? We can manage here." Reba wiped away her unstoppable tears and held onto Yvette who was incredibly sweet, feeling a little touched. "Yvette, Joe, we''re so thankful to have you with us. We wouldn''t know what to do without you!" Joeforted, "Nor "No need to be so formal, Ma''am. We''re all worried about Mr. Lopez''s disappearance. Fraser is a reasonable man; I''m sure we''ll hear good news soon."


    Yeah, Mom, I feel partly responsible for Mitchell''s disappearance..." Yvette said.


    Yvette lowered her face, close to tears, her voice filled with sadness and helplessness. "At home, Mitchell and I have the best rtionship, yet I didn''t even realize he was secretly searching for that nurse from years back. "If I''d known earlier, I''d have gone with him. Maybe having one more person would have prevented it."


    As


    Yvette was speaking, her , her voice cracked, choked I by emotion, leaving her unable to continue.


    "You silly child!" Reba couldn''t help but feel sorry. "Do you think I don''t know? Mitchell is all about Shakira now, and there''s distance between you two? Instead of ming him for ignoring you, you''re still looking out for him. I''m going to give him a good talking-to. That fool can''t even tell who''s close and who''s not!" Reba said. Hearing the name Shakira, Yvette kept her head down, covering her face. Hearing their words, she felt secretly pleased.


    "When hees back, Cody''s face darkened, and he spoke through clenched teeth. "This should teach him a lesson. He spent all his money on Shakira. What''s the use of being like a dog wagging his tail for her? She wouldn''t even lift a finger to save him!"


    Joe frowned, "Maybe Shakira really doesn''t know about this. Her abilities are limited, so she wouldn''t be much help anyway." Hearing Joe speak up for Shakira, Yvette bit her lip in frustration. Soon, she managed a weak smile on her pale face, "Joe''s right. As a sister, Shakira doesn''t have much influence, so we can''t push her too hard to handle Mitchell''s matters."


    Cody looked even more disgusted, "Completely useless, only able to rely on men. Such a filthy, selfish person. Only someone foolish like Mitchell would believe him without a doubt!" Reba couldn''t help but say, "Don''t me Mitchell. He''s just too soft-hearted and fell for Shakira''s trick. With Yvette on our side, I''m sure Mitchell will get through this safely," Cody''s face was stern, looking both furious and disgusted.


    *****


    B BO


    Shakira a


    asked Xanthe to cover for her at work, then asked the Uber driver to change the address to a car dealership. Half an hourter, a ck Ferrari sped out of the dealership, racing towards the neighboring county like an arrow. Sean''s hands clung to the car''s roof handle tightly like iron chains, as the fierce wind rushed into his open mouth. "Wow, slow down a little," Sean yelled.


    Dressed in ck, tight-fitting clothes, Shakira stayed calm, "If you want to go slower, get out and take another ride." Sean watched as cars zoomed past on both sides, "Oh no, no other cars can keep up with you!"


    Shakira''s eyes darkened, "Then stop chatting and hold on tight!"


    As she finished speaking, she floored the gas pedal. Sean was so scared he clung to the seat like a quail, not daring to say another word.


    An hour and a halfter, Shakira stopped at the toll booth. Rolling down the window, She revealed her strikingly charming face, her profile was wless. The toll booth girl stared at her, transfixed, her cheeks turning a soft pink.


    After paying the highway toll, Shakira suddenly thought of something, turned, and smiled, "Excuse me, were you on dutyst night?"

 Chapter 132

    0N?velDrama.Org content.


    The toll booth girl was briefly surprised, then shyly covered her face, "Oh, is it that obvious I''m drained." Shakira chuckled, "Miss, you''re very pretty. I saw the duty schedule through the window."


    The girl turned to nce at it and immediately felt relieved, "Oh, that''s why. I was on dutyst night."


    Shakira nodded, swiped her phone a couple of times, and showed a photo of Mitchell. "Do you remember if this guy drove a Porsche through heretest night?"


    Almost immediately, the girl eximed, "That''s him."


    "Last night he asked us for directions to Snaky Mountain. That ce is tricky, with too many curves and it''s really narrow. Plus, it was foggyst night. We advised him to wait till daylight to go up there, but who knows if he listened," She added. Shakira''s eyes darkened. She thanked him, hit the gas, and sped away.


    Meanwhile, the Nelson family also received news from Fraser about tracking Mitchell''sst location after exiting the highway. They all drove from Crescentville to catch up.


    Following the GPS, Shakira arrived at the base of Snaky Mountain. Below, the forest was thick. Looking up, the winding mountain road appeared endless, stretching out of sight.


    In the passenger seat, Sean, who couldn''tin anymore, looked up, his legs trembling uncontrobly. "Are we really going up there?"


    Shakira didn''t say a word, she just floored the gas pedal and zoomed up the mountain.


    Sean let out a piercing scream and tightly shut his eyes. All they could hear was the sound of the wind and the loud revving of the engine, like being on a roller coaster.


    No one knew how long it took before the car finally came to a stop. Sean didn''t hesitate to jump out of the car and vomit, feelingpletely disoriented.


    Shakira nced at him, slightly furrowing her brow, tossed him a bottle of mineral water, and then got out to check the area. On the yellow dirt road were two deep skid marks from sudden braking.


    "They''re dark and haven''t been covered by dust yet, so they must be from today." Shakira nced around and suddenly narrowed her eyes.


    As they moved down to a narrow bend, arge chunk of rock was missing, and loose stones were scattered all around. A slight lean over the edge revealed an endless expanse of dense forest below.


    After Sean finally stopped retching, he looked up and was horrified to see Shakira halfway over the edge. "Shakira!" he shouted.


    Shakira straightened up and said to him, "There''s a rope in the trunk. Let''s check it out."


    Sean''s eyes widened; it was just the two of them there. "Who, who''s going down?"


    Shakira twitched the corner of her mouth, "Me." With a safety rope fastened, Shakira skillfully descended the steep


    mountainside.


    Halfway down, she saw a shattered Porsche lodged in the tree branches, her gaze turning dark. When she finally reached the foot of the mountain and saw Mitchell lying on the muddy path with a gash on his forehead, her heart skipped a beat. She quickly walked over and checked Mitchell''s breathing. He''s still breathing!


    Shakira breathed a slight sigh of relief and patted Mitchell''s face "Mitchell, wake up!"


    Mitchell''s eyes were shut tight, his face pale,pletely unconscious. Without hesitating, Shakira pulled out her phone and


    made a call.


    When the Nelson family arrived at Snaky Mountain, the police had already set up a barricade at the base of the mountain.


    Seeing the huge crane pulling the wrecked Porsche out of the woods, Reba couldn''t wait any longer. She jumped out of the car and fell to her knees!


    Yvette, Finn, and the others hurried to assist Reba, who was already sobbing uncontrobly. "Mitchell, my Mitchell!" she cried out in grief.


    Yvette held Reba tightly and turned her head away. "Mom, please don''t do this. Mitchell wouldn''t want to see you like this..."


    She nced at the twisted sports car, thinking, ''If the metal ended up like this, how could a person survive?''


    Mitchell is probably in grave danger.


    Cody''s face was filled with sadness and defeat, as he struggled to hold back his tears.


    Fraser walked over, looking serious. "I''m very sorry, but we couldn''t find Mr. Nelson."


    Ahint of joy appeared on everyone''s face, except Yvette, whose expression changed slightly. "My brother wasn''t in the car?" she asked.


    Fraser shook his head. "The Porsche 911 is severely deformed, and the car''s dashcam is damaged, so we can''t retrieve any data. The preliminary investigation suggests that the car was going too fast while turningst night and identally flipped


    over.


    "However, only a small amount of blood was found inside the car, and there were no human remains. Mr. Mitchell Nelson likely exited the vehicle after it went off the cliff," Fraser said.


    "How could this happen?" Yvette instinctively blurted out a response, then realized her reaction was too sudden, so she quickly changed to a cheerful expression, "Mitchell is so smart. He surely escaped early. Not finding him is the best news!" Reba nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, yes, Mitchell is fortunate and definitely got away. It''s going to be alright."


    Yvette looked at Fraser and said, "Fraser can surely help us find Mitchell."


    Fraser nced at her, shook his head, and said, "The fall was over a hundred meters in an area with few people. There are frequent reports of wild monkeys, dogs, and boars attacking nearby houses. I''m afraid Mr. Lopez might be... Fraser tried to cushion the news. After all, falling from such a height leaves little chance of survival. Without a body in the car, it''s likely he became prey for the wild animals.


    At these words, the hope that had just ignited in the Nelson residence immediately plummeted into despair. "My son, my


    poor son!"


    By now, Reba hadpletely shed her refined image as a high-societydy, standing there as just a regr mother who had lost her son, overwhelmed with grief. Sobbing, Reba suddenly thought of something and began hitting Cody like she had lost her mind.


    "How could this have happened? It''s all your fault! Why did you stop the others from following Mitchell? If someone had been with himst night, even if Mitchell was confused and reckless, we could have stopped him in time!" Reba yelled. 2/3


    wed,


    D


    D


    Cody stood motionless, Reba med him, and he also med himself. He wanted to teach Mitchell a lesson he would never forget. Who could have imagined that his one cruel decision would result in his son losing his life? Finn and Felix were filled with sorrow, their eyes red, unable to ept such a harsh reality.


    Justst night, their family had been dining and chatting together, and now, overnight, they were separated by life and


    death!


    Yvette was crying uncontrobly, her face full of sorrow. She held onto Reba and sobbed hoarsely, "Mom, please don''t, don''t me Dad. He''s feeling miserable too."


    "If I don''t me him, who else can I me?" Reba screamed hysterically, her face suddenly changing, "Shakira!"


    She clutched her chest in piercing pain, "It was her, she caused Mitchell''s death. If we hadn''t brought her back from Bris, Mitchell would''ve never lost his mind. Our family would''ve stayedplete, and none of this would''ve happened."


    Reba''s eyes were red, almost as if bloodshot, with hatred ready to burst out. "It was Shakira, she was the one who cursed my son to death!"


    I

 Chapter 133

    08 84%


    In the Crescentville, a helicopter was slowlynding on the rooftop helipad of a private beauty clinic in the city.


    As soon as the ne''s cabin door opened, the trained medical staff sprang into action, quickly wheeling the injured passengers into the prepared emergency room.


    Jasmin brushed his hair, tousled by the helicopter, and watched as the woman in tight clothing skillfully jumped out of the cabin, making him whistle in admiration. "Wow, Shakira, you''ve got some serious style!"


    With a mischievous smile, he joked, "But with all these dangerous missions, do you really have to keep looking out for us so


    much?"


    Shakira kept her eyes forward and quickened her pace. "There was a reason. I had no choice but to bring the person here to you."


    Jasmin, following her with curiosity, asked, "But how did you know I had an emergency room here? For what it''s worth, my ce has the second-best emergency facilities in Crescentville. No one else can im the top spot!" Shakira nced at him sideways, "Last time I came for a check-up, I did a little tour."


    Jasmin didn''t reply. He thought, ''Shakira came over and even figured out all his secrets.''


    Upon entering, Shakira went into the sterile chamber, causing the head doctor, who was preparing to sterilize, to shout, "This is a restricted operating area. Who let you in here?"


    Jasmin spoke loudly, "I allowed her to enter. Is there a problem?"N?velDrama.Org content.


    Once they recognized Jasmin, the group quickly put on polite smiles, "Mr. Tucker, are you here to watch the surgery too? Of course, that''s fine."


    As soon as he finished speaking, Shakira smoothly changed into sterile equipment, looking all set to step up to the operating


    table.


    Jasmin was surprised, "Are you going to perform the surgery himself?"


    Shakira didn''t look up. "His injuries are severe, with multiple fractures and damage to internal organs. I don''t trust anyone else with this."


    The highly paid attending doctors present were left speechless.


    The head director wore a grim expression and, out of respect for Jasmin, tried to soften his tone, "Mr. Tucker, the patient sent in is severely injured. Even for experienced senior doctors, there''s no assured sess. This young girl is so inexperienced. If she goes in, can the patient even survive?" Jasmin eagerly rubbed her hands, "You''re right, I don''t trust you guys to assist her. I''ll take over!"


    A group of people watched anxiously as the two of them went into the operating room one after the other. The red light came on, and they stood outside watching the operating room''s monitor, feeling more anxious than ever before.


    "Oh my, this young girl is actually working on the patient''s major artery; there''s so much blood flowing!"


    "That leg might be gone now; how did it get hurt so badly?"


    "Who cares about the leg? The kidneys and liver are also damaged. Can they even be saved?"


    "I bet that girl is pretty. Mr. Tucker must be charmed by her.


    B


    "He''s injured so badly and still has to be practice for some fresh-faced girl? Mr. Tucker really doesn''t care about people''s


    lives!"


    They couldn''t bear to look and turned their faces away. A few sharp ones were already checking their phones for new opportunities.


    Honestly, it''s against the rules for a beauty clinic to perform emergency procedures. If someone dies because of this operation, they won''t get a good end.


    No matter how famous Jasmin''s background is, or how much he relies on Clusia Hospital''s Medical Research Department, there''s no way they could continue like this. Just then, a doctor suddenly shouted, "Guys, look. His heart rate is going up!"


    "How is that possible? Is this just a brief revival? Wait, has the severe bleeding stopped?"


    "You know, that young girl stayed remarkably calm the entire time, huh?"


    They slowly realized as they watched the surgery until the end, everyone was left so astonished that they couldn''t speak.


    This surgery was performed wlessly! Even they couldn''t achieve such a level! Sean rushed over just as the surgery ended.


    Shakira took off her mask and walked out of the operating room, her scrubs sttered with blood.


    Sean was surprised, "You did the surgery yourself?"


    Shakira said, "Okay."


    Sean couldn''t wait, "So, how is it? Is he still breathing?"


    Shakira nced at him, removed her contaminated scrubs, sanitized herself, and then turned to look at Jasmin, who was sweating profusely but seemed very satisfied.


    Jasmin, despite being utterly exhausted from hours of tough surgery, still had bright eyes and a lively spirit.


    "The surgery was sessful. The chances of surviving without amputation from such severe injuries are less than 5%, but today we managed it. However, his brain has sustained serious damage, and whether he regains consciousness depends on him," Jasmin said. He spoke with admiration, "Working with Shakira in surgery feels different from working with others. Every move blends seamlessly; mastering such technique must take thousands of repetitions, right?"


    Shakira frowned a bit, "No, I''ve only participated in a few major surgeries and haven''t practiced much."


    Jasmin looked amazed but then understood, "No wonder Matthew said you are a rare genius. I learned a lot today."


    Upon hearing this, the doctors gathered outside finally realized


    "The genius Matthew mentioned... Oh my God, are you the legendary Lonely Bird?"


    "No wonder your medical skills are so superb, it must be because you''re the Lonely Bird!"


    "Master Lonely Bird, we didn''t recognize you earlier, please forgive us."


    "Lonely Bird, I''ve always admired you. It''s a privilege to witness your surgery today."


    Shakira''s lips twitched slightly, and she said quietly, "You all are the backbone of the hospital. I''m sorry for interrupting today, please keep this a secret for me."


    Everyone understood, "Of course, Lonely Bird is known for being modest. We certainly won''t tell anyone."


    0


    "Yeah, who would have thought that the renowned Lonely Bird was just a young girl? If we hadn''t seen it with our own eyes, no one would believe it!"


    Shakira thanked them again and then stepped out into the hallway.


    She instructed Jasmin, "I can only keep him alive. Whether he wakes up depends on his willpower. It''s up to your people to take care of him now."


    Jasmin waved her hand, "It''s just one patient room, no problem


    Shakira''s eyes gleamed for a moment, "We need to keep this discreet."


    Jasmin chuckled, "Of course I know, the Nelson family is searching the whole city for Mr. Lopez, and here we are, secretly rescuing him. I wouldn''t dare brag about it."


    Shakira nodded and said seriously, "Thank you for handling this. If we''re discovered, I''ll take full responsibility."


    "Don''t say that. If my mentor found out I didn''t help you they''d scold me."


    Jasmin was already impressed with Shakira''s behavior in the operating room, showing a fanboy expression. "In the end, it''s about saving a life, and if the senior saves someone quietly, there''s definitely a reason." Shakira lowered her eyes just as a call came in on her phone.


    She answered, "Ms. Shakira Nelson, this is the city police department. We suspect you are involved in a traffic ident. Pleasee to the station to assist with the investigation."

 Chapter 134

    Shakira said "Okay," and hung up the call.


    Sean heard the conversation inside and nearly jumped up. "What do you mean? Are they actually suspecting you now? Don''t they have evidence?


    "It was Mitchell''s own foolishness that got him into this mess. If it weren''t for you carrying him back from the mountain for surgery, he''d be drinking the forgetfulness tea by now," Sean said.


    Jasmin furrowed his brow. He didn''t know the full story but didn''t want Shakira involved in any trouble. "Why don''t we just hand him back to the Nelson family?"


    Shakira said softly, "If we return him to the Nelson family, he''ll never open his eyes again."


    She reassured them, "I''ll go over there, but please look after Mitchell for me."


    Shakira cooperated with the police during their questioning. After giving a brief statement, they allowed her to leave.


    As she exited the interrogation room, Reba, who was waiting outside with a fierce expression, rushed up to her without a word. Her eyes, red and tear-stained, were filled with malice as she raised her hand high. "Shakira, why wasn''t it you who died?" Shakira''s eyes turned cold. She grasped Reba''s wrist and pushed her back forcefully.


    "Mom!" Yvette, standing beside Reba, had a quick sh of emotion in her eyes, filled with anger. "How could youy a hand on Mom?" After saying that, she seemed about to strike Shakira again, like she was avenging Reba.


    This time, Shakira not only grabbed her wrist but also gathered strength in her other hand and gave Yvette a hard p across the face.


    With a sharp smack, the entire room fell silent. Yvette held her face in disbelief, shocked that Shakira had pped her in front of so many people!This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    The police reacted quickly, immediately stepping in to separate them.


    Cody, Finn, and Felix each grabbed Reba with one hand while trying to help Yvette with the other, keeping themselves quite busy. However, their eyes were all filled with the same cold hatred as they looked at Shakira.


    With her beloved son missing and her precious daughter having been pped, Reba''s gaze towards Shakira was like a dagger. She wished she could erase the thorn in her sidepletely.


    Fuming with anger, she said, "Fraser, Shakira is definitely the culprit. She''s the one who killed my son and hit my daughter. How can you let her go? Arrest her and punish this terrible woman!" Fraser''s face darkened a bit, "As of now, there''s no solid evidence linking Ms. Nelson to Mr. Nelson''s disappearance, so we won''t arrest anyone without reason. As for what just happened... He paused for a moment, then turned his eyes to Shakira.


    Meeting Fraser''s indifferent and questioning gaze, Shakira calmly replied, "They started it. Since you didn''t help me, I had to defend myself."


    While speaking, she pointed at the surveince camera above her. Fraser''s face turnedpletely dark.


    "And..." Shakira confidently said, "Even Fraser mentioned there''s no proof connecting me to the case, yet the Nelson family


    III


    1


    have insulted me and tarnished my reputation.


    "They''ve even resorted to threats. Now, everyone at the police station can stand as witnesses for me. Fraser, shouldn''t you be protecting a victim like me?" Shakira said.


    No one expected Shakira to turn the tables on them. Cody and Reba were so furious their faces turned different shades of pale.


    "You ungrateful brat! How can you shamelessly say such things!" Cody angrily said.


    He, clenching his teeth, continued, "Mitchell is your brother, your own flesh and blood. You''re selfish and greedy, deceiving him into seeking out that nurse from years ago just to spite us, to make us feel guilty so we''llpensate you more." Reba was furious, but sadness immediately overcame her, tears blurring her eyes. "There are so many curves on that mountain road, and it''s so high. His car fell and gotpletely crushed, and we still haven''t found him...


    "You have no idea how horrifying the scene was! All for your selfishness, he''s risking his life, and yet, Shakira, do you still want to remain so cold-hearted?" said Reba.


    Listening to Reba''s tearful usations, Shakira''s face remained expressionless. "I never asked or requested him to do anything for me. I made it clear long ago; I''ve cut ties with the Nelson family and I will note back."


    Shakira''s words were cold and indifferent, "Why does the Nelson family keep pestering me repeatedly? Do you want to see me embarrassed; to see how miserable my life is without the Nelsons? Since you can''t see the picture you imagined, are you trying to pin groundless usations on me?"


    As Shakira spoke, her intense gaze swept over Yvette. "If you truly want justice for your son, you need to investigate how the ident urred, rather than ming me to gain a false sense of relief."


    Hearing this, Yvette was taken aback- ''Did Shakira discover something new? Or did Mitchell notice something and warn Shakira ahead of time?'' No, she can''t know anything. If she had any evidence, she would have certainly said something by


    now.


    20


    Yvette tried to convince herself, but her heart was still racing and wouldn''t calm down.


    Just then, there was somemotion outside the door. A few men in suits walked in and introduced themselves to Fraser, "Hello, I''m Ms. Shakira Nelson''swyer. From now on, any questions will be handled by me on her behalf."


    Seeing the scene, Felix let out a cold sneer, "You talk like you''re all clean and innocent, even bringing awyer with you. Shakira, are you sure you don''t have something to hide?"


    Shakira was about to reply when a cold and sinister voice came from behind the well-dressed men, "She''s too important to waste time dealing with people like you. You''re not worth it."


    Everyone turned to look, their expressions changing when they saw the proud and aloof man sitting in the sleek silver wheelchair.


    Shakira was surprised, "What are you doing here?"


    Walter shot her a re, "You have the nerve to ask."


    Shakira was confused, "Huh?"


    Brian coughed and exined, "You only took half a day off from school, but the professor reported her for skipping ss this afternoon to the grade supervisor. Xanthe was worried you would get in trouble, so she had the supervisor contact Walter." She knew Xanthe wasn''t very reliable, but this was a whole new level of unreliability, wasn''t it? She thought to herself, ''And now they''re even calling in Walter. How can getting in trouble be scarier than dealing with him?


    09:38 Wed,


    Thinking of Walter''s icy nce earlier, Shakira swallowed and nervously moved behind him, "I actually sorted everything out already. We can leave now, you didn''t have toe all this way, really."


    Upon hearing this, Walter retorted, "You''ve been dealing with skipping sses till now. If I didn''te, how much longer did you n to wait?"


    Shakira suddenly realized, "Oh, this morning? I went to the spa. had a special appointment with Mr. Tucker that I couldn''t reschedule. I''ve barely been here for an hour."


    Walter was quite speechless.

 Chapter 135

    Walter red at her even more coldly this time. "Are you going or not?"


    "Alright, let''s go now," Shakira said.


    Watching helplessly as his family''s reputation was being stomped on by Shakira and Walter, Cody felt a surge of anger. But before he could act, Walter turned a little and gave him a cold look.


    "Mr. Nelson, if you keep bothering the Lopez family, I won''t care about any past connections between our families," Walter


    warned.


    Even though Cody had spent a lifetime in business, he couldn''t help Walter left with the unharmed Shakira.


    t shiver under Walter''s gaze. After delivering a threat,


    Sneakily following Shakira, Sean and Jasmin parked the car at a street corner across from the building. Sean kept an eye on the time on his phone. "It''s been forty minutes since they went in. Why aren''t they out yet? Do you think they might be trying to force Shakira to do something?"


    Jasmin smirked, nced sideways at Sean, and murmured, "Honestly, I think Shakira is them."


    ikely to be the one forcing


    After all, Shakira wasn''t only tutored by Matthew. Any of her other mentors would have the utmost respect from the top influencers in Clusia.


    "You''re not wrong about that." Sean nodded and soon noticed a convoy stopping outside, with a very noticeable Maybach in


    the center. He focused closely and gasped, "Wow, why is Walter, the guy in the wheelchair, joining in on this?"


    Jasmin''s eyes flickered. He had previously helped Shakira look into some things, so he could guess a few details vaguely. But seeing Sean''s puzzled expression, he understood. Shakira still hadn''t told this clueless guy about her rtionship with Walter. Not long after, Shakira finally came out and went straight into the Maybach with Walter.


    Sean got anxious and shouted, "Jasmin, what are you just standing there for? Get in the car and follow them. Shakira has been taken away."


    Jasmin held the steering wheel with aid-back attitude. "We can''t follow them. Do you know how good Walter''s security team is at counter-surveince? I don''t want to mess with the Lopez family."


    "Damn!" Sean eximed, his anger palpable. "I mean, what''s Walter doing here, and why is Shakira going along with him so willingly? Could Walter be involved in this, or does he have some sort of hold over Shakira?"


    Listening to Sean mumbling, Jasmin couldn''t help but feel doubtful. He assumed that anyone working with Shakira, even if not as smart, shouldn''t be so clueless.


    Yet, this well-known chairman of Yonder Digital seemed... not quite all there.


    In the police station, only the tired and grief-stricken family remained, along with Yvette herself, now with a prominent handprint on her cheek.


    "Shakira just walked away like that? You let her go just like that? What about Mitchell? Does my poor Mitchell have to die just like that?" Reba couldn''t take the shock anymore and just fainted.


    "Mom!" Yvette quickly supported the copsing Reba, while Cody rushed to steady his wife on his shoulder.


    Seeing this, Fraser had to remind them, "Mr. Nelson, Mrs. Nelson, from the site investigation, it looks like Mr. Mitchell Nelson''s incident was purely idental, and since he is missing, there might still be a chance of survival. We won''t give up


    §à


    B BO


    and will keep searching for Mr. Mitchell Nelson."


    With a sorrowful expression, Finn said, "Thank you, Mr. Gibbs."


    Staying longer was pointless, so Finn and Felix took their parents and sister back home.


    3


    In the car, Reba slowly woke up. As soon as she opened her eyes, she felt the swelling and aching, a clear sign that she wasn''t dreaming.


    Mitchell was really in trouble.


    Before Reba knew it, tears started to fall down her face again. She no longer cried out loud but silently.


    Yvette started crying too. "Mom, please don''t cry. It hurts me to see you this way, and Mitchell would be sad too."


    Seeing Reba unmoved, Yvette continued tofort her, "I even asked Joe and Berry to keep an eye out for any news. Their family has connections at the hospital, and if someone saved Mitchell, they would definitely get him to a hospital. They promised to let us know as soon as they heard anything.


    "Plus, the White family''s global infowork is unbeatable. They''ll find Mitchell safe and sound soon, and we''ll all be reunited soon."


    Cody, sitting on the other side, turned to give Yvette a deep look.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    After that, Yvette continued to offerforting words to Reba, even when Reba didn''t pay attention to her. She didn''t stop until the car drove into the garage at the Nelson residence, by which time Yvette''s voice was hoarse.


    Finn stopped the car, and Felix couldn''t help but pull Yvette aside. "Yvette, enough. Your voice is hoarse. You''re making Mom and Dad upset, and it''ll break Mitchell''s heart. Stop punishing yourself and tend to your injuries. Mitchell will be devastated if he learns about


    this."


    Yvette forced a small smile at him. "I''m okay, Felix. Besides, if Mitchelles back safe, even if he''s mad at me and doesn''t recognize me as his sister anymore, that''s fine with me."


    She murmured quietly, "As long as Mitchelles back, I''ll do anything."


    Felix pressed his lips together, unable to speak.


    Finn unbuckled his seatbelt. "Let''s get out and give Mom and Dad some peace."


    Yvette still wanted to stay, but Felix insisted on taking her out of the car.


    After the butler took Yvette back to her room to rest, Felix let out a long sigh. Turning back, he gazed at his silent parents in the car with a serious expression and finally voiced the concern he hadn''t dared to share in front of his parents and sister, "Finn, do you think Mitchell is already..."


    Finn kept a calm expression and said quietly, "No matter the scenario, we need to be ready."


    He didn''t want to address that topic directly.


    He still held onto a shred of hope, even if... it seemed impossible.


    Finn said, "I''ll make sure to keep an eye on what Yvette just mentioned. You have better connections at the hospital, so pay more attention to that side."


    Felix nodded firmly. "I know."


    Finn said, "I''ll bring Yosef and Jayden back too. With Mitchell not around, Mom''s emotions are unstable, and having family together would be better."


    .


    Felix agreed, "Okay."


    D


    X


    The two of them sat in silence for a long time. Cody moved slightly and wrapped his arm around Reba''s shoulders.


    He softened his voice. Now that it was just the two of them, he let go of his usual authority as the head of the family. He seemed like an ordinary husband, leaning on his wife''s side, showing his sense of helplessness. Cody said, "Let''s not be too hard on Yvette about Mitchell''s situation!


    "Maybe that master was right back then. Yvette is truly our family''s lucky star, while Shakira will only bring us trouble."

 Chapter 136

    Cody watched her crying and gently patted her shoulder, recalling softly, "Remember that year, right before you were about to give birth, we met a fortune-teller who imed our child would be born under a star of misfortune, bringing bad luck to our family. "He warned that keeping her with us would be a mistake, leading to family strife and discord among our rtives.


    "She was the daughter we''d been waiting for so eagerly, so naturally, we didn''t believe him. I yelled at that fortune-teller and almost got into a fight until you stopped me."


    Cody said with a deep gaze, his thoughts growing heavier, "On the day you gave birth, your water broke suddenly, and we rushed you to the hospital in a hurry. But then you had a difficultbor, and the hospital even had a power outage for an hour, almost putting you at risk!


    "You two were finally pulled back from the brink. However, she ended up with an irregr heartbeat and needed to stay in an incubator, while you couldn''t shake off the high fever..."


    Reba was surprised. "You never told me about this."


    "I didn''t dare to tell you. You carried her for ten months. I was afraid it would upset you!


    "Before you regained consciousness, I went to see her in the incubator. She was fast asleep, but I felt this chill run through me. It was this indescribable sensation, like some invisible force was tugging at my fate, and I couldn''t shake it off. It was absolutely terrifying. "Back then, I thought to myself, how great it would be if we didn''t have this daughter."


    Cody sighed softly, "Despite it all, I never thought of giving up on her. She''s our own flesh and blood. When she recovered and your fever subsided, seeing her sleeping peacefully in your arms, it was as if the world was bathed in sunshine again. I felt maybe even fate was smiling at us.


    "Our family flourished. The kids grew up healthy and safe, and none of those dark predictions the fortune teller made came true. Yvette, our little princess, brought joy and even saved Mitchell''s life at a crucial moment by the sea. She''s not a curse but our lucky charm." Cody chuckled bitterly as he spoke, "Who would''ve thought that fate would y such a joke on us? Yvette isn''t our real daughter, but Shakira is.


    "Ever since she returned, the Nelsons have faced turmoil, even affecting the business. Now, even Mitchell... I never thought the fortune teller''s prophecy would be so spot-on.


    "Luckily, Yvette didn''t bear any grudges. She wasn''t upset or disappointed that Mitchell was briefly misled and kept his distance from her. She''s been working her butt off to find him. Maybe, just like before, with Yvette''s good fortune, Mitchell will have a narrow escape ande back safe and sound.


    "As for Shakira... let''s just cut her off from now on."This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Hearing this, Reba suddenly lifted her head with resentment. Her swollen eyes were welled up with anger. "What do you mean? I gave birth to her, and instead of being grateful, she turned against me and caused my son''s death. You''re just going to let it slide?"


    Cody''s eyes flickered for a moment. "So what else can we do? You saw it too. Without solid evidence, what can we really do against her?


    "Besides, Mr. Lopez is protecting her now. Lopez Group is at the peak of its power, and Finn is already under a lot of pressure at thepany. We''ve already lost Mitchell. Do we really want to keep pressuring our other kids?"  BD


    Q


    Reba covered her mouth and sobbed. She didn''t understand the business world, and she didn''t want to. All she felt was resentment and a desire to avenge Mitchell. But Cody was right. They''d already lost Mitchell. She didn''t bear to push Finn to risk the entire Nelson family against Walter.


    Cody knew she was hurting inside, so he hugged her softly, whispering, "Let''s just act like Shakira never existed. With all the issues with the Smith family now, Yvette''s not going back. We''ll keep Yvette as our own and stay a happy family." Reba fell silent in Cody''s embrace, her tears subsiding to quiet sobs. Cody kept looking straight ahead, gently patting Reba''s back, his old eyes clouded with a depth of understanding that was unfathomable.


    The Nelson family pulled out all stops to find Mitchell, using every new media channel. His disappearance spread fast, but three days passed with no news. Many online marveled again at the luxury of the Nelson family, while others feared for Mitchell''s safety. However, Mitchell''s situation was soon overshadowed by another major national headline.


    "The four esteemed elders areing together for the Crescentville Diplomatic Summit?"


    "Who are the four esteemed elders?"


    "Damn. Are you Clusian? You really don''t know the four esteemed elders? There are the national medical sage, Matthew Goodman, the martial arts master, Yael Bowen, the agriculture pioneer, Ethan Kierce, and..."


    "And the aviation pioneer, Barret Dawson."


    In the ssroom, the monitor turned around and added to the lively discussion of the ssmates behind him, "These four esteemed elders are national heroes. Thanks to these great individuals leading other exceptional leaders in different fields over the decades, our country has be a world power.


    "They have dedicated most of their lives to the country, and the youngest must be over seventy now. After handing over to the younger folks, they went on a private world tour a few years back, making it tough to find them.


    "Even though they''re no longer in their roles, their glory and authority in Clusia remain untouchable. Just a casual remark from any of them can cause a stir across the nation."


    One student said, "So that''s the reason. No wonder there''s been such strict control in Crescentvilletely. I''ve noticed patrols every night."


    "These pirs are treated with the highest regard. For Crescentville''s elite, this is a huge opportunity too," said the ss monitor. "There''s always someone better. These folks are at the very top. If someone wants to climb higher and the


    gets favor of these elders, they can skyrocket to sess."


    The not-so-bright ssmates finally caught on when the ss monitor spoke. They got all excited, chatting and sharing thoughts, imagining a carefree life if they could buddy up with the four esteemed elders.


    Sitting on the other side, Yvette and Berry listened to their loud discussions with disdainful smiles. Berry scoffed, slightly raising her voice, "Are you all dreaming now? Do you think meeting the esteemed elders is something you can just do? Aiming for the stars, that''s trulyughable."

 Chapter 137

    simply couldn''t refute her.


    The lively discussion was abruptly silenced by Berry''s tant ridicule. Everyone fell silent, looking at each other awkwardly. Their expressions showed both anger and unwillingness, but no one dared to speak up and could only keep their frustrations to themselves. They


    Yvette''s expression wasn''t as harsh as Berry''s, but her eyes showed sarcasm as she observed the scene. Casually, she remarked, "It''s not just the four esteemed elders. Even those industry veterans hold top positions, and ordinary people rarely get the chance to meet them."


    Berry''s eyes lit up as she smiled, boasting in a casual manner, "They may not get to meet the esteemed elders, but we''re different. Yvette, I heard from my parents that your family is also attending the summit?"


    Yvette nodded. "Yes, Finn was invited to the diplomatic summit.


    "Finn dotes on you so much. I''m sure he''ll take you along," Berry said.


    Yvette humbly denied, "It''s a work setting, and Finn is very strict when ites to work."


    "Even if Finn doesn''t take you, it''s no big deal. You''re apany owner now. Mitchell''s entertainmentpany is in your hands. You''re the richest among us. Your wealth is more than all of oursbined."


    Immediately, the people around expressed their admiration and envy.


    "Wow, Yvette, Finn is really going to have a meeting with the bigwigs. That''s amazing."


    "Of course. The Nelson family is one of the top five families."


    "Yvette, your family is so good to you. You wanted to get into showbiz, so Mitchell started apany for you and it''s in the top three. Now your family hand it over to you. You own apany worth hundreds of millions before even graduating. I am so envious of you!" With her ssmates all around, oozing envy and admiration, Yvette found it hard to keep her smirk in check. She aimed to stay modest, but her ego was practically floating on air.


    Yvette gently nudged Berry and whispered, "Berry, let''s not talk about it. I''m afraid Shakira will be


    upset."


    Berry''s face twisted with disgust. "Why do you care about her? She''s the one who caused Mitchell''s death. If it weren''t for your family''s orders to avoid Shakira, I''d definitely go and teach her a lesson for you." Yvette looked sorrowful. "Let bygones be bygones! I think even in heaven, Mitchell wouldn''t want to see us keep fighting with Shakira. It''s better for us to move on!"


    It had been three days and still no news about Mitchell. Yvette went from being worried topletely calm. Mitchell had no chance of survival. What that old man gave her was really sinister. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have had such a smooth ride all these years. Yvette wondered, ''But when will Shakira''s good luck finallye back to me? My back is already vered with little rashes


    and I am about to lose my mind!''


    Yvette instinctively wanted to scratch her back, but to avoid ruining her appearance, she had to forcibly hold back. Her eyes shifted, and suddenly she seemed to think of something, saying to Berry, "But I guess Shakira will go to the summit too."


    As expected, Berry''s expression changed instantly, her jealousy spilling out as she snapped, "Why her?"


    Berry thought, ''I''m from the White family and I am not even qualified to attend. esteemed elders?


    y should Shakira get to meet the


    1


    Meanwhile, a certain possibility was forming in her mind, even though she didn''t want to admit it.


    Yvette''s lips moved slightly as she slowly said, "It''s obviously because of Mr. Lopez."


    Berry clenched her fists tightly, her jaw set in disdain. "She''s relying on a man. What''s so great about that?"


    =3


    Hearing Berry''s jealous voice, Yvette chuckled to herself coldly, Shakira has Walter''s backing, but doesn''t Berry wish she could attach herself to Walter too? That''s the pot calling the kettle ck.


    Yvette let out a soft chuckle, "No matter what it takes, getting to know some important people can be useful. Berry, you might as well try it too. After all... you''re his lifesaver."


    Berry''s eyes flickered with new thoughts.


    Meanwhile, Xanthe was listening to Berry and Yvette''s back-and-forth and felt like she might just gag.


    Xanthe said, "Yvette is so shameless. Mitchell isn''t even dead yet, and she''s already taking over everything he built by himself. And they say the Nelson family spoils her? Gross!"


    Shakira was unfazed. "Isn''t that her usual behavior? You feel like gagging only now?"


    Xanthe looked even more distressed. "Stop it. I was blind before, but now I''ve seen the light."


    At that moment, Shakira''s phone lit up. She nced at it, and her bright, beautiful eyes sparkled even more. Xanthe was curious about what the message said that made Shakira so happy, and before she could see, Shakira had already started packing up to leave.


    She was surprised. "There is still another ss. Where are you going?"


    Shakira said, "I have something to do. Cover for me."


    After a pause, Shakira specifically said, "Don''t look for Walter anymore."


    Xanthe stuck out her tongue. "Oh,e on. I''m just worried you''ll get punished."


    Shakira said calmly, "No worries. I can pull my grades back up."


    Words failed Xanthe.


    She thought, ''Shakira really knew how to hit where it hurt.''


    Shakira hadn''t been gone long when the course instructor came in to start the lesson. She naturally noticed the empty seat where Shakira should be, but recalled Patrick''s instructions from a few days earlier and pretended not to see it, continuing with the ss. After ss, Xanthe yed some games and waited until only a few people were left before leaving the ssroom. A shy guy, looking like he just came from a club and decked out in designerbels, stopped her. "Hey, is there someone named Shakira in this ss? I didn''t see here out."


    Xanthe sized up the guy once more. "Why are you looking for Shakira?"


    "Got it." Sean nodded, pulling out a couple of hundred-dor bills from his designer wallet. "Can you tell me now?"


    Xanthe stared at the hundred-dor bills, momentarily stunned. A gigolo like him was trying to insult her with two hundred dors. For the first time, sheThis is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 138

    Xanthe stormed out of the school gate, not expecting to see Enrique''s car parked right there waiting. He waved her over, so she got in, mming the car door hard.


    Enrique half-jokingly coaxed Xanthe, "Who was the fool that dared to upset my dear daughter?"


    Still fuming, Xanthe huffed, "I ran into a total pervert who was even thinking of messing with Shakira!"


    Upon hearing this, Enrique immediately wiped the silly grin off his face, turning serious. He unbuckled his seatbelt, ready to step out. "Who''s the jerk? I''ll go teach him a lesson."


    Xanthe inherited her fiery temper from Enrique, who was quick to act without hesitation.


    Xanthe pulled Enrique back. "Hey, I''ve already taken care of it. By the way, what made you decide to pick me up today? Aren''t you busy with the project?"


    Since the bidding meeting ended, Enrique, who unexpectedly won the bid, had been running back and forth between thepany and the construction site, busier than ever. Xanthe hadn''t seen him at home much.


    Sitting back in his spot, Enrique chuckled, "I just wanted to see you."


    Xanthe didn''t take the bait. She wasn''t born yesterday and didn''t fall for such sweet talk.


    Enrique admitted honestly, "It''s about the summit. In the afternoon, I went to meet Mr. Reynolds at Yonder Digital. Nheard he was asking his secretary to prepare a car to Crescentville University, so I mentioned you were there too, and I kindly offered him a ride."


    It wasn''t until after the bidding ended that Enrique realized his win wasn''t by chance. Yonder Digital had offered their services for the Southville Project for free, saving the government a lot of money because of Sean''s connections, which was why they "lucked out" and got the plum job.


    After learning the truth, Enrique made a special trip to Yonder Digital to thank Sean. Sean was quite friendly in return, even pointing out a few major issues that weren''t obvious in the project. As a result, Enrique admired Sean even more and made sure to update him on the project''s progress whenever he had some free time.


    Xanthe craned her neck, looking out. "The boss of Yonder Digital? Did he go in? Howe I didn''t see him?"


    Xanthe was curious about the great benefactor her dad always praised and wanted to meet this young and aplished CEO of a big corporation.


    Enrique gave her a mysterious smile. "Someone like Mr. Reynolds always stands out, no matter where he is. He seems to have something important to handle and has disguised himself well so people can''t easily recognize him."


    ''A disguise?'' For some reason, Xanthe suddenly thought of the shy gigolo who had stopped her earlier.


    She snapped her head around, a shiver running through her as she felt goosebumps prickling her skin.


    She thought, ''Oh no, how can I ever associate our great benefactor with a freeloading gigolo? That would be such an insult to Mr. Reynolds.


    Seeing Xanthe''s odd expression, Enrique lovingly patted the back of her head. "Feeling down again? I know you love gossip. Next time, I''ll introduce you to Mr. Reynolds. Maybe we can bring Shakira too. They''re both benefactors to our family, you know."


    Xanthe nodded. "Sure."


    3


    .


    Shakira returned to Easke Valley Estate after receiving a message from Levi.


    5


    Behind the small garden, there was a dedicated rehab room, which had been set up by Benji for Walter, although Walter had yet to go in there.


    But today, a group of specialists invited from the hospital was there to perform a thorough examination on Walter.


    When Shakira returned, the doctors were busy adjusting the testing equipment.


    When Walter saw her rushing in, his handsome face had a somewhat subtle look.


    He asked, "Did you skip ss again?"


    Walter had seen Shakira''s schedule. She wasn''t supposed to be back until the afternoon.


    Shakira pouted and bluntly exposed the truth, "Are you trying to sneak in a check-up without me knowing?"


    Walter snorted dismissively and asked back, "Is it necessary?"


    Seeing his response, Shakira nodded. "Good, I thought someone wanted to secretly make me work without telling me the real test results." Walter was speechless.N?velDrama.Org content.


    A momentter, the doctors were ready to start.


    Walter came over and unbuttoned his shirt, pressing the device''s probe around his joints.


    The device was powered on, and the test began.


    With a prompt from the doctors, Walter began a series of alternating actions and conversations for the test.


    Shakira stood with the doctors, watching the device intently.


    Her heart unknowingly became tense.


    The line on the device remained steady, with no fluctuations.


    This showed that there was still no new progress with Walter''s legs.


    The faint sparkle in Shakira''s eyes faded instantly.


    Walter observed her expression and the cautious attitude of the doctors around him. It was clear he had already guessed the test results.


    His face showed no emotion as he interrupted the doctor''s next instruction and decided to end the test early.


    Shakira also stepped away from the monitor, calmly helping him remove the devices and buttoning up his shirt one by one.


    Walter lifted his gaze slightly, focusing on Shakira''s face.


    Seeing her act so calm in front of him for the first time, Walter darkened his eyes.


    With a deep, strong voice that resonated in Shakira''s heart, Walter said, "Shakira, you can''t just give up like that, can you?" Shakira''s eyshes flickered gently.


    After a moment, she raised her eyes to meet Walter''s intense gaze.


    B


    0


    In the depths of his eyes, only her image reflected back.


    The heaviness in Shakira''s heart suddenly found a release, and it vanished in an instant.


    She slightly curled her lips and said, "Who said I''m giving up?


    "I was just thinking that giving you a few more acupunctures next time might be more effective."


    Walter was speechless.


    What a cold-hearted woman.


    3


    The tension had just eased when a woman''s haughty voice came from outside the door. "With your limited skills, do you think you can cure Walter? It is just your wishful thinking." Fiona also heard the news and found out they wereing to check on Walter, so she quickly set aside her tasks to rush


    over.


    On her way, she was worried that if Shakira somehow identally helped Walter improve, Shakira would act superior in the future.


    But just as she walked in, she heard some great news.


    Even though she wanted Walter to recover soon, she absolutely wouldn''t allow any connection to that bitch Shakira.


    Fiona said gently, "Walter."


    Fiona was as fierce as a tiger toward Shakira, but when she crouched down in front of Walter, she turned into a sweet little kitten.


    "I feel so guilty about getting you involved in that scamst time. I''ve been too ashamed to see you and have been punishing myself by staying at home..." said Fiona.


    Walter showed no reaction, and Shakira couldn''t help but mutter, "Isn''t it because you''re embarrassed and afraid of beingughed at?"


    Words failed Fiona.

 Chapter 139

    Fiona was furious and intended to talk back. However, the moment she met Walter''s calm eyes, she felt a surge of guilt. As Shakira said, she stayed home indeed because she feared being mocked by those socialites and the medical field. She looked at Walter pitifully and attempted to exin, "Walter, actually I..."This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Walter directly interrupted her, "Why did you suddenlye here?"


    "Uh." Fiona paused to ponder how to answer the question. Certainly she shouldn''t say that she rushed over after hearing he was gonna have a physical exam. Walter hated others prying into his affairs, and she didn''t dare to touch his bottom line.


    After a while, Fiona had a brainwave. She blinked and said with a smile, "You know, the diplomatic summit ising, I''m here to ask you to organize a gathering. Please help me invite Kyle and some other friends, so we can discuss business ahead of time." Walter had no reason to refuse, considering they''d been cooperating with the Banks family in some projects. Thus he said, "I''ll have Benji arrange it tonight."


    Fiona''s eyes sparkled with delight. "Great! I''ll go get ready for tonight. See you then!" said she happily.


    After Fiona left, the doctors tidied up their equipment and departed as well. Walter nced at Shakira, who was deep in thought with her head down, and suddenly asked, "Do you like the food I brought youst time?"


    Shakira came back to her senses and raised her head in confusion. Not until half a minuteter did she realize what Walter was saying. She answered, "The food you brought that night? It was delicious."


    Walter nodded and continued, "Then take a rest. We''ll go to that restaurant tonight."


    Shakira understood what he meant and widened her eyes in surprise. "I''m going too? I think it''s improper for me to be present while you guys are discussing business."


    Walter instantly narrowed his eyes, a dangerous chill in them. "So you think it''s proper to trouble me to bring you food once again?"


    4


    Shakira quickly waved her hand and exined, "No, that''s not what I meant..." But before she could finish her words, Walter had turned his wheelchair away. His cold voice sounded, "Go eat personally if you wanna taste them again." Shakira was speechless looking at his leaving figure. Walter treated her like a piggy? How could she immerse herself in food when they were talking about business? When did she create such a "glutton" image in his heart?!


    In the evening, Berry called Walter after finishing a day''s courses, asking him softly if he had time to have dinner together. But Walter asked her to find Brian saying he was busy, which made her a bit depressed. Brian was just an assistant and could help nothing! Berry sped her phone, her pretty and innocent face twisting with frustration. Though she needed Yvette to give her some ideas, she didn''t wanna embarrass herself with this. She must prove that she was better than Shakira and Yvette on her own! When Berry was scrolling through her phone restlessly, she suddenly saw a photo Calton just updated on his instagram. After theirst meeting, she nerved herself and added him to her list, hoping to get closer to Walter by approaching his friends. Back then, Kyle declined her saying he didn''t use instagram and Cavin said his friend list was full. Only Calton added her. The photo he uploaded today was McLaren''s logo, and below was his caption: [s, Walter wanted to have a gathering My date tonight fell through Life is so tough-) Berry''s eyes lit up. She wondered, ''So Mr. Lopez will have dinner with them tonight? Now that he refuses my invitation, I can go find him myself! Maybe he''ll soften upon seeing me


    B BO


    With this thought in mind, Berry opened Calton''s chat window and typed after thinking for a while: [Sorry to bother you, Mr. Jennings. I forgot the address of the dinner tonight. Could you tell me?]


    Calton quickly replied: [Veiled Vine]. But after a few seconds, he asked again: [Walter invited you?]


    Berry didn''t reply and quickly exited the chat window, grasping her phone nervously. Her heart was pounding after she lied. Calton didn''t receive a reply and felt kinda strange. But he didn''t dwell on it, thinking Berry wouldn''t cause any trouble as a member of the White family. Veiled Vine was the ce where Walter and his friends usually gathered. Kyle was the first to arrive, and then were Calton and Gavin. Several minutester, Fiona and Benji met at the entrance and walked in together. The young heirs from other influential families that were in partnership with them werest to arrive.


    Berry convinced the Veiled Vine staff to lead her to the gathering room by using the same excuse and showing them her chat history with Calton. All eyes fell on her as she entered the room, which made her heart race wildly. Fiona jumped to her feet, her eyes zing with anger and disdain. She sneered, "Who allows you to appear here?"


    Berry knew Fiona came from a wealthy family and was close with this group. She couldn''t help but tremble with fear, her gaze ncing around the room. As Walter hadn''te, she had to look at Calton and stuttered, "Mr. Jennings, I..." Calton rubbed the back of his head and asked in surprise, "She said Mr. Lopez had invited her."


    Fiona immediately put on a hostile face and asked in a rage, "What''s her rtionship with Walter?"


    Calton shrugged and said casually, "Just friends, I assume?"


    Fiona gave Berry several scrutinizing nces and sneered, "Impossible. We''re discussing business tonight. Walter won''t let an outsidere here. She probably got wind that Walter would be here tonight and came without permission."


    Hearing that they would discuss business tonight, Berry grew more anxious-she''d thought it was a simple party. Calton, knowing exactly he was the "leaker", shut his mouth with a guilty face. Then he noticed Berry''s nervous expression, confusion and doubt arising in his heart.


    As Shakira and Walter entered the room, Berry was standing awkwardly by the door, wishing there were a hole which she could bury herself in. The moment she saw Walter, she instinctively moved towards him but halted when she spotted Shakira behind him, unsure of what to do.


    Greatly terrified, she looked at Walter and sobbed, "Mr. Lopez..."


    Walter frowned and asked, "Why are you here?"


    Berry whimpered, "I haven''t seen you for so long. I knew you would have dinner with your friends here, so I came to see you..." Hearing this, Walter furrowed his eyebrows more tightly. He subconsciously nced at Shakira, his eyes flickering when seeing Shakira watching Berry with interest.


    Seeing Berry already irritated Fiona, and Shakira''s appearance made her even angrier. "Walter!" she stormed over in a rage and almost growled. "Aren''t we supposed to talk about business tonight? Why did you have two unrted people here? Then how can we discuss our thing?"


    Everyone present could tell who the "two unrted people" Fiona was insinuating. Face darkening, Walter said in a deep voice, "You can eat if you don''t want to talk. If you don''t want food either, then you can leave. Any question?"

 Chapter 140

    140


    Fiona''s face paled at Walter''s harsh words. Berry, who had been timid and meek before Walter''s arrival, couldn''t help but cast a mocking nce at Fiona.


    She confidently assumed that Walter was defending her. ''Humph, she snorted in her heart, ''everyone including Kyle just stood by and watched Fiona scoffing at me. If they had spoken a word for me, the bitch wouldn''t have bullied me that way!''


    Anger and spite flickered in Berry''s eyes. Besides there was an increasing desire for Walter. She thought disdainfully, ''Just wait-when Mr. Lopez bes my boyfriend, I''ll definitely have these high-and-mighty heirs who did nothing today have a taste of their own medicine!''


    Silence reigned in the room, nobody daring to make a noise for fear of getting involved. Suddenly, a rumbling sound of someone''s stomach broke the tension. Shakira blinked and asked innocently, "So when can we eat?"


    Walter''s lips twitched slightly as he scolded, "I saw Levi give you a sandwich before we left."


    Shakira showed him an expression of disapproval and retorted, I need nourishment to grow. That sandwich was so small and has been digested!"


    Walter darted her a meaningful look and whispered in a low voice that only the two of them could hear, "You''ve eaten so much food, but seems some part on your body hasn''t grown at all."


    ''Where is he looking?!'' Shakira gritted her teeth in annoyance. She wanted to talk back but failed to find any weakness of his though she''d racked her brains. Therefore, she became even more unhappy.


    Seeing Shakira puff up her cheeks like a little squirrel, Walter softened his face, his thin lips curving into a faint smile. The tension in the room vanished in an instant. Everyone around them was stunned, like they had just discovered a whole new world watching these two flirt openly.


    Berry''s eyes were wide open, and Fiona clenched her fists tightly. They both looked at Shakira jealously, wishing they could burn her to ash with their res. Calton was the first to react. He proposed, "Then no business talk tonight. Let''s treat it as a simple party." Others also echoed, "Yeah, it''s been a while since we gathered with Mr. Lopez and Mr. Whitest time. We can take this chance to chat and have a meal together."


    "We can discuss business anytime, but a private gathering like this is rare for us," a man said.


    Kyle then gestured the manager to start serving the dishes. When they were eating, Calton, Gavin, and some friends casually mentioned thetest gossips in their circle. Shakira enjoyed her food while listening to them curiously.


    As the atmosphere grew lively, some of them proposed a toast and gulped down their wine. Smelling the sweet aroma in the air, Shakira couldn''t help but lick her bottom lip. Walter glimpsed her movement and smiled, "Want some wine?" Shakira''s eyes lit up. Instead of an angry squirrel, she was now like an excited squirrel spotting a nut. "Can I?" asked her in an expectant voice.


    With his smile brighter, Walter emptied another ss of wine and crushed her hopes. "In your dreams."


    Speechless at his childish trick, Shakira buried her head back into the te and focused on her steak. ''What a bad man!'' she thought while poking her steak hard with her fork.


    After a few sses of wine, Calton''s face turned reddish though he hadn''t got drunk. He took a thoughtful nce at Berry, who had been secretly watching Walter and Shakira, and suddenly suggested, "It''s so dull just eating and drinking." Immediately knowing Calton''s intention, Gavin smiled without stopping him. Calton chuckled and said, "We rarely have such a change to get together like today, how about we y a game? Mr. Lopez, you haven''t yed with us for long. This


    time


    you must join us!"


    84% +5


    Walter shot him a nce and asked, "What game?"


    Calton gave a mysterious smile and went out to find the manager. After a while, he came back with flying chess andined, "Kyle, your restaurant is really dull. It took me much time to find something to y. Sorry, everyone, we''ll have to make do with this tonight." Kyle leaned back in his chair and raised his exquisite and handsome face, retorting, "It''s a restaurant, not an amusement park."


    Calton sighed, "What a pity. I''ll bring something to y next time Ie."


    Gavin chimed in, "Cut the crap. Tell us the rules of the game."


    Calton thought for a moment and said, "We''ve got many people here, so let''s pair up, one person moving chess and the other taking punishment."This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    His eyes ran down the room before he continued, "The team losing a piece to another will face a truth or dare challenge. The team first reaching the finish line is the winner and can punish all the members of the other three teams."


    "Got it." Gavin nodded and looked around, directly deciding upon his teammate. "I''ll team up with Kyle. Flying chess seems simple, but it also requires skills. I need a smart teammate."


    Fiona couldn''t wait to cut in, "Then Walter and I..."


    Walter interrupted her without hesitation, "Shakira will be my teammate."


    Shakira curved her eyes happily, thinking, ''I like games. Maybe I can have a couple of drinks in the game. Perfect!''


    Fiona instantly gave a sulky face. Fortunately Ryan Moore, who sat beside her and was on good terms with her invited her to be his teammate and saved her face. Calton looked around and said, "Then Berry, we''re a team."


    six.


    Surprised she could join, Berry looked at Calton gratefully. As the game started, the four teams began rolling dice. They needed to roll a six before they could move their chess. The other three all failed. When Shakira took her turn, she twirled the dice and rolled the first Gavin noticed her finger movement andmented with a meaningful smile, "Ms. Nelson, you''re really experienced."


    Shakira put on an innocent expression and said, "I watched some tutorials online. I didn''t think it would actually work. Just lucky, I guess."


    As if to confirm her words, she rolled a two on the second try. Two roundster, Kyle and Fiona both sessfully rolled a six and set off. Only Calton and Berry''s chess was still at the starting point.


    In the forth round, Shakira and Walter''s piece happened to move to Calton and Berry''s ce. Berry could do nothing but watch Calton''s movement nervously. Calton nced at her and casually spun the dice-a four.


    Berry let out a sigh with disappointed. She couldn''t helpining in her heart, ''Calton a yboy. How could he be so bad at rolling dice?"


    Different from Calton''s poor luck, Shakira and Walter were in perfect sync and quickly "captured" Fiona''s piece. Fiona -looked innocently at Walter and begged in a soft voice, "I choose dare. Walter, you won''t really have heart to punish me, right?"


    Walter ignored her pitiful look and said, "Eat a spoonful of wasabi and take three shots of liquor."


    Fiona''s face paled at once, yet Calton and the other friends just egged her on as if not noticing her expression. Furiously, Fiona, refusing Ryan''s kindness to take the punishment for her, threw a spoonful of wasabi into her mouth and gulped down


    three sses of wine.


    -


    3


    I 3 84%u


    The next moment, Fiona felt a surge of nausea and rushed to the bathroom to vomit. Listening to the noise from the bathroom, Shakira couldn''t help but give Walter a thumbs-up.


    ''Poor Fiona, not only did he have heart to punish you, but he didn''t even weaken for a single second, Shakira sighed quietly.


    When Fiona returned, her eyes were red and wet with tears, and her lipstick was smudged. She red at Shakira and said, "Let''s continue!"


    Another roundter, Calton finally rolled a six and moved his piece. Meanwhile, under Fiona''s guidance, Ryan managed to "capture" Walter''s piece. Meeting Fiona''s cloudy and malicious gaze, Shakira made her decision without hesitation. "I choose truth," she said. Fiona smiled disdainfully and asked in an aggressive tone, her voice sharp and cutting, "Shakira, you''re only sticking around Walter for his money, right?"


    J

 Chapter 141

    J


    +5 0


    Fiona looked at Shakira, her gaze provocative and sarcastic. Some yful heckles sounded in the room. All the eyes fixed on Shakira, waiting for a good show to unfold.


    Shakira thought for only a couple of seconds before answering, "No." The people around chuckled, clearly not believing her words. Walter also took a nce at her, his expression thoughtful. Fiona''s face was full of mockery. She asked rhetorically, "Not for money? Then what are you pursuing?"


    Shakira raised an eyebrow and reminded her calmly, "You only get one question." Fiona gritted her teeth and darted her a re, urging Ryan to figure out a way to "capture" Walter''s piece again.


    However, Walter was so skilled that Ryan failed to find another chance. With four small pieces, Walter dominated the entire game and Ryan couldn''t fight back at all.


    Fiona tried to give Shakira a hard time but ended up facing punishment time and again, her face keeping darkening as the game went on.


    In a cold sweat, Ryan was now feeling immense pressure. He didn''t expect ying a game was so hard. If he had known earlier, he wouldn''t have teamed up with Fiona.


    When Fiona was having a tit-for-tat struggle against Shakira, Berry was also having a tough time. Calton was not only unlucky but was also awful at ying flying chess. As others'' pieces were following his closely, he still put his neck into the noose.


    Fearing choosing truth would make a fool of herself, Berry chose dare every time. She was either drinking a few sses of wine in a go or being asked to do something ridiculous like kissing a turtle in the pool outside. Having been toyed so many times, she was almost numb.


    Worse still, she saw Calton holding his stomach and guffawing one time after she touched up her makeup and returned from the restroom, hearing him offering Gavin some other interesting ideas to punish her. It suddenly dawned on Berry that Calton had been embarrassing her on purpose.


    He knew I utilized him, and now he''s taking back at me!'' Berry wondered with her heart pounding. She wanted to turn around and leave, but ultimately she bit the bullet and returned to her seat, thinking all her sufferings would waste if she left Time flew, and the game reached its final moments. Walter allowed himself to fall a few pieces, while Gavin was well ahead and became the winner. steps


    behind to capture


    others''


    now.


    Kyle and Gavin high-fived in sync. "I never thought my first team-up with you aftering back would be for something like this," Kyle shook his head with a resigned chuckle, joking. "It''s, uh, quite interesting." Gavin smiled and said, "Putting everything else aside, we just defeated Mr. Lopez, the gaming king! I must say our cooperation is aplete sess." Hearing that, Kyle couldn''t help butugh.


    Gavin crossed his long legs, a mischievous smile shing through his eyes as he nced around the room. He said, "Alright, everyone, are you ready for the uing punishment?"


    Calton fearlessly twiddled his finger at him and said, "Bring it on, I''m not scared of you at all."


    "You said it." Gavin cleared his throat and continued. "The punishment is, feed your teammates a piece of cake without using your hands."


    Calton immediately jumped up, yelling, "What the hell?! Gavin, you''re such a rascal!"


    Fiona also red at Gavin and asked, "Without using our hands? You want us to use our mouths?"


    B BO


    Gavin shrugged and said, "I don''t care. You can use any part of your body but your hands. If you''ve got a special skill, you can even use your feet." Calton refused to take the punishment and asked, "I quit. Can I just drink instead?"


    Gavin replied with a "considerate" smile, "Sure. But you need to drink three bottles of wine to skip the punishment. Besides, if you throw up, you''ll have to start over."


    Without hesitation, Calton popped open three bottles of wine and guzzled them. His swift movement made it seem like he was rushing to avoid any close physical contact with Berry.


    Berry felt awkward and angry, Calton was a well-known yboy surrounded by endless rumors. Now his attitude to avoid her like she were a poisonous snake made her extremely embarrassed.


    At the other end, Fiona already made the decision for Ryan and shoved the bottles towards him. Ryan had no choice but to drink them clenching his teeth.


    Finally, just Walter and Shakira hadn''t taken the punishment. Benji, who''d been aside watching them ying the game, opened his mouth, "Walter and my... ahem, they don''t need to drink. They choose the former one!" ''Seriously?'' Shakira couldn''t help but roll her eyes. She intended to drink wine. ''Only three bottles. It''s easy,'' she thought calmly.


    But before she could say a word, Walter cast her a cold and said In


    Shakira raised her hand and promised, "I promise I won''t!


    drunk."


    "Huh, are you not worried about a stomachache in a couple of days


    00


    threatening tone, "You sure to drink?"


    ter


    you


    drink today?" asked Walter tly.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    A stomachache? Why?" Shakira wondered in confusion. After a


    a moment of thought, it urred to her that her period was in two days! How did he remember that?! Color red in her cheeks.


    Shakira awkwardly nced at the cake on the table and mumbled, "Well... I''ll try you hurry up and catch it quickly."


    Speechless, Walter was surprised by her "brilliant" idea and gazed at her silently.


    grab it with my nose and mouth. Walter,


    Finishing her words, Shakira attempted to pick the cake up with the method she mentioned, only to end up with the sweet and sticky icing covering her nose. She tried several times again but all failed.


    Calton, tipsy after downing three bottles of wine, turned his head and found Shakira still struggling with the cake. He urged in a teasing tone, "Hey, don''t be shy. Use your mouth! Use your mouth!"


    The other people had never seen Walter have intimate interactions with any woman in front of them, so they decided to stir things up and joined Calton, "Yeah, be quick. You two should finish the punishment within a limited time."


    Calton gave a typical viin''s grin and said, "When time is up, we''ll change it into another harsher punishment!"


    Gavin echoed quickly, "Let them kiss directly?"


    Calton nodded in approval. "Good idea, hahaha!"


    Shakira darted them a re in annoyance. As she was about to try again, a weight suddenlynded on her shoulder.


    Shakira turned her head and saw Walter drape a hand on her shoulder like he enfolded her in his embrace. He bent his head and gently took the cake with his lips. The next moment, he looked at Shakira and ordered with his gaze, "Open your mouth." Shakira was


    stunned and didn''t know how to react, her lips still pouting to get the cake. Walter slightly narrowed his


    eyes,


    BB O


    gently but firmly lifting her chin.


    Feeling a slight pain, Shakira subconsciously parted her lips. Almost instantly, a warm and strawberry-vored thing touched her lips like a feather. Her heart skipped a beat.


    The room erupted with screams and apuse, but Shakira felt her mind go nk and all the noises be so distant. She could only sense the sweet aroma of the cake and the cold cedar scent wafting from Walter.


    In a daze, she instinctively took a bite of the cake and vaguely heard a pained sound. When she came to her senses, Walter had leaned back in his wheelchair, his usually cold eyes now bright and intense, staring fixedly at her without even blinking.


    He was still chewing, but Shakira felt like he was not tasting the cake but savoring her wholeheartedly from her head to toe. His gaze made her kinda breathless.


    Shakira''s heart was pounding like crazy, so she quickly lowered her head and sip some water. Gavin and his friends, pleased with the scene they just witnessed, teased yfully, "Mr. Lopez, is it sweet?"


    Walter, whose manner was usually cold and distant when he faced women, showed a satisfied expression andmented, "Not bad."


    Like fireworks exploded in her heart, Shakira blushed in an instant with her ears even turning bright red. ''He kissed me?! He definitely disguised himself as a gentleman before!!!'' she thought with her mind in a mess.

 Chapter 142

    142


    an exception..


    The cheers andughtersted for a long time in the room. Over the years, Walter had never epted any punishment involving physic contact with women. No matter how his friends egged him on, he always chose to drink wine without hesitation. Only this time he made Calton and Gavin naturally wouldn''t miss such a good chance tough at Walter. In the darkness, Fiona sat motionlessly in her chair and trembled uncontrobly with fury and upset. She never expected that Walter would really kiss Shakira. The scene that Walter approached Shakira and pressed his lips on hers forcefully yet gently was deeply ingrained in Fiona''s mind. She felt her heart was bleeding painfully. Simrly, Berry grasped the tablecloth with her head downcast, her eyes burning with jealousy. After a while, Brian knocked on the door and came in, whispering a few words to Walter. Before long. Kyle''s subordinate also entered and reported something to him. The other people quieted down, not daring to mess around anymore.. The White family had informants worldwide and always got first hand information quickly. Also, in Crescentville, no matters could escape the Lopez family''s nose.


    Now the subordinates of Walter and Kyle came at the same time, so something must have happened. Gavin was smart and reacted quickly. He asked. ''Got the information about National Seniors?"


    Walter nodded and exchanged a look with Kyle. With no outsiders in the room, Kyle directly shared the news he just got. "Reliable sources say the Seniors will reach Crescentville at 0:00a.m. tonight. They have officials escort them." "So abrupt?" Calton clicked his tongue and jeered. "Humph, only they have such a genius for hiding themselves from


    everyone.


    A man whose family was doing business with the Jennings familyughed and echoed, "They''re big shots, so it''s understandable that they don''t wanna get tangled up with us the ordinary whock a clear knowledge of themselves."


    His friend said following him. "Exactly, what can our smallpanies achieve? We''re different from Mr. Lopez, Mr. White. Mr. Jennings and Mr. Clifton. Even one of their projects can boost Crescentville''s development, let along the huge profits they can make. Though the Seniors did have some achievements, they are allmoners and know clearly only by cooperating with the right people can they am****great fortune for themselves and their descendants.


    The


    othersughed along. Though some of them didn''t say a word, their excitement was evident in their faces. They also knew once they could be in partnership with these powerful men present, they would earn the ticket to great sess. Aside, with the lingering aroma in her mouth, Shakira had been sipping her water. Listening to their boldments, she just raised an eyebrow and remained silent. Walter calmly interrupted their lively discussion, saying, "It''s gettingte. Let''s call it a night."


    Now that Walter had said so, nobody would say no. But it was still early, so most of them nned to find another ce to continue the fun. Shakira got up and pushed Walter''s wheelchair toward the door


    Just then, Kyle instructed the manager to fetch a bag of packed food and said, "Walter, you didn''t eat much tonight. Here are some light dishes in case you get hungryter While speaking, be shot a few nces at Shakira.N?velDrama.Org content.


    Shakira curved ler lips and took over the bag, saying. Thank you for taking such good care of Walter, Mr. White Kyle smiled and said nothing-


    When Shakira and Walter got outside, the Maybach was already waiting there. Before they got in the car, a burst of urgent footsteps sounded from behind, followed by Berry''s shy and anous voice. "Mr Lopez, please wait!" 1/3


    G.


    * 84%


    Shakira c***d an eyebrow and turned around, but Berry directly ignored her and ran straight to Walter. Slightly out of breath and with a flushed face from her short run, she bent over and pleaded, "Mr. Lopez, can I have a quick word with you, just a few minutes?" Walter said, "Go ahead" ..." Berry hesitated, instinctively ncing at Shakira.


    Not waiting for Walter to say something. Shakira said with a considerate smile, "I''ll go to the car first." She walked away after finishing her words, not caring whether Walter agreed or not


    Watching her decisive leaving figure, Walter frowned in displeasure. He turned to Berry and asked, "Can we talk now?"


    Berry bit her lip, slightly nervous, "Mr. Lopez, I came over tonight without your permission. Are you angry at me?"


    Walter shot her a meaningful look and replied, "Calton might be the one angrier at you."


    without Though Calton seemed easy-going, he was never the kind whoever could mess with. He wouldn''t target a person reason, but everyone could tell he was targeting Berry during the game. Obviously Berry must have used some tricks to get the gathering address from Calton. Berry''s face went pale as she quickly crouched down and apologized, ¡°Mr. Lopez, I''m really sorry. I''ve been feeling uneasy these days. During the daytime, I saw Mr. Jennings upload a photo and knew you were having a gathering tonight, so L... Walter cut her off, "Is this what you want to say?"


    Berry choked up, tears running down her face. "From the past to today, I''m always the abandoned one! Two years ago, I was sent abroad, and now, it''s the same thing all over again!"


    Her voice was filled with pain and sorrow. "Mr. Lopez, my family treated me much better after knowing our connection. Lately, my parents have been begging me toe to you and seek your help to let them attend the diplomatic summit.


    "I don''t want to put you in a dilemma, but they are my parents and even knelt down in front of me. I can''t harden my heart, and refuse them... Berry sobbed sadly as she spoke. Walter''s expression was cold and serious. He said, "I see. You can go back home and tell them to wait for the news."


    Surprised that Walter was willing to help, Berry immediately looked up at him with her tearful eyes. She said gratefully, "Mr. Lopez, thank you, thank you so much!"


    Watching her fragile and tearful face, Walter furrowed his eyebrows tightly. The woman in his memory was never bullied easily by anyone, nor did she rely on others. Could amnesia really have such a significant impact on someone''s personality? Walter remained silent and had Brian find a person to drive Berry home. When he got in the car, Shakira had opened the packed food and started enjoying them.


    she was watching him. Then Walter noticed that Shakira''s face was towards the window on her side. It seemed like just t and Berry talking to each other like watching a soap opera while eating her food. Walter was speechless for a moment. He ordered in annoyance, "Wind down the window. The car is full of the smell of food.


    Shakira obediently rolled down the window while muttering in low voice, "Doesn''t the food smell better than Berry''s - perfume?"


    Walter once again had no words to express his feeling. He turned his head and stared fixedly at Shakira as if trying to see through her mind. After a while, he asked, "Are you jealous? I seem to smell something sour "Sour?" Shakira stopped eating and looked down into the food bag, asking curiously. "Could it be that there''s vinegar inside? But I didn''t find it."


    Knowing she was trying to skip the subject, Walter let out a sigh in his heart, his gaze serious. "She helped me before, and I''m just repaying a favor. Don''t overthink it''


    Shakira still maintained her posture of looking into the bag, a sh of light crossing her lowered eyes. She said in a joking voice. "Walter, as you''re so wealthy and powerful, how could Berry help you? Maybe you have the wrong person!" Walter spoke with certainty, "It''s her, I''m sure. It''s a long story"


    I see. Shakira nodded and continued eating, ending the topic.


    The next morning, Shakira got up early and prepared breakfast for Walter before heading out. She walked to a street near Clusia Hospital. It was peak time, and the air was filled with the enticing aroma of various food.


    Shakira spent two dors buying a piece of bread and strolled along the street, eating her breakfast while scanning every store casually. Suddenly, she stopped and entered a small cafe, taking a seat next to an old man wearing a thick woolen hat in the corner.

 Chapter 143

    Matthew took a small bite of the vermicelli rolls before him. He held a brand-new gship phone from a popr brand that everyone was eager to get.


    It seemed like it had been ages since hest used a smartphone. Squinting, he poked and swiped at the screen with furrowed. brows, trying hard to figure it out. Eventually, losing patience, he mmed it onto the table. Shakira nced over and felt relieved that it was designed to be durable. Or, it wouldn''t withstand his temper. It was then that Matthew noticed someone was sitting next to him. His angry expression softened for a moment, but his face darkened again when he remembered something. He turned away with a buff. Shakira almost burst outughing. Just then, the phone on the table started buzzing with notifications again, making Matthew even more frustrated. Shakira suggested in a soothing, almost child-like tone, "How about I set your phone to Do Not Disturb for you?" Matthew nced over but didn''t say anything. He was just being proud. Shakira slightly curled her lips. She took his phone, to expertly unlock it, adjusted the settings, and also erged the font size. Seeing her thoughtful little gesture, Matthew''s eyes softened slightly. When Shakira looked ooked over, he had resumed his stoic demeanor. Knowing that Matthew wasn''t easy to please, she went to the stall owner, scanned the QR code, washed her hands, entered the small kitchen, and came out soon with a te of translucent vermicelli rolls and handed it it to Matthew. With a cheery smile, Shakira said, "I added your favorite diced radish especially. Want to try?" The vermicelli rolls drizzled with Shakira''s special sauce released a tempting aroma, making Matthew instinctively swallow. He nned to resist a bit longer, but Shakira casually added, "They taste best when hot." Matthew gulped, picked up a spoon, and took a big bite. Matthew didn''t mind the sauce on his mouth corner and soon finished the te of vermicelli rolls, leaving nothing behind. He leaned against the wall, licking his lips with satisfaction. Meeting Shakira''s clear, smiling eyes, he stubbornly said. "You can''t get rid of me with a te of of vermicelli rolls." Shakira''s eyes sparkled as she seemed to talk to herself, counting on her fingers. "It has been a while since I made steak, roasted turkey, or pork sandwiches."


    a


    Matthew was flustered, blowing his beard, and red.


    "You troublesome girl. You didn''t contact me for a long time. You contact me only when you want me to treat somebody''s illness. I rushed over to hear you talking about dishes that my friends like. I''ll go if you make me angry. You won''t have a mentor then." Shakira almost burst outughing, her eyes wide with mock innocence. "Master, you''re using me wrongly. I haven''t finished yet. Sure, I''m nning to make your favorites like pizza and oatmeal."


    Matthew, a pro at handling delicious food, retorted. "Hmph, thats more like it. He couldn''t resist tapping Shakira on the nose, lifting his hand heavily but softening the gesture as it came down.


    "You insisted on going back with the Nelson family back then, dil you realize you were making a mistake?" asked Matthew. His words caught in Shakira''s throat. In her previous life, after returning to the Nelson residence, she didn''t dare to reach out to them, fearing they would be angry or sad for her. In the end, she couldn''t even see them onest time.


    They pulled her back from her darkest moments, teaching her skills and giving her a chance to start over. It was her fault for being so obsessed with family ties, wasting their efforts and care She didn''t even get the clunce to repay them and became a stepping stone for Yvette''s destiny without realizing it


    212


    09:39


    GG


    Shakira took a deep breath. Matthew, I''ve left the Nelson residence andpletely cut ties with them."


    Matthew wore a calm expression, not surprised at all. Shakira raised an eyebrow, "You knew, didn''t you?"


    11


    11


    Matthew snorted. "After all the mess the Nelsons put you through, if you hadn''t cut ties, I would havee back to knock some sense into you myself.


    He paused as if waiting for Shakira toe clean. "What''s going on with you and that guy from the Lopez family who hurt his legs! Are you two a thing?"


    Shakira''s mouth twitched slightly as she exined, "I owed him a favor and promised to help heal his legs. As my skills aren''t good enough, I could only ask you to step in."


    Matthew chuckled. "What kind of big favor is worth so much effort from you, girl? Is it love?"


    Shakira kept silent. She thought, ''He is back to that topic again and is really into gossip.


    Before she could exin further, a familiar female voice full ofints entered the store. Fiona, wearing a white tracksuit, was much more low-keypared to her usual morous outfits. But her face still showed her tant arrogance.


    She had a Bluetooth earpiece hanging from her ear, ring as she yelled at the person over the call, "Is your info reliable? I''ve been up since dawn, searching this grimy food street where cockroaches and rats roam. Can a big shot like Matthewe to such a dingy


    "I don''t care. I''ve already paid you, so you must find a way to let me meet Matthew. The voice on the other end of the call came through.


    She angrily hung up and looked up, only to see Shakira sitting in the corner. Fiona was momentarily stunned, suddenly understood something, andughed sarcastically.


    "Shakira, you''ve got quite a nerve? You can''t treat Walter as you bragged, and try to ask Matthew for help to make yourself look good?" Fiona sneered arrogantly. "Can you gain help from Matthew? Do you believe you can hog all the benefits in the world?" Shakira gave a vague smile. "Isn''t you whimsical too? Can''t even tell a con man apart. You probably wouldn''t even recognize him even if he shows up right before you."


    Fiona''s face turned ashen and then she noticed an old, shabby-looking man beside Shakira. His hat was worn out and pilled and his clothes were baggy and ill-fitting. He didn''t dare look her in the eye, acting like a timid pushover,


    FionaThis content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    snickered. "You mean this beggar-like guy is Matthew? Hrious. Were I you, I''d head back to the Lopez family and pack my bags. Leave now to save your dignity. When I help Walter find Matthew and heal his legs, he would then demand you leave Crescentville." After uttering those harsh words, Fiona''s phone rang again. She turned with a confident stride and walked away.


    Shakira''s brow twitched slightly as she turned to Matthew. Before she could say anything, Matthew mped his hand on the table. "Where''s Walter? Tell him toe quickly. Once I fix his legs, you can go and annoy that rude woman." Shakira was speechless.

 Chapter 144

    83


    Shakira was thinking to cheer up Matthew when the phone on the table set to Do Not Disturb lit up, making a fuss. Matthew, with a serious expression, answered it. After listening for a while, he asked, "Is the person looking for me a girl with the sumame Banks?"


    "Don''t ask how I know. Just wait. I''m on my way back now" Hearing this tone, Shakira couldn''t help but shake her head in frustration. With Matthew''s revengeful attitude, Fiona was probably going to have a hard time. Yvette had been juggling school and thepany after taking over Mitchell''s entertainmentpany. Only after she took charge of it, did she realize that Mitchell didn''t start it for her as he had imed. Whenever she asked for acting gigs or TV appearances, he fobbed her off.


    Yvette always thought Mitchell truly cared for her. After looking over artists schedules, she found out Mitchell had been holding onto great opportunities, all of which he gave to the signed female artists. Even with all these resources, those artists. were still unknown, barely making any impact.


    Yvette was furious. If she had those resources, she would''ve definitely been more sessful than those useless freeloaders. The Nelson family used every connection and resource but couldn''t find Mitchell''s body. Yvette made time to have a private meeting with Lago and Jessie.


    Being careful, they found a private coffee room to meet. Lago''spany declined quickly. Though he held on to a little hope, trying to endure, the news that Shakira appointed a janitor as CEO spread and became a joke in the industry.pletely destroying hisst chance toe back.


    In less than half a month, he lost weight and looked exhausted. Unwilling to give up but unable to change, he had no choice but to go to court and apply for bankruptcy. After working hard for about ten years in Crescentville, he lost hispany, house, and luxury car overnight.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    All of this was because of Shakira. Yvette nced at the couple with visible disdain in her eyes. She looked around and spoke directly in a low voice, "Is Mitchell really dead?"


    Without the support of wealth, Jessie had aged quite a bit, and her naturally country-like demeanor became even more evident. "The mountain is so high. How could he have survived


    Yvette replied grumpily, "You ask me? How would I know? All I know is that we''ve looked everywhere and still can''t find Mitchell


    "If he can''t be found, he has probably gone by now. It''s been so long. If he were alive, could he stay hidden?" Lago said with at sinister tone, "With all those wild animals in the mountains, he was likely eaten up, with nothing but bones left." "Besides, nothing your grandpa made has ever failed." Yvette thought for a moment, reassuring herself with this thought.


    "Never failed? Shakira is still around and those tattered clothes of hers gave my mattress bedbugs. I''ve got a rash from all the bites." She noticed something crawling on her during the night a few days ago.


    She flipped on the light and spotted about a dozen tiny bedbugs crawling out from the mattress, which nearly drove her insane with fear. Unwilling to rm the rest of the Nelson family, she stilled her revulsion and cleaned them up. Now, just thinking about it made her skin tingle.


    "You''ve acquired Mitchell''spany, and the Nelsons are not allowing anyone to contact Shakira. Isn''t that good for you?"


    Yvette frowned, feeling it wasn''t nearly sufficient. Lago clearly understood her thoughts and said, "Yvette, with Mitchell out of the picture and the whole Nelson family harboring such hatred for Shakira, this is a perfect opportunity for you."


    Yvette raised her eyebrows, looking at Lago with an unabashedly greedy expression, feeling more on guard. "What do you mean by that?


    Lago sighed. "You''re not-blood-rted to the family, so there''s a distance. Take Mitchell for example; you grew up closest to him, but he was the first to betray you. Luckily we had taken action, or would they ept and support you if he found the nurse back then." Yvette clenched her fists, her expression grim. Lago gently persuaded. "Mom and I are your true family. Thefortable life you have today is because of our hard work and nning. No one wants you to seed as much as we do."


    Yvette sneered inwardly. "Don''t make it sound so high-minded You just want to use me to climb the socialdder with the Nelson family"


    Lago smirked, his smile dark and ominous. "Sweetheart, we''re family, our interests are intertwined. How can you call it taking advantage of?"


    Yvette furrowed her eyebrows. Just say what you want to say. Straight up."


    Lago didn''t beat around the bush. "We are going throughpany bankrupt, house and car sold off. We''re struggling. I''ve thought a lot recently. You try to find a way to use the Nelson''s connections or get some money from thepany to help mee back." Yvette was inwardly cursing Lago''s shamelessness. Without hesitation, she refused. "Are you kidding? How could I let you get involved with the Nelson family? I don''t even have any money


    "Yvette. Can''t you see it clearly now? The evidence is clear. Shakira indirectly caused Mitchell''s death, and yet they didn''t do much to her. If it were someone else, do you think they''d be so forgiving? In the end, they''re still a family no matter what had happened." This time it''s Mitchell. What if it''s someone else? If they start to suspect and find any clues, they''ll drop you without hesitation. Don''t be deceived by their fake kindness. To live a stable life in the future, you must control power and money yourself. Got it?" Yvette pressed her lips and kept silent, Seeing this, Lago didn''t say further. "Think it over. Anyway, We wouldn''t hurt you and don''t want to be your burden. Once things get better for us, going abroad and living carefree as a family is better than anything else." Yvette left the coffee room and went back to the Nelson residence. As soon as she got home, she heard Reba questioning Finn in the living room.


    Reba choked up. "How is it? Is there any news about Mitchell


    Finn said seriously, "Mom, I won''t give up until I find Mitchell."


    Yvette held her phone tightly in silence. Suddenly, it vibrated. Startled, she let go of the phone and it fell to the ground with


    a thud.

 Chapter 145

    "Who is it?" Finn called out warily as he stepped out of the living room and saw Yvette picking up the phone.


    Yvette gave him a gentle smile. "Walter." Finn''s expression softened. "Yvette, it''s you. Why sote?"


    Yvette tucked her hair behind her car. "I went to meet apany client after school. She remembered Berry''s message bragging that Walter had helped her secure a spot at the diplomatic summit. Yvette slightly furrowed her brows and, in a yful tone, said to Fin. "Walter, can you take me to the diplomatic summit?"


    Finn was surprised. "The list of attendees for the summit has already been submitted. Do you want to go??


    "I thought to broaden my horizons, improve my skills, and perhaps be a helper to you in the future." Finn pondered. without giving a clear answer.


    Reba came out. It was clear that her eyes were still a bit red. Yvette immediately went over and hugged her arm. "Mom.""


    Reba held her hand tightly with a yful scolding. "Girls shouldn''t always be in the public eye. If Mitchell''spany has too much going on, let Walter help manage it.


    A hint of panic shed in Yvette''s mind. "Mom, Walter is extremely busy. I can handle these small matters.


    "Alright" Reba nodded. Yvette slightly lowered her head, hiding the faint cold glint in her eyes.


    Fiona stepped outside to take a phone call. It was the contact from Clusia Hospital she had spent a lot on.


    The contact carefully instructed. "Matthew enjoys peace and came backst night. Someone was set up to help with his daily needs. That person had a family issue and had to leave for a day I tried to keep this under wraps so you could take over for the day." Fiona''s face turned pale when she heard this. "You want me to be Matthew''s babysitter? Fiona thought, I''m the eldest daughter of the Banks family. You want me to be a maid?


    This situation is unfair to you, Ms. Banks, but think about what kind of person Matthew is. Many more influential people! have asked for his medical help, and he even turned them down. If you go uninvited, there''s no guarantee you''ll gain anything from it." Fiona''s face turned pale as if she were weighing her options.


    The person continued, "Matthew is cold on the outside but warm-hearted. Though he seems unapproachable, he''s easy to talk to once you know him. If you want him to help treat your friend, you need to show sincerity and everything will work out once his heart softens."


    He intentionally said, "And it''s not just you who have been reaching out to me these days; quite a few others have been asking for help as well."


    Fiona was determined to gain Walter''s favor, and with resolve, she said, "Fine, send me Matthew''s address."


    She arrived at the retirement home behind Clusia Hospital, passed through several levels of security checks, and knocked on the door of a small courtyard.


    A middle-aged woman opened the door and led her inside, carefully exining some details.


    "The clothes haven''t washed yet. Matthew doesn''t like detergent, so hand-wash with soap. Lunch will be delivered by a hotel. all you need to do is set the table. Don''t disturb him and rest in the servants'' quarters once you''re done with your tasks. Don''t wander around"


    III Thu, Oct


    Hearing thest part, Fiona''s expression changed, "What if I need to talk to Matthew about something?"


    The middle-aged woman handed her a sticky notepad. "Write what you need to say on this and stick it on the living room table. He will see it and get back to you. Just make sure not to break his taboos, it will upset him."


    Fiona grumbled as she took it. "Got it." She didn''t expect an old man could have so many requests.


    Thinking about Matthew''s status, Fiona had to hold back herints. After the woman left, Fiona looked up at the attic where she heard the sounds of traditional opera but couldn''t see anyone.


    Fiona felt curious and wanted to go upstairs to check it out when a loud, bold voice came from above. "Make me some


    coffee


    Fiona''s eyes brightened and thought, ''Great!'' Even fate is helping me


    Fiona made a pot of coffee and took it up to the attic. She gently pushed the door open, and the opera music got even louder.


    In front of a window covered with climbing vines was an antique rocking chair. Matthew was reclining in it, sunbathing in a leisurely manner. His face was covered with a fan, concealing his features. Fiona moved closer. "Matthew, the coffee is ready."


    Matthew didn''t move, speaking dully from beneath the fan. "My stomach isn''t good. I can''t drink coffee."


    Fiona''s expression changed slightly. "I''m sorry. I''ll change it right away" She ran back to make another cup of coffee, but Matthew remained still. "I haven''t had Grandos coffee in a while and miss that taste." Fiona took a deep breath. "I''ll make anew."Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    After another round of running up and down the stairs, Fiona was out of breath. "Matthew, the Grandos coffee is ready."


    This time, Matthew didn''t even say a word. Fiona leaned in a bit closer and heard a faint snoring from under the folding fan Matthew had fallen asleep.


    Fiona''s face was dark with frustration. If it weren''t for the people at Clusia Hospital and Nancy mentioning Matthew''s difficult and moody nature, she would have suspected he was teasing her on purpose. Not daring to wake him up, she reluctantly set the coffee aside and went downstairs to do theundry.


    Listening to Fiona''s cautious footsteps as she walked down the stairs, Matthew casually tossed the fan aside, took a calm sip of coffee, and pulled out his phone to send a text. Matthew: [Naughty girl, guess what I''m doing?] Shakira had just returned to her small vi when she saw the text message. She could almost picture the mischievous expression on Matthew''s face. Shakira (Are you giving Fiona a hard time on purpose?] Matthew: [Naughty girl, watch your words. I''m helping you get revenge.]


    Shakira: Yes, yes. You are the best to me. Thank you, Matthew.]


    Matthew: [Don''t think I don''t know you''re teasing me. You might not care, but I''m protective of my own girl and I can''t stand to see you bullied.]


    Reading this, a warin feeling spread through Shakira''s heart. In retrospect, she felt that fate hadn''t been unkind to her. It had taken away her family, but given her a warmth deeper than familial love. Shakira carefully typed a line: [I mean it. Thank you so much for being so kind to me, Matthew.) After thinking for a moment, she edited a meme of Love and sent it over.


    3


    83 61


    Looking at thest two messages, Matthew was almost beaming with joy. He quickly took a screenshot and showed off in the group chat: [My dear apprentice sent it to me bright and early. How can she be so clingy?] Yael, who was currently watching the youngest apprentices practicing their morning exercises, texted: [Shakira?]


    Barret, who was checking the blueprints at the Aerospace Institute, texted: I don''t believe it. Matthew, when did making fake screenshots?]


    you start


    Matthew chuckled and then casually sent another picture of vermicelli rolls, saying, "My darling apprentice specially came over to make these for me by hand this morning


    Ethan, who criticized all thetest research results of the Agricultural Science Institute, eximed: [Wah, I want to eat the vermicelli rolls made by Shakira. They took me to a grand feast this morning; I am very angry that those guys waste food.] Matthew leaned back in his rocking chair, feeling

 Chapter 146

    83% Chapter


    146


    Fiona ca to the courtyard and was stunned by the two suitcases of clothes for washing. She thought, ''Wasn''t he back in Crescentville yesterday? Why so many dirty clothes? Feeling both disgusted and reluctant, she took a deep breath, sat on a stool, and started washing


    them by hand.


    Fiona had never done housework before. She didn''t expect that doingundry would take over three hours. By the time she reached Nancy''s room, she couldn''t care less about cleanliness, copsed on the bed, closed her eyes, and fell into a deep sleep When she woke up again, it was already evening. Nancy who left during the day had returned. She looked at Fiona in surprise. "Why are you sleeping here?"


    Fiona jolted awake from her dream. "Matthew. She uttered and was about to rush out. Nancy held her back. "Matthew is having a discussion with the city mayor. You can''t go to him right now.


    Fiona was annoyed and upset, "I need to talk to Matthew. If I can''t see him, then my trip here is wasted."


    Nancy pondered. "I was temporarily assigned and needed to leave during the day because of an emergency at home. How about you keep himpany for a few days? You might have a better chance to talk to him when the summit is over and he''s free. Fiona''s eyes widened. "Working as a maid for him one day is ok. But now you want me to do it for several days?"


    Nancy quickly added, "I can give you all my wages. Justing for one day won''t show enough sincerity. Anyway, you''re already working hard. You might as well put in a few more days for better results."


    "Who wants your measly wages?" The pay for a month wouldn''t even cover the cost of a pair of her shoes. Fiona gritted her teeth, absolutely livid.


    Thinking about how she spent the entire day doingundry, only to see it all be in vain, made her even more reluctant to give up. Finally, she could only grit her teeth. "Fine, once the summit''s over. I''m quitting"


    Nancy smiled so widely that her eyes squinted. That''s settled then. I''ll put in a good word for you with Matthew."


    In the following days, Fiona showed up bright and early each morning, serving coffee, doingundry, and mopping floors withoutint, trying to make sure Matthew noticed her. She was careful not to overdo it, worried it might annoy Matthew. What puzzled her even more was how mysterious Matthew seemed to be. Living under the same roof, yet she barely got a chance to see him.


    When she finally went up to the attic to clean up the ink he had spilled, he had already gone for a walk, leaving her a note instructing her to clean every window in the house.


    Fiona was so angry that her face darkened. She immediately turned around to leave. Half an hourter, she was vigorously scrubbing the windows, venting all her frustration onto the ss


    These days, Shakira received one invitation after another from Her teachers. Their long voice messages were filled with emotion, all revolving around one thought. "Shakira, we miss you and your cooking."


    Shakira couldn''t help but smile as she held her phone. She told the kitchen staff of the vi to buy more meat and vegetables. As soon as she returned from school, she disappeared into the kitchen for hours.


    By dinner time, Walter walked into the dining room and was surprised by the dozen or so dishes on the table. "Do we have guests over today?"


    With a bright smile, Shakira eagerly said, "You''ve been working hard at the diplomatic summit these past few days. Please


    09:39


    GG


    take this as an opportunity to recharge."


    Walter raised an eyebrow at her, observing her with eyes curving like crescent moons, clear and pure as a full moon. Her smile brought out a charming dimple.


    Levi couldn''t help but remark. "Ms. Nelson knows you don''t eat much, so she serves each dish in a portion just for you. She''s very thoughtful indeed.


    Shakira yfully pretended to be silly,ughing along. Such thoughtful gestures were very appreciated by Walter, causing him to eat twice as much as usual.


    As a result, when it was time to sleep. Waltery tossing and turning with a full belly, while Shakira snoozed soundly next to him. Meanwhile. Matthew and hispanions received the same meals delivered to their quarters from the vi.


    Of course, the low-key National Seniors visiting Crescentville each posted simr photos on their social media. Pictures of these home-cooked dishes spread quickly through Crescentville''s high society overnight


    The next day, when Shakira arrived in the ssroom, her ssmates were buzzing about the news.N?velDrama.Org content.


    "I didn''t expect those veterans to be so low-profile. They''ve been in Crescentville for a few days, but the news only camest night"


    Yeah. They''re really down-to-earth. I think they would be treated to fancy feasts, but it turns out they are eating simple home-cooked meals.


    - Out


    "That''s why they''re called the National Seniors. Even though they''ve reached unparalleled heights, they still care about the people."


    "My dad said lots of people are trying hard to invite National Seniors for dinner, but they don''t even get a chance. Even the Governor only got to have a cup of coffee with them before they left." "But, how did they take those photos? All the fi


    food is the same, but the tables and dishes look different. Don''t they?"


    "Maybe they all ordered from the same takeout ce and ate at home?" "Theseizens aren''t doing w


    well, huh? It''s been all night, and they still haven''t figured out which takeout service


    was."


    Xanthe listened to the gossip in the crowd for a while. When she came back, she saw Shakira working on a physicspetition problem. She suddenly remembered that creep who wanted to bother Shakira. She thought about it and decided not to tell Shakira. With all the help Shakira''s given her, it''s her turn to handle things for her friend this time.


    She leaned over to Shakira and said, "Everyone''s gossiping about the National Seniors. Aren''t you curious, Shakira?"


    Shakira didn''t even look up and replied, "They''re just some old folks. Nothing to be curious about."


    Not far away, Berry overheard and scoffed just loudly enough. "Some people can never get close to those kinds of figures, so being curious is pointless"


    Xanthe immediately turned her head and retorted. "Oh, you act all high and mighty as if you could get close to them."


    Berry gave Xanthe a sharp re. "Xanthe, why are you showing off? It''s like you could manage it."


    Xanthe raised her head confidently. "Hey, I can totally do it. What are you going to do about it?"


    Xanthe said proudly. The summit organizer contacted my piano teacher Evelyne Franklin, and she rmended me to perform nopositions as the youth representative for them."


    As she spoke, Xanthe clung to Shakira''s arm. "Shakira,e v photo with them."


    with me, okay? I can bring one guest. We might even get a


    Shakira blinked and epted her kind offer. "Okay,"


    "Wow! Xanthe, you''re amazing


    "Evelyne Franklin has won countless awards. Not just anyone gets the chance to learn from her."


    "You really need to have money."


    I''m so jealous of Shakira. Xanthe is the best friend ever, always thinking of including her in all the good things."


    "Seriously, Xanthe is such a great friend to everyone. If she''s still hanging out with Yvette and Berry, she''d probably bring them along for the benefits too.


    Hearing this. Berry''s face turned pale. She snapped at the person who said it, "Who''s relying on her for advantages?"


    The person backed down, not daring to say anything more. Yvette patted Berry on the back, Seeing Xanthe and Shakira being admired by everyone, a faint, dark glint rose in her eyes

 Chapter 147

    When Shakira returned to the small vi, she happened to overhear Fiona talking to Walter. Her tone was as haughty as ever, but this time it was mixed with a sticky sense of grievance and sobbing.


    "Walter, Matthew has softened his stance. He promised that once he''s finished with the diplomatic summit, he''ll treat your legs," said Fiona.


    "You have no idea how miserable I am. He is odd-tempered, requiring cleaning the small attic and changing coffee daily. Even the orchids are delicate than I am and have to be moved right away if the sun shines too much or the wind blows hard" added Fiona. Walter listened to Fiona''sints over the phone. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Shakira at the study door. In a low, indifferent tone, he said. "I don''t need you to do this for me. If you can''t handle it, go back Fiona immediately fell silent. She deliberately said so much, hoping to hear Walter''s gratitude and affection. Instead, he simply didn''t get romance.


    She coyly said, "Walter. I''m doing this willingly for you. No matter how hard it is, I can get through it." Afraid Walter would say something else that might upset her, Fiona quickly hung up the phone.


    Walter put down his phone, rubbing his throbbing temples. "How long do you n to eavesdrop?"


    Shakira walked in at a leisurely pace. "You''re falsely using me I''m listening openly" Walter lowered his hand and looked up at the woman approaching him.


    Fiona


    na went to ask Matthew for help," said Walter


    Shakira nodded. "Yeah, yeah, I could tell,"


    "She endured a lot at Matthew''s ce. Whether or not he agrees to help treat my illness, I owe Fiona a favor," said Walter.


    Shakira suddenly smiled. "Isn''t it your favor that she''s after, sir?


    Walter stared closely at her beautiful face. His eyebrows curved with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He caught the teasing tone in her words and his deep eyes darkened a bit. Then tell me. How should I repay her?" Shakira blurted out. "Give yourself?"


    Big Devil''s face shifted to a cold, hostile look as if he wanted to freeze her into an icicle. Seeing this, Shakira tried to fix it before he could act. "That''s not going to work. How could I let my wise and dashing master go for so little?" Big Devil''s expression warmed up a little. Shakira, ever the flunky, smiled sheepishly. "Besides, if we calcte it that way. I''d have to offer myself in return for your generosity."


    Big Devil, with an incredibly handsome and slightly arrogant face, looked at her. "I helped you. You repay me with.N?velDrama.Org content.


    resentment?"


    Shakira ground her teeth in frustration.


    Walter waved his hand dismissively. "T''ll leave this matter for you to handle.


    I don''t said Shakira


    "The money for those three cakes earlier can be considered your payment," said Walter.


    Shakira immediately perked up, "I promise to make Ms. Banks Jeppy." Walter nodded in satisfaction, clearly in a good


    mood


    GG


    Walter was busy with the diplomatic summit for several days in a row, giving Shakira a rare break. Out of boredom, she decided to y with the alligator in the yard. Thanks to her attention, the once chubby Otto that couldn''t even move fast had slimmed down by a fifth and was much quicker now.


    Even the pet doctor who came by for a check-up couldn''t stop penising Shakira had gotten Otto healthier than before."


    Xanthe had been pestering Shakira for days until she finally agreed to go dress shopping with her two days before the summit. After exining to Walter, he handed her a ck card. Shakira blinked. "There are still plenty of clothes with tags upstairs Walter replied, "Having them at home is one thing, but finding something


    u like outside is a different matter."


    Shakira''s mind clicked. "So you won''t reduce my pay, right?"


    Walter gave her a cold look. "Try saying one more word."


    Shakira giggled as she took it. Thanks, sir."


    After meeting up at the mall, Xanthe immediately gave Shakira a big bear hug. "Wow. Shakira, I didn''t expect you toe. 1 thought you were just saying that to make me happy. You''re the best." Shakira struggled to push her away, with her mouth twitching slightly at thement. "Is it toote for me to head back


    Xanthe clutched her arm tightly and shook her head firmly. "You''re not leaving until we''re too tired to walk from shopping Shakira was speechless. She really wanted to leave now.


    Actually, Xanthe had been here a few times on her own and was interested in a few LK haute couture dresses. She couldn''t make up her mind, so she brought Shakira to help her decide. She changed into a dress and twirled around several times in front of Shakira. "Shakira, which one do you think looks best!"


    Shakira analyzed. "The pink one with the sparkling crystals is too shy and would overshadow others at a summit, which isn''t suitable. The silver open-back design felt too casual and wasn''t formal enough. The velvet dress, though simple, was much more elegant." Xanthe suddenly realized. "Right. The salesperson kept encouraging me to choose the pink or the open-back one, saying they would make me stand out. I felt something was off. Your exnation makes sense. I trust you, Shakira. Let''s go with the velvet one." Shakira smiled and wandered around the shop while Xanthe changed clothes. As she was browsing, she noticed a men''s disy window with a sapphire brooch that had a unique moon-and-stars design.


    Shakira asked the shop assistant to take it out for a closer look. Just then, she heard some cheerful voices nor far behind her saying, "Mrs. Nelson, you look amazing. One might think you and Ms. Nelson are sisters."


    No woman can resist suchpliments. Reba couldn''t hide her good mood as she said, "Don''t tease me. I''m here with wy daughter to pick out a dress. She has a very important event in a few days." When she shifted the conversation to Yvette, her pride and happiness were evident.


    Mr. Lane smoothlyplimented Yvette. "What kind of event are you going to, Ms. Nelson? A private party or "


    Yvette smiled shyly, showing her modesty. "It''s more like a private business event, but I need to perform on stage, so I have


    to pay attention to my outfit


    §±


    Reba said kindly, The attendees are quite distinguished, so I''ll need to trouble you, Mr. Lane, to help ensure everything is perfect for my daughter


    Mr. Lane made a careful note. "Sure,e with me. Mrs. Nelson, Ms. Nelson. The group chatted andughed as they walked towards the VIP room.


    Shakira listened to their conversation earlier and smirked coldly She thought, ''If Reba knew her beloved daughter was trying to harm her son, would it drive her crazy?'' "Shakira, what are you thinking about?" asked Xanthe


    Xanthe cheerfully jumped in, snapping Shakira back to reality. She handed the brooch to the shop assistant. "Could your wrap this up for me!"


    Xanthe mudged her with her elbow. "Is it for Mr. Lopez? So swee


    Shakira pulled out a ck card. "Spending his money doesn''t count as giving a gift


    Xanthe gasped even louder. "Isn''t that one of the only ten exclusive ck cards in the country? And Mr. Lopez gave it to you. If this isn''t sweet, then what is?". Shakira kept silent and thought. I should just hea

 Chapter 148

    To stop Xanthe from endless chattering, Shakira reluctantly bought her a strawberry cake in the end. The cream was smooth and the strawberries were sweet, and only then did Xanthe shift her attention. To be honest. Shakira never imagined she would be shopping and chatting with Xanthe one day. After all, not long ago, she was in a fierce confrontation with her to defend Yvette. Fate was funny thing Before they parted, Xanthe offered to pick her up on the day of the summit. Shakira thought for a moment. "Let''s get in touch once we''re at the venue."


    Xanthe paused for a second, then suddenly realized something and tapped her head, understanding. "Right, I totally forgot, Mr. Lopez is alsoing. He''d definitely be bringing you. I was foolishly offering to take you along as if I couldpete with Mr. Lopez''s influence."


    Then she looked at Shakira with a touched expression. "Shakira, you''re so kind. You even troubled Mr. Lopez just to give me support


    Shakira was speechless.


    The shopping couldn''t be continued.


    The diplomatic summit for celebration was extremely grand. Early in the morning, all the major TV stations and major live streaming tforms had started broadcasting its progress.


    Shakira chose a ssic Chanel ck and white outfit, with a scarf around her long, fair neck, looking both professional and elegant. As she went downstairs, she noticed the living room TV was already broadcasting the news live.


    On the screen, as the main venue for the diplomatic summit, the theater downtown was set up with national gs inside and outside.


    The main road had been closed off the night before for security reasons, allowing only official invitees to stay at the state guest house, while other business personnel had to go through multiple security checks to enter the venue.


    Suddenly, the scene changed and the cars lined up for security checks moved aside to make way. Several sedans slowly stopped in front of the theater.


    The live broadcast host excitedly announced, "The convoys of the National Seniors areing toward our main venue and they are Matthew, Ethan, Yael, and Barret.


    "These four National Seniors devoted themselves to the public sectors of our country during the reform era. They have been trailzers and founders in medicine, agriculture, martial arts, and aviation, making significant contributions to the fast and thriving development of the basic public infrastructure of our country."


    With the host''s enthusiastic introduction, the convoys slowly came to a stop. Student representatives came forward to present flowers. They, dressed in traditional suits, entered the venue surrounded by the crowd


    At the back, Ethan noticed a young student with a crooked hat. He gently reached out and straightened it. The child happily said. "Thank you."


    At this moment, a courageous journalist stepped forward to ask, Ethan, this is the first time you and the other seniors have appeared at an international conference since retiring. What made you decide to return to the public eye?"


    Etfian turned around, with his face erged by the camera, radiating kindness and warmth. "Wee back when the country needs us" After a pause, heughed. "Of course, after being away for so long, I really started to miss our delicious


    food back home."


    III


    83%E


    With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he leaned towards the camera and added with a grin. "Once you''ve tasted it, you can''t stop.thinking about it every day


    Shakira watched intently, and upon seeing this scene, she couldn''t help but burst intoughter and thought. These old guys had a sweet tooth. "What''s so funny?" asked Walter.


    A deep voice came from behind her unexpectedly, catching her off guard. Walter had somehow snuck up behind her. Shakira hadn''t noticed and instinctively turned around, identally kicking the wheelchair with her left foot, causing her to lose her bnce and fall forward.


    The world spun around her as she suddenly felt a tight grip aroun her waist. When she regained her senses, she found herself sitting on Walter''sp.


    Today, he wore a perfectly tailored white suit, adorned with a sapphire star-and-moon brooch. With his naturally striking features, he looked like a prince from a fantasy world, leaving Shakira momentarily mesmerized.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Noticing her staring nkly at him, Walter slightly curved his lips and asked in a soft tone, "Do I look nice?"


    Shakira nodded absentmindedly, unable to stop herself from responding. "Yes, very good-looking."


    The amusement in his eyes deepened, with sparkles dancing within Suddenly, heposed himself, adopting a more formal tone. "I was asking if the brooch looks cute. Why have you been staring at my face instead?" Shakira snapped back to reality, terribly embarrassed, and immediately jumped off hisp. Her ears must have turned bright red as the sides were burning hot.


    Ridiculous. She thought, ''How can I stare at that face every day and still get lost in thoughts?"


    Shakira bit her lip defensively. "I was talking about the brooch. It looks pretty


    Big Devil furrowed his brows and said in a threatening tone, "Are you saying I don''t look nice?"


    Shakira was speechless.


    After receiving a flurry of ttery from Shakira, Big Devil got into the car in the end, satisfied, headed to the venue.


    After entering, Walter and his group, led by the hostess, reached the business seats. Walter was ced in the middle of the front row. As soon as Shakira got there, she looked up to see Sean winking at her from the far right of the row, and.... Sitting in the second row were Cody, Reba, and Finn.


    Benji, Kyle, Calton, and Gavin were already seated. Seeing them arrive, they waved in greeting. Cody and Reba were taken aback when they saw Shakira and their previously lively smiles faded as they stared intently at her. Finn frowned and softly called out, "Dad, Mom."


    Cody spoke in a deep voice and quietly gripped Reba''s hand Mind the asion."


    "What right does she have to be in a ce like this and sit in the front row?"


    -Cody could sense Walter''s cold and sharp stare sweeping over hin, making his heart sink even more. "She must have coaxed.


    Mr. Lopez with sweet words to bring her here. What else could die rely on if not men?"


    Reba bit her lower lip as she watched Shakira barely settle into her seat before craning her neck to look around, showing no signs of manners or upbringing, "She looks like she has never been out in the world. It''s utterly embarrassing." With eyes filled with hatred, she shot a look at Shakira and then turned her head away as if another second would dirty her


    eyes.


    Shakira paid no attention to the family of three. After sitting down with Walter, her eyes subconsciously roamed around.


    Matthew and his group were in a separate VIP section next door and seemed to have noticed her early on. Seeing her look over, Yael even made a funny face at her.


    Shakira made a funny face in return, widening her eyes and scrunching her nose. She then continued her search.


    Enrique was in the fourth row near the back, while Xanthe wasn''t next to him. After contemting for a moment, S informed Walter and stood up to ask for directions to the backstage and looked for it.


    Shakira


    Upon entering the busy backstage, Shakira looked around and heard a voice that was unmistakably familiar before she spotted Xanthe. Thank you, Ms. Franklin, for the opportunity. I promise not to disappoint you with today''s piano solo." "You''re the younger sister of Felix; there''s no need to be formal over such minor matters," said Ms. Franklin


    Shakira quickly turned her head to see Yvette, wearing a sparkling silver backless gown and a smile, entering a private lounge with a gorgeous w

 Chapter 149

    Inside the lounge, the two who had been making polite conversation were startled. Yvette clutched her chest, with panic briefly shing in her eyes when she saw the stormy look on Shakira''s face. But she quicklyposed herself as if she figured something out. Evelyne also regained her calm, furrowing her brows as she coldly asked, "Who are you? Do you know what ce this is? You''d better...


    Shakira kept a straight face, holding her phone so high that it was almost in Evelyne''s face.


    The call wasn''t disconnected, and Xanthe recognized Evelyne''s voice. In a frantic hurry, she shouted, "Ms. Franklin, it''s me. I couldn''t reach you. I''ve lost my pass and can''t get in. The security guards locked me in. Pleasee help me. She cries." Evelyne''s expression changed slightly, and she immediately reprimanded. "How could you lose such an important entry pass?"


    She exhaled sharply, speaking quickly with obvious annoyance, Ive been trying to reach you and thought you weren''ting, so I''ve already found someone else to perform in your ce. Now that you''re stuck in the holding room, stay there quietly. I''lle find you after the summit ends."Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Shakira furrowed her brows deeply. "What?" Xanthe waspletely shocked. "Ms. Franklin, I''m right behind the venue. You only need to tell the security, and they''ll let me out. There''s still time before the performance, I can...


    Before Xanthe could finish. Evelyne cut her off sharply. "The performance must be perfect. If you can lose your entry pass. how can I trust your performance on stage? If anything went wrong, I''d be the one embarrassed." With that, Evelyne hung up without giving Xanthe another chance to plead.


    Shakira''s face turned cold. Evelyne, finding Shakira rude and clueless, ordered in her usualmanding tone. "It has nothing to do with you. Leave here."


    Shakira remained still, with her piercing gaze shifting to Yvette "You''ll rece Xanthe and perform the piano piece." Her tone was calm, revealing no emotion.


    Yvette''s face was filled with fake innocence as if she was scared of Shakira''s questioning. Her voice was low as she pleaded for peace, yet her words carried a hidden warning only Shakira could understand.


    "Shakira, I know you''re close to Xanthe and think I''ve taken her opportunity to perform, but you heard it yourself, it was Ms. Franklin''s decision. Today''s summit is a nationally significant event, reflecting on Crescentville''s reputation. You can''t let your feelings ruin everyone''s hard work," said Yvette.


    Shakira let out a silent, cold chuckle. Suddenly, she stepped forward, and Yvette, surprised, took a step back. Unexpectedly, Shakira grabbed Evelyne''s wrist and dragged her to the door, pushing her out without a word.


    She closed the door and locked it in one swift motion. By the time Yvette realized what was happening. Shakira was already turning back, walking towards her. A chill ran down Yvette''s sping and her whole body tensed in rm.


    "Shakira, what are you trying to do?" Yvette couldn''t believe that after all she had said, Shakira hadn''t understood a single word. Yvette thought, ''Is she out of her mind?"


    "Yvette, was it you?" Shakira stepped closer with each step. Her face was calm, but a storm seemed to be brewing beneath, ready to overwhelm Yvette at any moment.


    Yvette also retreated a step, forcing herself to stay calm. "What are you talking about? I don''t get it Shakira bluntly exposed her. "You set up Xanthe''s documents to go missing, leaving her stuck in confinement. You bribed Evelyne to smoothly take Xanthe''s spot on stage."


    Yvette''s eyes widened. "That''s impossible, Shakira. You must have misunderstood something. L...


    "There are no cameras here, just the two of us. No need to pretend. You picked out your dress early at LK and had Felix help you connect with Evelyne. Are you going to im you''re a fortune teller, predicting Xanthe would lose her documents today?" Shakira sneered, exposing Yvette''s schemes.


    Yvette took a deep breath, with herst bit of pretense disappearing instantly. She was done pretending in front of Shakira.


    "Yeah, so what if it was me? me Xanthe for being stupid and boastful, otherwise how could I have had such a great chance to take her ce?" said Yvette.,


    "What a shame Xanthe got locked up. Otherwise, I''d really want her to see me rece her in person. Step by step. I''d take the stage, sit before the expensive piano, perform, and earn the praise of all the high society elites and those big shots"


    After shedding her pretense, Yvette unabashedly unted her victory, with her expression twisted into something monstrous. The greed and desire were all exposed before Shakira. Witnessing this side of Yvette, Shakira merelyughed Having lived two lives, she finally saw Yvette''s true, utterly repulsive face as she imagined.


    Yvette warned. "Shakira, don''t even think about sticking up for Xanthe. This isn''t the ce for a nobody like you to show off. There are so many people outside; if you mess with me, you won''t get away with it."


    "Oh, really?" Shakira chuckled softly. In the next moment, she quickly reached out and easily bent Yvette''s wrist.


    Before Yvette could scream, there was a sharp crack. She widened her eyes in horror, fixing eyes on her broken right hand, and let out a scream.


    Shakira gave a push, causing Yvette to crash into the nearby congrattory flower disy. She fell among the flowers, clutching her right hand and sobbing in pain.


    "Shakira, you hurt my hand, cried Yvette.


    "How dare you break my hand? You''ve ruined my performance today. I won''t let you get away with it," cried Yvette


    Yvette red at Shakira who stood over calmly after breaking her hand. Her eyes were bloodshot with pain and anger. "Mr. Lopez can''t protect you either. My parents and brother are outside, and everyone saw you lock me here. You ruined me. I''ll, make sure you disappear from Crescentville forever."


    Watching Yvette sitting on the floor in pain, unable to get up and just fuming helplessly. Shakira scoffed. "I''ve told you there''s no surveince here. What evidence do you have that I broke your hand?"


    *Plus, do you think people are more interested in the gossip about your broken hand, or the truth behind Mitchell''s car ident?" Shakira''s words were light, yet they gripped Yvette''s throat like a vice. She instantly froze.


    #

 Chapter 150

    Yvette''s pupils dted, staring at Shakira, who seemed to invisibly grip her very lifeline as if she had seen a ghost. Seeing her reaction, Shakira''s face twisted in even more derision.


    At this moment, a loud banging echoed from the door that had been blocking out all the noise from outside-they were trying to break in. A storm brewed in Yvette''s eyes, but she forced herself to stay calm and pretend not to care. ON.


    way. Shakira. Don''t think you can frame me so easily. I''m not a fool and won''t fall for your tricks again. Last time, Shakira tricked her with fake surveince screenshots to take shares of the Smith family. Now, she was trying the same old trick. If Shakira really had evidence, she would have exposed it. Yvette bought, "How could she possibly have kept it hidden all this time?"


    Shakira saw through her thoughts instantly and smirked. "I can''t be bothered with the nonsense of the Nelson family. I didn''t n to get involved, but you shouldn''t overreach and meddle in ces you shouldn''t touch Yvetteughed as if she had heard a joke. "I only taught Xanthe a lesson. You don''t seriously consider her a friend, do you? Don''t forget, when she was on my side, she never missed a chance to harm you."


    Shakira shrugged it off, tucking a strand of hair behind her shoulder. "What if I just want to teach you a lesson because I can''t stand you?" She gave Yvette a once-over. "No matter how nicely you dress, you''re still a little thief" The arrogant way she carried herself made Yvette grit her teeth in hatred. Clearly, she was supposed to be the adored little princess of the Nelson family, while Shakira was nothing but a useless outcast discarded without mercy. Yvette thought, ''Why should Shakira go to act so carefree and fearless in front of me? She is supposed to have nothing and be a pitiful wreck haunted by bad luck. Why is she still so full of life? Why isn''t she ruined? Why isn''t she dead yet? She wanted to rip apart Shakira''s arrogant, striking face, but she couldn''t even lift her hands. With a loud crash, a piece of the door lock snapped off.


    "If you don''t believe me, go ahead and try. Let''s see who won''t be able to stay in n Crescentville once those people outside get in Shakira didn''t waste any more words and nced at the door lock, which was barely holding from the repeated impacts. Her red lips parted. "Five." Yvette stiffened her face, but a hint of panic showed in her eyes. "Four, Three." The door lock fell off,


    eaving only one uselesstch.


    "Two." Yvette instinctively held her breath-Shakira''s smile became even more intriguing. "One."


    With a loud crash, the heavy wooden door was kicked open from outside. Evelyne entered with security guards following and was startled to see Yvette clutching her hand on the floor, with her head bowed like a wilted flower crushed underfoot. She immediately pointed at Shakira and shouted angrily, "Arrest her. She''s the one who intentionally harmed Ms. Nelson"


    Shakira gave a calm smile. "Wait," Yvette shivered all over. "Wait. She lifted her head, with her pale-face trying to give some reassurance to Evelyne. "Ms. Franklin, it wasn''t Shakira. I just identally fell."


    Instinctively, Evelyne ced her hand on Yvette''s back and was surprised to find her exposed skin was all wet. Shocked, she then noticed that Yvette''s wrist was ridiculously swollen. "Yvette what happened to your hand?"


    "I''m sorry, Ms. Franklin. I can''t y the piano anymore. We should hurry and find Xanthe instead," said Yvette.


    Evelyne shook her head. "No way, this summit is really strict. Anyone caught disrupting the order is kept in the istion room, and no one is allowed out until the summit is over."


    Yvette pretended to be regretful and guilty, "What about the performance? It''s all my fault. Had I been careful, this messThis content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    wouldn''t have happened. This piano piece was speciallyposed as a tribute to the four seniors. There''s no time to find someone else to y it now


    She felt very satisfied inside. Shakira, so what if you broke my hand? Xanthe would never get the chance to take this spotlight. If I couldn''t have it, then none of you can either."


    Before Yvette could be secretly happy, Shakira, who noticed a keyword, frowned slightly and said hoarsely. "Do you have the sheet music? I can y


    The audience had already seen two rounds of performances and now had a ten-minute intermission. After being seated for almost half an hour, manypany executives took the opportunity towork.


    They didn''t dare approach the National Seniors, but the businessmen sitting in the back rows moved up to the front. The head of the Lopez family sat with a stern expression, clearly keeping distance from strangers.


    The crowd, hesitant to approach, turned to praise those in the second row instead.


    The Nelson family became a popr selfie spot, especially after they discovered that the next performer was the heiress of the Nelson family. Many expressed their amazement. I''ve heard Ms. Nelson is beautiful and talented; I can''t believe we''re lucky enough to watch her y the piano at the summit."


    Reba covered her mouth with a modest smile, speaking gracefully, "It''s only because Ms. Franklin sees promise in my child"


    "Oh my goodness, do you mean the renowned international pianist Evelyne? I''ve heard she''s very strict. Being chosen by her must mean Ms. Nelson is extremely skilled at the piano." "Additionally, the piano solo tonight was speciallyposed by the organizers for the seniors. It holds greatmemorative value and is definitely the highlight of the evening." "Every young man from the Nelson family stands out, and Ms. Nelson naturally inherits the excellent genes of Mr. and Mrs, Nelson. It''s no surprise she''s so outstanding" Reba''s smile became more joyful, and Cody felt ted. They exchanged a nce, both of them valuing and being impressed with Yvette.


    That was why Yvette was considered their lucky star, making the Nelson family proud today.


    "Oh, please don''t say that. Yvette hasn''t graduated yet, and she still has a lot to learn. We''ll be relying on everyone''s support in the future," said Reba.


    "Mrs. Nelson, you''re too modest. Ms. Nelson has achieved so much at such a young age. She is bound to aplish great things in the future. We might end up relying on her."


    Benji was speechless. "That''s so disgusting. How can an adopted daughter inherit genes? A biology teacher would want to curse at that." Benji rubbed his arm as he listened to the endless ttery and boasting behind him


    He stuck his tongue out as he moved closer to Walter. Seeing that Walter''s face was as dark as thunderclouds, he nervously swallowed and said, "Brother, I know you''re really mad right now, but try not to be too upset. The summit isn''t over yet."


    Walter nced at him, with his deep-set eyes filled with a cold darkness. Sitting only 7 feet away in the VIP seats, the noise was clearly audible. Matthew and his group looked quite displeased.


    lo a low voice, Yael asked, "Matt, do you think they''re talking about Shakira or,"


    With a sharp tongue, Matthew retorted. "A bunch of blind fools Do you think they''d sincerelyplithent my student?"


    The group sat in silence, internally criticizing every member of the Nelson family, from the youngest to the oldest. Ethan shook his head, with his face full of disdain. "One day they''re definitely going to regret mistaking pearls for fish eyes" Everyone returned to their seats as the host took the stage, announcing the lineup. "Next up, we have Ms. Nelson performing the piano piece Eternal Glory'' for everyone."


    The lights dimmed throughout the room, and in the ensuing silence, the stage slowly descended from above. Standing beside a pure white piano was a beautifully elegant woman with delicate features, whose graceful presence made her resemble a descending angel, leaving the audience breathless in awe.

 Chapter 151

    Yvette''s pupils dted, staring at Shakira, who seemed to invisibly grip her very lifeline as if she had seen a ghost. Seeing her reaction, Shakira''s face twisted in even more derision.


    At this moment, a loud banging echoed from the door that had been blocking out all the noise from outside-they were trying to break in. A storm brewed in Yvette''s eyes, but she forced herself to stay calm and pretend not to care.


    1. ON.


    way. Shakira. Don''t think you can frame me so easily. I''m not a fool and won''t fall for your tricks again. Last time, Shakira tricked her with fake surveince screenshots to take shares of the Smith family. Now, she was trying the same old trick. If Shakira really had evidence, she would have exposed it. Yvette bought, "How could she possibly have kept it hidden all


    this time?"


    Shakira saw through her thoughts instantly and smirked. "I can''t be bothered with the nonsense of the Nelson family. I didn''t n to get involved, but you shouldn''t overreach and meddle in ces you shouldn''t touch Yvetteughed as if she had heard a joke. "I only taught Xanthe a lesson. You don''t seriously consider her a friend, do you? Don''t forget, when she was on my side, she never missed a chance to harm you." Shakira shrugged it off, tucking a strand of hair behind her shoulder. "What if I just want to teach you a lesson because I can''t stand you?" She gave Yvette a once-over. "No matter how nicely you dress, you''re still a little thief" The arrogant way she carried herself made Yvette grit her teeth in hatred. Clearly, she was supposed to be the adored little princess of the Nelson family, while Shakira was nothing but a useless outcast discarded without mercy. Yvette thought, ''Why should Shakira go to act so carefree and fearless in front of me? She is supposed to have nothing and be a pitiful wreck haunted by bad luck. Why is she still so full of life? Why isn''t she ruined? Why isn''t she dead yet? She wanted to rip apart Shakira''s arrogant, striking face, but she couldn''t even lift her hands. With a loud crash, a piece of the door lock snapped off.


    "If you don''t believe me, go ahead and try. Let''s see who won''t be able to stay in n Crescentville once those people outside get in Shakira didn''t waste any more words and nced at the door lock, which was barely holding from the repeated impacts. Her red lips parted. "Five." Yvette stiffened her face, but a hint of panic showed in her eyes. "Four, Three." The door lock fell off,


    eaving only one uselesstch.


    "Two." Yvette instinctively held her breath-Shakira''s smile became even more intriguing. "One."


    With a loud crash, the heavy wooden door was kicked open from outside. Evelyne entered with security guards following and was startled to see Yvette clutching her hand on the floor, with her head bowed like a wilted flower crushed underfoot. She immediately pointed at Shakira and shouted angrily, "Arrest her. She''s the one who intentionally harmed Ms. Nelson"This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Shakira gave a calm smile. "Wait," Yvette shivered all over. "Wait. She lifted her head, with her pale-face trying to give some reassurance to Evelyne. "Ms. Franklin, it wasn''t Shakira. I just identally fell."


    Instinctively, Evelyne ced her hand on Yvette''s back and was surprised to find her exposed skin was all wet. Shocked, she then noticed that Yvette''s wrist was ridiculously swollen. "Yvette what happened to your hand?"


    "I''m sorry, Ms. Franklin. I can''t y the piano anymore. We should hurry and find Xanthe instead," said Yvette.


    Evelyne shook her head. "No way, this summit is really strict. Anyone caught disrupting the order is kept in the istion room, and no one is allowed out until the summit is over."


    Yvette pretended to be regretful and guilty, "What about the performance? It''s all my fault. Had I been careful, this mess


    wouldn''t have happened. This piano piece was speciallyposed as a tribute to the four seniors. There''s no time to find someone else to y it now


    She felt very satisfied inside. Shakira, so what if you broke my hand? Xanthe would never get the chance to take this spotlight. If I couldn''t have it, then none of you can either."


    Before Yvette could be secretly happy, Shakira, who noticed a keyword, frowned slightly and said hoarsely. "Do you have the sheet music? I can y


    The audience had already seen two rounds of performances and now had a ten-minute intermission. After being seated for almost half an hour, manypany executives took the opportunity towork.


    They didn''t dare approach the National Seniors, but the businessmen sitting in the back rows moved up to the front. The head of the Lopez family sat with a stern expression, clearly keeping distance from strangers.


    The crowd, hesitant to approach, turned to praise those in the second row instead.


    The Nelson family became a popr selfie spot, especially after they discovered that the next performer was the heiress of the Nelson family. Many expressed their amazement. I''ve heard Ms. Nelson is beautiful and talented; I can''t believe we''re lucky enough to watch her y the piano at the summit."


    Reba covered her mouth with a modest smile, speaking gracefully, "It''s only because Ms. Franklin sees promise in my child"


    "Oh my goodness, do you mean the renowned international pianist Evelyne? I''ve heard she''s very strict. Being chosen by her must mean Ms. Nelson is extremely skilled at the piano." "Additionally, the piano solo tonight was speciallyposed by the organizers for the seniors. It holds greatmemorative value and is definitely the highlight of the evening." "Every young man from the Nelson family stands out, and Ms. Nelson naturally inherits the excellent genes of Mr. and Mrs, Nelson. It''s no surprise she''s so outstanding" Reba''s smile became more joyful, and Cody felt ted. They exchanged a nce, both of them valuing and being impressed with Yvette.


    That was why Yvette was considered their lucky star, making the Nelson family proud today.


    "Oh, please don''t say that. Yvette hasn''t graduated yet, and she still has a lot to learn. We''ll be relying on everyone''s support in the future," said Reba.


    "Mrs. Nelson, you''re too modest. Ms. Nelson has achieved so much at such a young age. She is bound to aplish great things in the future. We might end up relying on her."


    Benji was speechless. "That''s so disgusting. How can an adopted daughter inherit genes? A biology teacher would want to curse at that." Benji rubbed his arm as he listened to the endless ttery and boasting behind him


    He stuck his tongue out as he moved closer to Walter. Seeing that Walter''s face was as dark as thunderclouds, he nervously swallowed and said, "Brother, I know you''re really mad right now, but try not to be too upset. The summit isn''t over yet."


    Walter nced at him, with his deep-set eyes filled with a cold darkness. Sitting only 7 feet away in the VIP seats, the noise was clearly audible. Matthew and his group looked quite displeased.


    lo a low voice, Yael asked, "Matt, do you think they''re talking about Shakira or,"


    With a sharp tongue, Matthew retorted. "A bunch of blind fools Do you think they''d sincerelyplithent my student?"


    III


    09.40 Thu, Oct 31


    The group sat in silence, internally criticizing every member of the Nelson family, from the youngest to the oldest. Ethan shook his head, with his face full of disdain. "One day they''re definitely going to regret mistaking pearls for fish eyes" Everyone returned to their seats as the host took the stage, announcing the lineup. "Next up, we have Ms. Nelson performing the piano piece Eternal Glory'' for everyone."


    The lights dimmed throughout the room, and in the ensuing silence, the stage slowly descended from above. Standing beside a pure white piano was a beautifully elegant woman with delicate features, whose graceful presence made her resemble a descending angel, leaving the audience breathless in awe.


    0


    GG

 Chapter 152

    83% §±


    Ast


    these words were spoken, the whole room erupted. People looked at the calm and beautiful little fairy on stage and then at Cody and Reba, who were halfway up from their seats with expressions more thrilling than a roller coaster ride, and at that moment, chaos ensued-


    "No way. Isn''t this Ms. Nelson part of the famous Nelson family!


    "Something is strange. I attended Ms. Nelson''s birthday party before. She was pretty, for sure, but nothing this stunning. At first, I thought she had had some work done, but clearly, it''s not the same person.


    "I knew it. That daughter of the Nelson family got into trouble for giarizing in a fashion designpetition. It even caused Nelson Inc''s shares to drop a few points. How could she suddenly be so aplished?"


    "But Mr. and Mrs. Nelson admitted it was their daughter, right? Before the performance started, the Nelson family was boasting that it was their daughter who would y the piano piece.


    "Exactly, they were all set to get on stage and take photos with the seniors. If it wasn''t their daughter, wouldn''t that be a huge embarrassment?"


    "It was said this Ms. Nelson isn''t the biological daughter. When she was a child, there was a mix-up at the hospital. The Nelsons found their real daughter but didn''t announce it. We thought it was a rumor, but it seems she''s their biological daughter." "Oh my gosh, if it were me, I''d have announced it to the whole world with such an amazing daughter. Why are the Nelsons. keeping it a secret?"


    "What else could it be? A kid raised outside can''tpare to the one brought up by themselves. The birthday party of Ms. Nelsons was so extravagant that everyone was envious. They love their adopted daughter so much that biology doesn''t stand a chance" "Oh dear, what a tragedy. No wonder this girl says she has no parents; she''s probably heartbroken by how the Nelsons are handling things."


    "She is talented with great piano skills and even took a picture with the four seniors. Not just in Crescentville-a daughter like her brings honor to the family nationwide. If I were the Nelsons'' ancestor, I''d be haunting their dreams, scolding them for not appreciating her greatness."


    Amidst the ttering praises and the sudden noisy criticisms, Cody and Reba were speechless and found themselves in an awkward and embarrassing situation they had never faced before. They couldn''t decide whether to stand up or sit down. Initially, they were supposed to bask in the admiration of Crescentville''s elite, but now it all turned into aughingstock


    The mastermind behind this whole mess was Shakira. She took the glory that should have been Yvette''s. She insisted on being the center of attention, causing us to beughed at. This naturally rebellious girl wouldn''t stop until she made our lives miserable. The couple''s faces turned from pale to flushed with anger. If the coordinators hadn''te up to motion them back to their seats, they might have left due to embarrassment.


    Their eyes were red with fury as they watched Shakira calmly taking pictures with the seniors acting as if she hadn''t just caused a bigmotion.


    They looked at her as if they wanted to tear her apart then and there.


    On stage, Shakira posed for numerous photos with Matthew and the seniors from different angles. They took almost a dozen shots, but Matthew still wasn''t satisfied. 1/3


    Shakira whispered, "Alright, it''s time for me to go."


    9.83%


    Matthew chuckled and deliberately raised his voice. "No need to be shy, kid. Considering your parents dead, we really should have a few more photos with you.


    Shakira said, "Thank you so much, grandpas."


    Cody and Reba were so angry that they nearly turned blue. They thought, We are not dead. We''re still alive and n to live to be a hundred.


    In the front row, Benji. Calton, and Gavin were already doubled over withughter. If the time was right, they would have popped the champagne and celebrated. Even Kyle, who was usually as gentle as jade, couldn''t help but crack a smile. "Wow, Ms. Shakira Nelson sure has a sharp tongue," Gavin chuckled, rubbing his chin with amusement.


    After first seeing the girl beside Walter, they, as good friends of Walter, didn''t mention it but quietly did some investigating. So, they were all too familiar with the trouble at the Nelson family concerning Shakira


    Walter gazed at the dazzling woman on stage, his admiration clear on his handsome face. As she yed, her fingers moved gracefully over the keys, her elegant demeanor leaving asting impression on him. Walter''s eyes were deep-set and filled with endless darkness; he thought, ''medicine, cooking, fashion design, and piano


    At first, he wanted nothing more than to strangle her. Now, he was grateful he had kept her by his side.


    Walter thought, ''Shakira, how many secrets and surprises do you have that I don''t know about?


    "Hey, look at Mr. Lopez. He has be quite lovestruck. Hasn''t he?''


    Upon hearing the teasing from the side, Walter didn''t look away continuing to openly watch as Shakira''s patience faded. while she posed for forced photos on stage. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. "Not bad. keeping up the good work." Calton widened his eyes, almost choking. That performance was amazing. Is it only a steady work? Mr. Lopez sure has high standards.


    Benji tilted his head, looking proud. "She''s my future sister-inw, so she has to match up with my brother."


    Hearing this, Calton and Cavin exchanged a nce and suddenly realized it made a lot of sense. If she was not strong enough, how could she possibly stand up to Big Devil?


    After reluctantly staying on stage for half the day, Shakira finally returned to the backstage. She removed her makeup, fetched her phone from the locked cab, and countless messages appeared when she turned it on.


    The most eye-catching message was from Sean: [Shakira, you rocked. You were so cool. I was so close to jumping up-and cheering.]


    Shakira chuckled and replied: [If you had jumped, I promise you would never jump again


    Sean: [Shakira, you''re so cool, but I adore it]Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Shakira shook her head and thought, ''Sean is a hopeless case now.


    Just then, a call came through. When answered, Xanthe''s loud voice burst through, both crying andughing. "Oh my gosh, Shakira, you''re the best. Your performance was amazing."


    "Wow, that was awesome. How did you manage to outshine Yvette? Thatment you made totally floored everyone at the Nelson house. If they don''t appreciate you, their lucky gem, they''ll regret it forever."


    Shakira quietly moved her phone a bit further away. After half a minute. Xanthe finally calmed down a little, and only then did she bring it back closer.


    "Did Evelynee looking for you?" asked Shakira.


    "Yeah, yeah. Ms. Franklin signs some papers outside. I''lle over to meet youter. We''re celebrating tonight."


    Shakira told her, "Don''t be too upset. You''ll have another chance to get on stage soon.


    "Alright, you y next time. Shakira. I

 Chapter 153

    Reba stormed in, with Yvette trailing behind, holding her right hand and looking aggrieved. Even though there were plenty of staff backstage, Reba had no intention of controlling her temper. Her eyes zed with fury, like a vengeful spirit, eager to consume Shakira entirely.


    "To boost your image, you broke Yvette''s hand. Get out with me. I want everyone to see how evil you really are. Reba shouted angrily, her long, sharp nails shing through the air menacingly toward Shakira. The force behind them seemed enough to draw blood if she wasn''t careful.


    Shakira narrowed her eyes and replied coldly, "Mrs. Nelson, are you trying to make a fool of yourself in front of everyone?"Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Reba was speechless. Her hand stopped in mid-air as she met Shakira''s cold and merciless eyes. She recalled their previous encounter when she had been overpowered without even a chance to fight back.


    Reba angrily dropped her hand and pointed it at Shakira''s nose. Seeing Shakira''s arrogant stance and ignoring herpletely, Reba felt a deep hatred but was helpless to change it.


    Shakira smirked, with her gaze shifting to Yvette, who was hiding behind Reba, and let out a silent sneer. "Did Yvette tell you that I broke her hand?" Shakira asked with a casual tone that was enough to make Yvette feel like a frightened bird.


    Yvette quickly pulled down Reba''s hand, whispering almost desperately. "Mom, my injury has nothing TO do with Shakira. Let''s go home"


    Reba angrily shook off her hand. She had faced great humiliation, and now Yvette was even standing up for Shakira. Reba was furious.


    Her disappointment in Yvette was clear, and her gaze was filled with me and frustration. "How are you going to defend her! If she hadn''t locked you, you wouldn''t have gotten hurt?"


    If you had performed, all the cheers and apuse would have been for you. The photos with the seniors would have be of our family. Dad and I wouldn''t be theughingstock, continued Reba.


    Hearing these words, Shakira found Reba''s way of thinking truly fascinating. No wonder Yvette was so loved by her; birds of a feather flocked together.


    As Reba''s sharp, loud voice faded, a sneeringugh came from outside the door. It wasn''t cold or indifferent, just very mocking, and it was startling in the quiet room.


    Reba turned her head viciously and snapped. "Who dares tough!"


    At some point, Walter appeared outside the door, with his overly confident, handsome face smirking. "Mrs. Nelson, do you even want to scold me?"


    Reba''s expression suddenly changed.


    Walter''s sneer was obvious. "Why do you assume that once Yvette goes on stage, she''ll receive the same praise as Shakira? Aren''t you aware of Yvette''s piano skills?"


    Being belittled so openly in front of so many people, Yvette''s face turned pale instantly.


    Walter continued his leisurely mockery, "And you and Mr. Nelson became theughingstock of all Crescentville. What does that have to do with Shakira?"


    "Did she mention you on stage, or say you were her parents? Matthew only said he wanted to invite Shakira''s parents on stage, you assumed it was you. Shakira didn''t me you for pretending, yet you turn around and me her? You deserved the ridicule from all of Crescentville."


    "Furthermore, you don''t even think about reflecting on your own embarrassing words and actions. Instead of feeling


    ashamed, you go and trouble a young girl to cover up your shame. It''s not enough to make a fool of yourself once, youe back for a second time."


    "With such a disgraceful hostess at the Nelson family, it''s no wonder they can''t raise a decent daughter. Truly unfortunate for


    the family."


    Reba was speechless.


    Yvette was speechless.


    After listening to Walter''sments several times, Shakira was almost apuding out loud. Even Benji, who casually followed behind to watch the show, couldn''i help but join in the apuse with everyone else.


    Mr. Lopez''s skill at defending his wife was amazing. He could infuriate people with just his words.


    Even the nearby staff felt extremely satisfied-It was so satisfying to watch.


    Reba''s face fell, her chest rising and falling as if she might faint at any moment. Behind her was a crowd watching the scene, mocking her, including Benji and even those who only deserved backstage work, pointing fingers at her. The humiliation and anger pushed Reba''s emotions to the breaking point.


    She couldn''t lift her head out of shame and in the end, could only drag Yvette with her, sneaking away from the crowd.


    Walter maneuvered his wheelchair over to Shakira, seeing her eyes sparkling, and couldn''t help but grin. "You''re useless. Can I even talk back when someone insults you?"


    Shakira blinked. The makeup artist had lightly touched up her makeup before she went on stage, adding tiny sparkles at the corners of her eyes. Up close, she looked even more lively and charming.


    She pouted and exined. "If you hadn''te. I should''ve been the one saying those things."


    Walter signed. "So, you think I stole your spotlight?


    Shakira''s eyes sparkled as she bent down with a yful smile and spoke softly, "I wouldn''t say that. You helped me out and saved me effort, so I should thank you."


    She leaned in a bit closer as the backstage area was noisy and she was afraid that he didn''t hear herpliment. With the sudden closeness, her bright eyes and smiling face were right in front of him as if she had effortlessly stepped into his heart. Walter''s eyes grew darker. "With such sweet words, are you hoping for a reward?"


    Shakira''s eyes gleamed. "Is there one?


    Big Devil gave a mysterious smile. "We''ll talk about itter."


    Reba didn''t go back to the event. Instead, she firmly dragged Yvette straight to the parking lot. Once inside the car, Reba couldn''t hold back anymore and burst into loud sobs, covering her face.


    She didn''t dare to look up, fearing that all around her were both familiar and unfuntliar sneering faces. Seeing her like this reminded them of the moment earlier when they instinctively wanted to go on stage with Shakira for a photo. A sh of determination appeared on Yvette''s face.


    They had already cut ties with Shakira, yet Shakira was still med for Mitchell''s death. All the ridicule they were facing now was their own fault for seeking temporary glory by trying to im Shakira as their daughter.


    Yvette took a deep breath, with her throat choked up. "Mom, please don''t cry; it''s not worth it because of Shakira."


    As Reba ignored her, Yvette reached out to hold onto Reb''s armi.


    24


    Reba suddenly shook her off.


    Yvette''s back hit the car door with a painful thud.


    ¦°


    The sound snapped Reba back to her senses. She looked up instinctively and noticed the blood droplets forming from the nail marks she''d left on Yvette''s left hand.


    Reba was suddenly shocked, holding Yvette''s injured hand with tears of regret. "Silly girl, why didn''t you tell me I hurt you?"


    Yvette frowned deeply, trying to endure. I let you down. Mom. It''s my fault."


    "What does this have to do with you? It''s clearly-" She abruptly stopped, perhaps recalling Walter''s harsh criticism earlier. Her face became even more unpleasant.


    Yvette hugged Reba''s trembling body, with tears in her eyes. Im not good, and can''t make the family proud. Were I your real daughter, I could be a bit tougher and would not be so timid around her. Maybe I could be a little better, earning everyone''s praise.

 Chapter 154

    Yvette held back her grievances and when she saw Reba''s shocked expression, she quickly turned her head to wipe her tears, trying to look like she didn''t want Reba to see her sadness.


    Yvette''s hand was wrapped in bandages, while the other was still lightly bleeding, making Reba feel even more ashamed and unable to face her.


    "My sweetheart, I''m the one who let you down. Reba cried, tugging Yvette tightly, with her words choked with tears."


    "I was too impulsive. I only cared about arguing with Shakira and didn''t notice your feelings. Clearly, you were hurt and unable to perform because of Shakira, you should be upset about this, yet here you areforting me. "I''m foolish. I have such a precious daughter, why should I care about what that jerk does?"


    Yvette leaned against her, with her face showing no signs of sadness.


    Yvette said, "Mom, don''t say that. The opportunity to perform wasn''t originally mine. I thought that being able to perform and make our family proud would repay the hard work and care you''ve given me. I didn''t expect..." She couldn''t continue, her voice already choking with emotion.


    "Good girl, there''s no need to say more. I understand your feelings." Reba felt an even deeper ache in her heart. The more sensible Yvette was, the more Reba felt she owed her greatly. She took a deep breath and gently pushed Yvette away "Good girl. remember that Shakira is no longer our daughter, she''s just a stranger with no connection to us," said Reba


    ""From now o


    on, whenever you face her, don''t hold back or step aside. You are the cherished youngdy of the Nelson family. and are far more valued than that maid," added Reba while gently stroking Yvette''s hair, looking at her with determination in her eyes. Tve made up my mind. From now on, I''m going to invest more time and effort into nurturing my precious daughter. Soon, everyone in Crescentville will know that you, Yvette, are the most outstanding daughter of the Nelson family."


    Hearing these words, Yvette felt a wave of excitement and couldn''t contain her joy. "Thank you, Mom. I will work twice as hard to make both you and Dad proud of me."


    "Yes, Mom trusts my good daughter. Yvette happily hugged Reba again.


    In aer where Reba couldn''t see, greed filled Yvette''s eyes! Shakira, I would definitely make you repay someday twice as much the humiliation I suffered today.


    "Achoo." The first day of the summit ended perfectly. Benji and the others were nning to have a celebration dinner at Veiled Vine. As they left the venue, a cool autumn breeze blew in Hearing Shakira sneeze, Walter looked over at her and asked, "Cold Shakira pinched her nose and said, "It''s alright. I guess."


    Walter signaled to Brian to get the car ready. "Let''s head back then."


    Calton was shocked by what he heard. "Oh, wait, Mr. Lopez, did hear that right? Just because Ms. Nelson sneezed, you''re not going to hang out with us anymore?"


    Walter raised an eyebrow and asked, "What? You got a problem


    Of course, I have a problem, a big one. But.. Calton only dared toin silently to himself, not daring to voice it out loud. He scratched his face awkwardly. "You both head back early and keep warm."


    Shakira paused for a moment and instinctively said. "But I have promised to eat steak with Xanthe"


    14


    GG


    Walter shot her a threatening nce. "I''m giving you a chance to decline."


    Shakira pouted. She wouldn''t dare act up in front of the Big Devil, so she obediently messaged Xanthe to reschedule their meal.


    After saying goodbye to the others, they got into the Maybach, which was already warm. As Shakira sat down, her bare legs felt much morefortable. Suddenly, she remembered something and leaned over to Walter. "Didn''t you say you had a reward for me. Walter?" Walter, who was resting with his eyes closed, turned his head to look at her. "You want it now?"


    "Shakira chuckled. I''ve been waiting for hours," said she. She thought. As Big Devil is stingy, even counting a cake against me, I am curious about what he would reward me with:


    Seeing the sparkling anticipation in her eyes, Walter curved his handsome lips into a smile. Just wait a little longer. You''ll know when we get home"


    Shakira was momentarily stunned by his words. Going home had an indescribable warmth to it. She shook her head to get rid of her sudden sentimental thoughts and continued to wait patiently for Walter''s reward.


    Once they returned to Easke Valley Estate, Levi and the household staff were at the door to wee them. The summit performance was live-streamed, and Shakira''s piano solo not only wowed the audience but also received praise online.


    With loving pride, Levi opened the door for Shakira and gave her a thumbs up. "Ms. Nelson, your piano ying was beautiful


    Shakira lifted the corners of her mouth. Thanks, Levi


    Levi winked at her. "Walter has arranged a gift for you. I''m sure you''ll really like it when you see it."


    Shakira was pleasantly surprised. "Levi knows too? What is it?"


    "Shakira, why don''t you go in and take a look?" said Levi


    This made Shakira even more eager. She turned her head and noticed that Walter had already gone inside the small vi before her.


    Shakira quickly caught up, jogging along. Around therge stone column in the living room, Shakira finally saw the mysterious gift. It was a clear crystal grand piano. Under the elegant crystal chandelier, the piano looked as stunning as a fine piece of art. Shakira was transfixed, standing there in amazement without reacting. Walter had already sat down by the piano. His elegant white suit perfectlyplemented the crystal piano, creating a breathtakingly beautiful picture.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Seeing her not moving. Walter reached out to her with a deep, enticing voice. "Aren''t youing over?" Shakira couldn''t resist such an attractive sight.


    At some point, Levi, Brian, and the servants had left, leaving only the two of them in the spacious living room. Shakira uncontrobly moved towards the no, and with a sweep of his arm, Walter pulled her into his embrace. She sat on hisp, with her eyes reflecting the image of Walter and the piano. Noticing she was entranced, Walter smiled even brighter. "You really like it, huh?" Shakira instinctively swallowed, suddenly turning to stare intently at Walter as if she could see straight into his heart. "How did you know I''d like this piano?" 273

 Chapter 155

    Walter met her gaze, seeing that glimmer of emotion deep in her eyes. His smile widened a little.


    "Your little quirks were quite noticeable during your performance. Walter recounted smoothly. "When the tform moved up and down, those afraid of heights usually grip the piano from above for stability, but you did the opposite, supporting it from underneath. You were worried the top wasn''t secure?


    "The piece you yed was challenging and fast. You probably haven''t learned professional techniques and didn''t make grand gestures during shy parts to enhance visual impact; rather, you shifted from slow to fast. Furthermore, after your performance, you withdrew your hands gently, instinctively protecting the piano.


    "I wasn''tpletely sure, but seeing your reaction now confirms it."


    Shakira felt a whirlwind of emotions. Everyone praised her,plimenting her piano ying and simply enjoying her performance. But Walter noticed those little details and from them, deduced her preferences


    Shakira felt a mix of indescribable emotions inside her, warm and tingly, as if a feather was gently brushing against the tip of her heart.


    She turned her head slightly, looking at the wless, clear piano keys, and recalled. "When I was young, there was an older girl next door who taught piano. Every evening. I could hear her ying beautiful, enchanting melodies."


    "One day, when Jessie and Lago went out for drinks and didn''te back, I finished my chores early and secretly went next door to watch the older sister y the piano."


    "She noticed me eavesdropping and warmly invited me in, holding my hand to teach me how to y "Ode to Joy." After ying through it once. I already knew how to y it


    "The elder sister was pleasantly surprised and taught me a few more songs, all of which I memorized after just one ythrough.


    "The next day, she told Lago and the others about my talent for piano and suggested I learn it seriously, but Jessie used, her of trying to scam them for money. Then they beat me for leaving the house unattended. After that, I never mentioned learning the piano again. "Later, during middle school, I had a summer job at a music store. I stayed there for two months. The owner noticed that I had a perfect pitch and asked me to y daily to attract customers. After ying so much. I became quite skilled."


    Walter gazed intently at her profile. Her tone was calm and her eyes showed no emotion; talking about her past was as mundane as discussing the weather.


    As Walter listened to every word she said and saw her calm demeanor, an inexplicable heaviness and difort weighed on his heart. He had never been one to pity others or to develop unnecessary emotions towards them Yet somehow, he just couldn''t help but feel sorry for her.


    Shakira slowly lifted her head, noticing Walter''s intense gaze, which was almost terrifying. She couldn''t help butugh in her carefree manner. "Why the serious face, Walter? That was all a long time ago. I couldn''t care less anymore." She spoke lightly, "Besides, Lago and Jessie have already gone bankrupt. It''s like getting my own back in a way"This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Walter coldly stated. "What they''ve faced isn''t nearly enough"


    Shakira was taken aback as she understood the meaning behind his words. Her eyes curved slightly, and a dark glimmer failed in her eyes. They had swapped out their daughter for her life, drained her, trampled on her like she was nothing- Just bankruptcy was not enough That was just the beginning.


    .


    831


    §±


    Shakira blinked, suppressing the storm of darkness in her eyes, and returned to her usual self. Suddenly, she thought of something and looked at Walter with eager anticipation. "How about we try ying a piano duet together?" Walter replied seriously, "I can''t y the piano."


    "No way!" Shakira eximed. How could the heir of the Lopez family not know how to y the piano? It didn''t make sense.


    Walter casually remarked. "Will this help to conduct business?"


    Shakira shook her head. "Not for business, but it sure works for romance."


    Walter suddenly realized. "No wonder Benji is at an eighth-grade level in piano-it''se in handy."


    While enjoying life at Veiled Vine, Benji sneezed two or three times in a row.


    Shakira looked doubtful again. "You really can''t y the piano?"


    Walter stayed calm. You could teach me. Who knows, maybe I have some talent too.


    Shakira''s lips twitched slightly. The idea that Big Devil had waspletely unrealistic as if everyone had talent.


    Then I''ll teach you ''Ode to Joy. It''s the simplest." Shakira gently guided his distinct fingers to the transparent keys as she spoke.


    Her cool, smaller hand wrapped around his warm,rger one, carefully arranging his fingers.


    The tune goes like this." Shakira hummed quietly, watching as his hand followed the rhythm to press the keys.


    Walter pressed a few keys, but his pressure was uneven.


    Frowning. Shakira said, "No, no, you need to keep your pressure consistent, not heavy one moment and light the next" She stood up, leaned over his back, and ced his hands on hers to help him feel the rhythm. Walter slightly tilted his gaze, focusing on her serious expression. A yful smile spread like stardust in his deep, mysterious


    eyes.


    Tonight, the moonlight was bright and clear. Surrounded by tall trees, the little vi echoed with the enchanting sound of piano music, which was warm and delightful.


    After Shakira bailed on their streak ns, Xanthe went to find Enrique, hoping for a ride home with him.


    Seeing his daughter return safe and sound, Enrique sighed in relief. Then he suddenly suggested, "I have a private dinner with Mr. Reynolds tonight; how about you join us?"


    Xanthe perked up slightly. "With Sean?"


    "That''s right, didn''t you always say you wanted to meet Mr. Reynolds? If you want to go, thene along. If not, I''ll have Daveke you home," Enrique said, doting on his daughter. Knowing she wasn''t fond of such social events, he asked for her opinion several times. "Alright, I''ll go. After all, he''s a major sponsor of our family. No need to wait, I''ll see what he''s really like today."


    Enriqueughed. "You cheeky girl, just be nice when you meet Mr. Reynoldster and focus on having a good meal."


    Xanthe waved her hand. "Okay, okay, do I seem like a troublesome kid who doesn''t know better? He''s our important sponsor, I''ll make sure to treat him well"


    The dinner venue was chosen by Sean, a fancy Bris restaurant


    Enrique took Xanthe into the private room. Sean wasn''t there yet, and since this was Xanthe''s first time seeing the new surroundings outside, she felt a bit restless. "Dad, I''m gonna take a look around."


    Before Enrique could say anything, Xanthe had already slipped out.


    In the main hall outside, beautiful dancers in light clothing were performing belly dances Xanthe wandered around for a bit, checking the time, and decided to go to the bathroom before heading back to the private room.


    Just as she turned into the public wash area, she saw a tall man being pinned against the wall by one of the dancers.


    Xanthe quickly backed away, but not before noticing the man was wearing sunsses and a mask. He was slim and tall, and his eye-catching belt logo p

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    156


    It was that shy male escort fromst time. Xanthe thought. It has only been a few days and he has already expanded his business to a restaurant?''


    Sean slightly tilted his head and whispered close to Xanthe''s car Do me a favor, and you''ll definitely get a rewardter."


    "This trick again? Xanthe sneered, her lips curling into a smirk. This mboyant gigolo was really skilled at getting money from rich women, and he spent it so carelessly. On a second thought, Xanthe understood. After all, it was just about using some sweet talk during the day and putting in a little effort at night. It was a high-reward job. that quickly earned money, so spending it wasn''t a worry. Seeing Xanthe staying silent, Sean thought she had agreed to his n and told the dancer, "You see it. I really have a girlfriend


    The dancer, seeing them "intimately together, threw a jealous nce at Xanthe Noticing the expensive I.K designer dress. Xanthe was wearing and the dazzling yellow diamond ne on her neck, the dancer was frustrated and could only stomp her foot and storm off. Once the dancer left. Sean breathed a sigh of relief and removed his arm from around Xanthe. "Thanks. He automatically reached for his wallet. Before he could take it out, Xanthe''s cold voice cut in. "Haven''t seen you for a few days. You''ve managed to surprise me even more." This sounded familiar. Sean looked up and finally clearly saw Xanthe''s face. You''re that girl from Crescentville University the other day."


    Remembering that frustrating time, Sean let out a sarcasticugh "Running into you again. It is a small world for enemies."


    Xanthe shot him a mischievous grin. Then she swiftly kicked him into the small cubicle, and before Sean could react, she propped the door shut with a mop.


    "You brat, what are you doing? Let me out." Sean yelled from inside, angrily pounding on the door.


    Xanthe dusted off her hands. "That''s what you get for flirting around. I''m punishing you on behalf of all the girls you''ve tricked. Reflect on your actions in there." She ignored Sean''s angry curses behind her and left the restroom feeling quite pleased. She even thoughtfully ced an "Under Maintenance" sign outside the restroom.


    When she returned to the private room, Enrique was still sitting there, looking a bit lost. Xanthe closed the door and checked the time. "Where''s our sponsor? Don''t tell me they stood us up."


    Enrique shook his head. "I doubt it. Mr. Reynolds texted me about ten minutes ago saying he''s on his way. He nced at Xanthe, whose mischievous expression was all too familiar; since she was little, whenever she pulled a prank or caused trouble, she would look just like this. like this.


    Enrique felt a bad premonition. "Sweetie, where did you just go


    Xanthe shed a mysterious smile and scooted over next to Enrique. "Dad, remember the creep I told who was bothering Shakira when you picked me up from school?"


    Enrique''s face inunediately darkened. ''Is that jerk here eating too? Where is he? I''m going to give him a piece of my mind."


    Xanthe grabbed him, giving him a ''calm down" look. "Like father, like daughter. I''ve already run into him, so why not teach him a good lesson?"


    Under Enrique''s curious gaze, Xanthe calmly sipped her coffee with a smug smile. "I kicked him right into the smelliest stall


    in the women''s restroom so he could really take in the aroma and reflect on his actions."N?velDrama.Org content.


    "Enrique chuckles. That''s my girl. Well done. Enrique patted Xanthe''s shoulder with a pleased grin.


    Enrique and Xanthe clinked their sses,ughing happily when his phone rang. He put away his smile. "It''s Mr. Reynolds


    After a


    answering the call, Enrique listened for a bit, and the smile on his face slowly disappeared, eventually turning into a rather peculiar expression.


    After hanging up the phone. Enrique''s face turned unusually serious. Meanwhile, Xanthe was still cheerfully munching on peanuts and sunflower seeds. "Dad, why aren''t you smiling anymore?"


    Enrique felt like crying, not able to smile


    at all. "Sweetie, be honest with Dad


    Dad, which restroom did you kick that guy into?"


    "It was the one just to the right outside our room. What''s going on, Dad? Why do you look like you''re about to cry?"


    Enrique was truly at a loss for tears. "You silly girl, that was Mr. Reynolds."


    The peanut shell dropped from Xanthe''s hand. She looked absolutely shocked. "What?"


    Five minutes


    Five minutes ester, Sean sat in the private room with a look of resentment, emanating a faint, indescribable stench. Enrique was holding a hot towel, not sure what to do.


    Xanthe stood in the farthest corner, with her head lowered. As beld as she had been earlier, now she was as timid as a quail.


    She hadn''t thought that shy guy, just a gigolo, would turn out to be Sean, the chairman of Yonder Digital.


    The head of such a hugepany should have assistants and bodyguards with him. But Sean had nothing like that-only sunsses and a mask and he was dressed like a luxury brand niix-up. No one would ever associate him with the high-end. sophisticated CEO. Plus, he sneaked into the school all decked out to find Shakira. Ifthat wasn''t creepy, then what was?


    "Mr. Reynolds, if you don''t mind, maybe you could wipe it off a bit? Enrique suggested awkwardly with a forced smile.


    Sean made a sarcastic sound through his nose. "If wiping it off works, why would people doundry?" Enrique reluctantly shut his mouth. Xanthe, always ready to


    to defend her dad, spoke up with displeasure, ''Deadbeat... Mr. Reynolds, this was my fault, and I''ll take responsibility. Please don''t take it out on my dad." Enrique was terr s terrified and quickly motioned Xanthe to not make matters worse.


    He turned to speak to Sean whose face was nowpletely darkened with an apologetic look. "Mr. Reynolds, please don''t be offended. She has been spoiled and often speaks and acts out of line. Lask you to be forgiving and not to hold grudger against her Sean let out a cold snort, with his voice filled with sarcasm. "As i dare to hold it against her. What if she throws money in my face again, or even worse, pushes me into a toilet when I''m not watching?" Enrique was incredibly anxious. "Sweetheart,e here and apologize to Mr. Reynolds."


    I didn''t do anything wrong; it was obviously," said Xanthe.


    Enrique gave a sharp look, and Xanthe immediately lost her energy. After all, Sean was the one with the financial power. He was even more intimidating than her own dad


    She walked over to Mr. Reynolds, with her neck straight and movements suff. She had no choice but to bow to money.


    "Sorry, Mr. Reynolds."


    Sean lifted his chin arrogantly, ncing sideways at the girl whose lips were tightly pressed in defiance. "I ept the apology, but there''s this smell on me."


    83%1 83%1


    Enrique quickly said, "Mr. Reynolds, please wait a moment. I''ll go to the mall next door and get you a new set of clothes." After saying that, he headed our without waiting for Sean''s response. Just before stepping out, he reminded Xanthe again. "Make sure to apologize sincerely to Mr. Reynolds. He''s a kind-hearted person; if you''re sincere, he won''t give you a hard time." With the private room door closed, only the two of them remained, staring at each other with wide eyes.


    Sean could clearly understand Enrique''s intention. He chuckled softly, not too cold, not too warm. "Your dad supports you. He''s put me on such a high pedestal, worried I''ll make things tough for you." "My dad has always been doting on me since I was little." She paused, squinting at Sean. "So if you have any issues, direct them at me. Giving my dad a hard time is not what a gentleman would do." Sean leaned back easily, arms crossed.

 Chapter 157

    Xanthe nced around, not in a hurry. She sat across from Sean and said, "Let''s go over this and resolve the misunderstandings between us. That''s the best way to solve the problem, right, Mr. Reynolds?"


    Sean didn''t argue, staying silent and waiting for Xanthe to continue. Xanthe tapped her finger on the table. "We first miet at the ssroom door. At that time, you asked me why Shakira washit in ss. Do you know Shakira?"


    Xanthe was impatient and impulsive, the kind of person who couldn''t hide her feelings. She had no idea that her transparent thoughts were all too visible to Sean.


    He chuckled, casually saying to her. "So, how do you think your dad got handed the Southville Project?"


    Hearing this, Xanthe waspletely stunned, her mind racing. Enrique had told her that winning the bid wasn''t just because of Shakira''s encouragement but also because of Sean, the main sponsor. That was why he obediently followed Sean''s every word. But now, why was Sean suddenly asking this question? Could it be. Xanthe cautiously voiced the impossible possibility. "Is it


    because of Shakira?"


    Sean curved his lips into a smirk. "You''re not as clueless as you look."


    Xanthe gasped and covered her mouth in shock.


    Oh my God. She had never thought Shakira would be linked with Sean; she was still rooting for the Shakira and Mr. Lopez couple.


    Inside, Xanthe''s emotions were already swirling like a tornado. Sean, elegantly crossing his legs, suddenly had an idea seeing her stunned, naive-looking expression. "I could consider forgiving the silly things you''ve done, but you''ll need to do something for me. Xanthe immediately looked at him warily. "You tell me first."


    Jeez, what''s with that look? Do you think I''d set you up?" Sean shrugged. "It''s simple, you''re ssmates with Shakira. Just look after her at school. Upon hearing this, Xanthe broke into a smile. "Do you really need to say that? Shakira''s my friend. Even without you asking I''ve got her back." Sean continued in a calm manner, "There''s one more thing. You need to tell me who she spends the most time with at school, especially the guys


    This time Xanthe couldn''t stay calm. Oh wow, this shy fox had shown his true colors. So this was what he was after. Was he trying to pursue Shakira? But judging by the way things look, he didn''t seem to know that Shakira and Mr. Lopez were all lovey-dovey. Sean waited for a long time but didn''t get any response from Xanthe, thinking she might be scheping something secretly. He had looked into Xanthe before, who used to be with Yvette when they bullied Shakira, Now that she had changed sides to cozy up with Shakira, Sean thought she was probably not reliable


    If he weren''t so busy with business and if there was no one around Shakira to relieve boredom, Sean would definitely be the first to oppose Shakira hanging out with such a fickle person.


    Thinking about this, Sean''s expression turned cold, carrying a hint of defiance. "What? Can''t handle such a small task and sull expect me to forgive you?Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Xanthe scoffed. I won''t do something as shady as betraying a friend."


    III


    .


    GG


    "Oh, young, still loyal?" Sean couldn''t believe Xanthe was that loyal. He went straight to the point. "Since you won''t agree, forget it. Your dad dropping out of the Southville project wouldn''t make much of a difference." Bang, Xanthe mmed the table, ring angrily at Sean. Her hands clutched the tablecloth tightly, and if she''d been a bit more reckless, she''d definitely have gone for Sean''s neck.


    "Sean, are you even a man? I''ve only offended you twice, and are you going to be so unreasonable, huh?"


    Sean lookedpletely unfazed, with a smirk that


    med to say, "What can you do about it?" Anyway, I''ve made my


    demands. If you agree, we can work together like nothing ever happened. But if you don''t..." He left the sentence unfinished,


    but the threat was obvious.


    Xanthe''s eyes were practically shooting daggers, Shakira really must have had the worst luck to catch the eye of such a petty. vengeful jerk. No way, as a good friend, she had to help her get rid of this loser.


    She thought for a moment and her anger slowly faded. She sat back down, ring at Sean''s annoyingly wless face. With a heavy sigh, she said. "Fine. I agree, but let me be clear. I won''t tell you anything personal"


    Sean raised an eyebrow. "Deal" He picked up the small coffee cup from the table. "Wish us a happy cooperation


    That was not a cooperation anyway. Xanthe gave a fake smile, tumed her head while cradling the coffee cup, rolled her eyes dramatically, and drank her coffee in one go.


    The three-day summit came to a perfect conclusion. The Lopez Group secured several major projects with the government. For a whole week, they got home after dinner, while Shakira had plenty of free time; aside from attending school, she stay at home either drawing or ying the piano.


    Sean was busy on his end but never lost his knack for gossip. [Shakira, during that piano performance, the Nelson family totally embarrassed themselves, bing theughingstock of all of Crescentville. At this summit, from start to finish, they didn''tnd a single deal. A string ofughter follows.]


    Sean: [Though a century-old family, the official reports leave them out because they''re embarrassing. They are arrogant enough to bother with those small partners. All the Crescentville bosses made a fortune, except them. They must have been fuming by the time they got home. Oh man, it''s just too funny.]


    No sooner had Sean told her the gossip than Xanthe sent her a simr scoop: [My dad found out that Cody wouldn''t humble himself to seek out deals, leaving it to Finn. Those big bosses yed dumbs, Can you imagine how annoyed Finn''s handsome face must be right now?]


    [Even Felix, who came back from abroad with an impressive academic background, got kicked out of his research group. All thanks to Yvette. If she hadn''t taken my performance, they wouldn''t lose face so badly? She''s a jinx, dragging down the family. What a piece of bad luck she is.]


    [The key point is that they haven''t realized it that they are deceived. I heard that Mrs. Nelson has been introducing connections to Yvette, trying to help her get into the entertainment sector. Well, they can continue to spoil Yvette. Let''s see how their luck keeps changing in unexpected ways.]


    Shakira watched the two of themugh heartily with malicious glee. The corners of her lips curled up slightly. Of course, the Nelson family would keep pampering Yvette. They believed Yvette was a lucky charm, the blessing of the Nelson household She was eagerly waiting to see how Yvette would repay the entire Nelson family for their endless affection.


    Walter rolled into the room and saw Shakira grinning at her phone for some unknown joyful reason. His expression. darkened slightly as he wheeled forward. "Fiona called. She said Matthew has agreed to personally help treat my legs."

 Chapter 158

    "Really? That''s fantastic" Shakira lifted her head from the phone, smiling, but her expression didn''t seem too surprised. It was clearly more expected than shocking.


    Walter''s gaze grew more intense, watching Shakira''s every subtle expression like a hawk. "My people have been trying to get in touch with Matthew, but there hasn''t been any progress. Yet, Fiona managed to do it. You don''t seem surprised that Fiona could persuade Matthew.


    Walter''s piercing question and gaze sent a chill down Shakira''s spine. She couldn''t admit that she had long known Matthew agreed to help with his legs. Fiona seeded merely as an excuse suited to Matthew''s whims,


    Shakira chuckled. "When I took pictures with Matthew, he seemed like a kind guy. Ms. Banks was bound to win him over with her sincerity. With Matthew''s help, you will be up and walking soon." Shakira unconsciously nced at his legs, with her eyes filled with hope and rity.


    Seeing the twinkle in her eyes as if she was more thrilled than he was. Walter squinted slightly. "Shakira, even if my legs get better, what you owe me needs to be repaid over time."


    Shakira snapped out of it when he barked at her. She pouted. "I know, even if your legs heal, I still have to do all my chores."


    Walter''s gaze darkened further. "Oh really, do you remember everything you have to do?"


    Shakira rolled her eyes inwardly and thought, Seriously? Big Devil has so little faith in me? Would I actually ck off?


    Shakira grumbled. "What else could it be? Cleaning, cooking, waking you up in the morning, and putting you to bed at night.


    Walter raised an eyebrow. "And what else?"


    Shakira was taken aback. "What else?"


    Walter gave her a significant look. "Seems like you forgot the most important task."


    The most important? Wait a minute, could it be-This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Walter had talked about making their fake rtionship real. Though sharing a bed, he had never taken it further. Shakira had gotten used to sleeping beside him. When she slept alone, she was a light sleeper. Now she was used to sleeping through the night with him. Actually, with the weather getting colder these days, she had sneaked her chilly feet into his side of the bed at night for warmth. As he couldn''t feel, he didn''t know. But when his legs get better, she would have to say goodbye to this little luxury.


    When Walter suddenly brought up the matter, Shakira''s face turned red with embarrassment. She mumbled. "Of course, I didn''t forget...


    His intense gaze made her both embarrassed and annoyed. "Come on. I didn''t forget. We''ll talk about itter. With that, she angrily got up and went into the bathroom.


    Walter watched her blush and hurry away, finally showing a hint of a smile on his face.


    Matthew only gave them the afternoon. By the time Walter and his group passed all the checks to get to Matthew''s ce, Fiona had already been waiting at the door for a while.


    Seeing the familiar Maybach stop, Fiona eagerly approached, "Walter However, when she saw Shakira was with him too, she immediately frowned and pointed at Shakira in displeasure. "What''s she doing here?"


    III


    09 41 Thu, Oct 31


    Walter said in an even tone. She treated me for a while. Her conversations with Matthew could help him understand my condition better."


    Fiona''s face flushed with anger and she croaked. "Walter. Have you forgotten it''s me who''s been keeping track of your health I''m more aware of your situation than anyone else. I''ve been running around for you and even persuaded Matthew to treat you. The way you''re treating me is really disheartening."


    Walter: pressed his lips together, with his handsome face stern. Thave my medical team, and you chose to interfere. As for Matthew. I never asked for your assistance. If you''re upset about it. I can leave right now" Then, he signaled Brian to help him back into the car. Fiona was startled by Walter''s sudden change in demeanor. She was just angry that Shakira came along and said those things to brag about her own achievements to manipte Walter, never intending to make him leave.


    Seeing his determined profile, she felt scared. "No, Walter, don''t go. It was hard to get Matthew to agree. He''s upstairs waiting for you. Don''t be mad at me. I''m a bit upset. Let''s talk this over can. No matter what. getting your legs treated is the most important thing Walter remained unmoved, with his expression cold. He disliked being threatened, and even more so, Fiona''s repeated attempts to boss him around under the guise of favors. In the past, when Fiona caused trouble, he could just ignore it. However, Fiona targeting Shakira was something he couldn''t tolerate.


    Fiona was truly afraid he would just walk away like that. She knew him too well, once he got stubborn, he would really do it. If he left, all of her recent humiliating efforts would have been in vain.


    Growing more anxious, Fiona


    lened her tone and said urgently, "I didn''t mean to drive Shakira away, Walter. If you want to take her inside, just take her. I won''tin anymore." This time, Walter finally looked at her.


    Fiona quickly said. "Let''s head up. It''s not nice to keep Matthew waiting


    Walter nodded, finally agreeing to go inside. Fiona quietly sighed in relief, but when she turned around, she shot an angry re at Shakira behind her back. Shakira didn''t care and followed Walter straight into the room. Nancy knocked on the door, heard a voice from inside, and then pushed it open to ask questions Fiona exined, "Matthew is inside. He likes peace and quiet and too many people going in might upset him, though he agreed to help with the treatment." Fiona led them to the coffee room downstairs. Her words were polite, but inside, she was really annoyed. She hadn''t met


    Matthew even once.


    She had been so busy organizing everything here that she didn''t attend the summit herself and let her sister go in her ce. The information about the four seniors was well-protected online, and she still didn''t know what Matthew really looked like. Shortly after, Nancy came out and said warmly. "Matthew requests Mr. Lopez and Ms. Nelson toe inside, while everyone else should wait outside."


    Fiona grabbed Nancy''s hand and said, "Nancy, are you sure Matthew didn''t call for me? It''s me, after all. I''ve been taking care of him for so long. Can''t I at least see him?"


    Fiona thought, ''Not seeing me is ok. Why Shakira go in? She was the dignified eldest daughter of the Banks family and was worth a fortune. She humbled herself to be his caregiver and carefully followed his every request.


    Yet, in the end, he actually allowed a humble maid to enter while leaving her outside. She was furious.


    09:41 Thu. Oct 31 GB


    Nancy nodded confidently. "Matthew meant exactly that. I didn''t hear it wrong.


    I don''t believe it. I need to go in and ask-


    Fiona was interrupted, suddenly freezing in ce, not daring to move. She felt a redser beam shoot in through the window, stopping right between her eyebrows.

 Chapter 159

    That red beam made everyone''s hair stand on end. Walter instinctively tensed his whole body, sharply looking towards the source of it, which was in the dense and concealed jungle outside the window. He slightly squinted his eyes, unconsciously shielding Shakira behind him and keeping her away from Fiona.


    Seeing Walter''s arm blocking her path, this familiar scene made Shakira pause and feel a bit dazed. Meanwhile, Fionapletely lost herposure, with tears as big as beans rolling down her cheeks.


    "I-I didn''t mean to do anything. I was wrong, and I won''t dare to offend Matthew again," said Fiona. "Walter, please save me, boohoo...


    Shakira snapped back to reality as she listened to Fiona''s cries. Matthew''s identity and status were incredibly significant. Despite Matthew keeping a low profile and living in an ordinary apartm building, there were always special forces secretly protecting the area. Fiona acted recklessly and was obviously seen as a dangerous target.


    She clutched Walter''s arm, gently nudging him aside as she moved forward. The red dot relocated from Fiona''s forehead to Shakira''s face. Almost instantly, Fiona crouched down with tears streaming and hid behind Shakira.


    Walter furrowed his brows intensely. Without a moment''s hesitation, he positioned himself in front of Shakira, and said in a voice heavy with anger, "Shakira, don''t do anything reckless."


    "I''m not being reckless" Shakira''s eyes drifted past him, focusing on the view outside the window. "It''s just a misunderstanding, and we never meant to offend Matthew"


    As her melodious voice rose, the red dot finally vanished. Everyone breathed a big sigh of relief, and Fiona just slumped. down weakly.


    Shakira nced at her and then met Walter''s angry gaze. She gave him a conciliatory smile. "It''s all cleared up now, and let me push you in, sir." Clearly still annoyed, Walter used the smart panel to steer himself into the room first. Shakira reluctantly touched her nose and followed inside. The study was much more spacious than the outside, and in the Center was a long ebony desk with incense burning on it. Its smoke spiraled in the air.


    There was also a small balcony connected to the outdoors, where Matthew, dressed simply, was sitting under a sunshade sipping coffee. When he saw theming in, he gave them a cold look.


    Once again, hit by the silent criticism, Shakira obediently hung her head, looking guilty. Walter spoke, "Hi, Matthew


    Matthew huffed. "It''s just a check-up, and you cause such amotion. You are truly Mr. Lopez in action. The words dripped with sarcasm.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Walter understood that Matthew disliked being disturbed. Since he needed something from him, so he epted the criticism withposure. Matthew indicated to him. "Come over here, and let me check your pulse first "Thank you, Matthew," Walter responded as instructed, wheeling his chair to face Matthew, and cing his hand on the


    table.


    Matthew took off his reading sses, and his cloudy eyes seemed to be much clearer. He ced two fingers on Walter''s Jeft wrist and stayed silent for a moment.


    After checking his pulse for a while, he nced over at Shakira and then went to examine Walter''s right hand. Matthew identally furrowed his brows.


    After a long thine, Matthew withdrew his hand and calmly poured himself more coffee. "You may go."


    09.42 Thu, Oct 31


    GG


    9K 83%


    1


    Walter and Shakira were both surprised. I don''t understand your intention. Matthew. Please enlighten me


    Matthew brought his coffee cup to his lips, gently blowing on the steam. He said frankly, "I can''t cure your illness.


    "What?" Shakira rushed over to Matthew before Walter could speak. "How can it be incurable?"


    Matthew gave her a stern look. "Youngdy, do you think, at my age. I''d joke about this? His legs have been through herbal baths and acupuncture, and his veins are mostly healed. Normally, he should be able to start rehab by now, but yet he still can''t move. What does that tell you?"


    Hearing this, Shakira was stunned. Matthew shook his head and gave a long look at Walter''s indifferent expression. "His legs won''t heal, not just because of physical injuries, but also because of a mental barrier. He doesn''t want to walk yet. No one can cure him unless he wants to


    A mental barrier? Shakira instinctively looked back at Walter, only to see him already turning to leave. "I apologize for the disturbance today. I''ll take my leave."


    "Hey, wait up." Shakira had no choice but to quickly chase after him.


    Seeing theme out so quickly, Fiona was still puzzled. Is he cured already?"


    Walter casually tossed out. "Matthew can''t heal me, so from now on, you don''t need to keep searching for someone to fix my legs Before Fiona could react, Walter had already left.


    Shakira jogged to catch up, while Fiona watched them, suddenly realizing it. "Even Matthew can''t cure him?"


    "How could that be possible? Is there any illness that Matthew can''t heal?" Yvette thought, ''If even Matthew couldn''t help Walter, for what are all my efforts, working hard for an old man nearing his end? Isn''t that a big joke?"


    Shakira never expected Walter''s wheelchair to be that fast. By the time she got outside, he was already in the Maybach. As she was about to get in, Brian stopped her. "Ms. Nelson, Mr. Lopez is going back to the office. The car behind will take you back to Easke Valley Estate Shakira said, "But I still have some questions..."


    "Ms. Nelson, this is Mr. Lopez'' order, and no one is allowed to disobey him," Brian warned softly.


    Shakira had no choice but to take a few steps back. As she watched the Maybach drive away, her mind was in a mess, struggling to understand the situation.


    She didn''t go back but took a small path, cutting through the little garden to sneak into the backyard of Matthew''s study. Matthew was still sitting there, drinking coffee. Shakira swung her legs over the fence as if she owned the ce.


    She sat down heavily across from Matthew, not caring about her appearance, grabbed the coffee cup, and took a big gulp.. Matthew gave her a nce, poured her another cup, and grumbled, "Is he having a fit now?"


    Shakira finished her drink again and let out a deep sigh. "Yeah, he seems really angry and embarrassed."


    "Matthew chuckles. He acts like that when you hit a nerve. That guy has a temper, Matthew said, clearly unimpressed with Walter. With a serious tone, he continued. "Even though he showed some guts by standing up for you outside, his mood swings are an issue. Do you really want to be with him?"


    Shakira said, "Matthew, we''re really not like what you think."


    Matthew asked, "Not like what I think? Then what is it?"


    Seeing Shakira unwilling to talk, Matthew waved her off. "Fine, don''t say anything then. All of you are like this, not willing to be honest with me. Sigh, my disciple ignores me, and my own daughter doesn''t bother. Just let me grow old all alone."


    09 42 Thu, Oct 31


    Shakira teased softly. "Dear Matthew, you have plenty of people willing to entertain you when you start talking. No one buys your sob story.


    "You heartless disciple, Matthew said.

 Chapter 160

    Fiona was frozen in ce as if struck by a bolt of lightning. "What?" Walter didn''t say much but gave Brian a look. Brian quickly pulled out a check and handed it to Fiona. "You''ve worked hard for me. This is a 30 million dor reward for you. Before Fiona could react, Walter had left.


    Shakira furrowed her brow tightly. This oue was something she hadn''t anticipated at all. Howe even Matthew was unable to handle it?


    When she stepped out, a Maybach was outside waiting for her. Shakira lowered her gaze and window, "Mr. Lopez, I want to stay and chat with Matthew,"


    to Walter through the car


    Walter turned his eyes to her, staring at her defiant face, and seeing right through her intentions. "There''s no need to bother. Matthew anymore. Maybe my legs are just destined to be this way?" Shakira pressed her lips together, not speaking, as she locked eyes with him. Walter sighed and said, "Matthew is not easy to get along with, and there are always people around protecting lim. You...


    Shakira replied. "I know, and it''s fine. I''ll just wait outside for a bit. If he really doesn''t want to see me, I will head back on my


    own."


    "Suit yourself. He didn''t say anything more, instructing Brian to leave a car for her.N?velDrama.Org content.


    Shakira stood there, watching the convoy drive away from the neighborhood before turning back. She didn''t go through the main entrance but took a long detour through a small side gate leading straight to the path connecting the study to the back garden Matthew was still sitting in the same spot, leisurely sipping coffee. Shakira effortlessly climbed over the waist-high fence as if it were nothing, and plopped herself down on the chair opposite Matthew.


    When she came. Matthew wasn''t surprised at all and even poured her a cup of coffee. Shakira drank it all in one go, to which Matthew chuckled. "You cheeky girl, you need to sip coffee slowly to enjoy its taste."


    Shakira gave him a sideways nce. "With the quality of coffee you have here, can it ever be bad?" Matthew paused in his pouring, realizing she was right. He looked up with a proud little huff.


    With a sigh, Shakira rubbed her temples. "What''s really going on with his legs?"


    Matthew answered, "Didn''t he say himself-there''s nothing I can do to cure it?"


    "What''s the specific reason, and which part is irreversible?" Shakira asked, with her voice deepening.


    Matthew waved his hand dismissively, not answering directly. Instead, he said, "You''re a talented student. If you can''t heal him, what can I do? Silly girl, you asked me to help, and here I am. But don''t assume that means I have a solution to his injury." Matthew added, "Don''t think too highly of me. Many times, things aren''t as simple as they seem to be


    Shakira lowered her eyes slightly, with her longshes quivering gently and casting shadows beneath them, revealing her disappointment. Seeing her like this, Matthew sighed silently.


    He intended tofort his dear disciple, but to his surprise, Shakira suddenly jumped up, casually greeted him, and vaulted over the fence, leaving without a backward nce.


    Matthew was speechless.


    You rebellious kid,forting was pointless


    The study door was slightly ajar, leaving a narrow gap. Fiona covered her mouth, with her eyes widening in shock-Matthew" was the shabby-looking old man she had seen with Shakira on the street food alley that day.


    No wonder no one could find Lonely Bird, and no wonderst time she confidently exposed the fake Matthew... No wonder a humble maid had the nerve to boldly treat Walter''s legs and even had Walter dismiss the medical team she had arranged for him, and rely only on her. Shakira was Matthew''s disciple, and she was actually Lonely Bird They had nned it all along, but they still decided to mess with her, making her lower herself like a nanny and serve Matthew here for such a long time.


    In the end, she was the one who got tricked. Fiona clutched the check tightly, and her eyes were filled with red veins gradually turning bloodshot.


    Thirty million dors? So what? She had poured her heart and soul into him, bing known as the devoted ''puppy'' of Crescentville''s high society, and making a fool of herself.


    All for Shakira, Walter just wanted to get rid of her like this? No way.


    Fiona thought, ''Shakira, you dare to mess with me? I''ll make sure you pay for that''


    Walter finished handlingpany matters and returned to the small vi, almost at midnight. He gently pushed open the door, and a small light in the outer hall cast a warm, dim glow.


    He instinctively nced at the bed, noticing a human-shaped lump under the nket, which reassured him as towards the bathroom.


    moved


    After finishing his wash, he turned off the light and was about to get onto the bed using his wheelchair for support, when suddenly a pair of hands wrapped around his chest from behind, startling him.


    But soon, with movements familiar from countless times, he naturally followed Shakira''s guidance andy down on the bed.


    Shakira also slipped back under the nket, and curled towards him, with her bright eyes sparkling and fixated on him in the darkness.


    Walter was lying there, feeling as though Shakira''s gaze could almost pierce through him. Finally, he sighed and turned his head to meet her eyes.


    Walter''s eyes were darker than the night outside. He spoke in a hoarse voice, "Why are you up sote? What''s on your mind?"


    Shakira blurted out. "I''m thinking about how to cure your legs. Her eyes looked straight into his, and he let his guard down, feeling a warm flutter in his chest.


    Walter''s hands instinctively tightened under the covers. "What if it''s my fate that I''ll never stand again: Can


    that?"


    you ept h Shakira hadn''t expected him to respond like that, froze for a moment, and then shook her head. "No matter what happens.


    Walter is still Walter


    She paused and then said, "But it shouldn''t be like this. Your legs should be able to heal. So what exactly is the problem?" had a faint suspicion that Walter and Matthew were keeping something from her. She


    Seeing her look so confused, Walter turned his gaze away and said coolly, "Maybe this is just the way it is."


    "No, I won''t give up. I''ll keep doing acupuncture, and keep treating you until you get better. Shakira was confident in her judgment


    Walter had already closed his eyes, and Shakira didn''t bother to check if he agreed or not. Regardless, once she made up her mind, there was no turning back.


    After the weekend, Shakira arrived at school and could clearly feel that the way people looked at her had changed. There


    was envy, admiration, and also quite a bit of jealousy and disdain.


    As soon as Shakira entered the ssroom, several ssmates gathered around her. "Shakira, you''re way too humble. You''re such an amazing pianist that even professional pianists write articles praising your talent." If we had known you were this talented, we would''ve had you represent the ss at the school celebration. Yvette, who only won a small prize in the city, yed poor"

 Chapter 161

    In the crowd, someone suddenly blurted out such ament, which turned Yvette''s face as dark as coal from her seat at the back of the ssroom.


    Back when the Nelson family was in its prime, she gave them so many benefits, and they flocked to her like dogs, seeking her favor. That time after the piano performance, Joe presented lowers to her on stage, making the audience cheer a lot.. Their photo was pinned at the top of the school forum for a whole week, and countless people congratted them on being the perfect match of looks and talent.


    Shakira was just temporarily basking in the spotlight. Yvette thought, These fair-weather fake friends weren''t even worthy to carry my shoes. Yet now they dared to trample all over my reputation?


    Yvette hung her head low, hiding in a corner where nobody could see her, with her face twisted with dark emotions. Next to her, Berry didn''t look much better. Walter had done her a huge favor, helping her parents bring her into the summit venue. That day, she put a lot of effort into dressing up and looked morous. But their seats were arranged in the back rows, a world apart from Walter in the front row. The distance between them was like heaven and earth.


    She could only sit in a spot where no light could reach, watching from afar as Shakira descended like a fairy and became the center of attention with a piano piece, earning praise and photo opportunities with the four esteemed seniors People around praised how lucky the Nelson family was to have such an extraordinary daughter who brought honor to the family. Even her parents sighed, wishing they had a daughter as outstanding


    God knows, Berry was nearly driven mad with jealousy back then. She thought, "What kind of parents did I have?'' They ignored her all her life, only regretting she wasn''t a son to carry on the family name, yet they wanted another daughter. Berry thought, "What is so great about Shakira? She got into Mr. Lopez''s bed and used his influence for these empty titles. If she had been the one to win over Mr. Lopez, she would be one ten thousand times better than Shakira. Compared to the lively atmosphere in the ss, the dark, moody vibe between Yvette and Berry was clearly different. When Xanthe got pushed away from Shakira, she instinctively looked their way. She almost couldn''t stop herself fromughing. If being locked in a room before the performance was a breakdown, then this moment was fantastic for her. Yvette totally had iting.


    X


    folded her arms, unable to get in to see how Shakira was doing, so she turned her focus to the two of them instead. She said, "Hey, why''s it so quiet around you two? Didn''t it used to be all lively with a bunch of fanboys?"


    Xanthe purposely sat at the desk right in front of them, turned around, and rested her chin on her hand with a wide grin. Her expression was dripping with sarcasm.


    Yvette gave her a calm look and suddenly said, "Xanthe, if I were you, I wouldn''t beughing."


    Even if Xanthe wasn''t the sharpest tool in the shed, she could tell that Yvette was trying to drive a wedge between her and


    Shakira


    Xanthe''s smile grew even bigger. "Really? It''s normal for you not tough since you''re just too bitter to handle your friends being better than you. But I''m different. As long as you two pitiful creatures are having a hard time, I''m perfectly content." Yvette was lost for words.


    So''was Berry.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Xanthe kept adding fuel to the fire. "Aren''t you upset, Yvette? You tried to sabotage muy spot intentionally. Luckily, Shakira


    B.


    stepped in. Wow, even her random improvisation sounds much better than your meticulously practiced piece."


    "The ancient saying is quite true-a dragon begets a dragon, a phoenix begets a phoenix, and those begotten by rats are good at digging holes. I guess that you are good at digging holes. She chuckles." Yvette''s face suddenly changed, and she leaped up abruptly, waving her hand. "Xanthe-


    "ss is starting, and hurry back to your seats." The head of the grade walked into the ssroom, signaling everyone to


    return to their seats.


    Yvette felt a jolt of fear and quickly lowered her hand, looking around and worrying that someone might catch a glimpse of her losing her temper and showing a sidepletely different from her usual self. Xanthe sneered, made a funny face at them and strutted back to her seat next to Shakira. "Shakira, you''re really making me proud.


    Finally getting some fresh air, Shakira, unaware of the earlier drama among the three, tilted her head in confusion.


    Shakira thought, Was Xanthe trying to add me to her family tree or something?"


    The head of the grade briefed them on the end-of-semester matters and then moved on to the main focus of the meeting.


    "This semester, you''llplete all your general courses. After the new year, in the next semester, you''ll focus on your major- specific courses andpany internships."


    The head of the grade noticed the students'' excitement and paused slightly, ready to reveal the most anticipated part


    She said, "Mr. Jensen has approved thepanies for our junior year internship program."


    "They are major yers in the city like the Lopez Group, emerging firms like Yonder Digital, along with the Nelson Group. the Jennings Group, the White Group, the Clifton Group, the Banks Consortium, and other well-known small to medium-sizedpanies in Crescentville."


    As soon as this was said, the whole ss eximed together.


    "Wow. Both the Lopez Group and Yonder Digital are on the list? Our neighbor school is gonna be so jealous


    "It''s not just that. We''re the only ss at Crescentville University to be granted ess to Lopez Group''s resources this time.


    Seriously, everyone knows how hard it is for graduates from top schools to get into the Lopez Group. So many people have failed. We''ve hit the jackpot this time."


    "Even if you don''t stay with the Lopez Group after your internship, having that experience on your resume is much better than just a degree from any top university." "The Lopez Group making an exception this time must be because of someone''s hard work."


    "Come on, spill the beans. Who''s this


    is someone? Say her name out loud."


    The whole ss burst intoughter, teasingly turning their gaze to the front where Shakira sat.


    Shakira was speechless.


    She truly had no idea about that.


    Hey face was filled with a helpless calmness,pletely unaware that Yvette and Berry at the back were ring at her with eyes almost burning with fire.


    The head of the grade shook her head with a chuckle. Normally, she''d have disciplined such behavior, but this time...


    08:28 Fr, Nov


    Though no one mentioned it openly, everyone knew. It was 99% because of Shakira that Mr. Jensen was able to secure the internship program with the Lopez Group.


    *Alright, everyone has an equal chance at the internship opportunity. Your future is in your own hands. The order of drawing lots for the spot will be decided based on this semester''s average grades. If you want to join the Lopez Group, then study hard for your finals and aim to win the spot," The ss responded loudly and in unison, "Okay,"


    After ss, the entire grade was buzzing with talks about the internships, making for a lively atmosphere. The school forum was also busy, with the topic trending in red for the day.


    Many alumni who had already graduated, along with some fresfumen and sophomores, flooded the thread with crying emojis. Theym

 Chapter 162

    Meanwhile, Shakira became widely praised as a great benefactor by everyone. The college students were perceptive and knew very well that without Shakira, their grades wouldn''t have had such a good opportunity. So even if someone showed up on the forum,ining that Shakira was preselected by the Lopez Group, he was quickly chased off by sharp-eyed people. "Who dug up this old relic? He''s talking about sour." "Unbelievable, is this person really from our school? No way there could be someone who slipped through the cracks of mandatory education and ended up here. Are they even using their brain?"


    "Who are you calling names, huh? You think you can badmouth our great benefactor? No way. Without Shakira, we''d never hit this jackpot. If anyone''s getting that top spot, it should definitely be Shakira, or I''m not having it." "Yeah, me neither. If Shakira doesn''t get into the Lopez Group, then something shady is definitely going on."


    "If you want to criticize, at least have the guts not to do it anonymously. Even without connections, Shakira is still number one in her grade. If she joins the Lopez Group, that''s her showing her potential. Yet you still want to criticize her? Ungrateful people." "Who''s managing the forum anyway? Wake up, do something useful, and root out this traitor. Let''s see which ancient grump is pretending to be all cutesy here."


    Yvette saw a bunch of people lining up below, saying they would track down her ID, and she got so scared that she quickly deleted her ount. This was crazy. They were actually supporting that jinx Shakira. One day they''d regret following her bad luck. Yvette was feeling anxious, knowing that Crescentville University''sputer science department was one of the best in the country, with many geniuses. She quickly messaged Jayden: [Jayden, can youpletely erase any trace of this ID, in a way that no one can ever find it?]


    Jyden replied quickly: [Sure, whose ount is this?] Yvette bit her lip. [It''s my friend''s. She couldn''t stand a ssmate


    owing off, so she posted some negativements about them on a forum using my ount andputer. Now there''s a bacsh, and I''m worried my friend might get into trouble.]


    [Understood, I can get it done in two minutes.] Sure enough, two minutester, there was no trace of Yvette''s ID. Yvette breathed a big sigh of relief.


    n''s talent withputers was outstanding among the domestic hackers. No college students could crack it. Yvette chuckled and chatted a bit more with Jayden.


    [When are youing back? Things aren''t great at home because of Mitchell''s situation. Grandma needs oxygen every day and has been crying a lot at night.]


    Finn was busy withpany matters, and Felix was engrossed in his medical experiments. Now that Mitchell was no longer around, she did need someone to assist her.


    Jayden quickly replied: [Give it some time. Mom, Dad, and our brothers are helpless with Mitchell''s situation, so there''s not much reason for me to be there. I''ll head back when I finish my work here.]


    Yvette: [Alright, Jayden. Focus on your tasks. I''ve got everything covered here at home. I''ll take good care of Mom and Grandma) Jayden: [Okay, I trust you.]


    Among all the brothers, Jayden cared the least about family bonds because of his unique situation. But that was alright, Yvette felt he was still nicer to her than to the other family members. "Shakira, don''t get too cocky. Your good days are numbered, she thought. After Matthew dered there was no cure for Walter at the Easke Valley Estate, Levi and Benji tried everything they could


    G.


    think of to cheer Walter up. But Walter always appeared unhappy


    §±


    So, when Shakira got back from school, she found out that Benji had specially prepared a candlelit dinner and it was set in the greenhouse right next to the alligator pond. When Shakira arrived, they were waiting just for her.


    Candles, flowers, a feast, and the inviting aroma of a barbecue... The atmosphere was quite romantic, though not exactly considerate to the neighbors. Shakira nced at the very cager Benji, and then at the alligator Otto teased by the delicious scent but unable to have any. She silently felt sorry for it.


    "Shakira, you finally made it. We were just waiting for you. Benji gave a polite bow and invited her to sit next to Walter. Please have a seat."


    Shakira looked at Walter, who had a grumpy expression as if he was forced to sit there. After she sat down, she leaned slightly towards Walter and whispered in his car, "Are you really not going to do anything while he messes around?"


    Walter snorted. Tve been swamped with work at thepany, and as soon as I got back, they dragged me here. How was I supposed to know Benji, the so-called genius, would create this mess?"


    Benji, with his keen ears, covered his mouth in surprise. "Brother, you actually called me a genius? You think tonight''s dinner is amazing too, don''t you?"


    "Walter chuckles." "Oh, that unemotional smile is his way of hiding his satisfaction. I totally understand it. Shakira thought, "You totally don''t understand it, and you''re just pretending


    But for the sake of good food, Shakira decided to let it go. She was really hungry.


    Walter watched her enjoy the meal, keeping his cool expression but eventually started eating as well, with elegance. asionally, when Shakira reached for a dish that was ced farther away, he would help move it closer for her. Shakira felt toozy to cut the steak into small pieces, so Walter would cut it up for her and ce it on her te. Watching the two get along so well, Benji rested his hands under his chin, suddenly struck by an idea.


    With a sly grin, Benji suddenly asked, "Shakira, has your school announced any internship opportunities?" Shakira was taught off guard, but in a sh, she understood. "So it was you?"


    Benji tilted his chin up proudly. "Of course it was me. I had a former girlfriend in Crescentville too, but she was a senior and always wanted me to get her an internship at the Lopez Group, Such a great opportunity should go to you, right?" "Walter, don''t you agree?" Benji wasn''t really asking-he was just waiting for Walter''s praise.N?velDrama.Org content.


    Walter frowned, clearly unaware of the situation. But as they talked about it, he caught on quickly. He gave a rare sincere response, "Yes."


    "Oh yeah. Walter praised me twice today. I''m the best little brother in the world." Shakira thought, "Or maybe the most self- obsessed little brother ever!


    Shakira rubbed her forehead, already at a loss for words. Benji nced around and then leaned toward Walter, whispering. "Brother, this is a great chance, and you''ve got to seize it."

 Chapter 163

    Walter stared at him nkly, unimpressed. Benji gave himself a yful smack on the back of his head.


    Oh my, my brother, who''s been single for over twenty years, hasn''t made a move yet? he thought.


    In a low voice, Benji directly suggested, "Brother, you''ve been with Shakira for so long, but I haven''t seen you go out on date or anything. She''s off next month for a holiday, and with New Year''sing up plus her internship at ourpany. a chance for you two to get closer"


    Although he didn''t want to ept it, Walter''s legs might never fully recover, but as Walter''s only brother, he had to step up and give him more encouragement and support. Even if the legs couldn''t heal, he needed to find a way to fill the void in Walter''s heart.


    Walter used to dive into his career, but that was just a fa?ade. Being too busy could drain your spirit and energy. But love was something different


    Genting the romance right surely kept one alert and sharp. What about deepening that bond? In three years, one would be holding two kids.


    If Walter focused more on Shakira, life would be more fulfilling. Once they had children, the whole family would be happy. Then when his time came, he could rest knowing he made Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad, Uncle, and Aunt proud. Walter showed a hint of confusion in his eyes. "A date?"


    Benji listed off, "Dinner, walk, movie, Ferris wheel, w machine, fishing-anything you two can do alone, give it a try


    Upon hearing this, Walter was dismissive. "What a waste of time.


    Benji said, "How could it be a waste of time? Rtionships need nurturing. The more a couple experiences together, the deeper their understanding of each other will be. You learn what the other person likes, and your feelings will deepen, making you morepatible." Benji went for the big hit. "Don''t you want Shakira to love not just your body, but your soul too?"


    Walter was speechless.


    s overthinking it. Shakira didn''t love his body. She just used it when necessary.


    Walter shot a look at Benji, whose exaggerated performance was clearly foolish. "She''s not like those shallow girlfriends of yours," he said.


    Those ordinary women can''tpare to her, but... Benji raised an eyebrow. "Women are all about emotions. Being moved is what they want inmon."


    He added, "My tricks may seem predictable, but they''re foolproof and seed every time, Trust me, Walter


    Walter shoved the chatty Benji aside and continued eating at his own pace. However, his thoughts obviously drifted as he noticed Shakira having fun feeding salmon to Otto, and his expression briefly changed.


    Shakira had no idea what kind of bad advice Benji was giving to Walter. She only saw the two brothers whispering together, probably discussing something she shouldn''t know, so she wisely kept her distance.


    Otto leapt up and quickly ate all the salmon in her hand, and Shakira reached through the to touch its strong tail. She said, "Hmm? Why have you gotten plumper than when I first came? Who''s been sneaking you extra food?"


    As if it understood her, Otto quickly swam away. Shakira chuckled, and a few notifications appeared on her phone, so she


    opened them to check.


    It was Sean who sent her some photos. Matthew also seemed to have found traces of Cathy, and today Sean went with Cathy to apologize in person.


    Sean: [Wow, Cathy is usually so sweet and cuddly, but when she''s with Matthew, she bes a little firecracker]


    Shakira could imagine the scene. The father and daughter often argued, with Matthew being old-fashioned and wanting Cathy to settle down.


    But Cathy longed for freedom, was obsessed with tarot cards, and still had a youthful spirit, which made it hard for her to be under Matthew''s control, so they frequently shed. Shakira: [Try to persuade Cathy. Matthew''s blood pressure is a bit high, so they shouldn''t argue too fiercely.]


    Sean: [Of course I know that. I''ve been ying peacemaker until my mouth''s dry, and then Matthew turns around and asks if I''m Cathy''s boyfriend. It nearly scared me to death: Sean: I''m a man with my heart set on bing the richest in the world, so how could I have a girlfriend? And even if I did. it definitely wouldn''t be Cathy. I see her like a sister.] Shakira: [Yes, I know, as long as we exin it clearly, that''s fine.


    Sean was muttering to himself for a while, and then suddenly brought up something unexpected.


    Sean: It''s strange. I''ve been unable to reach Gideontely. Has he gotten in touch with you?]


    Hearing those words. Shakira''s eyes shed, and she replied casually: [Don''t bother looking for him. He''s busy helping me with some fishing-1


    Sean was bewildered. [What?]


    Yvette took over Mitchell''s entertainmentpany, hoping to use this opportunity to invest in herself and sessfully cuier the entertainment industry.


    On the day of the Summit, Reba said she wanted to help her and indeed introduced her to more wealthy wives and influencers in the circle, including those deeply involved in showbiz investments.


    Hu


    ver, after the meetings, it was like throwing a stone into the sea, and only sshes were seen and nothing else. Yvette thought she''d finally have the chance to showcase her talent, but ended up with this result. She was really full of discontent and anger. Simrly, she became more aware that the Nelson family was now on a decline, no longer as glorious as before.


    If she didn''t quickly think of another solution, it might be even more difficult for her in the future. No, this was not the situation she wanted.


    She was struggling to solve the current problems when Lago started harassing her with calls from unknown numbers again. "Yvette, send over one hundred and sixty thousand dors to Dad. I''ve spent all the cash on hand."


    There was a lot of noise on Lago''s end, and from the few words Yvette could hear, she could guess where he was


    Yvette was getting even angrier. "You''re gambling again. Are you crazy? Do you think I''m a money machine that can keep spitting out money for you to waste


    Lago brushed it off. "This is called striving, silly kid. Dad''s bankrupt, and if I want to start over, I need some funds, right? The fastest way to get money is right here."


    Yvette clenched her teeth pu''ve already lost a hundred thousand dors. If you just worked diligently, you could''ve opened a store by now."


    Her scolding didn''t wake Lago up. Instead, he became more determined. "A hundred thousand means nothing. Once my luck changes. I''ll earn millions, even tens of millions, and rise again."


    What a fantasy. Yvette took a deep breaths. "I''m out of money. I just gave you thirty thousand dorsst week."


    Lago had already nned it out. ''Dear daughter, haven''t you got thepany now? Mitchell''spany is worth quite a bit. If you sell a few shares..."N?velDrama.Org content.


    Yvette''s eyes were red with anger. She thought, "This gambler dares to target me? How could he''


    0


    SEND

 Chapter 164

    Yvette was really firm, saying, "No way! I need this to turn my life around; I can''t let it go!"


    Lago was clearly frustrated. He said, "Foolish! What''s the point of getting into the entertainment industry? You''ll just end up putting yourself out there and trying to please everyone on camera. Cash out your money. If anything happens to the Nelson family, you can still count on us!"


    Yvetteughed coldly and replied, "I only rely on myself. Then she hung up on him before he could say anything else.


    Lago was left feeling really annoyed. A staff member at the exchange window looked at him and asked, "Mr. Smith, do you still want to exchange?"


    Lago gritted his teeth and just walked away, scowling. Someone behind him muttered, "Penny-pincher." Lago turned around, took off his gold watch, and mmed it down on the counter, saying, "Cash out!"


    A little whileter, Lago was wandering through the fancy casing. He watched the gamblers at the tables-some were celebrating their wins while others were sulking over their losses, their faces showing all kinds of emotions.


    He was holding a stack of chips he had grabbed in a moment of impulse, but he hesitated. That gold watch was hisst valuable thing, if he lost it, he''d have nothing left.


    Feeling down, Lago was about to leave when he heard amotion by the back door. A group of security guards was beating up a young guy who was curled up on the ground, trying to protect himself.


    Stop pretending you''re innocent, you little brat! You''re always winning; if you''re not cheating, then who is?" one guard yelled. Another added, "How dare youe here to swindle us? We''ll finish you off!" After letting out their anger, the guards finally left. The guyy there motionless for a long time.


    Lago noticed him and walked over. He looked at the man''s dirty clothes and extended a hand, asking softly. "Are you alright!"


    The guy slowly lifted his head, revealing a face covered in dirt and blood, making him look unrecognizable. His eyes were full of humility and caution, like a scared bird.


    Lago smiled kindly and pulled out a pack of tissues from his pocket, offering it to him. "Here, wipe yourself off." The guy mered a thank you as he took the tissues.


    I studied him and sighed, "You seem like you''ve had a rough time. In this casino, winning and losing is all about skill. How can they call you a cheat just because you win a lot? The house is too harsh!" The guy looked down while wiping his face and said softly, I''m not cheating, I just know how to win."


    His voice was so quiet that if Lago hadn''t been leaning in, he might have missed it. Lago''s eyes lit up. "What did you say?"


    Lago cautiously nced around before squatting down in front of the man, his eyes showing an undeniable gleam of greed. You know how to win?"


    The guy nodded earnestly. "Yeah, I studied math and finance; there are a lot of things you can figure out."


    Lago''s face brightened, but then he hesitated, asking. "If you''re so good, how did you end up in this situation?"


    The guy''s expression turned sad. "I can''t find work."


    He continued, "I was tricked into going to Bris, where I was held captive and forced to do bad things... I eventually got rescued and came back home, but now I have a criminal record, and no one will hire me." 08-28 Fri, Nov 1


    ¦°N?velDrama.Org content.


    He added, "I graduated with two bachelor''s degrees from Crescentville University; you''ve heard of it, right?" His tone turned nostalgic, and a bitter smile crossed his lips. "I went through some dark times, but I never thoughting home would bring even more trouble." Lago, feeling sympathetic, asked. "What kind of difficulties are you facing?"


    The guy replied, "My family is really sick and needs a lot of money for treatment, but I can''t find a stable job, so I''m stuck doing menial work..."


    He curled up, hugging his knees in despair. "Why is fate so unfair to me? I could have had a better life, a bright future. Even the fortune-teller my parents consulted said I''d be prosperous; they were all frauds!"


    He continued, "My knowledge is useless. I came to the casino for the first time with $300. I''m not greedy; if I could win $150,000, that would cover half a year''s treatment! But before I could collect my winnings, I got thrown out.. How can I ever get rich now?"


    Lago felt a rush of excitement at the thought of turning $300 into $150,000. With $30,000 on hand, he could turn that into $1.3 million.


    "Calm down"" Lago said suddenly, trying tofort him. "It''s your first time here; it''s normal to attract attention after winning a lot


    The guy looked up, confused. "Is that how it works? No wonder


    Lago gave him a friendly smile. "You can''t just win; you have to lose some too to avoid raising suspicion."


    1


    The guy eximed. "I have no experience; I didn''t think it would be like this. I''m not clever enough; I''ve been so foolish Hemented, hitting his own head in frustration


    Lago quickly jumped in, worried about his state. This guy could be a real gem; Lago couldn''t let him get hurt.


    Lago said. "I''m just here for some fun, but seeing you like this really makes me feel for you. I''ll help you out!"


    Gideon looked at him in surprise. "You... will help me?" Lago handed his jacket to Gideon and led him back into the casino "Gideon, what game are you good at?"


    Gideon said, "High or low; that''s the easy one. They walked over to the gambling table, where the dealer was rolling the dice. and everyone was cing their bets. Lago stayed still, looking at Gideon.


    deon quietly said. "Choose high, bet on five, five, two."


    As the betting time ended, the dealer revealed the results-Five, five, two-high.


    Lago''s eyes widened with excitement. He thought, ''Did I found a real treasure?"


    Without thinking twice, he ced bets based on Gideon''s predictions. At first, he bet hundreds, but soon he was betting in the thousands.


    Eventually, Lago, being careful not to overdo it, decided to leave the casino after winning forty thousand, feelingpletely satisfied

 Chapter 165

    Lago was absolutely thrilled. He had been gambling for ages, and the most he''d ever won was a few hundred or maybe thousand. But today was his best day ever.


    People are greedy. When they win, they want to win more. If they lose, they want to gamble to win back their losses. Desires are truly endless.


    But with Gideon by his side today, winning felt like a walk in the park. Still, Lago was worried about getting caught by the casino like Gideon did, so he decided it was best to take his winnings and head out. Once they were outside, Lago added Gideon as a friend on his phone. After thinking for a moment, he sent him a thousand


    bucks.


    Gideon looked at the transfer notification on his phone, totally overwhelmed, and said, "Mr. Smith, you really don''t have to give me money; this is your winnings, I don''t...


    Lago put a hand on his shoulder, beaming with joy and admiration. "Gideon, this money is yours. Without you, I wouldn''t have won so much. You''re my lucky star!"


    He looked at Gideon like he was a precious treasure, and his happiness just kept growing. Gideon was still in shock, holding onto his old phone, which was cracked and barely working.


    Lago noticed and said, "Gideon, your phone screen is broken; you should really get it fixed."


    Gideon trembled and said, "I''ve been delivering packages and food. It''s tiring, but the pay isn''t terrible. But... one customer wrote the wrong address and insisted I redeliver for free. When I said no, heined about me, and my boss fired me. He continued, "I can make some money delivering food, but working in the heat and cold, I''m putting in sixteen-hour days for very


    linle pay. I deal with all kinds of insults from customers, and that money barely covers my family''s medical bills; L... Lago sighed deeply, feeling for him, and sent a few hundred more to Gideon. Till get you a new phone, Gideon. You''ve got will regret it!" Talent. With some time, you''ll turn your life around, and those who look down on you


    Gideon said, "Mr. Smith.. thank you. I thought today was going to be the worst; I lost money and even thought that if the security guards caught me, maybe it''d be better to just take a beating and leave some money for my family..."


    Lo felt satisfied. "Gideon, this is just the start. How about we team up? You help me win at the casino, and I''ll help with


    r family''s medical costs. What do you think?"


    Gideon stared at him, shocked. ''Mr. Smith, you want to partner with me? I''m not worthy."


    Lago cut him off, "Gideon, don''t sell yourself short; you''ve got real skills, and you''re a good person. I want to help you!"


    Lago said, "You''ve been noticed by the casino security, so it wouldn''t be smart to show your face again. We can set a time; you wear a disguise while I ce the bets."


    "We don''t need to win big, but if we win a few times, we can cover your family''s expenses ago had already thought this throughTM*


    Gideon finally got himself together, tears of gratitude streaming down his face as he stammered, "Mr. Smith, thank you this chance; you''re truly a good person, my great benefactor..."


    Lago looked at Gideon''s innocent excitement and found it charming how easy it was to make him happy. "Alright, it''s settled: just message meter."


    "Mr. Smith, got it Seeing Gideon bow deeply, Lago felt a rush of pride.


    for


    G.


    15


    After saying goodbye, Lago, till buzzing from his winnings, hopped into a luxury taxi to head home.


    Gideon watched him leave with envy until the car disappeared, then turned back to the casino.


    94


    As he walked through the fancy entrance of the casino, he raised his hand slightly, and a bunch of high-ranking executives came over, bowing and offering him sanitizing towels and gloves. A few attendants rushed to clean him up. "Mr. Brooks, you''ve had a long day." Gideon wiped his hands elegantly and suddenly thought of something. He turned to the older man next to him. "Kendrick, how did I do just now?"


    Kendrick, with his kind eyes, replied warmly, "Your acting is as good as your mother''s in her prime."


    Just moments ago, he had been innocent and naive in front of Lago, but now Gideon''s eyes sparkled with a yful arrogance. "My mom is a film star; I still have a long way to gopared to her."Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Kendrick smiled gently. "But why did you decide to take matters into your own hands?"


    Gideon''s expression turned serious, "The situation with Shakira can''t be left to just anyone."


    Kendrick said, "I see. Shakira''s situation is super important and can''t be left to those who aren''t trustworthy."


    Gideon rxed a bit, tossing the towel onto the luxurious white marble floor and putting on some specially designed gloves. "So, I have to handle her affairs myself."


    With that, he turned and walked into the exclusive area for the casino owner, and no one dared to follow.


    When Lago got home, he was bursting with excitement and immediately shared his experience with Jessie.


    Jessie looked shocked. "Is there really such an amazing person?"


    Lago confidently replied, "The world is huge and full of surprises"


    Seeing that his wife was still skeptical, he showed her his ount bnce. "If Shakira can be so lucky, why can''t others have extraordinary abilities?"


    Jessie stared at the bnce, her heart racing. Since their bankruptcy, she hadn''t seen that much money in ages. "Honey, 1 only brought five outfits; now that you''ve won money, could you buy me a few more!" ago waved her off. "We''ve just started winning, let''s talk about it after I hit more."


    Lago quickly messaged Gideon, asking for his exact birth date, saying he wanted to consult someone about his fortune and when good luck mighte. Gideon replied right away, overflowing with gratitude. Seeing Gideon''s admiration, as if Lago was the only light in his dark life, Lago''s ego soared.


    He sent Gideon''s birth date to Jessie, urgently telling her, "Have your dad analyze his destiny. We might need him for aeback!"


    Jessie quickly went to take care of his request


    After dinner, Shakira regrly checked Walter''s pulse and got a new herbal bath ready for him.


    Walter nced at the tub full of herbs and instinctively frowned. Didn''t Matthew already say...

 Chapter 166

    Shakira shot Walter a resentful look, making him shut his mouth and hold back what he was about to say.


    "Matthew is Matthew, and I''m me. I don''t care what he thinks; I do what I want. Plus, this herbal bath not only helps your leg but also cases your cold." Shakira said stubbornly, pushing him forward without waiting for his okay.


    She added, "Haven''t you noticed how much better your leg has felt during thest couple of times it hurt? When you hugged me for warmth, your grip was gentler than before. If you keep this up, one day you''ll be able to take care of yourself." Walter immediately frowned at this. He coldly smirked, using his usual sarcastic tone, "So, you''re tired of being my heat


    source.


    With a haughty air, Walter turned his wheelchair away, grabbing Shakira''s wrist and pushing her out of the bathroom, mming the frosted ss door shut with a loud bang.


    Outside, Shakira was confused by the sudden gap that had opened up between her and the imposing Walter. It felt like an unbridgeable chasin


    Pouting, she sat on the edge of the bed and picked up her phone, just in time to see a message from Gideon sent an hour


    ago.


    Gideon: [The fish has taken the bait]


    Shakira: [Gideon, you''re amazing! By the way, can you give me his contact info? It''ll be easier for me to handle it myself.j Gideon: [Shakira, are you nning to sneak around and do something behind my back?]


    Shakira: [That''s not true!]


    Gideon: [Shakira, you won''t tell me where you''re living, and you won''t let me help ry messages. They''re bullying you, and I want to help you get back at them. Is that not okay?]


    Shakira helplessly rubbed her forehead. Gideon was someone she had rescued in Bris. Like Dale''s son, they had both been tricked and trapped in that dark, cruel ce..


    Gideon was the illegitimate son of Daphne, a three-time Golden Award-winning actress, and the Duke of Yarovia. The Virovia royal family looked down on Daphne and refused to recognize Gideon as an heir. It was Daphne who took all the eat and raised her son on her own.


    The Duke was locked up by the royal family and never married. His family eventually had to reconcile with Daphne and let Gideon into the royal family.


    However, Gideon held a deep resentment towards those who tore his parents apart, the same people who made him feel ashamed as a child without a father. He stubbornly refused to go back, choosing instead to live as a carefree illegitimate-son. So, he became known as the most esteemed illegitimate child. Gideon''s troubles were just a stroke of bad luck.


    Sensitive to money and sharp-witted, he was relentlessly pursued and tormented by shady characters who would do anything for cash, constantlying up with new scams to chea


    When Shakira found Gideon, he was thin and frail. He refused to be part of their schemes and was brutally abused. They tortured him repeatedly, and even though Matthew managed to help him heal a bit, he would carry those scars for life. Shakira remembered the first time she saw Gideon, trapped in a dark, damp ce, his hollow eyes trembling and shrinking in silence as they caught sight of the light.


    Shakira: [Well then, I''ll need your help, Gideon.] Gideon: [You are wee.]


    Shakira couldn''t help but smile.


    When Walter came out of the bathroom. he caught sight of Shakira smiling while holding her phone. Her ability to smile after provoking him made his gaze darken.


    Walter deliberately maneuvered his wheelchair past her, casually bumping her phone with his elbow.


    Shakira looked up at him. Walter kept a straight face, avoiding her gaze as he coldly urged. "Hurry up and turn off the lights and go to bed."


    "...I''m going to wash up, Shakira quickly replied, tucking her phone away and rushing into the bathroom.


    Walter turned his head, watching her leave, his eyes showing an unfathomable depth. In his mind, he suddenly recalled Benji''s haunting words. "Don''t you want Shakira to love not just your body but your soul?"


    Of course, he did. Realizing he had entertained such a ridiculous thought, Walter shook his head. In a fit of embarrassment and anger, he called Brian, "Starting tomorrow, Benji isn''t allowed toe back and mess things up." Brian said. "Got it, sir."


    In the next half-month, Lago took Gideon to the casino every other day. With each visit, their ount bnce grew. Then, Lago would transfer a few to Gideon to keep him on board. Unbeknownst to them, Lago had racked up nearly two million, all won from the casino. As Lago thought about continuing this profitable venture, the casino manager stopped him.


    The manager wore a fake smile. "Mr. Smith, your luck has been pretty amazingtely, I''ve noticed you win quite a bit every time youe in." Gideon instinctively hid behind Lago.


    Lago felt a twinge of guilt but covered it with bravado. There are tons of people winning and losing in this casino every day. why pick on me?" Lago raised his voice on purpose, "Before, my luck was terrible; I lost hundreds of thousands every day. Why didn''t you check on me then?"


    The manager offered a polite smile, "Mr. Smith, while you''ve lost a lot here, your winnings have far surpassed that, putting you among our top lucky patrons."This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Lago''s expression hardened. "What do you mean? Do you think I''m cheating and my current financial situation defines my worth? You should know the only heiress of the Nelson family is my daughter. Your money doesn''t impress me; my daughter gives me way more!" The manager quickly apologized, "Mr. Smith, you''ve misunderstood! I was just showing concern and congratting you on your good luck. I never meant to offend you; I hope you can forgive me."


    "Can''t handle losing, and yet you call yourselves the biggest casino chain in the world? I don''t even want toe here again," With that, Lago stormed off, leading Gideon away.


    They quickly hailed a taxi by the roadside. Once inside, both men let out a deep sigh of relief.


    Gideon, with wide, innocent eyes full of admiration, eximed, Mr. Smith, you were awesome just now! You totally intimidated the casino manager


    Lago waved his hand, his vanity easily stroked by Gideon''s praise. "I have no reason to be afraid of him. But we can''t go back to that casino, or we''ll get into

 Chapter 167

    When Gideon heard this, his face went pale. "So, I can''t work with Mr. Smith anymore? Honestly. I''m already happy. Just talking with you has earned me a few thousand, that''s way better than slogging through takeout deliveries for months At that moment. Gideon bowed deeply to Lago, "Mr. Smith, I''m really grateful to you for giving me new hope!" Lago felt like he was floating with joy.


    Even when Lago had his ownpany before, the employees were just mercenaries he couldn''t rely on. But this young guy was different-he was honest, innocent, full of gratitude, and felt a need to repay kindness. Most importantly, he could help Lago make money. Lago gently lifted Gideon''s arm, raising his bowed head. "Gideon, you''ve misunderstood me, we''re just not going into the casino, but that doesn''t mean we can''t work together."


    Gideon lookedpletely confused. "Mr. Smith, what do you mean...?"


    Lago continued, "I really admire your skills and how you care for your family. Right now, I have several million just sitting around, enough to start a smallpany. Since you studied finance, why not help me manage


    Pausing for a moment, Lago remembered Jessie''s calctions from Modis. Gideon had faced a lot of struggles in his youth, but his luck in adulthood was bound to take off like a tidal wave, getting better and better.


    Without hesitation, Lago decisively said, "No, you''ll be the legal representative of mypany. I''ll give you more authority and dividends; as long as thepany does well, you won''t have to worry about your family''s medical bills."


    Gideon''s eyes widened in disbelief, his innocent, student-like gaze filled with shock and growing joy. "Mr. Smith, are you serious? You really want to hire me?"


    Lago couldn''t help but chuckle at Gideon''s clumsy, excited reaction, which almost made him bite his tongue. The more Gideon showed that enthusiasm, the more Lago felt confident about their sess. "I believe in your abilities. I''m sure our partnership will lead thispany to great wealth!"


    Thank you, Mr. Smith! I''ll give it my all and won''t let you down!


    "Splendid!"


    Benji was furious about being stuck away from home. Feeling down, he thought about storming over to Walter''s office, but


    Iter wouldn''t even give him a moment, sending him off to the freezing Northeast for inspections instead.


    By the time Benji got back, nearly half a month had passed, and he was full of resentment. Their meeting happened during the monthly review session. Benji thought he looked grim, only to see that Walter''s dark circles were just as bad. Instantly, Benji felt a wave of amusement. As the technical department went over their findings, he quietly moved his chair closer to Walter. "Walter, things not going well with Shakirately?"


    colder than a hurricane, swept through the room. Benji smiled. "I told you, No sooner had he said that than a cold gust, household can''t run without me. If you''d listened to me sooner, you''d already be in a sweet rtionship with Shakira!" Walter shot him a sidelong nce, ready to tell him to leave. But then he paused, his lips parting slightly. Taking a breath, Walter lowered his voice. "Speak. Let me see if your method works." Benji''s eyes lit up with excitement.


    deep


    this


    As the semester was wrapping up, Crescentville University, wanting to test students'' self-discipline and independence, made thest two sses before finals optional; students could study in the library, ssrooms, or anywhere else without interruption.


    I


    Shakira mostly stayed home to study, having tidied up her small room a bit to make space for a desk. Xanthe insisted on studying with her, so Shakira had no choice but to invite Xanthe to Easke Valley Estate.


    Last time, a whole group hade over; this time, Xanthe came to the small vi alone. The usually bold firecracker turned into a shy youngdy, chatting casually with Levi about Shakira''s life at home. Watching them talk for two hours left Shakira speechless. She wondered where the promised study session was.


    The weather was gloomy that day, and as Xanthe got ready to leave, a thunderstorm hit outside. Shakira checked her phone''s weather forecast. "It should lighten up to just rain in about two hours; why not stay for dinner?" Xanthe instinctively asked. "Will I be interrupting your dinner with Mr. Lopez?"


    Shakira remembered that Walter had seemed annoyed with hertely, always wearing a sour face. "He''s busy with work; he


    won''t... Before she could finish, a dozen servants rushed outside with umbres. "Mr. Lopez has returned with work; he


    Shakira fell silent and followed them out. The servants shielded Walter from the rain, but the downpour was so heavy that he still got wet.


    Shakira noticed a maid holding a towel, nearly in tears. Shakira stepped forward to grab it, cing it directly on Walter''s head with a roughness that messed up his hair.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Feeling the man under the towel breathing heavily, Shakira lifted it slightly and met Walter''s icy gaze, which could freeze anyone in their tracks. She blinked sincerely at him. "I see some raindrops got in; if you don''t dry off, you might end up with a headache Walter looked at her with cold indifference, as if he could see right through her awkward excuse. "Have you dried off now?"


    Shakira assessed the situation; Walter didn''t seem angry. So she replied, "Not yet; it''ll take another minute or two!" With that. she covered his head again and rubbed vigorously with both hands.


    Walter was at a loss for words.


    The onlookers were stunned, and Xanthe, her eyes sparkling with excitement, eximed, "Oh my! Mr. Lopez is actually letting Shakira mess with his hair! He looks like a lion getting petted! Mr. Lopez is so pampered!"


    The nearby servants exchanged knowing nces, silently agreeing. "No doubt about it; he is indeed being treated like a lion!"

 Chapter 168

    Shakira is a woman of principles. She really held on for a full two minutes before finally putting her phone down. Brian, watching from the side, felt a chill of worry.


    After years of following Walter, he had never seen anyone act this way and actually get away with it. Shakira was definitely


    the first.


    When Walter nced her way, Shakira cleared her throat and thoughtfully adjusted his hair. Even though she couldn''t fix his hairstyle perfectly, Walter still looked good. Shakira said, "This looks much better." Walter stayed quiet, instead looking at Xanthe, who was grinning like a fool nearby.


    He frowned a bit, prompting Shakira to exin, "She came over to study with me, but the rain outside is really heavy. She''ll leave after dinner when it eases up."


    Walter nodded and gestured to Levi, "Let''s eat." Hearing this, Xanthe, regaining herposure, trembled and clung tightly to Shakira''s arm, as if it were her only lifeline in a stormy sea.


    "No way, no way! Mr. Lopez is going to eat with us?!" Xanthe asked, wondering if she could still make a quick escape.


    Shakira noticed Xanthe''s pale face and realized that even though Xanthe usually wasn''t scared of anything, she was intimidated by Walter. Shakira asked, "Do you want him to wait until we finish eating?" Xanthe shook her head vigorously, her anxiety clear. Seeing her timid demeanor, Shakira couldn''t help but chuckle. "Don''t worry, with me here, he won''t bite."


    Xanthe grimaced inside. Mr. Lopez definitely looks like he can be pretty scary.


    Shakira led Xanthe to the dining table and naturally grabbed an apron from Levi, heading toward the kitchen. Left alone with Walter, Xanthe was in shock. She felt like she was about to cry, wishing she could follow Shakira. Usually, when she meets her friend''s boyfriend, she is in control while her friend''s boyfriend tries to impress.


    But in this case, the roles were flipped, and she feltpletely powerless. After all, she had bullied Shakira before and had bren seriously reprimanded by Walter for it


    "Ms. Sullivan," Walter said casually, startling the daydreaming Xanthe.


    e straightened up. "Mr. Lopez, I''m sorry for intruding today." Walter replied softly, "Ms. Sullivan, there''s no need to be so Formal. Feel free toe by more often in the future."


    Xanthe was taken aback; she hadn''t expected Walter to say that. It seemed he liked Shakira''s friends.


    Feeling a bit more rxed, she responded, "With your invitation, Mr. Lopez, I''ll definitelye by often! After all, Im Shakira''s only good friend! And I''ll need her help with my final exam prep....


    Walter paused, slowly realizing that he might not know much about Shakira''s life at school her friends, her studies, her situation... Even though he had sent her a cake shortly after she started school, it wasn''t enough.


    Walter lowered his gaze slightly and suddenly asked, "Does Shakira have few friends at school?"


    Xanthe replied, "Yes. Shakira prefers to be alone, and after taking a two-year break, she jumped straight into her junior year. When she first got there, everyone was pretty resentful, worried she''d drag our grades down. Butter, Shakira proved them all wrong with her amazing results!"


    As Xanthe talked about the past, a hint of shame crept in. Back then, under Yvette''s influence, she had joined others in mocking Shakira. Now, looking back, she felt really remorseful and lightly hit her own head in frustration 29 Fri, Nov


    Walter asked, "And now Are there still people in your ss who dislike her?"


    Xanthe replied. "Of course, it''s different now. Everyone knows Shakira isn''t like the bad student rumors said. They also realize that thanks to her, we all have the chance to intern at Lopez Group, and many are grateful to her." 94%1


    Walter nodded, then suddenly seemed to remember something, his tone bing more serious. Xanthe could sense the tension in his voice. "Now that she''s changed your perceptions, assume there are quite a few admirers vying for her attention at school?" Xanthe felt a chill run down her spine; while there weren''t any at school, she knew of one-Sean, that annoying flirt.


    "No, after you defended Shakira so fiercely, everyone knows she''s your girlfriend, so no one dares to go after her." Xanthe lied.


    Walter nodded, "Good to know" He pushed his phone forward, Let''s add each other as friends. If anythinges up on her end, you can reach out to me directly."


    Xanthe understood the intention behind this alliance and quickly added him "Don''t worry, Mr. Lopez, I''ll be your loyal ally


    Walter''s lips curled into a slight smile, clearly pleased with Xanthe''s response. When Shakira came out with a cart of dishes, the two were already deep in conversation.


    Shakira was pleasantly surprised. "I didn''t expect you two to get along so well Xanthe grinned, her eyes sparkling. "Of course! We have plenty inmon!" Themonality being Shakira herself.


    Shakira''s lips twitched as she thought about Xanthe''s social skills, Xanthe could strike up a conversation with anyone.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    The servants ced the dishes Shakira had prepared on the table, all positioned near Walter. Xanthe eximed, "You even cooked for Mr. Lopez? How sweet!" Shakira exined, "He''s pretty picky, and I''ve always been in charge of his meals" Xanthe waved her finger yfully, her expression saying she understood everything without needing more exnation. That means his heart has been won over by your cooking-how adorable!"


    Shakira was at a loss for words. Xanthe, now feeling bold after connecting with Walter, chatted nonstop throughout the meal. Shakira stayed aloof, asionally responding when she grew tired of Xanthe''s questions.


    If it weren''t for a message popping up on Xanthe''s phone, Shakira might have enjoyed a moment of peace. "Hey Shakira, check the ss group." "Hmm? What''s up?" "They''re talking about whether to go watch the sunrise together the day after Without thinking, Shakira replied, "I won''t be going Xanthe''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Yvette is bringing Joe? What is she trying to prove? Shakira, you have to go! Otherwise, she''ll definitely mock you for still having feelings for her boyfriend!"


    In a moment of impulsiveness, Xanthe''s words came out faster than her thoughts. Shakira instinctively nced at Walter, who indeed wore a stormy and ominous expression. Walter spoke in a cold, detached tone. "Is there still lingering affection?" Shakira furrowed her brow. "That was all a misunderstanding; I was..."


    Before she could finish, Walter set down his utensils and maneuvered his wheelchair toward the exit. "This has nothing to do with me."


    Xanthe''s mind slowly caught up, but it was toote. She hunched her shoulders, her expression on the verge of tears. "What should I do, Shakira? I didn''t mean to say that..." Shakira replied, "It has nothing to do with you."


    At that moment, Shakira was tagged in the group chat. She opened it to find Yvette deliberately mentioning her, despite her previous silence. Yvette: [Shakira, why don''t you join us? If it''s inconvenient, I can leave Joe behind] Yvette truly was insufferable and maniptive.

 Chapter 169

    Berry: [Wette, why do you care about her? If she''s jealous of you and Joe, that''s her problern!] The group fell silent, everyone hesitating to speak.


    Xanthe''s eyes reddened at the sight, realizing that her potential missteps could drag Shakira down, all because of Yvette. Anger surged within her. "Those two wretches, L


    Shakira ced a reassuring hand on Xanthe''s shoulder while quickly typing on her phone. Soon enough, Xanthe got Shakira''s response Shakira: [Flies are annoying, but I respect life] Xanthe: [LOL]


    Xanthe burst intoughter at Shakira''s reply, clutching her stomach in amusement. Shakira set her phone down and went back to eating.


    Xanthe''sughter went on for nearly five minutes, and when it finally calmed down, she found herself wiping away tears. "I thought I might die fromughing. No one dared to speak up in the group, but I''m sure they were all cracking up privately Xanthe remarked, "Yvette has no self-awareness. Every time she gets publicly humiliated by you, how can she still be drawn to you?"


    Shakira, still focused on her meal, replied nonchntly, "Lack of intelligence, quite typical"


    Once Xanthe''sughter faded, a sense of anxiety crept in. "Shakira, how can you still eat? Aren''t you worried? You need to think of a way to smooth things over with Mr. Lopez!" Shakira nced at her. "Are you going to soothe him?"


    Xanthe shook her head vigorously, "I wouldn''t dare... But Mr. Lopez left angry without even eating! Aren''t you concerned?"


    "How was I to know he''d get upset so easily?" Shakira sighed.


    Xanthe stared, incredulous. "Isn''t it obvious? Mr. Lopez is jealous


    Shakira paused mid-bite for a moment, then started eating even more vigorously. Xanthe was taken aback, feeling a strange sense of urgency on Shakira''s behalf.


    Shakira finished her meal, she elegantly wiped her hands with a napkin and got up to load his te with food. "I''m ried, so I need to fill up before I go calm him down."N?velDrama.Org content.


    Xanthe initially thought Shakira was fearless and indifferent to Mr. Lopez''s anger. Little did she know, Shakira was actually anxious inside.


    Xanthe mused, This is definitely mutual affection! As she watched Shakira leave, she cheered her on. "Go for it, Shakirat Tm with you in spirit!"


    Shakira hadn''t nned to console Walter. However, Xanthe''s mention of Walter being jealous stirred a peculiar feeling within her. Is it delight? Satisfaction?'' Shakira couldn''t quite put her finger on it, burshe feltpelled to see his reaction.


    Last time, after Shakira had said that Berry''s perfume wasn''t as appealing as the smell of food, Walter had used her of being jealous. Now, the tables had turned, and it was Shakira''s turn to poke fun at Walter.


    Walter had spent the brief interval summoning Brian to investigate the lingering feelings between Joe and Shakira.


    They had been ssmates in high school, and Walter had long been a figure many young men in Crescentville aspired to emte. Among them was Joe, who came from a prestigious family and had once been quite rebellious but had mellowed in recent years. 1/2  AB


    Filled with rumors and istion, Shakira had no one to lean on At that time, Joe had been passionate about motorcycles, an

 Chapter 170

    Suddenly, Walter was eager to get an answer from Shakira. Previously, rumors had circted in school that Joe was pursuing Shakira, and that the small eatery where Shakira had taken Walter was a ce she and Joe had gone to together. Walter had felt ufortable hearing those whispers but hadn''t pressed for more details. He wasn''t one to meddle in others'' affairs; Shakira''s matters were none of his concem. Yet now... he found himself unwilling to keep up this pretense. Shakira, confronted by his intense scrutiny, looked momentarily perplexed by her analysis. ''Is Walter really driven solely by possessiveness? His gaze held a weighty intensity, hiding deeper, moreplex emotions.


    An inexplicable sense of anxiety gripped Shakira, causing her to clench her fists. Taking a deep breath, she decided to share the full story behind Walter''s findings.


    "Initially, Joe didn''t think much of me. But after 1 showed off my skills in a few racingpetitions, he started following me around, insisting that I teach him how to corner and overtake at the right moments. Those memories felt somewhat distant to Shakira now.


    "We became friends. Joe understood that I wouldn''t ept his money. So, he introduced me to quick money-making opportunities. He was a great help, and I can''t deny I developed some dependence on him. But when he wanted me to be his girlfriend. I firmly rejected him and kept my distance."


    "Why?" Walter interjected abruptly, his dark gaze sharpening with an intensity that felt almost suffocating.


    Shakira smirked slightly. "Joe and Ie from totally different worlds. Plus, I didn''t want to get too entangled with anyone else. She lowered her gaze, murmuring, "Back then, I was in a terrible ce and didn''t deserve his affection."


    Walter felt a pang in his chest at her sudden vulnerability, which was rarely shown alongside her usualpetitive demeanor. Instinctively, he reached out to console her but hesitated mid-motion


    With a sardonicugh, he remarked, "You have quite the opinion of that inexperienced boy. You think you''re unworthy of him and fear epting his advances, yet you find the courage to pursue me. Should Imend your intelligence or question its absence?" After saying that, Walter felt a flicker of regret. He hadn''t meant to mock her, yet words offort seemed out of reach. He simply couldn''t say, "You''re wonderful and could never be unworthy of Joe."


    Before Walter could wallow in his self-recrimination, Shakira suddenly lifted her head, her eyes shining with excitement.


    Iter thought she might be on the verge of tears, but to his surprise, Shakira clenched her fists in exhration. "Right? I was olish back then! It''s not that I''m unworthy of Joe: it''s him who doesn''t measure up to me!" Walter, momentarily bewildered, responded, "What did you say?


    Shakira thought he was putting her down and pouted, "I earned enough on my own to pay for my grandmother''s medical bills. Joe fumbled around at work, causing me to lose wages. His motorcycle was terrible; without the Ortiz family name, he was nothing" Plus, Joe was a man of empty promises. He didn''t have right to pursue her Shakira shook her head. "If I were interested in him. I''d be making a huge mistake!"


    While Walter pondered how to make amends, he realized that Shakira''s inner strength surpassed his expectations. She could reim her resilience on her own


    Asmile unconsciously tugged at Walter''s lips. He had begun to see her with newfound admiration because of her unique character. If she had easily sumbed to her troubles, he wouldn''t have found her worthy of his attention. Noticing Walter''s mood shifting from somber to brighter, Shakin''s eyes sparkled mischievously. "Now I have a far more


    G.


    -


    ¦°


    worthwhile goal! You have looks, a stunning physique, remarkable talent, and wealth-surely even a blind person could see how great you are!"


    Walter remained seemingly indifferent to her ttery. He shot back with a cold smile, "If I''m so remarkable, why are you not so eager to curry my favor? It seems like you''ve done nothing bit annoy metely"


    Shakira stared at him, wide-eyed. She thought, ''As a humble servant, have I not been diligent? I went out of my way to shower him with praise! Clearly, he is the one who has been vexing mel


    "I am utterly wronged! I did nothing and said nothing, yet you grew jealous on your own!" she said.


    A look of embarrassment crossed Walter''s face. I wasn''t jealous.


    Shakira, incredulous, shot back, "Didn''t you just admit it?"


    "Oh. I was just speaking casually." Walter denied outright.


    "No! You were definitely jealous!"


    "Shakira, are you rebelling against me?"


    "Dictatorial, unreasonable Big Devil!"


    "I think you''re just feeling a bit restless. Come here."


    Levi, Brian, Xanthe, and several other servants stood lined up in the hallway, all ears straining to hear the yful exchange inside. Shocked yet relieved, they exchanged nces.


    Brian was still grappling with disbelief, wondering how Walter could engage in banter with Shakira. "Mr. Lopez is actually trading jibes with Ms. Nelson?"


    Levi wore a benevolent smile. To cate Mr. Lopez, we need Ms. Nelson''s help."


    Xanthe was shocked. "Are they really making up this quickly? Even sex doesn''t get settled this quickly!"


    As soon as she said that, everyone turned to look at her. Flustered, Xanthe stammered, "W-what''s wrong? something off?"


    Ti thought for a moment and said, "I think their sex would probably take longer."Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    an nodded in agreement, and the other servants followed suit, showing they agreed.


    Xanthe hadn''t expected their thoughts to go in such a risky direction.


    Did I say


    Still, she silently decided: Walter and Shakira were

 Chapter 171

    In a private room of the restaurant, Yvette stared at the message from Xanthe in the group chat, feeling like that word was hitting her in the face. She was seething with embarrassment and anger, her face turning dark as she mmed her phone down on the table. The noise startled Jessie, who immediately leaned in with concern, asking, "What''s wrong, Yvette? Did something happen?"


    In this private space, away from outsiders, Yvette let her disdain show. "What else could it be? That wretched Shakira! Why hasn''t anything happened to her yet?"


    Lago and Gideon turned their attention to Yvette after hearing her words. A flicker of anger shed in Gideon''s eyes, but since he was seated in the far corner, no one noticed. Lago''s expression soured 100.


    Throughout dinner, Yvette had been cold since she arrived, and her outburst now put Lago, who had arranged for Gideon to meet Yvette, in a tough spot.


    Gideon looked up to Lago, and if he found out that Yvette was being rude to her father, it would really hurt Lago''s reputation in Gideon''s eyes.


    Thinking about this, Lago forced a smile and softly exined to Gideon, "My daughter has been spoiled since she was a kid; she has a bit of a temper. I hope you don''t mind."


    Gideon responded with a sympathetic smile, showing he understood. "Mr. Smith, I get it. In wealthy families, it''s normal to pamper daughters. Yvette is lively and spirited because of your love; you''ve raised her well."


    Lago beamed at thepliment. "You really know how to tter, Gideon." Lago subtly warned Yvette, "Don''t misbehave too much; remember, today''s dinner is to celebrate Gideon joining my newpany."


    Though he didn''t say it outright, the warning was clear, and Yvette rolled her eyes in disdain.


    Just a poor delivery boy, she had no intention of being careful. Even if Gideon found out something, it didn''t matter. A lowlymoner like him would never have the chance to confront a member of the Nelson family. Shakira couldn''t best her either. Impatient, Yvette nced at her diamond watch. "Let''s get on with it; I still need to try on the dress for tomorrow,"


    Jessie asked, "Where are you going tomorrow?"


    ite casually tossed her hair. "Reba is introducing me to some friends in the entertainment industry. There''s a duector''s reality show in its final preparations, even sponsored by the city, set to air during the New Year."


    Yvette added, I convinced Felix to join me; we''re taking promotional photos tomorrow, so I need to pick a stunning dress."


    Jessie was thrilled. "You''re going on TV? My daughter is about to be a big star! I heard those celebrities earn millions per episode...


    Jessie was more excited than Yvette herself. "Your father barely made that much in a casino over half a month, and you could earn it in just a couple of shows. You really are exceptionall


    In her excitement, Jessie forgot herself, while Yvette paid her no mind. It was Reba who secured these opportunities, not Jessie


    Suddenly, Lago interjected with a serious tone. "Yvette; no matter how well your foster parents treat you, they are still outsiders. We are your true parents. Be careful, no outsider canpare to us."


    "Got it." Yvette replied, her lips curling in disdain as she shifted back to the main topic. "Have you decided on the direction for thepany yet?" Lago had long imed he would make aeback, but Yvette had never taken him seriously. 08-29 Fri, Nov 1 B.


    B4%94%#


    To her surprise, Lago somehow secured a few million dors. Yvette didn''t think much of him, but she didn''t show it openly. She let him try whatever he wanted-if he actually managed to make some money, it would benefit her too. Lago smiled and gestured to Gideon. "Gideon, why don''t you exin?"


    Gideon took a deep breath, as if gathering courage, before meeting Yvette''s gaze. "Yvette, I''ve analyzed the current market. along with the resources Mr. Smith has, I believe we should return to Mr. Smith''s original line of business. Gideon added. The startup capital of two million isn''t enough; we need to find a way to raise more funds."


    Yvette furrowed her brow immediately. "What do you mean? Do you want me to fund you?"N?velDrama.Org content.


    Gideon quickly waved his hands. "No, Yvette, you''ve misunderstood. I mean to make the money work for itself. With that, Gideon pulled out a map and slid it toward Yvette.


    This is a map of Pueru. When I was delivering food, I identally overheard conversations in the SVIP rooms. They mentioned that thend reform n for Pueru will be announced in the spring, leading to a big acquisition of residentialnd."


    Gideon continued, "Pueru is underdeveloped, and property prices are still low. Mr. Smith''s two million could buy at least twenty vis." Listening to Gideon''s n, Yvetteughed derisively.


    -


    "What century are you living in? Do you really think redevelopment will make you rich? By the time the n is announced and executed, with fundingpensation involved, can you guarantee the timeline? I see you''re aiming for a six-million loss!" Yvette said. Lago looked bewildered. "How could that be? Gideon is so clever... Lago''spany had thrived a decade ago mostly due to luck, not brains. Just moments before, he was confident in Gideon''s n, but after Yvette pointed out the ws, he started to Waver


    Yvette demanded, "Dad! Who do you trust, him or me?"


    Lago nced at Gideon anxiously. "Gideon, should we reconsider this?"


    Gideon stayed calm. "Yvette, the risks you mentioned are real, but how can investment exist without risk? Since Mr. Smith entrusted thepany to me, my fate is tied to it, and I want to see thepany thrive and make profits too."


    Gideon added, "Right now, the Pueru demolition n is still internal news; many outside spectors might not have caught wind of it. If we act quickly and finish the procedures before they do, we can sell to them afterward."

 Chapter 172

    Gideon stayed calm as he exined, "We don''t have to wait until the very end to sell at the peak profit; this is just the quickest way to grow our money in the shortest time"


    Yvette was left speechless. She realized her understanding of business was pretty shallow. Looking at Gideon, who seemed so ordinary-his clothes a bit worn and his hands covered in scars-she found it hard to believe he had such a sharp mind. Lago must have really hit the jackpot with him. Yvette pursed her lips and said, "Alright, I''ll think about it. You can go back once you''re done eating: I need to talk to my parents for a bit."


    Gideon quickly stood up and said. Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Smith. I''ll take my leave now." Lago added. "Be careful on


    on your way home. Message me when you get there."Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Gideon felt touched and replied, "Okay, thank you, Mr. Smith."


    After Gideon left, Yvette scoffed. "What''s so special about a broke guy?" Lago locked the private room door and sat back down next to Yvette. "He''s not just some broke guy; he''s going to achieve great things!" Yvetteughed. "You think you can help him rise?" Lago smiled mysteriously, "No, it''s him who will help us rise."


    Before Yvette could figure that out, Jessie jumped in, "I talked to your grandfather about Gideon''s future. He had a tough start, but he''s going to have wealth and sesster on! If he wasn''t talented, how could he help your dad ma million


    Yvette was skeptical. "If he''s so great, how did you even find him?"


    Two


    Lago chuckled. "Maybe this is our family''s lucky break! By listening to your grandfather, you''ve gotten some of Shakira''s- luck back-her blessings must being your way! Gideon showing up is a good sign!"


    Lago patted Yvette''s hand. "We''re family, working together. If Gideon helps us make money, once thepany grows, it''ll all be yours."


    This idea made Yvette happy. Even though she had doubts about Lago and Jessie, she trusted her reclusive grandfather Completely.


    Yvette said, "Okay, but let''s agree: he needs to be involved in running thepany; you can stay behind the scenes. Im worried the Nelson family and Walter might cause problems otherwise."


    Time flew by, and exam week arrived. This semester''s final exams would decide the internship lottery for the next term, with several prestigiouspanies involved. Every student was on high alert, not wanting to mess up.


    There were thirteen exams, two each day. Shakira decided to tell Walter she''d stay arschool for lunch, choosing to eat in the cafeteria and then take a nap on the bench by the artificialke. She kept this routine for the first three days. But after that, the school forum was buzzing withments from students about Shakira, who always finished her papers more than half an hour early, earning her a lot of admiration as an academic prodigy Soon, someone posted a photo of Shakira napping on the bench, and when she returned from lunch, she found the bench waspletely taken. These superstitious students hade to im her napping spot. "Oh! The academic goddess is here; she''sing with her backpack!" one eximed.


    "Wait, it looks like there are to empty benches left. Where will she sleep another wondered.


    Everyone exchanged nces, not wanting to give up their seats,


    Finally, one ssmate stood up. "Shakira, you can take my spot


    Shakira replied, "It''s fine."


    With so many students cramming for the exam, she couldn''t rx anyway. She waved her hand dismissively and turned to


    leave


    On her way, she messaged Xanthe Shakira: Where are you resting for lunch?


    Xanthe: [How could I rest? I still have half a book to read]


    Shakira: [Good luck.]


    After wandering around, Shakira decided to go to the rooftop of the teaching building. There, she could soak up the sun without being disturbed.


    She casually picked a book, opened it, and ced it over her face, drifting off to sleep on the rooftop.


    When she heard the bell ring below, she stretchedzily like a cat. Once refreshed, she got ready to go down but found the door wouldn''t budge when she pulled on it.


    A shadow flickered in her eyes. She remembered that the door lock was manual, meaning someone had locked it on purpose


    Pulling out her phone, she saw that the signal was indeed blocked.


    Shakira smirked silently. "Naive."


    Not in a hurry, she tossed her backpack aside and stepped back. After gauging the distance, she spun around and kicked the rooftop door with all her might-


    It didn''t move.


    Unfazed, Shakira tried again, delivering a second and then a third kick


    ally, on her fifth attempt, the aluminum door buckled under the pressure, copsing backward and kicking up a cloud of


    Shaking off the dust from her backpack, she went down the stairs. At the corner, she spotted a tiny signal jammer. Shakira picked it up and tucked it into her bag, taking her time as she continued down.


    By the time she reached the ssroom, the exam had already started, and students were focused on their papers. Her tale arrival caused quite a stir.


    "Wow, why is Shakirate? The listening exercise has already ended!"


    "She''s such a good student; surely the teacher will let her retake it?"


    "Are you kidding? There are strict rules for exams; she''s so arrogant-whether she leaves early or arriveste, it''s her own


    fault."


    "Missing the listening examn, which is worth at least forty points. She probably won''t keep her second ce."


    "Silence!" The invigtor, recognizing the school''s celebrity, kept a stern face. "The exam has been going for nearly twenty minutes, Shakira, please take your seat quickly."


    §±


    Shakira epted her exam paper. "Thank you, sir." After a moment, she turned to the invigtor and added, "By the way, the door to the rooftop has copsed and needs to be reced." The invigtor looked puzzl

 Chapter 173

    Even though Shakira was twenty minuteste, she ended up being the first to submit her paper. This quickly became the talk of the campus forum, with Shakira''s rebellious actions sparking plenty of student chatter: [The academic prodigy really lives up to the title-finishing in such a short time, she probably didn''t even look at the questions before jumping to the answers!]


    [Doesn''t anyone else think Shakira is a bit pretentious? Don''t rush to judge me; putting past incidents aside, her recent behavior seems overly calcted.]


    [Exactly, her grades before college weren''t great at all. How did she suddenly leap so far ahead? Maybe she thinks she''s already got a spot with the Lopez Group, so she doesn''t care!]


    [Wow, who''s spreading these conspiracy theories? Shakira showed her skills during a ss-wide exam earlier this semester- it''s clear she works hard behind the scenes without needing to announce it!]


    [This is funny. Shakira has so many fans now; she''s just enjoying her privilege. She hasn''t saved your lives, so why all the admiration?]


    The forum buzzed with differing opinions all night until the school released an official statement: [Students are strictly prohibited from misusing signal blockers, and only authorized personnel may ess the rooftop.] This led to more chaos in the forum.


    What''s going on? Signal blocker? Rooftop?]


    [Wait, before the exam today, Shakira told the proctor the rooftop door was broken.]


    [Shakira was stuck on the rooftop, and someone intentionally activated the signal blocker, almost keeping her from the exam?]


    [I was in the top-floor ssroom-no wonder I heard banging through my headphones! Shakira was knocking on the door!)


    [Me too!)


    [Same here!]


    Shakira wasn''tte on purpose-she was locked inside! If she hadn''t escaped, she might still be stuck! This is awful; who


    uld go so low as to trap Shakira before an exam?]


    low terrible! Is that how they try to stop her sess? The school needs to investigate thoroughly, those treacherous students should be expelled from Crescentville University!]


    [Alright, I admit my earlier doubts about Shakira were unfounded... I owe her an apology.l


    [Me too, I really should be ashamed for thinking that way about her..]


    Shakira didn''t check the school forum and hadn''t even registered. When Xanthe told her about the gossip, they were out shopping for camping supplies.


    An hour ago, people were saying you''re just seeking attention and acting all shy. Who knew that an hourter, the truth woulde out? Those who ndered you are now lining up to apologize; it''s so satisfying Xantheughed, showing Shakira her phone.. Shakira nced at it casually and said. "Uh-huh."


    Xanthe continued, "The school is quick this time; I''ve never seen such a fast response. It looks like Patrick had to approve


    the official forum post, so he must know you''re quite the campus star and is eager to help you out."


    Shakira''s expression stayed calm. The signal blocker incident is serious; if other problems arise, the school can''t just wash their hands of it."


    Xanthe thought for a moment, "That''s a valid point." Turning her head, Xanthe noticed Shakira focused on her phone and teased. "Texting so intently, getting all cozy with Mr. Lopez, huli


    Just as Shakira was about to rify that it wasn''t Walter, she decided not to exin. Xanthe took her silence as confirmation and kept teasing her. Gideon rarely spoke up in their group clut, so Shakira asked about their ns.


    Gideon: [When''s my dear Shakira free? It''s been ages since we shared a meal and looked at the stars together!]


    Shakira: [Sorry! It might be a few days.


    Gideon: Bummer.]


    Sean: Gideon, be considerate; Shakira''s busy with final exams right now ]


    Gideon: [When will they be done?]


    Sean: [In two days!]


    Shakira: How do you know that?]


    Sean nearly choked on his drink. Not only did he know when Shakira''s exams would end, but he also knew she was nning o go camping the day after.


    This info came from Xanthe, of course. Fortunately, Sean wasn''t a fast typist; if he had sent that too quickly, Shakira, being as sharp as she was, would''ve connected the dots.


    Scan: [Shakira, don''t forget that your internship next semester is also with Yonder Digital, the contact person told me. I''m keeping tabs!]


    Shakira: [Yes, I''ve been swamped with exams. Once they''re over. I''ll go camping, and after the resultse in, winter break officially starts.] Gideon: [Camping? Shakira, I want to go too!]


    Shakira: [It''s organized by our ss, so it might not be easy...]


    Gideon: [Can''t familye? I promise I''ll be good and won''t be a hassle.]


    Shakira: [Gideon, sweetie, there will be many ssmates, and it might be tricky to look after you. Let''s find another time to hang out.]


    Gideon tried pleading a few more times, but Shakira stuck to her guns. Sean suddenly had an idea and messaged Xanthe. Sean: [Is there someone Shakira cares about going on the camping trip?]


    Xanthe, walking ahead, was startled by Sean''s unexpected question. Quickly ncing back at Shakira, Xanthe hurried a few steps forward, thinking about Sean''s question.


    No matter what, Xanthe couldn''t let Sean stir up any trouble. Xanthe: [No, just ssmates.]This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Sean: [You took this long to type; something''s up.]


    Xanthe [22]


    Sean: [Send me the time and ce, and I''ll join you]


    49.94%


    9461


    Xanthe: [!!]


    Benji, still unable to head home, took a special detour from the branch office to the headquarters to see Walter. Despite Walter being ungrateful for keeping him from going home, Benji felt the need to check on Walter during this cold war with Shakira.


    As he approached, whistling, Benji expected a gloomy atmosphere in Walter''s office but was surprised to see the previously dreary secretaries enjoying afternoon tea from a fancy hotel.


    Benji took a step back. "Am I in the wrong office?"

 Chapter 174

    The secretarial assistants called out, "Hey, Benji Benji waved back, smiling. "Is Walter inside? They nodded.


    Benji hesitated and asked. "Hasn''t he been in a bad moodtely? Aren''t you all suffering because of that? But you''re still up for afternoon tea?"


    A lively female secretaryughed. "Benji, you don''t know-Walter''s been feeling better thest couple of days. He even told Brian to order tea for everyone this afternoon"


    Just then, Brian walked out of the office. Benji rushed over and grabbed Brian''s shoulder in disbelief. "Brian, did Walter patch things up with Shakira"" Brian nodded. "Yeah"


    "No way! Did Walter finallye to his senses? I gotta see this! Without waiting, Benji barged into the office. Walter looked up but didn''t scold him.


    At that moment. Benji was sure-Walter was in a fantastic mood. Not only was he cheerful, but he was dressed to the nines,plete with a Windsor knot and a shy blue diamond brooch, looking like a peacock showing off its feathers. Benji quickly moved closer to Walter''s desk, leaning in to get a good look. Walter frowned slightly. "What are you looking for?" Benji blurted. Just checking for any love bites on your neck!" Get lost."


    "But Walter, you and Shakira are good now, right? Did you have sex?" Walter shot him a re, eyes sparkling with annoyance. This time, Benji figured it out-they hadn''t gotten that far yet.


    He let out a small sigh of relief, realizing he actually had a reason for being there. Standing up straight, Benji casually walked around the desk, grinning as he leaned closer. Walter, have you thought about what we talked aboutst time?"


    Walter didn''t answer directly, instead saying. "Shakira''s been busy with finals; she won''t be free for a few days." Benji pped his hands. "Perfect timing! With winter breaking up, you''ve got plenty of chances to get closer" Walter''s mind wandered, his dark eyes clouding over for a moment. He casually mentioned, "After finals, her ss is nning a camping trip, and family can join. She didn''t invite me"


    Benji got it right away. "Co for it! Shakira''s probably too shy to ask you. You gotta make the first move!"


    Looking at Walter, who rarely took the initiative, he added, "That''s what most guys do. But you could surprise her! When she sees you, she''ll be totally shocked!"


    Walter had never seen Shakira react that way, making him skeptical. "Are you sure?"


    "Definitely! Walter, trust me as your romantic strategist-I''ll make sure Shakira gets totally enchanted by you!"


    Meanwhile, Shakira was in a store, setting her phone down and speezing a few times. "Weird-is semicone talking about me?


    As finals week wrapped up, Levi arranged for the chef to whip up a little cake for Shakira to celebrate finishing her semester, so she could rx and enjoy winter break. Shakira felt warm inside; since she arrived, Levi and the others had been really kind to her. No need for big gestures-these simple, thoughtful acts lit her up like a gentle glow. That evening, before resting. Shakira crouched in front of her suitcase, trying to organize things for the next day.


    Walter came out of the bathroom and saw her rushing around, her suitcase aplete mess. He frowned. "It''s just


    for one


    day, why are you parking so much"


    II Shakira replied. "The temperature changes a lot in the mountak like during the day, set up a tent at night, and wait for the sunrise. Levi helped me pack all this, I just need to fit it in


    As she spoke, Shakira tossed a nket into the suitcase, then frowned "Why does it feel like this suitcase wolt eleverN?velDrama.Org content.


    km


    Walter wheeled over, bent down, and picked up a piece of clothing she''d carelessly toned aude With a few quark moves, he folded it neatly, clearly taking up less space than how Shakira had done it. their


    Makira raimed, "Wow, it can be done like that? Since she didn''t travel much, she rarely dealt with the surf overpacking, whether with the Smiths or the fiels, she''d always had just a few things The surprise on her face was clear. Walter raised his hand. Vold my sleeves


    "Ah! Oh Shakiraplied Fresh from the shower, Walter radiated warmth, and as her cood fingers brushed against his heated arm, she lingered a moment longer.


    Walter probably didn''t notice her subtle attempt to get warm against him, since it wasn''t the first time


    While Shakira thought Walter was oblivious, his slightly loweredshes fluttered when her fingers brushed his skin, sending


    tingle through him that dug deep into his heart.


    When Shakira pulled her hand away, that feeling vanished Walter, still wanting the touch, rubbed his fingertips together unconsciously, Shakira asked, "But why aren''t you resting in bed


    Walter pointed to the suitcase on the floor. "Without me, do you n to organize it all night?"


    "That''s impossible; at most... it won''t fit?" Shakira touched her nose, finally realizing what he meant. "You want to help me jack?"


    Walter lifted his chin proudly. "I don''t want you waking me up after I fall asleep"


    Shakira stuck her tongue out. "Thanks, you''re nicer Walter silently scoffed; Shakira''s randompliment didn''t seem


    sincere.


    Shakira didn''t let him do everything; she handed him clothes while he packed them neatly. Walter was way faster than Shakira; in just ten minutes, the messy pile of clothes was all organized. Shakira beamed, not even paying attention to what she was handing him, when suddenly she realized her little yellow duck- patterned underwear and bra were now in Walter''s hands. Walter unfolded them, momentarily shocked, his ears turning bright red.


    Shakira jumped, quickly grabbing them back. "You don''t need to handle this; Ell take care of it!"


    Walter straightened up, his tone serious. "What''s there to fear? It''s not like I''ve never seen it Shakira was left speechless.

 Chapter 175

    Shakira''s face turned bright red as she quickly stuffed her clothes into the corner of her suitcase, then grabbed her pajamas and darted into the bathroom. Walter paused for a moment, feeling an unusual warmth rising in his cheeks. Just the thought of Shakira''s tearful, frustrated look made him smile tenderly, filled with longing


    This camping trip was organized by the ss leader. The next morning, everyone met at the school gate at 8:30 AM to catch a bus together. Shakira arrived ten minutes early, and as she settled her luggage, Xanthe showed up just in time, and they hopped on the bus together.


    Most of their ssmates were already there, filling up the front and middle seats, leaving just thest two rows empty. As they got on, Yvette and Berry were blocking the aisle in the first row.


    "With those cheap skincare products you use, the exhaust fumes at the back won''t matter. Get to the back and give up seats," Berry ordered, her face stern. Then she met Shakira''s gaze and instinctively took a step back p your


    Yvette, who got bumped by Berry, frowned but stayed quiet, clearly on Berry''s side and already losing patience. The two girls felt a mix of anger and frustration, hesitating to stand up but ultimately doing so reluctantly.


    "Stay put!" Xanthe interjected, pushing the two girls back into their seats, Xanthe turned to Berry, unleashing her frustration "With a face like yours, no fancy skincare will help. They got here first; how dare you take their seats!" Berry''s expression darkened instantly, "What''s it to you, Xanthe? I wasn''t talking to you."


    can''t just stand by while you bully others. If you''re brave enough,e and hit me, Xanthe shot back, rallying the two girls. "You don''t have to be scared; her family''s wealth won''t stop you from thriving in Crescentville," Berry thought to herself, ''Ah,N?velDrama.Org content.


    this crazy woman Xanther


    Seeing things escte, Yvette quickly tugged at Berry''s arm. "Just let it go, Berry."


    Berry''s eyes burned with fury. "How can we let this slide?"


    "it''s fine, we can ride with Joe instead, Yvette said, her voiceced with regret as she turned to the two girls.


    "I was hoping to offer you two year passes to the beauty salon. We don''t have to take the bus; we just thought it would be nice tick together. If it''s a hassle, forget it!"


    The two girls watched as Berry and Yvette haughtily left the bus, their faces sad. They began to whisper to each other. "The beauty salon''s year passes must be worth at least ten thousand...


    "It''s just a one-and-a-half-hour journey. How bad can the fumes be for that long?" They exchanged nces at Xanthe, seemingly ming her for their loss of the passes.


    Xanthe feltpletely speechless, caught between disliking Berry and Yvette and feeling annoyed with the two girls.


    Shakira tugged at Xanthe, whispering, "Let''s move to the back. They headed to thest row, just as Joe''s sports car pulled up next to the bus. Yvette and Berry got in gracefully, casting a triumphant nce at everyone on the bus. Frustrated, Xanthe ripped open a bag of chips, crunching loudly This is infuriating!",


    Shakira stayed calm "If you''re angry, they''ve won."


    "What do you mean?" Xanthe asked, confused.


    Shakira exined leisurely, "Yvette knows she can''t argue with you, so she pretends to offer the passes, hoping those girls will regret it and shift their anger onto you. Do you think she''d actually give away twenty thousand?" 1/2


    I


    8%94%


    Having known Yvette for awhile, Xanthe realized her stinginess "Of course not!" With this realization, Xanthe felt a wave of relief wash over her.


    Her eyes lit up as she hugged Shakira, eximing. "It''s so good to have you, Shakira! I feel way less angry now!" Shakira didn''t reply.


    The ss leader was counting heads when Joe spotted Shakira sitting at the back of the bus, his expression changing. He turned off the engine, got out of the car, and walked over to the bus.


    Yvette''s eyes widened, her expression darkening as she clenched her fists.


    "It''s Joe!" the students on the bus whispered. In front of everyone, Jor walked up to.


    to Shakira.


    ''Shakira, there''s room for one more in my car; how about...?" Joe began, but before he could finish, Shakira cut him off, "Not interested."


    Being rejected so firmly in front of everyone embarrassed Joe. He hade to invite her, yet she remained indifferent.


    With aplicated look, he nced at Shakira but said nothing more, turning to leave with a hint of resentment in his stride.


    Yvette gasped, "Joe!"


    Joe stayed expressionless. "Let''s go."


    Yvette sighed in relief, restoring her smile. "Alright."


    As ssmates murmured in envy, Joe revved his engine and zoomed away like an arrow, disappearing in moments. The bus followed closely behind.


    Meanwhile, on the other side of the school gate, Sean quietly trailed in a battered old car he had painstakingly acquired from a used car lot.


    Is that... Sean from Yonder Digital? Nearby, a convoy of six vehicles watched the scene from a distance.


    Walter squinted beneath his sunsses, watching the bumpy linle car in front of him. "Let''s set off."


    Brian nodded. "Yes"


    fier about an hour of driving, they crossed from Crescentville into the neighboring city. Rseyda Mountain, located at the order between Crescentville and the neighboring city, had been developed into a camping resort a few years ago,plete with a dedicated road up the mountain.


    After a night of heavy rain, the sun was just starting to shine that morning, leaving the ground slick, so the bus driver slowed down carefully. Still, the muddy roads caused the bus to jolt uncontrobly, making the students grip their seatbelts, their hearts racing in silence. As the bus swayed continuously, it suddenly lurched, prompting a collective scream as the engine stalled, cutting offpletely.


    #

 Chapter 176

    +45


    "Don''t worry, everyone! It''s just a tire stuck in the mud. Please get off the bus first, and I''ll try to drive it out," the experienced driver reassured the nervous students. After getting everyone to disembark, he revived the engine to get the bus out of the mud pit. However, no matter how hard he tried, the wheels just made a loud rumbling noise, with the tires spinning in ce without any traction.


    Frustrated, the driver got out of the car. "There''s no way out; this pit is too deep. I can''t manage it alone-we''ll need a tow truck, but I''m afraid it''ll take at least a few hours before it arrives..."


    The students looked utterly dejected and beganining loudly. "Oh my God, we''re so unlucky! How did we end up in this mess?" "There''s mud in my shoes; it''s so gross and soggy..." "Daniel, think of a way out quick!" Daniel Johnson, the ss monitor was equally stressed out, as he had never faced a situation like this before.


    Just then, Yvette called Daniel, asking how much longer it would be before the monitor and others arrived at the assembly point. Daniel''s eyes lit up like he saw a savior. "Yvette, can youe back with your friends and do us a favor?"


    About ten minutester, a powerful Ferrari came down the mountain road. Unlike their ssmates'' gloomy faces, Yvette and Berry, after pulling off safely by the roadside, peeked out of the car with barely restrainedughter at the sight of everyone''s sorry state. Yvette feigned surprise and asked, "So, the tires really are stuck in the mud, huh? How did it end up like this?" Berry added with a sly grin, "Maybe someone in the car brought bad luck, dooming the whole vehicle." Everyone stayed silent but instinctively nced toward Xanthe and Shakira.


    Xanthe, unable to hold back her fiery temper, was about to jump up and retort fiercely. Daniel, however, eager to solve the problem quickly, sped his hands together, hinting at Xanthe to let it go. He then turned to Joe, asking in a softer tone if Joe could help. Joe''s gaze briefly flicked to Shakira, who stood out in the crowd.


    He thought for a moment, frowning slightly. "My car has power, but it''s not a tow truck. Here''s the n: I''ll call the local forest service office and get them to send someone right away." Saying this, he got out, took a few steps away, and used his phone to make the call. After a while, he returned with an update. "The local forest service office has already sent someone, and they should arrive in less than an hour." The ssmates were astonished. They knew Joe''s family was powerful, but they didn''t expect that with just one call, he could so easily get the local forest service office to send someone over.


    "Joe is so cool, just one phone call and it''s all sorted?" "I thought we''d be stuck here all day or have to drag our suitcases up the mountain..." "You''ve got to say, Yvette was really wise to bring Joe along; otherwise, we wouldn''t have had a clue what to do today!" Yvette listened to all the praise. His face shone with pride and confidence. She also got out of the car, stood next to Joe, and inteced their fingers. "Joe has always been helpful! Even if he didn''te today, he would have definitely found a way to help us." "If Joe hadn''te, he would definitely be worried about you, Yvette, and would hurry to solve the problem," someone remarked, making Yvette''s smile even sweeter.


    "Anyway, we should thank Joe today for his help. After all, he owes the local forest service office a favor for us now." "Thanks, Joe and Yvette." Joe waved it off modestly. "It was no trouble, just a phone call, nothing that counts as a favor."


    This made the students even more aware of the immense influence of Joe''s family! As for those two girls who didn''t change seats earlier, they were so regretful that their faces turned pale.


    They were swayed by recent gossip, which led them to look down on Yvette. But little did they know that one can''t judge a


    4Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    book by its cover. The Nelson family might have been a source of mockerytely, but with Joe as Yvette''s boyfriend, she had every reason to keep her confidence!


    Berry crossed her arms and watched the drama unfold. She suddenly said, "Xanthe, Shakira, you both look like you''re really unhappy about this, don''t you?"


    Xanthe had been unable to hold back for a while and said without hesitation, "Yeah, so what if I''m not happy? You guys sure know how to make a small fight sound like something huge, who are you trying to fool?"


    Berry was deliberately trying to provoke Xanthe. Therefore, Xanthe''s response was just what she needed. "Oh really? Then why hadn''t you called someone to help solve the problem? If you don''t want to ride on Joe''s reputation, then make your own way up the mountain yourself. No one''s begging you to stay."


    Xanthe wanted to say more. However, before she could, she was scolded by the others who were afraid of upsetting Joe. "Xanthe, just zip it. We''re the ones asking for their help right now!" "If you''re upset, why not just leave on your own instead of dragging all of us down?"


    "Even Joe didn''t make a fuss when Shakira embarrassed him, and here you are, losing it and snapping at people. Even if you have some personal grudge, you can''t just disregard everyone else like that!" "Seriously, just say less!" Xanthe was taken aback. It wasn''t her fault the car got stuck in the mud, yet the others were using her right now! Xanthe was furious, but more than that, she was shocked and disappointed. Just a few days ago, these ssmates were all smiles with her, but now they were openly hostile, their expressions revealing only harsh disdain.


    Her eyes turned bright red, and she clenched her fists in anger, her whole body trembling uncontrobly. "You... you all shouldn''t..."


    Just when she was about to lose control, a warm hand wrapped around her cool, trembling fist. Xanthe turned in surprise to see Shakira standing beside her.


    Xanthe''s lips quivered. "Shakira..." Shakira gave her a reassuring look, then faced the hostile crowd with a calm andposed demeanor.


    She spoke up, her clear voice echoing sharply through the silent forest. "You all are students of Crescentville University, ?ren''t you? In situations like this, you should just call emergency services, and professionals will assist us." She paused.


    She then continued, "You refuse to think for yourselves, preferring to act submissively. Don''t include us in the same category as you." Everyone was taken aback. They realized it made sense momentster... Right, they could''ve called 911 for help...


    They exchanged nces, their faces showing embarrassment as the atmosphere became unbearably tense. The two girls who didn''t give up their seats earlier snapped in anger, "If you''re so smart, why didn''t you act earlier? Now you''re just like a backseat driver!"


    "If you''re so capable, why don''t you go by yourselves and wait for rescue?" Shakira watched as they disyed frustrated and regretful expressions, and she let out a cold, mockingugh.


    She took out her phone, ready to call Sean, who she''d noticed had been secretly following them since they set off. Just then, the loud sound of a car horn echoed above. A powerful Mercedes G500, ck as a dark knight, effortlessly crossed the muddy mountain road and stopped right behind Shakira.


    The window of the middle car rolled down, revealing a cold and devilishly charming profile, almost perfect in its sharpness, for everyone to see.

 Chapter 177

    In an instant, everyone''s attention was drawn to the man inside the car, whose remarkable aura was both divine and noble. Without realizing it, they all held their breath.


    It was Walter, the man at the very top of the pyramid of power!


    Joe stood there, astonishment clear on his face. "Mr. Lopez?" Yvelle was just as surprised. Berry, after a brief moment of joy, noticed Walter only had eyes for Shakira. Her fists clenched tightly with jealousy! Shakira was equally taken aback. "Why are you here?"


    Walter responded coolly, "Just taking a stroll."


    Shakira was startled. Who in their right mind would drive a Mercedes all the way from the city into the deep woods?!


    Shakira silentlyined to herself as Walter''s gaze drifted over the bus stuck in the mud and then her suitcase. His tone was even. "Do you need any help?"


    Before Shakira could reply, Xanthe eagerly jumped in. "Yes, yes! Shakira and I need to get up the mountain; we''d appreciate Mr. Lopez giving us a lift!" As she spoke, Xanthe casually handed the suitcase to Brian. "Thanks a lot."


    Brian didn''t wait for Walter to say anything. He just took both their suitcases and loaded them into the back of the car. With a ride avable, Shakira definitely wouldn''t choose to tire out her legs.


    She walked around the car to get in, but suddenly, Berry''s tearful voice, a bit breaking with helplessness, came from behind. "Mr. Lopez!" Berry stepped forward, her face full of pitiful pleading. "Mr. Lopez, our bus had some issues. Could you help us out?" As soon as those words were spoken, the expressions of everyone changed. Joe and Yvette looked the most displeased of all.


    Joe had already called someone from the forest service office. So, when Berry suddenly asked Walter for help in front of everyone, it was essentially a major embarrassment for Joe.


    Yvette knew exactly why Berry suddenly acted out. That cunning woman couldn''t stand that Shakira had Walter''s protection and craved to be the center of attention.


    However, even though Yvette didn''t want to witness Shakira bask in glory, she would never let Berry trample on her dignity! In her mind, she cursed Berry hundreds of times for ruining her ns.


    The students weren''t concerned with any of this drama. Right now, their shoes were covered in mud, and they had nowhere to sit. If Walter could step in and help, they would be out of this mess quickly, without waiting an entire hour.


    Shakira raised an eyebrow, looking back at Berry, who was staring at Walter with an intense, pitiful gaze. Seeing Berry acting all innocent, Shakira couldn''t help but feel a tightness in her chest at the thought of why Berry dared to speak up in front of Walter... She gently furrowed her brow, and her movement didn''t escape Walter''s notice. With amusement, he smirked and suddenly turned to Shakira. "It''s up to you. Should I help or not?"


    It wasn''t a question; he waspletely handing over the decision-making power to Shakira.


    Berry''s expression nearly crumbled! Her heart started racing, and she panicked. She thought, ''What does this mean? Mr. Lopez was supposed to agree to my requests without a second thought, wasn''t he? How could this be happening?" Shakira nced over slowly, meeting Walter''s enigmatic gaze. In an instant, she understood his intentions. This was his way of backing her up! With an offer like this, how could she refuse?


    Shakira slightly curled her lips. "I''m not helping."


    Walter agreed promptly and smoothly, "Okay."


    Berry''s eyes suddenly widened! Everyone was instantly shocked.


    "Shakira, how could you do this? We''re out here camping together, and you just let Mr. Lopez ignore our situation?"


    "Yeah, it''s one thing not to help us, but when Berry spoke up for us, you stopped Mr. Lopez from agreeing. You are mean!"


    "And to think we all stood by you when you were being bashed online, and now here you are, betraying us without a second thought. Do you even have any morals?"


    Shakira looked around at the people ring at her with hostility and said nonchntly, "Weren''t you the ones who told me not to go with you?"


    The group attacking her went silent, unsure of what to say.


    Shakira sneered coldly, "You go back on your words. Don''t you have any moral integrity?"


    With just two sentences, Shakira managed to make them all quiet.


    Xanthe, however, had already hopped onto the car behind and was swinging her legs. She pped so hard that her hands nearly went numb!


    She was worried Shakira might act soft-heartedly and agree to let Walter help them. Luckily, Shakira held her ground! She thought to herself, "They are just a bunch of ungrateful fools; only an idiot would help them!"


    Everyone''s faces turned red with embarrassment, and nobody dared to say another word. It was only when the big cars easily climbed up the mountain road and disappeared into the forest that someone in the crowd angrily burst out, "Who was the fool that said it? You really messed things up for us!"


    As soon as that was said, the two girls who couldn''t switch ces earlier became the focus of everyone''s reproachful stares. They had already regretted offending Yvette and Xanthe, and now, they felt even more remorseful! Who could have guessed Walter would suddenly arrive and stand up for Shakira like that?


    Yvette gave a twisted smile, quietly mocking these people. She pretended to be considerate and said, "Joe, can''t the people of the forest service office speed it up a bit?"


    Joe understood her meaning and unwillingly said, "I''ll give them a push!" With that, he took out his phone and called them back.


    These people seemed to regain some pride. "So what if Shakira won''t help us; we still have Joe!"


    "Exactly, with what she did today, we can finally see her true colors!"


    "One''s origin truly matters a great deal, doesn''t it? Both Joe and Yvettee from prestigious families and exhibit impable manners. Shakira, however, doesn''t have..."


    Joe suddenly spoke in a steady tone, "What did you say? You want us to wait?" No one knew what was said on the other end, but Joe hung up with a serious face.


    Yvette''s smile became a bit awkward, and she whispered, "Joe, what happened?"


    Joe was holding back his frustration. "They''ve already reached the mountain road entrance, but Sean is stuck at the foot of the mountain too. They want to rescue Sean first beforeing for us!" "What? How could this happen... What''s going on today anyway? It''s just a small mountain, and Walter and Seane here, too!"


    08.15 Sat, Nov 2


    ???94%N?velDrama.Org content.


    45


    The car was spacious inside. Even when going up the mountain road, it stayed as steady as ever. Shakira''s phone kept buzzing with notifications, Xanthe was almost ecstatic, continuously praising her. Shakira had every reason to believe that if she were right next to Xanthe now, she''d probably be hugging her tightly and not letting go. She felt quite happy too, but...


    Shakira slightly tilted her head, her eyes sharp and focused as she looked at the man resting with his eyes closed. "Is it really a casual tour, or do you

 Chapter 178

    With his eyes closed, Walter''s senses were attuned to only hearing and touch at the moment. He could clearly hear the sound of leather creasing as the person next to him leaned closer. And when Shakira spoke, her breath lightly brushed past his car, giving him a ticklish feeling. His heart fluttered slightly. After a while, he opened his eyes, which held a deep darkness, mysterious and hard to read. He turned to look at her, his gaze like a pool, hinting at hidden depths within him.


    "I followed you here, does that upset you?"


    Shakira was taken aback, and her heart inexplicably skipped a beat. Walter''s gaze was too intense; she instinctively sensed danger and turned her head away. "Why would it? It''s just surprising, that''s all."


    She exhaled and chuckled, "But it''s nice to get out for a bit. Mr. Lopez, you''re either at home or at the office. It''s great toe out and enjoy some fresh air!"


    Walter scoffed, "The Easke Valley Estate is bigger than this mountain."


    Shakira''s heart was pounding. She knew Walter was always sarcastic; it was just his way. But why did she feel like he came here just for her?


    When the thought emerged, Shakira felt like she was losing her mind! She quickly steadied her breathing to calm down, but her mind was in a whirl. She instinctively changed the topic in a casual tone. "I thought you''d agree to Berry''s request immediately." The moment the words left her mouth, Shakira regretted it. She''d just got herself from one trap into another! As expected she heard Walter chuckle.


    The leather seat was soft and springy. As Walter leaned in and rested his hand behind her, Shakira involuntarily slid a bit closer to him, her shoulder brushing against Walter''s chest. It felt like she was enveloped in his arms, his warmth pressing close to her. They looked intimate.


    Shakira''s mind and heart were both all over the ce!


    "So, did you turn it down because of Berry?"


    Shakira felt that her heart was about to leap out of her throat. She almost bit her own tongue. "Of course not!" She then added, "I''m not refusing because of Berry, but because it is not worth it for someone like them."


    Walter let out a soft chuckle, his usually cool voice carrying an unexpected trace of fondness. "I knew it. You''re not the type to take crap from anyone."


    "Did you see everything?"


    "I saw it all, clear as day."


    me?" Once again, it was clear he had followed her all the way here. Shakira''s heart raced faster, and she breathed more heavily. Driven by an indescribable emotion, she asked again, "So you saw them picking on me and came over just to support Amused by her shy gesture, Walter yfully ruffled her hair with hisrge hand. "Yes."


    Shakira could hear the sound of her heartbeat thumping, and she couldn''t quiteprehend why she was behaving so strangely today. She thought, ''Is it his unexpected appearance and his seemingly simple act of taking my side that caused me to act like this?'' She then dispelled the idea. She felt she was strange today, and Walter was too. His repeated candid admissions of preference for her and his intense stare that said a thousand words when it fell on her, seemed to beden with deep feeling.


    The convoy reached the parking area at the mountaintop. Shakira suddenly woke up to the sound of Xanthe chatting outside. "We''re here! I''m getting out first!" she eximed as she swung the door open and jumped out, not waiting for Walter''s reply. +6


    She ran away from Walter''s arms like a little fox, but Walter wasn''t upset. He thought about Shakira''s reaction a moment ago and mused that sometimes, Benji''s irritating ideas actually came in handy.


    The wind at the mountaintop was strong. After a while, the warmth in Shakira''s cheeks cooled down, and she felt much calmer.


    It had been ages since someone treated her so kindly. The unexpected warmth of the moment had left her more than a little flustered. After all, no one other than Walter had ever gotten this close, almost in an intimate way. "Forget it, forget it, don''t overthink it."


    "Huh? Shakira, what are you thinking about?" Xanthe came over, overhearing the odd remark.


    Shakira let out a deep breath, her expression returning to calm as she took the hot coffee from Xanthe''s hand. "Nothing." "Haha, it''s the unforgettable couple I ship-sweeter than a first love!" Xanthe grinned widely. Shakira nearly choked on her coffee. "Unforgettable?"


    "Yeah, thebination of the master and the maid, isn''t it good?"


    Shakira looked at her intently. "Shipping everything will only get you in trouble."N?velDrama.Org content.


    Rseyda Mountain was one of the popr camping and check-in spots among nearby city folks. Even though that day wasn''t a holiday, there were quite a few visitors.


    However, due to that day''s weather, most visitors decided to hike the mountain. Since the park staff didn''t have time to clear the mountain roads, those who drove up got stuck halfway. By the time Yvette and her group got up the mountain, it was two hourster. This camping trip was funded by the ss budget. After Shakira and Xanthe confirmed their identities with the park staff, they set up their tents in the reserved spot. By the time Yvette and her group arrived, Shakira and Xanthe were cooking some instant noodles. Compared to Shakira and Xanthe''sid-back state, Yvette and her group, who had been struggling for so long, were exhausted and disheveled. They didn''t even have the energy to bother with setting up tents and just copsed on the wooden nks. Even Yvette and Berry, who had taken a sports car just to show off, weren''t in much better shape.


    "Ugh, I''m filthy, and my shoes are full of mud." Yvette was used to her pampered lifestyle and couldn''t lie down all messy. "Berry, let''s go clean up."


    Berry nced towards Walter, hesitating. "I''m so tired. Yvette, why don''t you


    o ahead?"


    Seeing through her little schemes, Yvette sneered and turned to leave.


    Berry walked towards Walter but was stopped a few steps away by bodyguards.


    Berry was almost in tears. "Mr. Lopez, it''s me."


    Walter nced sideways at her. Berry''s tears started falling immediately. She sobbed, feeling extremely wronged, "I stood there for over two hours and even helped with the luggage. Now I''m all dirty, boo hoo. I''ve never suffered like this before..." Walter frowned. His sharp eyes fixed on her, and he said in a meaningful tone, "What you''ve gone through today is nothin

 Chapter 179

    "Ah!" Yvette sputtered as she swallowed some water. She coughed violently as she crawled out,pletely drenched. The temperature at the mountain''s peak was low, and the water was icy cold, making her shiver all over. Barely managing to stand, Yvette wobbled, still unsteady, when the person behind her suddenly kicked again. This time, she tumbled head over heels into the water, swallowing several mouthfuls.


    As she thought about the muddy water she was drenched in, Yvette gagged, clutching her throat and retching a few times before lifting her head. Her eyes were filled with fierceness.


    When she saw Shakira standing on the bank with her arms crossed and an indifferent expression, Yvette widened her eyes in fury. She screamed, "Shakira, have you lost your mind? How dare you treat me like this?" Shakira gave a slight smirk, took out a tiny object, and tossed it onto Yvette. When Yvette looked down, a flicker of panic shed across her face. It was a signal jammer!


    She suppressed the biting cold, biting her lip hard to stay rational. "What do you mean? Don''t think you can just throw things at me and make up lies out of thin air!" "So, do you want me to throw the fingerprint results in your face?"


    Yvette waspletely shocked-Shakira actually went through the trouble of getting a professional analysis?! Instinctively, she felt it couldn''t be true and thought Shakira was just trying to scare her.


    But...when she thought about all the times she had been at a disadvantage because of Shakira, her mind was in turmoil, unable to tell if what Shakira said was true!


    Even though Yvette quickly suppressed her emotions, Shakira immediately saw through her thoughts. She sneered coldly, "If you act foolish again, I won''t mind breaking your hands again."


    Recalling the intense pain from not long ago, Yvette couldn''t help but shake even more violently! Shakira nced at her own shoes, sttered by Yvette''s iling, with disdain and then turned to leave. Yvette suddenly clenched her fists. "Shakira!" Her tone was soft yet deliberately haughty. "I advise you to be sensible and cease engaging in futile acts to attract Joe''s attention."


    Shakira ignored her, continuing to walk ahead, clearly not in the mood to listen to Yvette''s love story.


    Yvette, frustrated, shouted again, "Do you know why Joe didn''t join you on the flight you both nned?" "He was with me that night. That night, I became his girlfriend!


    Shakira paused for a moment, then without looking back, she coldly said, "Oh," and went on her way.


    Yvette sat in the water, staring at Shakira''s slender back with intense resentment in her eyes as if she wished she could burn holes through her!


    Shakira had juste around from behind when someone blocked her way. She looked at the tall man in front of her calmly. "What''s the matter?"


    "Shakira, why did it turn out like this between us?" Joe''s voice was filled with struggle. "I can apologize, and I can make up for it. No matter how angry you are at me, it''s been so long. Why can''t you forgive me?" Shakiraughed at his words. Why should she forgive him just because he apologized? Why did he think that as time passed, she should just act like nothing ever happened?


    Maybe in a previous life, she would have wanted to ask why, but now, it was no longer necessary.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    940


    ? 55.


    "Joe, I''ll say this onest time there''s no way we can be friends again. No matter what you do, it''s just impossible." With that, she walked past him without hesitation.


    Joe was not willing to give up; he grabbed Shakira''s wrist, his face full of emotion. "Is it because of Yvette and the Nelson family? If it really matters that much to you, I can break up with her..."


    "Joe!" Joe was startled by the call and turned in the direction of the voice. There, not far away, stood Yvette. She waspletely drenched, her face ashen. It seemed as if she could copse at any moment. "Yvette?"


    Yvette ran over and threw herself into Joe''s arms. "Joe, I''m so cold. Please take me back. I''m freezing, boo hoo..."


    Before Joe could say something, he looked up again and saw Shakira had already left. He pressed his lips together and took Yvette, who was still shivering, back.


    The conditions at the mountaintop were pretty basic, so to get Yvette a hot shower as soon as possible, Joe paid a lot for an eco-suite at a camping hotel that was fully booked. He bought it from another guest. Such a considerate and generous move naturally became the envy of all the ssmates, who couldn''t stop talking about it.


    "That guy took the chance to raise the price! The original cost for that suite was only 1 thousand dors, but Joe paid 10 thousand dors!"


    "Oh my! That guy really overcharged him!"


    "It''s because there are only five indoor eco-suites at the top. With Mr. Lopez and Mr. Reynolds upying two and two others under maintenance, there''s just one left for the entire mountaintop. Of course, it costs a fortune!" "Just to take a shower, it costs 10 thousand dors... Joe really spoils Yvette!"


    "That amount of money is nothing to Joe."


    Yvette was wrapped in a big towel, feeling all warm and cozy, her cheeks blushing. "Guys, please don''t make fun of me. If I hadn''t identally fallen into the water, Joe wouldn''t have had to spend so much..."


    Berry twirled her hair with a smile. "Joe is really nice to you. You don''t need to be modest about it. Unlike some people who think going up the mountain with Mr. Lopez is such a big deal. Now, they''re left out and have to cook their own instant noodles alone!" Xanthe, who was justughing at Yvette for falling into the water, suddenly changed her expression and stood up quickly. "You''ve got the nerve to insult us? You wish Mr. Lopez would give you a ride, but he didn''t even spare a nce at you!"


    Berry, who felt hit right where it hurt, was furious. "What''s it to you, Xanthe? Are you Shakira''sckey, that you''re rushing to attack people?"


    Xanthe crossed her arms with a nonchnt smile. "Oh, I just love supporting Shakira, so what? And aren''t you also eager to be Yvette''s fan? It''s like the pot calling the kettle ck."


    Berry was rendered speechless.


    Just then, the manager of the camping hotel came over with a cart full of delicious dishes, standing out among the instant food and ready-to-eat meals. Berry looked over at Yvette. "Joe is so considerate, ordering all this tasty food for you!" Yvette patted her t stomach with an embarrassed smile. "After all that running around, I''m really tired. There''s so much food. Let''s all eat together."


    "Wow! Yvette, you''re generous!" Everyone cheered as they rushed forward, but the manager stopped them.


    G


    He turned and bowed slightly toward Shakira, who was savoring the instant noodles. In a respectful tone, he said, "Miss, Mr. Reynolds has instructed the hotel to prepare this lunch for you. The ingredients were brought from the store at the foot of the mountain this morning, and it was cooked by a Michelin-star chef. Please enjoy it."


    Yvette''s smile froze. Everyone else was stunned.


    Someone thought, ''Mr. Reynolds? Sea

 Chapter 180

    On the grassy mountaintop, where the sunlight embraced the tents, Shakira''s lively and beautiful face was glowing. She was clearly enjoying the food Sean arranged for her!


    The floor-to-ceiling curtains in the suite were drawn, leaving only a sliver of light through which Walter peered. His stern face was caught in the flickering light and shadows, with those eyes as deep as the sea. The room was eerily quiet.


    But despite the calm, there was a sense of a storming. Brian''s expression tightened. "Sean has brought some staff of the forest service office; it''s my fault I couldn''t stop him from going up the mountain."


    "Yonder Digital, it has been climbing too fast these past couple of years." The statement was sudden, but after years of service under Walter, Brian understood his thoughts well. "I''ll dig up all the dirt on Sean right away."


    He turned to leave. When he just opened the door, he almost bumped into Shakira, who wasing in with a te of food. "Oh, Brian, you''re here! Perfect timing, I''ve brought some food for you guys. Go ahead and eat." With that, Shakira quickly walked to Walter''s side. Seeing his young boss had already calmly returned to his desk from the window, Brian quietly closed the door. Shakira ced the tray on the table. "Mr. Lopez, you must be hungry, right?"


    Walter didn''t even look at her. "Humph, bringing food that someone else went to great lengths to get for you to win me over?" Shakira blinked her bright eyes, quite surprised. "Mr. Lopez, you''re so informed. You seem to know everything?"


    As soon as she finished speaking, Shakira was caught by Walter''s dangerous gaze. She, not daring to joke anymore, raised her hand in surrender and confessed honestly, "Alright, this food was indeed sent over by Sean, but if you''re mad because of that, I think I can exin."


    Walter didn''t respond, so Shakira rubbed her nose and continued, "You know I joined a designpetition before, right? It was Sean''s team, and I interacted with him. We had a superior-subordinate rtionship, and now Xanthe''s dad works with Sean. Sending over some food is just a natural thing."


    Walter scoffed coldly, "A natural thing? Do you realize how much effort and resources are needed to keep these things fresh and deliver them from the airport to the mountaintop?"


    Shakira slightly frowned, not quite understanding why Walter was so fixated on this point and wouldn''t let it go. "He treated me, so I should just eat without worrying. After all, it''s not my money being spent. So why worry? Later, if he needs me, I'' can just draw a few more designs for him.


    "Does having a meal mean I''m indebted to him forever? I bring it over for you to eat now. Wouldn''t you be indebted to him if you eat it?"


    Walter was taken aback, but her straightforward words lifted his gloom and frustration a bit. "You have a prettyid-back way of looking at things," he said.


    Shakira pouted. "So, are you eating or not?" Walter maintained his calm, aloof demeanor. "There are ingredients in the truck, go prepare something."


    Shakira thought with frustration, ''Seriously? I shouldn''t havee. Now, it looks like I invite trouble!'' Shakira clenched her fist, held back her annoyance, and turned to leave. After all, she had promised to take care of his daily needs!


    Shakira took the food off her te and handed it to Brian and the others. "You guys brought food all the way up mountain?" Brian nodded, "Yeah, it''s over here."


    the


    Several trucks were parked near Walter''s suite. Brian took her to the back of one, and when he opened it, Shakira was stunned. They had brought up a mini fridge with all the usual kitchen supplies, almost everything one might need! "No way, how could there be power?" Brian pointed to the small ck box hidden behind the fridge. "It''s a generator-it can


    Sat, Nov


    support about five hours, so I''ll have to trouble you to make two meals at once, Ms. Nelson."


    Shakira answered, "No, it''s not a trouble at all." She thought to herself, ''It''s more like a hard life. Her curiosity was piqued. She walked to the trunks of the other two cars and asked, "Here?" Brian opened them one by one. "This one contains the mobile datawork. Mr. Lopez needs a dedicated inte connection to work. And this car holds his clothes and personal items."


    Looking at therge amount of electronics and a pile of clothes and essories, Shakira silently gave a thumbs-up. The world of rich people was sometimes really hard to understand!


    She couldn''t help but wonder when exactly Walter had decided toe along with her. She hadn''t even seen him packst night! With all the utensils and spices ready, Shakira picked out some ingredients and went back into the suite. There was a small kitchen where she needed to put in effort to cook delicious food for Walter.


    Meanwhile, Xanthe finished the rest of the food all by herself. Her stomach was full and round, and she feltpletely satisfied. Of course, satisfying her appetite was part of it, but the real joy was the happiness in her heart.


    Next door, a group of people looked at her enjoying her feast all by herself, envious and practically drooling. "What a thrill!" she eximed. Shey on the grass sunbathing, feeling sozy that she almost fell asleep. Suddenly, her phone rang, and Xanthe answered it slowly. "Hello?" "Where did Shakira go?"


    Xanthe woke up with a start. Her drowsiness disappeared, and she quickly sat up, looking around. Sure enough


    Not far away, in a fancy ss suite, Sean was gazing out intently in her direction like a hamster in a ss ball. Seeing Xanthe just staring nkly, Sean asked again, "Where is she? Why doesn''t she answer the phone call?" "Uh, she probably went for a walk nearby and left her phone."


    "Where did she go?"Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    "That''s kind of hard to exin. Hold on, I''lle to you!" Xanthe quickly hung up the phone and ran over to Sean''s suite without a word.


    The ssmates watched as she hurried inside and pulled all the curtains shut to block out any outside eyes. Berry immediately mocked, "Wow, Xanthe always bragged about how rich her family was, acting so confident, but it turns out she''s just using tricks like this to climb up!"


    The others were shocked. "No way. Isn''t Xanthe''s dad supposed to be really powerful?" Berry smirked, "As powerful as Sean? Her dad''s been trying really hard to get in Mr. Reynolds'' favor every day now!"


    Ever since Enrique started working for Sean, Berry''s parents had beenining at home, wondering why Walter couldn''t help with their business. They always hinted it was Berry''s fault for being useless!


    Berry became even more resentful towards Xanthe upon thinking about this, and she allowed her wild nder to burst forth. "Hahaha, her Dad''s responsible for cozying up to powerful people, and she offers herself up. Truly a family... Humph!"


    Suddenly, she felt soup streamed down from above. Berrypletely lost herposure. It took her a moment before she looked up angrily. "Shakira!"


    Shakira ced the tray back on the table and wiped the grease off her fingertips. Her nonchnt sidelong nce made Berry shudder involuntarily. "Don''t me others for your own evil thoughts and dirty tricks, Berry. Don''t think no one knows what you''ve done."


    Berry froze, fear sweeping through her entire being. She thought, ''What does Shakira mean by that?! Could it be... she knows something?''

 Chapter 181

    Shakira had no time to pay attention to her and simply packed some things. She then sent a message to Xanthe and went over to Walter''s ce. Behind her, Berry red intensely in the direction she left, her eyes almost shooting mes of jealousy! In the suite, Xanthe heaved a big sigh of relief after closing all the curtains. Just then, she received a message on her phone from Shakira. [I have to stay at Walter''s ce. Will you be okay sleeping alone tonight?]


    Xanthe excitedly typed on her smartphone: [I''m not scared! I can handle it! You go ahead and sleep with Mr. Lopez!] Shakira was speechless. Xanthe, however, was almost bursting withughter.


    But as she turned around, she saw Sean leaning casually against the door, his long legs crossed and his chin resting on his hand. The way he looked at her seemed to say, "What mischief are you up to?" Xanthe felt a chill run up her spine. She quickly locked her phone and cleared her throat. "Don''t get the wrong idea. I''m just worried that if Shakiraes back and sees me with you, it''ll be hard to exin."


    Sean thought for a moment, nodded, and muttered softly, "Yeah we need to be careful, or she will definitely yell at me." After all, he hadn''t expected to be caught by Shakira even after switching to a less conspicuous car. It was just his bad luck! "Who were you messaging just now? Is she back?" he asked, moving towards the window, intending to pull back the curtains to check outside.


    Xanthe''s heart skipped a beat. "No!" She reacted faster than she could think, shouting out while already lunging towards Sean.


    Caught off guard, Sean stumbled back a few steps, bumping into the sofa, which caused the two of them to fall onto it together. Xanthe''s lipsnded hard next to Sean''s mouth. For a moment, the room''s atmosphere turned awkwardly silent. The two of them stayed still for a few seconds. Xanthe''s eyes widened, and she suddenly jumped up. But she didn''t manage to get a step away from Sean when a sharp pull on her hair dragged her back.


    Her hair got tangled in Sean''s shy diamond-tinum watch! She felt like a scared kitten, twisting frantically. Sean''s expression changed several times; using his free hand, he pressed against her lower back and said sharply, "Don''t move!" Xanthe immediately went quiet. Her wide eyes were round and bright red, her small lips pressed tightly together, but they trembled slightly. It was evident she was extremely annoyed, and at the same time, there was a hint of vulnerability and embarrassment. Sean quickly said, "Let''s untangle your hair first." He only had one hand free, but no matter how hard he tried, the hair just got more tangled.


    Xanthe couldn''t stand it anymore. She grabbed the fruit knife from the table and swung it down. Sean, startled, quickly pulled back his hand. With a snap, Xanthe finally stood up, and on Sean''s watch strap was a strand of hair. Xanthe held the knife, pointing it at Sean. "Forget what just happened!"


    Sean was startled.


    He nervously swallowed. "Rx, nothing really happened... It''s just an ident. Don''t worry!" Xanthe sat on the other side with the knife, looking really annoyed.


    Sean was extremely embarrassed, his heart was racing like crazy In his whole life, apart from his mom, this was the first time he had been this close to a girl, and they actually kissed! It was his first kiss!


    He tried hard to calm himself down. "Well, so she..." Sean didn''t even get to finish his sentence before Xanthe''s cold, piercing look and the sharp knife in her hand made him shut up.


    Xanthe looked at him with disdain as if even one more second was unbearable. She then turned her back on him. As soon as she did, her fierce and serious expression disappeared instantly


    She thought, ''Oh my gosh, thank goodness I quickly came up with a n to bluff my way through... Even though the price was a bit high, at least I managed to fool Sean! Ugh, I sacrificed so much for the couple I shipped!


    Shakira had just finished making a hot te of pasta when she suddenly sneezed. Rubbing her nose, she quietly nced at Walter to see if he noticed. She thought, ''It seems he didn''t. She added some sauces and carried the pasta over. Walter had just finished a short phone call when the steaming pasta was ced before him, and that''s when he felt his hunger. He ate gracefully, but that didn''t slow him down; soon enough, he had finished it.


    Shakira handed over a piece of table napkin as Walter asked, "Did you bring the luggage over?"


    "Yes. Besides, I''ve already informed Xanthe, and I''ll just get everything in orderter," Shakira said, pouting. She still couldn''t understand why Walter didn''t bring along an extra servant when he had a car equipped with even a fridge and intee along. It was rare for Shakira to take a break and have a trip, but now, she had to do her usual tasks again. After she got everything she needed in order, she saw Walter engrossed in work. She had nothing to do. So, she simplyy on the couch and yed on her phone. It was only then that she noticed the messages Sean kept sending. Sean: [Shakira, where did you go?] Sean: [Shakira, help!]


    Shakira was confused.


    "Help?" Shakira muttered under her breath. She the


    [Shakira, what do I do about tangled hair?]


    replied: [What''s going on?] After a while, Sean finally texted back:


    Shakira thought with a sigh, ''Really? Is this something worth calling for help about?'' Shakira: [Cut it off.] Sean: [No way, I have to return it to the owner.]


    Shakira: [Then you should untangle it yourself; good luck.] Sean felt helpless.


    Shakira couldn''t help but wonder, ''His hair is only half a finger long. It''s odd for it to get tangled... Right after she exited the chatting interface, she received a message from Matthew.


    Matthew: [Hey, have you forgotten your teacher already] Shakira chuckled and quickly tried to smooth things over. [No way, I just finished my finals. I''m out camping with friends now, and I''lle to see you once I''m back!]


    Matthew: [Hmph! At least you still have a conscience. Come over tomorrow; I have something to tell you.] Shakira didn''t ask more and replied with a cute emoji.


    After that, she was holding her phone and scrolling through short videos, and gradually, she fell asleep. When she opened her eyes again, she found the room waspletely dark. She couldn''t find her phone and instinctively called out, "Walter?"This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 182

    3


    As soon as she finished speaking, a light came on from the other side of the room. It was Walter, turning on his phone by the desk.


    Shakira rubbed her eyes and sat up. "What time is it..." Walter pressed the smart remote control that controlled the adjustable lighting system, and instantly, the room lit up like it was daytime. "It''s about midnight."


    Shakira was still a bit dazed, her reaction was slow, and she was shocked. "Did I really sleep that long?" "About eight hours." Shakira couldn''t believe it herself.


    me


    wake you But this couch was indeed veryfortable, warm like wool, making her feelpletely rxed. "Why didn''t up, and why didn''t you turn on the lights? What were you doing just now?" Walter answered seriously, "Sleeping." Shakira was at a loss for words. She got up. She replied to some messages on her phone first. After that, she opened the curtains and looked outside. The tents all had their lights on, and it was so quiet that it seemed that everyone was resting.


    Suddenly, Shakira felt a pang of hunger in her stomach. She rolled her eyes and had an idea. She walked over to Walter with a smile. "Hey, want somete-night snacks?"


    Walter nced at her, instantly seeing through the mischievous idea hidden beneath her smile. "What junk food are you nning to get this time?" The use of the word ''again'' was indeed quite clever.


    "How can you call it junk food? We like to call it something new." She opened the suitcase she''d dragged over, revealing the instant vegetable soup powder that Levi had slipped inst night


    "There''s the instant vegetable soup powder here, and I saw some crayfish in the mini-fridge. I can make a meal with these things!" Walter lookedpletely unimpressed. "You eat it; I''m not hungry." Shakira huffed, betting that Walter wouldn''t be able to resist hunger for long!


    Feeling refreshed and eager to satisfy her cravings, Shakira got right to it. The crayfish were fresh, and without hesitation, Shakira summoned a few bodyguards to help clean them thoroughly with brushes.


    Shakira stood behind them with her hands on her hips, supervising. "Make sure to scrub the heads, and give the ws a good scrub, too. Hmm, the water''s pretty dirty, so please use a bit more elbow grease, everyone."


    These top-notch bodyguards, trained in every form ofbat, never imagined they''d ever use their strength for this kind of task.


    While Shakira was busy outside, Brian took the chance to approach Walter and quietly reported on the findings about Sean. "Sean made his first fortune in the financial district in Mandslia with Gideon Brooks. Then, they co-founded Yonder Digital. He''s got no negative press and is a legitimate businessman."N?velDrama.Org content.


    He continued after a pause, "And also, Ms. Nelson''s friend, Xanthe, went into Sean''s room this afternoon and hasn''te out since. Enrique got the Southville Project under Sean''s substantial support. They must have... a pretty close rtionship!" Walter raised an eyebrow, surprised by this new information.


    He thought, ''So it seems Sean isn''t interested in Shakira, but rather... Xanthe.'' For some reason, he felt a burden lift off his mind.


    "Alright, I understand. You can go rest now." "Yes, Mr. Lopez." Brian was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something and asked hesitantly, "Mr. Lopez, you haven''t had dinner yet. Should I arrange for someone to prepare it?" Shakira was busy dealing with the crawfish over there. Brian knew very well Walter''s temperament; such messy stuff was definitely not something Walter would eat... "No need. She is cooking."


    Brian was stunned, finding it somewhat unbelievable. "Mr. Lopez, are you nning to eat crawfish?" Walter didn''t answer but


    08:16


    instead asked back, "Why, is there a problem?"


    3


    "That''s not what I meant." Seeing that Walter wasn''t angry, Brian let out a slight sigh of relief and turned to leave. Thinking it


    over again, he realized that''s


    unusual behavior made perfect sense. Ever since Shakira came, Walter''s old rules had


    ceased to hold true.


    For the first time, Shakira realized how useful Walter''s heavily funded bodyguards could be. In just under thirty minutes, they had cleaned several pounds of crawfish, the shells of which glistened brightly.


    Excitedly, she carried the basket of crayfish back to the kitchen, rolled up her sleeves, and turned on the stove. She began by deep-frying the freshly washed crayfish until they were bright red, then scooped them out and set them aside.


    Shakira chopped some garlic, green onions, and ginger into cubes. Once the ingredients were ready, she tossed them into the pot with water and instant soup powder. When the aroma started to waft, she added the fried crayfish. She then poured in more water until it covered the crayfish. She put the lid on to let it simmer.


    While waiting for the crayfish to cook, Shakira tidied up the kitchen counter. She washed a couple of cucumbers and munched on one. She then walked to Walter and handed him one.


    Walter raised an eyebrow. "You want me to eat this as dinner?" Shakira blinked innocently. "Of course not. I can''t let you just eat cucumbers-it''s just something to tide you over for now." Walter, still being stubborn, insisted, "I''m not hungry." Shakira didn''t push him. "Alright then, if you don''t eat, it''ll make a nice addition to the dish." Walter was speechless.


    After about fifteen minutes, Shakira opened the lid, and instantly, the entire suite was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of spicy and savory vors. It was so tempting it made her mouth water. She threw in the cucumber Walter didn''t eat and quickly stirred it for a couple of minutes. Later, she turned off the heat and served the dish.


    A dish of fragrant crawfish was ced on the desk. Walter was a bit stunned. Shakira sped her hands earnestly. "There''s no extra dining table in the room, so I''ll borrow this desk for about half an hour. I promise I''ll clean it up well after I finish eating."


    Walter let out a snort. Shakira knew he agreed. She grinned, washed her hands, and eagerly sat at the desk, ready to dig in.


    The crawfish were just out of the pot, still hot. She eagerly picked one up, but the heat made her quickly toss it back. "That''s hot!"


    Walter watched her frown and couldn''t help but snicker. "You are clumsy." Shakira sniffed, "I was just careless!"


    She carefully picked one up and dropped it into a bowl. After making sure it wouldn''t burn her fingers, she expertly removed the shell. The tender meat slipped out, emitting a slight steam.


    Shakira dipped the crawfish into the sauce, bringing it to her mouth. Meanwhile, she stole nces at Walter, who seemed indifferent but stayed seated at the table.


    Holding back augh, she yfully directed the crawfish towards Walter and handed the meat to his lips, "Try it."

 Chapter 183

    There was a sudden hint of fragrance on his lips, along with the cool, soft touch of a woman''s fingertips. Walter was momentarily taken aback and couldn''t react for a moment.


    Shakira handed it closer to him, pressing it against the corner of his lips. "I washed my hands thoroughly. Have a try. It''s really delicious. I''m not lying," she said. Walter''s eyes lingered on her slightly blushing face, and against his better judgment, he opened his mouth. The meat, tender and filled with spices, was a taste unlike anything he''d experienced before, Shakira gazed at him with bright eyes. "So, how is it? Is it good?"


    Even when eating crawfish, Walter kept his elegance, chewing slowly before finally giving his opinion. "It''s okay." Shakira pouted, "Just okay? Come on, it''s really tasty! I even went easy on the spiciness because I thought you might not be used to


    it."


    Back then, she made spicy crawfish for some old folks, and she didn''t use instant soup powder at that time. Even so, they liked the food and kept praising her! Therefore, she thought Walter was just being stubborn.


    Walter raised an eyebrow. "I said I don''t eat it." Shakira retorted, "I knew you''d be stubborn." As she spoke, she swiftly removed the shell of another one and swiftly held it out to his mouth. "Here you go."This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Walter opened his mouth, nning to tell her to eat it herself. But before he could say anything, Shakira went ahead and put it right into his mouth.


    Walter was unguarded. He had no choice but to obediently chew and swallow. The taste was definitely different from what he imagined. After a couple of bites, he wanted to eat more.


    Walter''s eyebrows twitched slightly as he carefully watched Shakira remove the shell. He rolled up his shirt sleeves and picked one up, too. Shakira finally took a bite and saw him begin to remove the shell himself. "Hey, wait, you''re not used to this. Be careful not to hurt yourself..."


    This time, it was her turn to have a crawfish stuffed into her mouth. She had to admit that food tasted better when someone else fed her!


    Walter casually picked up another one. "Isn''t that how it''s done?" Seeing Walter''s skillful moves, Shakira couldn''t help but give him a thumbs-up. "You''re amazing. Your learning ability is exceptional."


    Thatpliment was spot-on, right? Walter scoffed slightly. His hands didn''t stop. He continued to feed her like how she did before.


    "Hey, you should eat it yourself."


    "I won''t eat."


    "But when I peeled it for you, you ate it."


    "It''s not that I wanted to eat it."


    Shakira was speechless.


    She thought, "That''s ridiculous!'' Shakira had been fed several times and didn''t want to be outdone. So, she hastened her actions. Whenever Walter fed her, she would return the favor and feed him as well.


    Just like that, the two of them kept serving each other, and in no time, they finished off three pounds of crawfish, not leaving


    single piece behind. They even ate all the cucumbers!


    a


    Shakira noticed a hint of pleasure on Walter''s face, and her lips curved in a slight smile. She poured the pre-boiled pasta


    ki


    94%1!


    into the bowl of sauce and-anixed it well. Walter''s brows tightened in dislike. "How do you cat this?" he asked with a look of distaste.


    As he spoke, he nced at his greasy hands, clearly reluctant to do anything. Shakira burst outughing and tore open two sets of disposable forks and knives. "Use these! Or are you nning to keep using your hands?" "That is enough."


    "Hahaha!"


    Shakira hadn''t expected that Walter would be confused even over such a simple matter. Yet, she then found that, strangely enough, this made him appear endearingly cute.


    Shakira ate her pasta with delight, a smile constantly on her face Walter observed her happy expression. Her cheeks were a rosy hue, and her entire being seemed to radiate. He found himself utterly mesmerized.


    "Hey, why are you staring at me? Go ahead and eat!" Upon hearing that, Walter snapped out of his daze. He turned his gaze away, maintaining a cool, indifferent demeanor. Only he was aware of how uncontrobly fast his heart was pounding in his chest.


    After they finished eating, Shakira tidied up the kitchen and cleaned the desk. By the time she took a break, it was nearly four o''clock. Coming out of the bathroom, she noticed that Walter, who usually went to bed by ten, was still sitting at the desk. She had no idea what he was working on.


    She looked it up online and said, "It seems like the sunrise will be quite early today, around 5:30 a.m." With that, she opened herpass app and found the direction of the sunrise.


    "The hot water seems to have run outst night. How about you just rest for a bit, and I''ll wake you up when the sun rises?" Shakira said. Walter frowned slightly; he was very particr about cleanliness. "Forget it. We''ll head back in the morning, and I''ll sleep then." Shakira thought, ''Oh boy, looks like you''re pulling an all-nighter Shakira had no other choice. She grabbed a nket, moved it to the sofa, adjusted it, and then tried to help Walter over, leaning down as if to lift him. Walter tensed up. are you doing?"


    "Wha


    "I''m helping you to the couch. Or do you want to stay in the wheelchair all night?"


    Even though his wheelchair was custom-made and the only one of its kind in the world, it couldn''t be morefortable than a couch, right?


    Walter pursed his lips, and this time, he didn''t say anything. With her help, he managed to get onto the sofa andy back.


    Shakira covered him with a nket and then opened the curtains on the side where the sun would rise. The view behind faced the camping tents. Aheady a vast emptiness, and in the distance, the mountain peaks were faintly visible.


    Shakira was thrilled. She dashed back to the sofa, and snuggled up close to Walter, feeling increasingly warm andfortable. This feeling was quite interesting.


    She turned on the projector, flipped through some movies, and casually asked Walter, "What kind of movie do you want to watch? Action? Comedy? Horror?" Walter wasn''t really interested in any of them.


    He was about to say "anything," but suddenly, he remembered Benji''s endless dating tips. He paused. "How about horror?" Shakira looked at him in disbelief, her eyes sparkling. "You actually like watching horror movies?"


    Walter frowned slightly; he really had no idea and just responded, "Yeah."


    "That''s great!"


    Excited, Shakira flipped to the horror movie section. "I''ve been wanting to watch a horror movie for a while. There''s a trailer that looked really good, but I''ve been too scared to watch it alone. Since you can watch it, you can tell me what''s happening while we watch!" Walter, feeling like he had fallen into a trap, was stun

 Chapter 184

    Walter''s voice was distinct. Usually, it was indifferent and calm, like an endless, serene deep sea. When angry, it tightened, creating amanding, towering presence that would send chills down anyone''s spine.


    But now, he lowered his voice, exuding a maic charm capable of captivating thousands of fans. He smoothly narrated the movie scenes. Shakira, with her head tucked under the fluffy nket, listened to the asional howl of the mountain winds outside. Despite the fierceness of the wind on the mountain, she felt an indescribable sense of security.


    To be honest, she was quite surprised. She was just joking around, expecting him to refuse her request after throwing some mockery. Little did she know Walter would actually agree to her unreasonable request. Her gaze dropped slightly, the changing light from the projector casting shadows on her face, but her thoughts were already drifting elsewhere.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Walter stared intently at the screen. The movie was about a fifth of the way in, and the main characters were diving into their adventure. The atmosphere and scene were bing more and more tense and exciting.


    Suddenly, a strange shadow flickered behind the male lead. The unexpected and shocking scene sent chills down his spine. Even though he didn''t believe in ghosts and such, he was truly scared. His voice paused for a second, and his fist clenched silently. Only heaven knew how many times he cursed Benji in his mind.


    What kind of stupid idea did that foole up with?'' Walter took a deep breath, trying to continue his exnation. That''s when he noticed Shakira had fallen silent.


    Walter looked down and saw that Shakira had already fallen asleep. He sighed deeply in relief, and his tense nerves rxed significantly. However, soon, Walter realized that he was actually afraid she might me him. This realization made him even more frustrated. He thought, ''Am I really scared of her me?"


    "Hmm, why did you stop narrating..." Shakira mumbled suddenly, and Walter instinctively muttered a few more words. She sleepily leaned closer to him, nestling against his shoulder, and soon drifted back to sleep.


    Walter secretly scorned his own instinctive reaction, feeling both frustrated and helpless towards Shakira.


    "What a woman who always takes more than she''s given," he muttered, feeling an urge to move his hands. He reached out, but this time, instead of reaching for Shakira''s neck, he ced hisrge hand on her cheek.


    He gently brushed his thumb across her cheek, feeling its soft warmth. His heart seemed to soften with it, and that strange tingle spread from his heart to every nerve.


    It was as if Shakira were a potent drug to which he had be hopelessly addicted. Only for her did he experience such intense sensations. He couldn''t control this pull, yet he yearned to drown in it even more. Utterly ensnared, he found himselfpletely in thrall to this all-consuming feeling.


    Walter leaned in closer to her head so Shakira could restfortably on his shoulder. They leaned against each other like that and fell asleep with the sound of a horror movie ying in the background.


    *****


    As the sky brightened, the curtains in the suite were pulled wide open to face the sunrise. Meanwhile, Brian and his team took turns standing guard behind them.


    When the light became clearer, the two people nestled together in the room could be seen sleeping peacefully. The bodyguard hesitated and then approached. "Brian, the sunrise is almost over. Should we wake Mr. Lopez and Ms. Nelson?" Brian looked over and waved his hand. "Mr. Lopez hasn''t rested all night. Let''s not disturb them. There''ll be plenty of time. for them to watch the sunrise together." However, Brian couldn''t resist taking a photo of them from a distance.


    45


    When the two of then woke up, the sun was already high in the sky, shining brightly. Due to the events of the past few days, the ssmates had long gone down the mountain without taking Shakira and Xanthe with them.


    Xanthe was worried that Sean would run into Shakira and Walter on their way out, so she made up an excuse and had Sean drive her home first. Naturally, Sean was not happy about this. He had followed Shakira all the way up the mountain and hadn''t even met Shakira, so how could he just go back like that?


    However, whenever he saw Xanthe, he couldn''t help but nce at her lips, which reminded him of his first kiss. In the end, feeling utterly hopeless, Sean drove Xanthe back to Crescentville.


    Sitting on the couch, Shakira rubbed her head while looking at the messages on her phone. She felt a bit dazed. Seeing her looking both sleepy and disappointed, Walter, who was feeling energetic, couldn''t help but smile, feeling inexplicably pleased.


    That feeling grew stronger when he saw the photo Brian had sent him. Even the ss and the early morning mist made it hard to see their faces clearly, he felt an indefinable warmth andfort when he gazed at the photo.


    After packing their luggage, they headed down the mountain back to Crescentville. Walter first asked Brian to drop Shakira off at Easke Valley Estate before they proceeded to the office.


    After almost an entire day of on-and-off sleep, Shakira was now full of energy. She freshened up, changed into a new outfit, confirmed the meeting ce with Matthew, and set out to grab a cab to the government building.


    Today, the area outside the government building was extremely crowded, and everyone entering or leaving had to undergo thorough checks. The driver craned his neck for a better look and said, "Why''s security so tight today? I saw people being sent back home from work. Do you want me to take you back, miss?" Shakira smiled, "Thanks, I can go in myself. Just drop me off here." With that, she paid and got out of the car by herself.


    The driver stayed put, thinking she would be back soon. To his surprise, he watched her easily get past the strict security and enter the building. The guards didn''t even question her-they just let her in.


    The driver was astounded. He smacked his forehead as he murmured to himself, "How silly of me. Someone from Easke Valley Estate is certainly not like ordinary office workers. No wonder when she got into the car, I was immediately struck by her remarkable appearance and her extraordinary aura."


    It was Shakira''s first time here, so she asked the staff for directions to Conference Room 17. As soon as they looked at her, their gazes were filled with newfound respect.


    "Just take the elevator straight up here. Please go in right ahead."


    "Thank you."


    Conference Room 17 was on the 17th floor, upying the entire floor. After Shakira passed the final security check, the secretary knocked on the double-armored doors of the meeting room for her.


    As soon as she entered the meeting room, everyone''s attention was drawn to her. Therge red round table was surrounded by people.


    Several important individuals were in attendance, such as the director and executives of Clusia Hospital. Jasmin was present as well. The others were esteemed people who frequently appeared on television to make significant pronouncements.


    Shakira approached confidently, giving a slight bow before sitting down in the empty seat next to Matthew. With a cheerful smile, Matthew formally introduced her to others, saying, "This is my student, Lonely Bird. And she is still on her way to making a name for herself." The crowd, initially puzzled, suddenly understood why, at the diplomatic summit, Matthew had praised a young girl who yed the piano


    Even if she was extremely talented at ying the piano, it seemed excessive for her to receive such adoration. Now, everyone understood. They could tell Matthew really spoiled this student!

 Chapter 185

    70


    But before Matthew could continue boasting, the three elders-Barret, Ethan, and Yael-started shouting andpeting, "You old fool! That girl isn''t just your student. She''s ours too." "Exactly, Shakira is my beloved student as well," Ethan said. "Don''t forget me. Shakira has been learning martial arts from me the longest, so I should be the rightful teacher," Yael added. Matthew sneered at them, "You all never announced having a student before. Don''t try to squeeze in now. Go away."


    Everyone present fell silent. The meetingsted an hour, yet the four elders hadn''t spoken much. Despite each person being of considerable prestige in Crescentville, or even nationwide, they all felt insignificant in front of these elders. But now, the usually serious and traditional four elders were arguing heatedly over a young girl, showing a side of immaturity. No one dared to interrupt, but they regarded Shakira much more highly, recognizing her as someone important. Shakira felt noisy. Such noisy arguments reminded her of a distant time in her past life when she wandered alone in Bris. After Matthew and the others took her in, they often quarreled over who would have the first andst bite. Listening to the non-stop arguing around her, Shakira smiled and then raised her hand, "If you keep this up, I''m going home."


    Matthew red. "No way!" Yael eximed urgently, "You''re leaving just after getting here?" Ethan smiled kindly, "Alright, we''ll listen to Shakira." Barret snorted and said, "I can''t be bothered arguing with these old guys anyway." Seeing this, everyone present marveled once again and thought, This young girl, at her tender age, is truly impressive. With just onemand, she can get the four elders to obedientlyply.


    Even Jasmin, sitting in the second row, gave Shakira a thumbs-up. She thought, ''Shakira is awesome. I''m following the right/ person.*This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Matthew cleared his throat and then started talking to Shakira about today''s meeting.


    "The government has proposed a project where Crescentville officials work with Clusia Hospital to create a reality TV show to ease the tension between doctors and patients and provide the public with an open view of the medical profession," Matthew said. Matthew introduced each person, saying, "The investors are the Banks family from Crescentville, the producers are the government of Crescentville, the nners are Alexander and the president of Clusia Hospital."


    "The chief director is Kevin, the director at thest diplomatic summit," Matthew added. Shakira greeted everyone again as she followed Matthew''s directions.


    At the diplomatic summit, Kevin had taken care of everything, but he only found out after Shakira went on stage that there was ast-minute change with the piano soloist. Seeing an unfamiliar young face, he immediately broke into a cold sweat.


    If it weren''t for Shakira''s impressive performance, which became the highlight of the event, his directing career could have faced a major setback.


    Kevin nodded amicably at Shakira. "If I had known earlier about Ms. Nelson''s exceptional piano skills, you would have been the first choice for the solo piece."


    Shakira responded with a polite smile, "That performance was ast-minute decision. I''m sorry I couldn''t inform you earlier, Kevin. Please forgive me."


    Kevin waved his hands while feeling relieved on his part. Thankfully, they hadn''t informed anyone in advance. Considering Shakira and the other seniors'' low-profile nature, he could have unintentionally offended truly important people.


    3


    Matthew chuckled, "My apprentice here takes after me. We don''t like being in the spotlight. Unless it''s necessary, she definitely won''t be stepping out."


    Everyone nodded politely in agreement, and Matthew added with a yful twist, "So, to get my apprentice on the show this time, you''re going to need to put in a lot more effort."


    Shakira thought, ''So this is where the trap is waiting for me.


    Shakira raised an eyebrow. "The investors are the Banks family from Crescentville, Fiona Banks?" Matthew nodded with a smile, "That''s her."


    Noticing her thoughts, Kevin exined, "The investors were assigned by the government. The Banks family is one of the leading medical families in the country, providing numerous medical talents and imported medical equipment to hospitals nationwide." "Many hospitals in the west were also funded by the Banks family charity foundation. It''s just a matter of returning a favor, giving the Banks family some credit," Kevin added.


    "I see," Shakira nodded and then asked, "So, you want me on the show?" "Just one episode," Matthew said.


    Matthew, with his gray eyebrows, gave a ttering smile, "They''re hoping for a young, standout person who can grab attention and be convincing. Besides you, who else could fit the bill?"


    Everyone knew the skills of the medical master Matthew and his mysterious apprentice Lonely Bird, who had received his training and countless praises. She could draw in arge young audience. "Yes. It has to be Dr. Lonely Bird."


    Shakira shrugged. "So, it seems I don''t even have a chance to say no, do I?" Matthew spoke sincerely, "How could I force you to do something you don''t want to? If you don''t wish to, then forget it."


    Matthew just mentioned it casually, but everyone else was quite worried. "Dr. Lonely Bird, it''s only one episode. Please think about it again," one said.


    "There aren''t many people in our country recently who have the influence like Dr. Lonely Bird. Even though you''ve never appeared publicly, your mystery attracts even more attention," another one said.


    "Also, we''re working hard to get top-notch medical professionals from around the world to join the show. With Dr. Lonely Bird involved, the program gains credibility and influence," one man added.


    Now everyone was talking more noisily than the old folks earlier. Moreover, those trying to persuade her were influential people in Crescentville. Shakira thought, ''If I turn down the offer, I might be regarded as ungrateful.'' Shakira looked at Matthew and thought, ''This old guy have clearly decided long ago that she should be on the show!''


    "Everyone," Shakira said, and the crowd immediately fell silent, filled with anticipation. Surrendering to their eager eyes, Shakira conceded. "I''ll join the show, but I have one condition...


    "Not just one condition, even ten, and we''ll meet them all," one said. "Thanks to Dr. Lonely Bird!" another one said.


    Then they moved on to discussing the show''s schedule and process. Shakira confirmed each detail, finding no issues, and signed the contract with Kevin on the spot. Kevin was really worried she might back out.


    Matthew watched with a smile, reminding everyone, "My student is shy around strangers. Please help me keep it under wraps and don''t take up public attention." Everyone agreed instantly, "Of course."

 Chapter 186

    After the meeting ended, everyone else left promptly except for Shakira''s masters who remained sitting calmly. Shakira got up and waited patiently for Jasmin, thest person to leave.


    Jasmin peeked inside curiously and asked, "Hey, Shakira, aren''t you leaving?" Shakira ced her hands on the door with a calm demeanor and said, "I have a few things to handle." With that, she pushed the door shut.


    Jasmin touched his nose, tempted to press his car against the door to listen in, but was taken aback when his master turned around and gave him a sharp re. "Hurry up and leave!" Jasmin quickly dropped his curiosity and left reluctantly.


    In the meeting room, Shakira nced at the surveince camera as it shut automatically, then leaned against the door with her arms crossed. She looked at her masters, who had been full of vigor a moment ago but now sat quietly with their heads down. Shakira wiggled her finger and said, "So, who came up with the idea?" Her words echoed around therge conference room, but her masters remained still.


    Shakira was quite surprised, not expecting them to be so united this time. But it wasn''t a big deal for her. She spoke again, "Recently, I''ve learned new recipes and can make a variety of dishes without repeating any...


    Before she could finish speaking, Ethan, Yael, and Barret all pointed to Matthew. Matthew lifted his hand, unable to pin the me on anyone else, only managing to re in frustration.


    "You cowardly traitors!" said Matthew. Barret grumbled. "If you''re brave, then try not eating." Yael chimed in. "You were the one who started it all." Ethan agreed, "That''s right! That''s right!" Matthew was truly getting annoyed by his useless


    teammates.


    Shakira stifled herughter as she approached Matthew. "You are a great mentor to me."


    Matthew took a deep breath and gathered his courage. "If you don''t go, then I have to go. I''ve been retired for ages and have to be on a show. Isn''t easy for me, is it?"


    Matthew kept saying, "As my apprentice, it''s your job to help ease my burdens. I''m not wrong!"


    Then he continued, "People are still talking behind your back, saying you just have an empty reputation. It annoys me! Don''t they know how talented my apprentice is? We should show them, really teach those gossipers a lesson!" Seeing how huffy Matthew was, Shakiraughed. "Okay, don''t be upset. I know you''d never set up your disciple." Shakira gently patted Matthew''s back. Even though Matthew''sints seemed offhand, Shakira could tell he was sincerely upset. How lucky she was to have met her masters who genuinely cared for her. They were not her family but meant even more to her. With people outside looking down on her, she felt she should prove herself instead of letting it trouble her masters. Shakira replied, "I''ve already agreed to it. Since I don''t have to show my face on the show, I''m fine with it. Besides, you taught me so much, but I haven''t contributed much to you or the medical field. Just promoting it on a show isn''t difficult." Hearing Shakira''s words, Matthew''s heart softened immediately How could he not know Shakira''s temperament? Shakira appeared tuff on the surface, but deep down, she was softer.


    "Good girl, we all know we judged you correctly. As Matthew spoke, he couldn''t help but snort, "Only those blind fools of the Nelson family can''t tell right from wrong!" Hearing this, Shakira burst outughing.


    After leaving the government building, Kevin sent a message to his assistant to start preparing for the program. Not long after, Reba called him.


    Kevin''s wife, Hazel, was childhood friends with Reba. The Nelson family recently invited them for dinner, which yed a key role in helping Yvette sessfully secure this variety show.


    Kevin spoke calmly, "Mrs. Nelson, is there something you need? Rebaughed politely, "Kevin, I just heard from Hazel that your show has officially entered the preparation stage?"


    Kevin gave a superficial smile. "Yes, we just finished a meeting with the city officials." "Okay, you must be tired. By the way, how about Yvette and Felix..." said Reba.


    "The slots for Ms. Nelson and Mr. Felix Nelson on the show have been confirmed, so there won''t be any changes. Mrs.


    After a pause, Kevin thought of Shakira.


    Nelson, rest


    After all, the Nelson family caused quite a stir at the summit with the confusion over their daughter''s identity. Hazel was Reba''s close friend, so she did hear some about this embarrassing family scandal. +5


    Kevin wasn''t certain and tentatively mentioned it. "By the way, Matthew''s student, Lonely Bird, will appear as a special guest in one of the episodes."


    "Lonely Bird?!" Reba on the other end of the phone was overjoyed. "That''s fantastic! My son idolizes Dr. Lonely Bird. It''s an incredible honor to be on the same show and work with her!"


    Saying this, Reba quickly instructed the servant next to her to tell Yvette and Felix the good news. Upon hearing this, Kevin understood. Shakira kept her identity so low-key that even her own family didn''t know.


    But with biological parents like these... Maybe it was better like this! Kevin felt quite sympathetic towards Reba, having such an amazing, proud daughter but not appreciating her, instead cherishing a fake heiress with no real skills beyondworking.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Wasn''t it ironic? If they ever discover that Lonely Bird is their biological daughter, someone deeply valued by Matthew and the others, what kind of reactions would they have? If it were Kevin, he''d be regretting it immensely!


    Kevin said calmly, "Alright, that''s settled. My assistant will contact youter about the program details!" "Hey, there''s one more thing..." said Reba.


    Kevin was losing patience and could hear Reba speaking quietly on the other end. "Remember when we briefly talked about it over dinner? It''s about the summit''s performance lineup. If someone changes performers without authorization, they are held ountable


    ...


    Hearing this made Kevin''s temples throb and thought, ''Hold someone ountable? Are they not satisfied with beingughed at enough already? Do they want to bring me into it as well? How ridiculous it is!"


    Kevin said coldly, "The summit went off without a hitch. Whether or not to hold anyone ountable, I don''t have the time for it. Mrs. Nelson, is there anything else?" Reba sounded a bit


    ul and said, "Alright then. Let''s n for dinner next time when you''re free."


    Kevin didn''t reply and just hung up the phone. Reba, who was in a good mood, didn''t notice Kevin''s odd behavior.


    She only felt disappointed that she couldn''t give Shakira a lesson for purposely injuring Yvette! But it was okay, once this show aired, Yvette was sure to stand out!


    I

 Chapter 187

    For nearly half a month, Lago had been busy running around Pueru with Gideon. Before arriving, Gideon had already prepared everything in advance. Because Lago previously failed in the bid for the Southville project, he made sure to reach out to Arturo. Thanks to Arturo''s connections, they got word about Pueru''s redevelopment ns earlier than the insiders. The area nned for redevelopment was right in the old part of the city.


    Lago originally thought buying old, rundown houses would be easy. However, most people left in Pueru were elderly residents who didn''t want to move.


    Despite the houses being dpidated, these seniors preferred staying in their old homes rather than living in cramped apartments.


    In the first few days, Lago tried hard to convince them, but not a single family agreed.


    Just when Lago was about to miss the opportunity, Gideon came up with an idea.


    Gideon suggested Lago first purchase the house of the most respected family in the area at a high price and then spread rumors that demolition was inevitable, but thepensation wouldn''t be much.


    Once the official notice was announced, the houses couldn''t be sold! Within a couple of days, panic spread among the residents.


    They couldn''t afford to take a loss! When they heard that the most respected family was eager to sell their house, the others couldn''t remain calm any longer.


    Lago didn''t show up the second time; instead, Gideon went on his own. In just three days, he bought 20 old standalone houses that were in the n for two million and also picked up a couple of stores on a whim.


    Lago was thrilled when he got the contract and couldn''t wait to video call Yvette. "Sweetheart, look! I''m going to make a lot of money!" Lago''s eyes narrowed into slits from his grin, showing a greedy look that was clear on his wrinkled face. "You have to thank Gideon, of course! As soon as he got involved, everything was sorted out!" said Yvette.


    She had already heard about it from Jessie but was skeptical at first. Now, seeing the contract in Lago''s hand... It turned out Gideon was really excellent. Still, she couldn''t help but ask a few more questions, "And the sellers? Have you found them?" "Gideon''s got everything sorted! Tomorrow, the 20 houses and two shops will be sold. The other party agreed to this amount." Lago gestured to indicate it was three million dors.


    Yvette''s eyes lit up and said, "Not bad."


    "Haha, now we''ve got the money to start thepany!" said Lago.


    Yvette didn''t argue. After the surprise, she found it only natural. After all, she''d already taken Shakira''s luck, so it made sense her fortune was turning. Be it Lago or Gideon, it was all thanks to her influence.


    "Alright, got it. We''ll talk when you''re back." Yvette nced at Felix, who had juste in from outside. "I have something to do; we''ll chat next time."


    After hanging up, Yvette reced her impatience and indifference towards Lago with a light smile and greeted Felix. "Hey Felix, how''s it going?" Since Felix had some free time today, she brought him along to thepany. Although Yvette was only managing the entertainmentpany on behalf of Mitchell, she had long considered herself the boss here. Felix watched as Yvette naturally got up from the CEO''s seat, finding nothing unusual about it.


    <


    07:27


    ?? ???, 87%!


    He nodded slightly and said, "Yes, I looked around. Fortunately, you''re here, otherwise, Mitchell''spany would have been


    in trouble."


    Felix sighed with guilt, "Walter is overwhelmed with thepany''s issues, and you''re bncing studies while managing Mitchell''s business. I''m the only one who can''t help at all..."


    Yvette clung to Felix''s arm, yfully whining, "Felix, you mustn''t say that. For Mitchell''spany, you even agreed to join me on a reality show, and you never liked being in the spotlight. You''ve done a lot for Mitchell too." Felix''s expression changed slightly, as Yvette''s words made him feel ufortable. Just then, Felix received a phone call. After he answered, his face lit up with excitement and enthusiasm.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "That''s great! Yvette, do you know? The show invited Lonely Bird as a special guest. Even though it''s just one episode... I finally get to work with my idol!" Felix said.


    J


    Yvette''s eyes lit up and said, "Lonely Bird''s joining? That''s awesome, Felix! Congrats on making your dreame true!"


    Yvette never expected this show to have such a pleasant surprise. It seemed like luck was always on her side, making things better for her every day! "When Mitchelles back, he''ll definitely be happy with your help too." Seeing his sister''s smile, Felix nodded firmly. "Let''s hope so!" Yvette leaned on Flex''s arm and thought, It''s too bad. Mitchell''s nevering back.''


    In the evening, Yvette and Felix came back home from work, where Reba had already set up a big feast to celebrate. Even Selena, who had been sad ever since Mitchell''s ident, rarely left her room and joined the family for dinner.


    After Reba shared the great news, the Nelson family raised their sses, saying, "Let''s toast to Yvette and Felix''s show being a huge sess."


    "Thanks, Mom, Dad, Grandma, and everyone," said Yvette. Her sweet smile never left her face. For the Nelson family, this was indeed a rare piece of good newstely.


    Cody and Finn-poured themselves a drink and sipped slowly, while Yvette gently sipped her juice, her eyes wandering. Selena chuckled happily, "Yes, with Yvette as our little lucky star, no matter how many challenges we''ve faced before, things will always turn around in the end!"


    Saying this, Selena gently held Yvette''s small hand, worry creeping back into her voice. "Filming a reality show isn''t like


    handle it?" going to school. You often have to follow the crew''s schedule. You''re frail. Can


    you


    Yvette''s fragile health had always been a constant worry of the Nelson family. Especially after what happened with Mitchell, the family elders were even more protective, not wanting the younger members to suffer any harm.


    Cody frowned and said, "Yes, although Yvette hasn''t faintedtely and appears stronger than before, we still need to be careful." Finn continued, "Felix, arrange a full health check-up for Yvette and conduct the examination yourself."


    Felix nodded in agreement and said, "Alright." Yvette immediately panicked, the thought of having Felix personally examine her was unthinkable!


    "No need!" Yvette instinctively raised her voice, catching the whole family''s attention. Realizing she was overreacting, she blinked like a shy little bunny and gently added, "I can take care of this little thing at the hospital myself. Felix has been really busytely, so let''s not trouble him with it."


    0

 Chapter 188

    Felix gave a gentle smile, his eyes full of warmth. "Silly Yvette, how could your matters be a bother? Besides, I don''t have anything else going on right now, so you don''t need to worry about troubling me." Reba saw Yvette being so cautious and couldn''t help but feel a twinge of pity. "Exactly, you silly kid, there''s no need to be so polite with your brother!"


    Yvette''s smile was a bit stiff, and feeling resigned, she secretly clenched her fist. After taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage and said, "Actually... I already went to the hospital a few days ago." "What?" Selena was full of concern. "Why are you going to the hospital when you''re fine? Are you feeling unwell?" Cody frowned with worry and asked, "Why didn''t you tell the family? Who went with you to the hospital?" A happy smile appeared on Yvette''s face. She said, "It was just a normal check-up. I''m fine, Dad, Mom, Grandma, don''t worry about me. Plus, there''s some good news."Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Yvette exhaled and continued, "My doctor said my condition is very stable now. As long as I keep my emotions steady, there shouldn''t be any major issues.


    "And he mentioned that they''ve developed a new special medicine abroad. It''s used twice a month for a year-long course. If it works, I might not need a kidney transnt," she said.


    Then she gave Finn a sweet smile. "You know, this saves our family a good 30 million dors, right?"


    Before Shakira cut off ties, Finn had already offered a reward of 30 million dors for a kidney. But now, hearing Yvette speak this way, the Nelson family feels incredibly conflicted.


    Yvette was incredibly considerate! She was willing to endure her illness alone, not wanting to waste the family''s money, always putting her family first. How could there be such a thoughtful and sweet child! Seeing everyone silent, Yvette continued with a gentle smile, "Actually, I didn''t n to tell you all about this. I didn''t want to


    worry you.


    "Besides, this specific drug is new and only made by onepany overseas. It''s still patented, which makes it very expensive. Just one dose costs 200 thousand dors..."


    At this point, Yvette, slightly shy, bit her lip and said, "I thought about going on the reality TV show to earn money, so I could afford the medicine myself and not be a burden on the family."


    "Yvette! Oh, my silly daughter!" Reba couldn''t hold back anymore. She leaned over and hugged Yvette tightly, quietly sobbing as she couldn''t control her emotions.


    "It''s our duty and responsibility as your family to make sure you have a healthy body. You''re never a burden to us. You''re our little princess. Even if it costs 30 million dors for a transnt, we''d manage," said Reba.


    Felix was also touched by Yvette''s n. He asked with concern, "Whichpany''s medicine is it? Maybe I have friends who can help us, Money''s not an issue, but it definitely has to be safe and effective."


    Finn agreed, "Yeah, Felix makes a good point. Money''s not the issue, but we need to ensure the medicine is reliable."


    Yvette reassured Reba gently and said, "Don''t worry, Felix. Dr Jenkins has been my main doctor for a while. He''s good at what he does and knows my health better than anyone else. I trust him.


    "The medicine is made by a smallpany in Danva. It''s a new patent and probably not widely known yet. After he mentioned it that day, I bought the medicine once. I''ve felt quite energetic these past few days, so it should be fine." Yvette, afraid that others wouldn''t believe her, took out her phone to show her health data.


    D


    "Mom, look, I couldn''t sleep for more than five hoursst month and I''d wake up suddenly in the night. But these days, I''ve been able to sleep soundly until morning, so it seems to be working," she said. Reba looked at the list on the phone, nodding happily. "Yes, your sleeping well is more important than anything!"


    Felix also took a look at it, and after confirming there were no issues, he gently ruffled Yvette''s hair. "Just keep an eye on it for now. If you feel even a bit ufortable, make sure to let me know right away." ""Sure!" said Yvette.


    As the head of the family, Cody spoke up proactively, "After dinner, I''ll arrange for thepany to set aside 600 thousand dors every month for your medicine. And if there''s anything else you need, don''t hesitate to tell us, okay?" Yvette was overwhelmed with surprise and gratitude, tears welling up in her eyes. "Okay! I''ll work twice as hard to be even more sessful, so I can earn lots of money to support Dad, Mom, Grandma, and my brothers!" The Nelson family was filled withughter at Yvette''s words, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere for the entire family.


    *****


    When Walter arrived at the office, he immediately jumped into a series of meetings. The day''s work had been postponed, waiting for him toe back and finalize everything.


    By a little after 3 PM, Walter was finally able to rx. Brian came in with a simple meal and some documents.


    "Mr. Lopez, this is the annual event n drafted by the administration department," said Brian.


    Walter nodded, ignoring the food and opening the event n first. Seeing the location for this year''s event, he raised an eyebrow and said, "The southern beach?"


    "That''s right. They say there''s a cold waveing this winter, and more than seventy percent of thepany voted to go south for the event," said Brian.


    Every year, the location for the annual meeting was decided by employee votes. Walter nodded thoughtfully. "Alright, let''s go with that. Let''s have Benji take a look too, and if everything''s good, we''ll settle it," said Walter. Brian nodded and said, "No problem." Then he turned and left, not wanting to disturb Walter''s short break.


    Walter''s gaze swept over the empty desk, and suddenly thinking of something, he called out, "Brian, how do I connect the printer on the counter to my phone?"


    He was always busy with countless tasks, so he didn''t have the opportunity to handle basic office equipment. It was somewhat challenging for him.


    Brian turned around in confusion. Following Walter''s direction, he noticed the printer in the office. At first, he didn''t quite understand. "Mr. Lopez, do you need to print something? I can help with that...


    "No need." Walter said directly, "Just tell me how to connect it, and I''ll do it myself."


    Brian said, "Okay."


    Brian didn''t think much of it, assuming Walter might have some confidential documents that needed to be handled personally.


    He stepped forward, made some adjustments, and connected the printer with Walter''s phone. Momentster, a nk sheet paper came out.


    of


    "Mr. Lopez, it''s connected now. I''ll be right outside if you need anything," said Brian.


    Mon, Nov


    Walter waved Brian off casually and said, "Alright, you can go now."


    After Brian left, Walter opened his phone gallery, scrolled to thetest saved picture, and tapped print.


    I

 Chapter 189

    The color photo quickly came out of the printer. Walter walked over to the disy wall. It showed the Lopez Group''s achievements since it was founded, along with photos of each CEO. Walter looked through them one by one until his eyesnded on thest photo.


    It was a picture of him being dragged into the office by Benji for a group photo. Walter took it down, opened the frame, removed the photo, and reced it with the newly printed one, cing it on the desk. Seeing the empty spot on the desk now filled, Walter nodded with satisfaction and casually put Benji''s photo into the drawer. After a quick lunch, Brian knocked and came in.


    "Mr. Lopez, Jaslene, and Fiona have arrived," said Brian.


    Walter frowned slightly and thought, ''Jaslene has always been in Haruca recovering. Why would she suddenlye to Crescentville?'' Walter''s face remained calm and said, "Let them in." "Okay," replied Brian.


    A momentter, Brian led Jaslene and Fiona into the office, followed by two secretaries who served tea and snacks. Jaslene had some connections with Walter''s grandmother, so Walter nodded politely. "Hello, Jaslene." Jaslene wore an expensive fur coat. Although her hair was already white, the sparkle of jewels around her was still quite noticeable.


    Jaslene pulled Fiona along with her and casually settled on the sofa in the lounge area.


    After looking around, she finally focused on Walter and chuckled, "Walter, it''s been a few months, and you look much more spirited than thest time we met."


    Saying this, she gently patted Fiona''s hand and praised, "This must be thanks to our dear Fiona, right? Haha."


    Fiona nced at Walter who was in the sharp suit today and blushed. With Jaslene''s teasing, she puffed her cheeks in mock annoyance and said, "Grandma!"


    "Oh, are you getting shy?" said Jaslene.


    Jaslene''s tone was affectionate, with a hint of yful reproach. "You''ve been staying in Crescentville for over six months for Walter, ignoring me. And now I''m not even allowed to tease you a bit?"


    She was speaking to Fiona, but her real intention was aimed at Walter.


    Walter remained calm, saying, "You truly have a point. Fiona''s been very attentive to my leg injurytely, and for that, I''m really grateful."


    "Well, I''ve watched you grow up. You''re always the most reliable. So when Fiona runs to your side without hesitation, doing her best to help with your leg, I feel at ease. I know that whether she can help or not, you would never mistreat her," said Jaslene. Jaslene held Walter in high regard. Across the country, which family could match the depth of the Lopez family?


    And Walter was the most outstanding among the young heirs. It was just unfortunate that he lost the use of his legs... But that didn''t matter, especially when Fiona liked Walter so much!


    With admiration in her eyes, Fiona approached Walter and said, "Walter, Grandma came over right after her flight today. She''s been really concerned about your injury. I hope our sudden visit isn''t bothering you."


    vion,


    Walter replied softly, "Thank you for your concern, Jaslene. I''m already feeling much better."


    "That''s good to hear." Jaslene chuckled and got right to by to see you and know when you n to marry Fiona."


    1. it. "Honestly, my visit isn''t about anything big. I just wanted to drop


    "Grandma!" Fiona said softly. She looked surprised, but joy and nervousness were clear in her eyes. She eagerly nced at Walter, waiting for his response.


    Walter''s expression darkenc was


    using her elder status to pull some pressure BFIRE


    Walter spoke up directly, have


    10 Aerstood. Fiona and I are just friends."


    Jaslene''s face dropped, clearly displeased. "Friends? Fiona is the pride of our family. If she didn''t like you, she wouldn''t stay around for months and help you get your feet."


    back


    Jaslene''s chest rose and fell with anger as she spoke. "And let''s not forget, when you were at your worst, Fiona was there, day and night, by your bedside without resting. Are you really going to pretend you don''t know?!" Fiona''s eyes filled with tears as she looked at Walter sadly.


    Walter remained calm and resolute, his tone firm. "The hospital has nurses and my family has servants. I''ve never asked Fiona to do anything for me.


    "During this time, I''ve been grateful for her kindness and have assisted the Banks family business. I''m sure you''re aware of that." Walter said.


    "If you want to seek repayment for your kindness, I won''t avoid it. Whatever the amount or type of cooperation needed, as long as I can provide it, I will dly offer it. "Besides..." Walter said in an exceptionally firm manner, "I already have a fianc¨¦e. If you''re anxious about Fiona''s marriage,


    should n for her as soon as possible."


    you


    Walter''s indifferent response was like a bucket of cold water extinguishing thest bit of hope in Fiona''s heart. No matter the situation, he always kept a clear with her, calcting everything so precisely. boundar


    Fiona never wanted anything back from Walter. She just wanted him to see her as a woman. But Walter always dismissed her with money and business deals!


    Fiona knew that Walter was always that kind of man. If he remained that distant, he would be unable to consider anyone else. At least she wouldn''t feel so humiliated and hurt...


    But somehow, he made an exception for Shakira! He let her get close, stood up for her, and even acknowledged her presence!


    Fiona knew perfectly well that the fianc¨¦e Walter talked about now was Shakira!


    Fiona thought, ''Why? We''re both helping him recover, so why it''s Shakira, but not me?


    ''We''ve been friends since childhood. My


    mily


    background and status are much higher than Shakira''s!


    ''Shakira must''ve used sneaky ways to charm Walter. Is he ready to be fooled by Shakira like this?''


    Fiona was overwhelmed with sadness and anger, causing her to stumble back a few steps.


    Suddenly, Fiona''s eyes narrowed sharply! She wasN?velDrama.Org content.


    red by a photo on Walter''s desk.


    It was a picture of a man and woman in the gentle morning light, making the ss room feel cozy and warm.


    cuddled

 Chapter 190

    Fiona suddenly thought of something,


    she discreetly snapped a photo with her phone. She then went over to the furious


    Taking advantage of Walter''s a


    mocking smile appeared on her face.


    Jaslene and whispered, "Grandma, let''s go."


    Jaslene was still upset, but when she looked up and saw Fiona''s teary eyes, her heart meltedpletely. "Alright, let''s go.


    Bret


    this someday!"


    Jaslene huffed coldly. "You''ll


    After leaving the Lopez Group


    ding, Fiona wiped her eyes and told the driver. "Go to the Easke Valley Estate."


    Jaslene nced at I at Fiona but didn''t say a word. Fiona was Jaslene''s precious granddaughter, and as long as Fiona was happy, that was all that mattered! Shakira returned to the small vi. She got pulled into a group chat by Matthew and the others. All the big shots she had just met were in the group. Shakira originally intended ded to just observe quietly, but the big shots started adding her as a friend, so she had to politely chat and make notes for each one. After chatting briefly with Kevin, Shakira finally remembered Sean. Shakira: [What are you doing driving that old beat-up car up the hill with me?] Shakira saw Sean''s chat box showing that he was typing. But after a long time, Sean only managed to send a kneeling emoji. Sean: [Shakira, I messed up.] Shakira, as cal as calm as mountain...] ever, Shakira wasn''t going to let Sean get away with it. [Tell the truth.] Sean decided toe clean. [Shakira, are you seeing someone? Why do you keep sneaking around behind our backs? Seeing those words, Shakiraa almost choked on her drink. Sean was a bit too much, isn''t he? If it was before, Shakira would definitely have given Sean a good scolding. But now... why did she feel a twinge of guilty panic? Feeling awkward, Shakira typed furiously on her keyboard. [Stop overthinking; I have real stuff to do.]


    typed: [What did you Sean


    do wrong?] Sean: [I shouldn''t have secretly followed you up t


    Sean: [What'' SO serious


    that you can''t tell us? Are we not serious enough, or is what you doing not legit?] Shakira was starting to get a headache.


    She hadn''t told Sean and the others that she was working as a maid for the Lopez family because she was scared they''d make a fuss. If she told them now, it would probably get out of hand. She rubbed her temples, trying to think of an excuse to brush them off. [You''ll find out soon enough. Don''t worry. She ignored Sean''s questions and slipped her phone into her pocket.


    Just as she was about to go upstairs to change, she heard amotion outside the door. "Ms. Banks, you can''te in here..." said Lev. "Where''s Shakira? I just want to have a word with her, then I''ll go," said Fiona. Fiona ignored Levi and the others and barged in. Following her was Jaslene, who was Fiona''s fearless support. Levi and the others weren''t afraid of Fiona, but they didn''t dare to stop Jaslene. Shakira stood


    still and said, "I''m right here. Just say whatever you need to." As she spoke, Jaslene nced at her.


    "A feductive vixen. I can''t imagine what Walter is thinking!" Jaslene''s tone was full of disdain and scorn, arrogant and rude.


    Shakira finally realized that Fiona''s habit of looking down on people came from her grandmother.


    6000, 86%Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Levi''s expression changed, and he said sternly, "Mrs. Banks, Ms. Nelson is Mr. Lopez''s fianc¨¦e, please show some respect. Fiona sneered as if she''d just heard a joke.


    She moved a few steps closer to Shakira. Levi and the others watched her cautiously, but Shakira gave them a calm look, signaling them to stayposed as she held her steady gaze on Fiona, who walked right up to her. "Shakira, you think you''re all that, don''t you? Tsk, I almost feel bad for you." Fiona leaned in slightly, smugly fiddling with her phone in front of Shakira.


    She taunted in a voice only the two of them could hear. "You know the Lopez Group tower, the top floor up in the clouds? You''ll probably never reach it in your lifetime. See this photo? It''s right there on Walter''s desk.


    "Walter already has someone special in his heart, and he cherishes her. No wonder he''s so nice to you. It turns out you look a bit like the woman in the photo."


    Fiona''s words were cutting, each one striking directly at Shakira''s heart. "In the end, you''re just a substitute!" said Fiona.


    Shakira was caught off guard. She looked at Fiona''s brazen disy. She was momentarily stunned, which was exactly the reaction Fiona wanted.


    Watching Shakira''s expression, Fiona felt a thrilling satisfaction. If she couldn''t have it, neither could Shakira! She thought, ''Shakira, aren''t you so proud? Just because Walter is backing you, you act like no one else matters and even team up with Matthew to mess with me!''


    With a twisted look in her eyes, Fiona leaned in, whispering while Shakira was still lost in thought. "Even if you look just like her, you''re just a stand-in. Soon, Walter will ditch you. When that happens, I''ll make sure you beg me!" After saying that, Fionaughed heartily and left, satisfied. Jaslene, who was following behind, gave Shakira a warning nce full of meaning. "Be smart and leave the Lopez family early."


    After Fiona and Jaslene left, Shakira stayed in a daze, unable to pull herself together for a long time. This was the first time Shakira had ever looked like this, and Levi was scared. "Ms. Nelson, are you okay? You''re scaring me..." Shakira was confused, blinking her eyes. "Huh?" It took her nearly two minutes toe to her senses. She eventually smiled at Levi and the others. "I''m alright. I''ll go back to my room and tidy up."


    After saying that, she went upstairs. She almost missed a step on the stairs, which startled Levi and the others. Levi said, "I need to call Mr. Lopez right away..."


    Shakira did feel a bit lightheaded. Fiona had intentionally shown off the photo to provoke her. It was Shakira in the picture, right?


    That house, with itsrge floor-to-ceiling windows, the sofa, the rug, and the couple snuggled together. Wasn''t that when they watched the movie?


    Shakira scratched her head, wondering when that photo was taken. How did she not know? And Walter had printed it out and


    put


    it on his desk? Could he be...?


    In a daze, Shakira heard Walter calling her name. She nkly looked up and, almost impulsively, asked, "Walter, do you have a crush on me?"

 Chapter 191

    Shakira''s soft and confused voice hit Walter''s heart. He had received a call from Levi, learning that Fiona and Jaslene hade to give


    a hard time.


    Although he knew Shakira was strong and never let anyone take advantage of her, he still worried. He dropped everything at work and rushed back without a second thought. But when he saw her, the first thing she said was... Walter was feeling all sorts of emotions and barely heard Shakira''s sweet voice asking. "If you don''t like me, why is there a photo of me on your desk? Are you secretly nning to strangle me or something?" Walter took a sharp breath and spoke in a voice that was so rough, "Who told you I have a photo on my


    desk?"


    "Fiona." Shakira tilted her head, looking like she was still thinking hard. "She came over just to show me the photo. She thought it was someone else and even said I''m a stand-in or something-"


    Walter cursed quietly to himself. He took a deep breath and said, "It''s the picture Brian took from outside when we were watching a movie."


    Shakira finally understood and said, "Oh, so Brian took it. I was wondering." She smirked slightly and continued, "I didn''t expect Brian to capture such a vibe in the photo."


    Walter, for once, agreed, "It''s a nice photo."


    Shakira gave


    Walter a sidelong nce and continued, "Nice enough for you to keep it on your desk, huh?" Her tone was yful and rxed as if she didn''t take it too seriously. Walter, for


    some reason, didn''t want to just brush this off. His deep eyes locked onto Shakira.


    "Yes, you''re right. I like you," said Walter.


    The moment Walter confirmed it, Shakira was once again caught in a daze. Walter was still all over the ce, feeling a panic he couldn''t control, and hisrge hand on Shakira''s arm trembled slightly, with undeniable warmthing off it. But Walter didn''t wait for Shakira to turn around and continued, "I''ve never felt this can tell you that I''ve never had the desire to possess any other woman besides you.


    way


    about any


    other woman. Shakira, IText property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    "That time when I said I had feelings for you, you thought it was just about your body... I won''t deny that was part of it. But at the same time, I wasn''t just attracted to your body. I just didn''t admit it back then.


    "I used to think liking someone was silly and ridiculous, but clearly, the one who''s be silly and ridiculous is me."


    Walter poured out his thoughts and feelings in a jumble. He was uncertain if he hadn''t said enough or worried if he had said too much.


    He instinctively swallowed. His Adam''s apple moved as he stared at Shakira''s reaction without blinking. Just as he thought, a look of surprise and amazement shed across Shakira''s face.


    However, the sense of relief Shakira showed afterward was unexpected for Walter,


    Walter hesitated to speak, "You..."


    Shakira smiled, "It''s a good thing you don''t stare at my photos every day just to try and strangle me."


    Walter frowned as if deeply contemting the meaning behind Shakira''s response. After a moment, he pressed his lips together and said, "Okay, I understand."


    Shakira was confused.


    "What do you think you know?" asked Shakira.


    Walter looked at Shakira with no expression and said, "You didn''t directly address my confession, so you''re rejecting me."


    Shakira blinked in surprise.


    Realizing that Walter thought this way, the expression on her face became serious. She quickly exined, "I didn''t say I didn''t like you. If I didn''t like you, would I be around you all the time?" Walter narrowed his eyes, watching Shakira with suspicion. "You like me too?"


    Shakira paused for a moment and said, "I guess so?"


    Before she could finish her sentence, the air around them seemed to turn icy suddenly. With a dangerous vibe, Walter let out a cold, mockingugh. "You guess so?" Shakira quickly corrected herself. "Sure, of course. I like you!" She had every reason to believe that if she answered a momentter, Walter might snap her neck... Walter let out a heavy hum and said, "Your confession might not be on point, but I''ll reluctantly ept it."


    Shakira couldn''t hold back a smile.


    Walter watched Shakiraugh so carefree. All his inner struggles and doubts disappeared instantly. And... Shakira looked beautiful when sheughed.


    Walter waited for Shakira to finishughing before putting on a serious face. "Alright then. Since you''re okay, I''m going back now."


    Shakira blinked in surprise and said, "Huh? I thought you were already off work."


    Before Walter could exin, Shakira suddenly realized. "Oh! Levi told you that Fiona was bullying me, and you got worried and came back just for me?"


    A hint of difort shed across Walter''s face, but he didn''t deny it.


    Shakira couldn''t help but hold her stomach andugh again, tears squeezing from her eyes. "Alright, I can tell you do like me a lot."


    Walter''s ears got a bit warm. He shouted in frustration, "Shakira!"


    "I''m notughing at you. I just think... Hahaha. It''s amusing." Shakira tried to control herself but couldn''t. "You''re just too cute. Hahaha!" Walter was rendered speechless.


    He lifted his hand furiously. Shakira half-closed her eyes, not dodging as she watched Walter ce his hand on her face, angrily squeezing her cheeks.


    Yet Walter still wasn''t satisfied because Shakira keptughing. He wanted to tease her even more!


    Walter''s Adam''s apple moved, his hand sliding from squeezing Shakira''s cheek to the back of her head, cupping her face, and pulling her lovely features right in front of him.


    Shakira''s eyes widened instantly, too shocked to speak as her hands ended up on the firm chest of the man in front of her. A momentter, a warm sensation enveloped her lips...

 Chapter 192

    This wasn''t their first kiss, nor was it the first time Walter kissed her when they were clear-headed. But Shakira was certain she''d never felt her senses heightened to such an extent. Almost all her attention focused on the moment Walter''s lips touched hers, absorbed in him and the space where they connected.


    Her lips felt soft and hot, trembling slightly. Walter kissed her awkwardly, cautiously but unable to hold back his intensity.


    Hisrge hand moved from the back of her head down her neck, finally resting firmly on her shoulder de, encircling her with a possessiveness that words couldn''t convey. Shakira felt dizzy, and when her mind started to clear, Walter had already let her go. She was slumped against Walter''s chest, gasping for air like a fish almost out of water.


    Walter noticed her flushed face and distant look, assuming she was just out of breath.


    He couldn''t help but frown. "Don''t know how to breathe properly?"


    Shakira sensed the disdain in Walter''s voice and muttered sulkily. "How would I know?"


    Walter thought for a moment and nodded as if it made perfect sense. "Right, you''recking practice. Kiss more and you''ll improye."


    Shakira was speechless.


    It sounded like Walter was considering her well-being, but somehow, it just didn''t feel right.


    Walter felt a bit attached, hisrge hand squeezing and releasing Shakira''s shoulder several times. Eventually, he slowly withdrew his hand but couldn''t resist giving Shakira''s rosy cheek a gentle pinch.


    "I might get backte tonight. If you feel sleepy, just go to bed early," said Walter.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Shakira mumbled. "Got it.",


    Seeing Shakira''s obedient yet slightly puzzled look, Walter''s gaze gradually deepened.


    He took a deep breath to calm down, fighting the urge to pull Shakira into his arms and kiss her again, before finally leaving the room. He wasn''t in a rush; there was plenty of time.


    After Walter left, Shakira continued packing her suitcase. Her hands were busy, but her mind was wandering off somewhere unknown.


    She had never thought about rtionships before, but when it came to Walter,mon sense seemed to fail, and many things were beyond her control.


    After dinner, Shakira sat in her room and yed PUBG with Cathy. Cathy had recently be fascinated with PUBG, but she wasn''t very good at these kinds of games yet. Her moves were robotic, and she''d often get frustrated and start yelling. Tonight, she decided to make up for past losses and called in Shakira, Sean, and Gideon for a four-yer game, hoping to rely on them.


    However, with three strong teammates, she still ended up being the first one out and could only watch in spectator mode as the trio dominated the match.


    [Why is it always me who gets taken out!?]


    [On the left! Sean, go!]


    [In the bushes. Gideon, he''s on your right!]


    [Shakira, there''s a rock ahead... Ow, never mind. You wiped them all out!]


    Sean was so mad he almost blew a fuse. [Do you think we all have gaming skills like Shakira!?]


    [True, you guys can''tpare to Shakira. You''re all such noobs


    Sean was practically fuming.


    I


    The four of them had been ying together for over three hours. Seeing that I was about time, Shakira logged off first. She opened her WhatsApp and found the ss group chat buzzing. The reason was simple. They''d be able to check their final exam scores the next day, and everyone was trying to guess who would grab the top spot this time.


    [It''s not going to be Shakira. She waste for the listening test, and probably lost a lot of points there.]


    [I used to feel bad for her, but now I understand. Pitiful people must have some reason behind it!]


    [Isn''t it boring for her to be number one every single time? It''s about time someone else got a chance!]


    [Exactly and even if she''s not number one, she can still intern at the Lopez Group. It would be better to let someone else have the spot.] That''s not easy to say. The


    still the lottery draw for spots. They can''t just tantly cheat, right?]


    Seeing the sarcasticments in the chat, Shakira''s lips twitched slightly.


    At that moment, Xanthe appeared, firing back at all those people in the group chat like a machine gun.


    [Oh, please, you guys act like saints. It''s not you who always gets the top score. How arrogant!]


    [Shakira gets the top spot because she''s talented. If you want to be number one, earn it yourself. Aren''t you ashamed?]


    [Shakira''s grades are outstanding. Anypany would want her. Unlike you guys, who are just helpless, waiting for luck to decide your fate!]


    Others were rendered speechless by Xanthe.


    Once Xanthe spoke up, everyone went quiet. Nobody dared toe out and argue.


    Feeling satisfied, Xanthe poked at Shakira''s chat window. [Shakira, did you see? Those idiots don''t dare to say a word now!]


    Shakira sent a thumbs-up emoji.


    After a brief chat, Shakira heard cars downstairs. Several cars arrived, and she knew it had to be Walter.


    Shakira suddenly thought of the scene from this afternoon, feeling awkward. Not knowing how to face Walter, she quickly said goodnight to Xanthe and hid under her nkets.. About ten minutester, Walter returned to the bedroom. A small yellow light was on, and there was a little bump on the


    bed.


    Walter looked around, picked up his pajamas, and went into the bathroom to freshen up.


    Hearing the sound of water sshing inside, Shakira, who had been holding her breath under the covers, finally peeked out. But then she thought, ''Am I being too cowardly?''


    She covered her warm cheeks and started daydreaming again. Before she knew it, she slowly drifted off to sleep.


    In her hazy slumber, Shakira seemed to dream again of the afternoon scene. Walter''s strong, broad hand firmly held the back of her head, pulling her closer, as a wave of intense heat overwhelmed her... The sensation on her lips felt too real, and Shakira couldn''t tell if it was a dream or reality. Slowly, she opened her sleepy


    eyes.


    Walter''s hair was still damp, his handsome face very close to hers. With his eyes closed, she could just make out the twitch of his eyeballs beneath his thin eyelids as he gently savored her lips. Feeling a sudden sharp pain at the corner of her mouth, Shakira was jolted awake. This wasn''t a dream! After his shower, Walter was nibbling on her lips again!


    Noticing Shakira was awake, Walter pulled back a little, breathing a bit heavily, with his nose lightly touching Shakira''s.


    "When you''re asleep, you naturally know how to breathe," said Walter.


    Shakira blushed deeply. "You..."


    Walter question. "What?"


    "Who sneaks up on someone while they''re asleep?!" Shakira blushed, using Walter.


    Walter shrugged and spoke seriously, "Didn''t I tell you that practice makes perfect? Now''s the time to practice more."


    After saying that, he leaned in and kissed Shakira again.


    Shakira was speechless. Before her mind drifted away, she was still confused and wondered why they needed to be so skilled at kissing, Was it for apetition?


    0

 Chapter 193

    Shakira always knew Walter was shameless, but she never imagined he''d be like this! She had already learned to breathe while kissing, but he still was


    satisfied. Afte


    a short break, he was ready for more practice!!


    The next morning.


    Benji yawned and yed with his phone in the restaurant early. When Walter and Shakira arrived, one looked energetic and wide awake, while the other was rubbing her eyes sleepily.


    Benji nced between them with a gossip-loving glint in his eyes, finally focusing on their slightly swollen, ky lips. He let out a light hiss and moved close to


    Valter, whispering, "Did you have another argument with Shakira?"


    Walter smirked casually and said, "No."This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Benji was surprised and said, "No argument? Then why do you and Shakira look like this?"


    Although Benji and Walter were speaking quietly, Shakira, who was sitting beside them, could hear it and suddenly coughed. Walter said calmly, "It could be for other reasons." Shakira fell silent.


    Benji was taken aback for a moment. Then, as if realizing something, he grinned widely like a silly fool, his eyes brimming with joyful tears. "I never thought I''d see Walter unting his romance. I''ve waited so long for this day!" Wiping the tear from the corner of his eye, he took out his phone and showed a picture to Walter. "I strongly rmend this lip balm. It''s moisturizing and perfect for you and Shakira."


    Walter reflexively frowned at the girly product. As a man, he would surely refuse it. However, he took a closer look at the description, thought for a bit, and turned to Shakira. "Do you prefer strawberry or mango?" Unknowingly, Shakira almost had her head buried in her te and muttered a word. "Eat!"


    Walter nodded and wasn''t bothered by Shakira''s fierce reaction. Instead, he had a yful smile and told Benji. "Get every vor."


    Benji ordered without hesitation and mumbled. "No problem. I think you''ll finish it in a month!"


    Walter simply replied, "Yeah."


    Shakira felt overwhelmed. She realized that Walter was now strutting around like a showy peacock unting himself everywhere!


    Benji could sense Shakira''s frustration, chuckling as he said, "Walter finally opened his heart. It''s his first time, so he might be a bit too excited. Please be patient with him, Shakira."


    Shakira sighed, rubbing her forehead in exasperation, and said, "I''m full. I''m going back to my room to check my grades."


    Walter stared at Shakira


    and said, "Do you want me to go


    with you?"


    Shakira quickly waved her hand. "You should hurry to work. I''ll tell you the results when they''re out."


    Walter nodded. "Okay."


    Shakira quickly slipped out of the dining room, embarrassed. Levi and the other servants had been holding in theirughter for a while, bowing their heads and shaking slightly to keep from giggling. Benji didn''t spare Walter,ughing out loud and holding his stomach. "Walter, you''re so impatient, Don''t scare Shakira!"


    "Really?" Walter squinted, suspicious.


    45


    "Of course, there is. I''m telling you, you can''t keep doing this. You have to take things slow and let your feelings grow step by step. If you rush things, it could end badly," Benji advised like someone with experience. "Didn''t I teach youst time? You need to apply what I showed you," he continued.


    Walter furrowed his brow, not responding right away, deep in thought.


    Inside the room.


    Shakira sshed water on her face to finally cool the heat in her cheeks. It was so embarrassing! She shook her head and logged into the school''s official website early, ready to check her grades as soon as it hit ten. Crescentville University''s system was efficient, releasing end-of-term results quickly. When results were posted, they also included student rankings. As soon as it hit ten, Shakira refreshed the page, and after a brief pause, her grades appeared. Shakira looked through each subject until her eyes rested on the final ranking. A green number one. She was the first in her ss.


    Xanthe: [Hey, Shakira, I got ranked 53rd! What about you?!]


    Xanthe was the first to share th


    good


    news. Shakira replied with a screenshot, and Xanthe on the other end was ecstatic.


    Xanthe: [No way! First ce?! Even without the listening section, you''re still first?! That''s incredible!]


    Shakira replied: [I remembered som


    of the listening answers and filled in about half. They must''ve been right.]


    Xanthe was even more excited. [In that situation, do you still have the mind to listen? Wow, genius, please ept my respect!].


    Shakira smiled softly and suddenly remembered she forgot to tell Walter, so she sent the screenshot to him.


    Walter, probably on his way to the office, replied quickly. [Congrattions.]


    Shakira thought for a moment and typed. [Just this?]


    In the Maybach, Walter stared at the emojis on his phone, lost in thought. Benji seized the moment, shamelessly leaning over to take a look. Sure enough, it was the lovey-dovey chat of a couple! "Walter, it''s a great opportunity!" Benji eximed excitedly.


    Walter was puzzled and asked, "What do


    you mean?"


    "Come on. Shakira got first in her grade and all you said was congrattions. She''s hinting at a gift!" Benji was anxious.


    He thought, "Their Lopez family had such great genes, but why was his brother still such a male chauvinist who couldn''t figure out romance even at his age?''


    Walter looked at Shakira''s message with doubt. "Really?"


    "Trust me, Shakira hardly ever asks for a gift. Walter, pay attention and think carefully about what would be a good gift for her," said Benji.


    Walter thought for a moment and replied to Shakira. [Okay, I got it.]


    Meanwhile, Shakira looked at the message Walter sent, feeling puzzled again. A vague sense of unease crept into her heart. side, she was still sending messages. [Shakira, where are you?! Take a look at the group chat. Hahahahaha] Over on Xanthe


    Mon,


    Only then did Shakira leave the chat with Walter and join the cl group burst into activity.


    Shakira scrolled through the chat history and noticed that out o


    [Where''s Shakira? Why hasn''t she shown up? Did she do badly a

 Chapter 194

    Suddenly, Berry appeared and shifted the topic back to Shakira. The group was silent for a moment before Berry sent another line. [Yvette effortlessly got second ce in the grade, so the Lopez Group internship slot is pretty much guaranteed.] [Wow! Yvette got second in the grade? She never ced this high before!] [During finals week, I often saw Yvette and Joe studying early in the library. They are the most inspiring couple on campus!]


    [I also heard that Joe is the top student in his department. It seems like being with outstanding people makes you outstanding too!] [Wow, I''m so jealous. That''s the power of love!] [Congrattions, Yvette!]


    [Since Yvette is second in her grade, who''s first? Why hasn''t anyone shared the news yet?] [Probably someone who got lucky this time and jumped up from the middle.] The ss chat was buzzing for a while before Yvette finally showed up. Yvette continued her humble and polite act. [Thank you, everyone. My progress is all thanks to Joe''s tutoring. All my ssmates are excellent, and I guess luck yed a big part this time.]


    Yvette''s little fan group chimed in excitedly. [Oh, it''s so sweet! Joe put in so much effort to help you prepare for exams. That''s pure love!]


    [Joe has always doted on Yvette. That''s what real love is.]


    [Some people tried to hit on Yvette''s boyfriend before. Now karma''s caught up with her, and she can''t even hold onto her top spot in the grade. That''s hrious!]


    [Haha, Joe and Yvette have been together for years. She can''t break them up just like that!] Everyone knew they were hinting at Shakira.


    After all, the whole school was buzzing back then about Joe and Mitchell getting into a fight over Shakira.


    Later, Yvette appeared again and tried to be the peacemaker iming everything was just a misunderstanding, and asking others to stop talking about it. Shakira couldn''t help but find it funny. Xanthe: [Finished reading? If they find out you''re at the top of the ss again, won''t they go crazy? Hahaha!] Shakira thought about the scene, feeling a bit embarrassed for them. [Probably.]


    [Oh, I can''t wait!] Xanthe sent an emoji and then a voice message. Herughter was unrestrained, full of anticipation for drama.


    "This afternoon at the assembly, Patrick will personally draw lots to announce the internship list. I just can''t wait to see their twisted, furious faces!" She said.


    Shakira raised an eyebrow and said, "I didn''t expect you to keep your cool this time. You''re just waiting for this?"


    "What else? If I wasn''t waiting to embarrass them this afternoon, I''d have already posted your grades everywhere!" said Xanthe.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Shakira couldn''t help but praise Xanthe. "Not bad, you''ve matured." Xanthe chuckled, "Of course! I mean, with a bestie like you, I had to level up." Shakira''s smile widened. Honestly, Xanthe was bing more charming by the day. Taking the chance to announce the final exam results and the internship drawing list, the school was hosting a big parent-teacher meeting in the auditorium.


    The direction of each student''s first internship was decided in a public, fair, and clear way.


    Shakira quickly tidied up and headed out after her lunch break. Enrique drove over with Xanthe, and the two leaned out from the car to wave at Shakira. "Ms. Nelson!" "Shakira!"


    Shakira got into the car and said, "Hello, Mr. Sullivan." Enrique responded cheerfully, looking at Shakira through the rearview mirror. He seemed kind and gentle. "Ms. Nelson, why don''t you join uster?"


    "Sure, thank you, Mr. Sullivan," said Shakira. "No need to thank me. It''s my pleasure to help out Ms. Nelson," said Enrique.


    Xanthe waved her hand and said, "Alright, hurry up and drive, or we''ll end up in the backter." Enrique chuckled and started the car.


    On the way, Xanthe was chatting constantly, already picturing how many people would be astonished when Shakira, the top student in their grade, took the stage! Shakira sat next to her, listening and asionally replying. Walter also sent a message. [Are you going to school? Why not have Levi go with you?] Shakira replied. [No need. It''s just a lucky draw.]


    Walter: [Judging by your tone, you''re not looking forward to your internshippany?] Shakira: [No matter where I go, I''m just a hardworking employee.]


    But after considering it, she preferred to join Yonder Digital. After all, Sean had managed Yonder Digital the whole time, and as one of the founders, she felt a bit guilty for not contributing as much as the diligent Sean. Shakira assured that there was no hidden meaning in her words. It was simply a lighthearted joke. Unexpectedly, after a moment, Walter replied. [Thene to the Lopez Group. It''ll make you a happy employee.] Shakira was puzzled. [Why?] Just after she sent the message, Walter''s voice reply popped up.


    Shakira held her phone to her ear, and Walter''s low, raspy chuckle came through. "A job where you can see me all the time. Doesn''t that make you happy?"


    Shakira immediately put her phone down, her face turning bright red with heat. She was too flustered to even nce at Xanthe. Luckily, Xanthe was busy on her phone and didn''t notice Shakira''s reaction. Walter was so shameless! Shakira criticized him harshly.


    wever, the relentless beating of her heart conveyed a silent yet genuine sense of delight, a joy her body instinctively ponded to. She ced her hand on her chest and smiled slightly.


    In the school auditorium, students and parents were seated by their department. By the time Enrique led Shakira and Xanthe inside, most of the front seats were taken, leaving just one row of empty seats. Xanthe led them over, but just as they were about to sit, a woman''s voice came from behind. "Sorry, I asked a friend to save these seats for me."


    Shakira turned around and saw Reba, elegantly dressed, standing there with Yvette holding her arm. Xanthe gave a mocking smile. "Is this a train or a ne? Did you pay for these seats? Don''t you know it''s firste, first served?" Yvette''s face changed slightly at Xanthe''seback. She bit her lip and hid beside Reba, looking pitiful.


    Reba''s disdainful gaze passed over Xanthe and rested on Shakira''s nk face. "I heard you flunked this test. Well, you can''t be lucky every time, right?"


    She gave orders like she wasmanding a group of strays. "Yvette ranked second in her grade. Soon, the top ten will go on stage, each drawing lots with Patrick overseeing it. Those who didn''t perform well, head to the back."

 Chapter 195

    84.92%


    Reba''s air of entitlement made Shakira want tough. Without saying a word, Shakira plopped down in her seat under Reba''s re, lounging back with her legs crossed and her chin propped up, looking rxed and carefree. "Second ce, huh? Why don''t you go sit near Mr. Jensen? It''s closer," she said.


    "You!" Yvette and Shakira''s eyes met for a brief moment before Yvette guiltily looked away.


    She gently held back the angry Reba and spoke in a soft voice, "Mom, it''s fine for us to sit at the back. I have to go on stage, so anywhere is convenient. Felix will arriveter, so it''s easier to meet him if we''re at the back." Reba was enraged by Shakira''s rebellious nature, scarcely able to believe her defiance.


    But when she turned to the gentle and considerate Yvette, her expression softened, brimming with motherly love. "You''re always so thoughtful." Yvette yfully stuck out her tongue. "Felix found some time in his busy schedule toe by, so I have to make sure to wee him properly."


    Alright, I''ll go with your n, said Reba, as they supported each other while walking towards the back, disying their close rtionship.


    Xanthe and Enrique quietly sat down next to Shakira. Xanthe''s eyes showed a hint of emotion and said, "Shakira... Shakira gave Xanthe a reassuring smile and asked, "Why do you have that look on your face?" Enrique, a sensitive middle-aged man, quickly wiped the sad tears from the corner of his eyes. "Ms. Nelson, we''re all friends here. If you''re feeling upset, just express it, don''t hold it all in."


    Shakira chuckled softly, "Do you think, by now, I''d still care about how close Yvette is with the Nelson family?" Enrique and Xanthe exchanged a look and nodded firmly.


    "Shakira, I know you seem strong on the outside, but inside you''re gentle and sensitive..." said Xanthe. Shakira''s lips twitched a bit and said, "I''d rather you didn''t know." "What?" said Xanthe.


    Right then, Patrick and the representatives from different partnerpanies entered, and the room gradually quieted down. But soon after, the students in the auditorium started getting restless again.


    "Hey, weren''t the reps from the internshippanies always just managers or something? Why did Finn and Cody show up in person


    this time?"


    "I heard Yvette is second in the whole grade this time. Their family spoils her so much. They had toe to give her some recognition!" "Wow, just thinking about interning at my ownpany is amazing!"


    ""No way! Martha is also here?"


    "Oh, it''s for Joe and Yvette, isn''t it? One''s their precious grandson, and the other is their future granddaughter-inw. They''re pulling out all the stops!"


    Cody and Finn were sitting in the front row, off to the side. When they noticed Martha sitting next to them, they nodded in greeting. This interaction between the two families only confirmed the ssmates'' suspicions. Now, many girls looked at Yvette with envy. This honor and social standing were things most people couldn''t achieve even with a lifetime of effort!


    Feeling the attention from all around, Yvette couldn''t hold back the excitement and pride bubbling within her. She nced


    at Shakira, who was lost in the crowd ahead, and her smile grew wider.


    <3


    She thought, Oh Shakira, all the glory that once belonged to you, along with countless future blessings, have all be mine!''


    Without anyone noticing, the students were getting more and more excited.


    "What?! Kyle is also here..."


    "And Calton! Gavin! Oh my gosh! The heirs of the five major families are here, only Benji is missing?!"


    "As expected, big families take care of each other. They all came just to pick an intern. All for Yvette, the little princess of the Nelson family..."


    "Oh my God, I''m so jealous! Yvette has a life of wealth. Compared to her, we''re all nobodies!"


    "I used to only envy rich people online, but today I''m shedding tears of envy in real life! It''s so painful!"


    "Wait, why are there three empty seats among them? Who else ising?!".


    Before anyone could guess, two sharply dressed men walked out gracefully from backstage, heading straight to the middle seats in the first row.


    "Wow. It''s Benji! He is so charming!"


    "Sean! It''s Sean from Yonder Digital. He looks incredibly young! This is the guy who single-handedly built Yonder Digital and took it to new heights in just a few years, and he doesn''t even look thirty!" "Wait, did they alsoe for Yvette?!"


    "Oh my gosh, did our ss save the gxy or something to have so many big business tycoonspeting to offer us internships? It''s unbelievable!"


    "Now it seems that everyone who thanked Shakira back then was wrong. Walter has never been involved in


    any


    scandals."


    "Although Shakira got close to him, it was just a pastime for him. Honestly, nobody else but someone from the Nelson family could gather so many powerful people."


    "Yep, all these families have connections that go back generations. They probably grew up together behind the scenes, and the kind of friendships among top families are beyond what we ordinary people can understand."


    As the praises for Yvette grew louder, the disdain in people''s eyes when they looked at Shakira deepened. It was as if she was. a total nuisance there!


    her


    Xanthe was so angry eyes know?!"


    went red. She clenched her fists tightly, shaking with rage. "Nonsense! What do you even


    She wasn''t sure about the others, but Sean was definitely here for Shakira! Xanthe was so frustrated that she was sweating bullets. Shakira gave Xanthe a gentle pull and couldn''t help but smile, "This morning you said you could stayposed, and now look at you?" Xanthe was about to burst, wanting to unleash her anger and turn all those gossiping fools into ashes.


    "How can I stay calm? They simply don''t understand you and..." Before Xanthe could finish, someone in the crowd screamed, "Walter?!" "Walter?" Even Shakira couldn''t keep her cool. She snapped her head around and saw Walter, who she''d had breakfast withN?velDrama.Org content.


    07:56


    that morning, now moving his wheelchair leisurely towards Benji.


    The crowd surged, and Walter seemingly spotted Shakira amongst the masses, giving her a subtle eyebrow raise. The girls nearby practically erupted with excitement. "Ah! He just raised his eyebrow at me. He''s so handsome!" Xanthe was equally thrilled and said, "Hahn, you''re the sweetest couple in the world!"


    Shakira was speechless.


    5


    "Seeing me at work all the time, you''re not happy about it?" Walter''s deep, husky chuckle echoed through Shakira''s mind like a jolt of electricity.


    She suddenly had a bad feeling... Wait, could it be Walter who came personally to draw lots to give her an advantage?

 Chapter 196

    Before Shakira could fully process it, she saw Walter sit down next to Sean, and her scalp tingled. She thought, ''Oh no, he''s sitting with Sean? Are they going to cause some issues...?


    *****


    The moment Walter appeared, Sean lifted his chin and stared intently at Walter who was in the wheelchair and thought Walter seemed hard to get along with.


    After Walter took his seat, Sean could feel the intense vibeing from Walter. Unavoidably, Sean''s gaze became more curious as he scrutinized Walter.


    There were quite a few famous people in Crescentville, and he was run into Walter at several events. Honestly, he respected Walter.


    Walter became famous at a young age, disappeared for a few years, and then came back with a leg injury.


    Although his personality changed a lot, his courage and skills were remarkable. With him in charge, it seemed nobody would surpass the Lopez Group for years.


    "Mr. Lopez, I''ve heard so much about you." Sean greeted warmly


    Walter slightly turned his head, nced at Sean, and then looked away again, maintaining his aloof demeanor. Sean''s lips twitched.


    Benji peeked his head out and warmly extended his hand to Sean. "Hello, Mr. Reynolds. I''ve always heard you''re young and talented, but we never had a chance to meet. Quite a coincidence today, right?"


    Benji chuckled softly, "My brother has a bit of a temper. Mr. Reynolds, hope it doesn''t bother you."


    Sean chuckled along, "It was impulsive of me. I''m d I didn''t offend Mr. Lopez."


    Feeling the urge to gossip, Benji couldn''t resist asking, "What brings Mr. Reynolds here today? Could it be that you came especially for someone?"


    Sean straightened his suit, standing confidently, and said, "You''re right."


    Benji''s eyes brightened, itching to gossip about which student Sean was there for, when Walter, who had been maintaining a serious demeanor, suddenly and coldly cut in. "In this kind of setting, Mr. Reynolds, it might be wise to hold back." Walter spoke each word with caution and there was an undertone of warning, "If something embarrassing happens, it won''t be a good look."


    Sean''s smile froze and asked, "What do you mean, Mr. Lopez?"


    Benji felt a hint of trouble and wondered what his big brother was doing.


    "Misunderstanding! Misunderstanding!" Benji quickly reached out his arm to block the way. "Don''t misunderstand, Mr. Reynolds. Walter speaks his mind. He was just giving you a friendly reminder.


    "Honestly, given today''s asion, it''s best to keep a low profile to avoid unnecessary trouble for the person you care about."


    Sean scoffed and said, "I already know that, Mr. Lopez. No need for reminders!"


    At that moment, Patrick slowly made his way to the stage with the help of an assistant and began his speech. Sean nced at Walter but chose not to pursue the matter f¨¹rther.


    III


    <


    1.92%


    Gradually, the once noisy auditorium quieted down. Patrick, wearing his reading sses, finished his prepared speech, and amid the anticipation of many students, announced the official start of this year''s internship selection.


    He said, "Today, we have several honored guests in the audience who, like us, are concerned about the development of Crescentville and the training of talents at our university.


    "On this asion, I represent Crescentville University in sincerely thanking our distinguished guests for their generous support of our talent development programs," Patrick said. Patrick''s voice rang clearly throughout the hall as he took a step back and bowed to those in the first row.


    The students stood up and apuded. After Patrick stood up, he gestured slightly with his hand. "This time, the selection process will be a bit different.


    "Our esteemed guests have priority. If they find a student they like, that student can directly join theirpany without going through the lottery." As soon as Patrick finished speaking, the entire auditorium burst into excitement again.


    "Wow! Do these big shots pick people themselves? Isn''t that a clear advantage? After graduation, they won''t need to worry about finding a job!" "Well, not necessarily. Even if the big shots choose you now, if your internship performance isn''t good enough, you could still get kicked out..." "I''m just curious about the ones not chosen. Isn''t that super


    Gr


    awkward?"


    "What does it matter? It''s better than not having the chance to be picked at all!"


    "I''m just curious, who is the top student of the year?!"


    Patrick signaled to the host, who smiled and took over. "Alright, let''s have the usher bring up the lottery box and give a warm round of apuse to wee the students ranked tenth in their respective sses to the stage." The apuse was thunderous as several students stood up from different parts of the auditorium and went on stage, lining


    3


    1. up.


    In the front row, a few people were already looking at the students'' profiles on their tablets. A general manager, representing the Banks family, raised a hand, wrote down a name on a piece of paper, and handed it to the usher. The usher announced the name, and a short male student on stage jumped up in joy and rushed off to give the general manager a big bear hug.N?velDrama.Org content.


    hank you!" said the male student.


    The audience burst intoughter as the rest of the students who weren''t selected faced Patrick''s random selection process, each assigned to their respective internshippanies. It was pure luck. Some were excited, while others were disappointed. Yvette stared intently at the stage, not blinking. Seeing her so nervous, Reba smiled and gently held Yvette''s hand. "Are you nervous?"


    Yvette blinked and nodded. "Mom, do you think someone will choose me?"


    When Patrick announced that some fortunate students could skip the random draw and go straight into apany, Yvette was thrilled. She wanted that honor more than anything!


    Hearing her daughter''s cautious words, Reba felt bothpassion and love. "Of course, my darling daughter! You''re so excellent, ranking second in your grade. Surely someone will want to choose you."


    <


    IP


    She gave Yvette aforting tap on the nose and said, "Besides, with your brother and Martha supporting you, and several other families as well... They would probably bepeting to choose you." Hearing this, Yvette''s face was full of shyness, and the sparkle in her eyes grew even brighter. But she said, "Honestly, it''s no big deal. Internships are about gaining experience, and it''s the same wherever I go." Reba was relieved to hear Yvette''s mature outlook.


    "Next, let''s wee the students who ranked second in their respective grades toe up on stage," said the host.


    Yvette let go of Reba''s hand and gracefully walked onto the stage. Standing there, feeling everyone''s eyes on her, Yvette couldn''t help but stand tall and sh a bright, confident smile.


    She nced over the audience at Shakira and raised an eyebrow with a hint of pride. Then, her eyes were filled with anticipation as she eagerly looked at the people in the front row Martha looked at the tablet in her hand, then at Yvette on stage, and was quite surprised. "Oh, is that Yvette? She''s second in her grade. Very promising."


    Cody felt proud and said. "This morning, Yvette told me she did well because Joe helped her study. Joe is first in the grade, and Yvette is second. They''ve made us proud." While Cody and Martha were talking, Finn handed the name list to the usher.


    Cody paused for a moment and continued, "The two of them get along so well. If they could intern together and support each other, I''m sure they''d achieve a lot."


    Martha chuckled, pretending not to catch Cody''s hint. "Helping ssmates is what Joe should do, and as for their grades, they are still young and need more experience." Martha sat back, showing no intention to choose Yvette. Cody looked a bit embarrassed.


    Over there, the hostess announced that the Nelson Group had selected Yvette.


    Yvette nced at the others below the stage. None of them moved, and some were absorbed in their phones, not even sparing her a nce. She clenched her fist in frustration.


    She stepped forward, keeping her expression calm. "The Nelson Group is my family business. My dad and brothers chose me out of love and care, but I want to draw lots like everyone else, to truly challenge myself." As soon as Yvette said this, everyone burst into surprise.


    "Wow, Yvette''s really thinking big!"


    "Now that''s a truly ambitious girl! I always thought she was just a pampered princess who couldn''t endure hardships, but now I''vepletely changed my mind about her."


    Cody shook his head with a smile and raised an eyebrow at Martha. "Looks like my daughter is thinking just like you." Martha chuckled but didn''t say anything.


    Patrick nodded and said, "Alright, since you''ve turned down Mr. Nelson''s offer, let''s go with the draw." The screen started scrolling, and below Yvette''s name, her internshippany flipped to the Lopez Group. The room erupted with excitement once again. "Yvette''s luck is unbelievable!"


    "After all, she''s the cherished Nelson heiress. Could someone unlucky be so adored and even date Joe, the campus heartthrob?"


    Xanthe rolled her eyes dramatically and eximed, "What kind of crazy luck is this!" Shakira thought about it. The drifter


    07:56 Tue,


    who managed to get into the Easke Valley Estate must have been pretty lucky.


    3


    Yvette couldn''t believe it herself and covered her face! Look, her good fortune hade back! Amidst the booming cheers. of the students, Yvette proudly stepped down from the stage.


    The host raised his voice, interrupting the noisy chatter. "Next, let''s wee our top student to the stage."


    Yvette paused on her way back to her seat, her eyes roaming around the ss section, curious to discover who that elusive top student was.

 Chapter 197

    :57 Tue, Nov 5


    5


    0000, 92%


    Yvette''s eyes scanned the group. Suddenly, her eyes widened as she saw the quiet girl hidden among the crowd, getting up gracefully. The noisy auditorium went silent in an instant.


    Under everyone''s gaze, Shakira walked slowly and lightly onto the stage, standing alongside other top students from different departments.


    After a brief silence, the auditorium burst into an uproar.


    "What''s the matter?! Is our department''s mysterious top student Shakira again?!"


    "No way. Wasn''t she missing that listening part? And she still came first? Is she even human?!"


    "This is unbelievable! Are you sure there''s no behind-the-scenes maniption?!"


    Just when everyone was shocked and skeptical, a message popped up in the ss group chat. Xanthe posted a screenshot, and it was Shakira''s report card.


    Only heaven knew how long she had been waiting for this moment!


    Seeing everyone shocked and Yvette''s face almost distorted from trying to hold back, Xanthe burst intoughter. They dared to look down on Shakira. Now their smug faces were getting a real p! "Oh wow, her total score is thirty points higher than Yvette''s? That''s shockingly impressive!"


    "In almost every subject, she scored nearly perfect, and in the listening section, she got half of the points. How did she even do that?"


    "And she''s always turning in exams early! It''s frightening. Compared to her, we''re just getting crushed!"


    When Yvette staggered back to Reba like a zombie, she clearly saw the angry expression on Reba''s face. She softly called out. "Mom..."


    Reba''s face was so dark. "Didn''t you say she failed the test and did poorly?" Just recently, she had been showing off to them, saying Yvette got second ce and telling those who didn''t do well to step back... Just thinking about that moment, Reba felt embarrassed!


    Yvette looked upset. "I don''t know either. After the results came out, Shakira didn''te out to announce her scores. I assumed she didn''t do well, so she didn''te out. I didn''t expect her to be the top one." She said and lowered her head regretfully. "It''s my fault. I shouldn''t have thought she did poorly..."


    Reba was furious, her face was serious and unreadable. Yvette sulkily sat back down next to Reba, but her eyes were fixed on Shakira, who was enjoying the spotlight on stage.


    Not only were the students caught off guard, but so were those in the front row. Calton clicked his tongue in wonder. "Wow, I never imagined Ms. Nelson was a hidden academic genius!" Gavin shot Walter a meaningful nce. "Someone''s feeling pretty smug right now." As soon as he said that, everyone turned to look at Walter at the same time. Walter''s face remained unchanged, but a rare smirk appeared on the corner of his lips. "Nothing is surprising about it. She''s always been number one."


    His tone was filled with pride, and it was evident that he was genuinely proud.


    They dragged out the tease with extended endings, making fun of Walter. Sean listened to their jokes and couldn''t help but frown.


    He thought, ''What''s that supposed to mean? Do they know Shakira? Judging by how they talk, they seem quite familiar, don''t they?


    ''Most importantly... What does Shakira being the top scorer have to do with Walter? What''s he got to be smug about?''


    Meanwhile, Martha watched as Shakira stood with her grandson, the two young people looking perfectly matched.


    She couldn''t help but smile with her eyes crinkling. "I didn''t expect Shakira to get the top spot too. That''s quite impressive! She and my eldest grandson are meant for each other!" Cody, who had been ignored by Martha was speechless when he heard this.


    Walter also heard Martha''s words. He gave Joe, who had been sneaking nces at Shakira from the stage, a stony look.


    His expression turned cold. He gestured for the MC toe over and pointed at the tablet screen that had been paused for a while.


    The MC understood the cue and announced loudly, "The Lopez Group is giving priority to Shakira for an internship."


    Before anyone else could react, Sean couldn''t stay calm. He immediately raised his hand to signal. "Yonder Digital wants Shakira too."


    Walter cast a cold nce over. Sean, unwilling to back down, lifted his chin and forced a smile. "We''re ying fair here, Mr. Lopez. Surely you''re not backing out?" Walter scoffed coldly. "Hmph."


    On another front, Martha, just as energetic as the younger crowd, dered. "The Ortiz Group is joining in." Not wanting to miss out, Calton and Gavin also chimed in. "The Jennings family too!" "And the Clifton family as well."Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    As they said this, they made sure to drag their good friend Kyle into it. "And the White family too!" Kyle, unwillingly pulled into the chaos, was speechless.


    Now, the entire auditorium was almost bursting with excitement. Such a scene was truly unprecedented and never seen before!


    "Whoa! Others usually can''t wait to be picked by those big shots, but now it''s Shakira''s turn to choose these big shots?" "I get Mr. Lopez choosing her. But what''s the deal with Yonder Digital, the Ortiz family, and the White family?" "Wait, why don''t I get it? I thought they were all here for Yvette, but now you''re telling me that they''re here for Shakira?" "Haven''t you realized? They''re all involved, and the Nelson family hasn''t even made a sound, acting like bystanders. The five families didn''t include the Nelsons in their ns at all!" "Now the big question is, whichpany will Shakira choose? If it were me, I''d be torn for days!"


    Shakira looked at the chaotic scene and felt like she was losing her mind. She hadn''t expeeted it would escte like this... Especially with Walter staring at her like that, his gaze was truly intense and frightening. Shakira was sure that if she dared to choose anyone but Walter, once she was back, he would have another way to punish her.


    She was hesitating when Patrick stepped in to take charge.


    He looked warmly at Shakira and said, "Since we have several esteemed guests interested in inviting Shakira to intern at theirpanies, let''s have a reverse draw. Let Shakira pick the decisive ballot herself."


    Shakira''s eyes lit up and she looked gratefully at Patrick. This was a brilliant idea!


    07:57 Tue,


    Everyone had no objections and the emcee quickly got ready, handing the draw box to Shakira. Shakira took a deep breath and reached inside, drawing out a small whi

 Chapter 198

    0


    Shakira was the first to see the words, her lips twitching slightly. Soon after, she heard the emcee''s voice echoing through the hall. "The result of Shakira''s draw is... Lopez Group! Congrattions to Shakira."


    Yvette''s eyes widened, her face looking extremely unpleasant! Walter heard the result and unconsciously tightened hisrge hand on the wheelchair handle before silently rxing.


    At that moment, he surprisingly felt nervous too.


    If it was the White family, the Jennings family, or the Clifton family, that would be fine. But if it''s the Ortiz Group or Yonder Digital... Just thinking about that possibility made Walter''s eyes dark and ominous.


    The auditorium erupted in thunderous apuse, and it took a while for Calton to snap out of his daze. "No way! None of us got picked?" He looked around suspiciously, stnirking. "Could it be that Mr. Lopez secretly cheated?" Sean quickly turned his head. A smirk with a touch of sarcasm appeared on Walter''s stern face. "Can''t handle a loss?"


    With a chuckle, Calton gave a small bow and remained silent. Sean shot a re at Walter and was upset.


    Amid the thunderous apuse and everyone''s gaze, Shakira calmly returned to her seat. The surrounding murmurs were full of envy, admiration, and jealousy, but to her, it was nothing to care about.


    Xanthe grabbed Shakira''s arm, shaking it eagerly. "Shakira, you''re incredible!! You have no idea, when Mr. Lopez and the others werepeting for you, I swear, every student wished they could be you!" Shakira chuckled, "Is it really that over the top?"


    Xanthe wagged her finger and said, "Oh,e on, being picked by Mr. Lopez to intern at the Lopez Group alone is enough to make everyone envious, let alone the fact that the heads of other big families are specifically asking for you too!"


    As Xanthe spoke, she couldn''t help but giggle and pointed to the back seat. "I bet Yvette is going to be insanely jealous." Shakira raised an eyebrow but didn''t say anything.


    However, she could easily imagine the scenario Xanthe described. It did feel pretty satisfying.


    With the top student deciding their internship destination first, the remaining spots were evenly distributed by the system


    among


    the other students.N?velDrama.Org content.


    Xanthe ended up getting an internship at the Lopez Group, and she was so thrilled that she almost wanted to pick Shakira up and spin her around a few times.


    After the draw was over, Walter and the others were the first to leave. The host briefly mentioned some reminders for the winter break.


    Half an hourter, Patrick gave everyone an early New Year''s blessing, officially ending the first semester of junior year and marking the start of the winter break.


    Xanthe was chatting away, clearly delighted, holding onto Shakira the whole way. Enrique was also in a great mood, thinking of taking this chance to invite Shakira for a meal.


    Shakira couldn''t refuse their warm invitation. However, she received a call from Walter just before reaching the parking lot. Walter''s voice was calm andposed. "30 degrees from the school entrance."


    Shakira was surprised and said, "You haven''t left yet?" "I''m waiting for you," said Walter. Those words came unexpectedly, making Shakira''s heart skip a beat.


    After hanging up the phone, Shakira gave Xanthe an apologetic smile and said, "Sorry, I have to head back now." Xanthe


    looked like she understood, smiling yfully, and said, "Go on."


    3


    Shakira waved goodbye to Xanthe and Enrique, and Xanthe was just considering gathering her family for dinner when her phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, Xanthe quickly answered it, turning away from Enrique''s direction. "What?!" Sean said straight away, "I saw it!" Xanthe jumped in surprise and asked, "Wh-what did you see?"


    "Wasn''t Shakira with you guys? Why didn''t she leave with you? Where did she go? No way, you must be clueless as usual. I need to follow her and check it out!" said Sean.


    Xanthe almost cursed out loud, but hearing Sean''s words, she let out a sigh of relief. It seemed like Sean hadn''t noticed anything after sitting with Walter before. Xanthe quickly came up with an excuse. "No way, if you just tag along like that, you''ll get caught likest time. If Shakira gets angry, it will be a big problem!" Sean felt a lump in his throat, unable to swallow it down. He thought, ''What exactly is Shakira hiding from me?!"


    Thinking about the frustration he faced from Walter earlier, Sean decided to go with the flow and directly told Xanthe. "Come with me."


    "What?" said Xanthe. Sean thought his n was foolproof and said, "If we get caught, I''ll just say we''re on a date."


    Xanthe inhaled sharply. She was concerned. If she refused Sean and he went on his own to mess up Walter and Shakira''s date, what would happen?


    "Wait for me. I''ming over now." Xanthe said to Enrique. "I''m heading out for a meal. You go celebrate with Mom. Bye!" After saying that, she quickly dashed off. Watching his daughter run away without a nce back, Enrique was perplexed. "Could this girl be dating someone?" But when he thought of Xanthe''s fiery personality, Enrique shook his head. "No way. Who would be interested in my daughter?"


    Shakira walked over to where Walter pointed and realized he had switched to a Cullinan, and his usual bodyguards were nowhere in sight. She quickly ducked her head and got into the car.


    "Why did you change a car?" From the moment Shakira appeared at the school gate, Walter''s eyes had been glued to her. As she jumped into the car, Walter''s gaze only grew more intense, never leaving her slightly flushed face.


    "Would you have gotten in so quickly if I didn''t change my car?" Walter replied casually, but Shakira could faintly hear a hint ofint in his words as if he had a slight grudge.


    She couldn''t help but smile, pretending to think for a moment before she said. "Probably not!" Walter huffed, looking a bit upset, and raised his hand as if he were going to tap her on the head.


    Shakira squinted her eyes, instinctively pulling her neck back. But instead of feeling a tap on her head, she felt a warm sensation on her earlobe.


    She opened her eyes again to see Walter ying with her earlobe, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. "Why aren''t you wearing a scarf in such cold weather?" he asked.


    Even her ears were chilled by the wind. Shakira pouted. "It''s just for a bit. I won''t get too cold."


    Walter found the sensation unpleasant and said, "It''s too cold for me to touch." Shakira was rendered speechless.


    Walter had warmed up Shakira''s one ear and now lifted his hand, signaling to Shakira. "Move a little closer."

 Chapter 199

    Shakira widened her eyes but eventually backed down under Walter''s silent and cold gaze. She shuffled over and obediently settled into Walter''s outstretched arm,fortably nestled in his embrace. Whether it was just in her head or not, her earlobe felt warm from his pinch, and it seemed like the heat had spread to her cheeks, making them blush slightly. Brian, who was driving, thoughtfully raised the partition between the front and back seats.


    The car had always had this feature, but it had never been used over the years. Now that Walter was dating Shakira, it seemed like the partition would stay up from now on.


    Shakira watched wide-eyed as the partition came up, her eyes wide like saucers. "What''s Brian up to?" It felt like they were sneaking around doing something mischievous in the back seat!


    Walter raised an eyebrow and praised. "Hmm, it''s the end of the year. I should give Brian a raise."


    Shakira leaned against Walter''s chest, looking up from below. She was surprised that even from this angle, Walter''s face was still so handsome and captivating.


    She grumbled, "So you came over without saying anything just to get me to intern at the Lopez Group?" Waker replied, "You not allowed me to do that?"


    He admitted it rather quickly, which caught Shakira a bit by surprise. Shakira scratched her face and said, "I didn''t mean that. It''s just that if it''s all random, then wherever I''m picked to go, I''ll go. No need to push it."


    Walter, done with his grand task of ear lobe squeezing and now bored, let his thumb wander absently along Shakira''s temple. As he touched her soft hair, he unexpectedly felt a pleasant mood.


    "So even if I came, you still got the Lopez Group by drawing lots, so mying or not doesn''t make a difference," said Walter. Shakira felt a bit dizzy from Walter''s roundabout logic. She couldn''t shake the feeling that he was seriously talking nonsense.


    "Besides..." Walter lowered his gaze. His eyes intently locked onto Shakira''s. "Isn''t this the gift you wanted?"


    Shakira instantly lost her cool, pushing Walter away and sitting up straight. "When did I ever ask you for this gift?"


    Walter narrowed his eyes, took out his phone, and opened their morning chat log. He pointed at Shakira''s read, "That''s all?"


    message


    and


    and


    Shakira was on the verge of breaking down, feeling like crying but unable to shed any tears. "So what you meant by ''got it?" Seeing Shakira''s unhappy with the gift, Walter furrowed his brows. "Then what do you want?" Shakira gestured animatedly and said, "See, you just said you were going to give Brian a raise. You know how to praise him, so what about me, huh? What about me?" She made her point loud and clear.


    Walter understood when he saw Shakira''s eager and sparkling eyes. However, at the same time, he looked sullen and gritted his teeth in frustration. "All you care about is money?"


    Shakira argued her point. "Money is so appealing! Besides, I still owe you so much money. Who knows if I''ll ever pay it all back in this lifetime?"


    Walter hummed with unclear meaning. "Well, then, take your time to pay it back this lifetime. I''m not in a hurry." Shakira was rendered speechless.


    Walter thought for a moment and then said, "If you want to pay it back faster, that''s possible too." Shakira''s eyes


    lit up


    and 1/3


    and


    asked, "What do you mean? Does that mean the intern sry is quite good?"


    3


    Walter lightly pinched Shakira''s check, slightly annoyed. "Don''t you know interns aren''t paid?" Shakira was surprised and said, "What? No pay?" It felt like the sky was falling for Shakira. Walter was amused by Shakira''s puffed-up face and all his previous annoyance disappeared.


    "The Lopez Group has never had an internship training prograth with any university before.


    "This is the first time. You should know that even for interns, the Lopez Group will go all out to develop your work skills and assign you rted projects," said Walter.


    He exined patiently, "There''s no sry for internships, but if you participate in project coborations and achieve results, you can earn bonuses ordingly."


    He paused for a moment and gave a friendly reminder. "The internshipsts for three months. The Lopez Group''s projects usually take about two months to prepare. If you''re quick, a project can be finalized in a month. "The coboration: starts at least in the thousands of dors, and project team members receive bonuses ranging from 0.5% to 3% based on their contributions to the team." Shakira''s eyes, which had dimmed,


    If she put in a bit more effort and suddenly regained their sparkle. "So, at the very least, we can get twenty thousand dors per project, right?"


    She looked like a a little


    She


    Walter leaned in


    I made more money, it shouldn''t be a problem. Shakira was confident in her abilities.


    squirrel under a tree full of fruits, her eyes darting around mischievously as she wondered where to start collecting, plotting mischievously. Her eyes twinkled with amusement.


    in closer, his deep and maic voice almost hypnotic as he spoke slowly. "There''s another way to earn more bonuses. Interested?"


    Shakira nodded eagerly without hesitation, her eyes sparkling. "What way?"


    Walter''s handsome face slowly broke into a smile, full of temptation. "Stay by my side and be my special assistant. For every project I handle, you''ll receive matching bonuses." He thoughtfully added a hint. "Every week, I handle at least ten projects from all the departments."N?velDrama.Org content.


    Each project earned twenty thousand dors. Ten projects a week. Four weeks a month. There was a three-month internship!!!


    Shakira gulped hard as if she saw Walter sitting in the office, continuously spitting out coins... It was too tempting! Who could resist this?!


    Shakira blinked and said, "I..."


    Before she could finish, Walter took a small step back, increasing the distance between them. The previously thick and intense atmosphere seemed to cool down instantly with his move. Shakira was puzzled and heard Walter say in a clear and calm voice. "However, for an intern to transfer to the CEO''s office is not that simple."


    Shakira sensed a bit of a cat-and-mouse game. She feigned innocence and asked, "Oh? So, how can someone get into the CEO''s office? Is there a test or review?"


    Walter shook his head slowly and said, "I must personally approve it."


    "Oh..." said Shakira.


    She moved a little closer, tilting her head with a sincere expression, and asked, "So what would it take, Mr. Lopez, for you to agree?"


    This time, she took the initiative. Walter could feel her breath on his Adam''s apple. It was barely noticeable, yet it sent a tingling sensation through him as if it was reaching deep inside.


    His breathing instinctively tightened, trying to maintain hisposure, yet he couldn''t help but lower his head, leaning towards her.


    "I''m not into bribery, but..." His lips casually brushed the corner of Shakira''s eye, leaning in close to her ear. His voice was low and gentle. "Do you rem

 Chapter 200

    Shakira''s eyes were misty and dreamy. Hearing Walter''s words, she lifted her head in a daze. Looking at Walter''s captivatingly handsome face, she seemed to think seriously for moment before replying. "I remember everything." Walter nodded with satisfaction and said, "Okay." Then, he just stared at Shakira steadily, providing a clear hint.


    Shakira almostughed out loud. She had a mischievous idea and wanted to tease Walter. Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she blinked and innocently asked, "So I have to bribe you with what I learnedst night?" Walter let out a soft "Hmm" from his throat. Shakiraughed to herself even more and said, "Alright then..." Her voice softened as she lifted her body, inching toward Walter''s perfectly shaped lips. Walter nced down slightly, watching Shakira intently. Almost unconsciously, he leaned forward, making it easier for her to move closer.


    However, just as Shakira was about an inch away, she suddenly braked. "No way, Mr. Lopez is a man of his word, honest and upromising. How can I ruin your lifelong good name? This kind of thing. I won''t... mmph! Shakira hadn''t even finished her words when Walter realized he had been tricked. He was embarrassed and angry, pressed the back of Shakira''s head with hisrge hand, and delivered a hard kiss. Struggling to catch her breath and keep up the pace, all Shakira could do was regretfully cry out to the sky...


    Not far behind, Sean saw Shakira''s Cullinan drive into Easke Valley Estate. He frowned in confusion and thought, ''Could it be that Shakira had already moved into the vi?


    ''But why doesn''t she tell me? If I had known she was living there, I would have gotten a nanny to take care of her!


    Xanthe, who hadn''t spoken a word during the whole trip, was very anxious. As they got closer to the vi, her heart felt like it was in her throat. Suddenly, she had a bright idea and said, "Ah!"


    She suddenly bent over, holding her stomach. Sean, who had been lost in thought, was startled by Xanthe''s sudden action and quickly slowed down the car. "What''s wrong with you?"


    Xanthe groaned with her body bent over. "I have a stomachache" Sean''s expression changed. "Are you going to..."


    Xanthe said, "Probably..."


    "Oh,e on! Don''t do it here... Ugh, what a hassle. Just hold on I''ll take you to the shopping mall outside!" Seeing Xanthe''s pained expression, Sean was frightened.


    He didn''t continue following Shakira. Instead, he quickly turned the wheel, made a turn, and drove out of the neighborhood toward the nearby shopping center.


    Bending down and secretly watching outside from the corner of her eye, Xanthe breathed a sigh of relief. She had beenining for quite a while when Sean finally parked the car in the underground parking lot. Upon hearing the door m shut, Xanthe immediately dropped her act.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    She was thinking of finding an excuse to slip away when, out of nowhere, Sean came around, opened the passenger and without saying a word, unbuckled her seatbelt, lifting her up in a princess carry. Xanthe was so surprised by Sean''s smooth and uninterrupted actions that she forgot to react.


    door,


    Xanthe was tall and always had a heavier build because of her dense bones. Yet Sean, who seemed so frail, picked her up


    III


    =U


    effortlessly and held her securely without a single wobble..


    As Xanthe raised her head, she waspletely dazed. Absent-mindedly gripping Sean''s shoulder, Xanthe''s already bright eyes widened. "Why... Why are you carrying me?"


    Sean was at a loss for words. "You can''t help it, can you? If you walk, won''t you be in more of a rush?" With that, he kicked the door shut, spotted the entrance sign, and quickly carried Xanthe onto the esctor.


    By the time Sean carried Xanthe to thedies'' restroom door, Xanthe was still a bit flustered. Sean waved his hand in front of Xanthe, looking panicked. "Don''t tell me you''ve already..."


    "No way!" Xanthe immediately red at Sean, then realized people were watching her. "I''m going in now!" She said, quickly ducked her head and rushed inside.


    Sean scratched his head with a slightly embarrassed expression but sighed with relief. "Looks like it was really urgent. It''s a good thing I was fast." Otherwise, he would have lost both his car Xanthe hid for about ten minutes before leisurelying out. She assumed Sean would have left by now, but to her surprise, Sean was still waiting in the family lounge area.


    Sean was looking down at his phone when he casually nced up and noticed Xanthe staring at him. He stood up and walked towards Xanthe with long strides.


    "Are you still not feeling well?" Sean asked, noticing Xanthe''s odd expression. "Do you want to go to the hospital?"


    "Oh, I''m fine... Uh, thank you." Xanthe rarely thanked anyone. She felt a bit awkward after expressing gratitude to Sean.


    "No problem, I just didn''t want you to shit in my car," Sean replied bluntly.


    "Oh..." In an instant, any awkwardness Xanthe felt disappeared entirely.


    "Since you''re okay, let''s go. Are you getting a cab back?" asked Sean. Xanthe nced around and said, "Maybeter. I want to see if there''s something good to eat here. I''m starving." "Alright." Sean nodded and without saying another word, turned and headed out.


    *


    Watching Sean walk away without looking back, Xanthe couldn''t help but chuckle. "He''s kind of nice, waiting for me to finish up before leaving."


    Sean hadn''t gone far when his phone started buzzing again with notifications. With no other option, he answered the call. "Mom, what''s up now? I''m busy."


    Eve immediately said, "I just called yourpany. You didn''t show up today. What are you busy with?"


    Sean stubbornly insisted, "...I''m just busy. Alright!"


    Eveined with irritation, "Sean! You''re no spring chicken. Can you stop making me worry? You''ve been single your whole life and never even considered dating.


    "Your dad and I set up meetings for you, and you refuse to go. Are you trying to drive me crazy just to get your hands on my inheritance?"


    Sean stood with one hand on his hip, holding his phone, and couldn''t help but roll his eyes. "Your assets were all earned by my hard work.


    "I make plenty of money myself and couldn''t care less about that little bit of money you have."


    "You cheeky kid! You''re just doing this to annoy me!" Eve said through gritted teeth on the phone, "You''re not going on blind dates, huh? Fine! Just wait. If you refuse to date, then I''ll do it myself!"


    III


    §à


    Just as Eve finished, Victor''s anxious voice came through. "Honey, don''t be upset. I''m still capable. If you want a baby, I can manage that too!"


    "Get lost! With your genes, the baby would be just as useless as Sean!" said Eve.


    "Sean was an ident. The next one will be better, dear!" said Victor.


    Sean was speechless.

 Chapter 201

    Listening to his parents start debating having another child over the phone, Sean felt his temples pounding. In the end, he was the first to give up.


    "Alright, dear mother, I give in." Sean finally gave up, figuring he might as well dy any further objections for now. "I''ll go on the dates, alright?" "Really?" Eve still sounded skeptical and asked, "You''re not just putting me off, are you?"


    Sean was caught off guard and almost coughed. "No way! Is that really how you see your son? As unreliable?"


    Eve didn''t budge and said, "Yes, that''s right."


    Sean was speechless.


    Sean sighed helplessly, "If that''s your opinion, I guess there''s nothing I can do."


    "It''s not hard to convince me." Eve said firmly, "Where are you? I''ll see if there''s a suitable girl nearby for you to have lunch with."


    Sean was speechless.


    "No, Mom, I..." said Sean.


    "If you refuse, it shows you''re just humoring me," said Eve.


    "I''m at Easke za," said Sean.


    He could hear the rustling of pages being flipped over the phone. Less than half a minuteter, Eve cheerfully said, "Perfect.


    now." Yetta of the Zade family lives nearby and can meet


    you


    Eve briefly exined, "Her parents and grandpa are well-known educators in the country. She just returned frompleting her master''s degree in Mandslia. She''s a top student! Talk to her about academic stuff to make a good impression." Just as Eve finished talking, Sean received a message with Yetta''s phone number. "Let me know your thoughts after lunch."


    After assigning the task, Eve promptly hung up.


    Sean stared at the number on his phone, feeling a bit confused.


    Fifteen minutester, Sean met the hurried Yetta at a restaurant on the sixth floor of the mall.


    Yetta came in a hurry. Her makeup had a few smudges but her demeanor was graceful, like a typical debutante.


    "Hello, Mr. Reynolds, it''s a pleasure to meet you," said Yetta.


    Yetta sat across from Sean. After a calm and brief observation, her eyes brightened with liveliness.


    "Your mom showed me your photo, but I didn''t expect you to look even younger and more handsome in person," said Yetta.


    Sean nodded casually and signaled to the waiter. "Let''s order."


    The menu was in a foreignnguage. After ordering a few simple dishes, Yetta passed the menu to Sean. "Your turn, Mr. Reynolds."


    Sean gave it a quick look, hesitated for a moment, and randomly pointed at a dish.


    A brief awkwardness shed across the waiter''s face. He said, "Si, are you sure you want to order this?"


    Sean was impatient and said, "Yep, is there a problem?"


    The waiter smiled and exined, "That''s two songs. If you''re sure, I''ll go ahead and ce the order."


    Yetta''s look of admiration instantly froze.


    A hint of annoyance crossed Sean''s face as he lost his patience and began to vent. "What''s going on here? Can''t you bring me a menu that I can read?"


    The waiter was almost in tears and said, "I''m really sorry, sir. There''s a notice at the entrance that we only provide a menu in the foreignnguage."


    Sean''s eyebrows were furrowed in anger. "Oh really, are you mocking me?!"


    Seeing that everyone in the restaurant was looking over, the embarrassed Yetta couldn''t stand it anymore. She forced a smile and said, "Let me help you. What would you like to eat, Mr. Reynolds?"


    Sean nced at Yetta and said, "Alright, as a favor to you, I''ll have some meat. Just order me some. Oh, make it rare and bloody. It tastes better that way."


    Yetta''s face turned several shades of red before she smoothly ced the order.


    The waiter, relieved as if pardoned, left after thanking them repeatedly.


    Sean took a sip of lemon water, leaned back in his chair, swinging his leg under the table nonchntly. "I heard from my


    abroad?" mom that you just came back from your master''s degree


    Yetta nodded and said, "Yes, a double major in Biology and Finance."


    "Wow, that''s impressive. You study two unrted subjects." Sean eximed and winked at Yetta.


    He continued, "Is studying abroad really just an easy ride? If I had known, I would''ve gone overseas too. My mom insisted I study here, but in the end, we still had to donate a building to the school for me to graduate." "Heh." Yetta had no idea how to respond, so she just smiled politely.


    Sean, still searching for a topic, continued, "So, how old are you? A master''s degree takes a few years, right? Even if it''s a bit shorter abroad, looking at yourugh lines, you''d be around twenty-eight?"


    1. me. Women go for women older than He started to babble a bit hesitantly. "Twenty-eight. So you''re older than me. I don''t age quickly. After marriage and kids, it gets faster. Wouldn''t that make me seem like some guy who''s just mooching off a sugar mama?


    "But looking at your face shape, you seem a bit mature. I guess your appearance won''t change too quickly in a few years. With regr beauty treatments, you should maintain your look for a while. Seems alright. Not a big issue."


    Sean looked Yetta up and down, makingments about her appearance.


    Yetta was rendered speechless. Her smile was starting to fade, and it was getting harder to maintain.


    Sean grinned to himself, wondering how to keep pushing Yetta''s buttons.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    At this moment, his eyes suddenly lit up, and said, "Hey, Xanthel


    Xanthe was justing out of a small private room in the restaurant when she heard the shout. She turned to see Sean looking at her like a dog that just found a huge bone.


    She walked over, giving Scan a curious look, and noticed the girl across looking displeased. Just as she was about to speak, Sean quickly said, "Weren''t you downstairs shitting? What brings you up here?" Yetta and Xanthe were speechless.


    Xanthe thought, ''What on earth is he up to?''


    "Sorry!" In the end, Yetta couldn''t take it any


    and stood up abruptly, refusing to endure it any longer.


    She used herst bit of politeness and said, "I''m sorry, Mr. Reynolds, I don''t think we''re a good match. I wish you the best in finding your perfect partner."


    After saying that, she left a few hundred-dor bills on the table and walked out confidently.


    Xanthe finally realized what was happening and broke into a big smile. "You''re going on a blind date?"


    ''If he seeds, then he won''t have time to keep tabs on Shakira, right?'' thought Xanthe.


    Thinking about it, Xanthe couldn''t help feeling regretful. Why didn''t it work out?


    I


    3

 Chapter 202

    Sean thought, ''Finally got rid of her!'' He was in a great mood, called over a waiter, and ordered two signature dishes. The waiter was shocked, wandering off with a dazed expression. Noticing the regret on Xanthe''s face, Sean squinted at her. "What, you were hoping we''d hit it off?"


    "Of course... not," Xanthe said, sitting down where Yetta had just been. "But seriously, you left and now you''re back for another blind date?"


    "Mom''s orders," Sean sighed.


    Xanthe said, "Oh, got it."N?velDrama.Org content.


    Sean took out his phone and briefly updated on the blind date. "Yetta was gracious and talented, but unfortunately, she didn''t take a liking to your son."


    Eve sounded exasperated. "Already done? You better not be messing around!"


    Sean feigned innocence. "I swear, she was just too smart for me. I mean, I barely kept up. Honestly, her sticking around as long as she did was a miracle."


    Realizing his mom wouldn''t give up, Sean pretended to be resigned. "I really tried, but maybe next time''s the charm. If you could pick someone else, I''d greatly appreciate it. Maybe with a bit more prep time?"


    Eve thought, ''He even hints at the next date!'' She wanted to scold him, but hearing him voluntarily agree to another blind date softened her a bit. It was rushed, so, normally, they didn''t click. "Alright, I''ll pick carefully this time and let you know." "Great, thanks, Mom. I''ll do my best next time, Sean replied, gratefully hanging up.


    Xanthe was munching on fries, watching Sean''s quick switch of moods. His speed was impressive enough to make her bow down. "Aren''t you worried your mom will throw a bunch of dates your way since you''re pushing her like that?" Sean raised an eyebrow like she just didn''t get it. "As long as I date fast enough, they can''t catch me."


    Xanthe thought, ''Wow, talk about a numbers game!'' She gave him a thumbs up.


    "But handling all these dates alone is tricky." Sean scratched his chin, then suddenly smirked at her. "I think we could have a new partnership."


    Xanthe leaned back, wary. "You want me to fend off your blind dates, don''t you?"


    Sean said, "Knew you''d get it, being Shakira''s best friend and all


    Xanthe puffed up with pride. "Of course! Hanging with Shakira, I pick up on things." Then she realized she''d fallen into Sean''s trap. "No way, I''m not doing something so shady."


    "Not going to help? Fine." Sean sighed dramatically, "Then I guess I''ll have to ask Shakira for help."


    Xanthe immediately exploded. "No way, you can''t ask Shakira!"


    Sean looked at Xanthe, starting to piece things together. "Seems like you don''t like me hanging out with her. What''s your angle?"


    Xanthe nearly bit her tongue, eyes darting nervously, then she clenched her fist, determined. "I just don''t want you bothering Shakira. I''m her bestie, I can handle this small stuff for her." Sean, of course, had no real n to ask Shakira. He thought, ''No way, she might just punch me if Idare.


    Seeing Sean stay silent, Xanthe reluctantly agreed, "Fine, I''ll help you. Just don''t bother Shakira."


    Mission aplished, Sean clinked his ss against hers. "Pleasure doing business."


    Xanthe huffed, gulping down her water. She thought, ''Another day of protecting my favorite couple!''


    Felix arrived at the venuete and noticed his parents'' sour expressions. He couldn''t help but ask, "What happened?"


    Reba''s face was stiff, and Cody was silent, unwilling to discuss The tension was thick. Seeing this, Yvette''s already low spirits caused her eyes to redden further.


    Felix exchanged nces with Finn. Felixforted Yvette and took her to another car.


    When they got home, Selena was cheerfully ordering a feast in the kitchen, eager to congratte Yvette. "Yvette, where did you finally decide to intern?"


    Yvette sniffed and smiled, "Grandma, it''s Lopez Group."


    Selena said, "Wow! Lopez Group is great. Interning there is a huge opportunity. Our Yvette is amazing, scoring second in the ss and securing an internship at Lopez Group. Grandma will give you 300 thousand dors to prepare for work. You can''t be outdone!" Yvette was overjoyed. "Thank you, Grandma."


    Selena replied, "Come on, let''s eat before it gets cold-"


    "Mom, I''m not hungry. I''ll head to my room first," Reba suddenly said, heading upstairs.


    Cody nced at his wife''s back. "Mom, you eat with the kids. I''ll keep herpany."


    Selena sensed something was up, her brow furrowing immediately. "Felix, bring your parents to the study."


    "Okay," replied Felix.


    In the end, Finn was the only one left to keep Yvettepany at the banquet. But he didn''t eat much before he was interrupted by a call from work and had to step out.


    Left alone, Yvette clutched her fork, her expression shifting from one of sadness to one of dark resentment.


    A momentter, Yvette silently crept upstairs, stopping outside the study. Inside, arguments could be heard.


    Reba was furious. "Without the Nelson family, what right does Shakira have to get close to Walter? Now she''s using the Lopez family to pressure us, making us lose face!" Selena spoke in a low voice, "This whole mess was started by Yvette. If we''d known Shakira was top of her ss, none of you should have gone, letting her outshine you!"


    She sighed, both regretful and angry. "She''s not of Nelson blood, after all. However much we''ve raised her, she still pales next to Shakira. Pity that stubborn girl, wasting our Nelson genes!"


    Outside the door, Yvette clenched her fists tightly. She thought, They areparing me to Shakira, looking down on me? Do they really think I am not as good as Shakira?


    ''Reba ims she''d nurture me and be proud of me, but it is all to feed her own vanity. She is just angry that Shakira doesn''t recognize her. She isn''t truly treating me like a daughter or caring for me! "They call me their precious granddaughter and daughter, spend money on my health, and show their kindness, all to maintain appearances, to be praised as a noble and united family.


    019


    ''But when trouble arises, all they do is me me for not being a ru Shakira is better!


    ''If Shakira hadn''t cut ties, if she ever crawled back to them... somed


    "They are all just like that wretched Mitchell-hypocritical, selfish, t

 Chapter 203

    Yvette thought, ''Alright! You all look down on me, don''t you? One day, I''ll make you all regret the words you''ve spoken today!'' Yvette clenched her teeth, her eyes brimming with surging resentment, and she turned resolutely, leaving without looking back. She missed it, the room where Reba spoke up after a while, her voice choking, "But after all, even though she''s not our biological child, Yvette is the one we raised, and she''s better than that ungrateful Shakira."


    "Yvette may notpare to Shakira, but she has potential and ability, and she will have a promising future. As long as I guide her well, she can bring honor to our family," Reba said firmly, her eyes shing with a deep obsession. Seeing this, Selena sighed, "Well, she is our Nelson family''s child now, so let it be!


    "Don''t put too much pressure on yourself. It''s already a blessing for a child to grow up healthy. In the future, finding her an excellent and reliable husband to ensure her lifelong happiness would be good enough, better than Mitchell..." Selena''s voice suddenly stopped mid-sentence.


    Mentioning Mitchell, the atmosphere in the study became deathly silent.


    There hasn''t been any news from Mitchell for so long, and the Nelson family has gone from full of hope to a tacit agreement not to mention him. No one dared to touch this taboo topic.


    Sure enough, Reba''s eyes turned red instantly, and tears rolled down her cheeks without warning.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Cody hugged his wife''s shoulder tightly,forting her in a low voice, "Alright, the kids are going to be on a variety show in a few days, let''s not talk about this anymore, so they won''t be distracted."


    Then, Cody looked at Felix, carefully instructing, "You take care of your sister more. Yvette is gentle and kind by nature, and although she didn''t say anything, she can''t help but think more about today''s incident." Felix nodded solemnly, "Okay, I will."


    That night, Yvette received a reward of 300 thousand dors from Selena and another 300 thousand dors transferred by Cody, saying it was for her to buy things needed for the show.


    Yvette sweetly thanked them on WhatsApp, but as soon as she released the voice button, her expression instantly turned cold.


    She thought, ''What hypocritical Nelsons, thinking they could tie me down with this petty cash because I still have some use to them, and that I will be grateful? How ridiculous!''


    Yvette epted the money, thought for a moment, and then messaged Gideon, whom she had added as a friend but had never contacted before.


    Yvette texted, [Have you guys returned to Crescentville?]


    Gideon quickly replied with a respectful attitude, [Yes, Ms. Nelson, we came back a few days ago.] He then detailed their recent gains to Yvette.


    Seeing Gideon fawning over her like a dog wagging its tail, Yvette looked down on him from the bottom of her heart. However, seeing that they had made a tidy sum this time, she couldn''t help but be tempted.


    She instructed, You remember to send me the business n once it''s ready, and also, I have some money on hand that I''ll invest as well, but you need to draw up an additional stock contract for me.]


    Gideon agreed, [Yes, I will definitely make a business n that satisfies Ms. Nelson.]


    After Yvette, like a fox borrowing tiger''s might, issued her orders she was content and continued to tinker with her beauty and skincare regimen..


    Casino Penthouse Crystal Pce.


    Gideon gazed down at the opulent scene below from the panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, casually tossing aside his battered phone.


    Kendrick, dressed in a dark green suit, leaned over to report, "Mr. Brooks, the head of Pueru has personally written a letter of thanks, expressing gratitude for your full investment in the renovation project of the old city of Pueru." Gideon, with his legs crossed and anguid posture, replied, "You handle these social matters; I have no interest."


    Kendrick nodded, "Yes, Mr. Brooks."


    His hands, d in ck silk gloves, entuated his slender knuckles and the outline of his hands, exuding an elegant and sinister charm. Propping his chin, he pondered for a while. Then he asked, "Kendrick, what do you think is the most profitable business to engage in in Crescentville right now?"


    Kendrick thought for a moment and replied, "Crescentville has a fast pace of life, but the locals value their cuisine. Perhaps the food industry could be a good choice in the short term."


    Gideon smiled slowly. "Kendrick, you''d be wasted if you didn''t go into business."


    Kendrick''s face lit up with a smile, radiating a loving glow. "For an old servant like me, taking care of Mr. Brooks is more important than anything else."


    Gideon did not argue. Kendrick was the butler who raised his father and had a deep bond with him, loyal to the core. His father, fearing he wouldn''t take care of himself, had sent Kendrick to be by his side.


    ****


    As the winter break began and the weather turned colder, when Walter got up in the morning, Shakira also seized the opportunity to linger in bed.


    Her reason was that she pointed to her dry lips and dered with conviction, "Work-rted injury, requesting permission to sleep for three more hours."


    Seeing her lying in the middle of the bed, sprawled out with her eyes closed, in a helplessly mischievous pose, Walter couldn''t help but chuckle. "Alright, we''ll stop practicing at night and switch to the morning, so you won''t have to rest with an injury." Shakira bolted upright. "That won''t do!" She had to practice either way and not being allowed to sleep in made her feel too disadvantaged.


    Walter raised an eyebrow slightly, leisurely saying, "Seeing you sleep so soundly, I don''t feel like going to work either." Shakira was speechless. She thought, ''What kind of twisted logic is that? I, who don''t earn money, is just sleeping at home- what''s the big deal! What a wicked capitalist!''


    Seeing her pouting and ring at him, Walter was in high spirits andughed out loud.


    Benji had given him a bunch of lip balms he''d bought that day, and Walter picked a strawberry-vored one. He twisted open the tube and carefully applied it to her slightly dry lips.


    Watching as her lips regained their luster, he felt like he''dpleted a piece of handiwork, satisfied as he ruffled her messy


    hair. "Alright, I''m not joking with you anymore, sleep."


    Shakira, holding the nket, revealed a pair of sparkling eyes and was sweetly ttered, "Mr. Lopez, work hard to make money today." Walter seemed to see countless money in her fluttering eyes and couldn''t help butugh, "I''m off."


    Shakira happily rolled around on the bed. After all her efforts, she managed to imbue the bed, which carried Walter''s scent, with her own fragrance. Shakira was tired too, curled up in the nket, and prepared to take another nap.


    At noon, Levi gently knocked on the door, his voice soft. "Ms. Nelson, it''s time to get up for lunch. You''ll get a stomachache if you stay hungry for too long."


    Shakira stretched and walked to the door, rubbing her eyes. "Levi, I''m not hungry yet..."


    Levi covered his mouth and chuckled, having anticipated Shakira''s response. He held up his phone and yed the voice message from Walter, which came right on time. "Shakira, you''ve been sleeping for three hours. Get up and eat."


    With a jolt, Shakira instantly became alert. She thought, ''Well, well, Walter is really that precise, isn''t he? Three hours on the dot!''


    She quickly replied to Walter''s voice message on Levi''s phone, grumbling, "I''m up, I''m up.¡±


    Levi turned his face away to suppress hisughter. He thought, They say every pot has a lid, and it seems that not only could Ms. Nelson tame Mr. Lopez, but Mr. Lopez also has Ms. Nelson wrapped around his finger.


    ''It looks like the vi will soon be filled with the wails of a baby!''


    After lunch, Shakira took a stroll around the crocodile pond.


    Bored, she received a message from Kevin on her phone, asking if she had time to visit the production site early and get familiar with it, as the official recording would start in three days

 Chapter 204

    Shakira agreed to the job and sent a message to Walter before heading out.


    She couldn''t exactly say she was going to a TV recording, so she mentioned picking up a winter break gig with a show crew. Walter didn''t mind but reminded her to stay safe.


    The variety show Mending Hearts was being shot at Haruca Hospital, styled as a documentary capturing a day in the life of doctors across various departments.


    Before signing the contract, Shakira confirmed the filming approach with Kevin, and with Matthew''s help, she agreed to work in the traditional medicine clinic of Haruca Hospital for three days to meet filming needs.


    Today, Shakira was just scoping out her office for the uing days. Since it wasn''t an official shoot day, she didn''t have to meet with the crew and came as she was.


    Even on a weekday, Haruca Hospital, the top-rated facility in Crescentville, was bustling. Cars queued to get in, so Shakira got out early and strolled toward the hospital. Suddenly, she noticed something, squinting slightly. In one of the queued cars was Jaslene and Fiona in a ck BMW.


    As traffic stalled, Fiona checked the time on her phone repeatedly. Then, as if struck by an idea, she rolled down her window and signaled to a traffic cop nearby. "What''s up, sweetheart?" Jaslene asked, concerned.


    "Just hold on a sec, Grandma." Fiona winked yfully.


    When the cop approached, Fiona clutched her chest, panting slightly, with a convincingly pained expression. "Officer, can you help me? My heart''s racing so fast, I feel terrible."


    Seeing her distress, the cop didn''t hesitate. "Hang in there, ma''am. I''ll clear a path for you now."


    With that, he rushed ahead, blowing his whistle and gesturing for the cars to make their way along the crowded threene road. The Banks family driver hit the gas, zooming into the hospital. Once the window was up, Fiona showed no trace of being unwell. Instead, she turned to Jaslene with a proud smile. "Am I smart or what, Grandma?"


    Jaslene chuckled, surprisingly pleased with Fiona''s antics. She tapped her beloved granddaughter''s nose, not holding back her praise, "Truly clever, just like my granddaughter should be!" Fiona said, "Of course!"


    Shakira watched the whole scene unfold, clearly displeased with Fiona.


    She thought, ''Fiona is a doctor herself; how could she do something so hical? Everyone waiting in line is in a hurry to get medical attention-there could be critically ill patients among them.


    ''By cutting in line for convenience, Fiona disrupts the order, potentially dying care for others. In a way, she is putting lives at risk! And it isn''t her first time doing it.


    ''Moreover, as the matriarch of the Banks family, Jaslene not only failed to correct her granddaughter but encouraged her instead.


    Recalling Jaslene''s carefree smile as the car passed by, Shakira thought about how natural it all seemed to Fiona and Jaslene. For people like them,


    s behavior was simply routine.


    0000 91%]


    Shakira''s expression darkened, lips pressed tightly together, as she silently walked into the hospital. After asking the security guard for directions, she headed straight to the traditional medicine department.


    In an era where technology was more dominant, the traditional inedicine department was quieter, with only a few visitors. Crew members were busy setting up without disturbing the ongoing work.


    Approaching a crew member, Shakira asked, "Hi, can you tell me where Lonely Bird''s office is supposed to be?"


    The crew guy was shocked, almost biting his tongue, as he looked at the youthful Shakira. "You-you''re Lonely Bird?"


    Before Shakira could respond, a mockingugh came from behind. "If she''s Lonely Bird, then Felix must be Mr. Goodman."


    Shakira thought, ''What a coincidence'' She turned to see Yvette and Felix approaching.


    The crew guy gave Shakira an awkward look.


    Shakira calmly exined, "I''m not Lonely Bird. I''m here to set up the office as instructed."


    Yvette blurted out, "Who told


    you to


    do that?"


    Shakira nced at her. "Do I owe you an exnation?"


    Yvette was taken aback, a sh of malice in her eyes. But she quickly masked it with a practiced disy of innocence. "Shakira, can''t we even talk nicely now?" Ignoring her, Shakira again asked the crew guy her question.


    He pointed to the office on the left, but before Shakira could move, Felix blocked her, his face showing disdain. "Lonely Bird''s office doesn''t need you to set it up."Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Seeing Felix''s expression-as if her mere presence would taint his idol''s office-Shakira almostughed.


    She remembered her past life, trying hard to please the Nelson family and cater to everyone''s likes.


    Knowing Felix admired her, she "identally" exchanged email contacts with him.


    She would stay upte, poring over medical texts she wasn''t familiar with, meticulously helping Felix with his medical queries and even assisting him in oveing a research bottleneck on a patent. Yet, until her untimely death, Felix never knew she was Lonely Bird.


    Instead, he remained grateful to Yvette, thinking it was Yvette who helped him connect with Lonely Bird. Shakira thought, ''I was aplete fool back then, making way for someone else to bask in the glory!" Shakira looked at Felix, her expression icy. "What''s your connection to Lonely Bird that you get to boss people around?"


    Felix was taken aback, disbelief in his eyes.


    Unbothered by the siblings'' madness, Shakira headed straight to the office.


    Felix snapped out of it, fuming, and followed her.


    Yvette, internally thrilled at Shakira crossing Felix, tagged along as well.


    As Shakira opened the door, a few chubby shadows darted past, leaping out the window.


    She paused, momentarily stunned, noticing the desk was a mess with scattered medical files. Two tiny, scruffy newborn kittens were tugging at the papers, arching their fuzzy little backs and hissing at her. 2/3


    w.


    Blinking in disbelief, Shakira thought, ''How adorable!''


    3

 Chapter 205

    Shakira''s sharp gaze swept over Yvette and Felix as she stepped forward to shield the tiny kittens.


    Sensing hostility from the humans at the door, the kittens hid behind Shakira, huddling into little balls. The sight melted Shakira''s heart.


    Yvette, chilled by Shakira''s cold stare, instinctively edged closer to Felix, clutching his shirt hem with a pitiful, pouty look.


    She said, "Felix, I didn''t mean to harm the kittens, but this is a hospital. They could carry viruses, and patients here have weak immune systems. This is also Dr. Lonely Bird''s office. Keeping them here could interfere with his work." Felix''s expression was equally frosty. Lonely Bird was his idol, a genius he admired deeply. This was his chance to meet and work with him, so anything rted was important to him.


    Every word Yvette spoke hit his sore spots. With a warning tone, he said, "Shakira, you''re just a gofer and have no say in this office. If you want to keep the kittens, take them home. Don''t dirty Dr. Lonely Bird''s ce." Shakira almostughed at that. "Right back at you, Felix. What qualifies you?"


    The sarcasm in her voice made Felix lose hisposure. "Shakira-"


    "What''s going on here?" Kevin''s irritated voice came from the hallway, growing closer. "Don''t you know this is a hospital? Why are you shouting?"


    Entering with a scowl, he stopped when he saw the confrontation. He thought, ''Why didn''t anyone tell me Dr. Lonely Bird is inside?''


    Yvette and Felix didn''t notice the slight annoyance on Kevin''s face. Eager to tell her side, Yvette put on her most delicate voice,ining about her good intentions being misunderstood.


    Yvette said, "Mr. Jones, you came just in time. This temporary worker hired by the crew ignores hospital rules and insists on keeping stray cats in Dr. Lonely Bird''s office. We simply can''t convince her otherwise."


    Kevin frowned. He thought, "Temporary worker? Do people from the Nelson family look down on people like this?'' His expression wasn''t pleasant, but Yvette thought he was upset with Shakira and waited to see her reprimanded. Before Kevin could speak, Shakira said, "Mr. Jones, I''ll take care of the kittens. They won''t interfere with the hospital or filming."This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Kevin rxed, thinking, ''I am confident in Dr. Lonely Bird''s judgment. "Alright, do what you need to do," he agreed without hesitation.


    Yvette, expecting Kevin to deal with Shakira or even throw her out, almost lost herposure. She wondered, ''How could this be happening?''


    Kevin was known for his pride, turning down top actresses in the industry. Even when Reba brought Yvette to visit him, he was courteous but still had his principles.


    But to let Shakira, just a temp, get away with this was beyond Yvette''s imagination. "Mr. Jones, but..."


    "But what? This is Dr. Lonely Bird''s area. He''ll handle any issues. Why are you making such a fuss?" Kevin had run out of patience. "Why are you even here, can''t find the medical offices?


    Yvette instinctively exined, "Mr. Jones, you misunderstand. Felix has admired Dr. Lonely Bird for a long time and wanted


    to-"


    3


    But Kevin had no patience left, cutting her off curtly, "Even if it''s for a reality show, every doctor in this hospital must fulfill their duties without any negligence.


    "If you''re unwilling to cooperate and keep disrupting the order, my little production crew can''t afford to host such bigshots."


    Kevin''s words were dripping with sarcasm. Even though they were in an office, with Shakira present, and plenty of staff, nurses, and patients pecking in from the hallway, Yvette felt her dignity stomped into the ground by Kevin.


    Shocked and furious, she wondered if Kevin had lost his mind, unfairly siding with Shakira and evenshing out at them. ''Does he not acknowledge the Nelson family?''


    Even Felix had never experienced such stringent cold-shouldering. He straightened his back, suppressing the urge to walk out, and humbly apologized, "Mr. Jones is right; we overstepped our bounds."


    Casting a nce at Shakira''s impassive face, he slightly bowed his head. "Sorry for the disturbance." With that, Felix grabbed Yvette and led her out.


    Kevin closed the door and turned to face Shakira, looking apologetic. "Sorry, Dr. Lonely Bird, for the trouble you faced."


    Shakira gently cradled the kittens in her hands, their small, furry bodies looking adorable. She nodded gratefully at Kevin, "Sorry for troubling you, Mr. Jones. It was my fault."


    "Nonsense, this office has always been reserved for you by the hospital, Dr. Lonely Bird. It''s usually unused, with regr cleanings. The recent drop in temperature probably made the stray cats find it cozy and settle here," Kevin exined. Noticing the messy office covered in tiny paw prints and the makeshift nest of printer paper, it was clear the stray cats had been living there for a while.


    Seeing the joy on Shakira''s face as she nced at the kittens, Kevin chuckled, "Didn''t expect Dr. Lonely Bird to be an animal lover. How about taking them home?"


    Shakira shook her head. "They have a mother. I shouldn''t take them. She''ll probablye back for them."


    Kevin nodded, "That makes sense."


    Shakira said, "No worries, I can handle this myself. You go ahead, Mr. Jones."


    "Alright then, I''ll go check on other things. Oh, and we have a new investor joining us today. There''s a dinner meeting tonight. Would you like to join us, Dr. Lonely Bird?" asked Kevin.


    Anticipating Shakira''s refusal, Kevin quickly added, "Mr. Goodman will also be there. It''s just a chance for the crew to get together, no one will know your real identity, Dr. Lonely Bird."


    Shakira replied, "In that case, I''d be happy to join. Thank you, Mr. Jones."


    After Kevin left, Shakira made a temporary nest for the kittens on the window ledge outside. Luckily, it was on the first floor, and there was a little tform below the window. The kittens snuggled up warmly inside a box. Shakira also ordered some milk powder and cat food, nning to feed the kittens until their mother returned.


    By the end of the day, there was still no sign of their mother. Shakira, still worried, set up a camera outside the window connected to an extension cord, allowing her to monitor the nest and the office.


    As she finished, twilight had already set in. She gently stroked the soft, furry heads of the two kittens, feeling warmth in her


    heart.


    "I''m leaving now. Be good and wait for your mom toe back Shakira said.


    The kittens responded as if understanding her.

 Chapter 206

    "Wow, so cute." Shakira reached out and petted the kittens a few more times before resisting the urge to take them home. She thought, "They prefer to stay with their mom, right?'' Shakira touched the chin of a kitten with an orange spot, turned off the office lights, and set off for dinner.


    This was a restaurant right across from Haruca Hospital, built around arge artificialke. One side of theke was a bustling mall, while the other side was the inpatient center.


    The crew had reserved the entire restaurant. Shakira showed her ID and followed the waiter inside. The dining area was filled with staff, and from the equipment they carried, it was clear they were key grip, prop masters, makeup, and so on. Walking through a ss corridor, the waiter knocked on the door of a private room. "Ms. Nelson, please."


    Shakira softly thanked him and stepped into the room. As she entered, about thirty people, sitting around tworge round tables, turned their heads toward her.


    To her left, Shakira spotted Yvette and Felix, both looking visibly surprised by her arrival. Unbothered, Shakira nced around the room, catching eyes with Matthew, who was seated across from the door as an honored guest on the right.


    With just one nce, Matthew looked away and took a sip of wine in his hand, pretending not to know her. In fact, they knew each other very well.


    "Ms. Nelson." Kevin, who was two empty seats away from Matthew, waved at Shakira. "Come here, there''s room." "Okay," Shakira said as she walked over and, after thinking for a moment, sat down next to Kevin. She noticed Matthew nced at her, apanied by a snort. She almostughed and thought, ''What a petty old man!''


    From a distance, Yvette watched, her hands clenched tightly under the table. Felix, beside her, also had an unfriendly expression. "How could she be here?"


    Those seated here were experienced doctors and managers from Haruca Hospital.


    Moreover, at another table was Matthew, along with the main investor, who was the CEO of the Banks family, and some representatives from several smaller investors.


    Both Yvette and Felix thought Shakira didn''t deserve to sit here and have dinner with them. Initially, Felix didn''t care much about his younger sister who had run away from home. However, after Mitchell''s incident, Shakira''s indifference disgusted


    him.


    But this time, Felixpletely disliked Shakira because of her cruelty, disrespect, arrogance, and mercenary. Felix couldn''t understand why Mitchell always defended this snob and why he was obsessed with her.


    Yvette, unaware of the situation, quietly murmured, "This afternoon, Kevin supported Shakira, and now he''s inviting her to be by his side."


    As Yvette was speaking, she instinctively eximed.


    Realizing it might have been impolite, she quickly covered her mouth, but the shock and disappointment emerged from her face. "Could it be that Shakira has done something she shouldn''t have? Kevin''s wife is good friends with mom."


    A female doctor sitting beside Yvette vaguely caught some gossip and leaned in, looking surprised, "You mean that young girl sitting next to Kevin? Do you know her? I thought she was a family member, turns out she''s with Kevin." Yvette waved her hands frantically, shaking her head furiously.


    She had med Shakira entirely but then quickly defended her "No. I overthought it. There''s no way Shakira would do


    something like this. She''s in a passionate rtionship with Mr. Lopez, and they love each other very much."


    The female doctor was in shock. "What? She has a boyfriend and is still hanging out with Kevin? Come on, such a pretty girl. What is the worlding to?" Yvette was more anxious, while Felix looked even colder, full of disdain. "A whore. Yvette, remember, she doesn''t deserve to be your sister."


    Yvette wanted to exin more, but at that moment, someone knocked on the door again. This time, Kevin got up, and everyone instinctively turned to look at the door.


    A man in a sharp suit, with a sapphire brooch on his chest, possessing an exceptional appearance and demeanor, sat in a wheelchair, appearing before everyone. Everyone except for Matthew and Shakira stood up, showing utmost respect, "Mr. Lopez."


    An investor said, "We didn''t expect the additional investor to be Mr. Lopez. It''s such an honor to invest in the same reality show with you."


    Walter ignored their ttery. Given his status, he didn''t need to be overly polite with them. Guiding his wheelchair, Walter rolled right up to Matthew and gave a slight nod. "Matthew." Matthew looked him over with a discerning eye. "You look much better than before. I guess something good must have happened to you."


    1


    Walter''s lips curled up slightly. "You''re right. You should congratte me." As he spoke, he nced subtly at unresponsive Shakira.


    Matthew was even angrier because this little jerk was showing him off.


    Shakira pretended not to notice and quickly drank some water. Her heart thudded the moment Walter appeared. She didn''t expect Walter to quietly invest in the show.


    Kevin beckoned everyone to sit down for dinner. Meanwhile, the female doctor eagerly started gossiping with Yvette. "Is that youngdy''s boyfriend Mr. Lopez? From the Lopez Group? Yvette looked embarrassed. "Yes, yes."


    "Oh,e on! You need to say it earlier. No wonder Kevin takes such good care of her. She''s the big boss''s darling."Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    The female doctor gave Yvette a slightly probing look, her tone quite resentful. "You im to know her, but you don''t know their rtionship. Luckily, I didn''t tell other doctors. If so, we''ll offend Mr. Lopez."


    Yvette''s face turned pale, and she looked very upset, her voice trembling. "I-I didn''t know." She sniffed and carefully observed Felix''s expression. "Felix, it''s all my fault. I said the wrong things and wrongly used Yvette, almost causing a disaster."


    Felix didn''t me her, patted her on the shoulder, and said, "Don''t me yourself. It''s not a big deal. Let''s eat first." Yvette wiped her nose and whispered, "Okay."


    The female doctor was at a loss for words, thinking, "What kind of person talks without evidence? You should apologize to that youngdy, not to your brother. Crocodile tears."


    Meanwhile, Liam Jameson, CEO of Banks Group, along with a few minor investors, was ttering Walter and Matthew. proposing several rounds of toasts. Walter remained indifferent, and Matthew gently declined, but that didn''t stop those investors from trying to suck up.


    After a few more drinks, some people were tipsy and became much bolder. Unable to gain any advantage from Walter and


    Matthew, they started to focus on others.


    04 000, 93%


    Liam got drunk as he held a wine ss. He ogled Shakira, who remained radiant by Walter''s side. "Hey, beautiful, are you a

 Chapter 207

    1.93%t


    I


    Under the table, Shakira''s left hand was firmly held by Walter''srge right hand. He casually sipped his red wine while gently squeezing her index finger and softly rubbing the pad of her pinky. Outwardly, he appeared calm and well-mannered. Suddenly, Shakira was called out by Liam sitting across from her, which made her fro she felt a soft pinch on her pinky.


    in irritation. The next mon


    Shakira thought, ''Damn it, you pinch me.'' Shakira wasn''t a milksop. She forcefully pinched his finger back under the table, twisting the skin on his hand with all the strength she had.


    In an instant, Walter''s eyebrows knitted tightly from the unexpected respo strength.''


    He thought, ''Shakira, you really had some


    Nearby, Kevinughed as he joined the conversation, "There''s been a misunderstanding, Mr. Jameson. Ms. Nelson is just a temporary staff for our crew."


    Liam thought, ''Misunderstanding? I''ve seen a lot of women around at business dinners, merely a way to pass the time. But I can''t see many icy women as beautiful as her, with arrogance in her eyes!


    At thest diplomatic summit, Shakira made quite a ssh with her piano performance, leaving an impression on Liam.


    Judging by her age, Liam figured Shakira was a college student or a neer to the working world and was arranged to entertain Mr. Lopez.


    But everyone in Crescentville knew that Mr. Lopez wasn''t interested in women. He was a disabled man, so the most beautiful woman couldn''t entice him. Liam thought it would be better for him to ept Kevin''s goodwill.


    Liamughed and said, "A temp? Oh wow, with such beauty, what a pity she had to run errands. Kevin, for my sake, give the youngdy a chance. I promise she''ll be a superstar."


    As soon as he finished, a few small investors, who wanted to please Liam, agreed, "Miss, Mr. Jameson is so nice to you. You should thank him."


    "Yes, other girls beg for Mr. Jameson''s help, and he doesn''t even nce at them. You''ve got great luck, Miss."


    One of them burst intoughter, "Mr. Jameson, she must get you sprung."


    Liam was smug, his face flushed with alcohol and shining with fat, "Don''t say that. You''ll scare her."


    He stared at Shakira, whose expression was gradually bing sullen. His eyes were still fixed on her, who was extraordinarily charming with anger.


    "I''m just warm-hearted. Miss, no pressure. After dinner, let''s exchange contact info. Whenever mypany has business activities, I can take you to see the world." When Liam was boasting, a teacup flew at him, hitting his forehead forcefully. Liam screamed in pain.


    Liam was about to get mad, but when he saw who had thrown it, his expression changed immediately. "M-Mr. Lopez?"


    A flush appeared on Liam''s face. He spent some time sobering from alcohol and felt as if he had been plunged into an icy pit, shivering all over. "Fi-Fianc¨¦e?"


    He finally realized he had angered the wrong person, and his face turned pale, bowing repeatedly.


    "Oh, it''s a misunderstanding. I don''t know if she''s your fianc¨¦e. Otherwise, I''d never have joked with her like that. I''m so sorry, Mr. Lopez. Please don''t be mad," he said. 07:56 Wed, Nov 6


    164., 93%


    The small investors who were previously agreeing began pleading, "We didn''t recognize your fianc¨¦e, Mr. Lopez. Please forgive us."


    At that moment, Walter held Shakira''s hand and brought her hand onto the table. Their fingers were interlocked, and there were visible red marks on Walter''s pale skin, clearly fresh from being pinched. Walter gave a coldugh, "I''m not angry, but my fianc¨¦e has a bad temper."


    Liam was so frightened that his neck turned red, and he raised his ss toward Shakira, "I apologize to you, Ms. Nelson."


    "If Walter weren''t here, I''m afraid that you wouldn''t be any apologies and would be even more excessive." Shakira''s casual tone made Liam feel cold.


    In a panic, Liam raised his hand and started pping his left and right face. Soon, the red marks stood out clearly on his chubby cheeks.


    Liam said, "It''s all my fault. I shouldn''t have joked about you, Ms. Nelson, and I shouldn''t joke about any woman. My mouth deserves to be pped hard."


    Liam pped himself over ten times, but Walter and Shakira didn''t stop him. So he just gritted his teeth and kept pping. The private room was dead silent. No one dared to make a sound except for the ps from Liam.


    Five minutester, Liam''s hands were smeared with his blood, and his face was swollen. Each time he raised his hand to p, fear made him close his eyes tightly, and his body instinctively twitched in pain.


    Watching it, those small investors were so frightened that they fell to their knees, shaking all over.


    Atst, Walter coldly said, "With so many doctors here, your face should be fine, right?"


    Upon hearing this, Liam''s knees buckled, and he plopped down on the floor, while the doctors at the other table quickly checked him.


    Liam grimaced in pain, barely daring to make a sound, only whispering timidly through clenched teeth, "Thank you, Mr. Lopez, Ms. Nelson."


    After this, Shakira lost her appetite. Walter noticed her mood and nodded slightly to Matthew, "Matthew, we have something to deal with, so we''ll be leaving now."


    Matthew didn''t make a sound when Walter stood up for Shakira He thought that Walter was a real man who knew to protect his woman.


    Matthew looked at their hands tightly held together and nodded "Go ahead."


    Once they got in the car, Walter asked Shakira, "Where are we going?"


    Shakira was puzzled. "Are we not going home?"


    He nced at her stomach and asked, "Are you full?"Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Realizing he wanted to take her for a snack, Shakira''s eyes lit up. I know there''s a street full of food stalls behind Haruca Hospital, but the road is too narrow for cars."


    Walter, being in a wheelchair, couldn''t go either. But Walter didn''t say anything, just asking Brian to drive over there.


    Ten minutester, Brian and a dozen bodyguards each had a bag of snacks, stuffing them into the back seat. Soon, the luxurious Maybach was filled with the aroma of delicious food. Shakira''s mouth watered as she picked up a taco and took a bite, Yummy."


    I 6 ? ?? 93%=


    Halfway through her taco, she remembered her great benefactor beside her and handed it to him, "Want to try some?"


    Walter looked at the strange-smelling taco and furrowed his brows.


    Although Walter often enjoyed high-end food, he hesitated but still took a bite when he met Shakira''s expectant eyes. Walter chewed silently, feeling like he was chewing carpet. Shakira couldn''t help butugh at the expression on his face, as if he wanted to spit it out but didn''t know where to, so he just swallowed.


    "Don''t like it? Well, try some fried Coke," said Shakira.


    "No thanks. I''m not hungry," answered Walter.


    Shakira had sweet chili sauce smeared on her lips, "You''re so busy ying with my hand and didn''t eat much. How can you not be hungry?"


    Walter raised an eyebrow, and taking her cue, he smoothly held her hand again. Observing her slender fingers, he found her nails had a healthy pinkish hue.


    Suddenly, Walter came up with an idea. He took her fingertip and guided it to wipe away the sweet chili sauce at the corner of her mouth. Then, he brought her finger to his lips and gently tasted it.

 Chapter 208

    Just as he imagined, the sauce was sweet and sour. Walter gave a mischievous smile and said, "Seeing something tastier, I''m not interested in the ordinary food."


    Shakira was so startled by his satisfied expression that she dropped her fried Coke. When she snapped back to re quickly pulled her hand back. There was a tingly warmth on the pad of her finger where he had nibbled. /, she


    Shakira instinctively looked ahead at Brian, but Brian had already quickly pulled up the partition. Shakira felt helpless, fearing Walter would do something to her. She hurriedly changed the subject, "Why did you suddenly invest in a variety show?" Walter answered her question with another question, "What do you think?"


    As Shakira put another piece of fried Coke into her mouth, she felt happy. "Could it be because of me?"


    Walter tapped her nose gently, "I''ll allow you to be a little self-centered for once."


    "You didn''t have to do this." Shakira blinked her innocent eyes, already knowing his answer.


    Walter said casually, "The entertainment industry isplicated, different from college. There are a lot of things you can''t expect. Kevin can be trusted, but-" He turned to her, his deep eyes gazing at her.


    After confessing his feelings, he was used to being honest, "I''m afraid you might get hurt."


    Shakira burst intoughter, "Who would dare?"


    "Come on, did you already forget what just happened?" Walter immediately brought up Liam as an example, with clear reasoning.


    Shakira opened her mouth but didn''t know how to refute him, scratching her cheek. "Well, that was an ident. But even if you weren''t there, I wouldn''t be at a disadvantage."


    She paused and nced at him, feeling a bit helpless. "You didn''t have to defend me in such a hurry. After all, Liam is quite valued in the Banks Group. If I wanted to teach him a lesson, I have plenty of tricks up my sleeve."


    Shakira thought, ''For example, I had already nned to lure Liam to a deserted ce after the dinner, give him a good beating, and make him cry for forgiveness.


    Unfortunately, even though she had a n, Walter didn''t give her a chance.


    Walter picked up on her concerns. "Don''t worry. I never looked at Banks Group as anything at all."


    "Yeah, right, you fear nothing, so they''re no big deal. That''s why had the nerve to be so arrogant," said Shakira.


    It was because Shakira knew Walter''s intentions that she didn''t let him off easily. Since Liam dared to make use of his power to insult Shakira in front of people, there must be a lot of girls who have been harmed by him in other entertainment. People like Liam had to be taught a hard lesson, only then would he be restrainedter.


    Walter always enjoyed her ttery. His charming, thin lips curved into a smile, looking quite pleased. He leaned back against the leather seat and suddenly raised his hand to beckon her.


    After all these days with him, she could tell what he would want to do next by his little moves. Shakira giggled and leaned forward, giving him a loud kiss on the lips.


    "It''s your reward," she said with a yful grin and then noticed his suddenly dark expression. She giggled again and pretended to be surprised, "Oh no, I forgot I ate a lot and got oil on my lips." 93%


    Walter shouted with his greasy mouth, "Shakira!"


    "I''m sorry, I''m sorry. Don''t pinch my neck. Itchy! Help!" 000. 93%#Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    There came a scuffling noise from the back seat of the car. Brian, sitting in the driver''s seat, thought, ''It seems that a partition wasn''t enough. Should I change to a soundproofed one?


    Fiona apanied Jaslene in choosing thetest clothes in a luxury fashion store. Jaslene watched Fiona with eyes full of admiration and love, "My granddaughter is beautiful. You look good in everything."


    The salesgirls echoed withpliments. Fiona pouted as she was about to try on the next outfit. But her phone rang from nearby.


    A salesgirl respectfully handed over the phone and drew the curtain to help Fiona change. Fiona answered the call, "Hi, Liam?"


    When the salesgirl was bending down to help Fiona take off her high heels, she was kicked away by Fiona. Fiona''s face twisted with rage, her expression cold. "What? For Shakira, Walter had Liam p himself in public for a whole five minutes?" "Bitch! How dare she make Banks Group''s CEO lose face like this? She''s asking for trouble." said Fiona glowering.


    Jaslene heard Fiona''s voice and had the curtains open. She frowned when she saw the salesgirl sprawled on the floor with a bruise forming on her face.


    "Who are you mad at?" asked Jaslene.


    Fiona threw her phone away and paced back and forth angrily with her hands on her hips. "Shakira, Shakira! Why doesn''t she just die already?"


    "Fiona," Jaslene gently scolded, "This isn''t at home, mind your words."


    Fiona was still fuming, but when she met Jaslene''smanding gaze, Fiona let out a heavy sigh.


    Jaslene stepped forward, gently brushing her curly hair back from her chest, and said quietly, "If someone''s annoying, just find any excuse to send them away. You''re the treasure of the Banks family. It''s not worth getting upset over a poor servant.


    Fiona understood, a delighted expression spreading across her face as she kissed Jaslene on the cheek, "You''re right, Grandma. I know exactly what to do now."


    Though Jaslene was smiling, the malice in her eyes was terrifying. Watching Fiona switch moods so quickly, Jaslene was overjoyed, "Oh, my baby, not angry anymore? Hurry and change your clothes. You can buy anything you want." "Sure." Fiona, now pleased by Jaslene, turned and headed back to the fitting room.


    Jaslene put away her smile and gestured to the store manager, "Since she can''t serve honored guests well, there''s no need to keep her."


    The store manager forced a smile and then had the salesgirl who was lying on the ground dragged out. "Guests are unhappy with you, so you''re fired."


    ***


    Two dayster, Shakira officially joined the crew of Mending Hearts. She hadn''t visited Haruca Hospital these past two days, but she kept an eye on the two little kittens through her phone''s surveince app.


    Unexpectedly, the mother cat didn''te to get them. Shakira thought, ''Could it be that they''ve been stained by my scent?''


    @X 93%


    Shakira had been concerned for two days. When the filming day arrived, she got up very early, packed her backpack, and rushed out the door.


    After getting out of the car, she quickly ducked into a quiet public restroom.


    A momentter, she emerged in a different outfit. She put in color contacts and applied eyeliner to alter the shape her eyes, then wore dark-lensed ck frame sses, a mask, and dressed in ck tight-fitting clothes as she entered t hospital. Work started at eight, but Shakira got there half an hour carly. As soon as she pushed open the office door, the muffled meowing from inside suddenly became clear.


    The little kittens were afraid of the cold and had crawled along the window ledge to get inside. Now they were curling up on the office chair, ying.

 Chapter 209

    Seeing a stranger enter their space, the two little kittens ttened their ears and hissed at Shakira to protect themselves.


    Shakira closed the door behind her and slowly approached them.


    Shakira said, "Hey, little kitties, it''s me." When she was about two feet away, she took out the syringe filled with goat milk that she had prepared in the morning. She said, "You haven''t had milk for two days. Would you like some?"


    She knew the kittens were cautious, so she didn''t get too close. Instead, she extended the syringe and squeezed some goat milk onto their noses.


    The two kittens caught a whiff of the familiar milk scent and changed their attitudes from defensive to obedient. They meowed at Shakira and even tiptoed closer to the syringe.


    Shakira chuckled, "You little gluttons!"


    She held the syringe with both hands and gently pushed the tip into the kittens'' mouths and let them gulp down the milk. Before long, each kitten had finished about three syringes. It was roughly thirty milliliters of goat milk in total for each. The kittens recognized Shakira as the milk hero from thest couple of days. They wagged their tails and meowed as they rubbed against her. They acted cute and tried to get more milk.


    Shakira scooped them up, felt their round little bellies, and said, "No more. Your tummies won''t handle it."


    Shakira yed with them for a while until someone knocked on the door. She put them back in their den outside the window, tossed them a ball of yarn, and turned to answer the door, "Come in."


    She thought it was an early-arrived patient. Shakira''s expression became cold when she saw who it was.


    It was Yvette. She dressed up and put on makeup today. Yvette said, "Dr. Lonely Bird, do you remember me?" Seeing Shakira, Yvette couldn''t hide her excitement.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Yvette said, "You invited me to attend your experiment, but I didn''t pass the health check, so we couldn''t work together."


    Felix walked in behind Yvette in a whiteb coat and tried to maintain aposed demeanor but was unable to hide his excitement and admiration. He finally saw the mysterious Lonely Bird!


    His family members mentioned that Lonely Bird was a young woman, which he found hard to believe. After he saw her, he didn''t find any inconsistency at all. When she stood there, she looked aloof and independent, like a lone star in the sky. Yvette and Felix were obsequious today. It was in stark contrast to the harsh words they had towards Shakira just a few days ago. It was ironic,


    Shakira took out a bottle of alcohol and disinfected her desk and chair without looking up at them. Shakira said, "I remember you."


    Yvette didn''t expect Lonely Bird to be so indifferent towards her Yvette felt like she was putting her warm face against a cold shoulder. However, to earn Felix''s gratitude, Yvette had no choice but to force a smile. Yvette said, "Dr. Lonely Bird, this is my older brother, Felix. He''s also a guest on this show. He has admired your medical talents for many years and is eager to work with you."


    Introduced by Yvette, Felix took a step forward, extended his hand earnestly towards Shakira, and said, "Hello, Dr. Lonely Bird. I''m Felix."


    Shakira put down the bottle of alcohol, nced at Felix, and said. "There''s nothing about me worth admiring."


    Felix said, "Dr. Lonely Bird, you''re too humble. Even Matthew praised you for having an extraordinary talent in medicine that''s rare in a century." Shakira said casually and asked them to leave, "He just boasted. Is there anything else? If not, I need to start my appointments."


    Felix didn''t know what he could do. Yvette looked around the office. Suddenly, Yvette pointed at the window and imed, "They''re still here!" Felix noticed as well and pulled a long face. Yvette stepped forward and said in a concerned but reproachful tone, "Dr. Lonely Bird, my sister is responsible for cleaning your office.


    "She left the kittens here and disturbed your consultations. Please forgive us. We''ll clear out the mess immediately..."


    Before Yvette could finish speaking, Felix came up to grab the kittens. Shakira narrowed her eyes. In a sh, two silver needles flew from Shakira''s hand andnded on Felix''s wrist. Felix felt a sudden tingling in his arm, turned looked at Shakira in disbelief, and said, "Dr. Lonely Bird


    Shakira''s voice was colder than before. She said, "Get out. I''ll warn you only once.


    Yvette was terrified, pulled the stiff Felix to leave, and said, "Felix, let''s leave here!"


    In the hallway, Yvette was shocked to see the needles on Felix''s wrist.


    She said, "What should we do? Will this affect you to shoot the show? Should we tell Mr. Jones?" Yvette had worked hard to get an opportunity to demonstrate herself on the show. She couldn''t let a small issue ruin it! Felix came back to his senses, breathed heavily, pulled out the silver needles, and said, "No need. I''ll be fine soon


    Felix was filled with uncontroble excitement. Even from a distance, Lonely Bird casually inserted the needles into his acupoint with perfect uracy.


    It was not too deep or too shallow. She had such great skill. No wonder he had admired her as an idol for so long!


    Felix was driven by a desire for strength and didn''t mind Lonely Bird''s indifference toward him. He just reflected on what he might have done wrong to make Lonely Bird annoyed. Could it be that Lonely Bird liked the kittens? Felix was lost in thought. Shakira had begun her consultations. Just as it turned 8 a.m., a middle-aged woman with a shopping basket walked in.


    When the middle-aged woman entered and saw Shakira all covered up, the middle-aged woman felt confused and stepped back to check the sign on the door.


    Shakira opened today''s waiting list and said, "Susan Wilson, pleasee in."


    Susan was surprised and hesitated to step in. Then sheined to Shakira, "Are you the famous doctor who''s skilled in traditional medicine?"


    Shakira nodded and said, "Yes, it''s me. What''s the matter with you, Mrs. Wilson?"


    Ignoring the question, Susan shouted towards the hallway.


    "Oh, my God. What has happened to Haruca Hospital? They have hired such a weird person to treat us. Even her appointments are so hard to get! Isn''t this a waste of our hard-earned money?"


    Susan''s words caught the attention of other patients waiting outside. Several of them from different departments peeked in. When they saw Shakira behind the consultation desk, they started dishing out criticism.


    ? di 92%


    45


    0


    "Oh, my God. It''s the first time I''ve seen a doctor covered up more than the patients! Does she have some contagious disease and try to hide it?"


    "I bet she is an ipetent doctor who messed up before and now hides at Haruca Hospital to avoid being recognized. The hospital is unscrupulous!"


    "Oh my gosh, I spent thousands buying this ticket from someone else! Haruca Hospital should give me back my


    They had a heated discussion.


    ney!"


    A dozen patients had gathered at the clinic''s entrance, It caused a disturbance. The show had started shooting. The staff didn''t step in to help Shakira without Kevin''s orders. Seeing them all speaking rudely, Felix said angrily, "Fools! Dr. Lonely Bird graciously helps them, but they waste the opportunity and dare to speak ill of her!"


    Felix wanted to go in and help Shakira, but Yvette was shocked and pulled him back. If something happened to Felix, Yvette''s shooting would be ruined!"


    Yvette said, "Felix, don''t go. The show''s crew is here, and they haven''t gone to help Dr. Lonely Bird. Maybe these people were hired by the show team to create drama for t

 Chapter 210

    Felix heard Yvette''s words and nced over at the crew. They just held their cameras, shot the scene inside, and showed no intention of helping Shakira.


    Felix agreed with Yvette''s view. However, as he watched the crowd growrger, he couldn''t help but feel worried as it normal?


    As more patients pushed in, Shakira realized something was wrong.


    Even if a patient had questioned her, it shouldn''t have caused such chaos so quickly. Shakira felt a chill go down her spine as she discreetly pressed the red button under the desk.


    In the crowd, it was unclear which elder started it, but someone threw an egg onto the clinic floor. Once one acted, others followed to vent their frustration.


    "hical doctor, give uspensation!" "Look how she is covered up. Reveal it and see what she is hiding!" Some even tried to rush in and assault Shakira.


    Finally, the crew realized something was wrong and rushed in to help Shakira, but they were no match for the elderly people who regrly did aerobics in the park.


    Felix finally realized this wasn''t part of the show''s script! He said, "Oh no! Something has gone wrong!"


    Felix wanted to rush in and help Shakira, but Yvette saw the terrifying scene and held onto his arm to stop him. Yvette said, "Felix, I''m scared. Please don''t go." Looking back at the panic-stricken Yvette and the clinic that was blocked, Felix was incredibly anxious.


    The situation was getting more severe. Fortunately, the hospital security guards led some police officers and a few hospital administrators over. Seeing the police officers, the elderly people realized things were serious and calmed down. The corridor was finally cleared. Felix pushed Yvette away and rushed into the clinic. He saw Shakira holding up a stun baton defensively and kept the rest from getting too close. He sighed with relief. Thank goodness nothing happened! Even so, the clinic was a mess with broken eggs and rotten vegetables scattered all over the floor.


    A police officer walked in with authority and said, "What''s happening here? Can''t you handle things calmly? You caused a disturbance and even attacked the doctor. This is severe!"


    The elderly people who acted up started crying loudly, "Officer, we''re innocent! We didn''t eveny a finger on her!" "Yes, we''re here for treatment and don''t have the energy to fight with someone so young. Officer, you came just in time." "Please be fair. She has covered herself like a robber and charged over 3 thousand dors for a registration fee. Isn''t that a scam? Being like this, how can she treat patients?"


    "Exactly, she doesn''t look like a doctor. She looks wired!" "We''re not causing trouble. We just want an exnation from the hospital!"


    The officer instinctively looked over at Shakira, nced at her namete on the desk, and said, "Dr. Lonely Bird?"


    Shakira put away the stun baton and ced it back in the drawer. Unlike the excited patients, Shakira stayed calm andposed.


    Shakira said, "Yes, I''m the doctor seeing patients today. First, let me rify. A doctor is not limited by clothing. Whether I cover my face or not doesn''t rte to my medical skills. 07:56 Wed, No


    <3


    "Secondly, today''s registration fee for the specialist is 12 dors. After insurance, patients only need to pay 9 dors. As for the alleged ''over 3 thousand dors'', that''s a personal transaction and is unrted to the doctor or the hospital." The old woman, who had shouted about spending over 3 thousand dors, yelled, "Unrted? Do you know how hard it is for me to get a chance to see you? It turns out you are just a young girl! Had I known earlier, I wouldn''t have bought it!" Shakira nced at the old woman sharply, saw through everything, and pointed out the ws in her words calmly.


    "Oh? Looking at your clothes, you don''t seem like someone from a wealthy family. What kind of serious ailment makes you willing to spend over 3 thousand dors for a consultation with me?


    "If you didn''t even know the specialist''s background, why were you willing to pay 3 thousand dors?"


    Everyone suddenly had a moment of enlightenment. Shakira was right! Who would spend over 3 thousand dors on a doctor''s appointment without even knowing about the doctor? Who would act a fool like that? Facing Shakira''s question, the older woman was speechless. Seeing everyone looking at her with strange gazes, the old woman retorted, "I''m rich and reluctant to see a quack like you swindle. What''s wrong with that?" Shakira sneered, "I haven''t diagnosed you, but you call me a quack. You must be better at medicine than I am."


    By now, the police officer understood that someone was deliberately causing trouble. Fortunately, this young doctor stayed calm and prevented a major incident.


    The older woman was speechless by the confrontation. Seeing the police officer looking at her, she could only lower her head in embarrassment.


    Shakira looked around at everyone present and checked the time on herputer. She said, "It''s 8:28 a.m. If you still want to see me for your appointment, please get in line. Otherwise, you can go to the front desk for a refund." The elderly people exchanged puzzled nces. They all seemed forgetful now and wondered why they had acted so impulsively.


    Susan also felt puzzled. She was the first and said, "Check me first. Everyone here can witness to see if you''re a good doctor or not!"


    Susan sat down on the chair in front of Shakira''s desk and waited for Shakira to examine her.


    Meanwhile, the cleaning staff hade in to clean up the mess on the floor.


    Shakira rubbed her hands with sanitizer and didn''t mind leaving the door open, even with so many people watching her.


    Shakira said, "Give me your right hand and then your left." She felt Susan''s pulse and examined Susan''splexion and features.


    Soon, Shakira had her conclusion, "You''re a light sleeper and rarely dream. You sleep less than six hours, with pain in the left shoulder after being exposed to cold."


    Susan opened her mouth wide in disbelief and blurted out, "How did you know?!"


    Shakira looked at her calmly and replied, "Observation and inquiry allow for a simple deduction."This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Susan said, "Wow! I didn''t expect you to have such skills! Anything else?"


    Shakira didn''t hesitate and said, "You have bad breath, often feel thirsty at night, and sometimes have a rapid heartbeat."


    Susan was shocked and said, "You felt my pulse and knew all that!"


    Shakira had taken out a form and asked routinely, "What illness would you like to consult today?"


    C


    Susan licked her lips and said, "My shoulder has been hurting a lot these days. I went to another hospital for an X-ray. The doctor there told me it was a nerve issue and suggested surgery. But I can''t have surgery. It''s too painful." Shakira nodded, stood up, pressed on Susan''s left shoulder, and guided her to do a few movements as Shakira instructed.


    Susan moved with difficulty and groaned in pain, "I can''t do it anymore. I can''t tur movements as Shakira instructed.


    my hand. It hurts!"


    Shakira pulled out several thin long silver needles from a pouch on the table and gently inserted them into a few acupoints on Susan''s back ording to Susan''s movements.


    The onlookers around were all shocked. The needles were so long. It must be painful!


    Shakira said again, "Move your hands behind your back this time."


    Susan was reluctant and said, "Why? I said my hands hurt and I can''t turn them... Huh? I seed?!"


    #

 Chapter 211

    Chapter 211 95%1


    Susan was in total disbelief as she urned to look at her arm, joy written all over her face. "I moved it without any pain?"


    She eximed to Shakira, "Doctor, you''re amazing! Just a few needle pricks and I''m healed? I''ve been to several hospitals in Crescentville, even Haruca Hospital a few times. They couldn''t solve it, yet now I am all better. Susan didn''t think there''d be such a dramatic twist. Even if it was embarrassing to be proven wrong, recovering from illness was more important than anything


    "Right now, the acupuncture can ease your pain, not a full cure, Shakira exined, "It''s an old age condition, irreversible. but you will get better with proper care."


    As she said this, she removed the silver needles, sat back down, and started typing the prescription and medical advice on herputer.


    "You have frozen shoulder; avoid getting cold, especially at night. It''s best to keep your shoulder warm with extrayers. Also, avoid heavy lifting and strenuous chores, Shakira said.


    "Take this medication twice a day, one pill after each meal, for fifteen days. If symptoms persist, we can try another round of acupuncture," Shakira added.


    After detailing everything, Shakira printed out a paper version of the medical record and handed it to Susan. Compared to the disdainful look when she first entered, Susan epted the record with a beaming smile.


    "Doctor, I''m really sorry about earlier. Please don''t mind, thinking about the fuss she had made and even throwing eggs at the doctor, she felt terribly embarrassed and kept apologizing.


    "It''s okay. Next patient, please... Shakira said.


    "Wait, doctor. Could you also treat my bad breath? Can acupuncture help with that?" Susan leaned in closer with a friendly smile.


    "No. The main reason for your bad breath is tonsil stones. It''s a minor issue. Just have it checked at the dentist," Shakira said. "Oh, I get it. You''re so nice, doctor. Thank you so much!" Susan said.


    She stood up with her things and warmly greeted the elderly onlookers, praising, "This doctor might be young, but she is skilled. I had no results from other hospitals, but this doctor made a difference right away. We misunderstood her before." "Is she really that great?" one man asked.


    "She actually figured out the problem just by checking my pulse I want this doctor to treat me too... another man said. "You booked an appointment with the doctor next door, not this one," one woman said.


    "What? Are there any other online appointments for this doctor the man asked.


    "Not anymore. This doctor is only here for three days and is fully booked, the woman replied.


    In a short time, Shakira managed to change the elderly people''s misunderstandings and biases about her and started seeing patients normally.


    After the police finished a simple report, they left. The nurse and hospital security emphasized the rules for seeing a doctor in the hallway before leaving as well


    Everything returned to normal. As the door closed, Felix stared at Shakira inside, his gaze filled with strong determination. Chapter 211


    Previously, his longing for the Lonely Bird was more of a fanciful dream. But now, these once unsupported fantasies had materialized in front of him, filling him with a powerful surge of excitement and awe from deep within. Lonely Bird truly deserved his respect and admiration.


    Yvette, seeing Felix''s unprecedented excitement, smiled and praised, "Dr. Lonely Bird managed to resolve the ident so wlessly."


    Felix was proud. "Only she could have done it.


    At the corner of the hallway, a man who had been observing quietly slipped away. He was a medical intern in a white coat, who quickly took the emergency stairs to the rooftop garden where Fiona was sitting on a lounge chair, sipping coffee. "Ms. Banks," the man greeted.


    Fiona nced at him casually, giggled, and said, "Why the rush: Did you see Lonely Bird get beaten up?"


    "No... Dr. Lonely Bird ispletely fine," the man replied.


    Fiona''s face changed instantly. "How could that be possible?" The in


    intern exined everything thoroughly to her.


    Fiona furiously smashed her coffee cup on the ground, sshing coffee onto the intern''s white coat and leaving stains. He nervously covered the dirty spot and dared not say anything as Fiona was furious.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "Useless fools! I spent so much money to cause trouble, and Lonely Bird still managed to treat their illnesses Fiona asked. The intern instinctively said, "Dr. Lonely Bird is well-known. She''s the only student of Matthew. Her online appointments were fully booked as soon as they were released. Many people want her treatment but can''t get a spot


    "Shut up!" Fiona gave him a sharp look, clearly frustrated. "I can''t believe she''s always this lucky"


    It was Shakira''s first time trein so many patients. After seeing herst patient of the afternoon, she stretched her arms, even feeling a mild ache in her lower back.


    After finishing work for the day, she changed intofortable clothes and prepared fresh form for the kittens so they wouldn''t be hungry overnight. With the experience from the morning feeding, the kittens were noticeably more proficient


    As soon as Shakira handed them the syringe, the little ones eagerly grabbed it with their paws and looked incredibly cute while drinking. After a hectic day, this heartwarming sight was trulyforting.


    "Okay, all done. You''ll have more in the morning, Shakira said.


    She spent a bit more time ying with them and tidied up their bedding before getting ready to leave.


    Just as she was about to leave, Kevin walked in with another person,


    "Dr. Lonely Bird, I''m really sorry. I was keeping an eye on another group and didn''t make it in time," Kevin apologized. He was shocked that on the very first day, Shakira almost encountered a mishap right.amder his watch.


    Shakira smiled at him reassuringly and said, "It''s all fine now, Kevin. It happened suddenly, and we couldn''t have foreseen iL Don''t worry about it."


    Seeing Shakira''s generosity, Kevin felt even more ashamed. He thought, ''As a man, a young girl helped me to clean up mess. It is truly embarrassing


    the


    At the same time, Kevin grew more impressed with Shakira. Luckily, she stayed calm and took action by calling the police to handle the chaos. If the situation had worsened, the consequences would have been unimaginable.


    07:19 Thu, Nov 7r.


    Kevin sincerely assured her. Dr. Lonely Bird. I''ve contacted the relevant authorities. Officers will be patrolling near the hospital, ready to respond immediately at any sign of trouble."


    +4


    "Regarding today''s filming crew, I have given them a strong warning. After informing the entire team, they were fired. If any unexpected problems ur again, the safety of the crew will be our top priority, Kevin said. Shakira nodded. "Okay."


    "And also... Kevin motioned for the intern toe forward. "This is Howard, an intern. He will be assisting Dr. Lonely Bird with consultations for the next few days."


    Just as Shakira was about to decline, Howard bowed deeply to her. "It''s an honor to learn from Dr. Lonely Bird. I look forward to your guidance."


    Shakira thought. ''He seems eager to work with me. If I refuse, it might seem rude!


    "Alright. I''ll be working with Howard for the next couple of days, Shakira said.


    After a pause, Shakira noticed the dried coffee stain on his shirt. "You can remove coffee stains with a mixture of glycerin and egg yolk.


    Howard''s back tensed up suddenly, and he awkwardly muttered a thank you.


    Shakira didn''t pay much attention and left the office after greeting them.


    0

 Chapter 212

    On the way home, Shakira finally bad the time to check her phone. To her surprise, a flood of notifications came rushing in. It turned out that themotion from earlier that morning had been uploaded online. Afterward, medical students and hospital staff tried to inform the public about who this unknown doctor, Lonely Bird, really


    was.


    [The only direct disciple of Matthew, the legendary genius with exceptional medical skills. Did he actually appear in person?]


    [It looks like they were filming a variety show! Could it be the one directed by Kevin recently?]


    Wow, that''s a major production in the city, in coboration with the authorities. No wonder they managed to invite the mysterious Lonely Bird to appear..]


    Geez, do these old folks even know who they were yelling at? They actually dared to question Lonely Bird''s medical skills?]


    Such ignorant people! Don''t blur their faces-let them go virall Once they get home, their kids will school them properly. and they''ll regret it for sure!]


    [Oh my, this has blown up way too much! Why isn''t there any follow-up? Could the doctor have been injured?]


    You just don''t get it, do you? This is amon tactic used by production teams-it''s all marketing hype.]


    But judging by how intense it got, it doesn''t seem fake...]


    [Auh, Lonely Bird! My idol! The reason I grind through medical school every day!! When does the show air? I''m watching it for sure!]


    "Lonely Bird" had been trending in bold red on the hot search list for an entire day before Shakira finally noticed it.


    What left her feeling helpless was that Matthew, along with Sean and Gideon, had all sent her numerous messages, checking in on her situation.


    Shakira replied to each message, reassuring them that she was fine. However, Ethan and Yael remained skeptical, thinking she was just saying nice things tofort them.


    Left with no choice, Shakira recorded a short video with a serious expression, exining, "I''m really okay, see for yourselves if you don''t believe me!"


    With the video as proof, they were finally reassured. However, Sean was still on the verge of exploding, ranting furiously


    over the text.


    Sean: [Arghhh, what the heck? Those old geezers were acting all frail on the bus, but once they got to the hospital, they were tougher than college students! Were they seriously thinking of starting a fight?]Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Gideon kept following up with concern. [Is Shakira still at the hospital? I''ll head over to check on her...]


    Shakira quickly responded. (I''ve already finished my shift. I''m fine, really. No need to worry about me.]


    Scan: 11 don''t believe you unless we see you! How about we grab dinner tonight? Let''s go to Easke Valley Estate!] Shakira felt a headacheing on. [I don''t have an appetite. After a whole day of work, I just want some peace and quiet.] Sean: (Alright then, Shakira, make sure to rest! I''ll find a few bodyguards to keep an eye on you tomorrow!! Shakira: [You can keep them for yourself. You guys don''t need to worry about me. Kevin has already arranged everything Chapter 212


    there won''t be any more problems.]


    In the end, to ease their worries, Shakira agreed to team up for PUBGter that night. Only then did Sean settle down.


    Walter was going to bete returning home, so after Shakira had dinner and took a rxing bath, shey down in bed and logged on to y games with Sean and the others.


    Sean murmured: "Cathy said she wants to do some kind of livestream. Should we just form our own group?"


    Gideon said, "Let''s go with what Shakira wants."


    Shakira opened her friends list and noticed Xanthe was online, so she sent an invitation.


    Xanthe jumped into the team, a bit confused at first. "Huh? Is that you, Shakira?"


    Shakira smiled and replied. "Yep, it''s me! Want to join in?"


    She introduced Xanthe to Sean and Gideon. "This is Xanthe, my college ssmate."


    Xanthe happily greeted. "Hi, everyone!"


    Sean was surprised. "Why is it you? Do you also y PUBC? Are you good at it, or are you a noob?"


    On the other side, Xanthe waspletely shocked, ''Shakira was actually ying PUBG with Sean? Does Mr. Lopez know about this?'' Xanthe was getting worried for Shakira.


    "Of course I can! The one who can''t be you, Mr. Reynolds!" Xanthe retorted sharply, refusing to be underestimated.


    "Who said I can''t? Damn! You''re a girl, and youe straight at me like this, saying I can''t?" Sean shouted.


    "Hey, weren''t you the one questioning my abilities first? So, ording to you, Mr. Reynolds, does that make you a girl too?" Xanthe asked.


    Sean replied, "I''m going to get you! Just wait, I''ll find a grenade and blow you upter!"


    Listening to their banter, Shakira and Gideon couldn''t help butugh. ''It was too entertaining, they thought.


    Once the squad game began, Sean and Xanthe bickered like kids the entire time.


    Whenever Sean asked for some gear and a teammate marked it, Xanthe would swoop in and grab it first, leaving Sean fuming as he chased after her, throwing punches in frustration "Damn it, give me back my ammo!"


    "Weren''t you the one who said you''d blow me up earlier? Come on, do it Blow me up, and then you can loot my crate." Sean picked up a grenade, grinning. "Stay still if you''ve got the guts I swear I''ll blow you up!" Xanthe actually stood still, not moving an inch, and even stapted dancing and striking poses at Sean, taunting him.


    Fuming, Sean hurled the grenade straight at her. But to his surprise, Xanthe leaped out of the way at thest second. The grenade hit a shipping container, bounced back, and exploded-blowing Sean t on the ground. Xantheughed so loud. "Oh my gosh, you''re so clumsy, you can''t even throw a grenade properly! Having trouble, Mr. Reynolds?"


    Sean yelled up to the sky, "Xanthe, just wait!"


    Shakira and Max burst intoughter.


    Sean felt frustrated, "You guys, stopughing and help me up, alright?" Sean hardly got to win tonight, but Shakira wasughing so hard, that tears were streaming down her face. Shakira thought, ''Who would''ve thought Sean and Xanthe together could be so entertaining? A pair of bickering lovebirds.


    Shakira was having such a st that she didn''t even notice the door behind her quietly swinging open. A mechanical wheelchair rolled onto the carpet, gliding silently toward her. Shakira was sniping from a distance. She had just taken down two enemies when a low chuckle came from behind her, "Steady hands." Startled, Shakira''s third shot went astray She sat up straight and turned her head to look at Walter, who lid juste back. She nced back at her game. "You came in so quietly, that really startled me." Walter adjusted the nket that had been kicked to the end of the bed. Seeing she was deeply focused, Walter didn''t disturb her much. "You keep ying. I''ll go freshen up "Alright." After Walter went into the bathroom, Shakira turned her voice chat back on.


    Gideon immediately asked, "Who''s with you?"


    The quarreling Sean and Xanthe stopped too. "Who just spoke?"


    Gideon said, "It''s from Shakira''s side."


    Shakira rubbed her forehead. ''Gideon, you could even hear that


    Sean quickly asked, "Who was it, who was with you in the middle of the night?"


    Xanthe silently rolled her eyes at the gossip-loving Sean, Who else could it be? It''s definitely Mr. Lopez!


    Seeing Xanthe didn''t respond, Shakira felt a bit relieved and casually said, "Oops, I identally turned on the TV. I''ll be done for the night after finishing this round. You guys keep ying


    "Ah, we''ve only yed a few rounds! Shakira, let''s y a little longer. Without you, we won''t be able to win!" Sean pleaded. "I have work tomorrow, let''s y again in a few days. After finishing the game, Shakira shut down herptop. Just then, Walter finished his shower and emerged from the bathroom.


    The steam hung in the air behind him, droplets of water cascading from his hair. He rolled closer in his wheelchair, the strikingly handsome man creating a beautifully atmospheric scene that felt like it had stepped right out of a drama.


    Shakira stared directly at his face, not moving her eyes an inch.


    As Walter approached the bed, he gave a slight smile and extended his long arm to pull her close into his embrace


    Unexpectedly, Shakira let out a soft gasp.


    Hearing her slightly heavy breathing,

 Chapter 213

    Hearing her slightly heavy breathing, Walter immediately slowed down his movements


    expression. "Are you hurt?"


    It''s nothing. Shakira replied.


    a hint of displeasure evident in his


    Walter didn''t listen to her exnations and without a word, pressed her down onto hisp, lifting her shirt from the back.


    He caught a glimpse of her graceful waist, her delicate skin was so ringly white that Walter squinted his eyes slightly. His eyes burned with intensity.


    The coolness was felt around her waist as it was exposed. Without turning back, Shakira knew that Walter was inspecting her skin inch by inch.


    She puffed up her cheeks in protest. "Why don''t you believe me already told you I''m not hurt."Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    As soon as she finished speaking, the man''s warm, strong hand gently pressed against her, Shakira wanted to keep being stubborn, but a soft, contented sigh escaped her lips involuntarily.


    Walter''s voice came from above, slightly hoarse. "You''re not hurt, but you don''t feel good either." As he spoke, his palm didn''t stop moving, gently massaging the base of Shakira''s spine that had been aching all day. She went along with what he said. "True, I''m a bit tired. I''ve been sitting all day without changing positions"


    Shakira thought, I have to admit, the Walter-brand manual massager is exceptionally effective. Just a few presses, and it really brings a sense of rxation and stretch-warm andfortable.


    "Here, here, and a bit lower-press a few more times." Shakiray sprawled out without a care,pletely unaware of the deep intensity simmering in the man''s gaze behind her.


    Walter said, "You should get up every forty minutes and move around for ten minutes to keep your muscles active. Looks like the saying A healer cannot heal themselves'' holds true after all." Hearing the clear disdain in his voice, Shakira huffed but didn''t retort. What he said was definitely true," she thought.


    Shakira responded obediently, "Tll start paying attention from now on."


    Walter''s lips curled into a slight smile. He diligently massaged her for quite a while, until his wrists began to feel a bit sore, at which point he slowly stopped.


    It was then he realized that Shakira hadn''t spoken for a while. He gently lifted her and positioned her on top of him.


    Sure enough, the woman had unknowingly closed her eyes and drifted off into a deep sleep.


    Walter murmured softly, "You''re the first one who dares to treat me like a free massage therapist


    Though his words wereining, his movements as he ced her on the bed were incredibly gentle


    With his gaze lowered, Walter looked at her sleeping face, his eyes softer than the moonlight outside. He used his strength to get onto the bed, turned off all the bright lights, leaving only a dim yellowmp on, and then wrapped her in his arms. Clearly exhausted, Shakira''s lips parted slightly as she slipped into a deep sleep


    Walter leaned in closer and could faintly hear her soft, gentle breathing. ''She was even snoring, Walter thought.


    The man kissed her lips gently like a dragonfly touching the water, held her close, and they fell asleep together.


    After Shakira logged off, Sean wasn''t done chatting and pulled Xanthe and Gideon in for more fun. With one person short, Xanthe happened to see her cousig Lucy online and brought her into the group. Perhaps having a stranger around made Sean stop bickering with Xanthe. After two rounds of game, the four of them logged


    OUL.


    Just as they logged off, Xanthe got a stream of voice messages from Sean: [What did you mean just now? Is that how you treat your partners?


    Xanthe made it clear through the message. We weren''t partners in the game, different issues don''t count]


    Sean: [Heh.]


    Sean thought it over, and the more he pondered, the stranger it seemed. [Did Gideon say he heard sounds from Shakira''s side? Was someone really there instead of just the TV?


    Xanthe was already out of bed applying a face mask. She smoothed the cool sheet mask over her face. When she nced down and saw Sean''s text, she was so startled she gave a little shake.


    Xanthe: No way!] She quickly made an excuse to dispel Sean''s suspicions. (Shakira said it was just the TV. If you don''t believe her, why not ask her yourself?]


    Sean: [Forget it, maybe we''re just overthinking.] He definitely wasn''t going to get himself in big trouble.


    Xanthe couldn''t be bothered to continue the conversation with him, so she said she was going to sleep and logged off the interface.


    But then, out of nowhere, Lucy popped up and gave her a voice call


    Xanthe frowned as she picked up the call. "You don''t still want to y, do you, Lucy?"


    Lucy was super excited, beating around the bush. "Xanthe, who were those two we just yed with? Are they your ssmates?"


    "Friends, why?" Xanthe asked, puzzled.


    "I just checked the homeowner''s profile, and all of his ount ns are maxed out! Plus, he has a ton of coins! He must have spent at least a hundred thousand in the game! That''s just too extravagant!" The astonished tone nearly leaped out of the phone. Isn''t the host that shy, naive kind?'' Xanthe wondered.


    Xanthe didn''t pay much attention to that, finding Lucy''s focus strange. "Hey, Lucy, what''s going on? You called me just for thiste at night? Hurry up and get some sleep. Aren''t you about to have your finals? Be careful, or you might get in trouble if you don''t do well." Lucy didn''t expect Xanthe to be so secretive, so she ended the call feeling a bit let down. However, thinking about Sean''s ount, which was emzoned with the words "wealthy" in bold letters and radiated a strong air of opulence, Lucy couldn''t fall asleep no matter how much she tried.


    Her father, Jackson, was in business with Enrique, but hecked the stamina and execution skills that Enrique had, always falling short inparison. Over time, as the days turned into months and years, Jackson could only follow in Enrique''s footsteps, picking up the small business opportunities that his older brother asionally let slip through


    Compared to Enrique''s rapid wealth umtion, Jackson''s situation could only be considered a modest middle-ss lifestyle.


    Thu, Nov


    Even though Enrique also loved her, Lucy had always envied Xanthe since she was a child because Xanthe had a father wealthier than hers.


    §±


    She thought. If her dad were her uncle, it would be great-she could be the one envied by others, and wouldn''t have to spend her days doing practice papers and studying from dawn til dusk. All she would need was a bit of money from home to go abroad and get a degree. After graduating, she couldfortably live as a wealthy second-generation, without the need to put in any effort herself.


    But unfortunately, her dad didn''t have the brains or skills to make money, so she had to think of another way.


    After pondering for a while, Lucy couldn''t contain her curiosity and logged back into the game. She sent a friend request to Sean''s ount..


    In the friend request section, Lucy thought for a moment and sent a message. [My sister told me to add you.]


    After clicking send, she held her phone, eagerly waiting for the good news.


    On this side, after finishing a livestream, Cathy felt an itch to y games and pulled Sean into a duo match.


    Sean couldn''t say no to her, so he logged back in willingly.


    When a friend request notification appeared, he nced at the message and epted it.


    He thought, ''Although Xanthe said she wouldn''t y with him, she still had her cousine over to add him as a friend for future gaming sessions. Women-truly, they often say one thing and mean another."


    The next day, Shakira''s clinic hours started in the afternoon. After finishing lunch, she arrived at the hospital early, thinking that the little kitten must be waiting for its milk.


    Just as she was about to head out, Levi mysteriously called her back. "Ms. Nelson, do you know what''s special about the fifteenth of next month?"

 Chapter 214

    Shakira thought carefully. "The fifteenth of next month, is it Little New Year on the 24th of the lunar year?"


    In Crescentville, they celebrate the Little New Year on the 24th, he thought. Levi chuckled and revealed the answer. "That day is Mr. Lopez''s birthday,"


    Shakira''s eyes slowly widened, clearly surprised by the answer.


    "In previous years, Mr. Walter Lopez''s birthday was not celebrated grandly; it was just Mr. Lopez, Mrs. Lopez, and Mr. Benji Lopez having a meal with Mr. Walter Lopez. But this year... As he recalled the past, Levi''s gaze drifted far away, revealing a hint of mncholy. Shakira lowered her brows and slightly pressed her lips together. After a moment, when she lifted her head again, she wore a bright and rxed smile, saying, "Don''t worry, Levi. This year, Mr. Benji Lopez and I will be here with him."


    Seeing the lively smile on her face, Levi expressed his gratitude earnestly. "Thank you, Ms. Nelson, thank you for being by Mr. Walter Lopez''s side."


    He thought: "If she hadn''t recklessly barged into Mr. Walter Lopez''s world, he might still be trapped in the predicament he had fallen into today. Thankfully, Ms. Nelson''s arrival, like an irresistible ray of sunshine, had brought new life to the young master.


    Levi, you tter me!" Shakira reassured him. After a moment, she asked, "What kind of birthday gifts has Walter received in the past?"


    Wiping the corners of her eyes, she began to recount fondly, The crocodile Otto was a birthday gift from Mr. Lopez to Mr Walter Lopez for his seventh birthday. The Maybach fleet was aing-of-age gift from Mr. Lopez to Mr. Walter Lopez. As for the famous artwork in the study.


    Shakira''s lips twitched slightly. "Uh, I think I cane up with the birthday gift myself! Levi, I''m heading to work now."


    "Yes, as long as it''s from Ms. Nelson, Mr. Lopez will definitely like it. The sapphire brooch you gave to Mr. Lopez before is something he wears often."


    A light blush appeared on Shakira''s face as she remembered he wore that very brooch to the investors'' dinner a few days


    ago.


    After saying goodbye to Levi, Shakira went directly to the hospital.


    As she passed by the herbal medicine pharmacy, she heard a harsh reprimanding from inside, ''At the rate you''re filling prescriptions, how long is this going to take? Do you expect the patients to go hungry waiting for you?" That sharp and harsh voice was very familiar to Shakira, ''It was Fiona. What''s she up to this time? she wondered.


    As Shakira walked forward, she noticed several cameras aimed at the window of the herbal medicine pharmacy, capturing the scene inside.


    Inside the herbal medicine pharmacy, nearly ten staff members were using handheld scales to measure out herbs. They were all bowing their heads, clearly chastised by Fiona''s scolding, yet their hands continued to work, albeit slowly but steadily. Fiona stood with her hands on her hips, assertively reprimanding them with a domineering attitude, as if she wanted to poke her finger in their faces.


    "Why are you guys still dawdling? Can''t you find a few digital scales in a big ce like Haruca Hospital? How much time are you going to waste using handheld scales to measure medicine one by one?" She cursed them angrily. "How stupid and 07:19 Thu, Nov 7


    clueless can you


    bel


    "You''re the one who''s ignorant." Shakira walked over to the window, her face stern.


    As soon as Shakira appeared, the staff inside brightened as if they had seen their savior. "Dr. Lonely Bird!"


    The camera turned towards them.


    The moment Fiona spotted her, her eyes seemed to ze with fury.


    Shakira could sense the malice in her gaze. She couldn''t help but wonder why Fiona, who had no dealings with Dr. Lonely Bird, was looking at her with such hatred.


    ''Could it be that she resented her for overshadowing her on the show? she wondered.


    Shakira wasn''t concerned about angering Fiona. Instead, she patiently exined to the increasingly impatient patients lining up outside the window to get their medicine.


    "Using manual handheld scales to measure herbal medicine isn''t meant to intentionally make things difficult for everyone. Theponents of the medicine are crucial; even a gram off can lead to a significant difference in efficacy. A slight over- or under-measurement can have a critical impact on the patient''s condition and overall health."


    She calmly continued her exnation. "Compared to electronic scales, which may malfunction at any time during long-term use, handheld scales are the safest and most convenient tools for measuring herbs. The doctors are considering everyone''s health, so I kindly ask everyone to understand."


    She said this hoping Fiona''s mistakes wouldn''t lead others to unfairly me the pharmacy staff.


    Yesterday, she had been surrounded and felt the weight of everyone''s judgment; being misunderstood by so many was not a pleasant experience. Out of empathy, she didn''t want the hardworking medical staff to be misunderstood and to sacrifice convenience in their efforts.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Upon hearing this, the crowd, which had been somewhat impatient and confused, suddenly realized.


    "We didn''t expect there was such knowledge behind measuring herbs. We almost med the doctors unfairly!"


    "You''re Dr. Lonely Bird, right? We saw you online yesterday and didn''t realize you were so impressive... Hearing your exnation today has really opened our eyes!"


    "Exactly! When ites to health and life, what''s a little wait? We should all understand each other!"


    "Thank goodness Dr. Lonely Bird is here, or else my bad temper might have led me to swear. It would be so disheartening to upset the dedicated doctors who care for us!"


    "Yes, yes! Thankfully, we have Dr. Lonely Bird.."


    The doctors inside the pharmacy nced over at Shakira with grateful eyes. "If it hadn''t been for Dr. Lonely Bird''s timely appearance, they wouldn''t have known how long they would have to take the me! they thought


    "Who is that female doctor stirring up trouble? Isn''t she also a doctor at Haruca Hospital? How can she criticize her own hospital''s doctors like that? Isn''t she just causing trouble for her own hospital?"


    "Exacily, you can tell she probably got into Haruca Hospital through connections; it''s so unprofessional..."


    No one expected that onement from Shakira would make Fiona the target of everyone''s anger.


    Just moments ago, Fiona had been brazenly speaking her mind, but now she found herself in an awkward position, her face flushing between shades of blue and red, looking extremely ufortable.


    273


    hu, Nov


    Although she was also adoctor, she had never dealt with traditional medicine, so she had no idea that these particr herbs shouldn''t be measured with electronic scales.


    She initially intended to watch the long line of people and apply a bit of pressure to leave a good impression in front of the show and the patients. "Little did she expect that someone like Shakira would show up and ruin her ns! she thought. Realizing that staying would only embarrass her further, she red at Shakira, gritted her teeth, and left quickly.


    That bitch! She knew I was filming and deliberately came out to target me! Just because she has the status and aura of being Matthew''s disciple, she dares to trample all over my reputation in front of others, using this opportunity to show off! Shakira, Lonely Bird... just wait; I will make sure you end up disgraced! Fiona thought.


    Wasting no time, Shakira made it to the oflice right on schedule


    As soon as she opened the door, the little kittens, hearing the sound, stretched their necks by the window, meowing at her. They were being all cute, begging for milk.


    Shakira quickly took the warm goat milk from her pocket and patiently fed the kittens.


    She nced at the cat food she left for themst night and was surprised to see it was all gone.


    Shakira was astonished. After feeding them milk, she opened the monitoring app on her phone and checked the footage. It turned out that stray cats had visitedtest night and frightened the little kittens.


    However, the stray cats didn''t hurt the kittens; they just finished off the food she left.


    So you''ve been hungry all day, huh?"


    ''No wonder you were so eager for milk,'' she thought..


    Watching the two cute little kittens with their now-round tummies, Shakira felt a bit guilty.


    After thinking for a moment, she ordered some tools online and created a remote-controlled system that could dispense food through the surveince cameras.


    Looking at the two fluffy little creatures, the thought of taking them home crossed her mind for a brief moment. However, she shook her head, dismissing the idea.


    She gently tapped the little ones on their heads, her tone cheerful yet distant. "I don''t have a home yet, so I can''t take you with me. Once I finish filming the show and your cat mom doesn''te back, I''ll find you a more hidden spot so you won''t go hungry


    0

 Chapter 215

    Fiona threw a fit at the show crew, ripped off her microphone, ad hid in the break room to vent by smashing things.


    Her assistants, terrified, quickly and discreetly informed Jaslene of the situation.


    Before Fiona could destroy the entire break room, her grandmother Jaslene video-called her. At that moment, as she answered the call, Fiona''s eyes, red with anger and injustice, brined with tears. Jaslene felt a wave of heartache wash over her.


    Many years ago, Jaslene had initially opposed her son bringing us fianc¨¦e into the family, leading him to elope with her to Crescentville. Jaslene regretted her decision immensely.


    Fortunately, after Fiona was born, the fiancee took the initiative to bridge the gap, allowing their strained family rtionship to case a bit


    As the only daughter in the Banks family, Fiona was cherished like a treasure by Jaslene, and she hardly ever faced any hardships.


    "My darling, why are you crying? Don''t cry, tell Grandma what''s troubling you. It breaks Grandma''s heart when you cry." Jasleneforted her.


    Fiona angrily told how Lonely Bird had humiliated her in front of everyone.


    After hearing her out, Jaslene was silent for a long time. She couldn''t bear to see her granddaughter so upset. "Sweetheart, don''t worry. Not many people know about this, and those patients will forget about it soon enough." "But the production team recorded it all!" Fiona was still upset.


    "It''s no big deal," said Jaslene in an indifferent tone, her words as cold and emotionless as ice.


    Tll call Mr. Tucker of Haruca Hospitalter and have him transfer all the patients who were caught getting medication today to other hospitals. I''ll make sure they don''t show up in front of you again.


    She slowly continued. "As for the production team, I''ll have a word with Kevin, get him to delete the footage and bring in new camera operators.


    He should know how to handle this if he wants to stay in the entertainment industry, or he can leave the crew right away."


    Fiona''s eyes brightened, but she hesitated. "Will Director Kevin agree? If that footage is released, it will definitely


    buzz." some


    Jaslene didn''t take it seriously at all andughed, replying, "Does he dare to disobey me?"


    y create


    Fiona thought for a moment and said, "True. With just one word from you, Grandma, he even brought Lonely Bird over. He has no choice but to show you respect


    Jaslene knew exactly how to handle her granddaughter''s weak spot. Sure enough, with just a few words, she had Fiona grinning from ear to ear.


    On the other end of the call, Jaslene yfully scolded, "If it weren''t for you begging and crying that no matter the cost, you had to coborate with them, this old woman wouldn''t have bothered asking for favors "Grandma, it''s so great to have you! I love you so much!" Fiona cooed, kissing her phone several times towards Jaslene. Jaslene was amused andughed heartily. "My precious darling, if I don''t treat you well, who else would I "Grandma, you''re the best! Otherwise, you wouldn''t havee all the way from Clusia just to apany me on the show."


    94


    Jaslene had a gic disorder, irreversible and debilitating, which kept her in a private hospital in Clusia for years. This trip to Crescentville was a rare exception, made just to spend some time with her family. Jaslene chuckled softly. "Good thatyou know. Now be good and focus on recording the show. I''ll stay with you a little longer, but then I''ll have to head back."


    "Alright, I''ll do my best and won''t let you down, Grandma!" Fiona said.


    After finishing her clinic duties for the day. Shakira had a personal interview scheduled by the production team, followed by a group dinner segment with the guests at the Haruca Hospital eteen. During the dinner segment, Kevin made a point toe over and ask for her preferences.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Eyeing her face mask, he hesitated and said, "If we''re going to cal, you''ll probably need to take off your mask. If Dr. Lonely Bird isn''tfortable with that, we can make special arrangements... Even so, he kept, staring at Shakira with a silent plea in his eyes.


    Shakira sensed Kevin''s concern for herfort and the challenges of his job. After thinking it over, she asked, "I can take off my mask during dinner, but could the camera avoid focusing one directly? Or maybe just capture half of my face?"


    Shakira''s agreement came as a surprise to Kevin, who was delighted. ''Of course! We''ll do just as Dr. Lonely Bird suggested." Kevin immediately informed the crew to get ready. Shakira guessed that the preparations would take quite a while, so she messaged Walter beforehand to let him know she wouldn''t be home for dinner.


    Walter first sent a photo to Shakira and texted. [What are we having for dinner?]


    Shakira fed her little kittens dinner and, after closing the door, started typing as she walked towards the canteen.


    She opened Walter''s photo and saw that he was at the dinner table, surrounded by a stunning array of dishes that looked like works of art. Watching him in that moment, Shakira narrowed her eyes slightly.


    Although she had never been in a rtionship before, she was well-versed in online experiences. Wasn''t this what those young couples referred to as the desire to share? she wondered,


    ''Such a childish acting from Walter felt oddly out of character for him... It was like the majestic Lion King adorned with a pink bellically mismatched!'' Shakira thought.


    With a smile on her lips, Shakira texted. [Not sure yet, probably grabbing something at the hospital canteen.]


    She also shared a photo of herself on the way


    the canteen.


    Walter: [Is there anything you''d like to eat? I''ll bring it back for you.]


    Shakira thought for a moment. [How about some sour snacks?]


    On the other end, he decisively replied. No way]


    [Why not! You can keep it in another car, so the smell won''t get to you!] Shakira argued logically,


    Walter shut it down with one line. (The first thing I want to do when we meet is kiss


    §å§è§Ú,


    so it can''t happen.]


    Clearly, Walter was the winner for this round.


    Noticing that Shakira hadn''t responded, Walter added. [Take a picture when you''re eating and show it to me.]


    Shakira thought, Geez, does he really have to be so worried about me?'' She sent an angry kitten emoji with a punch. [Got it!]


    Amidstughter and chatter, she arrived at the canteen. The show crew had set up a special spot in arge hall on the second floor for filming


    All the guests at the hospital that day gathered and took their seats around arge round table.


    ""Dr. Lonely Bird!"


    "Dr. Lonely Bird is here too!"


    "Wow, I never had the chance to meet Dr. Lonely Bird before, I didn''t expect her to be so young!"


    "I''m thrilled to be having dinner with Dr. Lonely Bird"


    It was Shakira''s first time encountering so many stars, and surprisingly, they seemed even more excited to see her. After greeting them, she headed to a small room at the back toplete her personal preparation, and about ten minutester, she returned. By this time, all the guests had arrived, leaving only the central spot and the seats next to Yvette and Felix.


    With two spots to choose from, neither feltfortable. Shakira stood still, momentarily caught in a dilemma over which


    way to go.


    However, she didn''t have to ponder for long. Fiona finished her preparations and, as she passed by Shakira, deliberately nced her way before quickly taking the middle seat.


    Then she suddenly thought of something and mockingly said, Director Kevin, you can''t have someone wearing a mask


    sitting


    at the table, right? Are we supposed to pretend to eat?"


    Her words were clearly aimed at Shakira. The guests at the table immediately went silent, too afraid to speak, making the atmosphere a bit awkward.


    Yvette, feigning innocence, blinked with a pout. "Dr. Lonely Bird being here means she must have discussed how to film with Kevin, but Ms. Banks, yourment is a bit out of ce."


    Fiona red angrily at Yvette. "Mind your own business."


    Yvette''s expression grew increasingly small and helpless, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears as she seemed to be thinking,


    of Fiona


    "Ms. Banks, you misunderstood me. I''m not saying anything bad about you; it''s just that everyone knows Dr. Lonely Bird pointed out your mistakes regarding herbal medicine pharmacy earlier today..." She paused for a moment and then continued. "Now, Ms. Banks, with you saying this, I''m afraid people might think you''re taking personal revenge...


    Fiona''s eyes widened in rage.


    1


    0


    0/19 Thu, Nov/

 Chapter 216

    Shakira stood still, quietly watching as they went at each other like dogs fighting. Fiona was so angry that she felt like steam was about to rise from her head.


    Jaslene had worked hard to ensure that those who knew a


    bout the incident kept quiet, but Yvette brought it up deliberately. making her embarrassingly exposed in front of so many people again!" she thought


    Fiona''s chest heaved violently as she red fiercely at Yvette, wishing she could swallow her whole! That bitch! Shakira was a bitch, and so was Yvette! The entire Nelson family was nothing but trouble! Yvette was startled by Fiona''s fierce and terrifying expression, biting her lip in a panic as she quickly hid behind Felix.


    Felix stood tall in front of Yvette, his youthful features now filled with protectiveness for his sister. "Ms. Banks, are you angry because you''ve been called out?"


    Fiona gritted her teeth. "You just wait!"


    Felix stayed calm. "I''ll be waiting" Then he turned away from Figna without another nce, soothing Yvette in a low voice before walking over to Shakira.


    Felix said, "Dr. Lonely Bird, why don''t youe sit with us?"


    Yvette added warmly. "Yes, Dr. Lonely Bird, take my seat.


    Shakira raised an eyebrow, watching them with keen interest. She was curious about what would happen if Felix knew that the esteemed Dr. Lonely Bird he was defending was actually her Shakira.


    She thought, And what about Yvette? If she realized that she had offended Fiona for the sake of someone she despised and wished would disappear from this world, would she be so angry that she''d p herself?"


    Just thinking about it made Shakira smile. "It''s alright, I can sit in the far corner." With that, she walked over to her seat. Felix couldn''t contain his excitement as he clumsily returned to his spot next to Lonely Bird in the canteen. The cafeteria staff helped serve the meal, and Shakira, without hesitation, took off her mask and sunsses,


    Everyone else at the table noticed her movements, holding their breath and curiously looking over. After all, no one could resist being curious about what the legendary "Lonely Bird" from the medical world looked like.


    Fiona clenched her fists tightly, but when she saw Lonely Bird fully revealed before everyone, she suddenly let out a deep breath of relief, Then, a cold smirk crept across her face. "Shakira, if you have the ability, keep pretending! she thought.


    Shakira stuffed her mask and sunsses into her pocket and looked up to find everyone staring at her nkly. She smirked slightly. "What, is there something on my face?"


    Everyone snapped back to reality. "Oh no, it''s just surprising to see Dr. Lonely Bird''s face."


    "Yeah, it really caught us off guard."


    Shakira smiled silently. There was no way she could reveal her true face. Although she always wore a mask and sunsses, she had been using special effects makeup since her first day at the clinic.


    So what people saw was just a in, forgettable face, one that would be hard to recognize in a crowd.


    Noticing that Felix was still staring at Fier, Shakira turned to him Dr. Felix."


    Felix snapped out of it as if waking from a dream, realizing hisck of manners, and quickly looked away. "Sorry, that was


    rude of me


    Nov


    Suddenly remembering something, he reached behind him and grabbed a bag. "Dr. Lonely Bird, I''m sorry. I didn''t know you liked pets. This is a little something I bought for the kittens-hope ites in handy." Inside were various pet supplies, and Shakira spotted luxury-brand bowls and clothing.


    Seeing this, Yvette chimed in from the other side to support Felix, exining. Dr. Lonely Bird, please don''t be upset. My brother has always admired you, and he never expected to have dinner with you up close and see your true self. He''s just really excited." "Last time I learned that you like cats, my brother even went to the store to pick out these gifts himself! He never spends


    on anything outside of medical research," she said


    time on


    She teased with a smile, intentionally pushing the boundaries of their budding chemistry.


    "In all my years, this is the first time I''ve seen my brother Felix be so kind to another woman besides Mom and me."


    Felix''s face instantly turned awkward. "Yvette!"


    Yvetteughed even more cheerfully, covering her mouth to stop. "Okay, okay, I''ll stop." She turned to chat with the celebrity guests next to them.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Felix awkwardly looked down at Shakira and said, Tm sorry. My sister is still young and doesn''t know better. If she offended you, Dr. Lonely Bird, I apologize on her behalf


    Shakira chuckled softly and casually remarked, "You''re really protective of your sister, Mr. Nelson."


    Felix didn''t think much and went along with her words. "We have a lot of boys in our family and only one sister, so she naturally gets more attention."


    Shakira looked at his insincere facade with indifference, ''Only one sister? Yeah, right.


    Feeling Shakira''s gaze on him, which seemed both amused and enigmatic, Felix couldn''t shake the strange feeling in his chest.


    Despite sitting so close, he found it impossible to read Dr. Lonely Bird''s thoughts. He wanted to gauge her feelings, but he couldn''t find any clues on her face.


    Was Lonely Bird being cautious of him?'' he thought. Felix shook his head and offered the bag again, "Dr. Lonely Bird, I don''t have any pets at home. If you don''t take this, it''ll be useless to me." "Alright, thanks." Shakira took it and handed it to a nearby staff member, asking them to take it to the office.


    ''Free gifts? Why refuse something that''s offered for free! Plus, Felix had startled the kittens twice; he owed them somepensation, and she wasn''t about to refuse that on their behalf, Shakira thought,


    Seeing her ept it, Felix felt a slight sense of joy. "If Dr. Lonely Bird took his offering, does it mean he won''t be distancing himself anymore?'' he wondered


    As the show went on, Shakira took a few quick pictures of the food and sent them to Walter. Then, she ced her phone face down on the table, quietly watching the guests interact.


    Seeing that she wasn''t responding, Felix boldly began asking her some medical questions. Shakira answered each one, and the admiration in Felix''s expression became increasingly evident


    During the intermission, Yvette circled the cafeteria and returned to Felix''s side, not bothering to avoid Shakira. She whispered. "Big Brother, I haven''t seen our sister. Is she mad at us for some reason, so she didn''te 07:19


    hu, Nov


    Felix immediately looked displeased. "Why did you mention her


    "I''m worried too about what might happen if our sister shows up here... Yvette said, sounding a bit aggrieved. When she noticed Lonely Bird looking her way, she seemed to think of something and kindly tried to exin to her. Yvette asked, "Dr. Lonely Bird, did you know that your office is managed by Shakira?"


    Shakira raised an eyebrow slightly, "I do."


    Yvette''s expression flickered as if she had hesitated and struggled for a long time before finally speaking up.


    "During the diplomatic summit, Shakira performed a piano pe, and Matthew praised her highly. Dr. Lonely Bird, since you''re Matthew''s apprentice, I''m sure you must know about this


    She continued. "Just a few days ago, at an investor dinner, a drunken financier identally said something inappropriate Shakira, and she took advantage of the situation to have him pped over a hundred times until his face was ruined..." She paused for a moment and finished off her sentences. I shouldn''t really be saying this, but I''m worried that if I don''t, Dr. Lonely Bird might also be misled by Shakira''s carefully crafted facade in the future."


    With her carefully crafted words, Yvette flipped the narrative, portraying Shakira as a bully who abused her power. If this reached others'' ears, they might think Shakira was riding on Matthew''s influence!


    Yvette seemed to be trying to use Lonely Bird''s perspective to diminish Matthew''s favoritism towards Shakira.


    Shakira couldn''t help but apud the cleverness of Yvette''s scheming. When it came to being a green tea princess, Yvette was undoubtedly the strongest contender! A knowing smile curled on Shakira''s lips as she contemted Yvette''s maniptions. "So you''re suggesting that I should be cautious of Shakira?" asked Shakira.


    Yvette nodded gently, "Shakira wasn''t inherently bad-hearted; she just didn''t use her talents for good."


    Shakira said, "That''s quite strange; she has never spoken ill of the other crew members in front of me. However, I have heard quite a bit of gossip from Ms. Nelson."


    She


    tinued. In my eyes, you''re all good girls with kind hearts. Misunderstandings may have led to this bias. How about, this? I can act as a mediator, and you two can have a good chat face-to-face?"


    Yvette detected the implication in Shakira''s words, and her smile became a bit stiff. "Well, this is such a small matter; there''s no need to trouble Dr. Lonely Bird for it."


    Shakira coldly chuckled, ready to continue with the sarcasm just as her phone conveniently rang


    She answered the call, and a man''s deep voice came through, Tve arrived at the hospital. Which canteen are you at?"


    "Hospital? Canteen Shakira was surprised.

 Chapter 217

    14


    Shakira felt goosebumps erupt all over her body. Her mind was facing, overwhelmed by the sudden impact. It was as if her head was stuffed with cotton, leaving her momentarily unsure of how to respond to Walter''s abrupt approach. However, Walter didn''t give her much time to think before continuing. "No need, Brian just sent me the location. I''m heading over now,"Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Shakira thought, ''Right now? The entrance to the hospital was jus a quick step down to the next floor! There was no time to hesitate. Shakira quickly hung up the phone, signaling Director Kevin that she needed to leave first. Kevin understood and nodded at her.


    Shakira headed straight downstairs but paused after a few steps, as a thought crossed her mind. She took a moment to contemte before turning around and heading towards the terrace on the second floor.


    Felix, confused, followed her. "Dr. Lonely Bird, where are you going? My car is downstairs; do you want me to give you a ride


    Before he could finish, Lonely Bird nced back at him, then walked to the terrace. With her left hand resting on the railing. she leaped up and, amid a chorus of gasps, effortlessly jumped down.


    Felix felt his heart skip a beat. "Dr. Lonely Bird!" he shouted as he dashed to the railing, and watched as Lonely Bird jumped down from the second floor,nding deftly on the staggered rooftops before swiftly disappearing into the night. Felix stood there, staring fixedly, not blinking, until she disappeared from view entirely.


    He remained lost in thought, feeling a strong thumping in his chest, as if something inside his heart was violently colliding with his body. It was wild, intense, and unlike anything he had ever experienced. Thump, thump-his heart raced uncontrobly! Yvette covered her mouth as she approached. "Oh my gosh, Felix, did you see that? Dr. Lonely Bird just jumped right off the second floor!"


    "I saw it." Felix swallowed, his voice suddenly turning husky.


    Yvette noticed his change, seeming to realize something, and teased with a grin. "Felix, have you fallen for Dr. Lonely Bird?"


    Felix shook his head, unsure of himself. He had never liked anyone before, so he didn''t know what it felt like. But he was certain of one thing, ''It was only when he was close to Lonely Bird that he experienced this unprecedented fluttering sensation!. Shakira dashed into the nearest public restroom at lightning speed, and in less than half a minute, she hurried out again. As she looped back to the canteen entrance, a familiar Cullinan had just arrived.


    ''Oh my gosh, I made it just in time! Shakira felt relieved.


    In the car, Walter had just pressed the button to open the automatic door when someone suddenly jumped into the seat beside him. He turned to look, and who else could it be but his own Shakira?


    Seeing her flushed cheeks and her heavy breathing, as if she had just engaged in intense exercise, Walter couldn''t help but chuckle. "In such a hurry to see me?"


    Shakira took a deep breath, trying to calm her breathing, and shed a big, toothy grin. "Yep, a day without you feels like three years!"


    Walter tapped her gently on the forehead, "Smooth talker." He closed the car door again, and the Cullinan slowly drove out of Haruca Hospital.


    hapter 217


    Not far away, Sean had sneaked over to check if his boss had been bullied today. He just happened to catch the scene unfold. He watched in disbelief as the car door opened, but before anyone could get out, Shakira jumped right in!


    The moment the car door closed, Sean felt like he could explode from frustration! ''He was just a second toote! If only Shakira''s legs were a few centimeters shorter, he would have definitely seen what that man looked like!'' he thought. "No way! This was like the umpteenth time he had encountered this situation. If he didn''t get to see that man today, he would write his name Sean backward!'' he was determined.


    Without wasting any time, he quickly followed the Cullinan as started moving.


    it


    In the end, Walter packed up some delicious food for her-roasted beefsteaks. Greasy and crispy, Shakira devoured two pieces of beefsteak right in the car, savoring every bite. After finishing, she licked her lips, clearly wanting more. Walter gave her a napkin to wipe the grease of her lips and asked. "Was it good?"


    "Yeah, the roasting was just right, super crispy and tender!" said Shakira.


    He nodded and instructed Brian, who was driving, "Have Levi bring the chef back."


    Brian calmly replied, "Yes, Mr. Lopez."


    Shakira was shocked and speechless, What the hell? Who orders a chef just because they think the food is good?


    There are only a few people at home; how many dishes can they possibly eat? As expected, it''s the evil capitalists,pletely disrespecting the value of money!


    Shakira softly expressed her disagreement. "Isn''t bringing a chel home a bit excessive?"


    "What are you thinking?" Walter flicked her forehead. "Next month''s annual meeting, thepany has decided to go to Silverwave Bay for a vacation. We''ll invite a few chefs to handle the dinner for the event.",


    Shakira eximed, "Oh, I see. That''s what it''s about."


    Speaking of the annual meeting, Walter added, "We''ll be there from December 23rd to the 28th for five days. If you want to invite some friends to join us, feel free"


    Shakira quietly noted the date. So, Walter''s birthday would be celebrated there? She thought about it and said, "I''ll check with Xanthe if she''s avable."


    Walter nodded in agreement, but noticing that she seemed a bit lost in thought, he suddenly switched back to the previous topic. "What? Did you think I was going to bring the chef home to cook?"


    Shakira snapped back to reality, scratched her cheek, and indignantly said, "Your words earlier could be misleading!" "Dream on." Walter chuckled with a big grin. "Don''t think you can get out of cooking just because you want to bezy Shakira clenched her fist and shook it angrily. "Of course not! I keep my promises and won''t go back on my word!" "So, are you saying I have wronged your sincere heart?" Walfer asked with a teasing sinile.


    She haughtily lifted her chin. "Mumm-hmm!"


    "Since that''s the case, do I need to make it up


    your wounded tle heart?" asked Walter


    Her chin went even higher, full of pride. "Mumm-hmmm!"


    Walter couldn''t help but be amused by her yful expression as if she wanted to show off. With a yful grip on her chin, he leaned in closer, making sure thepensation was immediate.


    hapter 217


    After Walter''s relentless supervision and practice, Shakira was now able to embrace the sudden intimacy without hesitation.


    Breathing in sen, their cars brushed together, and she fully immersed herself in


    sensation, savoring every moment of


    Shakira thought to herself. "Eating pigeons and Walter-tonight feast is quite nice!


    After their intimate moment, the two snuggled together, with Shakira leaning on Walter''s shoulder. She sent a message to Xanthe about the uing annual meeting.


    Xanthe: [Oh, please, I''ll definitely join you!]


    Shakira chuckled and snuck a peek at Walter, seeing him looking out the window. She texted back at Xanthe. [What''s a good birthday gift for a guy?]


    Xanthe guessed it right away. [Wow! Is it for Mr. Lopez''s birthday?]


    Shakira: [Yep.]


    Xanthe: [Mr. Lopez has plenty of money, but gifts need to hit the right spot. Do you know what Mr. Lopez likes?]


    What does Walter like? He used to enjoy yfully pinching her neck, and now he likes kissing her-does that count?" Shakira pondered, ''She needed to find a way to tease some clues out of Walter


    On the way back to Easke Valley Estate from Haruca Hospital, they passed by Central Amusement Park. The towering and colorful Ferris wheel stands proudly at the city''s center, looking beautiful and romantic. Shakira''s gaze drifted toward the Ferris wheel, and suddenly an idea struck her. "Stop the cart" She eagerly tugged at Walter, "Let''s go ride the Ferris wheel!"


    The Cullinan suddenly came to a halt, startling Sean, who quickly hit the brakes as well. He wiped the sweat from his brow as he watched Shakira bounce out of the car and head to the other side to open the door. Sean''s eyes widened, eagerly craning his neck to see ahead-

 Chapter 218

    Sean didn''t dare to blink, afraid bo''d miss a single trace of that man''s true nature. As he watched the car door open, a long, elegantly proportioned arm stretched out from the Cullinan, revealing a sliver of a suit cuff. Sean held his breath, but just then, an old man selling balloons suddenly popped up in front of the car, his balloons blocking Sean''s viewpletely. He couldn''t even catch a glimpse of his target''s hair. "Damn it!" His heart was practically in his throat-only to see


    Fuming. Sean jolted up, only to bump his head on the car roof with a loud "ouch"


    Clutching his head, he quickly got out of the car. He only saw the back of Shakira''s head as she disappeared into the crowd lining up for the Ferris wheel, vanishingpletely from sight.


    The balloon vendor, catching the re Sean shot him, bolted away with his balloons in tow. Sean, frustrated beyond measure, mmed the car roof twice to vent his anger. So close He was just one step away!


    "No way, I came this far, I can''t give up now! Sean grabbed a mask from the car and strode into the amusement park. It was the weekend night, and the park was crowded with couples and kids; in no time, he lost sight of Shakira. But he was sure that they had just been heading toward the Ferris wheel, and beyond that, there was nowhere else to go.


    Just as he was stressing out, a staff member began enthusiastically announcing. "Attention, all guests! Tonight, the Ferris wheel is exclusively for couples! It''s only open to couples!


    "We also have a special effects camera at the top to capture your memorable moments together, The photos will be posted on the photo wall at the Ferris wheel exit, and you''re wee to sign and leave your mark!" Photos! Sean''s eyes lit up as he watched the transparent cabins rise into the sky, his idea growing more certain. He took out his phone and called Xanthe, "Get ready, we''ve got something brewing. Hurry up and get here." Xanthe was confused. "What?!"


    After hanging up the phone, Sean didn''t sit idly by. He snapped photo of the Cullinan''s license te and sent a message: [Find out who owns this car!]


    The couple in line saw Walter in his wheelchair and kindly offered to let them go ahead. The staff even adjusted the Ferris wheel speed to allow the wheelchair to safely enter the cabin.


    Walter frowned deeply, and every time he tried to refuse their kindness, Shakira quickly covered his mouth. She thanked the kind tourists with a smile. Thank you!"


    As the cabin door closed and the Ferris Wheel started to turn slowly again, Shakira finally let go of her hand. Walter red at her, his gaze cold enough to freeze. Shakira grinned even more. Why so angry? They were just belping you." Walter snorted, "I don''t need that."


    "Yes, with your status, Mr. Lopez, of course, you don''t need it," Shakira said casually. "You can ask Brian to negotiate with the amusement park, use your status, and make them give you special treatment.


    "Then the couples waiting in line, and the staff in the know, would have no choice but to ept yourmand, likely feeling displeasure and resentment.


    "But now, they sincerely want to help you out of their own awareness and kindness. They''re willing to fielp and even feel good about it. Since the result is the same, why not choose the option that makes everyone happy? Thu, Nov/


    Walter furrowed and was silent for a while. After a pause, he gazed deeply at Shakira and said slowly. "You''re right"


    The hardest hurdle for him was his own prejudice against himself regarding his disability. Walter knew she was helping him let go of those biases.


    Shakira''s gaze shifted, without saying any more sentimental words. Her eyes moved to the window. "Look, it''s beautiful down there."


    Walter followed her gaze. The Ferris wheel turned slowly, and the night view of the amusement park gradually expanded into view. The rides, adorned with colorful lights, shimmered from above, creating a stunning and mesmerizing beauty. It was the first time Shakira had seen such a sight. Watching from a high point in the city offered apletely different visual experience. Walter noticed her fascination and his lips curled into a smile. "Do you like it?" he asked. "Yeah, yeah!" Shakira eximed, unable to resist snapping several photos with her phone. She eagerly showed them to Walter. Look, how did I do?"


    Walter nced at them; theposition and colors were good, but there was still room for improvement. "Just okay," he said casually.


    Shakira''s eyes widened in disbelief. They look so great, and you say they''re just okay?!" Though she didn''t take photos often, her shots were always praised. Saying it was just okay was an underestimation of her skills! Unconvinced, she pulled Walter to the window, and said, "Here, you take some. Let''s see how the one who said my shots were just okay does!"


    Walter didn''t refuse, taking out his phone and turning on the camera. Shakira leaned in, determined to keep a close eye him and see how he captured the shot.


    Unexpectedly, Walter gestured for her to lean against the window. "Look outside," he instructed. Shakira didn''t get his intention, assuming he was just being secretive. She gave a heavy huff and said, "How stingy!"


    011


    Then Shakira turned her head away, fine, no peeking! Walter chuckled, raising his phone and taking several quick shots of her side profile.


    Looking at the pictures filled Walter with joy, no adjustments were needed. In a low voice, he said, "Done" Shakira was still sulking, huffing, and rolling her eyes as she reluctantly took his phone to look at his work.


    When she saw that each photo focused solely on her face, her cheeks flushed as she finally understood his intention. "Look at you, saying my photos are okay while yours are out of focus."


    A smile yed on Walter''s lips, and his gaze was filled with deep affection, "You missed the most beautiful view, but I captured it." Shakira shot him a yful re, her eyes brimming with sweetness.


    About ten minutester, as the Ferris wheel climbed to its highest point and slowly descended, Shakira seized the moment and pulled up a couple''s quiz game on her phone, pretending to ask if he''d y out of boredom. Seeing her excitement, Walter raised an eyebrow, "Go ahead and ask"


    With a wide smile, Shakira askod, "What''s your favorite color?"


    "ck, white, blue, and gray," Walter answered.


    ''No wonder his closet is full of those colors,'' Shakira thought.


    Shakira continued, "Do you prefer tasty food or beautiful scenery?"


    "Neither," Shakira replied.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    "Picking a birthday gift just gets even trickier, Shakira thought.


    "What''s your favorite animal?" Shakira asked again.


    "Otto," Walter replied.


    Shakira thought, Otto is lucky to have you.


    Then she continued. "What have I done that makes you happies or leaves the deepest impression?"


    Walter hesitated for a moment, prompting Shakira to look up from her phone, "Is it that hard to answer?"


    After what seemed like serious consideration, Walter replied, "We haven''t been together long, and there are many things yet to be done. It''s hard to say what''s happiest."


    Shakira blinked. "Not thinking of the future, but just as of now?"


    "Right now..." Walter looked deeply into her eyes, his dark gaze full of unspoken Intimacy. "Are you sure you want me to say


    it?"


    Facing his gaze, Shakira was suddenly reminded of their first meeting, her cheeks turning red as she hastily cut him off. "Alright, no need to say it! Next question!"


    Shakira found herself mesmerized, unable to look away until he teased her for staring, causing her to huff and turn back to the window.


    But she couldn''t help but wonder, ''After all this time, when will I finally be able to resist the charm of Walter?


    ''Especially since he''d recently taken to smiling at me so often-who can resist that?


    0

 Chapter 219

    As the Ferris wheelpleted its gotation and descended, the pair disembarked with the help of the friendly staff. This time, Walter nodded at them and said, "Thank you." Shakira looked at him and smiled.


    At the exit, there was a ten-foot-long photo wall where the staff handed them a picture taken during their ride. "You can sign this and leave it on the photo wall as a keepsake!"


    The couple next to themughed, saying, "It''s a tradition here for couples to have their photos taken on the Ferris wheel and sign it for good luck. They say couples who sign their picture together won''t break up-supposedly, it''s quite effective!" Thinking that Walter''s status might make it inappropriate for him to leave a signature, Shakira was about to decline, but he was faster, asking. "Do you have a pen?" "Yes, of course, the staff member answered politely, handing him a pen.


    Shakira was surprised. She leaned close and whispered, "Are you really going to sign it?" Walter whispered back, "Why not?" "Well, won''t that make you recognizable?" Shakira chose her words carefully, but Walter understood what she meant. Indeed, if someone were to recognize both his photo and signature, it could cause a world of trouble.


    After a moment of consideration, Walter suddenly raised his hand and wrote across her face in the photo. Shakira peered closely and confirmed that he did indeed write her name. Then, Walter handed her the pen, saying, "This should work."


    Shakira chuckled, quickly adding his name to the photo,pleting the signatures in one fluid motion. They both ced the photo on the wall.


    Shakira couldn''t help but tease him, "Who would have thought the mighty Mr. Lopez would believe in a love legend about not breaking up?"


    Walter let herugh at him without arguing back.


    Sean was stuck in line surrounded by couples for almost an hour before Xanthe finally arrived. He couldn''t help but grumble, "You could''ve taken your time even more."


    Xanthe didn''t let him off easily, retorting, ''Oh, no problem. I''ll head home ande backter."


    Sean quickly surrendered. "My bad, my bad! Really, you came super quickly!"


    Seeing Sean apologize so earnestly, Xanthe reluctantly forgave him and decided against heading home. Their back-and-forth drew amused smiles from the other couples around them


    A guy in front turned to Sean and gave some advice like an experienced buddy. "Bro, next time you feel likeining. just keep it to yourself. You''ll avoid 80% of arguments that way." Sean sped his hands in thanks. "Lesson learned!"


    Xanthe noticed his pale face from the cold, lips almost white, and couldn''t help but admire his determination for Shakira. If she hadn''t alreadymitted to another beloved couple, she might have helped him out! What a pity! Xanthe nced up at the Ferris wheel, too far away to make out the silhouettes of anyone inside due to the re on the ss. "You''re sure you saw them go up there?"


    "Definitely," Sean replied, eyes shining with determination. "Once we''ve had our turn, we''ll check the photos at the exit- that''s where we''ll find them!" Today, he was definitely going to catch that sneaky guy!


    Xanthe gulped nervously. "What if you were mistaken? Maybe we don''t have to ride-it''s so high."


    Sean gave her a disdainful look, asking, "What, are you afraid of heights" "No, I''m just worried you might be scared up there, Xanthe replied,


    07-20


    Sean tilted his chin, prond and defiant. "Next time youe to my office, I''ll show you what real height looks like."


    "Oh." Xanthe wasn''t interested in his office-her thoughts were preupied with preventing Sean from finding them.


    Half an hourter, Xanthe sat stiffly in her seat, watching the main beside her, clinging to her arm like an octopus. "Didn''t you say your office was way taller than this?" she asked. ''Look at him-shivering like a frightened little creature, Xanthe thought.


    Sean straightened his back, but every time he moved, the ss capsule swayed slightly. Realizing they were essentially suspended from thin cables, he clung to Xanthe even tighter..Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    He yelled, "No one told me it would shake so much!" Xanthe gave him a scornful look, thinking he was just making a fuss about nothing. "Haven''t you been on a Ferris wheel with a girlfriend before?" she asked.


    Sean was even more irritated. "Smart people don''t fall in love! I''m as smart as theye!" he dered.


    "Alright then, Xanthe replied. Wise wasn''t the word to describe him; he was more like a monkey at a circus.


    Seeing him shake with fear, Xanthe couldn''t help but feel a bit sympathetic. His first love hadn''t even started, and here she was, about to end it before it even began.


    As they reached the top, Sean felt the swaying worsen, clinging to Xanthe with all his might. He turned to Xanthe, frustrated. "For someone who looks like a guy, you sure are light. If you weighed more, this thing wouldn''t sway so much Xanthe red at him, unimpressed. This idiot still dreamed of a first love? She''s got to give him a hard pinch!


    When the ride ended, Sean felt as if half his life had drained away. With one final burst of energy, he grabbed Xanthe and went straight to the photo wall.


    A staff member offered for them to sign their photo as a keepsake, and Xanthe, having heard the Ferris wheel''s legend from Aviva, quickly tore the photo in half, posting only her part on the wall.


    She nced over at Sean to ask if he wanted to post his half, but he was too busy scanning the photos for Shakira to notice Sighing, Xanthe pinned up his half on his behalf.


    Watching them go through these actions, the staff member was left speechless, unsure of what to say. This couple was something else!


    Despite scanning the wall over and over, Sean''s eyes nearly crossed with frustration, yet he couldn''t spot the picture he wanted. Xanthe followed behind him, secretly gloating. "Maybe they didn''t keep the photo, you know." Frustrated, Sean growled. "Doesn''t matter if I don''t find it. I already asked someone to run the license te, so I''ll know soon enough whose car it is!"


    Xanthe was secretly giggling, but when she heard that, her face turned pale. She could tear up photos, but dealing with the license te was out of her league!


    She wondered, "Oh no, oh no, is it really going to be a disaster this time?!!


    Now Xanthe was truly panicking, watching Sean make a phone call. Her heart beat faster, wondering if she should just knock him out and confess everything to Shakirater to clean up the mess.


    Her mind was made up, and Xanthe quietly approached Sean from behind while Sean was on the phone. Reaching for a baseball bat at a nearby stall, she lifted it high above Sean''s oblivious head. Chapter 220

 Chapter 220

    "What? Couldn''t find anything? How is that possible?!" Sean was surprised, "Mr. Reynolds, the individual''s ess permissions are extremely high. Only a few top internal officials can ess that information, so..." the other side replied. Seanughed in disbelief. "Higher ess than me? Who could possibly-


    The voice on the other end delivered the blow, "Indeed, that person''s ess level is above yours." Sean grumbled angrily. hanging up the phone.


    He turned and nearly ran into Xanthe, who was beaming with joy, only making him more irritated. "What''s so funny!"


    Xanthe struggled to keep her excitement contained. "Couldn''t find anything, huh? My job here is done; I''m heading home. Bye!" She spun around and bolted. Sean, left alone in the chilly wind, utterly defeated.


    The next morning, as usual, Shakira fed the kittens and tidied up the office, getting ready for the final day of filming. Before the consultations began, there was a knock on her door. "Come in," she said.


    "Dr. Lonely Bird," the visitor was Michael, the dean of Haruca Hospital. A hint of surprise shed in Shakira''s eyes. Michael nodded at Shakira, closed the door, and locked it. Seeing this, Shakira raised her brow slightly and said, "Mr. Lee." Michael approached her desk. His expression was serious, with a touch of apprehension, as though he wanted to speak but was unsure. Shakira seemed to anticipate his reason for being there. "Mr. Lee, feel free to speak." Taking this as a cue, Michael sighed, a bit of his tension dissipating, and spoke in a low voice, Tm here with an unusual request."


    He stepped back slightly, bowing his head respectfully. Dr. Lonely Bird, I hope you can extend your consultation time in our traditional medicine department at Haruca Hospital."


    Shakira replied calmly, "I only signed a three-day contract for the filming." "I know!" Michael said urgently. Under ordinary circumstances, he wouldn''t plead with a junior doctor in this way, but he had no choice. "Dr. Lonely Bird, perhaps you''re unaware. Although Matthew''s reputation is widespread, the number of skilled traditional medicine practitioners left in the country is exceedingly small. Michael sighed helplessly.


    "With the advancements in modern medicine over the years, people''s trust and understanding of traditional medicine have decreased. You might have noticed during your recent appointments that most of the patients are older.


    "The younger generation hardly visits traditional medicine practitioners. Haruca Hospital is one of the top hospitals in Crescentville, and If this is happening even there, imagine what it must be like elsewhere," he said.


    Shakira lowered her eyes. What he said echoed what Matthew hadmented during her acupuncture training. Traditional medicine had stagnated, while modern medicine continued to progress.


    Practicing traditional medicine demanded not only innate talent and perseverance but also vast knowledge of medicinal herbs. The effects of different herbalbinations were incrediblyplex.


    The biggest drawback was that traditional medicine didn''t provide the same financial benefits as modern medicine. She thought, ''In a world where fame and fortune were often prioritized, how many were willing to settle down andmit to this path?'' Michael observed Shakira. Even though she wore a mask that hid her expression, he could still sense the emotional impact


    on her.


    He continued, "In recent days, there''s been a lot of online discussion about you. This trend has also encouraged the promotion and understanding of traditional medicine, prompting more people to learn about it, understand it, and trust it. 20 Thu, Nov 7


    "I believe one of the reasons Mr. Jones chose to film this show is that medicine not only saves lives now! health and peace of future generations" 2494%


    dio ensures the


    With that, Michael bowed deeply, almost pleading "Please, Dr. Lonely Bird, grant Haruca Hospital more time and a chance"


    His humble gesture left Shakira somewhat moved, even though he had no intentions of staying. She held her breath, "Mr. Lee, please get up." Michael didn''t want to pressure or embarrass her, so he got up at her gesture. His face, etched with wrinkles, was full of hope


    Shakira took a deep breath, and said, "Alright. I promise I will stay in the clinic until the end of the year


    Michael couldn''t contain his joy and shook Shakira''s hands enthusiastically. "Great Dr. Lonely Bird, thank you so much? "It''s I who should thank you for the trust you''ve shown by allowing me to practice here," Shakira said.


    A doctor like her, who was inexperienced and only had a title, receiving the treatment of an attending physician was already a special case. "Tll inform Mr. Jones and arrange for a new shift schedule," said Michael. "Alright, thank you, Mr. Lee, replied Shakira.


    After seeing off Michael, Shakira thought for a moment and called Matthew. The call was picked up so quickly, it was as if he was waiting for it. Shakira squinted. "You crafty old man, you set a trap just for me to fall into, didn''t you?" Matthew was chuckling on the other end. "You agreed to Michael, didn''t you? I knew you were a girl with a cold face but a warm heart"


    He sighed helplessly and continued, "I''m out of options. Latest night, Michael came rushing over, sitting and sighing. worried that if you left, his traditional medicine department, which finally had a couple of lively days, would be quiet again "He was bothering me so much that I had no choice but to ask him to plead with you." Finally, Matthew asked. "Are you upset with me?" Shakira pouted. "How would I dare?"Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Hey, what wouldn''t you dare to do?" Matthew didn''t buy it.


    Shakira chuckled, thinking about Michael''s earlier behavior, and said softly, "Actually, I''m also a beneficiary. I gained the advantage of you teaching me medical skills, but I couldn''t carry them forward. I''m not a very good student." Hearing that Shakira sounded down, Matthew felt a tug at his heart and said, "Nonsense! You''re my only apprentice! If you were not great, what would that make all the others I thought less of?


    "You really shouldn''t think like that. You see when I took you on, it was not only because of your talent but also because you seemed like a good fit. I pushed you to study, and you''ve learned so well-that alone makes me proud of you." Matthew''s tone grew more serious. "In the end, the path you choose in life is your own. I only offered one possible direction Whatever you decide, know that I will support your choice."


    His words struck a chord with Shakira, a warmth spreading through her heart. Even after living twice, it seemed she still couldn''t find her future direction.


    In her previous life, all she wanted was family; she lived to please them, doing whatever they wished. She was nothing more than a shell. In this life, she had a reason to live, but it was mostly for revenge.


    What she truly wanted for herself seemed to have never crossed her mind. It was the first time someone told her she could choose her own path, and listen to her heart, without worrying about her family''s approval or judgment. Her life was hers to decide. The light in her calm eyes grew brighter, gathering into a radiant glow.


    07:20 Thu, Nov/


    "Thanks, Matthew, I know what I want to do now," student, ha-ha!"


    £¤994%


    €94%


    Said Shakira. Oh, decided so soon?" Matthew felt very satisfied. That''s my


    Kevin quickly received the news. After consulting briefly with Shakira, they decided to install a camera in her office instead of having stall present for close filming. Shakira started her consultations for the day. After herst patient in the morning, she could rest in the afternoon.


    "Next patient. As the system called the n


    number, Shakira nced at the name on the screen-Mia..


    However, when she looked up and saw the patient seated before her, her eyebrows furrowed slightly.

 Chapter 221

    Outside the office, someone had already closed the door. Shakira gazed thoughtfully at the elderly woman in front of her and said softly, "You''re not Mia."


    Jaslene seemed slightly taken aback and narrowed her eyes with a smile, saying, "As expected of the renowned Dr. Lonely Bird." Shakira stayed silent, not about to mention that just a few days ago, in Easke Valley Estate, she had called her a seductive witch.


    "I''m here today because I need Dr. Lonely Bird''s help to treat me Jaslene said grandly, reaching out her hand. "Let me introduce myself, I''m Jaslene Banks, the matriarch behind the biggest investor of this show." Shakira understood immediately. "Mrs. Banks bought the appointment slot from Mia."


    "It''s not easy to secure an appointment with Dr. Lonely Bird. Mr. Lee wouldn''t give me a pass, so I tracked down the patient and gave her 30 thousand dors to go to a different doctor instead," Jaslene said. Jaslene said with a self-satisfied expression as if she had done something incredibly noble. "She needed money for her treatment, and that amount should cover all her medical expenses."Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    That condescending attitude was just like Fiona''s. Shakira made noment and reached out to feel her pulse. In just a moment, Shakira''s calm expression shifted slightly.


    She didn''t expect Jaslene''s pulse to be so weak and erratic. Outwardly, Jaslene looked healthy and vigorous, but inside, her body was badly depleted.


    Shakira''s expression was serious as she spoke frankly, "Mrs. Banks, over the years, you must have taken quite a lot of strong medicine to keep up this appearance of health." Jaslene didn''t deny it, just smiled. "Well, you know, when you get old, you''re afraid of dying. I just want to live well."


    Shakira shook her head. "The medicines you''ve been using are very strong and toxic, and after years of use, they''ve deeply prated your organs and bones. This illness of yours is beyond my ability to treat."


    11


    Even if Jaslene hadn''t said anything. Shakira already understood her intentions. Jaslene had be dependent on strong medications to maintain her current condition, but inside, she was deteriorating.


    Now, as she grew older, her organs were failing more quickly, and daily medication could keep her alive, but it couldn''t stop the side effects of those strong drugs in her body.


    She had evidently started feeling these effects but was able to endure them for the time being.


    However, the deterioration would soon elerate, leading to severe pain in her organs and bones that even medication couldn''t suppress. Jaslene would end up in agonizing pain, unable to live or die peacefully. Jaslene candidly acknowledged, saying, "Dr. Lonely Bird, I''m aware that this illness is difficult to cure; otherwise, I wouldn''t have gone to the trouble ofing all the way from Haruca''to Crescentville.


    "When I was younger, I made foolish choices for the sake of profit, ignoring the toll on my body and missing out on many things life has to offer. Now, I can''t let go, can''t bear to leave this world, or my precious granddaughter." Jaslene''s eyes focused intensely on Shakira,cking her usual superior demeanor. At this moment, she was like any ordinary patient struggling to survive. "You''re my only hope. Even if it''s just temporary relief, please help me!" Shakira repeated herself. "I''m


    sorry,


    but I truly cannot help you.


    0


    8%%


    "Dr. Lonely Bird! If you treat me, the cost is not an issue. I can give you 30 million dors, 100 million dors-whatever it takes! I can also raise your profile in the medicalmunity, turning you into a celebrated healer," Jaslene said. Using both pressure and temptation, Jaslene was relentless in achieving her goals.


    Shakira couldn''t help but imagine that Jaslene must have pressured doctors simrly in the past, pushing them to breach ethics and administer potent medications to prolong her life.


    So now, Jaslene evidently believed that with enough effort, she could defy nature''sws to live indefinitely. Shakira spoke firmly once again, "Your condition is truly beyond my help." Jaslene''s face darkened with every passing moment. Despite all her efforts, Shakira remained unyielding.


    Suddenly, Jaslene''s attempt to reason with and persuade Shakira turned into an obsessive frenzy. The once polite pleas vanished, revealing a menacing and sinister demeanor. Jaslene snarled. "You little girl, I asked you nicely, yet you dare refuse me! Since I control this show''s primary investment, I have the power to ruin you!


    "Your revered master will also lose his reputation because of you, enduring public scorn!"


    Jaslene''s piercing and spiteful scream made Shakira clench her fists in anger. She knew Jaslene was trying to provoke her and understood well that both Jaslene and Fiona were the kind of people who would stop at nothing to achieve their goals. Shakira wasn''t afraid of Jaslene seeking revenge, but she absolutely couldn''t allow Jaslene to tarnish her master''s reputation. After taking several deep breaths, Shakira cleared her throat and said, "I can treat your illness.


    "But I need to state upfront, that my abilities are limited. I can only help slow down the organ failure. During the treatment, you have to follow my prescription.


    "If you take other medication yourself and something goes wrong, you''ll be responsible for the consequences."


    Upon hearing this, Jaslene''s gloomy and pushy demeanor changed, and she showed a happy smile. "That''s more like it. At my age, I don''t want to cause trouble. As long as Dr. Lonely Bird puts effort into treating me, everything will be fine." Shakira didn''t say anything else, she got up and took out silver needles to perform acupuncture on Jaslene.


    "You have an excess of toxins and cold in your system. I''ll start by helping you detoxify. Afterward, bathe every night with the herbal medicine I''ll prescribe. I''ll be at this clinic for some time, so return for a check-up next week," Shakira said. Pausing, she specifically instructed, "No need to make an appointment."


    "Alright, alright." At this moment, Jaslene was back to acting kind and gentle. This type of person was extremely selfish. When it benefited her, she was all smiles and agreeable.


    But once there was a conflict of interest, she turned into a fierce tiger or a venomous snake, ready to bite hesitation.


    your


    neck without


    Jaslene used Mia''s name for the appointment, so Shakira couldn''t issue a written report for her, as it would affect Mia''s future diagnosis at Haruca Hospital.


    Instead, Shakira made a medication slip on theputer and told Jaslene she could go straight to the pharmacy to get her -medicine.


    Jaslene thanked Shakira and left with a cheerful smile.


    Just before she went out the door, she turned back to Shakira and said, "Dr. Lonely Bird, please seriously consider being my personal doctor.


    0


    "The sry and reputation-you would gain are far beyond what a clinic doctor in a top hospital could achieve.


    ,, 8%.


    The typical move of hitting with one hand and offering sweets with the other. Shakira smirked, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Mrs. Banks, but I''m not interested in money or fame. This time, Jaslene didn''t get angry. "No problem; perhaps you''ll reconsider someday." With that, she walked out with her guards.


    Finally, able to rx, Shakira exhaled deeply, feeling the weight in her chest lift. She grabbed her things to leave, knowing she was already runningte for her lunch with Sean.


    Intern Doctor Howard knocked on the door and entered. "Dr. Lonely Bird." He stepped forward and asked, "Are you busy? I can help you finishpiling the final diagnosis report."


    Howard scratched his head sheepishly. "I''d also like to learn about your consultation process and diagnosis methods."


    Shakira didn''t think much of it and nodded in agreement. "Alright, I''ll leave it to you." Howard was filled with gratitude, saying, "It''s what I should do. Thank you, Dr. Lonely Bird, for giving me the opportunity!"


    He smilingly watched Shakira walk away briskly. Behind his sses, his eyes briefly flickered as he closed the door.


    Shakira arrived at Yonder Digital without removing her special effects makeup. Scanning her fingerprint, she entered the CEO''s office, where she found Sean leaning out the floor-to-ceiling window, engrossed in something. Shakira approached him silently, and when Sean looked back unintentionally, he was so startled that he fell right on his bottom. "Oh my gosh, a ghost!" Sean screamed.

 Chapter 222

    1


    Shakira took off her mask, not in a good mood. "It''s me."


    "Shakira?" Sean patted his chest, still anxious. "You scared me. I wondered how someone could sneak into my office."


    "What are you looking at? I came in and you didn''t even notice me."


    Hearing Shakira''s words, Sean responded automatically, "Nothing. I was just wondering how I could stand this high here fine but panic on a Ferris wheel." "Ferris wheel?" Shakira gave Sean a suspicious look. Realizing he had let things slip, Sean quickly covered his mouth.


    Shakira had already guessed something, narrowing her eyes in a warning. "Sean, it seems you''ve got too much spare timetely, following me around."


    Hearing this, Sean stopped pretending, and with hands on his hips retorted.


    "I''m just worried you''ll get deceived by some jerk. We promised to be friends for life, and here you are secretly dating men. Do you know how worried I''ve been about you?"


    Sean''s words showed genuine emotion. Shakira blinked and lowered her head. "Okay, I shouldn''t have kept it from you. I thought it would be better to disclose it at the right time. Now that you know... Noticing the slight change on Sean''s face as he tried to hide his curiosity, Shakira paused and thought, "That look... So, he doesn''t know that the guy is Walter?''


    Shakira changed her tone. "Then I won''t say anything."


    Sean was dumbfounded.


    Realizing he''d been tricked, Sean gritted his teeth and said, "Are we good friends or not?" Shakira didn''t answer directly but said, "Since you already know, what else is there to say?"


    Sean was so frustrated that he stomped his feet angrily. "I don''t know! I followed you all night, got close several times, but kept getting interrupted, and I can''t find out who owns that car te."


    Shakiraughed happily. "That means the time hasn''te yet. When it does, you''ll all know."


    "Whatever. I''ve thought about it ande to terms with it. Few people in Crescentville can hide from me, just those powerful families.


    "As long as you''re not hanging around with that loser Joe, the yer Calton, or the two from the Lopez family, I have no problem."


    Hearing this, Shakira''s eyes lit up. "I can understand why you don''t want me to be with Joe, but why the other three?"


    out wh


    "Calton and Benji are yboys who change girlfriends faster than shirts. I wonder if there are any socialite girls in Crescentville left untouched by them. I can''t believe you''d be interested in either of them. As for Walter, that''s a definite no." Sean said with absolute certainty, especially when he referred to Walter.


    "Why? Because he''s not in great health? Are you biased against him?" Shakira''s tone was a bit sharp, acting defensive.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Sean shouted, "How could I? I''ve had my people find out that Walter''s been hanging around with this young maid who was said to be a student at Crescentville University.


    "The Lopez Group made an exception to hire interns from Crescentville University because of her."


    .


    B8%8


    With his chin resting in his hand, Sean marveled at the juicy gossip, unaware of Shakira lowering her head.


    He continued, "Walter has had no romantic rumors for many years. I used to respect him as a gentleman, but who knows he ys wild in private, even getting involved with his maid. "How could he ever be worthy of you? What? Why are you hiding your face?"


    Shakira tucked her stray hair behind her car, d for the makeup that kept Sean from noticing anything odd.


    "Nothing."


    Shakira cleared her throat. "Maybe there''s some misunderstanding. After all, like you said, Walter has kept himself well-behaved all these years."


    Sean changed to a knowing face. "You don''t know men, Shakira. It''s exactly because he''s been holding back for so long that when he finally lets loose, it''ll be way more explosive than usual. Anyway, he looks like a wild, untamable beast." Shakira was speechless and thought, ''Ever since we affirmed our rtionship, Walter did seem to be letting loose. His gaze at night fixated on me with a predatory intensity, as if he wanted to devour me whole.


    ''Calling him a beast fits perfectly."


    Shakira was lost in thought when Sean handed her the documents on the table. "Shakira, you didn''t need toe here for these contracts. I can sign them for you. You''ve been so busy going to the hospital that you seem to lose weight." Sean looked at Shakira with tender concern.


    Shakira took the documents, scanned them, and neatly signed her name.


    "It''s fine. I just came to get the studio keys from you."


    Sean was thrilled and quickly handed Shakira the keys from the top drawer. "Shakira, you finally remembered you have a fashion design studio. I thought we wouldn''t see your new design this year."


    Previously, Shakira would finish the sketches and pass them to the studio designers toplete the product. This was the first time she came to ask Sean for the keys.


    Sean thought, ''Even though those well-paid designers were talented, I felt their workscked the grace and precision that Shakira''s personal touch added. After all, only the designer knows best where the essence of the work is. Shakira smiled apologetically as she put the keys away. "Probably not this year, but maybe next year."


    Having no energy to manage this birthday gift Sean had carefully prepared for her, Shakira felt a bit guilty.


    Her reason for being involved in picking assistants for the studio was to reveal Yvette''s ugly truth of giarizing her works, ensuring Yvette would never gain undeserved fame again.


    "Why?" Sean was confused.


    Shakira replied vaguely, "I have my ns." In fact, she came today out of self-interest. The Q&A session on the Ferris wheel sparked her inspiration.


    -Walter was possessive and domineering. He liked unique and useful things. A custom-made gift would be the best birthday


    present Shakira could think of.


    Afraid it would madden Sean, Shakira decided not to tell him the truth, thinking, ''By next year, I''dpensate Sean by designing a piece of clothing for his birthday."


    At night, Jaslene took a thirty-minute herbal bath prescribed by Shakira. She felt rejuvenated after getting acupuncture at the hospital; the persistent aches buried in her bones had eased significantly. Jaslene thought, ''Matthew''s disciple does deserve the reputation


    Jaslene hoped the bath would bring her greater relief, at least enough to skip sleeping aids and painkillers tonight. However, just as she stepped out of the bathroom, she suddenly felt dizzy, and her heart started to race wildly. The next second, she coughed up a mouthful of dark blood.

 Chapter 223

    Chapter 223 +5


    At Easke Valley Estate, Shakira wrapped a measuring tape around her fingers, trying to check the length.


    Since tailoring needed precise measurements, Shakira secretly wrote down Walter''s size, nning to surprise him.


    As she was fiddling with the tape, Walter walked out from his herbal bath. She quickly put the tape away and changed her face to a broad smile. "Finished?" Shakira asked, patting the spot next to her. "Come here. Let me give you a rxing massage."


    Shakira was sitting cross-legged on the dark blue velvet bed, her short-sleeved pajamas revealing her alluring body.


    As she spoke, her lively eyes sparkled with excitement on her charming face, like a yful little fox seeking its owner''s affection.


    Walter looked at her intently. "Why do you suddenly want to give me a massage?"


    "I''ve been busy with the programtely and haven''t given you acupuncture. A massage will help rx your tense muscles."


    Walter didn''t refuse andy face down on the bed, enjoying the impromptu massage from Shakira.


    Her considerate gesture delighted him.


    However, her hands soon wandered to areas where they probably shouldn''t have been.


    Walter stayed calm, patiently waiting for Shakira to expose her true intentions.


    Shakira secretly took the measurements around Walter''s neck, shoulders, back muscles, and waist.


    Then, Shakira''s eyes involuntarily moved downward. Her hands began to slide sneakily down along his waist.


    Just as she was about to touch Walter''s butt, her wrist was suddenly grabbed. The next moment, the world spun, and Shakira found herself lying prone on the bed, firmly pinned down. Walter''s warm breath fanned behind her ear. Shakira turned her head and met his intense gaze.


    In the brief moment, their eyes met, she saw the unhidden desire in his eyes.


    Startled, she quickly turned her gaze away as her heart beat rapidly, thinking, ''Oh gosh, I have identally crossed the line.


    Walter was filled with restless energy. His voice was extremely hoarse and raw. "Do you think I''m just letting you have your way?"


    His words wereced with a bit of breathlessness, making Shakira''s face redden.


    Suddenly, Shakira tucked her head under the covers, pretending to be upset. "I''m giving you a massage out of kindness, and you''re mad at me? Fine, I''ll go to sleep."


    Watching her y the victim, Walter was angry yet amused, knowing he was powerless against her.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    He thought, ''Gavin was right. I ampletely captivated by her


    At midnight, Fiona, George, and Sophie hurried to the hospital just when the doctor came out of the emergency room.


    "How''s Grandma? She''s always been healthy. How could she suddenly start coughing up blood?" Fiona grasped the doctor


    .


    tightly, her voice choked with tears.


    The doctor had a stern look on his face and said seriously, "She consumed too much raw fleece flower root, leading to acute liver failure. We''ve given her a stomach pump. However, her body is weak, and the situation is not good." "What?"


    George''s tall figure swayed, and he stumbled back a step. Thankfully, Sophie caught him, preventing a fall.


    "Grandma was in Haruca resting and recuperating. How could she take the wrong medication and get this badly hurt?" Fiona mumbled.


    Suddenly, she shed a sharp look at the servants who had brought Jaslene to the hospital and scolded coldly, "Grandma has a nutritionist nning her meals. How could she have ingested such poison?"


    The servants were already trembling in fear. Now, with Fiona demanding ountability, they cried uncontrobly.


    "We don''t know. Ms. Banks went to see a doctor who prescribed a bunch of herbs. Who would''ve thought she''d start coughing up blood after just one dose?"


    Fiona''s eyes widened with anger. "What nonsense! Who told you to take Grandma to some quack doctor? Are you trying to kill her?"


    The servants pleaded. "No! It was Ms. Banks''s decision. She said that Matthew had a highly skilled disciple."


    ''Matthew?'' Fiona wondered, suddenly, her mind went nk, and for a moment, she was utterly stunned.


    Once snapping back to reality, Fiona frantically grabbed the servant''s arm, her eyes wild. "Who did you say? Who did Grandma see today?"


    The servant, terrified, cried even harder. "It''s Dr. Lonely Bird from Haruca Hospital."


    ''Lonely Bird!'' Fiona thought in astonishment and quickly walked away as if she had just remembered something.


    In the corner of the hallway, Fiona dialed a number. As soon as it connected, she eagerly asked, "Have you made your move?"


    Howard was surprised. "Ms. Banks, do you already know it?"


    Upon hearing the words, Fiona chilled to the core.


    Howard continued, "I followed your instructions and secretly altered the prescription Lonely Bird gave the patient. Today, a patient filled in for someone else and I got the perfect chance.


    "I n to tell you when the patient''s family shows up. I don''t expect you already know it."


    "How did you do it?" Fiona''s voice trembled.


    "I changed the processed fleece flower root Lonely Bird prescribed to the raw one. There is only a one-word difference, but the effects are worlds apart. At that dose, it''s lethal; most people wouldn''t withstand it." Howard felt a hint of pride and was satisfied with his cleverness.


    However, thest bit of Fiona''s hope crashed when she heard the words.


    Her pupils trembled, and her eyes were bloodshot.


    ''How ridiculous!


    §à


    "The prescription Howard-changed is the one for Grandma


    ''Why is this happening?


    ''All the scheming and effort I put into trapping Shakir


    ultimately led to


    harming Grandma, Fiona thought.


    Intense emotions churned in her chest. Fiona was full of regret and wanted to cry, but the heaviness pressing so hard on her heart left her without any strength to shed a tear.


    Fiona couldn''te to terms with such an ironic reality.


    Gradually, the sorrow and regret turned into unfocused anger and resentment.


    Fiona thought, ''If it weren''t for Shakira, I would have been the hero for healing Walter''s legs. Walter wouldn''t break up with me. I wouldn''t have invested 30 million dors in the program or instructed Howard to change the prescription. ''Shakira was the one to me for all these.


    Not hearing back from Fiona, Howard got restless and eager to im the credit for himself.


    "Ms. Banks, I followed your orders perfectly, framing Lonely Bird for a medical ident. You promised I could get into Haruca Hospital."


    The hallway was silent, and the motion sensor lights went out, leaving only the green glow of the "Emergency Exit" sign reflecting in Fiona''s blood-red eyes, making her appear even more sinister and vicious.


    After a long silence, Fiona spoke with icy determination, each wordced with malice, "Give your best performance tomorrow. When it''s done, I''ll make your dreamse true."


    Howard was thrilled as if he could already see himself stepping into his dream role at Haruca Hospital. "Thank you, Ms. Banks."


    *****


    The next day, Shakira arrived at the office to feed the kittens when the door out of the window.


    was


    kicked


    open. Startled, the kittens scattered


    Shakira''s heart tightened and she turned around coldly.


    Fiona stormed in with a group of people,

 Chapter 224

    8%


    These people were well-trained bodyguards from the Banks more


    Seeing them approaching her at


    and hurled it furiously.


    family, mur


    than the previous troublemakers.


    Taken off guard by Shakira''s striking, they were hit by the chair and fell out at the door, blocking those trying to rush in. Fiona stood by the entrance, her eyes almost on fire. "Useless! All of you, get in there!" Shakira nced over at Fiona, and in a sh, before the second group of bodyguards coulde forward, she leaped ahead. The next moment, Shakira maneuvered through the crowd and appeared before Fiona. Fiona''s eyes widened in disbelief. Before she


    with fear. "W- What are you trying to do?"


    could react, a sudden cold sensation touched her neck. Fiona''s face turned pale


    Shakira gave a cold chuckle, and her fingertips toyed with a cold silver needle at Fiona''s neck. "Youe to make trouble and scare away my cats. Tell me, how should I pay you back?"


    Shakira leaned in close, her voice calm and chilling, whispering words that sent shivers down Fiona''s spine, "Should I give you a shot that''ll leave you speechless for life, or should I just break that rude finger of yours?" Fiona''s hair stood on end, her body tense as she instinctively clenched her fingers into her palm.


    She red fiercely at Shakira, trying to act tough. "With all these people watching, if you dare do anything to me, my parents won''t let you get away."


    A cold glint shed in Shakira''s eyes. "Then go ahead and try." Seeing the ruthless determination in Shakira''s eyes, Fiona screamed in fear.


    "Fiona!" George and Sophie rushed over just in time. They saw Shakira raise a silver needle, almost piercing it into Fiona''s body, and were frightened out of their wits. Along with them was the head of the traditional medicine department. The department head was also scared stiff. "Lonely Bird, let go of Ms. Banks immediately!"


    Sophie bit her lip in anger and shouted furiously, "You rascal! Isn''t it enough that you harmed Jaslene? Now you want to hurt my daughter?"


    ''There it was again,'' Shakira thought. She remembered Fiona had said something simr before, using her of poisoning Jaslene. Shakira narrowed her eyes slightly, chuckled ambiguously, and pushed Fiona aside.


    Fiona ran to George and Sophie, so scared that her face flushed by turns, looking extremely unwell. George gestured for Fiona to stay calm and then exchanged looks with the department head.


    Shakira with a stern face, "Lonely Bird, you used the wrong medication and


    The department head got the hint and ac worsened Jaslene''s condition, which is malpractice.


    "If you know what''s best for you, get on your knees, apologize to the Banks family, and confess your crime to the police."


    The crowd gasped in shock.


    "What? Wrong medication? That''s terrifying!"


    "Isn''t this Dr. Lonely Bird famous? How could she make such a mistake?"


    "She''s be overconfident a


    killing people."Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    she''s Matthew''s disciple and has admirers. A doctor who prescribes the wrong medication is


    Shakira remainedposed and said firmly, "I did not use the wrong medication, and I refuse to admit it."


    8%


    "Lonely Bird, are you still trying to argue?" the department head, who had long been irritated by Shakira''s defiance, waved a finger at her and thought, ''It''s all because of Matthew that she is here. But due to her, my son lost his ted spot! He pulled out a prescription and threw it at Shakira. "Look for yourself. This is the prescription Jaslene got from the pharmacy after consulting with you. You prescribed the raw fleece flower root. It''s fatal when used inrge amounts." "That''s impossible. Shakira thought as she opened the prescription. On that printed paper was indeed raw fleece flower root; however, Shakira was certain that what she had written was processed fleece flower root. "There must be some deceit involved here, Shakira thought as she pressed her lips together, quickly thinking back.


    From Fiona''s point of view, Shakira was now in an inescapable situation. The evidence was irrefutable. She thought, ''Shakira, this time you''re done for.''


    Fiona''s face gleamed in excitement as she ordered the bodyguards, "Make her kneel and apologize."


    Shakira''s eyes shed with open mockery at Fiona. With the backing of the Banks family, Fiona seemed to have forgotten the panic she felt just moments ago in Shakira''s grasp and even taunted Shakira with a throat-slitting gesture. But before the bodyguards could move, Kevin and others arrived in time and stopped the spectacle. "Let''s see who dares to stir trouble in the hospital."


    Michael stood between the opposing parties, his aged face carrying a natural authority. Felix and Yvette came too. They went to check if Shakira was injured.


    Seeing Shakira unharmed, Michael let out a sigh of relief and addressed the Banks family, "Mr. White, using force against our doctors is uneptable. Please apologize to Dr. Lonely Bird, or Haruca Hospital will take further action."


    The department head was sweating profusely as he quickly exined, "Mr. Lee, Lonely Bird used the wrong medication and sent Jaslene to the ICU. Our hospital is clearly in the wrong here!"


    Michael''s expression changed slightly, his brows knitting together as he responded without hesitation, "It''s impossible. Dr. Lonely Bird wouldn''t make such a basic mistake."


    ''What? That old relic still wants to protect Shakira?'' Fiona thought, then she said harshly, "The evidence is here in ck and white. How can you say it''s impossible? Is the hospital trying to avoid responsibility by just iming ''impossible?'' "Or maybe you''re afraid of Matthew backing her, so you''re twisting the facts to protect this useless doctor who can''t even get the prescriptions right?"


    Fiona''s words crossed Shakira''s line. She clenched her fists tightly and said coldly, "Fine! Since you want to cause a scene, I''ll join you to the end."


    Fiona folded her arms and sneered, "Bark while you can!"


    Ignoring Fiona''s mocking, Shakira reassured Michael, who had spoken up for her, "Thank you, Mr. Tucker. I will find out the truth and ensure the hospital and my mentor are not unfairly disgraced." Michael nodded and replied, "Good."


    Shakira said no more. With one more nce at the prescription she walked to her desk and opened herputer to log into the system.


    The digital report matched with the prescription in Jaslene''s hand. Shakira frowned deeply.


    Seeing her expression, everyone around turned anxious. Felix couldn''t hold back and stepped forward. "Is something wrong?"


    972


    "What else could be wrong, except that Lonely Bird got the medication name wrong, putting lives in danger!"


    Shakira ignored Fiona, suddenly muttering a nam

 Chapter 225

    Shakira had barely mentioned the name when Fiona scoffed, sneering, "Who''s this Howard anyway? Don''t tell me you''re fishing for a scapegoat here!".


    Everyone''s expressions shifted, and the department head jumped in, "Ms. Banks, don''t worry. Haruca Hospital would never cover for a doctor by making an innocent person take the fall for something this immoral!" Ignoring their taunts, Shakira focused on Mr. Jones and Mr. Lee who trusted her. She exined, "Howard''s an intern assigned to assist me. He''s been going over my diagnoses and taking notes for his learning." Mr. Lee nodded, gesturing to the head nurse. "Please have Dr. Howarde over." Momentster, Howard rushed down the hall, ncing around nervously as he took in the intense atmosphere. Shakira called him over, and he approached, looking uneasy. "Did you stay behind to study my notes after I left yesterday?" she asked.


    Howard nodded. "Yes, Dr. Lonely Bird. I only stayed because you gave me permission."


    "Where are your notes? Let me take a look."


    Howard pulled out a small notebook and handed it over respectfully. Shakira flipped it open, seeing pages full of detailed notes from his studies.


    Shakira could tell Howard was diligent. Thest three pages, in particr, contained recent notes, including insights on her treatment techniques that deviated from textbook methods-marked heavily in red.


    Seeing her reading, Howard spoke up, "These cases were a bit unique. I was nning to ask you about them once you had time, Dr. Lonely Bird." Shakira nodded, looking somewhat pleased. But as she turned to the next page and saw certain red-marked words, a chill ran through her fingertips.


    Standing next to her, Felix noticed it too, his face suddenly changed, and he murmured, "How could this happen..."


    Howard nced over as if he''d remembered something, his brows knitting together in confusion. "This is thest patient''s record and prescription from yesterday... It''s the first time I''ve seen a doctor prescribe raw fleece flower root, especially at such a high dosage..." The moment Howard said it, everyone''s faces changed drastically. The Banks family, especially, looked at Shakira like they could tear her to pieces right then and there.


    Noticing the shift in the atmosphere, Howard whispered, "Dr. Lonely Bird, did I... say something wrong?"


    "No, you didn''t. The wrong one is the killer here!" Fiona snarled, eyes bloodshot. "Oh, so you won''t admit it, huh? Well, you asked for proof, and now we''ve got a witness!"


    Mrs. Banks snapped at Mr. Lee, who looked visibly shocked, "Mr Lee, even your hospital''s intern can testify that she gave my mother-inw the wrong prescription! Haruca Hospital owes the Banks Group an exnation!"


    George''s eyes burned with fury as he ground his teeth, "My mother''s in critical condition, hooked up to a forest of tubes in the ICU. I''ll make this quack pay double for what she''s done!"


    "That''s impossible!" Shakira snapped, closing the notebook and fixing her gaze on Howard. "You''re lying."


    Howard stammered, "W-what? I''m not lying! I just... I just recorded everything exactly as you prescribed, Dr. Lonely Bird..."


    Shakira let out a coldugh, watching his startled face closely.


    2¡Á38%8


    Fiona sneered, "Oh, trying to pass the me right in front of us? Do you think we''re all blind and deaf?"


    "Enough, Lonely Bird!" The department head''s voice was full of disappointment. "You got yourself into this mess, and now you want to pawn it off on a junior? How can you call yourself a doctor?


    The department head was greatly disappointed, and angrily rebuked while shaking his head repeatedly, "How could you betray the sacred profession of being a doctor!"


    Shakira scoffed. "Yes, being a doctor is sacred, but some people will do anything to tarnish this white coat."


    "You!"


    "Dr. Lonely Bird!"


    Faced with everyone''s usations, Yvette rushed over, positioning herself beside Shakira with that same phony, evergreen grin. She took Shakira''s hand and said softly, "Dr. Lonely Bird, we all believe in your skills. We know you wouldn''t do something like this on purpose... but..." She gave a sympathetic sigh, her voice sweet but fake. "The evidence is right here, and I know you have your pride. But nobody''s perfect, and maybe if you offered a heartfelt apology to the Banks family, Jaslene might forgive you when she recovers." Feeling sorry for Dr. Lonely Bird being questioned by everyone, Yvette kindly advised her to face reality.


    Felix''s voice suddenly turned serious, "Yvette!"


    Wette shook her head at Felix, looking as if she was considering Dr. Lonely Bird''s feelings. Her voice was soft and gentle,


    "Felix, the best way to help Dr. Lonely Bird right now is to encourage her to admit her mistake."


    ''Ridiculous!'' Shakira thought. She was so angry and almostughed out loud. This two-faced, self-righteous piece of work wanted to look like a saint while pushing her to apologize?


    Feeling disgusted, Shakira yanked her hand out of Fiona''s grip, grabbed the disinfectant spray from the table, and spritzed her hands.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Yvette''s face darkened at being so obviously snubbed. She turned and saw Fiona looking at her with a mocking smile as if she were a clown on disy.


    Inside, Yvette cursed Lonely Bird for her stubborn pride. She thought, ''Did she really think that by denying everything, she''d make things turn around? It was pathetic. ''I felt even more foolish forever trying to cozy up to Lonely Bird for Felix''s sake.


    Now, with Lonely Bird backed into a corner, Yvette smirked and stood aside, ready to watch her downfall. She even tugged Felix''s arm, "Felix, wake up!"


    Felix, still reeling from the shock, felt lost. Lonely Bird was his idol-her talent, her skill, her personality-all of it drew him in. He wanted to believe in her. But with the situation unfolding, he couldn''t bring himself to stand by her unwaveringly. Felix''s expression wasplicated, but eventually, Yvette pulled him away.


    Amid all the hostility, Shakira stood strong, unaffected. She nced at Felix, who was looking at her with guilt and pity, then looked past him to Howard, who was shifting ufortably, his hands fidgeting. Her eyes turned cold. "At first, I only suspected," she said coolly, "but now I''m sure... "Howard, you tampered with myputer and altered the prescription!"

 Chapter 226

    Howard''s face turned pale instantly. "I didn''t, I didn''t do it!"


    Fiona was already fuming, her eyes zing with rage as she looked at Shakira. "Lonely Bird, will you ever stop? How much more do you want to unfairly use people?"


    "What''s the hurry?" Shakira said coldly, staring at Fiona. "Since the Banks family went through all this trouble to find the culprit who harmed Mrs. Banks, it seems you''re more eager to pin the me on me than actually find the real culprit."


    Her eyes suddenly gleamed with a mysterious light. "Or could it be that someone is deliberately stirring things up in the background, willing to sacrifice Mrs. Banks just to frame me?"


    Fiona''s eyes widened in shock as she instinctively cursed, "You bitch! That''s my grandma! Are you using me now too?"


    Shakira chuckled, her eyes full of mockery. "Did I mention you, Ms. Banks?"


    Fiona was frozen in ce, and then she bit her lip hard, ring furiously at Shakira.


    George steadied his daughter''s trembling shoulders and stepped forward, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Now that you are asking for it, we''ll crush your hopes. Mark my words: the more you deny it now, the worse your punishment will be when you''re convicted." Fiona looked up in disbelief. "Daddy!"Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    George gave his daughter a knowing look. "She wants to prove her innocence, so let her gathers, the easier it will be for us when we finally put her away, saving us the trouble."


    go


    ahead. The more evidence she


    With a pale face, Fiona secretly clenched her fists, lowered her gaze, and nced over at Howard.


    Howard nodded at her, and Fiona''s dark smile reappeared. She thought, ''Shakira, no matter how hard you struggle, you''re facing a dead end this time.


    Shakira sped her hands together. "Well, thank you, Mr. Banks, for giving me the chance to prove my innocence."


    She then turned to the stern-looking Michael and Kevin. "Mr. Lee, Mr. Jones, I''d like to review the hospital''s surveince footage and the show''s recordings."


    Michael nodded. "Sure."


    Kevin quickly asked the staff to locate the yback. They acted swiftly, and the hospital''s security restored the footage. The office camera, positioned right at the doctor, clearly captured Jaslene entering, consulting, and undergoing treatment. During the conversation, it was also noticeable that Jaslene highly praised Lonely Bird''s medical skills. Afterward, Howard entered, and after Shakira left, he sat in front of theputer and started typing on the keyboard.


    Howard, watching the footage, quickly defended himself. "Dr. Lonely Bird was in a rush to leave yesterday and left some of the report unfinished. I was helping herplete and upload it at that time."


    He specifically pointed out the time. "The report was uploaded at 3:57 PM, and on the surveince, I was typing at 3:56 PM. Once I finished at 3:57 PM, I didn''t touch the keyboard again."


    The department head looked through his reading sses, nodding repeatedly. "That''s correct, the times match up." Then he turned to Shakira. "Lonely Bird, is there anything else you want to say now?" Shakira ignored his sarcasm and turned to Kevin. "What about the footage from the show''s crew?"


    ''Even at this point, Lonely Bird is still putting on airs?'' The department head thought and snorted through his nose. "I was


    sympathetic to you regarding this incident, but now it seems you''re getting what you deserve. Serves you right!"


    Michael gave him a long look, but the department head pretended not to notice and turned away.


    Kevin, of course, didn''t dare dy. He immediately had the staff rey the footage from the show''s crew.


    The show''s crew filmed Shakira from a side-rear angle, with theputer facing the window. After Shakira left, Howard walked around the office, casually putting things back in ce and closing the window before sitting down. 8%


    So in the footage, the screen was reflecting, making it impossible to see what was on theputer screen. One could only vaguely see that he had opened the hospital''s internal system.


    Editing prescriptions and submitting reports were all done in the system background.


    Kevin specifically asked the staff to slow down the video and zoom in on the details, checking frame by frame. But in the end, they couldn''t find anything wrong.


    Howard slowly released the breath he''d been holding before. He kept his head down, humble and obedient, but secretly, the corners of his mouth had already curled into a satisfied smile.


    He closed the window on purpose. As a physics whiz in high school, he''d spotted the camera as soon as he entered the office and wasn''t ignoring the show''s filming, being extremely cautious.


    The window was directly opposite theputer. With just a slight adjustment of the angle, he could ensure the camera wouldn''t capture anything at all. ''I absolutely need to get into Haruca Hospital!'' He thought.


    Just as his smile grew wider, Shakira''s casual voice sounded again. "Oh, I almost forgot, there''s another camera."


    Howard suddenly lifted his head, his eyes wide with fear that grewrger in his pupils. He desperately searched the entire office, thinking, ''What? Another camera? Where?''


    Shakira, as if having expected this, kept her eyes fixed on him. Seeing his expression, a smile slowly appeared on her lips.


    Kevin and Michael were both taken aback. "Another camera? Isn''t there one at the hospital and another for the show? Where''s the extra one?"


    "Right here." Shakira walked to the window, pushed open the outer ss, and retrieved a peculiar, small surveince device with a lens from the windowsill behind. It appeared to be...


    "Is this a pet feeder?" Kevin asked, feeling uncertain.


    Shakira smiled. "Mr. Jones got it right, it''s a pet feeder, but I assembled it myself, so it''s different from the ones you find in stores."


    "No wonder! I have one at home too, and I was wondering why i looked different."


    "I''ve been looking after two stray cats here. Afraid they weren''t getting enough to eat, I ordered some tools and whipped up a little app to link with this camera, allowing me to keep an eye on them and make feeding easier." Shakira chuckled to herself, ncing meaningfully at a pale-faced Howard. "Didn''t expect it woulde in handy today."


    0

 Chapter 227

    Howard nervously swallowed, forcing a very reluctant smile. "Dr. Lonely Bird, you must be joking. The camera is outside the window, how could it possibly catch anything inside the office?"


    "Let''s see if it recorded anything." Shakira shrugged casually as she logged into the app on theputer and essed the surveince footage.


    Once the loading circle vanished, the surveince footage came into view. The camera, aimed outdoors, only showed a slice of the office. After a tense peek at the image, Howard exhaled in relief. The camera didn''t catch theputer screen at all! Fiona, who had been holding her breath, let it out with visible relief, looking smug and disdainful. "You''re at death''s door and still making pointless struggles, Lonely Bird. If I were you, I wouldn''t embarrass myself like this!"


    The department headughed helplessly. "Oh, it''s really unfortunate that our hospital hired someone so hical, a coward who can''t own up to their mistakes!"


    After being looked down on, Yvette also joined in to kick someone when they were down, with a deep sense of disappointment. "Dr. Lonely Bird, Felix and I have always respected your medical skills and character, but... this is really disappointing us!" Felix clenched his fists as he looked at Shakira, his eyes trembled and were filled with mixed emotions.


    Kevin and Michael exchanged a look, both seeing the helplessness and sadness in each other''s eyes. They couldn''t ept how things had turned out.


    They trusted Dr. Lonely Bird''s character and medical skills. If she said there was no mistake, then there was definitely no mistake.


    Yet, unfortunately, there was no evidence to prove her innocence...


    Kevin was filled with regret. "This is my fault! If only I had arranged for more cameras, we wouldn''t have missed capturing any evidence!"


    Michael sighed deeply. "Fate ys tricks on people!"


    Having watched the entire yback, Shakira noticed the two looking at her with sympathy. She smiled slightly. "How could we miss capturing it? Actually, it''s all recorded clearly."


    "What?" They couldn''t believe it.


    Shakira zoomed in on the tightly closed window in the yback, murmuring softly, "The show''s camera lenses were reflecting the light, unable to capture the screen. But from this angle, it perfectly reflects the image on theputer screen onto the ss." Her slender hand pointed to the top left corner of the image, where the image was blurry but the details were clear. "Here, Howard deleted one character and typed another, causing the medication error." The moment of changing the character was incredibly distinct. The crowd erupted in disbelief, turning to Howard.


    Howard''s eyes were wide open, his face ghostly pale. "No, it''s not me! Impossible, how could it be-"


    Shakira approached him, her face neutral, and said each word clearly, "Doctors can change prescriptions in the system without a record before they''re confirmed at the pharmacy.


    "You redirected the nearest elevator to another floor, using the time gap to change the prescription on myputer.


    D


    Chapter 227 0,8%


    "If you think this evidence isn''t enough, you can check the elevator''s surveince footage to see if you tampered with it beforehand, or ask other department nurses if you asked them to hold the elevator for you." Howard slumped heavily to the ground in despair. With him in such a state, it was clear who the real culprit was.


    George, filled with rage, rushed over to Howard and grabbed him by the cor, his veins bulging with anger. "Why did you change the prescription? Why did you harm Jaslene?"


    "I..." Howard was so terrified that he felt weak all over.


    "Daddy!" Fiona suddenly interrupted and walked over to George. "We''ve made such a big mistake; let''s take him back first. I''ll question him personally. I won''t let the one who harmed Grandma get away with it!" Howard nced at Fiona, seeming to realize something, and lowered his head in defeat. He knew that now his only way out was Fiona.


    He thought, ''Fiona was the apple of the Banks family''s eye. Even if I exposed her, they''d probably forgive her and turn their anger towards me. Better to help her keep this under wraps; she might throw me a lifeline to avoid being implicated herself!" George took a few deep breaths and calmed down at his daughter''s suggestion. He tossed the battered Howard to the ground and then turned to Shakira, his face serious, and bowed his head slightly. "Sorry, Dr. Lonely Bird, for the injustice you''ve suffered." Being a seasoned businessman, he knew when to be flexible and when to hold firm. If he had wrongly used someone, he should apologize.


    With that, he told the Banks family''s bodyguards who were with him, "Take him with us, we''re leaving!"


    "Wait a minute," Shakira said.


    Fiona red at Shakira angrily. "My dad has already apologized, what else do


    you


    want?"


    She was so close, almost seeding in getting rid of Shakira! But unexpectedly, Shakira managed to turn the tables at thest moment! Shakira me?"


    gave her a brief nce and then focused on Howard, who was lying weakly on the floor. "Who sent you to frame


    Howard kept his head down, his face pale, staying silent and refusing to speak.


    Shakira smiled again. "It''s fine if you don''t talk. Just a couple of days ago, whoever left that coffee stain on yourb coat is the real culprit." Both Howard and Fiona''s expressions changed suddenly!


    "Coffee stain? What''s that supposed to mean?" Michael asked, puzzled.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Shakira quietly exined, "The day Mr. Jones came over with Howard to greet me, I noticed a coffee stain on the hem of Howard''sb coat."


    Kevin suddenly remembered. "Yes, you kindly showed him how to clean it, yet he changed the prescription to frame you!" He red angrily at Howard.


    Shakira went on, "That coffee stain looked like it sttered from below, with some spots reaching just below Howard''s waist, indicating the coffee was mmed forcefully on the ground, sttering onto his clothes. It''s possible someone was venting their anger on Howard." Each word Shakira said seemed not to be a guess, but a statement of fact from an observer''s perspective, causing Howard to shudder and hastily say, "I was drinking the coffee, and it identally spilled."


    07:56 Fri, Nov 8).


    @


    8%2


    Shakira suddenly snapped angrily, "Howard, you were transferred to the traditional medicine clinic because your hereditary hypertension with heart disease prevented you from entering surgery. Are you really going to lie about your health to protect the person behind you?!" Howard looked at her in disbelief. "How do you


    know?"


    At this moment, Kevin spoke gravely, "Although you were Dr. Lonely Bird''s assistant doctor for three days, she asked me for your detailed information.


    "She said she had no experience mentoring interns and wanted to understand you better to assist you more practically, rather than waste your three days with her."


    Upon hearing this, Howard waspletely stunned.


    After a moment, he raised his hand and pped himself hard, his face streaked with tears and snot as he choked out, "I''m sorry, Dr. Lonely Bird, I didn''t mean to harm you, I was just bewitched..."


    Shakira watched him silently as he cried and confessed, and then she asked, "Was it Fiona who instructed you?"


    Her words sent another jolt through the room.

 Chapter 228

    Fiona''s face turned pale as she clenched her fists tightly and screamed, "Lonely Bird, don''t falsely use me!" Before Shakira could speak, George suddenly pped Fiona hard across the face


    Holding the quickly reddening handprint, Fiona was stunned. "Daddy?" Her eyes were red as she said, "You believe her instead of me?!" She immediately turned to her mother, crying, "Mom, say something, how could Daddy believe the lies of an outsider..." "Fiona!" Sophie covered her mouth, tears sliding down her face, her eyes filled with sadness and pain. "My foolish daughter.


    your


    father and I love you so much and know you so well. We notice your little quirks better than anyone else when your lies get exposed."


    Fiona froze. She looked down at her hand, which clenched instinctively-a habit she''d had since childhood. Whenever she was upset and feeling guilty, she''d unconsciously wrap her thumb inside her fist... She stared wide-eyed in realization.


    "Why did you do that? It''s your grandmother!" George shouted, his voice trembling with sorrow. "She loved you so much. she would have given her life to protect you, yet you''ve brought her such harm!"


    Fiona lost control and screamed hysterically, "It wasn''t me! I don''t know, I didn''t even know Grandma wasing for a check-up-


    "I hate her, I can''t stand her, I want herpletely gone from Haruca Hospital, no, from Crescentville! I only asked Howard to change the prescription to cause a medical incident; I never intended for Grandma to get hurt," Fiona added.


    "Yes, you didn''t know, so when you got Howard to set me up, you didn''t consider the consequences," Shakira said, pulling up a video on her phone showing Fiona and Jaslene faking an emergency to skip the queue. "You''re used to living self-centered, and Mrs. Banks has always indulged you," Shakira said.


    "Shut up! How can you me me? If it weren''t for you,


    Grandma wouldn''t be in trouble-ahr


    "How could I have such a vicious daughter like you!" George pped Fiona hard with all his might, knocking her to the ground, with blood trickling from her lips.


    He pointed at Fiona, who was shivering on the ground, full of pain and fear, yet still unrepentant. He looked at her as if she was a cold-blooded stranger,


    He said, "Just because you hate someone, you went so far as to harm innocent lives, stopping at nothing to achieve your goals, only to end up hurting your own family. Your grandmother spoiled you to this extent...." Georgeughed at himself, mocking his foolishness, "What a fool, digging my own grave! It''s all karma!" Sophie covered her face and cried uncontrobly.


    No one expected things to turn out this way. For a moment, everyone sighed, and the atmosphere turned heavy.


    Just then, there was amotion outside. The head nurse rushein and said, "The patients evacuated after the chaos have returned, along with reporters. They''re all here to seek justice for Dr. Lonely Bird-


    As she was speaking, someone shouted through a loudspeaker, Dr. Lonely Bird could never prescribe the wrong medicine. The hospital should clear Dr. Lonely Bird''s name!"


    "That''s right! When Dr. Lonely Bird prescribed medicine to me, she reminded me several times how to take it, even instructing me on how to take it after meals. How could such a careful doctor prescribe the wrong medicine!" Clear Dr. Lonely Bird''s name!"


    Michael said with deep meaning. The patients'' eyes are the sharpest of all!"


    bu


    Everyone present felt ashamed, recalling how they had been so aggressive, pushing Lonely Bird to kneel and admit her mistake, and mocking her for not repenting.From N?velDrama.Org.


    George walked over to Shakira with a heavy look and bowed deeply. I''m sorry, Dr. Lonely Bird, I failed to teach my daughter properly!"


    He stood up, his eyes terribly red. "The matter outside, the Banks family will take responsibility and rify everything to the public. I owe Dr. Lonely Bird a favor, and if you ever need anything in the future, just tell me, and I will do my utmost to repay you!" Shakira did not speak, and George didn''t add anything either. Once he made a promise, he wasmitted to following through!


    After the Banks family left, the hallway and office suddenly became empty. The department head awkwardlyughed it off. "What a mess this has be, such a misunderstanding!"


    Seeing everyone looking at him, he quickly put on the same ingratiating smile he had for the Banks family. This time, however, his ttery was directed towards Shakira.


    "Only Dr. Lonely Bird could stay unfazed in a crisis like this, clearing her name with confidence. No wonder she''s Matthew''s disciple, she''s got such presence! That''s something most people can''t manage!"


    Michael wore a stern expression. The department head secretly brought the Banks family in to cause trouble, breaking Haruca Hospital''s rules and crossing his line.


    "Joshua, you bribed the examiner to cut your son''s internship short, and I turned a blind eye out of respect for your service. But now, joining with outsiders to ruin Haruca Hospital''s reputation and harm doctors? We can''t have doctors like you here," said Michael. The department head, nearly in shock, hastily begged, "I was wrong, Mr. Lee, please give me another chance!"


    But Michael didn''t even nce at him. He reassured Shakira with a few words and then went outside to handle matters


    Kevin patted Shakira on the arm. Only now did he feel relieved enough to smile and sigh, "Thank goodness you''re alright. Otherwise, I wouldn''t know how to face Matthew!"


    I''m fine, Mr. Jones. I''m sorry for taking up everyone''s time." Kevin shook his head with a smile while instructing the staff to clean up


    the office that the Banks family had left in a mess.


    Yvette and Felix were left feeling incredibly awkward. For these past few days of filming, they had been the closest to Lonely Bird. But when Kevin and Michael were standing up for Lonely Bird, they didn''t join forces with her.


    Now that Lonely Bird had made an impressiveeback, they, who always imed to admire her, felt utterly useless! Furious and remorseful thoughts swirled wildly within.


    Felix felt a lump in his throat as he reached out to Shakira. Im sorry, I couldn''t protect you just now."


    Yvette bit her lip with teary eyes and sniffled. "We never expected someone could be so heartless joke about life. We''re on the side of truth too. Dr. Lonely Bird, you understand us, right?


    The way they spoke, it was as if they were the victims. Shakira nced at the empty cat bed, not having time to deal with them, and walked out quickly.


    Felix lookedpletely upset. "I''m such an idiot. How could I not trust her? She''ll never forgive me!"


    Yvette reached out and took Felix''s arm. "Felix, don''t me yourself too much, it''s not our fault


    "Why would you say that?" He was angry at himself for not fully rusting Lonely Bird and was even more upset that Yvette had disrupted his judgment!


    0


    07.44 Sat, Nov 9 F


    951


    Felix shook off her hand, giving her a resentful look before turning to leave. Yvette''s heart skipped a beat. She immediately recognized that look! It was just like the one Mitchell used to give her!


    She wondered, "Damn it, I''ve treated them so well. They always said how important I am as their sister, and now they''re both going to abandon me for someone else? Indeed, they''re just trash with Nelson family blood, useless themselves but resentful of me.


    Shakira searched the area thoroughly but couldn''t find any sign of the two little kittens.


    The head nurse called to inform her that she could resume her regr clinic hours, so Shakira had no choice but to head back.


    After herst afternoon clinic session, Shakira looked out to see the sky densely covered with dark clouds. The weather forecast had warned of thunderstorms for tod


    Shakira''s eyes flickered as the hazy images she had tried to forget reappeared before her.

 Chapter 229

    Late at night, it was pouring rain. Shakira, who was soaked through and only half as tall as an adult, was kneeling in front of the Smith residence''s gate, hugging Duke who was about the same size as her, and trembling uncontrobly. Under the caves, Lago and Jessie''s eyes showed disgust. "You brat I asked you to go and teach Mr. Lee''s son. You didn''t teach well and slipped away secretly. Now you still want us to pay for the treatment of a mongrel? Are you out of your mind!" With her face wet all over, not knowing whether it was tears or a mixture of rainwater, Shakira''s eyes were extremely red. Hearing Jessie''s cold and heartless words, she trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly, and bit her lower lip tightly. She thought, Teach Mr. Lee''s son? That idiot couldn''t learn at all


    He uld only drool and ask her to sleep with him! She broke free from his control and ran out. The servants in his house came to surround her with golf clubs.


    It was the Duke who risked his life to protect her, biting several of them until they finally gave up and left. But Duke really got hit by a few sticks and its foot bone was crooked...


    Hugging Duke in her arms that was gradually losing strength and its body was getting softer, the little girl''s voice still carried a childish tone yet full of stubborn tears. "I don''t need your money. I beg you to give me the pocket money for the New Year. I''ll take it to the hospital...


    "Bah! What pocket money? You ungrateful little brat! I spent money to raise you this much, and you have never shown me


    you ask me for money!" any gratitude. How da


    Lago lifted his foot and angrily kicked Shakira on the shoulder. His thunderous curses were even louder than the heavy rain "Why don''t you let this dog provide for you to eat and drink!"


    Her small and fragile body couldn''t bear such a heavy force and fell to the side. Just before hitting the ground, she clumsily hugged Duke tightly, willing to hit the ground herself. Even so, Duke''s body went limp, and those firm eyes seemed to close forever... Shakira couldn''t bear it anymore and broke down crying. She knelt on the ground and kept kowtowing to the two superior people. "Please, Duke can''t hold on anymore. Consider it a loan, I pay you back, please, I''m begging you..." Jessie mocked, "You sneak food from home to feed that dog, don''t you? Why don''t you pay us back!" Shakira cried, "Those were all the leftovers


    you


    didn''t want..."


    The leftovers were also bought with my money! With all the money I''ve spent on raising you, why don''t you pay me back first!" Lago pointed outside, The Rolex on his wrist shed a noble luster, stinging Shakira''s eyes. "Hurry up and take him away. Don''t dirty the entrance of my housel" he called.


    Big raindrops fell on her face as Shakira looked up, her eyshes twitching. Her thoughts gradually shifted from distant memories back to reality. The rain came fast and hard, pouring down like it wasing from a broken faucet


    Shakira borrowed an umbre from the man outside, but it was almost useless. She was soaked through, her heavy clothes weighing her down and making her shiver uncontrobly from the cold.


    "Have you seen two cats that are about the size of a palm and orange and white in color?" "Have you seen two cats in orange and white? They ran out from the Traditional Medicine Department Shakira kept asking passersby. Finally, a cleaningdy pointed in a direction for her.


    "I saw a few stray cats in the bushes behind the canteen. Not sure if they''re the ones you''re looking for. "Thank you


    much!"


    Shakira rushed over and spotted two little legs sticking out from under the thick bushes.... "Meow." It was these two little cats!


    07:44 Sat, Nov 9.


    But wait, there were more than just them...


    8%95%


    When Shakira moved the bushes aside, she discovered several big cats gathered there. They were the same ones that had escaped from her office on the first day. They found their mom!


    Shakira was thrilled, watching the little kittense towards her They sniffed her hands instinctively, and she couldn''t help but smile. "Congrattions, you found your mom! You don''t have to wander around now."


    It seemed like two little kittens had conveyed her goodwill to the big cats because this time they were standing still and watching her instead of running away like before.


    A big orange tabby cat, with the same color as the kittens, was gazing at her with its beautiful emerald eyes. Shakira smiled gently, waved at it, and poked the kitten''s chubby belly.


    "If you run around again, your babies will be hungry. The big orange cat folded its ears back, seemingly not wanting to respond to this topic, and turned its face away. Shakira was amused.


    "Well, I''m relieved to see you are safe. Stay close to your mom." She pushed the little kittens back into the bushes and was about to get up when the raindrops on her head suddenly disappeared. Surprised, she turned her head and saw Walter standing behind her with arge umbre. Shakira instinctively lowered her head and secretly thought that it was bad. OH, her face- "What are you hiding from?" Walter thought she seemed guilty and moved outside the umbre, pulling her closer to him. When he touched her cold hand, the air around him felt even heavier.


    His tone was soft but slightly annoyed, "Why didn''t you answer my call?" Huh? Wait, how did he recognize her? Her face shouldn''t have been....Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    She subconsciously touched her face and found her hand covered in yellow water. The rain must''ve been too heavy, washing off her disguise, and she had already stored her mask and sunsses after they got soaked.


    With a silent sigh of relief, Shakira timidly raised her head to look at him, "Why are you here?"


    "The Banks family came to cause trouble for Lonely Bird. It has be a hot topic today. There are patients making trouble outside Haruca Hospital. It''s a mess." God knows how warried he was when he called her as soon as he saw the news but got no answer. cats!


    Who would have thought she''d be hiding here caring for a few stray My phone was on silent, I didn''t check it." She took out the already-soaked phone from her pocket, showing to admit her mistake.


    Walter smirked coldly and scoffed, "Just for a few cats, making yourself look like this? You''re quite something" His voice was as indifferent asmenting on something trivial, leaving Shakira momentarily stunned, her expression turning pale.


    "They are still small. They will get sick if they get caught in the rain." She took a deep breath. "But it''s fine now. We can go back." With those words, she walked out of the umbre first and into the rain.


    The two little kittens had run away defensively when Walter appeared. But now seeing Shakira leaving, they bypassed Walter again and meowed at her.


    Shakira paused slightly but then firmly walked forward in the next second. Walter''s eyes were deep, staring at her indifferent back, and his lips pressed tightly together.


    The scene surprised everyone, including Brian, who was standing nearby. Once they got over the shock, two bodyguards immediately went to hold an umbre for Shakira. Brian approached Walter cautiously and said, "Mr. Lopez, it looks like Ms. Nelson is angry with you?" Walter cast a cold nce at him and said, "I can see it myself. Bean rubbed his nose awkwardly, "Mr. Lopez, are you going to try and make up with her?" The man sneered. "Hub!"

 Chapter 230

    Walter down to make up with a woman? That''s just not Happening.


    They both stayed silent all the way home. Once back at the vi, Shakira quickly went into the bathroom, getting there before Walter. Hearing the door lock click, Walter turned away with a sullen look and left the bedroom. vale


    During dinner in the evening, the two of them were also unusually quiet. No one spoke. They only ate the food in front of them, which was very different from the sweet state they had been in these days.


    Levi noticed this and felt worried. He thought. They had just started dating, weren''t they supposed to be in the honeymoon phase? How could they have a cold war?"


    More anxious than the couple themselves, Levi quickly pulled Brian aside and asked, "Hey, what happened? Why are you having a tiff when everything was fine?"


    Brian briefly exined the situation, analyzed it a bit, and then asked, "Levi, why do you think Ms. Nelson is upset?"


    Compared to these young people, Levi understood more about human nature and quickly figured it out.


    "Ms. Nelson really loves those kittens, She was so nervous that the kittens might get sick that she didn''t care about getting caught in the rain. Mr. Lopez was worried about Ms. Nelson and was angry that Ms. Nelson didn''t care about her own body... Levi sighed softly. "Probably because Mr. Lopez was in a hurry and his tone was a bit heavy, which made Ms. Nelson unhappy


    Brian nodded, somewhat getting the gist of it. Over there, the two of them had already finished dinner. Shakira cleaned up her things and left, still not even ncing at Walter.


    Levi and Brian looked at the expression on Mr. Lopez''s face. Obviously, he was sulking and didn''t want to lose his temper for not making things worse. This look was clearly because he was worried about adding fuel to the fire and was controlling/ his temper. Levi saw this and knew it wasn''t too serious, "I''ll talk to Mr. Benji Lopez and ask him to persuade Mr. Lopez."


    Brian frowned, "But Mr. Lopez has said he won''t try to pacify Ms. Nelson. Can Benji really convince him?"


    "You''re still young and don''t understand. Mr. Lopez''s attitude is really just saying one thing but meaning another. He likely wants to make amends but doesn''t know how." Levi patted Brian on the shoulder and quickly went to call Benji.


    Staying where he was, Brian thought it over for a while and gradually grasped what Levi meant. Of course, even if upset, Mr. Lopez would still tell the driver to turn up the heat after getting in the car, clearly showing that he cared about Ms. Nelson being wet and cold. Shakira didn''t go back to her room but sat by the real fire firece in the living room, wrapped in a nket and watching TV. It rained today and the temperature dropped by five or six degrees. Looking at the news about Haruca Hospital reported on TV, her mind wandered.


    She subconsciously took out her phone and opened the monitoring, looking at the empty screen. After finding the mother cat, maybe they wouldn''te back. Shakira felt a bit lonely and her finger stopped on the food-dispensing button that she had habitually clicked these days.


    A small handful of cat food fell out. Shakira watched for a while and then exited the app


    The news continued covering events at Haruca Hospital but then switched to Kevin.


    He looked serious, saying, "Due to Fiona''s harmful actions that severely affected the hospital and Dr. Lonely Bird, our team


    Chapter 230.


    is canceling all investment partnerships with the Banks family.


    "We''ve also reached out towyers to seek ountability andpensation for the damage Fiona caused us!"


    ¦°


    The camera then shifted to Michael, whosements echoed those of Kevin. He condemned Fiona''s malicious actions and would pursue the losses and responsibilities she caused and anounced the end of all coborations with the Banks family. As for her aplice, Howard, he was directly fired and would never be hired by other major hospitals in cooperation.


    Fiona and the Banks family quickly found themselves caught in whirlwind of public criticism. It''s almost certain that the Banks family''s stock price will drop tomorrow.


    Shakira watched quietly with no emotional fluctuations in her heart.


    Just then, her phone buzzed with an iing voice call from Matthew. Shakira nced at the living room and quietly answered.


    Matthew spoke slowly, "Hey kiddo, had a tough day?"


    A warmth spread through Shakira''s heart. She knew that Matthew was referring to the matter of the Banks family. But somehow, she thought of Walter. Something was suppressing her heart and making her feel stuffy. She smiled and replied, "Nah, it''s all sorted out."


    "Well, you''re always keeping things to yourself. When will you be able to act like a spoiled child to your master and let me help you get even?"


    Listening to Matthew''s childish words, Shakira couldn''t help but chuckle.


    She thought for a moment and jokingly replied. "You''ll have to give me a chance! Now that Kevin and Michael are determined to give Fiona a hard time. There must be your pressure behind this, right?"Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Shakira didn''t know much about the Banks family, but she had a general understanding. The Banks family started with medicine and upied more than ny percent shares in the medicine-rted industries in Crescentville. Almost all hospitals in Crescentville, big and small, maintained a stable cooperative rtionship with the Banks family.


    As for this program shooting, it was a task assigned by the Haruca Center, and the Banks family getting the sponsorship shows their significant connections there too.


    Michael and Kevin wouldn''t dare to cancel a deal with the Banks family on their own unless they had support from someone else. Otherwise, they wouldn''t make such a bold decision.


    Matthew huffed with arrogance, "My student has been bullied in front of everyone! How could I allow that? If she''s going to be vicious toward others, she should be ready to face all the risks thate with it!"


    Shakira murmured, "It was her own jealousy that blinded her, so she can''t me anyone else. It''s a shame about the


    Innocent Selena."


    "Well, she brought it on herself! She deserves it!" Matthew showed no sympathy. "Lapoke to the Banks family in Haruca. The parents of the Banks family are reasonable.


    "But They can''t stop Selena from spoiling the child secretly! Fion behaves so recklessly because of Selena''s indulgence. Fortunately, it''s her own family who suffers. Otherwise, someone else would''ve wrongfully taken the me for their family!" Shakira reflected on the behavior of Fiona''s parents today. They were indeed much more rational and calmer, unlike the reckless Fiona.


    ''Don''t overthink this. I''ll stand up for you. If anyone dares to buy me like that, I''ll make sure they learn a lesson they won''t


    forget!


    Matthew''s angry words were truly intimidating, and Shakira held back augh, "Alright, whatever makes you happy" Matthew grumpily corrected. I''m standing up for you!"


    Shakira agreed with him. "Yes, correct."


    After a few moreforting words, Shakira hung up the phone, uncertain about going upstairs.


    Just then, there was amotion outside:


    "Walter! Everyone move out of my way! I need to see Walter!"


    "Walter, help me out! You''re the only one who can help me now


    Levi blocked her way, "Ms. Banks, Mr. Lopez is resting. Whatever you need, pleasee back tomorrow."


    Fiona''s voice was sharp and angry, "Move! You look down on me, huh? You all saw the news, right? Do you all think I''m finished? You all dare to ride on my head one by one!"


    She shouted angrily, "You ungrateful wretches! If it weren''t for me, Walter''s injuries would have been worse. Now that Shakira''s here, you''ve forgotten everything I did for your master. And now you dare treat me like this-

 Chapter 231

    Levi, unaffected by Fiona''s words, calmly exined, "Ms. Banks, you might not remember, you''re probably too busy to remember. Since you took the initiative to be Mr. Lopez''s attending physician, Mr. Benji Lopez has paid you amission higher than that of other top experts. "And he has given many concessions in the cooperation with the Banks family''spany. Also,st time when Matthew diagnosed Mr. Lopez. Mr. Lopez gave you 30 million dors as a reward."


    "You may have treated Mr. Lopez, but using that for moral leverage against him is uneptable. He owes you nothing" Levi finished in one breath, leaving Fiona''s face contorted with anger. It was clear she had been exposed, and she was livid. Shakira didn''t expect to catch a live drama while just sitting there watching TV. She raised an eyebrow, snuggled into the corner of the couch wrapped in a nket, and watched quietly.


    "You backstabbing dog! This is between Walter and me, and it''s none of your business!" Fiona''s eyes were wild with rage as she red at Levi furiously, who was blocking her. "What Levi said is what I think." Suddenly, a cool male voice came from upstairs.


    Fiona''s whole body shook as she looked up in disbelief at the nobleman watching her from the second-floor railing. Her face was pale with embarrassment as she forced a smile, trying to win him over. "Walter, are you mad at me for being too harsh before? But they wouldn''t let me see you. Now I have no one to help me. The hospital and the show''s producers are suing me, and the police have called me.


    "My parents are angry with me for hurting Grandma and won''t help. I can''t go to jail. Walter, only you can help me now..." Fiona said.


    "You''re not wee here, and I won''t help you." Walter''s cold words hit Fiona right in the heart, crushing herst bit of hope with their harsh indifference.


    Her eyes were vacant, staring straight at him. "What did you say Walter''s face was steady, showing no emotion.


    Fiona couldn''t keep pretending anymore and her face twisted into a snarl, like a devil that had lost all its reason. "It''s that witch Shakira, isn''t it? She''s the one stirring thing up in your eart Because of her, you won''t help me, even after all our years together!"


    Her hysterical screams and shouts were met with a change in Walter''s once indifferent gaze, which slowly turned to anger. "Even now, all you do is me others without reflecting on yourself!" Walter showed no mercy.


    "To frame someone else, you treated human life lightly, even harming your own grandmother. Yet, you feel no guilt, trying to justify your wrongs by falsely using others first.


    "Fiona, being friends with you for so many years makes me nauseous."


    Walter loathed evil intensely. The instant he saw the news, all sense of friendship and rtions disappeared entirely. To him, Fiona was nothing but a heartless criminal who hadmitted pumerous wicked pets. To make matters worse, she dared to Insult Shakira Walter didn''t make any effort to conceal the disdain in bodyguards to take Fiona out.


    seves. Levi, let her out." Levi nodded, indicating for the


    Fiona fought hard, yelling at the top of her voice, ''Shakira! You witch,e out here! You''re the reason I''m like this. Come out, or I swear I''ll kill you!"From N?velDrama.Org.


    Shakira saw Fiona nearly losing her mind, her eyebrows tightly furrowed, Just as she was about to stand up, she heard


    u


    Walter''s voiceing from upstairs.


    * 95%


    "Wait a minute," Fiona thought there was a glimmer of hope, but then Walter''s heartless order echoed, "Take her to the police station.


    "What! Take me to the police? Would I even have a chance to get out again! Fiona thought. She was on the verge of losing her mind.


    "Just because I insulted Shakira, you''re being so heartless to me Walter didn''t hesitate and his words were clear and determined, "I won''t allow anyone to hurt her."


    Shakira held her breath, her fingers involuntarily tightening around the nket. Something seemed to explode silently within her, a warm rush spreading throughout her body...


    After a moment, Fiona let out a low chuckle, then burst intoughter, "Ha, haaha! Herughter was almost crazy as if she had lost her senses, "Fine, you love her so much that you push me to the death just because I insulted her once..." Suddenly, her expression turned fierce, "What good does it do to be so nice to her? She still doesn''t trust you. Do you even know what she''s been hiding from you behind your back? Would she dare to tell you the whole truth? She wouldn''t dare!"


    Walter frowned and remained silent. His reaction made Fionaugh even more wildly. "Do you really think she sincerely likes you? You''re so pathetic, Walter,pletely fooled by that scheming girl. I know all about it, but I''m not going to reveal the truth to you..." Fiona cursed viciously. "You''ll regret treating me like this one day!"


    Before Walter could say anything else, Fiona took the opportunity while Levi and the others were caught off guard to quickly escape. The roaring sound of a car engine could be heard as it sped away from the yard.


    Afraid of being taken to the police by Walter, she hurriedly escaped. Levi and the others looked at Walter, who had a stern expression and didn''t say a word before he turned and left.


    Shakira curled up on therge sofa and was not noticed from the beginning. She was still a bit confused, unable to fully understand the situation. It was because of Walter''s straightforward admission, and even more so, because of Fiona''s curse,


    The tangles in her mind began to clear up gradually. Could it be that Fiona had gone to such lengths to target her because she found out she was Lonely Bird?


    Shakira pursed the lips, and her expression filled with mixed emotions.


    Normally, if nothing unusual happened, Walter kept a strict schedule and would rest by ten. Shakira lingered until almost eleven before she slowly returned to the bedroom,


    The room was pitch ck. ''He should be asleep? Shakira thought And she quietly closed the door, nning to go to the bathroom to freshen up.


    Just a few steps in, and suddenly all the lights in the room came on. The man she thought was sound asleep was now sitting in a wheelchair, waiting for her at the door of the suite.


    He was still wearing the same clothes from that afternoon, unchanged and dry by pow. He had been upset earlier because it reminded him of unpleasant memories from the past. Walter''s reaction wasn''t unreasonable because she just let her emotions take over for a bit.


    She wasn''t sure what was bothering her, but seeing him like this gave Shakira an indescribable feeling. Her lips moved slightly before she slowly managed to say, "..."


    "I''m sorry." He said those three words even faster than she did. Shakira was a bit stunned, momentarily unsure how to respond


    U.

 Chapter 232

    Walter rolled his wheelchair forward, stopping in front of her. He looked firmly at her, who looked shocked, took a deep breath, and said tly, I didn''t know you liked those cats so much. I was just upset that you ignored your health and got soaked in the rain. In that cold rain, you werepletely drenched with the rain. Your hands were ice-cold but those cats didn''t even get a few drops of the rain on them. Of course, I was angry. It''s not that I don''t like the cats or me it on them."


    It was clear that he wasn''t good at apologizing or exining. He sounded a bit stiff and he frowned like he was concentrating hard on finding the right words.


    Finally, he slowly reached out and gently took her hand. He ventured. "If you think I was too harsh, I apologize. Please don''t be angry with me, alright?" After he finished his words, he sped her fingertips.


    Her hands were still a little cold. Walter''s brow furrowed even more and took both of her hands.


    Hisrge hands were dry and warm, quickly making Shakira''s hands warm too. She was touched. Her lips moved slightly


    I''m sorry, I shouldn''t have lost my temper. I was in a bad mood. It was unfair to me you for some thoughtless remarks. You came here in the pouring rain for me."


    Walter looked surprised when she apologized to him. He nced at her and his handsome face softened a bit. "You''re not angry anymore?"


    Shakira pouted. "Actually, I was going to apologize to you before you apologized. You beat me to it"


    Hearing this, Walter looked a bit irritated. He seemed somewhat annoyed. He said, "Benji insisted I quickly apologize to Otherwise, you''d get even angrier. He is obviously not good at this." Hearing this, Shakira chuckled. She thought, ''No wonder he is acting so awkwardly but still trying. It was all because of Benji''s encouragement. Benji indeed worries a lot."


    o you


    Shakira had no idea that while she was busy having a cold war with Walter, everyone in Easke Valley Estate was on edge.


    In the past, whenever Walter was in a bad mood, everyone there would be anxious and nervous. Now, whenever Shakira was in a bad mood, people there would dere a state of emergency. She looked gloomy. "So, does that mean you regret apologizing to me?"


    Walter flicked her forehead gently and said casually, "It''s fine. I just consider it as my unique experience.


    Shakira said angrily. "What?"


    Walter said, "Benji said that these things would definitely happen a lot in the future so I should get used to it. I work for his help anymore.


    Shakira thought, ''Seriously? Can this kind of thing be practiced?


    Shakira shook her head. "Alright, hurry up and take a shower. It''ste, time to sleep


    Walter looked a bit uneasy. "God to sleep first. Don''t worry about me."


    Shakira was puzzled. "Why? I took a shower right after I got back home this afternoon. I just need to brush my teeth. You sull need to take a shower. Walter didn''t exin it. He just pushed her toward the bathroom. "Just do it,"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    07:45 Sat, Nov 9.


    Shakira mumbled as she walked toward the bathroom. "What a strange man" When she pushed the heavy door open, she heard a very clear sound. "Meow."


    Her heart pounded violently as she pushed the door open. Then an almost magical scene unfolds before her ey


    eyes!


    The two little kittens as well as the big cats had all been put in the bathroom. Now the kittens all went to her and rubbed against her legs, asking her for milk while the big catsy casually on the warm floor. They squinted at her before drifting into sleep again. Shakira was so overjoyed that she even wanted to scream. She picked up a kitten and rushed to Walter, unable to hide her joyfulness. She looked flustered and happy.


    She asked. "When did you bring them back?"


    Looking at her smiling face and her bright eyes focused on him Walter thought her happiness was infectious and smiled a


    little.


    Walter exined. "Levi and Benji both said you liked them so I asked Brian to bring them all back."


    After a brief pause, Walter added, "Brian took them to the vet for a check-up and had them dewormed. The bigger ones were a bit overweight. Everything else is fine."


    As expected, ginger cats could manage to gain some weight even when they were strays!


    The little kitten in Shakira''s hand shivered a lot. She instinctively put one kitten in Walter''s arms. Not expecting a kitten to suddenly be put in his arms, Walter became nervous right away


    He was too afraid to move. He allowed the little kitten clumsily walk on him, too afraid to move.


    Shakira was surprised by his reaction. "Are you afraid of cats?"


    "No," Walter said with a sullen face, "They''re so tiny, I dare not to touch them."


    He didn''t tell her everything he was thinking about. He was afraid that if he did it a bit too hard, he might identally kill the kittens.


    Seeing that he looked embarrassed, Shakira couldn''t help butugh. So, even someone as domineering as Walter had his fears.


    Walter coughed a little bit, trying hard to ignore the yful kitten in his arms. His face softened a little.


    He continued, "The big cat is around two years old and has been a stray for a while. It might take some time to get used to everything here. Luckily, it isrge enough here.


    "Levi will put trackers on them tomorrow so they can roam freely here. We''ll feed them and have them dewormed regrly. As for those kittens..."


    Walter looked at the two kittens that were meowing with aplicated expression. He seemed helpless. He said, "If you really want to stay here, okay!"


    Shakira held a little kitten in her arms, feeling indescribably happy and satisfied, listening to Walter. She could tell that Walter wasn''t very interested in having cats. He even felt a bit ufortable with cats but he chose to give in for her. She whispered, "Walter, why are you so nice to me?"


    He said casually, "Who else should I be nice to if not you?"


    He sounded so natural and domineering. It was totally part of his character.


    At that moment, Shakira felt an irresistible impulse. She had never felt more intense one before.


    Without any hesitation, Shakira decided to take action. She lifted Walter''s chin, bent over him, and kissed his pink lips hard.


    While Walter was still in shock, she kissed him harder, more passionately than ever before.


    This time, Walter was the stunned one. He was stunned for quite a while. When Shakira moved away from him, he still looked puzzled.


    Shakira smiled and licked her lips, tapping his warm lips and sticking her chin out arrogantly. This is a reward."


    Walter came to his senses, amused and helpless. He thought, This woman is..."

 Chapter 233

    The next day, Shakira didn''t have a shift scheduled but she still got up early, nning to set up some little houses in the yard for the big cats. As she went downstairs, she saw Matthew gathering about ten gardeners. It seemed that they were about to start some important project.


    Levi was happy that Shakira was in a good mood. "Ms. Nelson." Confused, Shakira watched the gardeners head out. "What''s going on?"


    Levi exined with a cheerful smile, "There''s a around the alligator pond. Cats are good climbers. They could easily end up climbing into it. For their safety. I''ve asked the workers to rece the with some metal columns so they will be safe." Shakira felt it heartwarming so she sincerely said, "Thank you."


    Levi felt ttered. "Ms. Nelson, you don''t need to thank me. It''s what I''m supposed to do. Ever since you came here, it has been a much livelier ce, starting to feel like a cozy home."


    Shakira''s eyes sparkled. She recalled what Fiona saidst night and asked impulsively, "Levi, do you mind what Fiona saidst night?"


    Levi looked more rxed and determined. "Understanding a person isn''t just about listening to what others say. It''s more about observing what they do." He sighed, "It''s all about a person''s actions, not his words. Ms. Nelson, you saved Mr. Lopez." Hearing this, Shakira suddenly understood something. A gentle smile appeared on her face. She said, "Okay."


    After breakfast, Shakira joined in the renovation work too. Noticing that the big cats were skillful climbers, Shakira set up some tools on the trees for them to y with.


    To them, this vast manor was like a natural yground where they could freely explore and have adventures.


    The Nelson family ate the breakfast together and watched the news on TV. Reba''s face turned dark.


    "The Banks family is a well-known family. How could their daughter be so narrow-minded? She turned a major reality show into a mess all by herself."


    Reba had put in lots of effort just to get Yvette and Felix onto this show. But then Fionapletely ruined the show''s reputation.


    There was a flood of criticism online. The Banks family stopped investing it and the show was suspended for authorities investigation. No one knew when filming could resume.


    Yvette gently sipped the oatmeal and softly said, "It''s good that these issues were discovered before the show aired. If it had happened after the first episode, the damage would have been worse." It was the onlyfort she could offer now.


    Reba nodded and then she suddenly remembered something "Right. You should spend more time with Dr. Lonely-Bird taking advantage of this to build rapport."


    Yvette''s stiffened. The hand that was holding the spoon paused


    Reba looked impressed. "In just three days, Dr. Lonely Bird has gained lots of fans among medical students. Even some from the older generation admire and support her.


    "Yesterday, before everything was figured out, many patients voluntarily defended Dr. Lonely Bird''s innocence at the entrance of Haruca Hospital. Not everyone can do this!"


    Even Selena expressed her admiration for her. "That kid is blessed with such wonderful talent. Even Matthew said she was good. Now, so many people are supporting her. I wonder who is so lucky to have such an amazing daughter!" 07:45 Sat, Nov 9


    Yvette gradually tightened her grip on the spoon.


    Reba said confidently, ncing at Yvette, "Mom, Yvette is also very talented. She will surely bring us glory in the future."


    Yvette''s face lit up again, with a smile. Her eyes were glistening.


    Selena chuckled, "You''re right. Who knows? Maybe Yvette will be more famous than Dr. Lonely Bird one day."


    Yvette was just about to say something when Felix, who had been silent, abruptly banged his forks on the table with a loud sound. Everyone turned to him, surprised.


    Felix''s face was unreadable when he stood up and said, Tm full. Suddenly, recalling what Reba talked about earlier, he said. "Forget about Dr. Lonely Bird. We''ve made it totally impossible yesterday."


    Yvette''s smile, which she had just appeared on her face, disappeared instantly.


    Selena asked, "What? Felix, what do you mean? What did you do that offended Dr. Lonely Bird?"


    Cody frowned and asked with a serious look, "Haven''t you been on good terms with Dr. Lonely Bird? How did you offend him?"


    Felix mped his lips together tightly with a serious face without saying a word.


    Everyone else turned to Yvette, asking her to exin what had happened.


    Underneath the table, Yvette grasped the tablecloth, trying her best to look calm andposed. After a while, she blinked


    eyes turning red with helplessness and grievance.


    She said, "Yesterday, the Banks family barged into the hospital with witnesses and evidence. We thought it was certain that Dr. Lonely Bird had prescribed the wrong medication but he still denied it."


    As Yvette spoke, she unconsciously bit her lips. Her blood flew into her mouth. She said, "The atmosphere was thick with tension. I was worried the Banks family might do something irrational so I persuaded Dr. Lonely Bird to apologize and admit her mistake." Selena was shocked. "What?"


    Everyone else''s expression changed dramatically too. Selena was so angry she beat her breast and stamped her foot. "Why did you interfere with it?"


    Cody looked grim. He angrily scolded, "What do you mean? It''s sure thing? Until the police release an official report, everything is uncertain. You were just beyond yourself!"


    Such harsh words left Yvette shaking with tears. Her lips were quivering with sadness and frustration too. She said, "I I didn''t know Dr. Lonely Bird had surveince footage to prove her innocence.


    "If she had shown it to everyone sooner, I wouldn''t have said those things. I genuinely wanted to help her


    Tears fell one by one into the bowl in front of Yvette from her eyes. Seeing this, Reba felt heartbroken.


    "Honey, don''t cry. I know you didn''t want this to happen. Who would''ve thought Dr. Lonely Bird had evidence? Reba gentlyforted Yvette.


    "Don''t cry. You''re not in a good and this isn''t such a big deal. You aren''t well. You just made a mistake when you wanted to do something good. You just offended someone, So be it she continued. Yvette cried, "Mom!"


    She buried her face in Reba''s arms, crying and reflecting on herself, "I won''t make the same mistake again"


    07:45 Sat, Nov 9.


    Hearing her admit his mistake in a soft and sweet voice, Reba couldn''t bring herself to scold her.From N?velDrama.Org.


    Reba said, "Alright, alright. If you know you were wrong and want to change, you''re still a good child. No more tears, okay?"


    Yvette nodded, still crying.


    Felix thought, ''Just a well-intentioned mistake?"


    Felix looked at Reba and Yvette. When he heard Reba''s words, his heart somehow sank. He turned around and quietly left.


    Finn shot a nce and Reba and Yvette and murmured that he was going to the office. Then he stood up and followed behind Felix.


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 Chapter 234

    In the parking lot, Finn shouted, "Felix!"


    Finn strode over to Felix and stopped him before he could get into the car. Being the eldest brother, Finn thought it was his responsibility to mediate between his siblings.


    He said. "I know you''ve admired Lonely Bird for a long time. You don''t want to give up. Yvette didn''t handle it well. After I finish my work at the end of the year, I''ll go with you to apologize to Lonely Bird"


    Felix''s face softened a bit. He said. "Finn, I''ll apologize to Lonely Bird. You have nothing to do with it."


    Then Felix paused looking like he was hesitating about something.


    Finn said. "If you''re worried about anything, just tell me. We''re brothers. There''s nothing we can''t share with each other."


    Felix breathed a sigh of relief and nced back at the room. He said coldly, "Do you think I was too hard on Yvette this time?


    Finn didn''t answer it right away.


    Felix continued, "Yes, we only have one younger sister. We''ve been doing on her since we were little. No matter what mistakes she made, we would forgive her unconditionally as long as we didn''t have topromise our principles. "But this time, I can''t convince myself to forgive her."


    Felix exhaled deeply and frowned.


    Felix added, "I know I shouldn''t me it on Yvette. She''s kind-hearted and always cares about others. Actually, I failed to protect Dr. Lonely Bird. It''s my fault.


    "But while I me myself for it, I can''t help but wonder if Yvette was really meless.


    "Yes, I felt a mix of emotions back then. I was shocked and torn, unable to hold firm to my beliefs. But when everyone was pressuring Lonely Bird to admit it, Yvette betrayed her too."


    Felix''s face showed a mix ofplex emotions. He said, "If she truly had a kind heart and cared for Lonely Bird, she shouldn''t have said that. She should have waited for the hospital and the police to find out the truth.


    "She shouldn''t have used Lonely Bird of it like the overbearing Banks family so readily!


    "I know I ought to stand by Yvette without any hesitation, like Mom and Grandma, and forgive her little slip-ups. But I just can''t convince myself!"


    Felix looked up at Finn and asked nkly, "Finn, am I wrong to me Yvette, or is it''s really Yvette fault?"


    Seeing that Felix was emotional, Finn was momentarily dazed, looking at his unfocused eyes.


    Finn and his brothers didn''t look very much alike. But at that moment, Finn thought he was having an illusion.


    He felt like the one who was questioning him was not Felix but Mitchell, who had been missing for so long-


    Finn exhaled deeply.


    He thought, ''How did this happen?


    After a long silence, he said, while being expectantly looked at ly Felix, "Felix, you''re right. It''s Werte''s fault. Mom and Dad just care too much about her so they cannot me her." 07:45 Sat, Nov 9


    Hearing this, Felix felt sudden sense of relief.


    He broke into a smile with relief. "Thank you, Finn."


    Finn raised his hand and put it firmly on Felix''s shoulder, pressing it down hard.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Finn said, "Although we''re siblings, we should help and trust each other unconditionally most of the time. But sometimes, we should figure out what is right and what is wrong. We cannot just tolerate everything. You have your principles. I understand that. "If you can''t find peace of mind, apologize to Dr. Lonely Bird. Her forgiveness might make you feel better."


    With Finn''s encouragement, Felix felt confident and determined


    Felix nodded firmly. "Alright!"


    After their sincere conversation, Finn and Felix got into their cars and left the parking lot.


    In a corner that they never shot a nce at, Yvette, who had found an excuse to follow behind them, was hiding. She walked behind the shadows and watched the two cars drive out of the parking lot with a sullen faces and coldly glittering eyes. Reba asked, "Yvette? Where''s Felix?"


    She walked to Yvette.


    Yvette''s expression changed quickly. She turned to Reba with a cheerful smile. "Felix is out. I apologized to him and he said he forgave me. He''s not angry with me? Reba said, "Really?"


    Reba rxed and smiled but then she noticed that Yvette''s expression seemed weird.


    Yvette''s smile didn''t look convincing at all.


    Reba frowned, "Yvette, are you lying to me?"


    Yvette looked panicked immediately. She quickly looked away. "Mom, I didn''t..."


    Reba reached out to gently lift Yvette''s chin. She rubbed Yvette''s cheeks softly, trying hard to hold back her tears.


    She felt sad. "If Felix has forgiven you, why are you still crying?"


    Yvette trembled and tears once again fell down her face uncontrobly.


    Quickly, she threw herself into Reba''s arms again. She cried like she was a child who didn''t get her treat. "Mom, does Felix hate me? Will he never love me again?"


    Reba said, "Nonsense! Felix loves you so much. He always thinks of you whenever he gets something nice. How could he not love you?"


    Listening to her daughter''s muffled crying, Reba felt heartbroken. Arge part of her shirt above her breast was wet by


    Yvette''s tears.


    She said, "Felix is just a little bit confused right now. Don''t worry about him. Once he figures everything out, things will be fine!"


    Yvette said, "Really?"


    Reba said, "Of course. No matter what kind of person Lonely Bird is, she''s not a family. You''re Felix''s sister. We''ll always 07:45 Sat, Nov 9


    be a family!"


    Reba held Yvette''s face and gently wiped away her tears. "If Felix still mes you, I''ll scold him. How could he help someone outside of the family? He should know who he truly ought to support!" Yvette sniffled, feeling deeply moved by Reba''s words. "Mom, I''m so happy you are still by my side."


    Reba said, "You''re my one and only precious daughter. If I don''t stand by you, who will?"


    Reba patted Yvette''s back. "Stop crying. Let''s go shopping. I''ll get you some pretty clothes. My darling daughter will stand


    out with or without the reality show!"


    Yvette said. "Yeah."


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 Chapter 235

    Sean wasn''t happy about the special treatment. He threw a tantrum until Shakira finally agreed to y online games with him. Cathy and Gideon were online. Shakira invited them to team up and y a game and they quickly epted the request.


    Cathy said Shakira''s kitties were very cute over the voice chat. Gideon said casually, "Shakira, do you not want us to visit you?" Sean readily said, protesting. "He''s right. You''re hiding something from us!"


    Cathy immediately became excited. "Hiding something? A toyboy?" Gideon''s voice sounded even more gloomy. "It seems Shakira is not regarding us as her close friends anymore. With pressureing from all sides, Shakira had no choice but to surrender. Shakira said, "It''s not convenient for me to have you over right now. Maybeter!" Hearing them sighing in unison, Shakira continued. "To make it up for you, I''ll cook for you. I want to discuss something with Gideon anyway"


    Shakira thought about something and said, "How about tomorrow afternoon? I''ll finish the work at the clinic at six. After that. I''ll stop by Jasmin''s office. How about we meet at Sean''s ce?" Hearing that Shakira would be cooking for them, the three of them cheered excitedly.


    Cathy was the most excited. She shouted, "Great! I finally get to by Shakira''s cooking. A few days ago, the old man bragged about the food that Shakira made him. I was so mad!" Matthew and Cathy were truly a funny pair.


    Holding back herughter, Shakira said, "TII buy some veggies and pork online and make your favorite food." Cathy said,


    favorite?" "Shakira is my best friend forever! Sean, afraid that he would be neglected, said eagerly, "What about myContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Shakira raised her eyebrow, "Of course, I won''t leave you out." Sean said, I''m so touched! You still remember my favorite dish!" But Gideon stayed quiet. Shakira knew he was waiting for her. With a bright smile, she said. "And Gideon''s favorite food, too, Sure enough, Gideon couldn''t hide his joy anymore. He said, "Great. After they cheered Sean up, they started a game.


    After that, Sean finally checked his phone, which had been buzzing with new es


    His mom, busy finding him a date, had sent him several voice messages: [Sean, you must seize this great opportunity. This girl is amazing. She''s like you. She loves freedom and is outgoing. I''m sure you''ll like her.]


    [I''ve sent you the info. You''ll meet her three dayster. I''ve booked the restaurant. You better make a good impression on her this time!] Sean replied with an "ok" emoji to his mom


    not satisfied with his indifferent attitude. She sent a message to him again: "Your cousin happens to be in Sean''s mother w.. Crescentville too. I''ve asked her to keep an eye on you. Don''t y any tricks with me, okay?"


    Seanzily stroked his chin and replied: (Got it. Don''t worry!" He thought his mom was too naive. He thought, ''Does she think having someone keeping an eye on me will work?'' Heughed and decided to figure out something to secretly run the date!


    In the evening, while giving Walter acupuncture treatment, Shakira said she would returnte tomorrow. Walter, lying on the bed, turned back to her. "Isn''t the filming of the show on bold?"


    Shakira blinked and said calmly. "Recently, I''ve not only been helping with the show but also at the hospital. Staying home is too boring anyway. It is good to help people out."


    Walter didn''t deny it. He agreed with her and added, "Just make sure to keep your phone with you at all times." Shakira smiled, "I will!"


    Continuing the acupuncture treatment, she suddenly asked casually, "Walter, if you find out that I lied to you in the future, would you hate me?"


    Shakira felt Walter''s muscle tense for a moment. In a deep voice, he asked instead of answering her questions, "So, what have you been hiding from me?"


    Shakira knew his reaction was normal. It mattered to him. After all, nobody could ept being deceived even if it was a well-intentioned lie.


    Her eyes glittered so they were not dull anymore. She raised her head and looked into his eyes. Shakira smiled and burst intoughter. "Why you are so serious about it? I am just joking


    She pouted and mumbled to herself, "No need to ask. If I dared to lie to you, you''d definitely strangle me." Walter quietly stared at her for a long time.


    Then he raised his hand and flicked her forehead skillfully. It seemed that he believed that she was just joking. He coldly chuckled. "Be good."


    Shakira stuck her tongue out at him, looking like a naughty girl. Walter''s thin lips curved in a mild smile like he didn''t mind. what Shakira said just now at all.


    Early in the next morning. Shakira fed the kittens milk before leaving. When she arrived at the hospital, she noticed the film crew was rearranging the set. Surprised, she asked a crew member, "Is the filming on hold?"


    The staff member smiled at her, "Dr. Lonely Bird, you might not know it yet. Mr. Jones returned the Banks family''s investment. But Mr. Lopez came in early this morning and offered to invest more so the cash flow problem can continue filming." was solved. We


    Someone else said, "Fiona''s drama actually made more people talk about our show. The higher-ups are even moremitted to making sure the show will record the everyday life in the hospital."


    Shakira thought, ''Walter? Of course, he is a capitalist. Now is the perfect time to make some money. He definitely wants a chance. Shakira went to her office as usual to do the cleaning, ready to start her day.


    At lunchtime, Shakira rubbed her stiff neck and went to the door to pick up her delivery food. The canteen was crowded and noisy so she tried her best to avoid it.


    After she stepped out of the door, she was surprised. She saw Felix sitting on a bench in the corridor. When Felix saw her, he was clearly nervous and a bit flustered.


    "Dr. Lonely Bird," Felix took a deep breath and plucked the courage to say, "Dr. Lonely Bird, I came here to apologize for what happened the other day."


    Shakira said nonchntly, "No need to apologize to me. I never care about strangers'' opinions." Her voice was low but made Felix''s heart sink.


    Shakira wasn''t interested in talking to him. She picked up her delivery food and closed the door. After lunch, she quickly went to have some rest. She had appointments in the afternoon


    After the rm went off, ending her lunch break, she went to the restroom to wash her face to clear her head She noticed that Felix was still there but walked past him without ncing at him.


    When she came back, she noticed that the food she had left on the table was cleared and her desk was tidied up. Shakira silently smiled, feeling nothing at all.


    sent to


    After finishing her work in the afternoon, Shakira took a taxi to Jasmin''s office. She ordered some groceries to be Sean''s ce on her phone. The taxi stopped in front of a building. Shakira went straight into the inpatient department building and took the elevator to the top floor.


    The whole floor reeked of pungent alcohol. She confidently walked toward thest patient room in the empty hallway. Just when Shakira ced her hand on the lock of the door, she suddenly stopped and turned to Felix, who had followed her

 Chapter 236

    The question was so sudden that Felix was confused. He was following Shakira to find the right moment to sincerely apologize to her again. He had no bad intentions.


    But somehow, after arriving at this beauty clinic, he followed Shakira here. He felt like there was an invisible force telling him to stay with Shakira.From N?velDrama.Org.


    ¦°


    Shakira''s eyes were cold. Being stared at by Shakira, Felix realized he was rude. His expression changed a few times. Tm sorry. Dr. Lonely Bird" He paused and continued, "I guess it''s an important patient or you wouldn''t havee personally." Jasmin pushed open the door from inside. "Hil Why are you still standing at the door?" As the door swung open and closed, Felix made out the person lying on the bed.


    But he couldn''t see the patient''s face. He instinctively looked away, knowing it was rude. However, he noticed many tubes were inserted into the patient. Obviously, the patient''s life relied entirely on these machines.


    Felix was surprised. He hadn''t expected to find a severely ill patient in a beauty clinic. Jasmin didn''t realize another person was also at the door until he walked out.


    He raised his eyebrow, giving Felix a once-over. He crossed his arms and chuckled knowingly, "Isn''t he Mr. Felix Nelson? What a surprise!"


    Felix frowned, staring at Jasmin for several seconds. "Do you know me?"


    Jasmin handed a business card to him. "Jasmin Sullivan. I once worked at Meta Research Laboratory in Yarovia. We met once when you were learning from Mr. Smithson. It''s understandable if you don''t remember me. Felix took the card and read the information on it. Jasmin smiled, "We are alumni. If your girlfriendes here for skincare) in the future, I''ll give you a 10% discount."


    "That''s not necessary Felix instinctively nced at Shakira and aid, "Dr. Lonely Bird, I won''t disturb you anymore. I''ll exin it next time when I have the opportunity. After that, he politely nodded and quickly left.


    Watching Felix enter the elevator, Jasmin ruffled his hair and smiled even more yfully, "Does Felix know that Mitchell, who the Nelson family has been desperately searching for is right inside the room?"


    Shakira shrugged. "I asked him but he clearly doesn''t want the answer. So I kept it from him." Jasmin''s eyes widened in disbelief. He realized she wasn''t joking so he was momentarily speechless.


    After a while, he shook his head and put her hands on her face, looking rather scared. "Shakira, you''re really good at fooling people. Luckily, I was smart enough to team up with you from the start or who knows what kind of trouble I''d be in now!" Shakira shot Jasmin a nce, annoyed. She described her like she was some sort of viin. She brushed past him and walked into the ward.


    Mitchell was lying quietly on the bed, looking much thinner than he had been a few months before the ident. His face was pale with a pair of sunken eyes. His lips were almost bloodless and the only thing that made him look alive. Shakira nced at the numbers on the machine, frowning. Jasmin followed her inside and said lightly. "His injuries are severe. You performed the surgery so you know it the best. He''s so lucky that he''s alive, thanks to your devilish skill.'' Shakira said, "His condition isn''t good. In fact, it''s quite bad. His kidney and liver are copsing. If it weren''t for his strong will to stay alive, I am afraid..." Shakira said, "I know, your team has worked hard to take care of him Thank you. Waving his hand, Jasmin grinned, "No worries, Sean paid me arge sum of money for the medical expenses, equivalent to three years'' revenues of this beauty salon. How could I say no to something as good as this?" I


    Jasmin asked curiously, "But are you sure you want to keep funding this? These machines and the team are all from abroad. The costs are high. It''s fine for a short time but for a long time.


    Shakira said. "Let''s find out how long he can hold on. Money is not an issue."


    Jasmin sped his hands, ncing at Shakira''s expressionless face. "Alright!" He said. "Shakira, I''m not gossipy but with how things are between you and the Nelson family, I''m surprised you''re still going all out to save Mitchell. This is admirable!" "Who said I''m treating Mitchell for the Nelson family?" Shakira nced at him. "I''m just waiting for a chance."


    Jasmin was puzzled. "What?"


    She said coldly. "Waiting for the day the Nelson family never finds peace again."


    Jasmin was taken aback by her sudden coldness, gasping in shock. Before he could think further about it, Shakira had already turned around and walked out.


    Hurriedly, Jasmin followed behind her. "Shakira, wait for me! Sean said you''re making a great meal tonight. I''m going there


    too!"


    The door of the ward opened and closed, leaving the room filled only with the sounds of the machines. No one noticed that Mitchell''s pinky finger slightly twitched while lying quietly on the bed.


    In the end, Jasmin''s shameless determination paid off. He managed to get into Sean''s ce to enjoy the meal. This made Sean really angry.


    He thought, ''How could this freeloader have the nerve to eat the food cooked by Shakira? What makes him so courageous?" Jasmin was grinning,pletely ignoring Sean''sint. He kept saying, "Just one more spoon, just one more." However, after the dishes were served, he couldn''t stop eating the food.


    Shakira had made five dishes but seeing that Jasmin had such a good appetite, she went back to the kitchen to cook some beef. Outside, Sean and Jasmin were fighting to get more food. Gideon followed Shakira into the kitchen.


    Gideon said, "Shakira, let me help you."


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 Chapter 237

    Shakira said as she added some greens to the pan, "Going broke doesn''t mean you''re at a dead end." With one hand flipping the pan and the other quickly stirring the food in the pan, she fried the rice until it was fragrant. He said, "Lago isn''t someone who epts his fate easily. Before you met him, he was already constantly trying to make more money for hiseback.


    "Besides, going broke isn''t enough. While speaking, Shakira turned off the heat. The fragrant fried rice was poured into arge bowl. She sprinkled some purple peri on it. She handed Gideon a spoon. "Give it a try." The fragrant fried rice was tempting. Gideon instinctively swallowed hard, suppressing his doubts. He ate a big spoonful of the beef and rice. The next second, his eyes lit up. He said. This is so good!"


    Sean, who couldn''t win Jasmin, rushed into the kitchen. "Shakira! You are making food, especially for Jasmin! Now, he was even angrier. He hurried over to the food. "No way, I want some too before Jasmin cats all of it!" Shakira, having been pushed away, couldn''t help but give a thumb-up. "The food is enough for six people. If you can finish all of it, I''ll be amazed!"


    Cathy stuck-her cute head out behind the door, waving her tiny hands. "Shakira, is the food ready? Hurry up. I''ve put some aside for you. They wouldn''t dare to touch it."


    Shakira smiled, "Okay, I''ll be there after I wash my hands. Before leaving, she said to Gideon, "Remember to tell that middleman not to trust Lago too much. He''s good at acting and will use anyone to get what he wants. Be careful not to fall into his trap." Gideon chuckled, "It''s worth getting tricked if it means getting your attention." Shakira didn''t catch the subtext. She just shook her head with a helpless smile, not taking it seriously


    This meal exhausted Sean, So Jasmin kept teasing him. After everyone ate the food and yed some games, Sean walked them to the garage. He teased Jasmin before they left. "Don''te here again. You''re a pain in the ass!"""


    Jasmin put one of his hands on the steering wheel, looking aloof "Mr. Reynolds, don''t be so stingy. Out of everyone here tonight, you''re the only one I know."


    Sean said angrily. "What do you mean? You know Shakira too!"


    Jasmin shrugged helplessly. "I''m a man. I can''t bully a girl, right Besides, I wouldn''t dare to mess with Shakira."


    Seanughed, "Hahaha! Even a moron wouldn''t believe your nonsense!"


    Sean grumbled as he saw his guest off. After he returned home, be called a cleaning servicepany to clean up his messy house. He nced at his phone and noticed a message from his mom to remind him of tomorrow''s blind date. Sean thought about it for a moment and hurriedly called his friend, who had been ignoring him all day. After waiting for a long time, Xanthe finally picked up the phone. Sean said anxiously, "You finally answered my call thought you were going word!" 10 go


    back on your


    Xanthe was speechless. Sean heard a lot of noise mixed with a familiar announcement. He immediately frowned, ''Are you at the airport?"


    Xanthe didn''t notice Sean''s message until now. "Yeah, I boarded ne eight hours ago. I justnded in Vegas. When you texted me, I was on the ne so I couldn''t check my phone."


    Sean exhaled deeply. "Wait, you''re not in Crescentville. Who''s going to help me now?"


    Xanthe asked, "What?"


    Sean nervously scratched his head and quickly told Xanthe about his blind date tomorrow. He suddenly asked, "What time are you getting back tomorrow!" Xanthe was speechless.


    She thought, ''Am I out of my mind? I just finished an eight-hour flight and you are expecting me to go back tomorrow? In her mind, she angrily cursed Sean. Xanthe said, "Didn''t you say your rtive will be watching you? If I show up, won''t that ruin your n?"


    Sean, who was still calm yesterday, couldn''t sit still now. He paced back and forth holding his phone. "What do I do Help mee up with a n!" now?


    Xanthe rolled her eyes dramatically. "Why are you so worried about it? Even if you do your best, the girl might not like you


    anyway."


    Sean said, "How could she not like me? I''m so charming and handsome. There aren''t many men like me avable. When a girles across a treasure like me, they will hold on to it!"


    Xanthe chuckled sarcastically, "Yes, you''re right. Keep this attitude. I guarantee you won''t seed in dating even after you date every girl in Crescentville."


    Sean would be a retard if he didn''t catch the sarcasm in Xanthe''s words. He squinted. "What do you mean?"


    Xanthe quickly tried to change the subject. "Let''s talk about itter. I''m waiting for my luggage. Send me the girl''s info. I''ll figure something out."


    Sure enough, Sean''s attention was instantly diverted. He forwarded the information that his mom sent him to Xanthe Xanthe looked through it and couldn''t help but sigh, "Your date is impressive! The heiress of the Berret Group? Isn''t it thergest steel group in this country that sells its product only to the nationalpanies?" Sean said angrily, "Cut the crap. I need a solution now!"


    "Don''t rush me! Let me see. Joan Berret, the heiress of the Berret Group, is outgoing, forthright, and independent, loves freedom, and respects her parents. Honestly, she seems like a pretty good match for you."


    Sean gritted his teeth. "I''ll call your Dad and he''ll make you go back right now. Do you believe it?"


    Xanthe decided that after she arrived home, she would print outa photo of Sean, put it under her bed, and stamp on it every day! She said, T''ve got it. Tomorrow, you will. Then Xanthe told Sean his n


    Sean listened patiently to the n but remained skeptical. "Are you sure this will work?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Xanthe said very confidently, "Trust me. This is a perfect n."


    Sean said, "Alright. I''ll go get ready."


    Xanthe said, "Remember to make it detailed so it will look convincing."


    Sean said, "Got it."


    Finally, after handling Sean''s problem, Xanthe put down her phone and sighed in relief. Lucy had been waiting with her luggage for a while, eavesdropping on their conversation. She lowered her head with a lot of thoughts. Xanthe grabbed her suitcase and walked out knowingly, "Let''s go Someone is waiting for us outside."


    Lucy quickly caught up with her and said in a sweet voice. "You were talking on the phone for so long. Is it the rich friend you yed games withst time?"


    u


    Xanthe said, "Yes."


    Xanthe didn''t notice Lucy''s expression. The person who had been waiting to pick them up arrived. Xanthe handed her luggage to the person and turned around to get into the car. Lucy''s eyes rolled mischievously. She suddenly asked, "Xanthe, do you love him?" Just when Xanthe lifted her foot, she was startled by the question. She almost missed a step and fell to the ground.

 Chapter 238

    94 %1


    Luckily, she was quick. She rapidly steadied herself by grabbing the door of the car, avoiding a bad fall. Xanthe looked at Lucy like she had seen a ghost. "Are you crazy or I am the crazy one?"


    Lucy clicked her tongue, dismissing Xanthe''s denial. "Why did you chat with him for so long after getting off the ne if you don''t love him? You haven''t called your mom and dad yet, Xanthe was a bit angry. She tapped on Lucy''s head. "He called 1. me.


    Lucy was a bit angry, holding her head. "You even gave him bad advice to ruin his date!"


    Hearing Lucy''s retort, Xanthe was annoyed. She said impatiently. "He asked for it! I was just helping his date so she wouldn''t fall into that loser trap! What''s your problem?


    "Why are you so caught up in his problems? If you care about him that much, I''ll get you a ne ticket back to Crescentville right now."


    Seeing that Xanthe was angry, Lucy grudgingly shut up though she had a lot to say. After all, the trip to La Vido was a reward from Enrique for Xanthe''s improvement in her finals. Lucy managed to cheekily tag along with Xanthe


    After all, Enrique was so rich that he gave Xanthe a ck credit card. Everything in La Vido was pricey and her dad only gave her about 300 bucks a month. If she didn''t y up to Xanthe, she would have been stay in the hotel room for the next few days.


    Thinking about this, Lucy quickly put on an ingratiating smile and turned to Xanthe. "I was wrong. Don''t be angry with me. I''m just worried about you. We are close friends. I am afraid your boyfriend will fool you."


    Xanthe couldn''t help butin. "Him" My boyfriend? He''s absolutely not. You should worry about yourself. I was worried your mom would scold you because of your scores on the final exams. So I came here with you!"


    Lucy stiffened but she said, to please Xanthe, "You''re right! You re closer to me than my sister. I promise I''ll study hard next semester!" Xanthe ignored her and started texting her family.


    Lucy turned around, pretending to be enjoying the scenery outside the window. Her reflection in the car window showed her jealousy and resentfulness.


    The next day, Sean wore a casual suit with a id coat, making him look even more handsome. He also looked elegant and sophisticated.


    He arrived half an hour early at the romantic restaurant his mom had booked a dining room for him. Before long, his cousin showed up too. They briefly greeted each other.


    His cousin was wearing sses. She looked Sean up and down and smiled approvingly, "Not bad, Sean. You look really good today, Good luck!"


    Sean nodded calmly with a mild smile. He didn''t show the slightest clue to the sarcastic thoughts that he was having on his face. "Thanks, cousin."


    "Alright, I''ll just sit over there." His cousin pointed at a table about two tables away from Sean. "I''ll be waiting for your good news!"


    Sean said, "Cot it, thanks a lot, cousin."


    seat and fiddled with the red rose on the


    was already il?nking about how to carry out his n


    The meeting was scheduled for 7 o''clock sharp. But Joan was ten minuteste. She told a waiter Sean''s name and smiled at Sean, who was patiently waiting for her al, Nov


    She asked the waiter. "When did the man over there arrive here


    y minutes"


    The waiter thought about it for a while and replied, "That gentleman has been here for almost forty


    Joan said. "Really?"


    Joan was quite satisfied. She walked over to Sean elegantly.


    She said. "Sorry, I''mte."


    Sean looked up at Joan as she approached him. He stood up and politely helped her with her coat and pulled over the chair for her. "Never mind. I''ve only just arrived."


    Joan raised her eyebrow. She thought Sean was quite handsome and refined so she couldn''t help but nod approvingly.


    Scan noticed her movements and instinctively nced at his cousin, who was not far away. Sure enough, his cousin was taking photos of him, definitely updating his mom on the progress,


    Sean straightened his back and sat back in his seat.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Sean handed the menu to Joan. "I heard Ms. Berret likes seafood so I ordered a few simple dishes of seafood. I hope you''ll like them.


    Joan nced over the menu, feeling quite pleased. Everything matched her preferences perfectly. She hadn''t expected much from this blind date. She just came here to fulfill the task of her family. Unexpectedly, Sean seemed much more thoughtful than she imagined. Joan rested her hands on the table, gazing casually at Sean as he poured red wine for her.


    She said slowly, "Mr. Sean, there''s no need to act anymore."


    Sean paused for a moment. Instantly, he put down the wine bottle and smiled, "Ms. Berret, I''m not sure what you mean."


    Joan leaned back casually. Her attitude was quite like Sean''s. She stuck her chin slightly. Tve looked into you. We''re simr people. Our families worry about us a lot. We have to agree to this blind date they put a lot of pressure on us." Sean smiled without saying anything.


    Joan continued, "I''ve already nned how to turn you down. But now I have a new idea."


    Sean gestured. "I''m all ears."


    Joan''s red lips curved in a smile. She was plump, both her body and face so she looked pretty elegant and posh Her smile


    made her even more assertive.


    She said, "Instead of going against our families, we''d better form an alliance.


    "Mr. Reynolds, I think you''re quite agreeable. I doubt you can find any fault with me. So, why dort we pretend this blind date is a sess to avoid more trouble?"

 Chapter 239

    cean''s cousin was holding


    her phone, recording a video for Sean''s mom. She pointed her phone directly at Sean and recorded Sean''s polite and attentive movements.


    Sean''s cousin seemed satisfied. Im sure this is going to work out. Ms. Berret seems quite pleased with Sean. I bet they''ll have a wedding very soon!"


    Sean''s mom had been eagerly waiting for Sean''s cousin''s update on Sean''s blind date. Right after she watched the video, she nodded with satisfaction. She thought Sean had matured quite a bit after.


    While Sean''s mom and cousin chatted happily about the potential wedding, the atmosphere between Sean and Joan was far from pleasant. With mounting frustration, Joan read through the ten family rules. She was on the brink of losing her temper Gritting her teeth, she whispered, "Sean, are you kidding?"


    Sean said with an innocent look, "Ms. Berret, you think I''m lying? No way! We have been following these family rules for generations. Anyone marrying into our family must follow them


    Sean opened a health-tracking app on his phone. "Look, Ms. Berret, I''ll be in my office Monday to Thursday. I took Friday off to buy some clothes for today, I walked 2 miles to the mall. I walked here too." Sean said sincerely, "Walking is actually quite good for both physical and mental health.


    Joan sneered coldly, "Forget about it. Your family deserves someone better!"


    Sean looked surprised. "Didn''t Ms. Berret just tell me we were a perfect match?"


    Joan refused it decisively, full of disdain and sympathy for Sean "Not at all! Just forget what I said. I''ll tell my family I am not interested in you. Don''t worry about it. I''ll pay the bill "You even have a rule about allowance and you need receipts if you want reimbursement. I don''t want to ask for the receipts when I am at a bar surrounded by pretty toyboys!"


    Just the thought of it gave Joan goosebumps. She thought it was horrible nightmare.


    Sean looked downhearted. "Well, alright then. I thought I finally found a soul mate. Well..."


    During the meal, Sean maintained his gentlemanly manners. If Sean hadn''t had such a pretty face, joan wouldn''t have eaten. anything. She felt like she was paying for some eye candy to eat with her.


    As soon as they finished the food, Joan tossed a stack of cash on the table, put on sunsses, and confidently walked out. Sean calmly put the cash in his pocket and called the waiter over to pay the bill.


    Sean''s cousin quickly walked over to him and asked, "Why are you leaving right after dinner? Aren''t we going to watch a movie or take a walk?"


    Seeing that she looked very eager, Sean gave a deceptive yet charming smile. "Ms. Befret has work tomorrow so she can''t stay here for too long."


    Sean''s cousin said, ''Is that so? No problem, then. Next time, you can have another date and get to know each other better.


    Sean snorted and thought, ''Next time? Really?"


    He made up an excuse to leave. He overheard his cousin and his mother''s happy voice messages before he left. Sean held back hisughter until he reached the parking lot. After he got into his car, he finally burst intoughter 07:46 Sat, Nov 9


    uncontrobly. Heaven-kney he was about to go mad holding back hisughter!


    He wasughing so hard in the car that he couldn''t keep his back straight. Sean didn''t forget to call Xanthe to share the good


    As soon as the call was answered, Xanthe shouted angrily in frustration, "Sean! Do you even know the time difference between us? I''m sixteen hours behind you! It''s only four in the morning here!"


    "Sorry, I forgot about the time difference. I just wanted to share my excitement with you immediately. Sean coughed and said proudly. "Your lousy idea actually worked!"


    Xanthe was speechless.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    She was so furious that she cursed Sean and his family. Since Senn had woken her up, happened. Sean exined everything and couldn''t stopughing she asked him about what had


    Xanthe,pletely puzzled, said, "Wait, Joan is a nice woman. She even wanted to coborate with you. Why did you drive her away?"


    "Are you silly? How many women can resist my pretty face? If Joan wants to get seriouster, I will be at a disadvantage! I won''t be able to get rid of her!"


    He knew his mom''s personality all too well. Once things got official, trying to break up would be almost impossible. He had to solve any potential problems!


    His words made Xanthe''s mouth twitch. She said, "You have no shame.


    But Sean''s concern was solid. His pretty face was definitely attractive to wealthy girls.


    Xanthe said, "Alright then, congrats on solving this problem. I''m going to sleep now. Don''t call me again." Then he decisively hung up.


    Sean was still overwhelmed by happiness. Looking at his phone after being coldly hung up on it, he clicked his tongue and muttered to himself, "It''s a good thing Xanthe''s a tomboy. Otherwise, I would have to worry she would love me. That''d be a headache Far away in La Vigo, Xanthe sneezed and quickly covered herself with a nket.


    It was Shakira''s first-time taking care of cats. In the first few days while in the hospital, she only gave the kittens milk and other cat food so they just ended up with round little bellies.


    Little did she expect that in just a few days, the kittens grew from having round bellies to chunky little paws. Later, even their tails seemed thicker. Not only the kittens but also the big cats had gained some weight. Even the orange cat was getting fatter.


    During lunch breaks in the hospital, Shakira opened the app to watch the surveince footage. Levi and the other mak would asionally feed them.


    In this vi with nearly a hundred servants, these little animals became everyone''s favorites. They were fed with delicious food and extra snacks every day. No wonder they were getting fatter and fatter! Looking at them, Shakira even found her food tastier.


    Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door. Shakira said, "Come in


    The person who pushed the door open was Kevin, followed by Felix, wearing a whiteb coat Shakira looked straight at Kevin and said, "Mr. Jones."


    Shepletely ignored Felix like he was invisible.


    .


    Kevin automatically nced at Felix. Seeing that he didn''t say anything, it seemed he was already ready for the cold shoulder.


    Kevin said, "Dr. Lonely Bird, are you having lunch? How about we wait outside..."


    Shakira said, "No worries, Mr. Jones."


    Kevinughed, "Here''s the thing: Dr. Lonely Bird, since you want to stay here, you need an assistant. Felix volunteered to be your assistant so he can learn from you." Hearing this, Shakira slightly raised her eyebrow. She turned to Felix with a thoughtful look. It seemed she had remembered something.


    She remembered in her past life after she and Yvette had the kidney transnt surgery, Yvette recovered much faster than she did. While she was still bedridden and recuperating. Yvette joined a variety show during the winter break and Felix also joined it too. Yvette and Felix had outstanding faces and with their prestigious family backgrounds and the marketing paid by the show producers and the Nelson family, they quickly gained lots of fans. Back then, everyone in Crescentville praised the Nelson family''s excellent upbringing.


    Yvette and Felix, being rich elites, were kind, good-looking, and snart. People even said Yvette was the leading socialite in Crescentville.


    Back then, while Shakira was still bedridden, she even knitted a unique butterfly shawl for Yvette to celebrate it.


    Thinking about it now, Shakira thought, Leading socialite? Does she really deserve it?"

 Chapter 240

    Seeing that Shakira looked emotionless and silent, Felix thought she must dislike him so she did not want to nce at him. Felix stepped forward. He was brilliant and rich student so he was always admired by everyone else. Now he respectfully bowed before Shakira. He slightly mped his lips together, sounding a little bit nervous. Felix said, "Dr. Lonely Bird, I want to work for you just because I want to learn from you. If you really think I''m annoying, I''ll make sure you won''t see my face very often."


    His words sounded familiar, making Shakira want tough. She thought, ''I have to admit that Mitchell and Felix are alike. They knew she found them annoying yet insisted on staying around her.


    Shakira gave a cold smile. "As far as I know, Dr. Nelson specializes in medical research, which isn''t part of traditional medicine that I specialize in."


    Felix quickly exined, "After returning to this country, I''ve shifted my focus to traditional medicine. I joined this show to learn more about traditional medicine."


    "Really?" Shakira said meaningfully, "I thought he came here because Ms. Nelson invited you disappoint her."


    and you couldn''t bear to


    Felix looked embarrassed. He couldn''t retort Shakira''s words. Because it was true. Initially, he didn''t know Shakira would join the show too. If Yvette hadn''t pestered him about it, he wouldn''t have been interested in it. But now, he had made up his mind.


    Before Felix could say anything more, Shakira said coldly, "So, you joined the show because of Ms. Nelson. Please leave now I don''t want Ms. Nelson to hold a grudge against me."


    Felix''s heart sank and immediately blurted out, "It won''t happen!"


    "I''ll exin everything to Yvette. There''s a reason for this. She''ll understand me!" Felix said, "Dr. Lonely Bird if you''re only worrying about this, you can rest assured."


    Shakira said, "I don''t care. Do what


    you want."


    Felix was too persistent. Shakira was starting to get a bit


    1.impatient. She frowned a little.


    Kevin said, "That''s decided then. From now on, Dr. Neleon will be your assistant. Dr. Nelson, please make sure to hand over


    your previous work."


    Felix said with undisguised excitement, "I''ll get right


    Yvette asked, "What? Felix is leaving?"


    n it!"


    Yvette was shocked when she heard from other guests that Felix would be working with Lonely Bird. She stood motionless for a long time, unable to process the shocking news.


    The other guests didn''t expect Yvette to react like this so they asked, "What? You didn''t know it? Mr. Jones already sent a message about it. We thought Mr. Nelson had already told you.'' Yvette was flustered but she forced a smile and said calmly, "Felix mentioned it to me a while ago. I just didn''t expect it to happen so suddenly."


    Then she saw Felix walking downstairs carrying his personal belongings.


    Yvette quickly said, "Excuse me. I''ll go help Felix out!"


    Sun, Nov


    She quickly caught up with Felix and followed him to the emergency stairs.


    Yvette, out of breath, couldn''t hold back her anger. "Felix!"


    She rushed to Felix. "Are you going to leave me alone here? Why? You promised me you''d help me on the show..."Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Felix interrupted her. "I did promise you but now I have things that I want to do for myself.


    Yvette thought, Things you want to do?''


    Yvette was incredulous. "So you decided to work as an assistant for Lonely Bird? Felix, are you joking?"


    Felix said coldly, "I''m serious. I''m really sorry that I failed to keep my promise. Tell me whatever you want aspensation. I''ll try my best."


    Then he walked past her and left.


    Yvette stood motionless in shock as disbelief and anger overwhelmed her.


    Yvette thought, ''Whatever I want?


    ''How could this reallypare to me winning over the audience in my variety show debut and bing famous overnight?''


    Reba made some marketing strategies especially for them using Felix''s impressive achievements in medicine. She was sure they would definitely be the most interesting and talked-about duo.


    Now with no more obstacles, everything seemed to be going perfectly ording to their n. But Felix suddenly decided to quit.


    Yvette thought, "These selfish and hateful people! They always say they care about me but when I needed them most, they betrayed me and left me!.


    ''I was stupid when I helped him y up to Lonely Bird. Felix, you ungrateful and heartless jerk!''


    Yvette was about to explode with anger and her eyes quickly turned red.


    She asked her assistant to ask for a day off from Kevin. Then she drove straight back to the Nelson residence.


    With the New Year approaching, Reba, the leader of the Nelson family, was preparing decorations for it with a group of women, praying for a happy and prosperous year ahead.


    The courtyard was lively. Suddenly, rapid footsteps interrupted their conversation.


    Reba turned around and was slightly surprised. "Yvette? You''re back home so early! Aren''t you supposed to be filming until veryte?"


    Yvette''s grand-aunt, who seldom visited them, squinted and chuckled, "Is she our little princess? It''s only been three years and you''ve be so beautiful!"


    Some of Yvette''s other grand-aunts said, "Yvette is the most brilliant youngdy in the family. She''s pretty and does great in school."


    "I heard that after the New Year, Yvette is going to intern at the Lopez Group. Not everyone can have this kind of chance." "That''s not the most impressive thing. My son, who''s been working in the entertainment industry for years, said that Yvette was currently doing a popr reality show with Felix. It''s a special assignment from Haruca. It is a joint effort of Haruca and Crescentville. No one else in Crescentville can do it!"


    3


    Hearing their ttering words, Yvette became sad. Her eyes became even redder. But she gently greeted the elders and said, "I''m not feeling well. Excuse me, I''m going back to my bedroom After that, she quickly lowered her head and hurried up the stairs.


    Reba realized immediately that something bad had happened. She put down what she was holding and followed behind


    Yvette.


    After Reba and Yvette left one after the other, everyone else looked at each other in confusion.


    Although their family wasn''t as wealthy as the Nelson family, they were ustomed to thosemon tricks. Everyone realized what was going on right away.


    The woman in a green dress suddenly lowered her voice. "Who would have thought that Mrs. Nelson cares so much about her daughter? She can''t stay calm so quickly?"


    "I think Yvette is just pretending to be sad. Mrs. Nelson is shrewd. I can''t believe she didn''t notice that."


    "You don''t get it. It''s easy to lose perspective when you''re involved. If Mrs. Nelson could have seen through her, she wouldn''t have cared so much about her ado

 Chapter 241

    "It''s bad enough that their real daughter was out there struggling but I heard Yvette dragged thepany''s stock price down several times, embarrassing herself. All of this was under the influence of the real daughter.


    "Doesn''t that prove the real daughter ispetent and truly the heiress of the Nelson residence? How can they not get it?" someone suddenly said, shocking everyone else.


    Thankfully, no maid of the Nelson family was around them. Someone said, "Lower your voice! The whole Nelson family is acting like they''re under a spell. They only care about Yvette."


    The previous person looked nervous. She patted her chest and said, "Exactly. They hate their real daughter believing she did it on purpose. If they know what you just said, they''d be furious! Okay, okay, I won''t say anything more!" Yvette''s grand-aunt said with a serious face, "Alright, this is their own business. We shouldn''t get involved in it. Let''s continue to fold the paper flowers!"


    Reba followed Yvette upstairs to her bedroom. When she reached the door, she heard Yvette sobbing inside. Reba''s heart sank. She pushed the door open immediately. "Yvette, who bullied you?"Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Yvette was shocked. She looked surprised and hurriedly wiped away the tears from her face. She said, flustered, "Mom, no...* Reba said, "No?"


    Reba took Yvette''s hands and noticed


    eyes were swollen. She obviously had tried very hard. She was heartbroken. "Why are you still trying to keep it from me?"


    Yvette sobbed until she finally broke down. She threw herself into Reba''s arms and cried, "Why? Felix must hate me. That''s why he left me and became Lonely Bird''s assistant.


    "Felix doesn''t want to help me. I don''t know anything. No one else wants to team up with me. What should I do, Mom? I don''t want to be on the show anymore. Can I quit it?"


    She poured out all her grievances. Reba found the most important thing hearing her muddled words. "What? Felix is Lonely Bird''s assistant?"


    Yvette nodded tearfully. "Yes." Reba said furiously, "Outrageous! Nelson is going to work as an assistant? How dare they! I''m calling Kevin right now."


    "Don''t. Mom." Yvette quickly stopped her. "Mr. Jones is not involved in it. Don''t me it on him. It was Felix''s choice. He insisted on it."


    Yvette cried softly, "Felix admires Dr. Lonely Bird a lot. He finally got a chance to be around her. He wants to be closer to Dr. Lonely Bird. I understand it.


    "Actually, everything makes sense. Since Felix joined the show, he''s been very interested in everything about Dr. Lonely Bird. The first day Dr. Lonely Bird arrived at the hospital, she was misunderstood by a patient.


    "Felix wanted to help her out even though he didn''t know any self-defense skills at all. His hands are for writing and experiments yet he''s willing to risk his life for her."


    Yvette said with a trembling voice, feeling sad. "There was also a time during a group outing when Felix sat next to Dr. Lonely Bird and chatted happily with her. It was the first time I ever saw Felix so interested in a girl. "Even when Dr. Lonely Bird walked away, Felix couldn''t take his eyes off her. He''s really into Dr. Lonely Bird!"


    As she spoke, tears flowed down her face even more uncontrobly. She couldn''t help but cover her face and cry again, "Felix chose to work for Dr. Lonely Bird. I don''t me him. I''m just a little sad that Felix chose her over me."


    Q


    Hearing this, Reba looked no longer shocked. She only looked angry. She thought her daughter was innocent and kind-hearted. She sounded like she believed Felix''s kindness to Lonely Bird all stemmed from admiration. But Reba thought it was actually something different. She was surprised that Felix actually had fallen in love with Lonely Bird.


    She thought, ''How could my son, outstanding and promising, love a doctor with an unknown background? Although she is Matthew''s apprentice, it is uneptable!''


    Thest time they met Lonely Bird was because of Yvette''s illness. A patient would naturally admire and respect a highly skilled doctor. But now as a mother, Reba couldn''t allow her son to love such an arrogant and rude woman! Reba looked fierce as she expressionlessly wiped the tears from Yvette''s cheeks. She said lightly, "I''ll handle it."


    Yvette was startled. "Mom? No, please. I''ve already disappointed Felix once. I can''t make him dislike me even more. Please, Mom, don''t talk about it with Felix."


    Yvette''s pleading showed how much she valued her bond with Felix. Reba became angrier thinking that Felix was foolish.


    Yvette was so heartbroken yet he waspletely focused on another woman and even volunteered to be her servant. Reba thought a Nelson could never engage in such disgraceful things.


    Reba gentlyforted Yvette with a cold glint flickering in her eyes. "Sweetheart, don''t worry, I won''t say anything to Felix.


    In her past life, Shakira only gave advice to Felix through emails. She never had direct interactions with him about work.


    Felix, an arrogant genius, always looked down on Shakira and never treated her as his sister. He only pretended to care about her when he wanted her to donate a kidney to Yvette. That was the only time when he showed her a little bit of


    concern.


    This time, Felix volunteered to work for her as her assistant. It was the first time Shakira had experienced such thoughtful consideration from Felix.

 Chapter 242

    3


    96%1 +5


    Sean was taken aback by Shakira''s cold and impatient voice. "Boss, who made you so nervous?"


    Shakira exhaled deeply. "It''s nothing." Sean found it strange and instinctively looked around in the hallway before entering the room and shutting the door behind.


    Sean said, "I was nearby for a business meeting. I thought I''d drop by to see how everything goes with you."


    Shakira was focused on writing a report. "I''m off duty now."


    Sean said, "I know. That''s why I stopped by to pick you up." Shakira wasn''t buying it at all.


    Shakira instantly saw through his sneaky trick. "You want to get into my ce, huh?"


    Sean blinked guiltily. "No! I totally respect you. I promise I will just give you a ride. Without your permission, I won''t step inside your house!"


    Shakira said, "Okay then." While they were chatting, she finished her report, uploaded it, and turned off herputer.


    She stood up, packing up her bad, "Let''s go."


    Sean said, "What? Hey! Wait for me!" He was so regretful and quickly caught up with her, thinking he''d find a way to fix everything.


    The Haruca Hospital''s parking lot was totally jammed in the afternoon. The cars barely moved. Sean parked the car outside and asked Shakira to wait for him outside the building of traditional medicine. He would drive the car there. Not long after Sean left, a car slowly pulled over in front of Shakira. She looked up, confused, and saw a pair of eyes in the rearview mirror after the window was rolled down.


    Reba acted like a poised and graceful wealthydy. "Dr. Lonely Bird, we see each other again. Can I have a word with you privately?"


    Though it was a question, Reba looked like she was hostile toward Shakira.


    Shakira knew exactly why she was here. She sneered. She thought, ''Felix''s an idiot. He said he''d exin it to Yvette but Yvette stillined it to Reba.


    "Tsk, Reba really dotes on her precious daughter. It''s been only a few hours. She even came here in person. Such a loving mother!''


    Shakira showed no emotional change. She refused. "It''s not convenient now."


    Reba was speechless. She never expected Lonely Bird to disregard her so tantly. She had already nned how to deal with Lonely Bird on her way here. But now, she was stunned with her eyes wide open in shock. With many patients and healthcare workers looking at them out of curiosity, Reba instinctively leaned back, worried that she might be recognized.


    She gritted her teeth, clearly on the verge of losing her temper.


    She said in a low voice angrily, "This is how you treat me? Don''t think you can do whatever you please just because Matthew


    is supporting you. This is Crescentville. You will suffer the consequences if you dare to mess with a Nelson!"


    Shakira knew she was suggesting something. She looked intently at Reba, who was hiding in the car looking furious.


    She suddenlyughed and murmured, "So that''s how Yvette told everything to you."


    Kis


    13, 96%


    Reba became alert. She extremely hated Lonely Bird at that moment. "This has nothing to do with Yvette. You''re so arrogant. You pretend to be aloof while secretly seducing my son. Now, you even want to me it on someone else!" Shakira crossed her arms andughed coldly. She said disdainfully, "Rx. Not a lot of people are interested in your children actually."


    Reba didn''t believe her at all. She thought Shakira was too proud.


    She looked at Shakira more disdainfully. "No need to say that. My daughter-inw must be well-mannered and from a prestigious family. No way Felix will marry an arrogant woman with a dubious background. Give up!" Suddenly, Felix shouted, "Mom!" He stayed longer in the lounge today, frustrated because of Lonely Bird''s coldness toward


    him.


    He didn''t expect to see Lonely Bird when he stepped out. He couldn''t help but speed up and then he heard Reba''s words, which made his face turn sullen instantly.


    He rushed to his mother''s car and shouted at her, for the first time in his life, "How could you say that to Dr. Lonely Bird?"


    He quickly said very humbly and apologetically to Shakira, with his face turning pale, "I''m so sorry, Dr. Lonely Bird. I didn''t expect my mom to misunderstand us. I''m truly sorry."


    He never expected that Reba would make things worse before he made Lonely Bird forgive him!


    Reba couldn''t believe her eyes when she watched her son gravel to a woman, who defied her. She was filled with rage instantly.


    Ignoring everything else, she angrily dashed out of the car and grabbed Felix by the cor. Ovee with anger and frustration, Reba shouted at him, "Why are you apologizing to her? What did I say wrong? Look at you! You''re totally a mess!" Reba was heartbroken. She tightened her grip on Felix''s arm. "Wake up, my son! You''re a star, even far out of reach for some rich girls. How can you be so foolish?"


    "What is so special about her medical talent? She''s Matthew''s student. So what? It''s all just smoke and mirrors! To ordinary people, she might be precious. But to us, she''s nothing!


    "Remember when Fiona framed her? Except for Matthew and the producers, who else supported her? Once Matthew is gone, no one will support her and she will be a burden to you, don''t you get it?"


    In a fit of rage, Reba said these rude words and it almost drove Felix crazy.


    He instinctively turned to Lonely Bird. Unsurprisingly, he saw a sullen face. His heart immediately sank.


    He had a feeling that Lonely Bird would never forgive him.


    Not far away from them, Yvette was hiding, watching the mother and son having a fight. A satisfied smile appeared on her face.


    Since Felix didn''t love her anymore, she didn''t want him to stay in the Nelson residence to share the inheritance with her. Felix slowly pushed Reba''s hands away, finding her both absurd and shameless.


    He said coldly, "I''m rough and disgraceful. Dr. Lonely Bird is out of my league. I never even thought I was good enough for her. How could you think it''s her fault?"


    Reba thought Finn had lost his mind. "What did you just say


    Suddenly, Sean said, "Are you deaf because you''re too old? Your son admitted that he knew he was not good enough forFrom N?velDrama.Org.


    10


    Sun, NOV TU


    Lonely Bird."


    Sean, who showed up out of nowhere, leaned against the hood of a Ferrari and grinned mischievously. His handsome face was full of sarcasm and mockery.


    He added, "Even the future head of the Nelson family. Finn is not good enough for Lonely Bird. The Nelson family is living on your past sesses. How dare you say something like that?"


    Sean elegantly walked to Shakira, reaching out to her respectfully. He looked into her eyes. "If Lonely Bird nods, she''d be Yonder Digital''s boss. The Nelsons are living on past glory, about to be kicked out of the major five families. How did you have the

 Chapter 243

    Shakira couldn''t stand Sean showing off like this, but seeing Reba almost fuming, she knew that this tactic was certainly effective. Shakira put her hand in his, and Sean raised her hand even higher, proudly sharing their happiness. Felix stood there watching,pletely lost in thought.


    Seeing how Sean admired Lonely Bird, Reba got angrier. Besides, Sean even openly humiliated the Nelson family right in front of her. Reba was about to burst with anger.


    Seeing Felix looking heartbroken and defeated, Reba felt so suffocated that she almost passed out. She was angry but more disappointed.


    Sean openly belittled the Nelson family and looked down on Finn, but as a member of the Nelson family and Finn''s brother, Felix didn''t even try to retort.


    Reba was so furious that she gritted her teeth and yelled, "Sean! Are you going to be against our Nelson family?!"


    Sean didn''t answer her. He took out his phone andmanded the person on the other end, "Cancel all the coborations with the Nelson family. From now on, Yonder Digital willpete in every project rted to them!"


    He hung up decisively and raised an eyebrow at Reba whose face darkened. He humiliated her without hesitation.


    Reba was absolutely furious. As the hostess of the Nelson family, she was used to peopleplying with her. She had never been treated like this before.


    Reba said, "Alright, Sean. You said it yourself. Don''t regret it afterward!"


    She couldn''t stay any longer. After warning Sean, she stormed into the car, mmed the door, and yelled at the hauffeur, "What are you waiting for?!"


    The chauffeur was startled and quickly started the car. Reba, who hadn''t settled in yet, fell on the back seat as the car sped away. People present could still hear her cursing as they drove off.


    Sean was so proud. He puffed up his chest, winked, and bragged to Shakira, "How was it? I was awesome, wasn''t I?" Thinking of Reba''s furious yet helpless expression, Shakira felt much better. She smiled slightly and said, "A little bit." Even though it was just a smallpliment, it meant a lot to Sean. It had been ages since Shakirast praised him. His trip today was definitely worth it.


    Shakira shook her head with a smile. Then she noticed that Felix was still standing there like a statue, and her smile faded. She turned toward the Ferrari and said, "Let''s go."


    Sean nced at Felix, shook his head, and left with Shakira.


    As the car started, Sean noticed, through the rearview mirror, that Felix was watching them from a distance. He tutted and said, "What''s wrong Felix? Has he really been impressed by your talent?"


    Suddenly, Sean chuckled and said, "s, when Felix finally finds out that his most admired Lonely Bird is his own sister whom he''s been ignoring, he''ll surely kick himself!"


    Shakira didn''t reply. In her past life, she paid the price with her own life. Making them regret wasn''t enough at all.


    Shakira didn''t give Sean any address. He drove to the Easke Valley Estate and stopped in front of the vi that he had arranged for Shakira.


    Shakira opened her eyes. It was the first time in two lifetimes that she came to this residence. Although no one lived there, Chapter 243


    themunity caretaker would routinely maintain it.


    The vi looked very clean from the outside and showed no signs of anyone living there.


    Sean didn''t give it much thought. He just watched Shakira remove her disguise as Lonely Bird and then unbuckle her seatbelt.


    Sean couldn''t hold back any longer and said, "Shakira, can''t I just get in and pet the kittens?"


    He quickly pointed to the trunk and said, "I even brought some snacks and toys for the kittens. I really want to give these to them myself!"


    Shakira smiled softly and said, "Maybe next time. I''ll invite you. As for the snacks and toys..."


    Under Sean''s pleading gaze, Shakira mercilessly refused, "I''ll deliver them for you and send you some short videoster."


    Sean covered his chest, feeling heartbroken.


    In the end, Shakira stood by the gate and stared at Sean, so Sean could only leave.


    Once the Ferrari was out of sight, Shakira gathered her belongings, walked out of the yard of the vi, and headed deeper into the Easke Valley Estate.


    At night, after washing up, Shakira routinely gave Walter an acupuncture session. Then she sat cross-legged next to him and started scrolling through her phone.


    Waltery on the bed with his face resting between his arms. He turned his head and quietly watched her.


    His gaze was so intense and focused that Shakira couldn''t ignore it at all.


    She crawled over, picked up his phone from the nightstand, ced it in his hand, and said, "Here, enjoy yours."


    Walter raised an eyebrow, feeling speechless. "When did I ever say I wanted to use the phone?"


    Shakira blinked innocently. "If you''re not bored, why are you staring at me?"Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Walter said, "Why can''t I stare at my own fianc¨¦e?"


    "Alright, alright. Feel free to do so." Shakira joked, raising her finger to point at herself, "Mr. Lopez, do you want to see my left side or my right side? Let me adjust for you so you can have a good look." She was just joking, but Walter really began to observe her closely. After pinching her chin and carefullyparing her cheeks, Walter pretended to be serious and said, "The right side. It looks fleshier." Shakira widened her eyes in disbelief. "Are you serious?"


    Walter flicked her forehead gently and said, "Of course... not. I''m just teasing you."


    It seemed that he really got bored.


    Shakira pouted andy down on the bed like him. But her head was facing him, so they were looking at each other face to face.


    Walter smiled warmly. Then Shakira suddenly said, "Walter, are you thinking of giving up?"


    He was slightly surprised, and then his smile gradually faded.


    He said, "Why do you ask?"


    ON


    "I don''t know. It just popped into my head." Shakira shook her head. "Ever since Mr. Goodman said he couldn''t heal your legs, you''ve never said anything when we do all the acupuncture and herbal baths every day. "I''m just curious if you''ve already given up on yourself, and maybe you don''t even want to continue the treatment anymore."


    Walter stared at her deeply and said, "If I didn''t want it, I would have let you take charge of everything all this time."


    Shakira instinctively replied, "Could it be that you just don''t want me to be disappointed as well?"


    Walter was speechless.


    He thought, ''She''s really good at finding excuses for me.''

 Chapter 244

    Walter''s expression didn''t change. He said, "No, I wouldn''t think like that.


    Suddenly, Shakira leaned in close, identally bumping his nose with hers. She said, "I don''t know why, but I have a feeling you and Mr. Goodman are keeping something from me." Back then, she hadn''t thought much about it. But recently, Walter had been cooperating with her treatment and showed neither resistance nor emotion, so she found it quite strange. She thought, ''Why''s he so calm?


    ''Has he convinced himself? Or is there another reason?''


    Walter just let her observe him, looking honest.


    After staring at him for a long while without gaining anything, Shakira had to give up.


    She rolled to the other side,y on her back, and stared at the ceiling.


    Seeing that Shakira seemed to be dejected, Walter slightly raised his eyebrow with mixed emotions in his eyes.


    He reassured her, "Don''t be too discouraged. Maybe your method will work in the end."


    Shakira turned her face toward him and looked at him with hope gleaming in her eyes. She said, "Really? Do you really believe in me?"


    Walter curled his finger to tap her nose and said, "If I don''t believe you, who will I believe?"


    Shakira said, "Great! Then starting tomorrow, we''ll try a few more acupuncture points. Who knows, it might work!"


    Shakira showed a triumphant smile, revealing her dimples.


    She said, "I''ve been struggling with how to bring this up to you. Those acupuncture points are on the upper body, and it might be pretty ufortable. But since you agreed, I''ll go ahead without holding back!" Walter was speechless.


    He thought, ''Alright, this cunning fox was just setting me up.''


    *****


    At the Nelson residence. Reba threw a tantrum in the car, and just as she got home, she saw Cody and Finn returning from outside. One looked sullen, and the other looked worried.


    Reba''s heart skipped a beat. She thought of Sean''s call. Then she quickly went to Cody and asked, "Did something happen to thepany?" Cody''s expression got even worse. He said, "You''ve known it, too? Sean Reynolds that damn bastard!"


    Reba''s heart sank hard as she heard that name.


    Finn exined in a low voice, "Just a few hours ago, Sean suddenly announced that he would no longer coborate with our Nelson Group. "People from Yonder Digital not only pulled out of previous coborations but also said that they would meddle in any


    business we Join from now on


    Cody said, "What the hell is wrong with Sean? Thest issue was already over. Why is he targeting us again all of a sudden?" C


    He was so angry that he kicked the carved wooden table next to him.


    However, this solid, hundred-pound wooden table really wobble. Then the priceless porcin vase, passed down for generations, suddenly fell to the ground. With a crash, it shattered into pieces.


    Reba was so shocked that she covered her mouth.


    Cody''s facepletely darkened.


    In an instant, everyone held their breath, not daring to make a sound.


    The loud and sharp noise even startled Selena, who had been resting quietly in her room, and she rushed out to see what was happening.


    When she saw the scene, her knees went weak, and she almost passed out.


    She cried and cursed, "Come on! This is the vase left by your great-grandfather, representing our Nelson family''s prosperity and harmony! Which bastard smashed it?!" Cody''s expression froze. He stiffly instructed his butler, "Go find a restoration expert and see if it can be repaired."


    Selena''s sobbing paused, and she didn''t know what to say. She pointed at Cody with trembling fingers from the upstairs railing. She was clearly furious.


    Clenching his fists, Cody said, "Finn, go get someone to look into that."


    Before Finn could reply, Reba, scared to hide it any longer, blurted out the entire story.


    After hearing that, Cody got furious.


    He said, "Sean''s really gone too far!"


    Reba felt a bit guilty. She said, "This is my fault. If I hadn''t been so impulsive, I wouldn''t have provoked Sean."


    Selena was saddened by the smashed vase, and hearing about Nelson Group being pressured made her even more upset.


    She said, "Don''t reveal our problems in public! If Felix has done something wrong, can''t it be handled at home instead of causing a scene outside?


    "Even if Lonely Bird came from a tough background, Mr. Goodman is still around. Are you deliberately causing trouble for our family?"


    Reba lowered her head embarrassedly.


    Cody, though unwilling to criticize his wife, still couldn''t offerforting words once he thought of thepany''s problems.


    He was really furious.


    Suddenly, Yvette dashed out and stood in front of Reba. She said, "Grandma, Dad, me me if you need to.


    "If I hadn''t told Mom about Felix''s matter, she wouldn''t have gone to see Lonely Bird, and wouldn''t have encountered Sean. It''s all my fault. Hit me instead!"


    ¦¬¦©¦¯¦­,


    Reba said, "Yvette....


    She felt deeply moveil as she watched her daughter stand up to protect her without hesitation.


    Reba said, "No, this isn''t your fault, Yvette. You don''t need to speak up for me."


    Selena said. "Enough!"


    Seeing them defending each other, Selena got a bit annoyed. She said, "Things havee this far, so what''s the use of ming you two? We shoulde up with a n to handle Sea''s attack!" Selena struck the ground hard with her cane. After the vase was shattered, she couldn''t help but feel anxious.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    She said, "What a disaster! The vase handed down from our ancestors is broken. This is an ominous sign! Everything has been smooth in our family for the past 18 years, but this year... Reba''s expression changed slightly. She gritted her teeth in frustration and rned, "It''s all because of Shakira that jinx! Our family has been in trouble since she showed up!" Selena''s face turned cold, and she mumbled to herself, "No, I have to choose a day to visit the master to figure out how we can clear away the bad luck surrounding our family!" Cody''s eyes flickered when he heard that. With a serious expression, he was lost in thoughts.


    By the end of the year, Lago finally got his newpany up and running, and the factory was ready to go.


    This time, Lago was full of energy. He asked Gideon to hire a group of employees, nning to let them boost production during the New Year.


    Gideon hesitated. "Mr. Smith, isn''t that a bit too rushed?"


    Str


    Lago said, "Gideon, relying on luck alone isn''t enough in business. The key is and execution. We have to seize every opportunity!"


    Lago looked at thepany that was finally on track. Although it was just a small factory for now, he had great ambitions. Soon, this ce would certainly expand and be much bigger.


    He patted Gideon''s shoulder and said sincerely, "I''ve already made all the ns. For the first batch, we''ll make fifty thousand units without worrying about the costs.


    "We''ll distribute them for free to gain some publicity and build a reputation. We need to make a loud impact with our first


    move!


    "Of course, we also need a backup n. I''ve already talked to a few clients, so we''ll test the waters and see how they respond. If the feedback is good, we can proceed with official coborations." Gideon looked at Lago with admiration and said, "Mr. Smith, you have such vision and careful nning. I''ve been too narrow-minded!"


    Lago was feeling a bit full of himself. "Hahaha, young man, you still have a lot to learn, Just stick with me and work hard. You''ll achieve great things one day as well!"


    Gideon said, "Sure!"


    Gideon grinned widely.


    D Chapter 241


    After Reba caused a stene, Shakira thought Felix would leave To her surprise, the next day he acted like nothing had happened and continued working as her medical assistant:


    Shakira didn''t want to pay attention to him. With the holidays approaching, she was busy at the hospital and spent her free time rushing to her studio, working from morning until night to finish Walter''s birthday gift.


    As the days went by, finally, Shakira finallypleted herst day of appointments at Haruca Hospital before the holiday. She thanked her department and the show crew with an afternoon tea and then left the hospital early. Tonight, she was flying with Walter to Silverwave Bay to start their vacation.

 Chapter 245

    When Shakira returned to the Easke Valley Estate, Levi had carefully organized everything and was waiting for her to join them. Walter had asked Veiled Vine to deliver two pieces of roasted beefsteaks to feed Shakira on the way. Because of Walter''s special status, the airline manager personally greeted them at the airport parking lot. They took a small vehicle through a private passage, breezing through security in less than 15 minutes to reach the VIP lounge. The entire lounge was surrounded by two groups of security. Odier VIP passengers thought that someone important hade to the airport, so they all began taking photos and videos to post online. With security personnel surrounding them, they discreetly entered the innermost luxurious suite. It was Shakira''s first time discovering this exclusive area-a perfectly formed mini top-tier club room. There were wall-to-wall wine racks and an oversized smart screen seamlessly built into the wall, which could also show a view of the room behind.


    The screen offered service options like a private cinema, virtual meetings, luxury shopping with models trying on designer brands, live cooking by a Michelin chef, and so on. Everything was extravagant here. Someone said, "Oh, is this Ms. Nelson''s first time here?" Only then did Shakira notice a few people sitting on the leather sofa in the corner of the suite.


    She thought, ''It makes sense that Benji is here, but what are Kyle, Calton, and Gavin doing here?''


    Shakira blinked, curiously turned to Walter, and asked, "Will their annual parties be held at Silverwave Bay too?"


    Gavin chuckled. He answered Shakira with a charming smile, "Our own annual parties can''t be as entertaining as Lopez Group''s."


    Shakira was puzzled.


    Calton grinned mischievously and said, "Lopez Group''s annual party guarantees at least 3,000 in cash as a prize, and the grand prize is a property in any neighborhood of Crescentville, fully renovated, no limit. "How can we miss such a great chance to benefit from Lopez Group?"


    Shakira was stunned.


    Kyle candidly said, "Walter hasn''t traveled out of state for a long time, and we''re a little worried."


    Shakira nodded. "I see. But I still feel what they said was true."


    They all burst intoughter.


    Gavin chimed in, "There''s still a bit of time before boarding, and the Michelin chef here is quite good. Ms. Nelson, you should try it."


    Shakira caressed her stomach with a little regret and said, "I''ve eaten roasted beefsteak on the way here."


    Calton gasped in disbelief and blurted out, "Wait, you ate on the way? Did you eat them in Walter''s car?"


    Shakira nodded. "Yeah."


    Seeing her casual expression, Calton was stunned. In the end, he gave Shakira a thumbs up. They were quite close, and they all knew about Walter''s rules.


    His obsession with cleanliness was extreme. Taking his car was already a challenge, not to mention eating there.


    They knew Waler had rarely fallen in love, but they didn''t expect him to change so drastically. The woman who could tame Walter truly deserved their admiration. Shakira pretended to give Walter a reproachful nce as if she were saying. If I had known there was a great chef here, those pigeons could''ve waited till we got back Walter bluntly dismissed her thought. The chef was a foreigner is food doesn''t fit your taste.


    Shakira immediately gave up. "Alright, pigeons are still the best


    Walter raised an eyebrow and said with a yful smile. Just the pigeons?"


    Shakira gave Walter several yful pats on the shoulders, trying to tter him. "You''re better than those pigeons!"


    Walter slightly narrowed his eyes, clearly enjoying thepliment.


    Just then, Walter''s phone rang. He moved aside to take the call. Shakira took the opportunity to check her phone and quickly sent a message.


    She checked the time and said, "There''s still half an hour before boarding. I''m stepping out to grab something and will be right back."


    After telling Brian, she rushed out quickly


    Everything happened so fast. Calton turned to Gavin and asked in confusion, "I''m sorry, were they showing off just now?"


    With a knowing look, Gavin nodded. "Yes, they showed off in front of us and then left."


    Calton said, "Holy shit! I never thought I''d have a chance to see Walter showing off his affection. Life is dramatic indeed!"


    Benji wagged his finger and said, "Oh, this is just the start. You''ll see a lot afterward."


    Calton said, "Alright, I can''t wait to see what else willpletely amaze me!"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Calton was absolutely thrilled, eager to see how Walter would show off his rtionship.


    When Walter finished his call and came back, the airline manager came over to announce boarding. That was when he noticed Shakira was missing, and Brian quickly exined why.


    Walter frowned, and his expression instantly turned cold. He said, "Why didn''t you follow her? What if she was stopped and couldn''t get in?"


    Then he called Shakira. To his surprise, the line was busy.


    Walter tried calling three times with a nk expression but didn''t get through.


    Brian immediately lowered his head, feeling regretful now. "I''ll go find her right away."


    Kyle said, "I''ll go."


    He stood up willingly. "Airport management is strict. I have a security pass, so it''s easier for me. You guys board the ne first. Don''t miss it."


    The airline manager quickly joined in, "Are you talking about thedy who arrived with Mr. Lopez? I''ll have the ground st look for her!"


    Walter''s expression was sullen. He said, "Sure."


    Since Shakira disappeared, Walter''s face was so sullen that no one dared to speak to him casually,


    BG.


    The airline manager was too scared to even breathe, fearing that one mistake could offend these distinguished guests and ruin his career.


    45


    They were the first to board the ne and sit in the VIP cabin. The manager personally prepared slippers, towels, and other amenities, drew the curtain, and gently reminded them, "We''ll shirt boarding passengers in three minutes, so it might get a bit noisy. Seeing how frightened the manager was, Calton kindly replied, "We know. Thank you."


    The manager said, "Thank you, Mr. Jennings."


    Walter didn''t say anything. When he heard other passengers stan boarding, he suddenly thought of sormething and opened the curtain.


    Then the passing passengers couldn''t help but nce over, especially the female ones. They were all amazed by Walter''s handsome appearance but were also put off by the cold aura around him, so no one dared to approach and disturb him. Seeing this, Calton and the others also opened their curtains, allowing the passing passengers to view the entire first-ss section. Benji even greeted a cute little kid passing by.


    Walter kept looking out the window. When he noticed a figure approaching, the coldness around him lessened.


    He turned his head and said in a reproachful but not angry tone. "Why didn''t you let..."


    He suddenly stopped talking.


    Walter stared at Berry, who was approaching with an infatuated look on her face, and his expression turned cold again.


    Berry said, "Mr. Lopez, what a coincidence! Are you flying to Silverwave Bay as well?"


    With a sweet voice, Berry acted cute to Walter. Her eyes and heart were all burning with excitement.


    While waiting in line to board, she overheard the pretty flight attendants ahead discussing that there was an extremely distinguished passenger in the first-ss section with an empty seat beside him. They were all curious about who would be sitting next to such an impressive


    man


    during the journey.


    Berry was curious about who could be so attractive to make these usually high-standard flight attendants so fascinated. When she spotted Brian sitting in the front row, she got excited at once.


    She felt that the empty seat that those flight attendants wanted to sit in was just waiting for her.


    Walter stayed silent, but Berry didn''t feel awkward at all. She greeted Benji and the others as if they were close, "Mr. Benji Lopez, Mr. Jennings, Mr. Clifton, you''re all here! That''s wonderful. I was worried I''d have to fly alone." Then Berry said to the flight attendant who was staring at her with surprise and envy arrogantly, "My seat is 38B. I''ll take this one instead."

 Chapter 246

    The flight attendant, who had been nning to take this seat after takeoff, flushed under Berry''s disdainful gaze but could only nod in agreement. Walter frowned immediately, but before he could speak, Calton, seated opposite, stood up first. This yboy showed a charming and mischievous smile to the flustered flight attendant thoughtfully. His beautiful eyes stunned her. He said, "No rush to change seats"


    After flirting with the beautiful flight attendant, Calton leisurely furned to Berry. This time, his seemingly gentle smile turned a little sullen.


    People who weren''t familiar with him all thought he was easygoing, but actually, Calton was not someone to be trifled with.


    Last time, Berry used him to find out about Walter''s whereabouts, and Calton remembered her for it. Calton nced at Walter to check his reaction and noticed his annoyed expression at Berry''s presumptuousness. Feeling assured, Calton decided to take action. Berry was still looking down on Calton for flirting with the flight attendant. When he suddenly turned to her, she hadn''t changed her expression yet, so she quickly looked away.


    Just thinking about how Calton had deliberately lost a game and made her vomit all nightst time made her frightened.


    Calton sneered and said, "Ms. White, since you''re kinda rted to Kyle, you should know that people like us don''t usually flymercial."


    Not sure what he was nning, Berry cautiously thought before nodding. "I know, which is why I''m so surprised to see you all here."


    As she spoke, she shot another intense nce at Walter. "Especially you, Mr. Lopez.


    "Actually, I nned to book first ss too, but I found that all the seats were sold out, so I settled for regr. I never expected to run into you guys. It''s such a small world."


    The flight attendant murmured softly, "But we still have two first-ss seats avable. You can upgrade..."


    Hearing this, Berry felt really embarrassed. The truth was, this trip to the Silverwave Bay was a vacation for Yvette''s family, and she had just tagged along for fun.


    But Yvette didn''t buy her a ticket, and Berry''s parents said it was a waste of money and suggested she stay home. So, Berry used her allowance to buy a ticket and chose the night flight because it was cheaper.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    But she quickly calmed down and said casually, "Really? I didn''t notice when I booked it. Anyway, since I''ve switched my seat, it doesn''t matter anymore."


    Calton chuckled and reminded her, "Not yet, Ms. White. You''re getting ahead of yourself."


    Berry frowned, growing more annoyed with Calton. She thought ''How can the future heir of the Calton family be so petty just because I tricked him once? Could he even handle the Calton family''s business for long with that attitude? ''After I start dating Mr. Lopez, I''ll definitely warn him to stay away from such a narrow-minded brat!''


    Seeing Berry keeping silent, Calton raised an eyebrow, crossed his arms, and continued, "People like us with private jets showed up here at night. Do you know why?"


    Calton looked at her confused expression and shot her a sarcastic grin.


    He said, "Because Mr. Lopez was waiting for his girlfriend to finish work. And now it''s toote to allow private nes to get into Silverwave Bay''s airspace, so he has to take a passenger ne with us."


    U8 28 Mon, Nov


    Calton deliberately said that word by word. He enjoyed watching Berry''s expression shift from a shocked one to an embarrassed and jealous one. He couldn''t be more satisfied.


    The flight attendant suddenly realized and said, "So the empty seat next to this gentleman is for his girlfriend? I''m sorry, the airline keeps first-ss passenger information confidential, so we don''t know exactly how many will be flying." After that, she gave Berry a subtle nce.


    Berry''s smile instantly froze. When Calton said that, a name appeared in her mind.


    Shakira!


    She thought, ''Mr. Lopez gave up taking his private jet just to wait for Shakira?


    Are you kidding me?!"


    Berry couldn''t believe it, thinking Calton was ying tricks on her out of spite. She said, "No way. The ne''s about to take off, and no one else has boarded..."


    A voice suddenly sounded, "Sorry, I''m back!"


    Before Berry finished her sentence, Shakira rushed in while panting with a big bag on her body. Kyle got in right behind her.


    Kyle nodded at Walter. "I''ve brought her back."


    Walter responded briefly, "Thanks."


    Shakira stuck out her tongue.


    She didn''t expect the schedule to be so tight. The birthday gift she made for Walter just finished at the studio. When she got off work, she had someone use a delivery service to send it to the Easke Valley Estate. Unexpectedly, the delivery was sent to the wrong address, and Shakira had to rush to find someone to bring it to the airport. It wasted some time, and the luggage had to go through security, so she almost missed the flight. Knowing she was in the wrong, Shakira grabbed her stuff and ran back, thinking up excuses to calm Walter down along the


    way.


    She didn''t know that Kyle almost couldn''t keep up.


    But if it weren''t for Kyle''s special status, they wouldn''t have had to wait longer at security.


    Shakira stepped forward, and other people moved aside to clear a path. Then she finally saw Berry who was sitting next to Walter and staring at her in shock.


    Shakira''s breathing gradually steadied, and then she became expressionless.


    Walter nced at her. He was in a mood, so he turned his head to look out the window and stayed silent.


    Seeing that Walter had no intention of driving her away, Berry quickly decided to stay put and said boldly, "Shakira, you''re going to Bayside as well?"


    Shakira gave her a quick nce and said, "Get up, this is my seat


    Berry was shocked.

 Chapter 247

    After saying that, Shakira went to sit by the window in the third cow. Everyone was confused. They had expected Shakira to kick out the shameless Berry, but instead, she just gave up and went to sit next to Kyle. Berry thought, ''What? She gives up so easily? Looks like she''s sti sensible. Berry was about to burst outughing. But her joy didn''tst long since she soon heard Walter''s cold voice demanding, "Move away!" Berry was stunned. She said, "Mr. Lopez?" As she met his cold a ruthless eyes, she felt a chill rush from her feet to her head.


    Not daring to stay any longer, she quickly got up with her hands nervously grabbing the hem of her clothes.


    She timidly wondered what had upset Walter so much. The next moment, she saw that this ruthless man eagerly wheeled himself over to Shakira''s row.


    Walter smoothly settled into the aisle seat. He noticed that Shakira hadn''t buckled her seatbelt, so he leaned over to help her.


    With a clear sound, Shakira smacked his hand. The sound was so crisp that it made everyone in the first-ss cabin gasp, worried about Shakira. Walter''s restrained anger was like the calm before the storm. However, Walter didn''t hesitate after being hit. He quickly fastened her seatbelt and adjusted its length. Only then did Shakira turn her head and silently stare at him, Walter''s gaze was also intensely fixed on her. After a while, Walter''s tense body suddenly rxed, and he spoke in a deep voice, "I was wrong." His words shocked all the people who were unintentionally holding their breath.


    They thought, ''What the hell? He didn''t get angry and even apologized?!'' Even Calton was stunned. Throughout his life, he had never seen anyone stand up to Walter so boldly, get away unharmed, and even make him apologize. Calton even doubted if he was in a dream. The shocked crowd tried to hear more, but Walter had already leaned in to whisper in Shakira''s ear, leaving their curiosity unsatisfied. Despite that, this couple still made everyone jealous. Kyle couldn''t help but cover his mouth and chuckle.


    Then Kyle nced at Berry, who was standing still, and became aloof again. He said, "I''m not used to sharing a seat." He was implying, "Get back to your economy seat."


    Berry gritted her teeth, feeling so embarrassed. Everyone was staring at her mockingly.


    Berry cursed in her mind. She clenched her fists, took onest nce at Shakira and Walter who were snuggling together, and walked away with frustration.


    With the drama over, the ne was all set to take off. The flight attendant began the safety briefing, and Walter quietly held Shakira''s hand tightly.


    Shakira tried to shake off his hand disdainfully but failed. She rolled her eyes at him and said, "Humph, you realize you were wrong now? Trying to use Berry to upset me? That''s never going to work!"


    Walter pursed his lips. He was known as a decisive big shot, but now he was exining patiently to Shakira in a gentle tone, "I know.


    "I already wanted her to leave before, but when I saw you back, I got upset since you didn''t answer my calls, so I just made the wrong decision out of anger at that moment."


    He even made a sum-up and genuinely reflected on himself, expressing sincere regret. "I won''t do that again. When you''re wrong, I''ll just wait for you to coax me. There''s no use in arguing. It only makes you angry and I suffer a loss."


    <


    Shakira couldn''t believe why she had heard. "What kind of loss did you suffer?"


    Walter said seriously. "If you coaxed me, I could take the chance to ask for something or getpensated. But now it''s turned into my fault, so I''m the one losing out"


    Shakira was speechless. She thought. What a typical greedy capitalist. He can still manage to make it seem like he''s the one suffering a loss under such circumstances.


    Seeing that Shakira was still not willing to talk to him, Walter felt a little helpless. He said, "If you have to get something, just ask Brian to get it." Shakira said, "I didn''t expect to wait so long"


    Shakira took out her phone to switch to airne mode and finally saw Walter''s calls. She said. "I was in a rush going through security, and my stuff was a little messy, so I couldn''t take the calls." Walter nced up at the overheadpartment casually and said, "What''s inside there?" Shakira blinked and answered casually, "Just something a girl needs for a trip to the ind." Walter frowned. Then Calton, who was sitting in front, suddenly popped his head over with a salute to Shakira, and his eyes were filled with admiration and respect.


    He said, "Ms. Nelson, you''re incredible! You''ve managed to tame Walter such a scary beast."


    Calton leaned forward yfully and asked curiously, "Do you have a secret? Can you share it with me so I don''t get controlled in my future rtionships?"


    He was actually teasing Walter. "That''s easy," Shakira raised an eyebrow and said. "Just don''t meet someone like that."


    Calton was momentarily stunned and then burst intoughter. Walter pushed him back into his seat disdainfully.


    Three hourster, the group arrived at Silverwave Bay Airport. A pre-arranged business shuttle was ready to take them to the Silverwave Bay Hotel to check-in.


    Walter and the other men would stay in the presidential suites on the top floor, while Shakira would share a business suite with Xanthe.


    It was already past 2 a.m. Shakira texted Xanthe, who was about to fly over, and told her that she had arrived safely. Then she washed up and fell asleep soon.


    When she walked up naturally, it was already 11 a.m. the next day. Shakira yawned, noticing that Walter had messaged her two hours earlier to ask if she was awake.


    Shezily leaned against the headboard and typed: [I''ve just woken up. Why didn''t you sleep a bit longer?]


    Walter replied: [Had thepany''s annual summary meeting this morning. It''s just finished. What would you like to eat?] Recalling the tips Xanthe had sent her earlier, Shakira texted: [I''ve heard the roast chicken here is pretty good. I''d like to try it.] She thought, ''If it''s good, I''ll learn how to make it and let my masters and Sean try it back home."


    Walter quickly replied: [Okay. Go get ready. We''ll leave in fifteen minutes.] Shakira sent an "OK" and quickly got up to wash up and change her clothes.


    The two of them got into the car and chatted for a while. Shakira soon noticed a gigantic natural stone fence up ahead, -carved with two bold words: Silverwave Church.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Silverwave Church was quite famous in the country, always bustling with visitors. Feeling confused, Shakira asked, "Aren''t we going to eat roast chicken? Why are we going to a church?"


    Walter said casually, "The best roast chicken in the whole Silverwave Bay is at the church." Shakira''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    Meanwhile, the Nelson family, who had arrived early to pay the respects, spent two hours chanting before resting in the back hall after their simple meal.

 Chapter 248

    Heiress''s Return 24Heiress''s Retu


    After standing in front of the meditation room for almost two hours, Yvette felt that her lower legs had bepletely numb. She felt somewhat resentful.


    She saw that Selena and Reba were still softly chanting with closed eyes in front of the room being very cautious. Yvette couldn''t help but lower her head with a slight pout. She thought. What''s the point of doing all this? Nothing canpare to the good fortune I have now. Yvette thought disdainfully, and her eyes were filled with subtle mockery. Just then, Cody said to her, "Yvette,e with me."


    Yvette immediately put on a sweet expression and looked up. "Dad, where are we going?"


    Cody said meaningfully, "I want to introduce you to someone. It''s because of him that we had the chance to be father and daughter."


    Yvette was confused, but she still followed Cody obediently out of the room. They walked through the main hall, headed west, and then entered a small side hall.


    Many people were waiting at the entrance and ncing around. When they saw Cody and Yvette, they took a few curious nces at them.


    Codypletely ignored them and led Yvette into the courtyard. It was freezing on the mountain, and a young man was sweeping away the snow with a broom.


    Cody stepped forward, made a respectful gesture, and said, "Excuse me, is Mr. Bethune inside the hall?"


    The young man bowed politely and said, "Mr. Bethune has a visitor today, so pleasee back another day, sir."From N?velDrama.Org.


    Someone outside the hall shouted to Cody, "Are you also here to seek guidance from Master Norman? Juste out of here and wait with us. Then you may have a chance to meet him. Don''t get in and disturb him."


    Cody snorted quietly, showing disdain for their advice. He thought, ''They''re not qualified to bepared with me at all.


    Cody continued speaking to the young man, "Mr. Bethune only meets guests on the fifteenth of each month. I won''t bother him much. I just need to confirm something with him."


    Cody paused. With pleading eyes, he lowered his voice and said, "Can you ask Mr. Bethune first? Tell him I''ve visited him eighteen years ago, and it was him who gave me advice and helped my family narrowly escape disaster." The young man bowed again but shook his head, "Mr. Bethune has already given instructions. Please, sir, you should leave."


    Cody''s expression changed slightly. He was trying to hold back his anger. He thought, ''How dare a cleaner treat me like this?!"


    Yvette was listening to them. Seeing Cody hold back his emotions, she thought of something.


    Then she stepped a little closer, reached out to tug on the young man''s sleeve, blinked innocently, and pleaded, "Sir, maybe you''re new here and haven''t met us before, right?


    "We''re the Nelsons from Crescentville. My dad is Cody Nelson, the head of our family. He''s an old friend of Master Normal. Could you do us a favor and ask him for us?"


    Yvette felt that she looked fresh and charming today. She was sure that such a young man wouldn''t be able to resist her gentle words. She was eagerly waiting for his cooperation and Cody''s praise.


    To her surprise, the young man''s expression did not change. Heven stepped back, as if avoiding some kind of trouble.


    He said. Thave been managing this side hall for three years and have paid attention to all of Master Norman''s friends. There''vio rond of this man. Please, you two should leave."


    A few giggles came from outside the side hall.


    Someone said. I''ve told you to wait outside, but you didn''t listen How can you expect to fool someone who''s been around Master Norman He''s surely observant and won''t fall for your tricks!"


    Another person said. "Exactly, you''re so stubborn. You''ve been refused three times and still wouldn''t leave. How can people like youe here? Unbelievable!"


    Yvette felt really embarrassed, and Cody''s face also darkened. He angrily raised his hand to point at the young man, clearly intending to reprimand him.


    But after considering, he managed to suppress his anger. He swing his hand and left with a cold face. Yvette lowered her head and quickly walked out after him.


    Shakira really thought Walter was going to take her to eat roast chicken in the church, so she got a bit anxious. She couldn''t help taking out her phone to search if it was allowed to eat chicken in church.


    Fortunately, the car suddenly drove onto a side path, winded through several curves, and finally stopped in front of a house. The house stood halfway up the mountain. Shakira wasn''t sure if this ce still belonged to the church, but when she looked diagonally backward, she could indeed see the imposing building on the mountain peak.


    Walter got out of the car and noticed her hesitating to speak. Remembering what she was searching on her phone earlier, he couldn''t help but chuckle.


    He stopped teasing her. He held her hand with one hand and maneuvered the wheelchair to move along with her.


    He said, "Before the church was established, this house was already here. It''s the first restaurant in Silverwave Bay known for its roast chicken. It has almost a hundred years of history."


    Shakira nodded. "I see."


    They walked inside and then saw a sign with wobbly chalk writing that read "Roast Chicken".


    In a short while, an elderly man with white hair came out, warmly showed them to their seats, and poured them water. Without even asking what they wanted to eat, he turned around and went into the backyard.


    Then Shakira heard some clucks. Soon after, the old man came out with a struggling chicken, which he took to the nearby pond to prepare.


    Shakira was surprised and turned to ask Walter, "Did you order something?"


    Walter said, "This ce only serves roast chicken, nothing else."


    Shakira said, "Oh, I see."


    Seeing her looking around curiously, Walter shared more stories about this restaurant.


    Walter said, "It''s said that a hundred years ago, a young couple disobeyed their parents'' wishes, eloped, and settled here at Silverwave Mountain. "Back then, wild chickens weremon, so after settling down, they started a roast chicken business. Their skills were


    rn 24

 Chapter 249

    Cody was determined to meet Norman, so he decided to wait outside the side ball. Unexpectedly, instead of meeting Norman, he saw Shakiraing out leisurely from inside. Cody got furious at once. He immediately pointed at Shakira and scolded her. Yvette was a little surprised.


    Last night, afternding, Berry sent her a bunch of voice messages, so she knew Shakira was in Silverwave Bay. She just didn''t expect Shakira toe to Silverwave Mountain. Yvette thought, ''Could it be that Shakira has been really unluckytely and came to pray for some help? With this thought, Yvette couldn''t help but smile gloatingly. Seeing the two of them, Shakira tutted in disdain. What a small world. She smirked mockingly and said, "I didn''t know that Silverwave Church belongs to you, Mr. Nelson." Cody didn''t know what to say.


    Shakira ignored Cody''s angry re and sat down in a small pavilion by the garden wall. There were plum trees around, with red blossoms covered in white snow. The mixed fragrance of plums and sandalwood calmed her down. Cody''s face darkened after he got mocked. He turned to the young man who was sweeping snow in the yard and ordered, "What are you waiting for? Drive away those unrted people in case they''d bother Master Norman!" The young man paused and then calmly said, "Thisdy is a guest of Master Norman, Mr. Nelson. Please stay quiet."


    Cody was stunned.


    His eyes widened in disbelief. He thought, ''Shakira is Master Norman''s guest? Our Nelson family has donated nearly 300 thousand dors to the church over the years, yet as the head of the family, I can''t even meet Mr. Bethune in person. ''But Shakira is Master Norman''s guest?''


    The other people waiting on either side couldn''t stand it anymore and started to criticize Cody, "That youngdy has been quiet, while you keep yelling and acting rudely.


    "You think you can act unreasonably just because you''re rich? Aren''t you ashamed of ming others?"


    "Exactly. Everyone is equal here. What makes you so arrogant?"


    Cody couldn''t stand the sarcasm any longer. He angrily stormed over to the pavilion where Shakira was.


    Before Cody could do anything, the young man who was sweeping the snow suddenly moved. He reached Shakira first. He turned slightly to take a defensive stance, and his expression was still calm.


    Feeling frustrated and upset, Cody could only point at Shakira and shout, "You have the nerve to meet Master Norman? You ruthless and scheming bastard! Aren''t you afraid of staining this divine ce and getting karma?"


    Hearing this, Shakira stayed silent. She just raised her cold eyes and nced at Yvette, who was following behind Cody and waiting to see her embarrass herself with a smile.


    Suddenly, Shakira gave a sly smile and spoke in a deep voice, "Indeed, there is someone here who has done many bad thing and deserves retribution."


    Yvette''s heart unexpectedly skipped a beat when she heard that. She instinctively looked at Shakira. Seeing her sly smile, Yvette was scared and quickly hid behind Cody. Her heart was pounding uneasily. She thought, ''What does Shakira mean by that? Has she really known something?''


    Cody''s expression turned sullen and his eyes turned cold. His finger pointing at Shakira shook uncontrobly. He thought, ''If it weren''t for that young man, I would have taught this insolent brat a lesson!" Suddenly, he thought of something and gave a sneer. "Oh, I was just wondering how someone like you could meet Master Norman. So this is your way.


    "You seduced Yvette''s boyfriend at school, and now you eveny hands on a church worker. Shakira, you''re really-


    "Bless you," a distant voice interrupted Cody just as he was about to say some bad words out of anger.


    Cody shivered and paused as if struck by something.


    Everyone turned around at once. Norman had already walked out of the side hall in his red robe. Beneath his white brows were deep, kind eyes, looking gentle yet firm. Norman said, "Words can harm, Mr. Cody. Please choose them wisely.


    It was only then doing Cody realized that he almost said something wrong, and his expression quickly changed.


    Then Cody finally noticed Waltering out from behind Norman. Meeting Walter''s cold eyes, Cody shivered. He suddenly understood why Shakira was here.


    Cody finally realized that he almost made an unforgivable mistake.


    He stammered, "Master Norman, it was all a misunderstanding..


    Then he apologized repeatedly to the church worker, "I''m really sorry for offending you, sir."


    The church worker said seriously, "The person you truly owe an apology to is thisdy, Mr. Cody."


    Cody''s expression froze, but in the end, he had no choice but to apologize to Shakira.


    Shakira didn''t respond at all.


    Cody discreetly clenched his fist. He still remembered why he was here, so he quickly said, "Master Norman, eighteen years ago, I came to seek guidance before my wife went intobor.


    "It was you who helped us out, allowing my family to live in peace and harmony. She..."


    Cody nced at Shakira and reluctantly said, "She''s the daughter my wife gave birth to back then. After she was born, she and our adopted daughter were identally switched at the hospital, and we just found her this year.


    "But since then, our family has faced endless troubles. I hope you can help us find a solution, Master Norman!"


    Hisst words carried a tone of urgent pleading.


    Norman wasn''t surprised to hear that. He shook his head and sighed. "Whether it''s a blessing or a curse, it''s all destiny. Mr. Nelson, if you want to fix things, don''t be stubborn. Restore everything to how it was, and the problem can be solved."


    Cody was slightly taken aback. After he heard what Norman said, his expression instantly becameplicated and sullen. Yvette''s heart skipped a beat. Then she put on a pitiful expression and politely exined to Norman, "Master Norman, it''s not that my dad doesn''t want things to go back to how they were, it''s my sister... He doesn''t have a say in it!"


    She was actually clenching her fists. She thought, ''This damn idiot suggests Cody should take Shakira back? I''ll never allow


    that!''


    Norman pondered for a while and slowly spoke, "Your fate is predetermined. If you wish to change it, you need to do more good deeds to umte merit."


    VIDIL, NOV


    Yvette was shocked.


    Norman''s gaze fell upon her, and Yvette could barely see his eyes, yet the felt as if he was effortryde avent her as if no disguise could deceive him. He scrutinized her very and throughly


    That feeling of beingpletely exposed with nowhere to hide urged over her for a Boot


    Yvette bit her lip hard, and her face turned pale. She didn''t dare to say another word Fortunately, Norman didn''t continue talking. Instead, he turned to Walter and nodded shghely


    He said, "Just follow your heart, Mr. Lopez. You''ll get your answer soon?


    Walter nodded seriously. "Thank you, Master Norman. I will remember your words


    Norman said, "Bless you."


    Norman turned slightly, paused briefly when he faced Shakira, and then turned back into the hall


    Shakira was a bit surprised.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    She felt that Norman smiled at her just now,


    While she was thinking, Walter came over, held her slightly cold hands, and warmed them firmly. He said, "Let''s go


    Shakira said, "Okay."


    Before leaving, Walter shot Cody a cool nce and casually said, "I heard Sean announce that Yonder Digital will take a cu of every project of Nelson Group." Cody''s heart skipped a beat. The next moment, Walter said word by word, "Likewise, Lopez Group will also do the same. and we won''t hold back anything to win!" Walter thought, ''He hurt my woman. How dare he wish for peace and safety?


    ''I won''t allow that!''


    Hearing Walter''s words, Shakira couldn''t help but chuckle softly.


    She thought, "That''s so Walter. He takes revenge on the spot.


    Watching the two leave affectionately, Cody flushed in anger.


    Yvette held Cody and red at Shakira''s back. She gritted her teeth with great jealousy.


    By then, the rest of the Nelson family, who had been waiting for them to return, came over. Seeing them looking so downcast, they were shocked.


    Selena asked, "Weren''t you supposed to meet Master Norman? What happened? Did you meet him?*

 Chapter 250

    Cody gritted his teeth with a sullen face. He was not in the mood to talk. Selena turned to Yvette for answers. With Cody right there, Yvette didn''t dare to y any tricks and exined everything from start to finish cautiously. After hearing everything, Selena took a big step back in disbelief "What did Walter mean? Seeing Yonder Digital suppressing our family, he wants to kick us when we''re down regardless of this bond between our five major families?" The whole family came to Silverwave Mountain to seek blessings, but before they could even leave the mountain, another disaster struck them.


    Even Finn, who was usually calm andposed, couldn''t keep hisposure anymore when he heard that Lopez Group was also entering thepetition. The invisible pressure kept building, making him feel suffocated.


    Felix frowned and said, "What did Mr. Bethune mean by ''restore everything to how it was? Does it mean that we have to bring Shakira back?"


    0000 1:1:0 0 0 0


    As soon as he said that, Cody and Reba shouted angrily together, "No way!"


    Cody gritted his teeth in anger. "That ungrateful brat! Not only does she disrespect her elders, but she also just watches Walter oppose us, even though she knows how many external threats our family is facing right now. I don''t have such an ungrateful daughter!"


    To him, the priorities were the Nelson Group and the family''s interests. Walter''s sudden defiance was triggered by Shakira, and Shakira''s indifferent attitude was something Cody couldn''t stand.


    Reba''s eyes reddened with anger as she shouted, "Mitchell''s fate is still uncertain! How can I live under the same roof as the person who harmed him?!


    "Besides, Mr. Bethune didn''t clearly say that Shakira should return to her position. Maybe he meant we should return our lives before we found Shakira. Yvette is our family''s mascot!"


    Yvette''s lips moved slightly, and then she quietly lowered her head. Listening to the conversation, Selena slightly frowned.


    This time, she didn''t share the same opinion as her son and daughter-inw. Since Norman didn''t say everything clearly, she was cautious about making assumptions. However, she had an inexplicable feeling that it was Shakira who should return to her rightful position. As the family had their own thoughts, that church worker approached with a small wooden box with intricate carvings.


    He respectfully presented it with both hands and said, "Mr. Nelson has contributed generously to our church over the years. Mr. Bethune wants to give you a bracelet that he has consecrated for ten years as a gift.


    "Wearing it brings good luck to kind-hearted people, and it''ll also protect the family."


    The Nelson family was thrilled. Norman was highly esteemed, and anything made by him was priceless. Receiving such a precious item was a great privilege for anyone.


    Cody felt nothing but gratitude now and earnestly said, "Please let Mr. Bethune know how grateful we are. Our family will definitely cherish this gift!"


    He knew head Norman waspassionate and wouldn''t abandon him. He thought of something, turned to look at Yvette, and handed her the wooden box.


    He said, "Yvette, you''re our mascot. With this bracelet on you, it''ll keep you healthy, protect our family, and help Nelson Group ovee tough times!"


    Reba nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Yvette is undoubtedly the rightful owner of the bracelet."


    Finn didn''t care about these matters. Felix''s eyes flicked with some emotions, but he didn''t oppose.


    Yvette was shocked, unable to believe Cody actually gave her such a precious bracelet.


    She thought, ''Cody was right, I''m the family''s mascot. Wearing this fortune-enhancing bracelet will only bring more good luck to the Nelson family and boost the Nelson Group''s busines Yvette looked visibly ttered, but she was actually very smug in her mind. She happily epted it and responded sweetly, "Thank you, Dad. I''ll do my best to help both thepany and our family!" Those words made Cody and Reba very delighted. Even Selena couldn''t help but feel pleased, "This trip isn''t a waste, after all." Cody couldn''t help but feel triumphant. "With Master Norman''s bracelet protecting us, that bastard will never be able to ruin our family!"


    As soon as he finished speaking, there was a snap, and the bracelet Yvette had just put on broke. The beads scattered all over the floor.


    Seeing this, the onlookers who were envious of them receiving Norman''s gift outside the side hall eximed, "That item just broke! This is an ominous sign!"


    "That young girl looked fine. How could she be unable to afford it? Is it because her sins are so heavy that even the bracelet doesn''t want to ept her?" "Maybe their whole family has issues. They''ve just ruined such a treasure. What a waste!"


    The whole family was stunned.


    Yvette thought, ''What kind of junk did that bastard give me? Is he trying to get me into trouble?!'' She was so scared that her face went pale, and her heart pounded wildly.


    When she was in a panic, something suddenly hit her. She pretended to turn on her phone screen, nced at it, and immediately said happily, "Mom, Dad, we''ve got news about Jayden! "He has finished his peacekeeping mission in Helian and ising home today!"


    Reba and Selena were shocked to hear that.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    "What? That brat went to Helian without telling us? It''s having a war there now. It''spletely chaotic and dangerous. What was he thinking?" Reba was so anxious.


    Cody and Finn only got the news from Jayden about two weeks ago. Since idents would happen at any time, he told them in advance.


    At this moment, both of them let out a deep sigh of relief. Cody held Reba and said, "He went there to safely bring our people back. It''s his duty as a soldier. We have to understand him." Reba got even angrier. "You guys all knew that?!"


    "Jayden didn''t want to make Mom and Grandma worried. Thankfully, he''s back safely now," Finn exined.


    "There''s more than that. As the chiefmander, he''s definitely earned himself a second-ss merit afterpleting the task!" Cody felt proud.


    Yvette smiled happily as if she had just snapped out of a daze. "I''ve heard that protective objects might get damaged after shielding their owner from harm, so maybe Jayden''s safe return is a blessing!" Reba epted it at once. "Indeed. As soon as the bracelet broke, Jayden sent Yvette a message saying he was safe. It really


    blessed us!"


    With this reasonable exnation, both Cody and Selena breathe a sigh of relief.


    Selena hadn''t calmed down yet, and her palins were still trembling. "The bracelet breaking is definitely a good omen, not a bad one. A peaceful and united family is more important than anything else!" Cody looked at Yvette with admiration and affection. "Looks like I was right. Returning to the original position meant Yvette. It''s good we gave her the bracelet. If it had been someone else...


    He didn''t even dare to think about that possibility.


    Yvette modestly replied, "It''s because of Jayden''s courage and smarts. I can''t take the credit."


    "You''re always being so considerate of others," Reba said, feeling distressed about Yvette''s quiet efforts.


    Yvette smiled naturally and said, "We''re a family, aren''t we? Why make such distinctions?"


    Cody said, "Haha, Yvette''s right! Let''s go home and get ready to pick up Jayden at the airport!"


    Yvette''s eyes flickered slightly. "Okay!"


    Watching the warm and harmonious scene of the family, Felix pursed his lips slightly. He used to be one of them. Now, standing as an outsider, he only felt a bit strange. He thought, ''Is Jayden''s safety really due to Yvette? After they got into the car, Shakira''s cold hands finally began to warm up. Walter felt guilty. "I shouldn''t have let you wait for me outside."


    Shakira didn''t mind that. When she was living at the Smith residence, Jessie didn''t allow her to use warm water when she was doing housework, iming it was a waste of money.


    During winter nights when she washed bowls, the water was freezing.


    But Shakira was quite surprised. "I didn''t expect you to have a conversation with Master Norman."


    Walter said, "Why?"


    Shakira said, "Well, it''s just that you two don''t seem to be from the same world."


    She thought, ''A devil and a saint. There''s a huge gap between them!"


    Walter noticed her mischievous and cunning expression and could roughly guess what she was thinking.


    He tapped her on the head and said, "I had some confusion, so I asked him for guidance, that''s all."


    "Huh?" Shakira was even more surprised and then leaned closer to him. "What question is so difficult that even you can''t handle it? Do you want me to give you some tips?"

 Chapter 251

    Walter looked into Shakira''s clear and pure eyes, and then his eyes darkened for a second. He said, "It''s not a big deal? Clearly, Walter didn''t want to talk about it.


    He bluntly and assertively changed the subject. "I''ll have a meetingter, and I''ve got two hours before that. What do you want to do? I can join you."


    Shakira pouted but didn''t insist. She said, "Xanthe should arrive at the hotel in about two hours. When we came out, I saw some snacks at the mall downstairs. I''ll grab some and wait for her in the room." Walter said, "Okay."


    After leaving the parking lot, Shakira and Walter took the elevator to the mall. This ce was not only famous for its roast chicken, but the desserts and snacks here were also highly praise.


    Many touristse here for winter vacations, and there are long lines outside many brand stores in the mall.


    Walter motioned at Brian and let them stay back. He just let Shakira push him, and they strolled without any particr direction.


    The mall''s basement level had a food court brimming with local and national snacks. It was asrge as at least three-night markets in Crescentville.


    Although Shakira had recently eaten, the good smells around made her gulp a few times. Walter wasn''t a fan of the chaotic mix of aromas, but seeing Shakira practically glued to the food stalls with her eager eyes, he didn''t mind as much. Suddenly, Walter saw a young couple passing by. The man was enjoying some snacks, while the girl cheerfully ate her dessert.


    She pulled him to another stall to line up for fried chicken and casually passed him the dessert that she hadn''t finished. Walter thought, ''Is this something couples do on dates?'' Then he gently tightened his hold on Shakira''s hand and said, "What do you want to eat?" Shakira sniffed eagerly and said, "Everything looks so delicious, but I definitely Xanthe first, and we can try everything together tonight!"


    y can''t eat all of it right now. Let''s wait for


    Hearing this, Walter felt a bit jealous. He thought, ''I''m right here with her, yet she''s thinking about bringing someone else?'' He couldn''t help but imagine the scene of Shakira and Xanthe sweetly sharing the snacks like a couple.


    Walter said, "No way, she''s a guest. Since she hase all this way, I''ll have Brian set up a nice restaurant for you. Just tell me what you want to eat now, and if you can''t finish it, I''ll help you eat it."


    "What?" Shakira blinked in disbelief. "A lot of these are just snacks and junk food. Are you sure?" Walter said, "Am I really that weak?"


    There was a hint of danger in his tone. Shakira wouldn''t dare underestimate Walter. She giggled and wiggled his finger yfully. "Alright, since you''ve said so, I''ll reluctantly satisfy your request!"


    Shakira didn''t hold back and bought all the new and interesting snacks she could find many of which weren''t avable in Crescentville. As a thoughtful girlfriend, she avoided smelly snacks, in case Walter would beughed at in his afternoon meeting.


    This was the scene: a graceful woman walked ahead with some snacks in her hand, but she kept looking around for the next snack. Behind her was a handsome man in a wheelchair, calm andposed, with ap full of snacks, enjoying them leisurely. 1/3


    JVIDIT, INOV


    Their striking looks and aurs naturally attracted the gaze of many tourists. They discussed, "Look at that couple. They''re so good-looking. Are they celebrities?"


    "Celebrities wouldn''t casually wander around like this. Maybe they''re just good-looking people."


    "Look at that man''s clothes and watch. He''s definitely wealthy and has a high status. The girl seems pretty ordinary, like a college student."


    "That man really loves that girl. See how he takes the snacks she just bought and even eats the part she bit into? No matter how rich or powerful a man is, he still has to cat what his girlfriend doesn''t like." "Wait, what the heck? Isn''t that our boss?"


    "What? Are you saying that''s... Mr. Lopez?"Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    5


    "Yes, he just turned his head and I saw him clearly. It''s Mr. Lopez!! I knew it. Who else besides Mr. Lopez can be so elegant in a wheelchair?"


    "Oh my! Mr. Lopez is dating someone? And he''s eating his girlfriend''s leftovers? How adorable is that! Oh no, it feels so unreal to me."


    "Shall we go say hi? I didn''t even get a good look at Mr. Lopez''s girlfriend. I''d like to take a look!"


    "Are you out of your mind? How dare you disturb Mr. Lopez''s date?"


    "Oh, you''re right. I dare not to do that..."


    They didn''t dare to disturb, but they dared to take pictures and post them on thepany''s chat groups. The news soon reached the team, the department, the whole branch, and then the headquarters. Someone then directly posted a few pictures on thepany''s private site. [Holy shit, I was wondering why this couple looked so familiar. It''s Mr. Lopez!]


    In thements, someone replied with another picture: [Yeah, I''ve also taken a photo. I thought I was dreaming, but it was real...]


    [Wow, looks like they''re at the mall under the hotel? I want to run into our boss on a date, too!]


    [Live update, Mr. Lopez and his girlfriend have just left the foodie district.]


    After taking a whole round, Shakira was so full. She touched her stomach and then bent over to touch Walter''s, feeling instantlyforted. She thought, ''See, no matter how wealthy and good-looking someone is, they''ll still get a little belly after eating too much.'' Shakira let out a satisfied burp. Then she noticed that more and more people were looking at them. She took put it on. Then she handed one to Walter as well.


    out


    She said, "We have half an hour left. Let''s walk it off and then head back."


    a


    mask and


    Walter nced over and happened to catch sight of the couple from earlier. They were in a w machine store, and the girl was cheering the guy on in front of a machine. But clearly, after several attempts, the guy still couldn''t grasp a toy. Walter suddenly said, "Which one do you like? I''ll get it for you." Shakira followed his gaze and saw that store. She thought, ''w machines?"


    This time, she also noticed the couple and suddenly realized something. She chuckled softly and thought, ''Honestly, Walter can be pretty childish sometimes.''


    "Sure, get me a bigger one. I''m not used to sleeping without something to hug," she said without thinking, but then Walter''s


    eyes darkened at once and nced at her deeply


    Shakira realized what she had said. She blushed and exined. Don''t get me wrong. I wasn''t talking about you. It''s just that I''m used to having something to cuddle with recently, so it felt a bit offst night Walter smiled and said in a hoarse and deep voice, "Just a few more days, bear with it."


    Shakira felt like the more she exined, the w

 Chapter 252

    In the past, Walter wouldugh at Benji''s dating tips, but now, his hands that had driven sports cars, managedpanies, and held guns, were putting on a w machine for the first time ever.


    On his first attempt, with his eyes level with the w, he pressed the button down,


    Shakira leaned against the ss and watched closely as well. But even though the w seemed to aim at the toy, it only got half of it and naturally dropped it as it retracted.


    Walter frowned, but quickly adjusted and got ready for his second try.


    Shakira noticed it too and thought about saying something, but then decided it was pointless. Sure enough, on the second attempt. Walter sessfully grasped the toy. He bent down to take it from the machine and handed it to Shakira.


    "Wow! That was fast!" Shakira''s eyes sparkled with admiration and delight. Walter, feeling pleased, smiled and said, "Piece of cake." Holding the toy, Shakira covered her mouth and chuckled


    To prove his skills, Walter directed his focus on other w machines with different games. Before long, Shakira became a human toy collector, and she couldn''t carry them all. The store even provided a pink stroller, which was stuffed to the brim as well. Shakira finally said, "Alright, that''s enough. We can''t take all these homes."


    Walter said, "It''s fine. We''ll take our private jet on our way back. There''s room."


    Shakira said, "Fine." Wealthy people had no worries indeed.


    Their wild actions naturally drew the attention of others. Two well-dresseddies shyly approached them and said, "Sir, you''re so skilled at w machines. Could you help us get a toy too?"


    The other one said, "Yeah, we''ve tried so many times but never seeded. You''re big panda like the one she has, and there''s still one left in the machine."


    SO


    talented, could you help us? We want a


    "We can pay you. You can Walter pleadingly.


    give


    us your contact information and we''ll transfer money to


    you


    Shakira popped out from therge panda in her arms and was about to speak, but Walter quicker. He spoke in a calm. and cold tone, "That''s for my girlfriend. If you can''t get it, step aside. I''ll get it."


    Willie


    Mas


    Shakira didn''t know what to say. The twodies didn''t expect that kind of reply. They pulled each other away awkwardly.


    Seeing Shakira still a bit confused, Walter casually inserted tokens into the machine an apunte


    get the toy." Shakira questioned, "How did you know?"


    said, "They weren''t really trying to


    Walter grinned and said, "The token exchangees in either tens or fifties, and they only had ten in their basket. If they really couldn''t get the toy as they imed, they wouldn''t just have eight lefts. Clearly, they tried only once and gave up." Shakira hadn''t noticed these details. She said, "You can still give them a little help."


    Walter said, "Humph. Then they''ll get my contact information and start harassing me.


    As he spoke, Walter had already managed to grasp thest big panda and casually ced it into the remaining space of the trolley.


    Walter said, "They said they wanted the toy, but they were staring straight at me." Then he gently flicked Shakira''s forehead and said, "Honey, be alert, okay?"


    Shakira covered her forehead, and her eyes widened in disbelief Under Walter''s disapproving gaze, she grinned and said, "It''s fine. My boyfriend''s sense of security is way better than mine. See, he even triggered the rm himself and reyed the record. Walter was speechless. He wanted to raise his hand to teach her a lesson again, but this time, Shakira yfully opened her mouth and gently nibbled on his wrist like a puppy ying, which made Walter both amused and speechless.


    The Nelson family, along with Berry who had joined their holiday trip, went to the airport to pick up Jayden. His teammate Aaron came back with him. After the trials of war, Jayden appeared even more rugged and mature beyond his years. Jayden''s voice was rough and hoarse, "Mom, Dad, Grandma, Fin Aaron also greeted everyone.


    "Good kid. It''s so great to have you back safe!" Cody gave him a strong pat on the shoulder.


    Reba and Selena couldn''t help but tear up. They held Cody tightly on either side. Reba said, "What were you thinking?! How could you go to Helian without telling us? If something happened to you, how was I going to live?" Jayden exchanged a nce with Finn, Felix, and Yvette. He silerly patted Reba''s and Selena''s backs. "Did you get hurt?" Reba couldn''t wait to check on him. "Why did you lose so much weight?"


    Selena said, "It''s fine. At least he''s back safe and sound. He can cat well after he gets home." Felix asked, "How long is your vacation this time?"


    Jayden answered, "At least a month, until the next mission." Felix said, "That''s good."


    Finally getting a chance, Yvette stepped forward and gave Jayden a big hug. She took his arm and acted cute, "Jayden, you must be hungry, right? There''s a snack shop over there. Let me take you and Aaron to grab something to eat." Then Yvette looked back and winked at Reba. "Mom, I''m going to have a little chat with Jayden. I''ll bring him back soon.


    Reba smiled fondly, "Go ahead. We''ll wait in the car."


    Yvette said, "Okay!"


    They walked into the snack shop. Jaydon looked at her with his light brown eyes knowingly and said, "Split it."


    Yvette stuck out her tongue shyly and said, "I knew I couldn''t hide it from you."From N?velDrama.Org.


    She recounted everything that happened at Silverwave Mountain and pleaded with Felix with an innocent expression, "Jayden, I know lying is wrong. I initially nned to tell everyone about your return after that trip.


    "But at that time, I was really scared, afraid that Dad and Grandma would think breaking the bracelet was a bad omen, especially since Shakira had already said many unpleasant things and even made Lopez Group oppose our family. If I disappointed them again..." Yvette''s voice trembled, and the teardrops on her eyshes finally fell down the side of her nose, making her look even more pitiful and innocent. Jayden frowned tightly.


    He was aware of the recent chaos at home but never imagined that the so-called "younger sister" he never met could be so heartless.


    Berry echoed and exaggerated how Shakira had made trouble for her and tried to drive her away on the ne. Then even Aaron couldn''t stand it anymore.


    Aaron said, "Jaydon, what kind of person is that? How could she bully others just because she has someone backing her up? She even bullied her own ssmates and family? That''s just so wrong!" Jayden gently ced his calloused hand on Yvette''s shoulder and said, "I''ll keep this secret for you. Don''t worry about it."


    B G


    Yvette was deeply moved and said, "Thank you, Jayden.


    Aaron patted his chest and said, "I''ll also keep this secret for you. Yvette. Since Jayden and I are such good friends, you can consider me your brother as well. I''ve got your back!" Yvette gave a sweet smile and said. "Thank you, Aaron."


    Aaron said. "But the most annoying one is that troublemaker, Shakira, right? She''s here too, isn''t she? We need to teach her a lesson, or she''ll really think nobody can handle her. Jayden warned him in a low voice, "Don''t do anything rash."


    Aaron huffed and said. "What could I do? Are you defending her


    Yvette eximed, "No, Aaron. I don''t want to drag you into this.


    "Humph. Let me see what she got," Aaron said disdainfully. While Jayden was paying the bill, he winked at Yvette and whispered, "Don''t worry, Yvette. Consider it a little wee gift from me!" Yvette didn''t know what to say but just looked at Aaron with more admiration and shyness in her eyes, which only boosted Aaron''s confidence.

 Chapter 253

    In the end, Walter sends Shakira back to her room. There were too many prizes that she couldn''t carry all of them back by herself. Their suite had two beds, and when Shakira saw her bed filled with toys, she was a bit frustrated. Walter teased with a yful smile, "With all these big and small ones, you''ll have lots ofpany at night, right?"


    Shakira blushed and quickly pushed him out the door. She was lightly annoyed and said. "Go have your meeting!" Walterughed even more at her reaction.


    When he returned to the top floor to change into a suit before heading out again, Benji and the others were sitting on therge, uniquely designed sofa in the living room and staring at their phones.


    As soon as he walked in, they all looked up at him together with sly smiles.


    Benji crossed his arms and deliberately spoke louder, "Well, well My brother has always been dulling and always criticizes my dating tips, but guess who''s using them with his girlfriend now!" Calton said, "Who would''ve thought that Mr. Lopez, who''s usually such a neat freak that he won''t even share the same water bottle with others, is now happily enjoying his girlfriend''s leftovers!" Gavin added, "I remember back in high school, not long after we started dating, someone said his future girlfriend would never like anything childish like toys. Look at him now."


    Kyle echoed, "Seems like it''s not his girlfriend who likes them, it''s him!"


    ""Hahahaha!"


    Walter didn''t know what to say.


    Noticing the confusion on his face, his younger brother Benji took pity on him and handed over his phone. It showed all kinds of photos taken by the entirepany''s employees who had spotted them from every angle in the mall. Afraid that Walter would get embarrassed and angry, Benji quickly said, "Walter, they were just surprised that you''re dating. so they were chatting about it on our private site. Nothing got leaked, and it''s New Year, so don''t get mad." Walter nced at the photos. He wasn''t surprised. He had sensed they were being watched since they arrived at the food street, but he didn''t stop them. There was nothing to hide. Still, he hadn''t expected they''d do this.


    Having enjoyed enough fun, Calton held back hisughter and said, "Alright, alright. Let''s get someone to delete those photos before Mr. Lopez loses his temper."


    They waited until now mainly to mock Walter when he was around. Benji was about to call the PR team when Walter raised his hand and said, "No need to delete them."


    The others who were trying hard to hold backughter were stunned. "What?"


    Walter nced at them calmly with a mocking expression and then went straight into the cloakroom.


    It took a while for them to snap back to reality. They were all stunned. Benji smacked his forehead and said, "Oh no. Why do


    I feel like my brother has be a love fool and doesn''t even care about his reputation anymore?"


    Gavin agreed. "I think you''re right."


    Even the proudest man would yield to love one day!


    Xanthe declined Shakira''s offer for an airport pickup and dragged her luggage to the hotel on her own. Shakira came downstairs to pick her up. Xanthe said. "Shakira, I missed you so much!"


    11


    As soon as they met, the enthusiastic Xanthe directly gave Shakira a hug Shakira struggled to breathe, took over Xanthe''s suitcase, and led her toward the elevator with her still hanging on her body. Xanthe was stunned. She quickly jumped down and said, "Shakira, are you some kind of superhuman?"


    Shakira mumbled, "You''re even lighter than dolls."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    Xanthe burst intoughter. "It''s only been two weeks, and you''ve be such a sweet talker!"


    After they entered the room, Xanthe''s eyes widened in shock when she saw the bed filled with dolls. She said. "Wow! They weigh more than I do indeed!"


    Then she blurted. "Wait, with all these toys, how did you and Mr Lopez manage to sleepst night?"


    "I slept here alonest night," Shakira said while staring at her speechlessly. "What are you imagining?" Xanthe said, "Ahem! I''m not. I even dyed my visit by a day to hot interrupt your precious alone time." Shakira was speechless. "... Thanks for that."


    After a short rest, Xanthe heard about the wonderful food district downstairs and insisted on checking it out. Shakira led her down and pointed out what she thought was delicious and what wasn''t so great. Xanthe was surprised. "You''ve tried all of these?"


    Shakira said, "Almost, except for a few that we can see in Crescentville. The rest I tried earlier this afternoon with Walter."


    Xanthe was even more shocked. "Mr. Lopez is awesome! He finished all the food for you?"


    Sheughed at Sean in her mind, "That weak yboy. He can''t even eat through half a street''s food, let alone w dolls. How dare he seriously consider being a rival to Mr. Lopez?'' Sean sneezed several times in a row in Crescentville.


    The two of them bought a bunch of snacks to take back to their room. Just as they turned the corner, Xanthe''s eyes lit up. "Hey, there''s a Wondend store here! I want to check it out." Shakira said, "Sure."


    Wondend started in thest century with diamonds and now has a history spanning hundreds of years. It was one of the world''s top luxury diamond brands.


    The two of them were just about to walk into the store when two young guys, with their arms around each other''s shoulders, suddenly appeared out of nowhere and bumped into them. Shakira''s lower body was firm, and she quickly grabbed Xanthe, who stumbled back and almost fell.


    The two men shouted, "Watch where you''re going!"


    They acted as if they weren''t the guilty ones. They looked back and red at them while cursing. Then they just walked


    away.


    Xanthe was really angry. Seeing that she wasn''t hurt, Shakira didn''t say much more.


    23


    12-07 Tue, Nov 12 wwB.


    Then they stepped into the store. The saleswoman noticed Xanthe''s expensive essories and then eagerly introduced the products. Xanthe quickly picked out several ones she liked. After asking Shakira for advice, she decided to buy them all Xanthe said, "I did better on my exams this time, so my dad has given me a lot of allowance."


    Shakira smiled. However, Xanthe suddenly paused as she reached into her bag.


    She eximed, "Where''s my phone?!"


    Realizing what had happened, Xanthe took out everything in her bag. "My phone and wallet are gone! How could it be?"


    Shakira immediately thought of something and said, "It was those two people from before."


    She instinctively checked her pocket, only to find she had been a victim too. Her phone was also gone. Those two had such impressive pickpocketing skills.


    The saleswoman awkwardly looked at them. She didn''t know who they were, so she just smiled and asked, "Do you want me to call the police for you?"


    Before they could reply, a male voice sounded, "No need. They can''t afford anything and just came in to show off."

 Chapter 254

    The words were full of mockery and sarcasm. Shakira looked back and was surprised when she saw who it was. Then she slightly frowned. It was Aaron. She knew him.


    In her previous life, everyone in the Nelson family worked hard to convince her to agree to a kidney transnt, using all sorts of tricks.


    Jayden even gave up the assignments he was supposed toplete and rushed back to Crescentville to join her for morning exercises, saying it was to help her get stronger for a smoother recovery after surgery. However, after the surgery, Jayden only stayed by Yvette''s side and never visited her again. The only time he dide was almost two monthster. Her condition hadn''t improved, and she was still bedridden. Jayden, who was usually quiet and reserved, kicked open her door in anger, stormed in with red eyes, and directly used her of causing someone''s death.


    He said. "If you hadn''t kept hesitating about the surgery, I wouldn''t have abandoned my assignment, and Aaron and the others wouldn''t have been dead!"


    Shakira was shocked and at a loss. "What? I don''t know..."


    Jayden said, "Yes! You don''t know anything. All you do is pretend to be miserable to win our sympathy, just to satisfy your absurd vanity, which has resulted in the loss of innocent lives!"


    Each word from Jayden was like a heavy stone crashing onto her making her feel suffocated. Yvette, who had recovered. rushed into the room with the family, held his arm, and pleaded for Shakira with tears. Yvette said, "Jayden, just me me. If I hadn''t fallen ill, Shakira wouldn''t have been forced to make such a hard decision, and inexperienced Aaron wouldn''t have be the temporary leader. I''m the one to me!" Mitchell supported the frail woman who was about to copse with distress,pletely ignoring the pale and breathless Shakira.


    He said, "Yvette, don''t say that. All the problems started with Shakira. If she had agreed to the kidney transnt sooner, none of this chaos would have happened!"


    Even Yosef, the righteous prosecutor, also said, "No matter what. Shakira indirectly caused the ident for Jayden''s team."


    Shakira was used by everyone. She was even too weak to get out of bed, but she suddenly became a murderer. Jayden even dragged her to Aaron''s memorial and forced her to bow to that ck-and-white photo. After tossing her back at the Nelson residence, Jayden told her to behave herself. How ridiculous.


    Jayden used Shakira of being fake and not agreeing to the surgery sooner, but he didn''t know that Yvette was pretending to be sick to steal Shakira''s fortune and kill her.


    If anyone was to me for Aaron''s demise, it was definitely the greedy and shameless Yvette.


    But now, Aaron not only was still alive but also showed up right in front of Shakira, looking confident afterpleting his task, with Berry that flunky following behind. Shakira thought, ''Looks like this idiot has been incited to deliberately cause trouble for me. She didn''t need to think much to understand what was going on.


    The saleswoman was surprised. After realizing what Aaron was talking about, her gaze at Shakira and Xanthe becameplicated.


    Xanthe was not someone easily to be messed with. She was already angry after her wallet was stolen, and now seeing Berry who was watching the scene, she got even angrier. Xanthe said, "Bullshit! This small amount of money isn''t even enough for me to spend a day in La Vido. What I buy is none of your business!"


    Aaron said. "Humph. I can brag as well. I could also say I lost billions in a casino in one day. We''re in a modern society.


    "No one would be a pickpocket in a big mall nowadays. That''s a high-risk, low-reward job that no thief would take on."


    Aaron insisted that they deliberately imed to be stolen to dodge payment. His loud usation caught the attention of other customers in the store, who began whispering among themselves. Xanthe''s face flushed with anger. Before she could retort, Aaron handed a bank card to the saleswoman and pointed to an item in the disy. "That tie clip, please."


    Aaron had been in the store for less than two minutes and had already decided to buy something. The saleswoman''s eyes lit up, and she respectfully took his card to finalize the purchase. She then put the items Xanthe had been interested in back in the disy. Her smile faded and her gaze became dismissive and contemptuous.


    She said. "Misses, you''d go look for your stuff. Any longer and your phones and wallets might juste back on their own."


    Berry was enjoying the scene and then burst intoughter. "Hahaha!"


    Seeing their smug expressions, Xanthe, who had never suffered something like this before, was nearly fuming. Shakira''s expression also turnedpletely cold.


    She was considering whether to call the hotel staff for help when the sharp-eyed hotel manager, who was patrolling outside, spotted Shakira. He quickly rushed in with a ttering smile.


    He said, "Ms. Nelson, it''s nice to see you again. What a coincidence."


    Today, Walter went shopping with Shakira in the mall for two hours, and the hotel executives were watching the surveince cameras the entire time.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    When the biggest spender of the year, who rented out the entire hotel, went on a shopping spree, they obviously needed to keep a close watch.


    They thought Walter and his girlfriend would spend at least dozens of million on their shopping trip. But it turned out to be just a simple date, and they didn''t spend more than 150 dors, mainly at the food district. The mall owner, who had eagerly anticipated breaking sales records during the New Year, waspletely stunned. He thought, ''Isn''t the wealthy CEO supposed to spendvishly to make hisdy happy?'' They were extremely disappointed, feeling like they had lost a fortune today.


    But now, seeing Shakira return, the manager held hope again.


    He thought, ''Exactly. How could the woman of a business tycoon not shop and spend millions?


    It must be because the tycoon himself was there, so she was too embarrassed to spend!


    ''Now she''s back!''


    12-07 Tue, Nov 12.

 Chapter 255

    The saleswoman tried hard to force a smile but failed. She deeply regretted it. If she hadn''t been misled, she wouldn''t have offended such an important client.


    The saleswoman kept apologizing with her head down, but she shall didn''t win back Shakira and Xanthe. The store owner who rushed over kept apologizing to the manager who was fuming.


    The manager said, "Why are you apologizing to me? Apologize to the customers!"


    The owner dragged the saleswoman over to apologize again. In the end, the manager guided Shakira and Xanthe to the next store with a ttering smile. The store owner turned to the saleswoman and said with a sullen face, "You''re fired"


    She pleaded, "Sir, please give me another chance. It was really not my fault! It was them..." The owner said, "Humph, give you another chance to upset more important customers? Get out of here now!" He was furious and refused to give her another chance. The saleswoman was overwhelmed with regret. She removed her name tag with red eyes. Before leaving, she cast a resentful nce at Aaron and Berry.


    Aaron and Berry were extremely embarrassed. Under the store owner''s cold, sarcastic stare, they left the store awkwardly.


    Meanwhile, Shakira and Xanthe had just started shopping when a mall staff member returned their lost phones and wallets, saying someone had sent them to the lost and found.


    Xanthe was surprised. She patted her forehead and felt quite strange. She said, "What? Did we lose those things? Weren''t they stolen?"


    Shakira took her phone and said, "Yes, they were stolen."


    Xanthe said, "So, did the thief change his mind, or did a kind person help us out?"


    Shakira noticed that Aaron and Berry left the store in a hurry and then quickly walked out of the mall. She narrowed her eyes. Then she turned to the manager and asked, "Can I check the surveince video?"


    The manager replied without hesitation, "Of course, feel free to ake a look! Anything for our VIP customers!"


    In the evening, Lopez Group was holding its annual party, while Shakira and Xanthe were heading to the restaurant that Walter had arranged for them.


    Walter finally got some free time and then heard from Brian about their little incident at the mall, so he sent a message: [Do you want me to have Brian handle it?]


    Shakira was amodating Xanthe''s request and posing for pictures. Her face was starting to stiffen from smiling. When Xanthe checked the photos, she quickly typed a reply: [It''s fine. I''ve already nailed it. They won''t get away easily.]


    In her previous life, she foolishly suffered a loss, but not this time She wouldn''t go easy on them. If they intended to make things hard for her to support Yvette, they should be ready to face the consequences.


    Walter nced at his phone. The short message conveyed Shakira''s yful smirk. He raised an eyebrow and chuckled. [Holding a grudge this time, huh?]This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    [I always do, so you''d better not mess with me.] Shakira replied with a meme of a fierce smile.


    Seeing Shakira chatting on her phone, Xanthe leaned over with a smile. "Are you texting Mr. Lopez?"


    Shakira nodded. "Yes."


    13


    UB


    Xanthe said, "Great! I''ve chosen the best two photos out of many Send them to Mr. Lopez!"


    3.86%


    Xanthe kept urging her. For fear that she might directly grab her phone and send the photos herself. Shakira justplied and sent the photos.


    Walter was just about to ask if the restaurant food was to her liking when two photos suddenly appeared on his screen. The woman had her head slightly down with a gentle smile, and the light from the window highlighted her unique beauty. Walter was amazed and lost in thought. Just then, the team that had won this year''s Outstanding Department Award came up with their wine sses, hoping to toast the boss.


    Unexpectedly, they saw Walter staring at a photo on his phone for quite some time. He quietly saved it before returning to the chat box to type a long message.


    They were surprised to see that and then whispered to each other, "Was that Mr. Lopez''s girlfriend?"


    "Definitely! She''s stunning, even though I just caught a glimpse!"


    "Mystery solved. It turns out that Mr. Lopez also has to check his girlfriend''s photos and analyze them closely!"


    "Wow, Mr. Lopez loves her a lot. I''m rooting for them!"


    "Should we still go toast him? Or is it a bad idea to interrupt his loving moment?"


    The manager directly turned away. He would definitely not make such a silly choice to ruin his own career.


    At the restaurant, Xanthe kept asking Shakira how Walter had replied. Shakira nced at her phone screen and said,


    "Nothing yet. He''s busy with the dinner party and hasn''t replied to me."


    Xanthe nodded, feeling a little disappointed. Shakira, however, didn''t mind it at all.


    Just when she was about to start eating, a long text popped up in her chat box. It was a detailed analysis from lighting toposition, highlighting what looked good and what could be improved.


    He ended with a screenshot and ament saying: [Take more and send them all to me. I want them to fill up this phone:]


    Shakira clicked on the screenshot, which showed there were still 899GB of storage space left. She was speechless. She thought, "That''s going to take ages.


    Then she suddenly received a call from a strange number. Shakira worried it might be something from Haruca Hospital or the show''s crew, so she answered it.


    To her surprise, the voice that came from the other end sounded old and tired, "It''s me." It was Selena.


    Shakira said indifferently, "What''s up?"


    Selena said, "I heard from your dad that you''re also in Silverwave Bay." She got straight to the point. "We''re going to pray for our ancestors at Silverwave Mountain tomorrow. The whole family will be there, so you shoulde too." Her authoritative tone sounded more like amand. Shakira snorted and said, "Mrs. Nelson, do you have a bad memory? I''ve already cut ties with the Nelson family."


    Selena took a deep breath, feeling that Shakira was ungrateful. She said angrily, "Do you think blood ties can just be cut off like that? Shakira, don''t forget you have our family''s blood running through you.


    "Whether you''re alive or dead, it''s our ancestors who have been blessing you. Everything you have today is due to the fortune our ancestors have umted over generations!"


    Hearing this, Shakira sneered and said, "Even with ancestral protection, Nelson Group is still copsing. It means that they


    23


    12.07 Tue, Nov 12 B


    don''t matter at all Enjoy the good fortune yourselves."


    Shakira thought, ''If the ancestors really had any power, I wouldnt have died so unjustly right under their noses at the hands of an outsider in my past life!


    Selena never expected Shakira to utter such disgraceful words. She was so furious that she almost got out of breath. Before she could start shouting, Shakira abruptly hung up the call.


    Selena shouted, "This ungrateful brat!" She thought, ''If it weren''t for what Mr. Bethune said today, I wouldn''t even think of her! How dare she be so ungrateful?!''


    Covering her chest, Selena took a long time to calm down. Then she headed downstairs. The Nelson family was hosting a wee party for Jayden at their vi in Silverwave Bay, and they were just waiting for Selena to join them. Yvette went forward to help Selena. "Grandma, are you feeling unwell? You seem a bit pale."


    Selena patted her hand gently and said, "I''m fine. You''re always so considerate."


    A hint of cold sarcasm shed in Yvette''s eyes but was quickly hidden. Snuggling up to Selena''s shoulder, she acted cute and said, "I''m your sweetheart. Of course, I''m concerned about you!"  LB.

 Chapter 256

    After being provoked by Shakira carlier, Selena looked at Yvette feeling even more satisfied.


    She thought. In the end, the kid raised in our family is more reliable indeed. What Mr. Bethune said must refer to Yvette, not that disrespectful bastard outside.


    Selena held Yvette''s hand tightly as they took their seats. "Everyone, raise your sses to our family''s hero, Jayden, and his loyal teammate, Aaron. Congrattions on their victorious return, Cody announced loudly. Everyone stood up and clinked their sses. Aaron seemed especially radiant, while Jayden also showed a rare smile.


    The family was having a good time. When they were chatting, the earlier incident with the bracelet came up again, but they were no longer as shocked as before.


    They all believed that Jayden''s safe return was thanks to Yvette''s good fortune. Jayden kept his calm demeanor and didn''t offer any contradiction.


    Aaron, in high spirits, had a couple of drinks and raised his eyebrow yfully at Yvette. It was a secret only they knew.


    Yvette responded with a sweet smile, "It was due to Jayden''s and haron''s skills and perfect teamwork that the mission was a sess. I just shared in their glory."


    Her words were modest yet appropriate, making not only the Nelson family but also Aaron feel quite happy. They spent years in the military and were training all the time, so they had no time to date.


    When Jayden first joined the team, Yvette had paid him a visit. At first nce, Aaron was attracted to this delicate little princess. Driven by a natural male instinct, he felt that a girl like Yvette needed protection. Now, hearing her call his name with admiration and praise for his skills, Aaron felt that his heart was about to melt. Just as he was basking in this ttery, his phone rang.


    Seeing the caller ID, Aaron smiled and said to Jayden, "Jayden, it''s the instructor. Is it possible that the results of ourmendations have been announced?"


    He answered the phone with a bright smile. He even turned on the speakerphone to let everyone hear the good news. He said, "Sir, is there good news for us? Can I finally get that third-ss merit this time?" However, the instructor''s angry voice burst through the speakerphone, "Humph, Aaron, you''re really over the moon, aren''t you? How could you abet theft right afterpleting a mission? Listen, forget about the third-ss merit. "Due to your disgraceful behavior, we''ve decided to dismiss you. Your captain Jayden will also have his award revoked due to negligence!"


    Everyone present was shocked. Aaron sobered up instantly, and his smile disappeared at once. "W-What?" His words stopped abruptly as if he suddenly realized something. Then his face turned pale.


    Jayden grabbed the phone from the stunned Aaron''s hand and said, "Sir, Aaron and I have been together the whole time. There must be some kind of misunderstanding."


    Aaron got fired, and even Jayden was implicated and lost his credit, so Selena got anxious. She quickly spoke, "Sir, I''m Jayden''s grandmother.


    "The two kids have been with us the entire time. They definitely didn''t steal anything. This must be a false usation!"


    The instructor responded with a cold sneer, "Misunderstanding: False usation? You idiot! The girl already sent the surveince video to the military. It clearly showed how Aaron instructed two known thieves to steal from her. 1/3 12.08 Tue, Nov 12 web.


    "The thieves have already been taken to the police station along with the evidence and witnesses. Are you still going to quibble? You''ve made me theughingstock! Jayden, you''re a captain. How dare you question me? "Can''t manage your team and now you''re upset about losing your credit? Do you want to go to the police station and embarrass yourself even more?"


    Jayden pursed his lips and said, "No, sir." The instructor continued to scold them. He thought. How could those who are supposed to serve the people and know thew break it by doing that kind of shit? They''ve also ruined my reputation I was supposed to receive an award after returning to the country. Now, that''s all ruined because of this mess! How could this happen during the New Year? Damn it!"


    After the instructor hung up. Aaron, who had clenched his fists in anger, got up and stormed out. Jayden quickly stopped him. "Aaron, what are you going to do?"


    He turned Aaron around and then finally saw Aaron''s red eyes. Aaron said, "Shakira, she''s the one who got me fired. I have to make her pay!"


    The Nelson family''s expressions all changed at once when they heard that name. Selena asked in shock, "Shakira? What does this have to do with that bitch?"


    Felix got right to the point, "So, was it Shakira who handed all the evidence to the police?"


    Jayden suddenly understood something and his expression turned cold at once. "Aaron, didn''t I tell you not to act rashly?"


    Aaron was extremely frustrated and then quickly exined the situation. "She bullied Yvette and her friend! I just couldn''t stand it. Besides, it was just meant to be a small lesson to stop her from being so arrogant.


    "I didn''t even do anything serious to her and even returned the stuff. I didn''t expect her to be so vicious and eveny hands on me!"


    Berry quickly vouched for him, "Everything Aaron said is true. I was there too. Shakira didn''t lose anything at all. The manager and store owner even fired the saleswoman just to please her.


    "I can''t believe she is so vicious. She didn''t suffer any loss but still harmed Aaron."


    Selena, who had just been humiliated by Shakira, was filled with resentment. She mmed her hand on the table and said, "Unbelievable! That heartless bastard deserves some serious karma!"


    She couldn''t interfere with Aaron getting fired, but they were all angry since the achievements that Jayden risked his life for were ruined by Shakira.


    This afternoon, when Yvette learned about the incident at the mall from Berry, she was still upset at how useless those two were. She didn''t expect such a turn. Panic flickered in Yvette''s eyes.


    She quickly thought of something. Then she covered her face with her hands, leaving only her tearful eyes outside.


    She said as if she was really upset, "It''s my fault that Aaron and Jayden got into trouble. If I hadn''t mentioned anything about Shakira, Aaron wouldn''t have defended me and none of this would have happened. It''s all my fault!"Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    "No! It''s not your fault. I just wanted to stand up for you. If anyone''s to me, it''s Shakira for being so mean! How dare shey hands on me!" Seeing Yvette''s guilty expression, Aaron got even angrier.


    He shook off Jayden''s hand and said, "Don''t stop me. I''m going to confront her!"


    Jayden said seriously, "I''m not stopping you. I''ll go with you." He decided it was time to meet his long-lost sister face to face.


    Shakira and Xanthe enjoyed a feast and then went to the seaside lighthouse to take some photos. Shakira sent a bunch of pictures to Walter, feeling satisfied with her day.


    23


    12.08 Tue, Nov 12 L


    As soon as they arrived at the hotel, a tall man approached with an intimidating presence.

 Chapter 257

    Chapter 257- 3.86


    Jayden had been away all the time, so Xanthe hadn''t met him while pretending to be close friends with Yvette.


    So, when she saw Jayden walking directly toward them, she frowned and said, "Shakira, this guy really looks like the Nelsons. doesn''t he? Like a mix of Finn and Mitchell"


    Shakira raised an eyebrow. Those words really sounded like insults. She said, "You''re not wrong. He is one of them"


    Xanthe widened her eyes in disbelief. "What?"


    "Shakira." Jayden''s stare was intense, and he spoke with the usualmanding tone of the Nelson family, filled with contempt, "You,e with me."


    Xanthe was stunned. Then she quickly stepped in front of Shakira to protect her. "Don''t think you can just do whatever you want because you''re handsome. Why should Shakira listen to you?"


    Jayden didn''t even look at Xanthe. He stared straight at Shakira with anger surging in his eyes. "So, you think you can just do whatever you want and then walk away?"


    Shakira smiled and realized something. "I see. Your friend must have been taken to the police station." Her tone was casual. Otherwise. Jayden wouldn''t be here alone.


    Jayden''s pupils suddenly contracted. Her words showed that she already knew about his connection with Aaron.


    He remembered when Aaron was taken away, Yvette sobbed and said that this might be Shakira''s intentional revenge on them. Now it seemed that she was right. The anger in his eyes grew even more intense. He said. "Shakira, you''ve nned all this to destroy Aaron!"


    "Huh." Shakira let out a cold snort. "He did something silly and ruined his own future. Who can he me for that?"


    Jayden argued, "He didn''t really make you suffer any loss. It was just a prank, but because you reported him, he lost the job he loved most and is now being taken by the police for questioning."


    Shakira sneered. "Just because there wasn''t any damage doesn''t mean there was no harm. To stick up for Yvette and Berry, he randomly hired someone to steal my stuff and my friends things. Is that how he protects people?


    "Is that the rule that is embedded in his mind from tough daily training? Are you confronting me because even you, the fair captain, also think he did nothing wrong?"


    Her cold and mocking words hit Jayden like a blow to the head, making him shiver. His anger waspletely stifled by Shakira''s sharp reply, leaving him speechless.


    He was partial toward Aaron, but every word Shakira said was undeniable. Aaron made a mistake himself, and it was one of the most basic ones.


    He even found it embarrassing toe to Shakira and ask her to go to the police station to say it was just a joke and to bail Aaron out.


    Jayden clenched his fists, and his stern face was full of mixed emotions. Shakira didn''t even nce at him and directly passed by.


    Xanthe was stunned for a while before suddenly realizing what was happening. She walked up to Jayden angrily and scolded, "Humph! I was wondering how Berry found a guy to deal with us. Turns out it was Yvette''s doing all along." She didn''t hold back, and her angry voice echoed in the hotel lobby, "Do you Nelsons have no shame at all? Always going after Shakira. What did she do, destroy your ancestors'' graves or something?


    3.86%


    "You never learn from your unistakes, huh? Can''t do anything properly, so you use schemes instead? You''re even one of the five major families. Look at all the dirty things you''ve done. So disgusting! "And Yvette! That pretentious bitch always pretends to be kind and generous, but she keeps implying she''s being bullied and looking for someone to back her up.


    "Only fools like you would fall for her fake act. Just continue protecting her. One day you''ll regret being fooled by that bitch!"


    After pouring out all theints without a break, Xanthe felt slightly relieved from the frustration of not being able to buy the jewelry she wanted.


    She raised her head high arrogantly and quickly followed in the direction Shakira had left. Then her fierce voice turned sweet at once. "Shakira, wait for me!"


    Jayden watched them leave. After a long while, he finally walked out of the hotel with his stiff body.


    Thinking about Aaron getting punished, Xanthe kept chattering excitedly from the moment they entered the elevator. All that frustration was now sweetly satisfying.


    She said, "Shakira, that''s the way to do it! These corrupt bullies who use their power for personal gain shouldn''t stay in the military. Who knows what bigger trouble they''ll cause in the future!"


    Shakira''s eyes were deep and she kept silent. In her previous life after being forced to bow and apologize at Aaron''s funeral. she looked into the reasons behind it..


    Aaron failed his mission because he was arrogant and underestimated himself. He neither reported to his superiors nor listened to his subordinates, choosing to act independently. In the end, he harmed not only himself but also his team.


    A self-righteous, ipetent rule-breaker definitely shouldn''t stay in the military indeed. He might have been lucky this time, but what about next time or the time after that?


    Back in the room, Xanthe noticed after a while that Shakira was packing herrge backpack. She took a closer look curiously. "Shakira, what''s inside? It''s all puffed up." Shakira smiled and said, "Once midnight passes, it''s Walter''s birthday."


    Xanthe said, "Wow, is that a birthday gift for Mr. Lopez? It''s sorge!" Xanthe rubbed her chin and said with a yful smile, "Does this mean I''m going to be alone tonight?" Shakira red at her and said, "I''ll be back after I give him the gift."


    "Oh,e on. It''s your first time celebrating a birthday with Mr. Lopez. Spend more time together. Don''t worry about me. I''m really fine!" Xanthe reassured her repeatedly. She even vowed to emphasize how much she didn''t mind Shakiga staying with Walter longer.


    Shakira quietly muttered, "I wasn''t nning on staying with you anyway. He''s sharing a suite with Benji and the others. It''s not convenient for me to be there."


    Xanthe was speechless. She was overthinking.


    After wrapping up the noisy annual party, Walter returned to his room, exhausted. Even though Benji and the others wanted him to join in the afterparty, Walter turned them down.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    He didn''t like these events, but as the head of the Lopez family and the leader of the Lopez Group, attending the annual gathering was unavoidable.


    After a quick wash, he checked his phone for messages, sent a text to Shakira, and theny down on the bed.


    23


    12.08 Tue, Nov 12 WWB


    860


    Suddenly, an image of a message he had just canceled shed through his mind, and he quickly sat up.


    He clicked at the most hidden corner of his phone to open a long-unused app anxiously. There, a gray profile picture he had marked as "special attention" showed a small line of text below: Offline for two hours].

 Chapter 258

    "FoxDeni" Walter''s face showed surprise. Suddenly, as he thought of something, he clicked on the second person in his friend list and quickly typed a message.


    Lion Heart: [Check the terminal for FoxDen''sst known online location J


    Oath Realm: [Lion Heart, you''re back!]


    Oath Realm: [Wait, you mean Fox Den is still alive?]


    Lion Heart: [She logged in two hours ago. The app requires both face and fingerprint for login, so it had to be her]


    Oath Realm: [I''ll check it right away.]


    In less than five minutes, Oath Realm gave Walter a reply.


    Oath Realm: [I got it. At Silverwave Bay. I''ll send someone there to find her immediately.J


    Walter''s eyes flickered with curiosity at the familiar name. He thought, ''Could it be that Berry remembered something? It''s toote now. Tomorrow morning, I need to find Berry to ask. Lion Heart: [No, I''m at Silverwave Bay too. I''ll find her.]


    Oath Realm: [Okay. How are you doing now? We''ve missed you in the months you weren''t online. And we hope to see you. Reading this, Walter''s lips curled gently.


    Lion Heart: [We''ll talk another time. It''s gettingte. I''m logging off. Goodnight.]


    Oath Realm was still typing. Clearly, there was a lot more he wanted to say. But Walter had already quickly logged off. without hesitation.


    Waltery back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Those images He had tried to bury deep in his memory wereing through again.


    On the vast open sea, a luxurious cruise ship sped forward. Sapo the biggest drug lord of Myin Ind, stood on the deck, with five men in camouge uniforms hanging above him.


    Their bodies were covered with scars and bleeding wounds, with ropes cutting into their wrists and leaving bright red marks. The blood kept streaming down, falling into the vast, bottomless ocean at their feet. Their blood dripped from their hands into the sea as sharks, drawn by the scent of blood, circled the ship.


    Sapo held an AK-47 in one hand and a remote control of the ropes in the other. With no way to escape, he looked vicious and threatening, aiming the dark barrel of the gun at the approaching pair. "Another step and I''ll toss them to the sharks." Sapo''s rough voice echoed across the deck.


    "Boss, just leave us alone. Many lives were lost. You have to kill this asshole," said one of the five of them.


    "That''s right. We''re not afraid to die. It''s worth trading five of our lives for a drug lord."


    "Pah! Today, you die, junkie."


    Sapo raised his head and roared at them furiously, "Shut up! Keep talking, and I''ll feed you to the sharks." The sea wind howled as Walter''s voice was tight. "Don''t you fucking touch them?"


    III


    12.08 Tue, Nov 12 D.


    05.86%


    "I know, you''re the youngest special forcesmander from Clusia and you wouldn''t abandon your soldiers," said Sapo.


    Sapo was pleased with Walter''s reaction. His face, covered in scars, left him with only one working bluish-gray left eye. full of a desperate will to live.


    Using a persuasive tone, he tried to negotiate with Walter, "Come on, put down your guns, and get me a speedboat. As long as I leave safely, your buddies will be saved."


    "Junkie, my boss will never listen to you."


    "Boss, take him down."


    Seeing his five buddies constantly struggling and the twisted smile on Sapo''s face, Walter hesitated.


    The FoxDen, standing behind him, whispered, "Surrender for now. I''ll handle the close range, and you grab the remote


    control."


    Walter remained silent for a long time. After a moment, he raised his hand. "Sapo, deal."


    "Boss!"


    "Boss, don''t trust him. He won''t let us go."


    Walter ignored them and turned to prepare the speedboat. However, the five men who had already given up on survival suddenly called out to Walter in unison, sending a jolt through Walter''s heart. Just as he realized something and rushed towards the sapo, the five had already broken free from their bindings and jumped


    into the sea.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    "No!" Walter suddenly snapped his eyes open, surrounded by darkness, overwhelming and stifling. By then, he was already drenched in sweat without realizing it.


    It had been a long time since hest had this dream.


    He closed his eyes and leaned against the headboard, lost in the shadow of the moon, emanating a profound solitude.


    At that moment, there was a sound outside the door, and Walter quickly lifted his head, the coldness in his eyes still lingering. When he recognized the person, he was suddenly stunned.


    At this moment, it was like a small, luminous figure approaching him in a snowstorm, which was warm and came just for him. "Happy Birthday to you."


    Shakira held a small cupcake with a tiny flickering me on it, humming a birthday song as she approached the man who was dazed by the bed. "Happy Birthday to you!" said Shakira.


    Shakira knelt by the bed, blinked, and urged Walter, who was in a daze, "Make a wish and blow out the candle."


    Shakira''s lovely face carried a pure and bright smile. Her eyes shone in the candlelight as she looked at him steadily.


    Walter was a little touched. He closed his eyes for several seconds, then opened them and blew out the candle.


    In the moonlight, Shakira''s smile looked even sweeter and purer Walter couldn''t recover himself until Shakira dabbed a bit of frosting from the cake onto his firm nose with her fingertip. "What''s the matter? Is that so surprising?" asked Shakira.


    "Yes, very surprised." Walter pulled her into his arms and asked, "How did you know today is my birthday?"


    12.018


    Tue, Nov 12 WNB.


    Shakira blinked, "What do you think?"


    Walter didn''t have to guess. "Benji or Levi."


    Shakira burst intoughter, "It''s Levi."


    Shakira turned on the lights and held the cake to his mouth. "I wanted to get you a big one, but Benji said you didn''t want to celebrate with them. So, I got a small one for us without wasting


    When Walter heard her mention "for us," he felt a surge of emotion he couldn''t describe. Instinctively, his grip on her tightened slightly.


    Shakira noticed and couldn''t help butugh, "What? You''re moved already? If you see the gift I got for you, you''ll be even more touched."


    Walter raised an eyebrow. "Gift?"


    "Of course. I''m not stingy enough to give you a cupcake for your birthday," said Shakira.


    Puffing her cheeks, Shakira shoved the cake into his hand and dashed to the door to bring out what she had prepared.


    She proudly held up a deep blue suit tailor-made for Walter,plete with a tie, apel pin, and a tie clip.


    Walter''s eyes flickered momentarily. "Is this-"


    Shakira smiled, "I made it. Do you like it?"

 Chapter 259

    Walter thought it was a gift she had carefully selected for him but was surprised when she said she had made it herself Instantly, his eyes seemed to be deeper even more.


    "Looks great." His voice was deep and richer than a cello''s tone. He took it with both hands. "I''ll try it on now." With that, he began taking off his clothes right away.


    Shakira thought, ''Well, there is no need to change it in such a hurry. Since it was tailored, the fit would be perfect


    But seeing how eager he was, with his eyes sparkling with excitement, Shakira wanted to see him in this outfit she had once imagined.


    She was slightly distracted. Until his solid chest and abs were fully in view, Shakira widened her eyes, watching him slowly put on a white shirt and ced his hands on the waistband of his lounge pants. "Are you sure you want to keep watching me change?" asked Waller.


    When she met Walter''s teasing gaze, Shakira pretended to clear her throat, raised her hands to show innocence, and slowly turned her back to him.


    However, the hotel''s wardrobe had mirrored ss. So when Shakira turned away, Walter''s tall, lean silhouette was still in her sight.


    She pondered, ''Should I close my eyes? But it''s not the first time I''ve seen him, so it''s okay, right? Ah, he has been doing more exercises in rehabtely, so his muscles seem even more defined now!'' "Alright." Shakira turned back around, her clear eyes instantly lighting up with brilliance.


    In a deep unconventional blue, personally highlighted by Shakira with hints of light pink, the suit enhanced Walter''s elegance.


    His hair was untamed, slightly messy against his head, quite different from his usual overbearing CEO image. His bright eyes were fixed on her, almost like a cute and sweet boy. Walter noticed her staring at him without saying a word, one corner of his mouth tugging gently upward. With a yful lift of his eyebrow, he asked, "What''s with your smile?" Shakira burst intoughter. "You look so much younger in this outfit, young master."


    Walter was speechless and thought, ''Do I look so old?''


    To prove her point, Shakira cupped Walter''s face with both hands, giving it a yful squeeze. "You''re adorable." Walter stayed still, letting her do as she pleased.


    Even though Walter''s face was soft, Shakira just rubbed it a few times, not daring to y around too much. As it gotte, she split the small cake in half, and they finished it together. "Alright, let''s call it a night after we''ve finished the cake," said Shakira.


    Walter looked at her intently. "You''re not going to stay with me?"


    Shakira shook her finger and gestured outside with her lips, "I told Benji I''de back at 1:00 am. It''s about time now."


    Of course, she didn''t mention how shocked and gossipy Benji was when she told him the time. At that time, Benji asked, "Are you sure an hour is enough for Walter?"


    Shakira stuck out her tongue and suddenly remembered something before leaving. "Do you want me to give you a couple of


    <


    12.09 Tue, Nov 12


    acupuncture? I heard you having a nightmare when I came in earlier


    Walter''s expression was calm. "No worries. I just have a headache after drinking


    "Oh, okay then, get some rest if you''ve been drinking. Don''t stay up toote," said Shakira.


    Walter suddenly called out to her, "Come over here."


    "Huh?" Shakira, a bit confused, walked up to him.


    Just as she got near the bed, his arm swiftly wrapped around her pulling her into his embrace. Before Shakira reacted, her lips were caught in a deep kiss, their breaths mingling.


    She could faintly hear Walter''s quiet grumble, "Next time, you can''t live with Benji and them anymore."


    Shakira stifled augh as she rubbed the corner of her mouth and pushed him away, trotting away. She was afraid Walter would suddenly change his mind and call Benji, telling them to live outside tonight. After the Lopez Group''s annual party ended, a trending topic unexpectedly shot to the top spot on the hot search.


    It was an employee who won the grand prize at the annual party and posted his award photo online, inciting a buzz across the inte.


    [OMG! Yourpany took a fully furnished 150-square-foot apartment in Crescentville plus fifteen thousand dors for renovations as a reward? Is this really apany? Could I be your boss''s long-lost brother?] [Don''t even mention renovation costs. Just think about how much a square foot costs in Crescentville.]


    [As an employee of Lopez Group, I tell you the house is in the same district as mypany and the average price per square foot is twenty thousand dors.]


    [Oh, God. I''m jealous of the employees of Lopez Group.]


    [I work at Lopez Group too. This year, we''re vacationing at Silverwave Bay, but I wasn''t very lucky and only got the fifth prize, which is about three thousand dors in cash.]


    [What? The fifth prize is three thousand dors. Do you know mypany''s second prize was just a hair dryer worth three hundred dors from AeroVane?]


    [That''s nothing. My prize money was only two hundred dors. If you don''t believe it, just look at my screenshot.]


    [Oh,e on, man. Are you serious? If I were you, I would have to dance in front of the boss.]


    There are many simrments like those above.


    The entire night was apetition of the annual parties amongpanies. By the next day, the Lopez Group was not surprisingly at the top of the headlines as the most trending topic.


    Somergepanies quickly werepared, leading to gossip from employees at the year-end parties of the four other major families.


    The annual parties of the White, Jennings, and Clifton Group were all well-organized. While their rewards weren''t as substantial as the Lopez Group''s, they were still seen as top benchmarks in the industry. This contrast led to widespread mockery of the Nelson Group. [''m an employee of Nelson Group in Crescentville. Our annual party was canceled.]This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    12 09 Tue, Nov 12 LG


    [Yes, no party this year. I''ve been with Nelson Group for seven years. Back then, the Nelson Group''s annual parties were on the same level as those of the other major families.]


    [We used to rent entire luxury spa hotels for a three-day employee retreat. But this year, we got some coupons for a spa hotel.]


    A poprment showed. [Really? I can''t stopughing. Nelson Group must really love the spa.]


    [Come on, how poor is the Nelson Group? But seriously, wasn''t there a ton of gossip about the Nelson Group a while back?] [Yeah, you''re right. It was Nelson Group where the chairman''s daughter tantly copied and then acted like she was the victim.]


    [I know she was a fake daughter. The chairman doesn''t care about his real daughter at all. They deserve their current situation.]


    [Wow, I''ve been following it too. So outrageous. I thought the-mix-up of real and fake daughters only happened in novels, not in a real noble family. Who ignores their real kid to pamper someone else''s?]-


    [I agree. It was miserable enough for his biological daughter to be an outcast. Any normal parent would be heartbroken and shower her with extra love. But they only care about the fake one, even letting her insult the real one. They deserved this.]


    "I believe in Karma. Look, now the Nelson family is getting whatsing to them. I heard Yonder Digital is leading the charge against them. I think it''s time for the Nelson family to be reced."


    12.09 Tue, Nov 12 B

 Chapter 260

    Early in the morning, Cody was awakened by an urgent call from the PR department. When he saw that hispany had shot up to the second spot on the trending list, with a flood of mocking below, he was quite exploded. "A bunch of ungrateful people!" Cody grumbled.


    He added. "Thepany had a tough year, so the annual party budget was put into their year-end bonuses. They caused a fuss, rallying troublemakingizens to mock. I spent a lot on them, but they''re nothing but ingrates." Cody''s outburst woke everyone in the mansion. Still wearing pajamas, they gathered in the living room, their sleepiness overshadowed by worry.


    Finn looked particrly upset, continuously calling friends who work in the media, hoping they could get the discussion colder.


    Yvette stared intently at her phone, watching the relentless criticismbeling her as a fake daughter and some mockery. With her head lowered, no one could see the cold hatred burning in her eyes.


    Selena didn''t understand the online, but she had already received calls from her friends early that morning. They were concerned about the Nelson family''s situation and even asked if they were on the verge of copse. Selena nearly shouted in anger.


    Tapping her cane, Selena dered furiously, "We''re not done. Find those employees causing trouble online and punish them severely."


    Selena thought, ''With Christmas Day approaching, they brought such disgrace to Nelson Group. It''s best to fire them.


    "We can''t do anything aboutizens''ments," Finn said after hanging up the call. "It''s not someone who is purposely stirring things up. They discuss it spontaneously.


    "There are so many topics about us, and the poprity has already declined sincest night. My friend suggests not to pay attention to it. After a couple of days, new hot topics wille up, and this will be forgotten.


    "As for those employees postingments-" Finn said seriously, "They have freedom of speech, and everyment is anonymous. If we find them, it could be more harmful to us."


    Selena was upset. "Are we just going to ignore this?" Cody looked over, not saying a word, but his expression clearly showed he was not pleased.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    At this point, Yvette suddenly spoke up, "If we punish the employees for this, they might be unhappy and spread more rumors to damage thepany''s reputation."


    Her voice was soft and cool, capturing everyone''s attention. "Dad, Finn has always been generous with thepany staff, especially those long-term, loyal employees.


    "Our benefits and sries are among the best in Crescentville. I think that being grateful is a basic virtue everyone should have. Since they''ve received so much from thepany, how could they harm its reputation?


    "I think we need to pay attention to employees whock integrity. If someone''s character is questionable, it might show in their work.


    "We give them great benefits, but they can''t work with full dedication. Shouldn''t we consider firing such unsuitable employees?"


    Cody''s eyes sparkled with appreciation as he looked at Yvette. He spoke softly, "Yvette''s right. We treat them well, yet they don''t give back and even embarrass thepany.


    13


    [


    12 09 Tue, Nov 12 B


    "Finn, maybe we should have someone keep an eye on them, and if they can''t meet their targets, we should let them go That way, we''re not being unfair to them"


    Finn slightly frowned, clearly not fully agreeing with Cody''s opinion However, seeing his father was determined, he could only follow. "Alright, I''ll have HR deal with them." "That''s right, we can''t handle those online critics, but we can fire our employees." Selena finally breathed a sigh of rehef her eyes filled with satisfaction as she looked at Yvette.


    Selena added, "Yvette, you''re smart. You know how to help take care of thepany''s issues with your dad and your brother."


    Yvette blinked her red eyes. "I just can''t bear thepany being treated like a joke." She lowered her head quietly, her voice filled with disappointment.


    "Andizens always said I''m nothingpared to Shakira. I can''t do anything well and even get the Nelson family into trouble," said Yvette.


    Reba couldn''t bear to see her cherished daughter like this and quicklyforted her. "This isn''t your fault. It''sizens who are meddling. Which one of our daughters we favor is our family business, not theirs." Yvette''s eyes grew redder, touched by Reba''s support but also feeling guilty, she spoke softly, "Everyone thinks that Mom and Dad should favor Shakira more. After all, I''m the outsider."


    Selena got really upset hearing this. "They know nothing. To us, you''re our precious girl. As for ungrateful Shakira, she''s nothing."


    Reba''s eyes were filled with anger. "Hasn''t she done enough damage already? She got Jayden''s teammate fired, made the Nelson family a joke online, and Mitchell-" At this point, her voice choked, unable to continue. Yvette was distressed greatly and hugged Reba. "Mom, Mitchell will definitelye back. We''ll surely wait for him to return safely." Listening to Yvette''s powerfulfort, Reba began to sob softly.


    As Finn''s friend mentioned, by noon, some celebrities were making headlines, pushing Nelson Group out of the spotlight, and people online quickly stopped talking about them.


    But before they could celebrate, Mending Hearts, the national first major co-produced medical documentary show, aired suddenly, which sparked widespread discussion online.


    [Isn''t this the show where someone falsely used the doctor, the one that hit the headlines? I can''t believe it wasn''t canceled.]


    [It''s exactly because of that mess that it should be aired so everyone can really see how tense healthcare rtionships are right now.]


    [I''ve finally been waiting for this. As a medical student, I have a show to binge-watch.]


    [Wait, this show''s cast... Nelson? Could it be..."


    [Yes, that''s right. Yvette Nelson, the fake daughter of the Nelson family who couldn''t host an annual party, whose trending was on the trending list this morning.] Come on, they can''t host a party but have money to get on a show. The Nelson family really spoils this fake daughter.]


    12.09 Tue, Nov 12 is

 Chapter 261

    As soon as Shakira finished speaking. Matthew yfully scolded You little rascal'' I thought you''d finally called to wish me a Happy New Year, but it turns out you''re here to question me! Yes, I did it-what of it


    Then he snorted and continued self-righteously. "Now everyone can see the frue colors of the Nelson family. It''s the New Year, I''m just adding a little spice to everyone''s holiday entertainment!"


    Shakira chuckled, softening her tone to humor the old man. "That''s why I called topliment you as soon as I saw the news! I knew right away that only my brilliant master coulde up with such a clever, two-birds-one-stone idea."


    She checked her phone. Neither Kevin nor the production team had sent any advance notice about the surprise appearance. Only after the news went online did they post a message in the group chat, dyed by a full minute. Shakira immediately knew Matthew had a hand in it.


    Matthew felt quite pleased after being ttered like that.


    He added. "Everyone online isughing at the Nelson family early this morning, and they must be desperate for the buzz to die down soon. The show''s set to air around New Year anyway, so releasing it a few days early doesn''t hurt." The early release made no real difference, except that Yvette would be roasted a little more thoroughly.


    Shakira smiled. Since she''d called already, she formally offered an early New Year''s greeting and casually added. "I''m down in Silverwave Bay. There''s plenty of good food around here; I''ll make something and bring it to you in a few days. Matthew''s happiness only grew at the mention of food, though he had his own little grudge. "And you''re only bringing it to me this time?"


    Shakira held back augh, easily catching the meaning behind his words. "Sure thing. Even if Mr. Kierce and the others end up mad at me, I''ll only bring it to you."


    For a moment, Matthew fell silent. He''d love nothing more than to enjoy Shakira''s cooking all by himself, showing it off to those old geezers.


    He believed it would be far too petty of them if they were to get mad at Shakira.


    Waving his hand generously, he relented. "Fine. It''s the New Year-go ahead and bring them some too."


    "Really?" Shakira sounded surprised.


    Matthew replied without hesitation, "Absolutely!"


    "Alright, I''ll do as you say." Shakira deftly cated Matthew.


    The two then chatted for a while about the hospital. Shakira hadn''t officially resigned, so Matthew offered thoughtfully, "If you''re reluctant to bring it up, I can speak to the director for you." Shakira slightly furrowed her brows. "I''d like to keep trying for awhile longer. My university internship starts in March, so I still have two weeks to see patients.


    "I never used to feel this way, but... seeing patientse in looking so worried and leaying with a smile makes me feel... pretty good."


    It was such a strange feeling, something she hadn''t experienced in two lifetimesbined. Though her words were halting, they brought a soft smile from Matthew on the other end.


    He didn''t say much and just reassured her by saying, "Good. Do as you wish. Whatever you want to do, I''ll stand behind you."


    -


    12.09 Tue, Nov 12


    Shakira smiled. "Thank you


    Stepping out of the bathroom. Shakira realized that Walter had arrived too.


    In the spacious suite, she and Xanthe usually had plenty of space to fool around, but now with Walter in the room, the space suddenly felt a bit crowded.


    Even Xanthe had retreated to a corner by the window. When she saw Shakirae out, she was relieved and said. "Shakira, Mr. Lopez came to see you!"


    Only then did Shakira notice that Walter was wearing the birthday gift she''d given him, and his tie was tied in a Windsor knot. When he looked her way, his eyes held a deep gaze.. The gentle, amodating man fromst night revealed his scheming side.


    With a slight raise of her eyebrow, Shakira walked over to him and said, "Didn''t you say you''d be busy today?"


    "I''m getting ready to leave and wanted to see you first," replied Walter.


    Shakira blinked, not quite understanding the reason for his visit yet, and simply said, "Now that you''ve seen me, you can go with peace of mind. We''ll be fine having fun on our own." Her reply clearly left Walter a bit disappointed.


    Amused and frustrated, he gently took her hand, gave it a light squeeze, and murmured, "You little heartbreaker.


    What?" Shakira was baffled, but before she could ask, Walter had already let go and left.


    Once he was gone, Xanthe looked Shakira up and down in disbelief.


    Then she said, "Who would''ve thought that between you and Mr Lopez, you''d be the onecking sensitivity in a rtionship!"


    ""What?" asked Shakira.


    "You still haven''t figured it out?" Xanthe felt a bit sorry for Walter. "Mr. Lopez was clearly hinting that he missed you! I thought you''d give him a big kiss or at least a hug, but..." Shakira was stunned, only now realizing what Walter had meant


    Silently, she pulled out her phone and sent him a message. [Were you just implying you missed me?]


    Walter replied: [What do you think?]


    Shakira thought, ''Oh wow, that really is what he meant! No wonder he looked so defeated earlier.


    Shakira texted: [But we just saw each otherst night.]


    Walter replied, [We didn''t get to meet today.]


    That simple answer brought a flush to Shakira''s cheeks.


    In the parking lot downstairs, a group of people was already waiting, including not only Benji and the others but also several CEOS from longtime partnerpanies. As Walter approached, admiration lit up their faces.


    23


    12 09


    Tue, Nov 12 WWG.


    One of the CEOs remarked, Mr. Lopez, you look quite dashing today!"


    Another CFO added, "Absolutely! It''s rare to see someone pull off a blue suit with such charm. Only Mr. Lopez has the poise to do it"


    Even Benji and his group looked surprised.


    Benji said, "Walter, we''re just going to an auction. No need to dress up this much, right?"


    "Exactly! You''re making us look so in," Calton teased, folding his arms behind his head.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Gavin squinted, studying the outfit. "This design looks familiar. feel like I''ve seen it somewhere before..."


    "Now that you mention it, I recognize the style too. Isn''t it by some well-known designer?"


    "You mean that genius designer who only released a few pieces before vanishing?"


    Before they could continue, Walter gave a slight smile and said, "You like it? My fianc¨¦e designed and made it for me."

 Chapter 262

    The auction took ce at a private vineyard owned by Gideon in Silverwave Bay. The gardens, built with an ocean view. were so exquisite that even Xanthe, who had traveled the world and seen countless wonders, couldn''t help but look on enviously. Watching high-profile figures-many of whom she''d seen on magazine covers or financial news channels-arrive in luxury cars, Xanthe couldn''t help but gasp.


    She said. "The wealth gap between my family and his is about as big as the gap between rich and super-rich'' Shakira, your friend must be someone really impressive to get tickets to this auction, right?"


    Shakira responded coolly, "He doesn''t need tickets. He is the host.


    Xanthe''s jaw nearly dropped to the floor as she asked, "H-Host?!"


    Just then, a man in a tailcoat led several security guards right to their cab. "Ms. Nelson, Ms. Sullivan, I''m Philip Gordon, the estate manager."


    With a respectful bow, he weed them into the vineyard and said gently, "The auction offers two seating options. One is the member section on-site, where you can bid by raising paddles.


    "The other is the VIP section in a private suite on the rooftop garden, where you can watch the auction live and ce bids through the on-site staff. Both sections go by the highest bid. Which would youdies prefer?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    Shakira had no preference and nced over at Xanthe. Still processing that Shakira''s friend was a wealthy tycoon, Xanthe chuckled a bit awkwardly and said, "The VIP section soundsfortable, but since this is my first time at an auction, maybe the in-person experience would be better?"


    Shakira nodded. "Let''s go to the on-site section."


    Once they arrived at the venue, Philip seated them in a spot with a great view and minimal interruptions and handed them Bluetooth earpieces and bid paddles.


    Then he said, "Our boss has instructed that if youdies are interested in any items, you may let us know through the earpieces, and we will internally lock the item from further bids


    Nothing defines privilege quite like the ease of bending the rules.


    Xanthe, shocked for the second time that day, gasped and whispered to Shakira, "Doesn''t this count as, well, cheating?"


    Before Shakira could respond, Philip replied with absolute seriousness, "Yes, that would indeed be cheating."


    ''Wow! He is so blunt!'' Xanthe thought to herself.


    As guests began filing in, Philip excused himself.


    Seizing the moment, Xanthe leaned over to Shakira and said, "You''re too good at keeping secrets! You have such a wealthy friend, but you have never mentioned it!"


    As she spoke, she thought of the goofy Sean and suddenly felt concerned for Walter. "This friend of yours isn''t also trying to pursue you, is he?


    Shakira said, "He is just a friend. I just happened to help him with something once." Xanthe replied, "Oh, I see!"


    Soon, staff began delivering snacks and drinks to each seat, along with offers of professional massage services.


    The guests were surprised. "Those running Yarovia''s auctions maintain a lofty attitude and never provide extra services to


    regr members. This is the first time I''ve experienced such a high level of service!"


    "Exactly. I''ve been to at least ten of these, and this is a first!"


    "Looks like Yarovia''s economy really isn''t doing so well, they need us from Clusia to boost it!" someone said, bursting intoughter.


    "Well, not necessarily. Although this auction is hosted by the Yarovian royal family, the vineyard''s owner is from Clusia, so of course they''d treat us right."


    Opinions varied in the room. Xanthe, listening with her ears perked up, chucked and said, "They''ve all got it wrong. It''s only because you''re here that they''re getting this kind of treatment." Shakira shook her head. "I''m going to the restroom."


    Xanthe replied, "Go on-I''ll text you if it starts."


    As soon as Shakira stood up, an attendant instantly appeared beside her, ready to assist.


    Xanthe behind her eximed in disbelief, "Wow, I might actually be right! Maybe someone is pursuing Shakira, but she''s too oblivious to realize it!"


    Hearing this, Shakira was speechless.


    She walked out of the venue to the restroom at the end of the corridor. Just as she entered the stall, her phone buzzed with a message from Xanthe. She thought, ''Did the auction start already?''


    She opened the message and saw a string of exmation points followed by: [Yvette is here too!! She also went to the restroom!!]


    Shakira frowned and then heard hurried footsteps approaching.


    Yvette, holding her phone, wore an angry expression as she nced around thevish but silent restroom. She muttered to someone on the line, "Just hold on!"


    Then she began kicking open each stall door, checking one by one. Every stall, from the first up to the second-tost, was unupied.


    Yvette turned to thest stall and shoved the door open with force.


    She turned and leaned against the wall. Even though she had confirmed there was no one else in the restroom, she still lowered her voice cautiously. "Say what you need to quickly. I''m here at the auction with Jayden." The restroom was so quiet that the person''s words came through clearly on the phone.


    Lago was filled with anxiety as he said, "Honey, my beloved daughter, please help me. I''ve tried everything, but no one wants to buy our pre-packaged meals. The warehouse is filling up with thest batch we produced!" Yvette found his words utterly ridiculous. "Is this your first business venture? Why did you produce goods without orders? If nobody wants your pre-packaged meals, it obviously means they don''t taste good. How do you expect me to help?" Lago argued, "That''s impossible! They were gone in a sh when we gave out samples for free! It''s all because of that damned fortune teller, who said online that our house had a negative vibe and would bring bad luck.


    "It''s been so long, but it''s still remembered. My previous business partners refuse to work with me, saying I''d bring them bad luck if they used our products!"


    WB.


    Lago cursed even more fiercely, "Damn it, I used to spend so much money taking them to clubs for drinks and fun, and now that I''m just bankrupt, they''re all treating me like a curse, not even wanting to do business with me! What am I supposed to do?" Yvette got angry hearing these words. She moved her phone away from her ear with an expressionless face.


    Then she said, "You said you brought in some great help, didn''t you? Let him figure it out."


    "It''s just that... I''m a bit embarrassed," Lago said gloomily. "I bragged to Gideon back then. If I go back to him for help now... it''d be like casting my pride aside."

 Chapter 263

    Yvette''s words didn''t awaken even a shred of conscience or sympathy in Lago. Instead, he acted like a rat-catching the scent of meat, eager and impatient.


    He said excitedly. "See, this is our chance! My dear daughter, the Nelson family even abandoned their own daughter. How long can you even count on them?


    "The priority now is to quickly channel all the Nelson family''s resources and funds into ours-that''s the only way they will fully be yours!"


    The bewitching voice echoed from the phone, and Yvette''s twister reflection in the mirror gradually rxed. She said. "Wait for my call."


    Lagoughed out loud and replied, "I knew my precious daughter would find a way. Our family is counting on you!" Yvette''s face shed with disgust at Lago''s affectionate words.


    Suddenly, she thought of something, squinted her eyes, and said. "What about Jessie? Ask her if herst method didn''t work. I thought I had already taken Shakira''s fortune. Why is she still doing just fine?"


    Yvette was filled with anger at the sight of Shakira living happily by Walter''s side.


    She thought, ''How could someone as low and insignificant as Shakira possibly be with someone as noble and prominent as Walter? Without him, she''d have nothing to stand against me.''


    Lago''s tone turned helpless. "Your grandfather already said she was born to live a charmed life. No matter how much luck you''ve taken from her, she''ll keep attracting more. The only permanent solution to im her luck is through a blood ritual, or..."


    His voice turned eerie and sinister as he added, "Or kill her."


    Yvette gave a faint smile. "I''ll make her disappear. But before that... I should at least make use of her, so nothing goes to waste." After hanging up, she touched up her makeup and left the restroom.


    Shortly after, Shakira stepped out from the second-tost stall, her expression cold. She washed her hands and left.


    By now, the lights had dimmed in the auction hall. Holding a smallmp, the attendant, who had been waiting for Shakira, guided her back to her seat.


    Xanthe, who had been waiting anxiously, inspected her carefully "You''re finally back! Why didn''t you answer my call? You told me not toe. Was it because you were arguing with Yvette and worried I''d be a distraction if I came?" Shakira remained calm as she said, "I didn''t confront her directly."


    Xanthe breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That''s good. The auction has started. The first two items were porcin cups; the jewelry''sing up next." Shakira nodded, turning her attention to the stage.


    The auctioneer was enthusiastically presenting the next lot. "Our third piece is a pearl ne from the Orenda Ocean, featuring pearls of 0.71 inches in diameter. Each pearl is full-bodied with a radiant luster. The bidding starts at 150 thousand dors."


    Under the spotlight, the ne sparkled with a breathtaking glow, mesmerizing the audience.


    Yvette''s eyes lit up. "Jayden, this pearl ne is beautiful!"


    The invitation to the auction was initially for Finn, but busy withpany matters, he had arranged for Jayden to take Yvette and Aaron for a rxing evening out:  Ub


    Picking up on Yvette''s implication, Jayden said, "You like it? I will buy it for you." With that, he raised his bidding paddle. "One hundred and sixty thousand." The auctioneer gestured toward him, saying, "Bidder 38, 160 thousand dors."


    Yvette was delighted and full of gratitude as she smiled at Nathan and said, "Thank you, Jayden. I do like it, but I think it would look best on Grandma."


    Her smile turned a bit mncholic as she continued, "After whats been on the inte, she must be disappointed. I''d like to get her something nice to make her happy."


    Jayden paused for a moment. "It''s thoughtful of you to feel that way. Grandma just speaks her mind-she''s not angry with you."


    "I know, but I''d like to do something to make everyone happy," replied Yvette.


    Jayden couldn''t help but feel moved. Despite facing online criticism herself, Yvette still put on a brave face for her family. This only strengthened Jayden''s resolve to secure the pearl ne for her.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    The pearl ne was truly captivating, attracting a crowd of eager bidders. But as the price reached 600 thousand dors, the number of contenders began to thin out. Determined to get the ne, Jayden raised his paddle, calling out, "Seven hundred thousand dors."


    The auctioneer called the first bid. "Seven hundred thousand dors once! Any other bidders?"


    Yvette was thrilled and surprised that Jayden was holding out this long. She gently tugged at his sleeve and asked, "Isn''t this


    oo expensive?"


    Then she bit her lip and whispered sadly, "I bought some things for the family recently, so I don''t have much allowance left. Can I pay you back once I''ve saved up enough?"


    "No need to worry. I told you, it''s my gift to you," replied Jayden.


    "Jayden... you''re so good to me," said Yvette.


    Jayden patted her shoulder. "If it can lift your spirits, any amount spent will be worth it."


    Sitting nearby, Berry watched the scene with barely concealed envy and said, "Yvette, your brother spoils you so much. I wish I had a brother like that!" Yvette only smiled at thement, but she felt quite smug. Hearing Jayden''s relentless bidding, Xanthe crossed her arms and remarked, "Yvette must''ve sweet-talked him into raising the bid over and over. Wow, they''re really going for it-it''s already 700 thousand dors!"


    Shakira replied calmly, "Doesn''t matter. The Nelson family''s never been short on money or foolish about it."


    Xanthe chuckled, giving her a thumb-up. "That''s a spot-on summary! But I''ve got to admit, watching Yvette gloat like that is annoying."


    She nced at the bidding paddle, hesitating. Before she could make a decision, Shakira raised her paddle with ease.


    The auctioneer called out, "Bidder 88, 900 thousand dors, going once!"


    Everyone in the room turned to look at the big spender who had made such a high bid on her first attempt, and when they realized it was such a young woman, they all gasped in admiration. Yvette and her group turned, their eyes widening in disbelief. "Shakira!" Berry eximed in anger.


    "What''s she doing here?" Aaron said angrily."


    B.


    18 85%


    Jayden''s gaze darkened as he refused to back down, raising the bid once more.


    The auctioneer announced, "Bidder 38, one million dors, going once!" Shakira nced over at them before calmly raising: her paddle once more. 12.11 Tue, Nov 12 wb.

 Chapter 264

    Shakira responded with a question, "How much do you think this pearl ne is worth?"


    Xanthe answered without hesitation, "Even a fool can tell it''s worth at most 600 thousand dors. It''s really not a good deal right now!"This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    "Even a fool can tell?" Shakira raised an eyebrow and smiled, looking noble and stunning. "Yvette and Jayden can also see that, but they keep raising their bids." "So you mean..." Xanthe was puzzled, watching the hint of a smile on Shakira''s face.


    "They were likely bidding to buy it at first, but now the price has far exceeded its real value, and they''re still pushing. Their motive has shifted." replied Shakira.


    Xanthe immediately understood, and her eyes lit up with excitement. "With how jealous Yvette is of you, there''s no way she''d let you win. She''ll keep bidding no matter what! So you''re not really trying to buy the ne; you just want to make them pay more!" Shakira shrugged. "Besides, the host is Gideon. As a friend, I''m helping him make more money, as a way of returning the favor for his invitation."


    Xanthe, ovee with excitement,ughed out loud. "Shakira, had no idea you were this sneaky! Gosh, I''m starting to like you even more!"


    She couldn''t help but hug Shakira and give her a big kiss on the cheek.


    Shakira was momentarily stunned.


    Meanwhile, Walter, who was watching the livestream, was furious and jealous.


    Seeing what appeared to be a celebratory gesture between Shakira and Xanthe, as if the pearl ne were already theirs, Yvette and her group grew visibly frustrated.


    Even Aaron couldn''t help but say, "Jayden, I''ve got a bit of cash, too. Consider it my sponsorship for Yvette-we can''t let those two wins!"


    Jayden said with a dark gaze, "No need." He raised his paddle again. "One and a half million."


    The new high bid once again drew all eyes in the room.


    The auctioneer''s voice rose with excitement. "One and a half million from Bidder 38! Going once!"


    Jayden and his group all watched Shakira intently. But Shakira, staring ahead at the stage, made no move.


    "Going twice at 1.5 million dors," the auctioneer said.


    Yvette''s hands clenched unconsciously, and her gaze was locked on Shakira.


    The room remained silent. Not only did Shakira refrain from raising the bid, but even VIP Bidder 1, who had been fiercelypeting earlier, stopped bidding. "Going three times at 1.5 million dors." With a bang, the auctioneer brought down the gavel. "Congrattions to Bidder 38 on winning the pearl ne!" Yvette exhaled sharply in relief, a smile spreading across her face, "Jayden, we got it!"


    Jayden''s tense expression shifted slightly. "Yes."


    12.11 Tue, Nov 12 UB.


    Aaron, equally pleased, chimed in. "Jayden, only you can afford such a price. That woman is no match for you."


    Berry smirked. "Even with Mr. Lopez backing her, there''s no way he''d let her spend that much."


    While they basked in joy, the VIP guests in another room were confused.


    "Wait, what? Walter, why didn''t you let Brian keep bidding?" Ben was puzzled by Jayden''s victory. He thought, It''s just 1.5 million dors; that''s nothing to Walter.'' Walter remained expressionless. "No need. She was never serious about buying it."


    Benji was confused. "What?"


    Calton couldn''t help but say, "That can''t be right. If she wasn''t trying to win it, why''d she keep up the game for so long?"


    Even Gavin shook his head. "Mr. Lopez, you might have outsmarted yourself this time."


    Kyle stayed silent, simply watching.


    Walterzily revealed the truth, saying, "She was just toying with the two people." The group exchanged nces and shook their heads again.


    They couldn''t help but think, ''See? Ate bloomer in love faces disadvantages; he still can''t decipher a woman''s feelings!"


    Each of them silently pitied Shakira, until the camera turned to her, and they caught her looking nothing close to disappointed. Instead, she had a satisfied look, like a cat that got into the cream. "She doesn''t look like upset at all..." said Benji.


    "She actually seems pleased," Calton said.


    "After observing Calton''s smug expressions for years, I can tell her look has the same vibe," said Gavin.


    At that, they all went silent, thinking, ''Fair enough; a woman''s heart is hard to fathom, and Walter''s girlfriend is even more challenging to figure out.


    Slow on the uptake, Calton suddenly exploded. "Hey! Gavin, who are you calling smug?"


    ********


    The auction continued, with several more pieces of jewelry presented. Yvette was immediately enchanted by them. But, too embarrassed to ask Jayden to spend more after already blowing.5 million dors, she had to watch as other bidders imed them. Finally, thest item was revealed-a radiant ruby ne, adorned with Orenda Ocean pearls of the same quality as the previous pearl ne.


    The pearl ne Yvette was given paled inparison to the ruby ne,


    The auctioneer called out, "The starting bid for the ruby ne is 300 thousand dors."


    Yvette stared fixedly at the ne as the bidding rounds proceeded, and in the end, Shakira bought it for 600 thousand dors.


    Now, everyone''s attention shifted to Yvette''s group. Their expressions said it all: spending 1.5 million dors on a string of pearls alone, these people must be quite foolish.


    Yvette was fuming. Jayden and the others felt the same sting of embarrassment, their faces long with disappointment and frustration.


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    After the auction ended, Xanthe swaggered up to Yvette''s group. unable to suppress the smug smile on her face.


    Shakira stood just behind her, observing at a measured distance with a smirk that only sharpened the sting for Yvette and her friends.


    "Oh my, let me see-who was it that just bought a string of pearls without a single gemstone for 1.5 million dors?" Xanthe said.


    "Xanthe, could you be any more irritating?" Berry snapped.


    Xanthe feigned cleaning out her ear. "Ah, so that''s what a fool sounds like-I''ve learned something new today."


    ""You-" Berry was furious.


    "Berry, let it go," Yvette said, taking a deep breath and trying to appear indifferent. "Rubies are so shy; they''re not suited for Grandma. Our choice is just right." "Exactly. Both nes have the same pearls, but ours had a higher starting price, so it must be better!" Aaron grumbled defiantly.


    12.11 Tue, Nov 12 Wb.

 Chapter 265

    Xanthe picked at her ear. "Are you dumb? Yvette''s ne had a starting bid of just 150 thousand dors, while Shakira''s started at 300 thousand. You are such fools, overpricing a cheap trinket and thinking you got a treasure!" Aaron''s face was contorted in anger. "You-" At that moment, Philip approached with the auctioneer in tow.


    Yvette and Jayden knew that the host of today''s auction was someone of considerable status. Seeing Philip and the auctioneer approach, they assumed the two people were there to make connections with them. Yvette even shed a ttering smile. "Today''s auction was spectacr..."


    But the two walked past them without a nce. The smile froze on Yvette''s face.


    They stopped in front of Shakira. The auctioneer, who had seemed serious and formal on stage, was now lively and cheerful. She winked at Shakira and said, "Congrattions, Ms. Nelson, on winning the ruby ne." Shakira returned a slight smile. "Thank you."


    Most of the members had already left. With a cheerful expression, the auctioneer said, "Ms. Nelson, you might not know this, but thest item was actually an addition.


    "It was privately owned by the host and wasn''t meant for auction But when he found out you liked pearls, he included it at thest minute."


    She nced at Philip, who didn''t interrupt and continued, "The actual value of the ne is at least this amount. You''re quite lucky, Ms. Nelson." She made a hand gesture with a number.


    Shakira was surprised. Xanthe eximed in shock, "Two million! Oh my gosh, Shakira, you bought a two-million-dor treasure for just 600 thousand dors! You scored big!"


    With the plush velvet box in her hands, Shakira, feeling the jealous res from not too far away, smirked and said, "I was indeed lucky."


    "Of course! Shakira is a true lucky charm, unlike someone who merely pretends to be one. That person is nothing but a misfortune magnate, always getting into trouble, but she ims to be a lucky charm," Xanthe said loudly.


    Then she suddenly looked at Yvette and covered her mouth in mock surprise. "Oh dear, I wasn''t talking about you, Yvette. Surely you won''t take that personally, right?"


    A surge of fury darkened Yvette''s gaze as she thought, ''She is such a nasty piece of work!"


    Ever the defender of damsels in distress, Aaron clenched his fists, storming toward them. Pointing a finger at Shakira, he shouted, his face contorted with anger, "You''re lucky I haven''t settled the score yet, but here you are provoking us. Don''t think I won''t hit a woman-"


    Philip and the others tensed, preparing to intervene. But before they could, Shakira pulled Xanthe back and stepped forward herself, grabbing Aaron''s wrist as he pointed at her.


    Aaron was stunned, and before he could react, he suddenly lost his bnce. In one swift motion, Shakira flipped him over her shoulder, mming him hard to the ground with a loud thud.


    Jayden''s expression changed as he rushed over to Shakira. "Shakira!"


    "What?" Shakira met his furious, stunned gaze without fear. "You can''t keep your own people in check, yet you have time to lecture others?"


    Jayden caught the underlying meaning in her words and pressed his lips into a tight line, his whole-body tense.


    13


    12.11 Tue, Nov 12 b.


    0485


    Aaron was stunned, his back throbbing from the impact against the pale marble floor. But what shocked him even more was that a woman had flipped him over her shoulder and mmed Hun to the ground. Her movements had been so swift and fluid. Given his weight, not many women in the military could even manage that Hey there, too dumbfounded to move, staring directly at Shakira


    Feeling his gaze, Shakira slightly lowered her head and said sternly. "The moment you decided to use such underhanded tactics against me, you lost any ce in the force. Right is right, and wrong is wrong.


    "If you still stubbornly believe you''re not at fault, then even without me around, your arrogance will eventually cause your downfall!"


    With that, Shakira turned away, heading toward the exit with Xanthe by her side.


    Aarony in stunned silence, unable to react for a long moment A sudden thought hit him, and he scrambled to his feet to run after Shakira.


    But before he could get close, he was stopped by several men in ck and a man with an imposing aura.


    "It''s Brian!" Berry recognized the man stopping Aaron, her face full of jealousy and frustration. "I knew it! How could Shakira possibly know the auction host? It has to be because of Mr. Lopez. She''s clearly spending Mr. Lopez''s money!" Yvette fixed her gaze where Shakira had disappeared, gripping the gift box so tightly that it warped in her hands, her mind swirling with hatred and dark thoughts.


    Shakira saw Walter and his entourage after leaving the auction hall. "You''re here too?"


    Walter reached out his hand toward her and said to Benji beside him, "Take her back to the hotel." He was, of course, referring to Xanthe-the third wheel.


    Benji was shocked. "Wait, weren''t we supposed to meet our business partners for dinner?"


    Walter, already leading Shakira to the Maybach, said without looking back, "Something came up."


    His business partners watching from the back though, ''Mr. Lopez, could you at leaste up with a better excuse to show us some respect? We''re all watching!''


    Inside the car, Shakira finally noticed the message Walter had sent her, containing a photo of the private suite. She stuck out her tongue yfully. "I just saw the picture you sent."


    Walter gently squeezed her hand. "If I''d known you''d be there, I would''ve brought you with me."


    Shakira''s eyes sparkled with a yful smile. "I don''t think that''s a good idea-I would''ve missed out on some fun."


    Walter assumed she was talking about her bidding war with Yvette and thought she had a point.


    If Shakira''d been in the private room, even if she had bid agains Yvette, Yvette and her group wouldn''t have known who they were up against or gotten nearly as riled up. Shakira wouldn''t be so pleased, either.


    Walter shook his head, amused, when a sudden thought urred to him. His gaze locked onto Shakira with an intensity that caught her by surprise as if he''d seen through everything.


    Shakira shrank back a bit, feeling inexplicably uneasy as countless possibilities shed through her mind. "Wh-what is it?"


    Walter held out his hand. "You..."


    Shakira closed her eyes and decided to confess it all. "Are you going to ask about the money I used to buy the ne? It was the money I saved up for Mrs. Nelson''s medical bills. I never used it. I wasn''t trying to avoid paying you back!" 1211 Tue, Nov 12 B.


    Of course, there was one thing she didn''t mention: she''d saved far more than just 600 thousand dors. Walter was stunned.


    Shakira rattled it all off in one breath, only to realize that Walter wasn''t saying anything. She cracked open one eye, relieved to see he didn''t appear upset, and slowly opened the other.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Holding her breath, she asked, "You''re not mad, are you?"


    The corner of Walter''s mouth twitched. He hadn''t expected her to be hung up on this. His hand, still suspended in midair, moved forward. Then he pressed his fingertips on her cheek and gave it a firm rub. "Actually," he said, half-exasperated, "I was going to say Xanthe kissed you here."


    Shakira froze. "What?"


    Then she thought, ''So... one casual question somehow made me spill my big secret? I really need to stop being so submissive to him! It only puts me at a disadvantage.

 Chapter 266

    After he made sure the mark on her face left by Xanthe was fully covered by his own. Walter finally let go, satisfied Seeing her dejected look, he smirked and said, "Looks like you''ve been saving quite a bit behind my back." Shakira quickly exined, "I''ve spent it all now; there''s not much left!"


    Walter seemed unconcerned and asked, "So why didn''t you use the card I gave you?"


    Shakira scratched her head and replied. "If I used your money. I still need to pay it back, so I might as well use my own."


    Walter cleared his throat, sensing a subtle, unspoken jab in her words. In the past, he''d pressured her to pay him back. because he feared she''d disappear without a trace someday.


    She had entered his life so unexpectedly that he''d wanted something to keep her around. But now, those external things didn''t seem necessary.


    "That was then. Things are different now," Walter said, his tone steady. "Don''t worry about it. Spend it however you want."


    Shakira shrugged. "It''s okay, really. I don''t mind buying it with my own money." With that, she opened the box, revealing a dazzling pearl and ruby ne that sparkled beautifully, even in the dim light of the car.


    She held the box out to Walter. "Last time we went to your aunt''s house, she and her husband were really kind to me, so I got this as a New Year''s gift for her. What do you think?"


    Walter looked surprised, and then his expression became thoughtful. "I thought you bought it just topete with Yvette."


    Shakira thought for a moment and then had a sudden realization. "Wait, you were VIP Bidder I?"


    "Yes, that was me," replied Walter.


    "Oh my gosh! I thought it was some random, foolish person bidding against me. You thought I wanted it, so you tried to get it for me!"


    "At first, yes, but I eventually realized what you were thinking."


    Shakira patted her chest, relieved. "Good thing you caught on, or you might''ve ended up buying that overpriced ne."


    Her concern brought Walter a sense of contentment. He took another serious look at the ne before saying, "It''s beautiful. It''ll suit my aunt perfectly."


    "Isn''t it? The moment I saw it, I thought of her. The rubies have such elegance, and the pearls add a touch of luxury. Together, they''re neither overwhelming nor in," replied Shakira.


    She closed the box and ced it firmly in Walter''s hand. "Then I count on you to pass it to her and wish her a happy New Year!"


    Walter said, "Your gift shoulde from you personally-it means more that way. And besides..."


    "Besides what?"


    "Besides, I haven''t told my aunt that we''re together."


    Shakira, feeling her social anxiety creeping in, instantly became nervous. "You are going to do it now? Isn''t that a bit sudden..."Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Walter didn''t give her a chance to refuse. Before she could protest, he''d already ced a video call. Shakira was terrified.


    12


    12.11 Tue, Nov 12 wb.


    The call quickly connected. Sk was clearly delighted as she said. "Walter? And is that..."


    1))


    "Aunt Sk," Walter said gently, motioning to Shakira. Feeling a sudden wave of nervousness, Shakira leaned into the camera, her ears turning red, and said, "Happy New Year, Mrs. Inwood!" 84%


    Recognizing her familiar face, Sk was relieved and broke into a wide smile. "It''s Shakira. Wonderful. I''m so d to see you two together! Are you both out and about?"


    Sk''s cheerful tone made Shakira''s ears turn even redder.


    Walter noticed this, and his smile grew a bit wider. "We''re at Silverwave Bay for thepany''s annual event. She''s here as my girlfriend."


    Shakira was shocked, thinking, ''He just dropped that news out of nowhere?!''


    "Your girlfriend?!" Sk seemed to be stunned for a moment, and then, realizing what Walter meant, she covered her mouth in joyful disbelief. "You two are together? Is that true? Shakira?". Shakira took a deep breath and nodded earnestly at Sk. "Yes, Mrs. Inwood, Walter and I are together now."


    "Oh, that''s wonderful!" Tears shimmered in Sk''s eyes as she murmured, "I knew Walter felt something special for you, and I''m so happy that you feel the same and that you two are together." Sk was overwhelmed with joy,ughing and crying at the same time.


    Shakira, not good with such situations, held up the gift box and disyed the ne. "Mrs. Inwood, this is my New Year''s gift for you. I hope you like it. I''ll have it sent to you tomorrow."


    "Oh, sweetheart, you got me a gift? It should be me getting something for you!" Sk, appreciating Shakira''s thoughtfulness, epted the ne. "Next time youe to visit, I''ll take you shopping and get you something you love." Shakira replied, "Alright, thank you, Mrs. Inwood." Walter wrapped his arm around Shakira''s shoulder and said, "Aunt Sk, we''re heading back to the hotel now. Let''s chat next time." "Alright, have fun and stay safe," said Sk.


    "We will," replied Walter. After hanging up, Shakira finally let out a long breath and said, "Oh my gosh!"


    Walter found her reaction amusing. "Normally, nothing fazes you. This wasn''t even your first time meeting my aunt. So why so nervous?"


    "Of course I was nervous! This time is different-I''m meeting her as your girlfriend..." said Shakira.


    Walter tapped her nose and said, "I understand. You are just shy. Both of themughed.


    The driver and Brian, sitting in the front, exchanged a quick nce, trying not tough.


    For the rest of the trip, Shakira joined Xanthe in some carefree exploring. By the final day, she was so exhausted that she fell sound asleep on the ne.


    When their private jetnded, Kyle and the others waited for their assistants to pick them up. Shakira walked out with Xanthe, helping her manage the threerge suitcases. Xanthe kept saying, "Shakira, you don''t have to take me. My cousin''sing to pick me up."


    "Your cousin?" asked Shakira.


    12 11


    Tue, Nov 12 web.


    "Yeah, my second uncle''s daughter, Lucy."


    Just then. Xanthe waved toward a young woman in a hoodie and jeans. "Lucy! This is my best friend, Shakira! Shakira, this is my cousin, Lucy"


    "Nice to meet you." Shakira nodded at Lucy, who walked up to them.


    Lucy looked her over briefly and replied indifferently, "Hi, Shakira. Xanthe, let''s hurry up. It''s New Year''s and the parking lo is packed. If we don''t move soon, we''ll get stuck."


    "Okay, let''s go, Xanthe said, quickly saying goodbye to Shakira. After watching them leave, Shakira turned to head back.


    For some reason, Shakira felt that Lucy''s nce hadn''t been particrly friendly. But she brushed it off and soon found Walter in the parking lot, and together they left smoothly through the SVIP exit.


    Back at Easke Valley Estate, the entire manor was adorned in vibrant New Year''s decorations, with festive touches in every corner. After handing out the gifts she''d brought back for everyone, Shakira went upstairs to check on the cats.


    To her surprise, in the few days she''d been gone, they''d be quite chubby. They hadn''t looked much different over video calls, but as soon as she picked them up, she realized they weighed twice as much as before.


    She thought, ''Sure enough, senior people love to spoil their pets treating them like royalty-Levi is no exception!"


    The next couple of days flew by as Shakira set up a cozy room for the cats and cooked meals for Matthew and the others, arranging for their delivery.


    Before she knew it, New Year''s Eve arrived. Early in the morning, yawning and rubbing her eyes, Shakira unlocked her phone and nced down, only to jump up in shock.


    "What?! Walter, are you out of your mind?!" she eximed.


    Walter had casually transferred Shakira eight payments of 14,300 to express his love for her.

 Chapter 267

    9


    89% +5


    Shakira rubbed her eyes a few times, making sure she hadn''t seen it wrong. She thought, ''So, Walter has really lost his mind!"


    Apparently, her sharp scream had reached the study, as Walter sent her a voice message: [Look under the pillow.]


    Puzzled, Shakira reached under it and pulled out a check. The amount on it was three million dors.


    Shakira gasped, too shocked to even scream.


    Another voice message from Walter came through. "The app has a transfer limit. Happy New Year."


    Shakira knew he had a nice voice, but this time, it was downright melodic.


    She didn''t hesitate and cheerfully epted it, sending him a few yful "Thank you, boss!" emojis.


    Just as she was basking in the joy, a message from Sk popped up.


    Sk, as wealthy as her nephew, transferred 3,333,333 dors to Shakira.


    A voice message quickly followed. "Shakira, Walter told me you spent all your savings on the ne for me. This is a New Year''s gift from me. ept it, alright?"


    Shakira couldn''t bring herself to ept it, so she began thinking of a polite way to refuse. But Sk''s next voice message shattered that n.


    [This isn''t just from me; it''s also from Walter''s grandparents and parents. If you don''t take it, I won''t have a happy New Year.]


    Shakira knew if she didn''t ept, it would genuinely hurt Sk''s feelings.


    So she took the money, thanked Sk, and started to think about what gift she should prepare in return.


    If someone treated her poorly, she would make them suffer.


    But for those who were kind to her, she would repay them doubly.


    In the days that followed, Shakira''s phone buzzed more than ever with messages of New Year''s greetings.


    Matthew, Ethan, Sean, Gideon, Kyle, Calton, Gavin, Benji, Kevin and Michael all sent her New Year''s greetings and gifts.


    At lunch, Levi slipped a box into her hand, and inside were small gold bars.


    In two lives, Shakira had never received so many gifts or experienced this kind of affection.


    She finally understood how a cherished child celebrates New Year''s.


    In her past life, she hadn''t even felt such care and warmth from the Nelson family.


    ''She once thought she was not deserving of love.


    But now she finally realized that it wasn''t her who was undeserving but those foolish people who couldn''t tell right from


    wrong.


    Of course, Joe also sent her a holiday gift, but Shakira deleted and blocked him. It was New Year, and she didn''t want to be disturbed.


    That evening, Benji returned to the vi, and even Brian and Levi joined them at the table. They enjoyed the barbecue and watched a movie projected on the screen.


    III


    GT. Chapter 267


    In Easke Valley Estate, there was a designated area for fireworks, and they had been going off nonstop since nightfall. From the dining room''s floor-to-ceiling windows, Shakira and the others could see bursts of brilliant fireworks filling the sky, offering a spectacr view.


    Eating the barbecue and sipping ice-cold c, Shakira felt a warmth in her heart, squinting her eyes in contentment.


    Walter gently patted her hand. "Pace yourself with the c; it''s cold."


    Shakira stuck out her tongue. "I know, I know!"


    Just as she put down her drink, her phone buzzed with a message-it was a New Year''s greeting from Xanthe.


    Shakira replied with a few words, and shortly after, Xanthe sent her a screenshot.


    Shakira opened it, raising an eyebrow.


    It was an Instagram post from Yvette, showing off the holiday gifts she had received along with an extravagant New Year''s feast. Her caption read: [Grateful to have family who love me and whom I love.] Xanthe scoffed: [Ugh! Family? She''s totally shameless, taking what''s not hers and acting so smug! Why doesn''t she show off what her birth parents gave her?]


    Shakira just smiled without saying anything.


    Lago had been asking Yvette for money, so there was no way he would give her any of the valuable gifts the Nelson family had sent.


    Xanthe was furious. [I can''t stand watching that fraud show off to everyone, with all the ssmates fawning over her in thements!]


    She then dug through her phone, managing to scrape together a few photos of cash piles, and asked Shakira, [Think this will put her in her ce?]


    Shakira nced at it. [Not quite. It doesn''t look like as much as Yvette got.]


    Xanthe replied: [Damn it! Only my parents and a few close rtives give me gifts. The Nelson family has more people. Even if a few of mine are generous, she''s still got the numbers on her side!]


    What annoyed Xanthe even more was that she''d sent a New Year''s greeting to the man she''d been flirting with, and he hadn''t even bothered with a gift in return. He owned such argepany, but he was so cheap. Shakira thought for a moment and then shared the transfers from Walter and Sk with Xanthe.


    Matthew and the others had sent her expensive gifts too, but she couldn''t share those publicly. Xanthe went quiet for five minutes.


    Then she began bombarding Shakira with voice messages.


    Shakira converted them to text, which turned out to be just strings of "ah!"


    Good thing she didn''t y the audio; she could imagine Xanthe going wild.


    Xanthe continued [Oh my gosh! I''ve never seen a transfer thatrge in my entire life!]


    [Mr. Lopez''s aunt is incredible! 3,333,333 dors? She must adore you!]


    Shakira chuckled. Sk adored her.


    GT.


    {24 89 1


    A new message came in from Xanthe. [But... why did Mr. Lopez give so little? I mean, I''m notining, butpared to his aunt''s transfer, this amount is a bit less.]


    Only then did Shakira remember the check and send a photo of it to Xanthe. [I almost forgot-his transfer limit was reached, so he wrote me a check.]


    Xanthe replied: [How could you forget 3 million dors! If you ever forget again, tell me. I''ll ''pick it up!]


    Without dy, Xanthe posted the transfer screenshots on Instagram, captioning them: [The proper way to show off holiday gifts.]


    Shakira had already unfriended Yvette and didn''t know what she had posted or thements that followed. But once she opened Instagram, she saw that Xanthe''s post shared two minutes ago was flooded withments. [I just scrolled past Yvette''s post, and now here''s yours... Why am I not a rich kid?]


    [To thement above what Yvette got is nothingpared to this; Shakira''s out of her league...]


    [Millions spent on gifts? I''d never dare dream of that!]


    [No wonder the app announced unlimited transfers today; it was just for you guys!]


    [Now that''s a proper New Year''s gift-ours are barely enough to get anything nice!]


    As Shakira scrolled through thements, Xanthe sent her a screenshot in frustration. [That pretender disgusts me!!]


    It turned out Yvette hadmented on Xanthe''s post: [Could you help transfer some money to Shakira? Half my holiday gifts belong to her, after all.]This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    Yvette and Shakira''s dramatic rtionship was public knowledge at school.


    Narrowing her eyes, Shakiramented under Xanthe''s post: [Reply to Yvette: you can keep that pocket change-I''m not interested.]


    Xanthe was pleased.


    The others were intrigued.


    Yvette thought in anger, ''She got the money from a man; what''s there to brag about?''


    0

 Chapter 268

    As the only documentary reality show airing across major satellite channels during the New Year''s holiday, "Mending Hearts" soared in poprity.


    Viewers first tuned in out of curiosity, but soon found themselves deeply engaged by the show''s portrayal of life''s raw realities-birth, illness, and death, split-second decisions in emergencies where medical staff raced against time, and the seemingly strong yet actually fragile doctor-patient rtionships.


    These themes sparked reflection and discussion among audiences.


    As the show''s viewership climbed, the doctors and nurses featured in it quickly became some of the most sought-after figures. The guest stars, delivering impressive performances, frequently became trending topics online. Among them, Lonely Bird, a student of the renowned Matthew, had garnered the most attention.


    On the fourth day of the new year, Shakira received a notice from the production team: a new task involving voluntary medical consultations in an underserved area had been added, and they were asking if she would participate.


    Ever since returning from Silverwave Bay, Shakira had been holed up in the manor, bored out of her mind, so she agreed without hesitation.


    That evening, while performing acupuncture on Walter, she brought up the subject. Upon hearing it, Walter frowned and asked, "You''re heading out on the sixth? Isn''t the show breaking holiday regtions?"


    Shakira, all smiles, leaned in. "The director promised triple pay."


    Walter yfully gave her a side-eye. "Little money-grubber."


    "It''s just two days. I''ll be back soon," Shakira said softly. Worried that Walter might be upset, she gently massaged his calf, where no needles had been inserted, to win his favor. Walter''s smile froze for a moment, but he quickly covered it up. His expression turned normal as he flicked her forehead lightly. "Looks like you''re busier than me now." Shakira giggled and continued her massage.


    Walter turned his head, and his expression suddenly tensed. Just now... he had felt the pressure of her hands on his calf.


    The show''s crew had everything organized, and the next day, Shakira packed her bags and set off to meet the team at the TV station.


    The medical team had ten people, and eight celebrities joined them as they boarded the bus, officially kicking off the live-streamed holiday special.


    Once they hit the road, Kevin personally handed out New Year''s gifts to each guest. Shakira was seated by herself up front, wearing sunsses and a mask as usual.


    When Kevin handed her a gift, she instinctively responded, "Mr. Jones, I already got one.


    Kevin chuckled. "Dr. Lonely Bird, you must be mistaken."


    Shakira immediately understood that this one was for Lonely Bird, so she epted it.


    The live stream chat briefly buzzed with viewers'' curiosity about herment, but no one probed further, so the moment slipped by unnoticed.


    Their destination was Pear Blossom Vige in Groned County, nearly 200 miles from Crescentville. Due to its poor transportation and underdeveloped industry, Groned County was part of a local poverty alleviation project. 1/4


    The county had a poption of just over 10,000, and Pear Blossom Vige had even fewer residents, mainly elderly people and children.


    During the holiday, many young people returned home, and the streets were filled with festive decorations, making the surroundings look rather cheerful.


    When the team arrived at the county center and stepped off the bus, everyone visibly rxed upon seeing the town square.


    "I looked up this ce before we set off," someone remarked. "It said Groned County is pretty underdeveloped, but honestly, this doesn''t look too bad!" "It''s 2024, after all. It may be an underdeveloped area, but it won''t be that bad."


    A seasoned variety show regr chimed in, "The houses here look sturdy enough. So long as we don''t have to stay somewhere leaky, it''s all good!" Several people chuckled along with him.


    Kevin shot them a meaningful look. "We''ve still got about a twenty-minute drive to reach the vige. Grab your bags, everyone; let''s keep moving."


    At this, the group''s smiles froze on their faces.


    "What? We''re not there yet?"


    "Twenty more minutes... Why didn''t the bus take us all the way?"


    "Ohe on, isn''t it obvious? The bus can''t get through to that ce!"


    "Oh no, I''m starting to get a bad feeling about this..."


    "Less talking, more moving! Whose suitcase is this? Did you pack it full of rocks? It''s so heavy!"


    Yvette''s face turned slightly red as she ran over, embarrassed. "That''s mine..." She quickly took the suitcase, but with so many small stones scattered across the road, even the most durable luggage struggled here. Yvette couldn''t handle it on her own, so she looked at Felix. When she found him frozen in ce, staring at Lonely Bird, a cold glint flickered in her eyes.


    Struggling to drag her suitcase, she walked over and said, "Felix, could you help me-"


    Before she could finish speaking, Felix began walking towards Lonely Bird.


    Yvette was furious and helpless.


    She turned to the other male guests for help, but none of them dared to look her in the eye.


    Yvette didn''t know what to do.


    Shakira''s suitcase was almost half her height, packed with medical equipment and clothes. As she reached for it, someone suddenly reached over her shoulder from behind and effortlessly lifted it down. -She turned around, and it was none other than Felix.


    Shakira took it from him coolly. "Thanks."


    Felix stared at her intently. "You''re wee."


    Without further conversation, Shakira turned and joined the line


    9


    GT.


    At this, thement section buzzed with excitement.


    [Whoa! Something''s going on here!]


    [I never expected to catch a hint of romance in such a serious show!]


    [Seriously, are you shippers that desperate? You can ship this?]


    [Exactly! Dr. Lonely Bird seems totally uninterested in this man. Some people need to stop reaching!]


    3


    [Dude, you''re here for medical work, not to flirt! Exactly what I''d expect from a member of the lowest-ranked family among the famed five!]


    [Hrious. Yvette''s in the back struggling with that suitcase like a pack mule. Are she and Felix really siblings?]


    [In response to thement above: you''re right; they aren''t blood-rted.]


    [Wow, that must hurt!]


    [Kinda feel bad for Yvette. Isn''t she supposed to be the family favorite? Doesn''t look like it.]


    [The other guests don''t seem keen on getting too close to her either.]


    I bet it''s because of that recent online scandal. They''re probably worried she''ll drag them down too... She does seem a bit pitiful now.]


    After everyone unloaded their suitcases, the crew arranged for five electric tricycles to take them to the vige. When the guests saw the tricycles, their expressions turned grim-except for Lonely Birds. With sunsses and a mask on, her expression stayed concealed. They couldn''t help but feel a sense of despair, knowing that, since the ce could only be reached by electric tricycles, life there would be tough.


    The bumpy ride took half an hour before they finally arrived at Pear Blossom Vige. The dpidated houses in sight made everyone uneasy.


    The variety show regr who had spoken too soon earlier couldn''t help covering his eyes. "Oh, I just had to jinx it!"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    The crew arranged for everyone to rest a bit, putting the male and female guests in separate ramshackle houses.


    Yvette struggled to hide her frustration as she dragged her suitcase into the house with great difficulty. Looking at her hands, raw and marked with deep indentations from the pulling, she gritted her teeth.


    Avoiding the cameras, she silently slipped into thergest room and closed the door. Then she turned off the equipment, pulled out her phone, and dialed a number.


    The person answered promptly and asked in surprise, "Ms. Nelson?"


    "Mr. Klein, Finn put you in charge of tracking down IP addresses involved in defaming thepany online, correct?" asked


    Yvette.


    "Uh, yes, he did," replied Jared.


    Yvette said casually, "My friend found out that the contractor for thepany cafeteria has also made negativements about us online. Add his name to the list."


    5


    GT.

 Chapter 269

    Jared paused for a moment and said, "Ms. Nelson, could you send me the actual evidence so I can verify it?" Yvette immediately got angry. "What do you mean? Do you think I''m lying and trying to defame someone?"


    "That''s not what I mean. It''s just..." Jared hesitated. "I have to exin it to Mr. Nelson, and this list needs to be optimized before the next quarter. Changing the cafeteria contractor means choosing a new one at least a month in advance. It''s quite rushed." Yvette snorted, "Do you think I didn''t consider all this? I''ll talk to Finn. Just put the name on the list. I have a friend who works in this area. I''ll give him your contact info, and you two can discuss it." Yvette settled the matter in a few words. Jared didn''t reply right away. Yvette casually remarked, "Jared, you''ve been working with Finn for three years, right?"


    "Yes, I got promoted right after Mr. Nelson took charge of thepany," Jared answered.


    "Then you should know how much my dad and Finn dote on me. Do you think such a small matter is beyond me and that I have to bother Finn about it?" Yvette said.


    Jared clearly understood the significance of Yvette''s words. He often bought gifts for Yvette at Finn''s request. Since Yvettetely damaged thepany''s image, he had been handling the fallout.


    The priority that Finn and Cody gave to Yvette was obvious. Jared paused for a moment and then replied seriously, "Alright, I know what needs to be done."


    Yvette gave a satisfied smile and ended the call. Her eyes had a gloomy look. She had been unsure about taking this step, but now, she thought, ''Felix, you forced my hand! You''re all heartless to me, and you betrayed me! I''ll make you pay for this!'' She quickly sent a message to Lago, asking him to coordinate with Gideon and Jared. Afterpleting these tasks, Yvette felt at ease and walked out.


    Just as she opened the door, she was startled by the sudden appearance of Lonely Bird. Yvette turned pale. "Wh-What are you doing here?"


    Her mind was a tangled mess. She wondered, ''Damn, when did shee? How much did she overhear?''


    Shakira remained expressionless. "Your headset got disconnected. Everyone''s been looking for you."


    Feeling nervous, Yvette tried to exin it. "I had to... You know, nature calls."


    Shakira sneered, exposing her flimsy lie. "Is there even a bathroom inside?"


    Yvette was speechless.


    Without caring how embarrassed Yvette felt, Shakira turned and walked out. Yvette watched her cold and proud silhouette, her eyes turning icy.


    After the guests were settled into their amodations, the program team gave them the usual tasks. Each group had six ''people, and their mission was to get to know the local vigers and score an invite for dinner.


    [What? I can''t believe the program team of a big show like ''Mending Hearts'' is so stingy that they can''t even provide dinner.]


    [Hahaha, even the most high-end reality shows have the simple dinner-crashing'' segment!]


    The guests were free to form their own groups. This task tested their ability to use social skills to score a dinner invitation, something not easy without a thick skin.


    Unsurprisingly, the two regr guests became the most sought-after teammates, as they were more familiar with this kind


    of task than even the director.


    9


    Two teams were quickly formed, leaving the remaining six people to form a group. Shakira, two surgical chiefs, a strict ICU head nurse, Yvette, and Felix formed one team. The six of them looked at one another, their expressions bewildered.


    Thements section was full of joy. [Hey, none of these six seem to have that ''life of the party'' vibe, do they?]


    [Mr. Boni and Mr. Mraz are famously quiet at Haruca Hospital. They''d rather take action than talk.]


    [Haha, our head nurse is the same. We spend our days dealing with seriously ill patients, so who has time for small talk? Even talking with the grocers leaves us hesitant!]


    [Dr. Lonely Bird''s got social anxiety, and as for Finn, he isn''t good at socializing either. Oh, this group''s going to be hungry tonight!]


    [Hey, did you all forget about Yvette?]


    [Huh, she''s a fake rich girl living off someone else''s identity and parents. What can she do?]


    Clearly, this group, which viewers weren''t counting on, was not doing well. The other two groups, full of social butterflies, finished their tasks in under half an hour. They chatted and had tea at the vigers'' homes and even stayed for a meal. As for these six people, they were still at the starting point.


    Finally, the head nurse couldn''t hold back any longer and asked, "Mr. Boni, Mr. Mraz, are we having dinner tonight?"


    Jason, who was skillful in medicine and chubby, loved meat. With a worried face, he said, "Of course, or we won''t have the energy to work tomorrow."


    Leo also couldn''t help but say, "We might not have anything to eat tomorrow morning,


    so we should eat well tonight."


    Yvette nced at them and volunteered, "I''ll give it a try. I''ll perform a little show for the vigers, and maybe they''ll let us/ stay for dinner."


    Jackson quickly gave a thumb-up. "Great idea!"


    They chose a house and knocked on the door. A frail, thin, old woman answered. Yvette smiled warmly, "Ma''am, we''re here as guests to offer free health check-ups. Can wee in?"


    The old woman''s eyes lit up. "Oh, you''re the ones here to treat us? Wonderful. Come in." She started walking inside.


    The group was hopeful and followed her inside, only to find the courtyard was full of eight elderly people.


    At this moment, a middle-aged woman rushed out of a small cottage with smoke curling from its chimney. Holding a spat, she looked at them suspiciously. "Who are you?"


    Yvette exined their purpose again. The woman''s expression stayed skeptical as she kept staring at them and said, "Isn''t the ''check-up tomorrow? What are you doing here now?"


    Leading them inside, the old woman smiled at the middle-aged woman and said, "E, they''re here for us. Whether it''s today or tomorrow, it''s all the same." A few other elderly men and women also smiled happily at them.


    Yvette was stunned and quickly waved her hands. "No, madam. The free health service is tomorrow. We''re just here today to meet everyone and get to know you


    all."


    On hearing this, the elderly folks who had been happy a moment ago suddenly wore displeased expressions and started toin.


    "If you''re here to give checkups, just do it. Why make such a fu "Exactly, whether it''s today or tomorrow, it''s the same. Why can


    "If you examine us today, we''ll feel better a day sooner. Are you "Could it be that you''re saying it''s free, but you''re actually n: As soon as these words were said, the elderly folks in the courty "What? Do you want money? Forget it. These little ailments wo ""Get out!"


    GT


    "If you''re here to give checkups, just do it. Why make such a fuss?"


    "Exactly, whether it''s today or tomorrow, it''s the same. Why can''t you just do it today?"


    "If you examine us today, we''ll feel better a day sooner. Are you really here to help us, or are you just stalling on purpose?"


    "Could it be that you''re saying it''s free, but you''re actually nning to ask us for money upfront?"


    As soon as these words were said, the elderly folks in the courtyard all put on fierce looks, ring at them.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    "What? Do you want money? Forget it. These little ailments won''t kill me, and I''m not paying! No way!" ""Get out!"


    0

 Chapter 270

    Leo, who had never been treated like this in all his years of practice, had an upset look on his face. "We''re not charging money. It''s free, but we currentlyck the equipment." "Stop with the excuses! You''re just trying to fool us," someone yelled.


    Yvette didn''t expect these unreasonable elders to suddenly turn on them. She was at the front and was startled when a woman suddenly raised a spat at her. Her face went pale, and she quickly ran behind the guest for cover. The online viewers argued. [Wow, these elders are terrifying!] [Yeah, they''repletely unreasonable.] [I used to feel sorry for them, but now I think they are partly to me!]


    [Gosh, Yvette is really useless. She volunteered toe and then hid when things got tough. Does she have no backbone?]


    [Anyone will be scared facing this situation. It''s easy to criticize from the sidelines!] [Exactly, Yvette''s just a young girl. Why do you guys keep picking on her?]


    [I found it strange from the start of the live stream. Has Yvette hired people to speak for her or something? Why are these guys defending her?] [Isn''t the program team helping? No one else has faced this chaos, right?]


    Onlinements were in an uproar, and in the courtyard of Pear Blossom Vige, the atmosphere was equally tense.


    Felix nced at Yvette hiding behind him, his face tight. Jackson and Leo also looked troubled. They were only skilled at treating patients and had never faced a situation like this.


    Noticing that the staff had no intention of helping, the head nurse took a deep breath and was about to step forward. To her surprise, Lonely Bird acted first.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, today we are here not to provide treatment, but to help differently," said Lonely Bird in aposed voice, which was enough to quiet the noisy seniors instantly.


    A woman snorted dismissively, "Nonsense!" Lonely Bird replied calmly, "Each field has its expertise. We have brought doctors from various departments to serve you better, focusing on specific ailments. Today, we''re here to prepare for tomorrow''s free health service." Hearing this, the guests were confused, wondering, ''What are we preparing for? And why were we not informed?'' Lonely Bird gently asked, "Do you have cellphones?"


    "Yeah, my son got me one, and it''s really loud!" "My daughter picked out a phone for seniors. It''s so easy to use, and I can see the words clearly!" They chimed in, one after another, and all took out their phones.


    Lonely Bird nodded and continued, "Next, we need to get ready. Please line up, and our three doctors will ask you questions and help you record these on your phones. Tomorrow, you can show the doctors the recordings, so they can quickly understand your symptoms and quicken the consultations."


    After a pause, Lonely Bird hesitated and nced at her own phone. "But it''s gettingte, and our questions might take some time. Will this dy your dinner?" She nced at the woman holding a spat.


    The woman still hadn''t let go of her hostility, but the elderly folks in the yard were eager for them to stay. As long as they didn''t have to spend money and could get medical treatment, everything was fine. "It''s okay. Just stay and eat with us." "Exactly, it''s no big deal. E, make three more dishes and add some extra meat!"


    E went silent. She shot an angry look at Lonely Bird, held her spat, and turned back to the kitchen, shutting the door hard.


    When the others heard this, their eyes lit up with admiration for Lonely Bird. That was a clever move.


    111


    GT.


    D


    1


    Talking with the elderly about their condition could sometimes lead to misunderstandings and take up time. Today, they selected important information in advance to save time for tomorrow''s consultations. The head nurse gave Lonely Bird a grateful look and stepped up to organize the elderly into a line, showing them how to describe their symptoms. The previously noisy elders now quietly followed directions. Leo let out a sigh of relief, saying, "We''ll have meat to eat. Thank you, Dr. Lonely Bird!" Jason also thanked Shakira.


    Felix stared at Shakira intensely. "Dr. Lonely Bird, you''re so resourceful." Shakira smiled calmly, "It''s just a trick, really. We still need Mr. Jones and Mr. Williams to work hard."


    "When someone treats you, it''s right to lend a hand with small tasks." Finally, the freeloading task waspleted. Everyone was chatting and smiling, while Yvette, who was hidden in the back, was left out, and her face turned livid. She nced at the live camera. She didn''t need to think twice to realize how poor her performance had been. Not only did she mess up her chance to stand out, but she also ended up highlighting Lonely Bird instead. Yvette quietly clenched her fists. Everyone had already been assigned their tasks. Yvette couldn''t diagnose patients or maintain order, making staying here even more awkward.


    She sobbed softly a few times. "I... I''ll help in the kitchen then," she said, and with that, she quickly dashed into the kitchen.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    [Hahaha, just what I''d expect from Dr. Lonely Bird. So quick-witted!] [Tsk tsk, only smart people truly enjoy life. Even though we''re socially awkward, we''re clever!]


    [Well, the look on Lonely Bird''s face showed it was a new idea, and it was like killing two birds with one stone. How brilliant!] [Seriously, Yvette even had the nerve to run off. She really is the clown!]


    [Exactly, what a huge embarrassment! I really feel sorry for her colleagues. With such a poor brain, she still gets all these opportunities. Come on, even though she''s not bright, she should at least act decently!]


    Thements roasted Yvette relentlessly. Even those who tried to defend her were drowned out by mockery.


    At the Nelson residence in Crescentville, The whole family was gathered around to watch the live show. Comments were flying across the screen, and their expressions couldn''t have been grimmer.

 Chapter 271

    Already embarrassed, Selena couldn''t hold back. In a fit of anger, she burst out, "She brought this on herself, and now she wants to me others? Even that ungrateful Shakira is better than Yvette!"


    Not just Reba, but even Cody changed his face. He tried to control his irritation. "Mom, why did you bring up Shakira?"


    "I''m just telling the truth!" The thought of losing face in front of her future granddaughter-inw made Selena furious.


    "Whether or not she''s the one Cristian mentioned, Yvette is disgracing our family and harming ourpany! I wanted Shakira toe back and help us, but that wicked girl mocked me over the phone." She was filled with anger and hatred. "What? When did you contact Shakira?" Everyone was shocked,pletely unaware of this matter. Selena''s eyes flickered. "Before New Year''s Day, at Silverwave Bay."


    Upon hearing this, everyone looked unhappy. When they were at Silverwave Bay, Shakira had been acting high and mighty, stepping all over their family, yet Selena still held out hope for her.


    Cody, whose pride had been severely hurt, was irritated. "Mom, don''t contact her again! Yvette is my only daughter!"Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Selena clearly wanted to say more, but seeing her son''s expression, she had to reluctantly reply, "Alright!" Reba lowered her head, staying silent and lost in her thoughts.


    Shakira and a few others were helping the elderly summarize their medical conditions while Yvette entered the smoky kitchen and coughed hard. E nced at her and said with a sarcastic tone, "A big star like you can''t handle a ce like this."


    Yvette tried to force a smile, aiming to maintain her image in front of the camera. "E, I genuinely want to help you. It must be really tiring cooking all these meals by yourself."


    E was unfazed and was about to send Yvette away when she suddenly got an idea. "Help me? Alright, make a fire. Can you? Just add some wood and fan the mes under the stove."


    "Yes, I can," Yvette quickly responded, sitting down on a small stool and continuously adding wood. The fire was burning strong, and the choking smoke caused her to turn her head and cough hard.


    E gloated, "Don''t stop. How can I cook if the fire is too low? Can you handle it or not?" "Yes." Yvette''s eyes were watering from the smoke. She was barely able to keep them open. She kept adding firewood, her face covered in soot.


    After working hard for a while, she wanted to gain some sympathy in front of the camera. But when she turned her head, she realized her cameraman hadn''t followed her. Through the window, she saw him focused on filming Lonely Bird. Yvette''s face was twisted instantly.


    Seeing her pause again, E started mocking her, "Why did you stop again? I said you could not do it. I''ve understood. Among you people, that young woman outside is the most reliable. You''re way worse than her!"


    The firewood was broken by Yvette. She turned off her mic, her eyes red from smoke and resentment. She cursed hoarsely, "How can I be worse than her? She doesn''t even have a medical license. If not for her great mentor, how could she have reached this position?" E''s eyes widened. "What? She doesn''t have a medical license? Oh my, how did she manage to work as a doctor without qualifications? Are you guys trying to kill us?"


    Yvette''s rational mind returned as she realized she had misspoken. She quickly rushed forward to stop E, who seemed ready to tell everyone about it. Yvette was almost in tears, lookingpletely panicked and helpless.


    Yvette said, "Please don''t tell anyone. Although it''s an open secret in the hospital, no outsider knows about it."


    E dered righteously, "That won''t do. Someone unqualified to be a doctor came here to give us free medical check-ups.


    <


    GT.


    1.0.89%-


    What if something goes wrong? I must tell everyone not to be deceived by her!"


    0


    Yvette tried to stop her. "But her mentor is Matthew, and she''s famous online. E, do you use the Inte? Many people admire her. I''m okay with it, but if you reveal it and cause a scene, Matthew and the hospital might retaliate. The program team won''t let you go." E was scared by Yvette''s words. But she still pretended to be tough. "Do you think I''m afraid of their revenge? Are you scared?"


    "Yes, I know you''re not scared, but you have a family, don''t you?" Yvette sighed. "You''re right. I am scared! I can handle it myself, but I can''t risk getting my family involved due to my mistakes. And I don''t want to identally get you into any trouble either." E fell silent. The elderly people in the yard were sick and had difficulty moving. They needed someone to cook for them. Several families pooled money to hire her to prepare meals for these old folks. The pay was considered good in the vige. When she heard specialists from the big city wereing to offer free check-ups, she waspletely against it. If these old folks really got better, why would they need to pay her for meals?


    E thought, ''But Yvette got a point. If I end up offending those important people, I will suffer. I need a n to let someone else expose this issue. With a stir, if the treatment can''t proceed, I can continue making money!


    Thinking of this, E grunted as if she tried hard to contain herself. "Alright, since you''re begging so pitifully, I won''t say anything." She huffed with a proud demeanor, went back to cook, and didn''t forget to remind Yvette to keep the fire going. Yvette obediently followed the instructions. The moment she lowered her head, a cold, hateful smile appeared on her lips. After dinner, everyone returned to their ces. The vige had limited facilities, so they had to heat bathwater in arge iron pot. There were six girls altogether, and by the time they all took turns bathing, it was already past midnight. Shakira offered to be thest one to clean up. When she came out, the yard and the house werepletely dark, and everyone was already sound asleep. Her face disappeared into the darkness as she quietly got into bed.


    As shey down, her body finally rxed. Just as she was about to close her eyes, her phone suddenly buzzed. Quickly picking up her phone, Shakira nced at the screen. It was a video call from Walter.


    She hesitated for a moment, slipped under the nkets, plugged in her earphones, and then answered the call. Walter watched the dark screen, speechless.


    He squinted, noticing something wriggling within the darkness, confirming it wasn''t a screen issue. He frowned and asked, "Where are you?"


    The earphones were filled with his deep, mellow voice, and Shakira felt a tingle in her ears. She mumbled in a muffled voice, "Under the covers."


    Walter said, "What are you doing under the covers? I want to see you." Shakira muttered, "No. It''s too bright. Everyone is asleep."


    Walter fell silent, feeling like they were having a secret affair.


    Facing the darkness, Walter felt a bit ufortable, so he used his finger to cover the front camera and coaxed gently, "Is it less bright now? Come out from under the covers. Let me see you." 2/3


    GT.

 Chapter 272

    Walter''s voice, usually so cold and proud, was unexpectedly gentle, which softened Shakira''s heart. Slowly, she lifted a corner of the nket, peeking out. Shey by the window. The bright moonlight cast its glow on her beautiful eyes, making them sparkle. She asked, "Is it clear now?"


    Walter replied, "Yeah." It was just one soft word, but Shakira couldn''t see his face softened with affection. He said uncontrobly, "I miss you."


    After a pause, he added, "Don''t you miss me?"


    Shakira was speechless, thinking, "That is a good question.


    Sensing the intense gaze through the screen, Shakira quickly replied, "Of course, I miss you." Imitating his tone, she said, "Why don''t you move your hand and let me see you?"


    Walter''s lips curled up as he let his fingers slip away.


    In the warm glow of themp, he was dressed in pajamas, leaning against the headboard, staring intently at her. His eyes were so deep, which made Shakira''s cheeks blush slightly. "I''ve only been away for a day."


    "And another day," Walter pointed out in a slightlyining tone.


    "Ahem! Alright, I''ll be back the day after tomorrow."


    Walter nodded, noticing the big floral quilt covering her, and couldn''t help but frown. "It''s chilly over there. Are you cold?"


    "I''m okay. It''s warm inside, but they said it might snow tomorrow."


    "Wear more clothes."


    Shakira chuckled, "I know. It''s gettingte. You should rest early


    She nced at the screen. It was almost midnight.


    His internal clock was always precise, and he usually went to bed around ten. She wondered if he stayed up just to wait for her. They touched Shakira''s heart.


    She thought, ''What a silly guy!''


    Suddenly inspired, she beckoned to Walter. "Come a little closer


    "Hmm?" He was puzzled but did as she asked.


    As soon as his face filled the screen, Shakira pressed her phone to her lips and made a kissing sound.


    Before Walter could react, she ended the call first and sent a text message. [Goodnight kiss, mwah!]


    Walter was stunned for half a minute before snapping back to reality and letting out a softugh. He casually replied to her.


    Should I tell you that I recorded it?]


    Shakira: [???]


    She suddenly regretted rewarding Walter. That scene just now was so embarrassing.


    Shakira furiously typed. [Delete it right now!]


    Walter replied calmly. [No. I''m going to keep it.]


    Shakira was wide awake now. [Deler


    it!]


    9


    Walter: [If you''re not satisfied, send another goodnight kiss video, and I promise to delete it.]


    Reading the trap in the message, Shakira threw a string of angry emojis at him and turned off her phone.


    She crossed her arms angrily, thinking, ''When I get back, I absolutely have to find a way to crack his phone password and delete that video!''


    Before dawn, snowkes started drifting down over Pear Blossom Vige.


    The ce for free health service was set up in therge open space at the vige entrance. The program team worked through the night, pitching tents and creating simple sections for check-ups.


    By the time the guests finished breakfast and arrived, the vigers had already formed a long line in the courtyard. The endless line stretched far, standing out against the snow.


    Maurice Clime, the celebrity guest who had been lightening the mood, was stunned. "Wow, are all these people here to see the doctor?"


    The head nurse answered, "Just as you see, yes."


    "There are so many people. Can we help them all in two days?"


    This time, the head nurse didn''t respond, just silently looking at the doctors. Leo and the others were serious.


    There were ten people on the medical team, but only five were doctors. The line had at least three to five hundred people. They really couldn''t give an answer. Shakira''s eyes were calm. "It''s up to us. Let''s follow yesterday''s n and start right away."


    "Okay!" The medical team followed her lead, quickly assuming their respective roles.


    The celebrity guests couldn''t treat patients but were there to help out. As they saw the doctors disinfecting and putting on protective gear, they joined in to assist. The free health service started, and so did the livestream.


    Early in the morning, quite a few viewers went to the channel right away. But as they watched, they noticed something was off. This variety show wasn''t what they had imagined. [Are we just going to watch them treat the vigers the whole time?]


    [Uh, for now, it looks that way.]


    [Everyone seems busy, but isn''t this livestream a bit dull? There''s no entertainment at all.]


    ("Mending Hearts" is mostly a documentary-style show. If you want humor, just leave.]


    [You might find it boring, but as a med student, I love it.]


    [I''m a medical student too. It''s incredibly useful for us.]


    [Honestly, even though it is a bit dull, watching their diagnoses somewhat enlightening.]


    GT


    [Yes, I just got back from Lonely Bird''s ce. Apparently, honey water doesn''t help with constipation. There was a viger who drank two pints of honey water every day and still didn''t have a bowel movement for five days, ha-ha.] [I saw that too. Dr. Lonely Bird acupunctured him, and he ran off holding his belly.]


    [Haha, are the people waiting outside there to see the doctor too? That''s a lot of vigers! There are only a few doctors!]


    [There are five doctors, and Felix makes six. But isn''t he more into research? Can he really treat patients?]


    [He can manage basic illnesses. He graduated from the top medical school in our country, where they require four years of hands-on practice.]


    [Anyway, thanks to all the medical staff and guests for their hard work!]


    [Thanks for your hard work, everyone!]


    The livestreammenters spontaneously thanked the volunteer guests.


    At this time, Felix finished dealing with a patient, and an elderly woman was helping a pregnant woman over.


    The pregnant woman was about to sit down when the older woman quickly pulled her back. "Jessica! How many times have I told you to be careful about hygiene? You never know what germs are left on a chair someone else sat on. Don''t bring them to my precious grandchild!" The pregnant woman paused awkwardly and only sat down after the older woman had finished sanitizing the chair and table with alcohol.


    Felix frowned slightly and looked at the pregnant woman. "Name, age, how far along you are, and your symptoms."


    "Jessica Smith, 21 years old. The vige doctor said I was about 30 weeks pregnant. I..." When it came to talking about her symptoms, Jessica hesitated


    Zelmani Churchill quickly leaned forward with a grin, showing her yellowing teeth. "Doctor, you city folks have such advanced skills. Can you see if this baby is a boy?"


    Felix''s frown deepened. The head nurse assisting him quickly said, "Checking the baby''s gender is not allowed. Is there anything else you need help with?"


    4


    Sophia changed her face, clearly dissatisfied. Just as she was about to react, Jessica quickly whispered, "Yes, doctor. I''ve noticed my belly feeling hard these past few days, and it hurts at night."


    Felix reached out to take Jessica''s pulse. "How long have you had these symptoms?"


    "Sincest Friday," Jessica replied.


    Felix detected that Jessica''s pulse was chaotic and abnormal, but he couldn''t identify the cause. He paused and said to her, "Come with me. I''ll have another doctor take a look at you."


    Upon hearing this, Sophia became nervous. "What''s wrong, doctor? What''s happening to my precious grandson?"


    "Sorry, I''m not specialized in gynecology. You need a more qualified doctor for a proper diagnosis. Please wait here. The patient wille back after the check-up."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    "That''s the right decision to turn to a specialist." She nodded, suddenly remembered something, and quickly added, "Jessica, remember, don''t let that quack... Uh, don''t let a female doctor examine you!"

 Chapter 273

    Chapter 273 3,88%=


    The head nurse argued, "Madam, gender discrimination against doctors is prohibited." Sophia responded dismissively, "I''m not discriminating. My grandson is so precious. He deserves a good doctor."


    Upon hearing this, Felix nced at Sophia. His sharp gaze made her quickly look away, pretending she hadn''t seen it. Felix guided Jessica over to where Lonely Bird was.


    Shakira was treating an elderly man''s long-standing joint problems. With the quick acupuncture, soon, the old man''s joints became a bit more flexible. For the first time in years, he could scratch his back, and he was overjoyed.


    The old man kept thanking her. Once he left, Felix approached and said, "Dr. Lonely Bird, could you take a look, please?" He briefly described Jessica''s condition, and Shakira motioned for Jessica to extend her hand.


    Jessica nced at Lonely Bird, opening her mouth as if to speak, but she ultimately said nothing and extended her hand. Shakira ced two fingers on Jessica''s slightly yellow wrist, and after only a few seconds, her expression suddenly tightened.


    Seeing her expression, Jessica had a bad feeling. "Doctor, what''s wrong with my baby?" Shakira''s tone was serious. "You had a missed miscarriage. You need an immediate procedure for abortion." Jessica yelled, "What?"


    Sophia waited for a long while, but Jessica never came back. Anxious and flustered, she insisted on going over.


    The head nurse tried to calm her when a staff member rushed over, out of breath. "Jessica fainted. We need to perform an abortion on her now. Madam, pleasee with me to sign the consent forms."


    Sophia''s face changed suddenly, and she shouted angrily, "You heartless scoundrels! Abortion? We came to you for treatment, and you''re harming my precious grandson!"


    "No. Dr. Lonely Bird diagnosed that Jessica had a missed miscarriage, and now something must be done..." Before the staff member could finish speaking, Sophia became even more frantic upon hearing those words.


    "My grandson is fine. He even greeted me yesterday. How can there be anything wrong with him? I wondered which quack tried to harm my grandson. It turns out to be her! Huh, you made an unlicensed woman pose as a doctor, and now she is harming my grandson." Sophia''s eyes were red with fury as she screamed, "Where is that quack? Tell me where she is. I''m going to kill her!" Her hysterical curse caused a massivemotion.


    The vigers waiting in line began to get anxious. "What''s going on? Is there an impostor among the doctors?" "I''ve heard of Lonely Bird. Isn''t she supposed to be great? She''s said to be a talented doctor''s student."


    "Yeah. Sophia, where did you hear that from? Don''t just go around ndering others."


    Sophia pushed past the staff, continuing to shout angrily, "I''m not ndering her! Just have her show proof. If she can''t, she''s just a fake doctor! You guys are trying to harm Jessica and my grandson. Let go. I need to see my grandson!"


    Driven mad by her love for her grandson, Sophia couldn''t be held back by several staff members, While the scene was chaotic there, waves of shock spread online too.


    [What? Dr. Lonely Bird doesn''t have a medical license?] [That''s impossible... Without a license, how could she work at Haruca Hospital?]


    [She is Matthew''s only student in the world. Do you really believe this crazy woman?] [Everyone, calm down. There''s definitely more to this story! We should trust Haruca Hospital and Dr. Lonely Bird!]


    [Huh! Who would buy that nonsense? I checked Haruca Hospital''s official site. Every doctor has their degree and medical license listed, except Lonely Bird. It''s totally nk!]


    GT. Chapter 273


    [I checked it out too and, sure enough, there''s nothing there. So Haruca Hospital knew that Lonely Bird wasn''t qualified to be a doctor but let her in any way?] [Is having a medical license really that crucial?]


    [A medical license is essential for every doctor. Regardless of how talented or renowned Lonely Bird is, without that proof, she is unqualified to be a doctor at the hospital!]


    [An unlicensed doctor... If something goes wrong, who''s ountable?] [Haha, that''s just ridiculous! The miracle doctor you''ve believed in for so long turned out to be an impostor. Even Haruca Hospital''s director and higher-ups are involved, breaking thew and risking people''s lives!] [That''s enough! Are you really going to criticize someone without any proof? Online bullying is still bullying!] [Huh, now Haruca Hospital and Lonely Bird are bullying us! They''re fooling all you idiots!]


    Suddenly, thement section was flooded by trolls, and across social media, "Lonely Bird practices medicine without a license" quickly became a trending topic.


    At that moment, the program team wasn''t concerned with the online chaos as things got out of control in Pear Blossom Vige. Urged on by Sophia, a group of vigers surrounded the ambnce that was supposed to rush Jessica to a city hospital, shouting for Lonely Bird to get out.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    At that time, Shakira was in the ambnce treating Jessica, who had lost consciousness. Judging from her condition, her missed miscarriage happened more than five days ago, and inmmation had urred. Even if they rushed her to a major hospital in Crescentville for an operation, the risks would be huge.


    In a trance, Shakira heard the noise outside and noticed the angry people were shouting her name. Shakira realized something was wrong.


    Soon, she understood the situation from the bits and pieces of conversation she overheard. A hint of sarcasm crossed her eyes as she saw the ambnce was stopped. She raised her voice. "Open the door and let me out."


    Felix, who was beside her, had already received a call from Yvette as soon as the chaos began. She informed him to quickly leave Pear Blossom Vige with Lonely Bird to prevent any unforeseen events.


    He frowned, holding her shoulders. "No. Now..." Shakira said every word calmly, "The situation is urgent. Jessica needs surgery at the hospital immediately. Do you want to dy her treatment by stopping me here?" Felix had to control the tension on his face. Shakira didn''t pay attention to him. When she heard the lock open, she didn''t hesitate to jump out of the car.


    "Lonely Bird is out!" "This quack is causing harm. Beat her!" As soon as Shakira appeared, the crowd''s anger erupted. However, some staff members kept them back, stopping them from getting close to her. Amid the chaos, someone in the crowd threw a rotten egg at her. Shakira instinctively raised her hand, but at that moment, Felix stepped in front of her to protect her.


    The rotten egg sttered on his short hair, sticking to it. Shakira narrowed her eyes and pushed Felix aside, who was shielding her, and shouted at the aggressive vigers, "Stop it, all of you, right now!"


    "You quack, do you think we''re going to listen to you? Go to hell The vigers weren''t convinced, and another rotten egg flew towards her. Shakira caught it.


    The person who threw the egg was stunned. In the next moment, Shakira decisively threw the egg back with force, leaving the vigers speechless.


    The crowd became angrier, but before they could do anything, Shakira nced around coldly and said, "You guys keep calling me a quack. Did I harm you? But now, you''re the ones who attack me. ording to thew, that''s intentional harm, punishable by up to three years in prison!" The vigers were all stunned, wondering, Just because we threw eggs, we''ll go to jail?


    <


    GT


    Sophia pushed through the crowd, furious. "Of course, you did. You harmed Jessica and my precious grandson! You''re a quack without a license, and you must pay with your life for my grandson''s death!"


    She red at Lonely Bird as if to tear her apart and swallow her whole.


    Shakira smiled coldly, "Madam, the one who harmed people, incited the vigers to make trouble and stopped Jessica from getting emergency treatment is you, not me! And as for the rest of you, if anything happens to Jessica, all of you will be guilty!" "If you want to give me trouble, I''ll be waiting," Shakira shouted angrily. "But right now, get out of the way and let the ambnce through!"

 Chapter 274

    This furious shout shook everyone present even the viewers watching the livestream. Seeing the rage in Lonely Bird''s eyes, the vigers blocking the way felt a chill run down their spines and instinctively stepped aside. Sophia came to her senses. "Yes, my precious grandson can still be saved. We need to get to the hospital quickly. I''ll deal with youter!"


    Earlier, she was crying and cursing, blocking the ambnce from leaving and demanding Lonely Bird pay with her life. Now, she jumped into the ambnce, urging them to go to the hospital. Hearing Sophia''s stubborn words, Shakira sneered.


    Taking advantage of the opportunity, the program team quickly moved to protect Lonely Bird and prevent another possible uproar from the vigers.


    Kevin took a megaphone and said, "Everyone, please calm down. Our medical team came from Haruca Hospital in Crescentville. Every doctor and nurse has absolute authority and professionalism. Please trust us!"


    The vigers didn''t believe it and kept closing in. "Sophia said this woman doesn''t have a license and isn''t a real doctor. Are you trying to trick us?"


    "Exactly! Everyone in the vige knows Sophia loves her grandson and Jessica. She takes good care of Jessica every day. How could the child be gone suddenly? This person only took the pulse and said the baby was dead without any tests. Isn''t this malpractice?" "If you have a license, show it! If you don''t, get out of Pear Blossom Vige. We don''t want fake doctors here!" "Yeah, get out!"


    ""Get out!"


    Suddenly, many vigers shouted in unison, and the scene started to get chaotic again. Kevin, who was worried about possible incidents, signaled the crew to escort the guests back to their residence. The vige officials rushed over and helped calm down the vigers. Fifteen minutester, more than a dozen guests were back at their lodgings. Snow was falling outside, and once they got


    inside, took


    off their coats, nearly all of them sweating with hear


    That situation was


    feel afraid.


    Si awful. None of them had ever seen anything like it before, and just thinking about it made themThis is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Yvette nced at the camera that hadn''t stopped recording and walked over to Lonely Bird. In a gentle and sweet voice, she encouraged, "Dr. Lonely Bird, don''t feel guilty about what happened today. We all trust you."


    At first, it sounded likefort, but upon closer inspection, there was a strong hint of sarcasm. Shakira was in a bad mood and retorted without hesitation, "Why should I feel guilty? Do you think it''s my fault?" Yvette''s expression froze. "I..."


    The viewers got angry. [What the fuck! Even now, Lonely Bird is still so arrogant!] [Well, what do you expeet when her mentor is Matthew?] [Seriously, she''s so pretentious. I used to think she was just proud because she was talented, but now... She is just using her connections!]


    [I feel so sorry for Yvette. She meant well and got treated like that. Is Lonely Bird jealous of Yvette''s happy family life, so she always targets Yvette?] [Her parents must not be good people. She always mentions Matthew rather than her own parents!] [Don''t you think she''s calm now because she actually knows about Jessica''s condition?] [Sophia is from Pear Blossom Vige, so how does she know Lonely Bird doesn''t have a medical license? Doesn''t that seem suspicious to you all?] [Come on, you fans stop defending her. Someone on the hospital team who knew Lonely Bird''s secret and couldn''t stand her leaked it to the public. He was doing justice!] [Haha, and yet some people are trying to clear her name. It''s so disgusting!!  BB.


    Yvette bit her lip, looking hurt. Leo checked the situation and said, "Dr. Lonely Bird, that pregnant woman..."


    Shakira understood what Leo meant. He wanted to assist her. She said honestly, "Jessica has no slippery pulse. She has bellyache and kidney issues, showing clear signs of liver and galldder obstruction. Her skin is turning yellow. If we don''t quickly remove the stillborn child, she may die."


    After this was said, the medical staff fell silent. They all knew of Lonely Bird''s medical skills and naturally trusted her words. Besides, these symptoms would be confirmed once Jessica was examined at the hospital.


    The celebrity guest nearby was curious. "The doctor''s license Sophia talked about..." Shakira gave him a long look and gently said, "No, I don''t have one."


    These words were like a thunderp, leaving everyone dumbfounded. They couldn''t believe she just admitted it like that.


    Leo was also shocked, almost rushing over to cover Lonely Bird''s mouth. He thought, ''This silly kid. How can she say it now?'' Kevin was almost driven mad too and immediately stopped the livestream. But it was all toote.


    Yvette was also shocked. Despite her surprised expression, her heart was pounding rapidly with excitement. This was incredibly good news for her. She thought, ''Lonely Bird is done for. She brought about her own downfall! ''It seems my n is working pretty well. E is smart too. She found someone like Sophia to stir things up, turning it into a big deal. Lonely Bird is finished!''


    As expected, while everyone at the scene was in shock, the livestream caused a stir. A video of Lonely Bird openly admitting she didn''t have a medical license quickly dominated the cover of every major news website.


    This time, Lonely Bird fell from being a nationally admired miracle doctor to a quack who everyone was against. The Inte was flooded with insults, and soon enough, the news reached Matthew and his friends.


    When Matthew first heard the news, he thought he must have misheard and jokingly said, "April Fool''s Day is still far away. Are you young folks already starting the jokes?"


    His assistant was almost in tears. "Mr. Goodman, something really happened!" They handed him a tablet with the news on it. "Dr. Lonely Bird is getting criticized from all sides!"


    Matthew put on his reading sses and turned red with anger when he saw the news.


    0

 Chapter 275

    "Those idiots know nothing!" Even the usually calm Matthew burst out with foulnguage, showing just how angry he was. The assistant delivering the news was terrified, watching Matthew''s furious face, afraid he might get sick..


    Before he could even try to calm Matthew down, the faces of the elders around-Ethan. Yael, and Barret-changed drastically. "Exactly, they know nothing."


    "When Shakira was learning medicine from Matthew, we were all watching. She is talented and smart. She could practice non-stop for 19 hours a day. And they said she was unqualified to be a doctor. Then who are qualified, those ignorant vigers or trolls?" "Those vigers even dared to throw things at Shakira. Poor Shakira must be feeling so wronged! I''m going to Pear Blossom Vige!" The four elders were exasperated.


    The assistant had never seen these four so agitated before, and when they mentioned going to Pear Blossom Vige, he nearly fell to his knees.


    He said. "Please calm down, everyone! Going to Pear Blossom Vige will only create more chaos. The program team is handling the online uproar, and the pregnant woman Dr. Lonely Bird treated has been taken to the hospital. I''m sure Dr. Lonely Bird''s name will be cleared soon!"


    The assistant thought, ''As long as Dr. Lonely Bird is proven right, everything will be fine.


    He quickly added, "Besides, Dr. Lonely Bird openly admitted she didn''t have a license, which means she''s fully prepared to handle this unexpected situation."


    "Come on. She''s just got a short fuse!" Matthew knew exactly why Shakira dared to admit it during the livestream. She wasn''t prepared. She acted out of anger and didn''t care about anything else. Besides, she despised lying.


    "No, I can''t just watch her being bullied!" Matthew couldn''t sit still. "Contact the Foreign Ministry immediately. I need to let everyone know that my student Shakira is more qualified to be a doctor than anyone else!" The assistant didn''t dare to dy. "Got it!"


    After the livestream ended, everyone on site looked at Lonely Bird in disbelief, their expressionsplex. There was surprise, disappointment, confusion, and anger on their faces.


    Among them, a few celebrity guests quickly changed their expressions. "What do you mean? We''ve been nice to you, haven''t we? Are you dragging us down with you now?"


    "Exactly. Do you know how wild things are online right now? You''ve been posing as a doctor without a license, and now you admit it on a live stream. Great, now all our efforts are going down the drain with you!"


    A show involving the government caused such a scandal. It would surely be banned. This show was the hottest topic online, bringing them wealth and countless resources.


    Now, everything was ruined single-handedly by Lonely Bird. The celebrity guests didn''t bother hiding their anger, ring at Lonely Bird as if to kill her.


    Kevin stepped forward immediately, his face stern. "That''s enough. Now''s not the time to me anyone."


    "Huh? Mr. Jones, how much did you get from Lonely Bird, or how many benefits did Matthew give you? Ah!" Xavier, who had just been questioning Lonely Bird''s qualifications, hadn''t even finished his rant when Shakiranded a solid punch. sending him to the ground. Shakira''s eyes shed with coldness. "Say one more word against Matthew, and I''ll hit you a few more ames."


    B


    Xavier spat out some blood, ready to fight back, but Kevin stood in front of him, showing no emotion. "You''ve been fired for ndering Matthew."


    "What? Kevin, are you insane?"


    "And insulting the director. Tell everyone. Whoever works with Xavier in the future will be my enemy."


    Fuming, Xavier yanked off his headset and mmed it to the ground. "Fine! I''m just waiting to see your doom!"


    Kevin continued directing the crew. "Note down the equipment damage and deduct money from his pay."


    "Darn it!" Xavier swore and stormed out, not wanting to stay a moment longer.


    Just then, a vige official rushed in, looking rmed. "There''s trouble! The mountain road into the vige copsed. About a dozen people who came to visit rtives were seriously injured, and even the ambnce that just left the vige with Jessica and the others fell too. Please save the injured vigers!"


    Everyone''s face turned serious when they heard this. Kevin didn''t hesitate, instructing the staff to take medical supplies and get ready. "We''re heading there now!"Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Leo and a few others quickly packed their first aid kits, and the remaining celebrity guests got in the vehicles with them.


    Before leaving, Kevin quietly told Shakira, "The vigers are still upset about you. Stay at the ce you''re lodging. Call me or the assistant director if anything happens." Shakira nodded. "Okay."


    The group set off as quickly as possible. Shakira watched them leave, her expression heavy.


    With the assistant director''s insistence, the live stream continued, and within moments, hundreds of thousands of viewers came to the channel.


    Kevin briefly exined the current situation, and the insultingments momentarily stopped.


    [Mr. Jones is right. Saving people is the most important thing!]


    [This director is definitely the bravest one in 2024!]


    [We can''t let one troublemaker like Lonely Bird ruin everyone''s effort, right? I support Mr. Jones'' livestream!]


    [But seriously, why hasn''t an official statement been made yet? Wow, they really protect Lonely Bird, even though there is such a big scandal!]


    The group arrived at the ident site in a jostling donkey cart. The vigers had already helped carry out the injured. The vige doctor was providing basic first aid.


    Seeing the program team arrive, they became hopeful. "The specialists from Haruca Hospital are here. Everything will be fine soon!"


    However, the medical staff members were limited, so even with reinforcements, it was challenging. Especially since a few vigers were seriously injured, needing several medical experts like Leo to work together, so the others had to wait for


    treatment.


    Meanwhile, Jessica''s heart rate was rapidly dropping.


    Sophia was wailing, "Please save my grandson. Save my grandson"


    The vige official was in a panic. "The mountain road has copsed, and the ambnce from Groned County will need at


    least half an hour to get here. What are we going to do?"


    Everyone on the scene was troubled, and even the viewers watching the live stream were anxious.


    [This is just too awful. The injured all need emergency medical care!]


    [Poor Jessica. Sophia only cares about her grandson. Doesn''t she even care about Jessica''s life?]


    [Where''s Lonely Bird? Isn''t she good at medicine? Why aren''t they letting her help? In times like these, who cares about formalities?]


    [Are you kidding? If Lonely Bird shows up, the vigers will probably attack her!]


    At that moment, Yvette suddenly stepped forward and said timidly, "I have an idea, but I''m not sure if it will work."

 Chapter 276

    Mr. Jones nodded and said, "Go ahead."


    Yvette said, "My main doctor and his team happen to be vacationing nearby. Since it''s an emergency, why don''t I contact them toe over and help?"


    After Yvette finished speaking, she suddenly remembered something and quickly added, "They are chief physicians Harborview Medical Center and are equally renowned experts as the esteemed doctors here."


    A viger overheard and chuckled. "We know Harborview Medical Center. Just the other day, at the local hospital, they said we needed over 60 thousand dors for treatment. We went to Harborview, and the specialist treated it with 6 dors!" Another viger responded, "We all assumed the experts this time would be from Harborview Medical Center, but unexpectedly, it was some unknown Haruca Hospital, and they brought a fake doctor who caused trouble. What a waste of our effort." A few members led by Jason, who were busy providing emergency care nearby, couldn''t help but darken their faces in response to these words while continuing their work.


    The vige cadre quickly changed the topic. Mr. Jones, without further ado, instructed Yvette to ask those doctors toe and help.


    Yvette said, "Okay, I''ll call them right now!"


    Right in front of the camera, Yvette dialed Paul''s number. Upon hearing the situation, they immediately agreed toe.


    By chance, they were staying at an inn in the neighboring vige, just a three-minute ride over on a tricycle.


    Paul, his wife, and several of his doctor colleagues had just arrived and immediately joined the emergency team without dy.


    Now, experts from the two major hospitals in Crescentville had gathered to save lives, with viewers in the live stream expressing their gratitude in the chat.


    Upon learning that Paul''s wife was an obstetrician, Mrs. Churchill, with tears and a runny nose, quickly pulled and dragged Ann over to Jessica''s side. "Please save my grandson!"


    "Don''t worry."


    Anna quickly examined Jessica''s pupils, took her pulse, and listened to her heartbeat. Her brow furrowed more as shepleted the diagnosis.


    Anna said, "It''s no use. The baby inside her can''t be saved. We must inducebor to save her life!"


    Another death sentence dered left Mrs. Churchillpletely devastated. "No! How could my grandson be dead? He''s fine! You''re all lying to me, just like that Lonely Bird!"


    This time, before Mrs. Churchill could fly into a rage, the vigers quickly covered her mouth and stopped her.


    "Mrs. Churchill, are you crazy? These are experts from Harborview Medical Center. How can you say such things? We''re all counting on them to save lives!"


    Anna ignored the frantic Mrs. Churchill and turned to the vige leader, saying, "We have a stretcher in the car. Find two strong men to carry the pregnant woman down the mountain path. We need to get her to a hospital immediately!"  I


    "Okay!"


    No one dared to dy. Four vigers struggled to carry Jessica on their shoulders and left by a detour.


    3


    Coming together in a united effort to rescue, everyone pressed ahead despite the heavy snowfall, and the warmth of humanity remained unstoppable.


    The sudden incident drew even more viewers to the live stream and this scene touched many hearts:


    [Look, the angels in white are shining in the snow!]


    [It''s so moving. This is a doctor''s duty-no matter how tough things get, saving lives is always the priority!]


    [It''s well-known that Harborview Medical Center and Haruca Hospital are both family and rivals. Initially founded by the Tucker family as Harmony Medical Center, the split led to doctors from each side never interacting. Yet, this time, the Harborview Medical Center doctors promptly joined the rescue a true testament to their medical ethics and dedication to saving lives!]


    [Look at these hardworking healthcare workers, and thenpare them to the self-important Lonely Bird-it''s clear who''s better!]


    [But Anna also said the child was lost, indicating Lonely Bird wasn''t wrong.]


    [So what? Wasn''t she absent when she was most needed? Is a human life less important than saving face? Don''t call her Lonely Bird, call her a coward!]


    [heard that just after the live stream ended, there was an argument among the guests. Xavier wasn''t even there, perhaps he offended someone important at the TV station and was asked to leave.]


    [Yeah, these guests have such bad luck. Who knows, the show might be canceled by this afternoon!]


    [Even if the variety show is canceled, so what? We''ll forever remember every hero who took part in the rescue today!]


    [And we must mention Yvette. She had been ignored by Lonely Bird a few times, but if she hadn''t taken the initiative to contact the doctors from Harborview Medical Center for help, the rescue wouldn''t have been as quick. Jessica, who was in critical condition, might have been dead.]


    [You''re absolutely right! Before, many people online were mocking the Nelson family and Yvette. But now it seems that wealthy people truly have different character and moral standards from ordinary people. She doesn''t care about what others say; she''s focused on being herself. She is kind and brave, which makes her the richest second generation that I admire the most!]


    [Exactly, I owe Yvette an apology. I shouldn''t have mocked her as a fake rich girl. I''m the real fool here!]


    [Yvette is beautiful and kind-hearted. Let''s support her! I''m a fan now!]


    People continued to talk about this thing.


    As the onlinements shifted to praise Yvette, Reba, watching the live stream, was thrilled.


    She quickly called Selena and Cody to watch the livestream together.


    At first, Selena wasn''t interested. "What''s there to see? Let''s not embarrass ourselves again."


    Reba chuckled and said, "Mom, this time Yvette did us proud She did an amazing thing, and now everyone is praising her!"


    "What?"


    Selena quickly put on her reading sses and took a quick look at the screen. All thements were praise, saying that th Nelson family must have good family traditions to raise such an amazing daughter!


    Cody looked a bit confused, not fullyprehending when Finn called. As soon as he got the call, his face lit up with happiness.


    "Thepany''s stocks have risen! Finally, they''re up! It''s all because of Yvette; she''s truly the Nelson family''s good luck charm!"


    Selena smiled broadly as she quickly called her old friends to watch the live stream together. She wanted them to see how her granddaughter was bringing pride to the family!


    *****


    Yvette quietly checked the good news andpliments Reba sent her on her phone. A happy, gentle smile appeared or her lips, and her eyes shone with excitement. Finally, she could hold her head up high with pride!


    In a hidden corner, away from everyone, Paul came to her side and whispered so only the two of them could hear, "It''s all thanks to Ms. Nelson!"


    Yvette humbly corrected him with deep meaning. "Dr. Jenkins, we are good teammates who mutually benefit from each other!"


    Dr. Jenkins smiled. "Yes. We are good teammates!"


    Watching the scene unfold, Paul could hardly hide his smile. He thought, ''It''s obvious that once they return, they''ll be praised, and this year''s bonus won''t be a concern anymore!''


    The reality show Medical Heart became a hit even before it aired. Mr. Tucker was so green with envy that when Yvette mentioned the chance to take advantage of the show''s poprity, he didn''t hesitate to bring his wife and his small team along. They had originallye for a free clinic, but unexpectedly, they encountered a natural disaster, which seemed like a gift from heaven, one they couldn''t turn down!


    As they were feeling pleased, a loud exmation from Leo grabbed everyone''s attention. "Alexander, what are you doing?"


    Mr. Williams was desperately trying to stop a young doctor with bleached blond hair.


    Alexander pushed Leo aside. "What''s all the shouting about? This patient has a pneumothorax and needs a chest puncture to relieve the air. If you dy any longer and worsen the condition, can Haruca Hospital take the responsibility?" Leo was shoved and fell onto the snowy ground, baring his teeth in anger. "This is madness! How can you perform a puncture in these conditions? It''s not the time for traditional medicine to try."


    "Old man, just because you can''t do it doesn''t mean I can''t!"


    Alexander gave Mr. Williams a disdainful look and picked up an anesthetic needle, getting ready to inject it into the unconscious viger.


    Suddenly, a slim figure wearing a cap with a peak stepped quickly out of the rescue crowd and kicked the anesthetic needle away from Alexander''s hand.


    She stood tall in the snow and her voice was clear and firm. "Can''t even tell the difference between a pneumothorax and a pulmonary embolism? Who do you think you are to say you can do it?"  GB.


    9


    The words resonated with authority, as the brim of the cap was slowly lifted up, reveali all present. In an instant, the chat room of the live stream was flooded with


    [Lonely Bird? How dare she show her face here!]


    the neer''s face to the gaze of omments, reaching a new level of frenzy.


    [I know Dr. Lonely Bird isn''t as bad as people said online, she''s Here


    People continued to talk about this thing.


    "Is this really the time for irrational fans? If she really wanted to help, she would have stepped up long ago. Now she''s stopping the doctors from Harborview Medical Center from saving lives


    to help


    6 emlThis is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    She''s truly evil!"


    Not only was the livestream audience shocked, but those witnessing Lonely Bird''


    disbelief. How dare she follow them here!


    sudden appearance were equally in


    Alexander rubbed his wrist, still buzzing with numbness from Shakira''s violent kick. After his initial shock, his expression turned sour and mocking. "What does an unlicensed quack like you know?"


    Even before the rescue team arrived, they had already been eagerly following the online scandal that had everyone buzzing. Seeing Haruca Hospital in trouble, they couldn''t help but feel a sense of satisfaction! Alexander was outraged, and so were the vigers recognizing her. "You cursed thing, how dare youe back!"


    Seeing their menacing approach once again, Felix stepped in front of her without hesitation and his voice was deep and steady. "Stay behind me and find a chance to get away quickly."


    Shakira stared deeply at the upright and steady back of the gentleman before her. She suddenly found herself curious. "Do you really trust me that much?"


    Felix was surprised, not expecting her to speak to him directly. A noticeable delight appeared in his eyes, and his handsome/ face showed unwavering belief. He answered immediately, "Yes, I do."


    Shakira immediately let out a mocking snicker. Back then, she worked tirelessly, giving her all to the ungrateful Nelson family, who ignored her efforts and only believed Yvette''s absurd stories.


    Now that she was the focus of everyone''s criticism, even with just a shallow rtionship with Felix, he remained so steadfast in supporting her. His own sister, who genuinely deserved his attention and care, never received it until she died. Stupid! Absurd!


    Shakira met Felix''s supposedly sincere gaze with a calm and icy expression.


    He had thought that by protecting Lonely Bird so devotedly, she would be moved, even just a little. But instead, she became even colder and more arrogant.


    How could this happen? Was there some kind of misunderstanding? Felix was confused.


    On the other side, Yvette watched Lonely Bird appear, her mouth almost twisting into a smirk. Did she think she wasn''t finished yet, daring to cause trouble like this?


    However, seeing Felix still eagerly stepping forward to y the hero, Yvette''s smile turned dark. She thought, Alright, Felix, you want to help her, right? Go ahead. Why not meet your end too?''


    "Let''s chase this troublemaker away! Her presence will only bring harm to us!"


    A voice shouted among the vigers, and the one at the front raised their shovel as if to charge at Lonely Bird. The situation


    BB.


    C

 Chapter 277

    hapter 277-


    was tense, and the TV crew hurriedly moved to protect her.


    9


    Just then, a weak voice came from the group of rescued people, "What are you doing? This girl is here to help us!"


    "Stop! Don''t identally hurt someone who''s here to help!"


    Several injured people with bandaged wounds saw themotion and, rmed, rushed over to stop it.


    The young viger leading the group pointed at Lonely Bird there, in a huff, saying, "Mr. Thomas! You weren''t here earlier, so you don''t know. This person is just pretending to be a doctor


    Some people tried to exin the chaos that happened during the free clinic, but after hearing it, a few of the injured just shook their heads in disbelief.


    They said, "How could you say this youngdy is a bad person? She was the one who helped me reset my broken bone just a moment ago. Look, now it''s all fine and doesn''t hurt anymore. If it weren''t for the worry of it moving again, I''d be joining you guys in digging out the mountain road!"


    "Exactly! Those high-and-mighty doctors from that big hospital who came earlier were so harsh. They told me that the cut on my arm was no big deal, not life-threatening, and said I should just disinfect it myself. But it was this youngdy who stitched up my wound-six whole stitches! Those doctors didn''t give much attention to my small wound, yet she was kindly asking me if it hurt while she was stitching up my wound! You say she''s not a good person, I don''t believe it!"


    Some vigers who participated in the rescue also recognized Lonely Bird. "She was quietly digging the mountain road with us earlier. She''s really trying to help. Don''t wrongly use her."


    With these sounds, people finally noticed that Lonely Bird was covered in mud mixed with snow water, with dirty hands and feet, apparently having been hiding among the rescue team all this time. Compared to the other medical staff and celebrity guests, wasn''t anyone cleaner than her?


    For a moment, everyone looked at the solitary and proud Lonely Bird, falling into silence.


    Alexander was unconvinced. "So what? That only proves she''s guilty and trying to make it up to everyone. It doesn''t change the fact that her medical skills are poor and she dyed rescuing people!"


    Shakira looked coldly at Alexander, who was still stubbornly arguing, and sneered. "Did you even study at medical school?


    Alexander''s eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"


    "Pneumothorax and pulmonary embolism share simr manifestations, but pneumothorax predominantly urs in young people, while pulmonary embolism mainly affects older people and those with a history of serious heart conditions, such as atrial fibrition, often apanied by low-grade fever."


    Lonely Bird pointed at the unconscious old man on the ground, whose face was turning purple as he struggled to breathe. "His temperature is rising, and the shape of his fingers clearly indicates he has a heart condition. And yet, you dared to diagnose this as pneumothorax, ignoring Leo''s warning and recklessly preparing for anesthesia and a puncture. Looks like


    medical skills are as bad as your eyesight!"


    your


    Alexander said, "You!"


    Shakira suddenly lifted her gaze, shooting a sharp look at Paul, who was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Yvette not far away. "Dr. Jenkins, can''t the Harborview Medical Center figure out this minor problem?" Suddenly called out, Paul''s whole body tensed, and he got a sinking feeling in his gut.


    Jason and another traditional medicine doctor had already stepped forward to check the patient. They quickly concluded. "This is indeed a pulmonary embolism, not pneumothorax."


    Hearing this, Alexander''s face turnedpletely pale, and the other traditional medicine doctors felt equally embarrassed


    17:53 Fri,


    39


    and uneasy. Misdiagnosing in such a critical situation was a huge embarrassment in front of a national audience!


    [What? Oh my god, even traditional medicine doctors can misdiagnose?]


    [Making a wrong diagnosis is pretty normal, right? After all, without the support of technology, Alexander looks quite young indeed.]


    [Normal? This is a serious issue! How could he dare to push Leo aside with low skills? That''s just irresponsible!]


    [In that case, it really seems like Lonely Bird has some real skills


    [Weren''t there people mocking her for being a coward and not helping out? Where are they now? Feeling embarrassed?]


    [I knew there was going to be a twist! Dr. Lonely Bird can''t be the bad guy!]


    [Well, as Alexander said, Lonely Bird''s arrival now is toote. Practicing medicine confidently at Haruca Hospital without a proper license is simply irresponsible and uneptable."-


    [Quick, look at the statement from the State Department. Who would


    Someone streamed the statement directly into the chat room.


    thought it could turn around like this!]Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    It said, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the United Nations, and the Embassy of Myanmar jointly issued a statement stating that Lonely Bird was inspected and confirmed by a professional medical team designated by the United Nations, and was deployed as a borderless peacekeeping doctor to carry out a special mission in the Delta region!"


    Why don''t I understand these words? Does Lonely Bird have some connection with the UN?]


    [So Lonely Bird doesn''t have a medical license here, but she passed the UN evaluation and worked in a dangerous area as a doctor without borders on special tasks!]


    [She didn''t lie; Lonely Bird didn''t lie. She''s a real doctor and more qualified than anyone else there!]


    [No wonder nobody ordered the variety shows to stop. This kind of bold rification! It''s like a p in the face for the entire inte!]


    [How much did she suffer in the vige, being used and scolded by everyone, yet she kept a low profile and stuck to her beliefs.] [Don''t use Lonely Bird to make me sad! Seriously, I''m crying!]


    B


    El 3, 91%


    and uneasy. Misdiagnosing in such a critical situation was a huge embarrassment in front of a national audience!


    [What? Oh my god, even traditional medicine doctors can misdiagnose?]


    [Making a wrong diagnosis is pretty normal, right? After all, without the support of technology, Alexander looks quite young indeed.]


    [Normal? This is a serious issue! How could he dare to push Leo aside with low skills? That''s just irresponsible!]


    [In that case, it really seems like Lonely Bird has some real skills


    [Weren''t there people mocking her for being a coward and not helping out? Where are they now? Feeling embarrassed?]


    [I knew there was going to be a twist! Dr. Lonely Bird can''t be the bad guy!]


    [Well, as Alexander said, Lonely Bird''s arrival now is toote. Practicing medicine confidently at Haruca Hospital without a proper license is simply irresponsible and uneptable."


    [Quick, look at the statement from the State Department. Who would''ve thought it could turn around like this!]


    Someone streamed the statement directly into the chat room.


    It said, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the United Nations, and the Embassy of Myanmar jointly issued a statement stating that Lonely Bird was inspected and confirmed by a professional medical team designated by the United Nations, and was deployed as a borderless peacekeeping doctor to carry out a special mission in the Delta region!"


    [Why don''t I understand these words? Does Lonely Bird have some connection with the UN?]


    [So Lonely Bird doesn''t have a medical license here, but she passed the UN evaluation and worked in a dangerous area as a doctor without borders on special tasks!]


    [She didn''t lie; Lonely Bird didn''t lie. She''s a real doctor and more qualified than anyone else there!]


    [No wonder nobody ordered the variety shows to stop. This kind of bold rification! It''s like a p in the face for the entire inte!]


    [How much did she suffer in the vige, being ac

 Chapter 278

    Upon the release of the official announcement, the tone of online discussion rapidly shifted! Meanwhile, the vige cadre received a call and was thrilled.


    After hanging up, he hurried to Lonely Bird''s side and bowed deeply with his hands sped together. Everyone was confused, especially the vigers who looked to the vige cadre for guidance. "Mr. Miller, what are you doing by bowing to her?"


    The vige cadre''s eyes filled with tears, and his expression was excited. "Jessica is out of danger! It matched the diagnosis made by Lonely. Bird. The baby in her womb


    was already gone, and she was in critical condition when she fainted. Fortunately, she was taken to the hospital in time! It was Dr. Lonely Bird who arranged for someone to meet them at the entrance of the mountain path, allowing the vigers to get her to the county hospital for surgery immediately!"Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Shakira remained calm and said softly, "They were just passing by."


    The vigers looked at each other, hesitating and embarrassed. Despite not yet knowing about the UN''s announcement, even in their ignorance, they now realized that they had wronged a truly good doctor!


    A young girl had traveled a long distance to their vige to provide free medical services, working tirelessly withoutints. Yet, how did they behave? They falsely used her, insulted her, and even threw rotten eggs and vegetables at her, nearly hitting her with a shovel. They were truly worse than animals!


    The vigers were silent. After a while, someone finally spoke up loudly, "Mrs. Churchill is my uncle''s sister-inw, and she''s not here now, so I''m apologizing on her behalf to you, Dr. Lonely Bird!"


    As they spoke, a frail-looking middle-aged man came forward, looking serious as he bowed towards Shakira. "I just threw rotten vegetables at you. It


    0:17 Sat, Nov 16


    "You''re lying! How can you nder me like this?"


    Confronted with everyone''s staring eyes, Yvette backed away repeatedly, shaking her head and waving her hands frantically.. Whether from fear or grievance, she was almost in tears.


    She said, "I didn''t say any of those things. How could I harm Lonely Bird? It was E who was trying to frame me."


    E red angrily. "You wicked girl, you said it to me in the kitchen. How would a country bumpkin like me know about any documents? You couldn''t bear the thought of Lonely Bird being more skilled than you. You even told me she had Matthew supporting her and that I should find someone else to spread this secret so you wouldn''t get caught up in it. Your heart is too dark, using us as pawns to go after Lonely Bird!"


    "Sir, if you''re going to arrest someone, arrest her! I''ll testify, she''s the one who encouraged me to involve Mrs. Churchill!" As she heard E''s endless chatter, Yvette was nearly driven to madness!


    Felix looked grim, his gaze cold. "Yvette, is this true?"


    Yvette shouted, "Felix! You trust Lonely Bird and not me?!"


    Felix pressed his lips into a tight line, not answering. That was as good as admitting it!


    Felix didn''t help her, so Yvette instinctively looked toward the only familiar face in the crowd. However, when she looked over, she saw Paul hidden among the vigers, secretly making his way out. Damn it, even Paul betrayed her! Feeling utterly alone and unsupported, with everyone around her advancing menacingly, Yvette was on the brink of panic. Overwhelmed by fear and pressure, she couldn''t stop herself from clutching her head and letting out a piercing scream. Then she suddenly turned and ran frantically. However, before she could escape that stifling ce, her feet suddenly went through the ground. Yvette, along with arge section of the hillside, plummeted down in front of everyone.

 Chapter 279

    The live broadcast was suddenly cut off. With plenty of rescue personnel on site and the mountain road cleared, Yvette, who was covered in blood and unconscious after falling from the mountain, was quickly taken to the county hospital. The vigers murmured in disbelief, "That girl is way too timid. She should''ve just exined herself instead of running off in a panic."


    "In my opinion, she''s acting guilty."


    "If she really egged on E to cause this fuss and dyed the free clinic for the whole vige, then she got what she deserved. It''s karma!"


    The vige leader cleared his throat, interrupting their guesses, Everyone worked hard today. Let''s go back and rest." At the same time, Kevin organized for the staff and guests to rest.


    Back at her ce, Shakira got a text and went to a creek a few hundred feet away. Two handsome men, dressed in custom-made luxury coats, stood out against the poor surroundings. "Shakira!"


    "Shakira!"


    Shakira quietly watched as Sean and Gideon walked quickly toward her. She wasn''t all that surprised.


    They both examined Shakira closely. Gideon''s gaze fell on the scraped back of Shakira''s hand. "Shakira, you''re injured." He immediately took her hand to inspect it, his eyes filled with worry.


    Sean pped his forehead and said, "I forgot the first aid kit. I''ll find someone to get one right away..."


    "No need." Shakira pulled back her hand and said calmly, "It''ll be fine in a couple of days, and we''re heading back to Crescentville this afternoon anyway."


    She stared at them intensely. "What made you two rush over here?"


    "You were getting scolded like that. How could we just sit still? Also, if we hadn''te here ourselves, would they have uncovered the truth and arrested the culprits so quickly?" Sean said, clenching his fists in anger. "Shakira, you were right. As soon as I spread the news about you not having a medical license, Yvette just jumped at the chance to cause trouble," said Sean.


    Shakira shed a mocking smile. "She''s selfish and possessive about everything from the Nelson family. Felix has stood up for me multiple times. She''s had her eyes on me for a while. I handed her the knife, and she wasn''t about to refuse it." Yes, the "secret" that Yvette overheard was exactly what Shakira intentionally leaked to her. Since Yvette dared to mess with her over and over again, Shakira would not hesitate to give her a big gift.


    Since Yvette enjoyed the feeling of being on top so much, Shakira would make sure she stood even higher so her fall would be even harder. Yvette didn''t fail her and wentpletely crazy, causing this situation that greatly satisfied Shakira. Watching Shakira''s expression, Gideon slightly narrowed his eyes, his feminine-looking face appearing even more delicate.


    Gideon said, "Shakira, your move was too risky. If the vigers had been more brutal, the consequences would have been unimaginable!"


    His tone ofint had a hint of malice. "If you don''t like Yvette, I could have taken care of her. Why should you have to do it yourself?"This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    "Gideon, I appreciate your concern, the feud with Yvette is something I need to settle on my own," Shakira insisted, Gideon felt a bit disappointed but couldn''t argue with her.


    Sean patted Gideon on the shoulder. "But Shakira, things blew up online, and even Matthew and the others noticed. So...." As he spoke, he handed over the tablet with the news.


    Only then did Shakira see the official joint statement released by the GUA, causing a throbbing in her temples. This move surely involved those old folks. She didn''t think she was important enough


    or the officials to make such a fuss and release a statement about her. She patted her forehead in frustration. "That was a mistake. I forgot about them..."


    It was obvious how angry the old folks were. She handed the tablet back to Sean. "Once we''re back in Crescentville, I''ll go over and apologize in person."


    The whole crew returned to Crescentville in the afternoon. On the bus, Shakira had already sent a message to Walter and then turned off her phone. Feeling so exhausted, she could barely keep her eyes open and slept all the way back.


    The bus stopped at the TV station. As Shakira got her belongings from the overhead rack and was about to get off, she noticed a familiar Maybach under a big tree nearby, jolting her awake. She thought, ''Oh no, why did hee here himself?'' She looked back at the crew members gathered outside the TV station. It was definitely not feasible to get off the bus and find a ce to remove the special effects makeup. Just at that moment, the phone in her hand vibrated. She nced at the caller ID. It


    was none other than Walter.


    "Miss, aren''t you getting off? I''m heading back to the bus station now," the bus driver urged her.


    Shakira took a deep breath, put her phone on silent, and decisively went back to sit in thest seat of the bus. "Sir, I actually need to get to the bus station."


    go


    ahead.


    "Okay." The driver closed the door and started the bus. The bus station wasn''t far from the TV station. They arrived in about ten minutes.


    Shakira quickly jumped off the bus and rushed to find a restroom. Only then did she return the call to Walter, who had left her five or six missed calls. The phone was answered immediately with a cool and urgent voice asking, "Where are you?" "Well, I''m on the bus..." Shakira said with a slightly nasally tone as she pinched her nose. "I overslept and ended up at the bus station." She yawned after she finished speaking.


    Walter, who had been waiting at the TV station with no sign of her, said, "Send me your location and I''lle get you." After sending her location, Shakira hung up, quickly removed her makeup, changed clothes, and got rid of anything connecting her to Lonely Bird. Just as she finished, Walter arrived.


    Shakira jogged to the car yfully stuck her tongue out and asked for forgiveness. "I was so tired I put my phone on silent. If I had known you wereing to get me, I would have set an rm for sure."


    Walter studied her face deeply. Seeing she was fine, he felt relieved. But when he looked down and saw the scratches on her hands, his brows furrowed instantly.


    He spoke coldly, "Brian, head to the nearest hospital." He had seen the news and knew the chaos involving Lonely Bird was spreading rapidly.


    When the vigers were causing trouble, he worried she might get caught up in it. Later, when he saw the road was blocked by the copse and the crew was helping with the rescue, he knew she wouldn''t stand by idly.


    Yet, he didn''t expect that she would end up like this. Shakira quickly said, "It doesn''t hurt. It just looks long, but the cut isn''t deep. It''ll heal in two days." Chapter 279


    "Doesn''t it hurt?" Walter gripped her hand tightly as she tried to pull back, staring at her with a nk face.


    "Great. When we get back, I''ll tell Levi to give the servants their holiday break. Tomorrow, you can take care of cleaning the whole manor yourself," said Walter.


    Words failed Shakira.


    She thought, ''Walter is so ruthless!''


    A few seconds ago, Shakira was like a cold, tough girl, but now she drooped her eyes, and meekly lifted her hand, turning into a soft girl. With a pitiful whimper, she said, "Sir, it hurts, boohoo."


    Walter flicked her forehead with annoyance. "You never learn. Shakira obediently lowered her head to receive the scolding, not daring to talk back anymore.


    Unexpectedly, the nearest hospital was Harborview Medical Center. It costs 5 dors to register for cleaning the wound. When the nurse asked where the wound was, Shakira kept her head down in utter embarrassment and eventually raised her hand. The nurse took a look and said nothing.


    Walter, frowning beside her, asked, "It''s been hours since it happened. Does she need a tetanus shot?"


    The nurse looked a bit frustrated and said nothing.


    If they hade anyter, it would have healed on its own. Finally, under Walter''s insistence, Shakira''s entire hand was covered in medicinal balm, turning it brown.


    As the two went to the parking lot, ready to leave, a familiar sharp voice pierced through. "Shakira, you''ve finally shown up." Turning around, Reba hurried toward Shakira, her expression filled with anxiety and panic, as if she was possessed. Her eyes were bloodshot. "Quick, you need to sign the papers for the kidney transnt surgery right away. Yvette can''t wait any longer."

 Chapter 280

    Before Reba could step forward, Brian and the others had already stopped her, not letting her get closer. Not far away, Cody and Felix also walked over quickly, their faces cold and stern. Shakira looked at Reba''s weary and worried expression, a cold smile forming on her lips as she replied, "No way."


    Reba''s eyes narrowed sharply, and she exploded in anger. "Shakira, do you have any humanity left? Yvette was framed and is about to lose her life, yet you''re making such heartlessments?" Shakira snapped, "She brought it on herself, She can''t me anyone else."


    "What do you know about those grudges? Right now, Yvette''s kidneys are severely damaged. We only ask for one kidney from you. At this critical moment, are you really going to stand by and watch her die?"


    Before Shakira could respond, Walter, filled with anger, spoke sharply, his strong presence pressing down on Reba, "Losing a kidney won''t kill her, so stop being so dramatic."


    The familiar yet strange words surprised Shakira, and she turned to look intently at Walter. Those words were once used by Mitchell to mock her. Now, Walter used them to protect her. A warm feeling slowly spread through her heart. Reba''s lips trembled as she instinctively said, "Yvette and Shakira are not the same. Yvette''s health is already fragile, and losing a kidney would only make things harder for her..."


    Walter never held back his harsh words and retorted, "If she can''t handle it, just die."


    Reba''s face was pale with anger. She forcefully swallowed the curses on the tip of her tongue, not daring to utter a single word of defiance to Walter. She simply couldn''t afford to offend him.


    ''Damn, that bitch must have learned the news early and intentionally stayed close to Walter. I can''t do anything to her, thought Reba.


    "Mr. Lopez." Cody and Felix walked over with serious expressions. Felix lookedpletely exhausted. "This is a personal matter for the Nelson family, so we kindly ask Mr. Lopez..."


    "When did


    my


    fianc¨¦e be part of your family? Your way of trying to cozy up is really pathetic," Walter mocked coldly.


    Felix didn''t expect to be scolded. "You!"


    Cody raised his hand to calm his son, signaling him not to act impulsively. Stepping forward, he forced a smile.


    "Mr. Lopez, as a father, it''s reassuring to see how much you care for Shakira. You''re right. It was due to some misunderstandings that caused Shakira to leave home and be estranged from us..." said Cody. He paused briefly, then turned to Shakira, his weathered voice making a solemn promise.


    He said, "Shakira, Yvette grew up in the Nelson family. Sure, your mom, your brothers, and I have strong feelings for her, but this time, I promise you. As long as you agree to donate a kidney to Yvette..." Cody took a deep breath, his face heavy with an expression that showed he was making a difficult decision after a lot of hesitation.


    "After the surgery, we''ll have Yvette move out of the Nelson residence and publicly acknowledge your identity. From now on, you''ll be our only daughter in the Nelson family, no one else said Cody. Reba was utterly shocked. "Honey? No, you can''t just make Yvette leave. I don''t agree."Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yvette is our daughter, and so is Shakira," Cody stated firmly. "We can''t wrong Shakira and let her be disappointed in us!"


    RBB.


    Chapter 280.


    Reba couldn''t ept Cody''s decision at all and covered her face, bursting into tears. Felix''s expression wasn''t any better, clearly very reluctant about such an arrangement. Looking at their earnest and self-sacrificing faces, Shakira couldn''t help but let out a soft chuckle.


    She thought, ''Do they really think I still have hopes for them? Do they think I am delighted to be the daughter of the Nelson family? What a big joke!''


    At first, it was just a light chuckle escaping her throat, but gradually, Shakira doubled over,ughing uncontrobly.


    Reba looked disgusted, thinking herughter was one of triumphant joy. "Now that Yvette is driven away, are you finally happy?"


    "I''m happy..." Shakira wiped a tear ofughter from the corner of her eye. "Sorry, but watching you all still act so naive and foolish is pretty funny."


    The next moment, sheposed herself, her expression turning icy as she looked at them.


    "Drop the act as if you''re doing me a favor. Being family with you makes me feel nothing but disgusted, Shakira snapped.


    Cody''s expression changed abruptly. It was a rare asion for him to plead for mercy, only to be mercilessly trampled by Shakira. He could hardly continue to tolerate this.


    He gritted his teeth, his eyes zing with anger. "Shakira, this is yourst chance. Don''t think just because Mr. Lopez is backing you now, you can act without restraint.


    "If you don''t agree now when you''re left with nothing, even if you beg us, we won''t show any sympathy!"


    Shakira couldn''t be happier and said cheerfully, "Don''t give me any more chances. You all should hurry and see your precious daughter. After all, it might be one of thest times you see Yvette as the Yvette you know." Shakira''s sarcastic remarks left them steaming with anger. Without giving them another nce, she turned around and got into the Maybach.


    Walter closed the car door for her and looked back at them. "As long as I''m here, she''ll never be left with nothing."


    Walter had said this more than once in front of them.


    Reba was really upset this time and blurted out, "Mr. Lopez, you just like her for now. What good are promises when feelings change? Are you really going to marry her?" Upon hearing this, Walter barely furrowed his brows. He didn''t want to argue with them and also


    got


    into the car.


    On the way back, Walter was unusually quiet, and it was unclear what he was lost in thoughts. Meanwhile, Shakira was texting Sean to investigate Yvette''s situation.


    Soon, Sean got back with the information. "When Yvette fell off the cliff, a branch punctured her kidney, and it''s beyond saving now.


    "She was pretending to be sick to trick the Nelson family into getting a kidney from you. Now that she really ruined one and needs it removed, it''s payback. Serves her right for faking being sick. It''s satisfying to see her get what she deserves!" Wow, did it really just happen that the fall pierced through the kidney?'' Shakira was a bit surprised, but upon careful thought, she found itpletely reasonable.


    Lago went to great lengths to switch her luck with Yvette because he predicted that Yvette was born with bad luck. Over the years, her smooth sailing had been thanks to Shakira''s lucky aura


    Now, she couldn''t steal Shakira''s good fortune anymore. Naturally, all the bad luck that was supposed to be hers would


    Chapter 280.


    return piece by piece.


    11


    Sean was thrilled sitting across from Shakira, even inviting her out for a celebration dinner on the Carnaval to celebrate the great news. Shakira turned down the invitation without hesitation. Sean was upset. "Why? It with us either?


    fine you didn''t celebrate New Year''s Eve with us, but how can you not even spend the Carnaval


    "Shakira, are you in a rtionship now and want to be all lovey-dovey with your guy, leaving us behind?"


    Shakira, feeling helpless, said, "It''s Enrique who invited me to dinner, and I''ve already agreed.


    Sean was startled: "Shakira, I wasn''tining about you. I was just a bit let down and said whatever came to mind. You''re definitely not the kind to abandon friends for some guy." Words failed Shakira.


    She thought, ''Sean definitely meant it that way!

 Chapter 281

    R BB. Chapter 281


    After returning to the vi, Shakira immediately went to find the kittens. They might have detected the scent of alcohol on her hands, as they weren''t eager to be held and slipped away.


    Shakira didn''t push them and took the chance to make a video call to Matthew, thoroughly exining the reasons for the recent events and willingly admitting her mistakes for causing the elders to worry about her. After Matthew heard the whole story, he wasn''t angry. In fact, he feltpletely at ease.


    "As long as you''re not upset, that''s what counts. We were worried that you were troubled by those people, but now we know you''re setting a trap for Yvette, and we feel relieved," Matthew said with a smile during the video call.


    Ethan, who was pushed off the screen by Matthew, called out in a voice-over, "Way to go, Shakira. We''re all supporting you." Shakira smiled warmly, knowing that the old folks were just worried about her being mistreated. Shakira said, "Don''t worry. I won''t let those people bother me."


    Ethan nodded. "Exactly. Don''t tolerate those people. Who would just take unnecessary anger for no reason?"


    Matthew seemed to remember something and slightly held back his smile, cautiously advising her, "Now that the GUA has announced your involvement in special missions, you''re likely to attract attention.


    "I''ve talked to Kevin, and you don''t need to attend the next filming sessions. Take some time toy low."


    Shakira knew what Matthew meant. "Okay."


    Ethan squeezed into the frame at just the right moment, hisrge face taking up the screen. "Shakira, how abouting over to our agricultural research base for some fun?"


    Not to be outdone, Barret added, "Who''d be interested in farming? Come check out the space research center to have your mind blown, Shakira."Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Yael was feeling anxious, unable topete with the two in front, pacing back and forth. "You two crafty old guys are up to no good, trying to lure Shakira into helping with your research. "Shakira,e to me instead. Train with me, build up your health, and indulge in fine dining!"


    Matthew was fuming with anger. "What''s happening here? I''m not dead yet. You''re trying to take my student right in front of me?"


    The three of them turned around, sneering, "Shakira is our student too. You''re the shameless one who tricked her into bing your student first."


    Matthew felt no shame but was proud instead. "What do you mean by tricking? I simply had the foresight to take in the most talented student." The three old men rolled their eyes at him. "Humph!"


    Watching them bicker like that, Shakira couldn''t help butugh through her tears. "Gentlemen, I need to start my college internship after the New Year."


    The three old men sighed, "What? An internship? Oh, man."


    Seeing the three of them look so downcast, Shakira felt a bit soft-hearted. "After I graduate, if there''s an opportunity, I''lle to learn from you all." "Shakira, you said it."


    "When we invite you over, don''t turn us down, alright?"


    Shakira nodded firmly: "Yes, it''s settled then, no reneging." The three mischievous old folks smiled again, "Matthew, how to do a screen recording? I need to save this moment, just in case Shakira changes her mindter" Matthew grumbled angrily, "Get out of here. Give me my phone back, or I''ll smash it." Watching the Four Elders argue like kids, the silent assistant couldn''t help but marvel.


    It seemed only Lonely Bird could cause such a stir among these important figures. He had never met Lonely Bird in person and just watched some live streams online. Yet, he felt that this real Lonely Bird was different from what he had imagined.


    Suddenly, an idea came to him. Taking advantage of the elders'' yful argument, he daringly craned his neck and sneaked a peek at the screen... Instantly, the assistant, Richard Martinez, dropped his jaw in disbelief. He thought, ''Lonely Bird is actually her?'' Levi called up for dinner. Shakira finished her call with the elders and went downstairs. The vi was lively today. Not only was Benji back, but Kyle, Calton, Gavin, and several other rich kids who had previously dined at Veiled Vine were visiting too.


    When they saw her, the rich kids greeted her with cheerful smiles, "Hey, Shakira." Shakira was speechless and quietly took a seat in the empty spot.


    After two days of simple home-cooked meals in Pear Blossom Vige, Shakira''s eyes sparkled at the sight of a table full of her favorite exquisite dishes. She eagerly reached for a spoon but found there were no utensils set at her ce. Confused, she looked up at Levi, who pointed toward the main seat. Following his gesture, Shakira saw Walter looking at her thoughtfully.


    Seeing her confused look, he signaled with his eyes. "Come sit next to me." Only then did Shakira notice the small cushioned stool beside him. Although puzzled, she moved over.


    Walter picked up his utensils and gently asked, "What would you like to eat? Would you like to start with the soup or maybe the egg custard?" As soon as he finished speaking, everyone turned to stare, their eyes sharp.


    Shakira was so shocked that her mind went nk for a few seconds. She thought, ''So... Walter is going to personally feed me? I am not that injured!''


    Shakira waspletely taken aback and quickly raised her hand. "I can handle it myself..." Walter nced at her slightly stained hand and said calmly, "If you''re hurt, just behave yourself."


    The onlookers quickly turned to check out Shakira''s hand... They wondered, ''Huh? Mr. Lopez, do you call this an injury? It''s so serious that we can''t even see a scratch.''


    She didn''t respond, so he decided for her and signaled a servant to fill half a bowl of soup. Holding it in one hand, he brought the spoon to her mouth, saying, "It''s not hot anymore."


    Shakira didn''t dare to move, while Walter casually nced at the gossipy eyes staring at them from the dining table. Benji cleared his throat. "Walter and Shakira are just showing their affection as usual. Keep eating and drinking. Don''t mind them." Gavin smiled, "Yeah, everyone just rx." Only then did the others start chatting andughing, shifting their gaze away. But their eyes couldn''t help but curiously drift back to the main seat


    All jokes aside, even if they had seen it all, with all sorts of flirtatious little scenes bing old hat, this was Walter, the guy they''d least expect to be romantic. He was flirting. It was a once-in-a-lifetime event.


    1


    Walter still held the spoon steady, leaving Shakira no choice but to take a sip. But she couldn''t help but say, "I''m really okay. I can handle eating by myself."


    Walter looked at her serious face and said, "I know."


    Shakira was confused, "Then why do


    still..." you


    Tue, Nov Chapter 281


    "No matter how the injury is, I want to look after you. I rarely get the chance to take care of someone, so I truly cherish it now," Walter said calmly. "In front of me, you can always show your vulnerable side." Shakira''s heart fluttered a bit when she identally met his gaze unknowingly getting drawn into the depth of his eyes. His affectionate words made her heart skip a beat.


    After the infatuation wore off, her eyes clearly showed signs of struggle and lucidity. She was not used to relying on others. For so many years, she had made her way on her own. Showing weakness was the most useless thing she could do. Spotting her deep-seated hesitation, Walter frowned deeply and continued to feed her soup. "At the hospital, the words from the Nelson family made me realize something." Shakira was puzzled. "What?"


    Walter said, "The promises and assurances I give you are for now, and they might not hold in the future. You don''t take them seriously because that''s how you see it, right?" Shakira parted her lips but didn''t respond, because Walter was telling the truth.


    Walter''s eyes deepened. "But it matters to me."


    "I''ve told Brian to draft a n that if we separate in the future, 3% of my shares in Lopez Group will be given to you, along with two vis in the centers of major cities as yourpensation. "I''m announcing it here and now, with everyone present as witnesses."


    His tone was as casual as if he were talking about the weather, but his words shocked everyone to their core.


    C

 Chapter 282

    @ BB


    The value of two vis in the city center went without saying, but the important thing was the shares in the Lopez Group...


    The subsidiaries under the Lopez Group were involved in many booming industries and ranked high in profits. Just 3% of the shares were worth over a few billion.


    Several rich kids eximed, "Wow, Mr. Lopez really is generous With their family backgrounds, even when they got married, they usually had prenuptial agreements. The business was family-owned, and their wives typically didn''t have a share. Not to mention marriage, Walter gave away part of thepany''s shares just for a rtionship. They were regretting it now, having been fooled by Walter''s cold and reserved demeanor. They never expected that he would actually be a simple romantic. If only they had introduced their sisters to Walter, they could''ve lived in wealth for generations. Of course, this thought stayed in their hearts. No one dared to speak it out loud.


    In contrast, Kyle and the others calmed down quickly. Kyle nodded, saying, "Alright, I''ll be the witness for this."


    Calton made a surprisingment, "What if the reason for your breakup is because Shakira got interested in someone else? Wouldn''t Mr. Lopez''spensation be too regretful then?"


    Shakira widened her eyes, thinking, ''Wow, I didn''t even dare to imagine that, yet Calton did!


    Walter suddenly let out a softugh, his cold eyes staring at her. "There won''t be such a chance, right?"


    Shakira immediately felt a chill down her spine, wondering, ''Hmm, this isn''t a threat, definitely not!'' She earnestly replied, "Right, it won''t happen."


    Walter nodded in satisfaction and rewarded her with a slice of caramel apple. "Open your mouth," he said. Shakira took a bite. "Wow, that''s too sweet."


    She was munching on the caramel apple, mumbling, "Actually, you don''t have to give me these things. Even if we... break up in the future, there''s no need for anypensation."


    "With these, the gossipers won''t be able to hurt you with their words anymore." Walter gently ced a slice of caramel pineapple near her lips, his usually stern features showing a rare softness. "No matter when, I never want to be something that hurts you." Shakira was startled. She opened her mouth to eat the caramel pineapple. The strands of sweetness seemed to flow from her tongue straight to her heart.


    Sean had someone check on Yvette''s news again, and knowing that her kidney couldn''t be saved made him feel so delighted. He''d been itching to see Yvette get hereuppance for so long, and now that it was finally happening. He couldn''t be happier. That was what Yvette got for always coveting Shakira''s kidney. It was karma.


    It wasn''t enough to enjoy this by himself, so Sean thought for a moment and gave Xanthe a call.


    As soon as Xanthe picked up the call, she was just brimming with anger. "Sean, how many is this now? Your blind dates are more numerous than a centipede''s legs!"


    God knew how frustrated she was. Right after the New Year, Sean''s blind dates started again. Eve kept trying and failing, but she never gave up.


    Eve scheduled a date for Sean every day. Xanthe was ready 24/7 to ruin them, seeing Sean more often than her own parents


    Tue,


    during the holiday.


    Sean was speechless. "Today isn''t a blind date. I''m just inviting you out for dinner."


    Xanthe was cautious. "Why? Are you really that


    to treat me to dinner?"


    If Cathy and Gideon hadn''t already made ns, he wouldn''t have bothered to meet Xanthe.


    Seanughed as he briefly exined what happened to Yvette. Just as expected, Xanthe yelled from the other side, "What? Yvette got hurt so badly that she needs a kidney removed? Wow, how did such a great thing happen to her?" The gossip from the reality show had been circting wildly, and Xanthe had been lying in bed enjoying it all day. Unexpectedly, there was even more exciting news toe.


    Sean grinned, "Stop talking and hurry out."


    Xanthe leaped up. "I''ll be there right away."


    Sean was genuinely thrilled this time, and with a grand gesture, he invited Xanthe to dine at the most prestigious restaurant in Crescentville''s culinary scene, where the gold-leaf cuisine costs a whopping 3,000 dors per person. The restaurant prides itself on crafting every dish with the utmost quality ingredients. Each te was adorned with exquisite decorations such as pearls, jewels, and gold, which customers could freely take home as gifts. Xanthe was still torn about whether to be taken advantage of when Sean offered her a freebie. She thought, ''On such a joyful day, why not enjoy a free meal?''


    She took a cab over, and as soon as she walked into the restaurant, she saw Sean already seated. Before Xanthe could join him, a graceful woman in a white dress sat down across from Sean.


    Xanthe squinted her eyes and sat not far away, quietly observing


    She couldn''t see Sean''s face and didn''t know how he was reacting. But every gesture and smile of that graceful woman exuded charm. No matter what was being said, she''d listen intently, her eyes softening at the corners. Sean''s date this time seemed to have a stronger mental fortitude than the previous ones.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    After chatting for a while, Sean got up and headed toward the restroom, and then Xanthe''s phone rang.


    ''When he can''t handle things himself, he still has toe to me right?'' Xanthe thought.


    Xanthe hung up the phone and strolled over confidently, sitting down where Sean had been earlier.


    Emily Dickinson looked surprised at the bold girl who appeared. After a brief pause, she smiled, "Miss, this is my friend''s..."


    "Sean, my boyfriend," Xanthe said, lounging back against the chair and giving Emily a cheeky look. Then she touched her belly and grinned slyly, "I''m pretty satisfied with you as a stepmother."


    Emily slightly furrowed her brow, her gaze bing cold. "I don''t understand what you mean."


    Xanthe paid her no mind, rudely grabbing a gold-foil rose from the table and taking a bite. "Wow, it''s actually real?"


    She greedily put the rose into her pocket, then looked up and gave Emily a cheeky smile. "Didn''t Sean tell you? My child is going to be the legitimate first grandson of the Reynolds family when he''s born. "Even though his family doesn''t want me to marry him, they have to acknowledge the child. So, even if you''re interested in Sean, you''ll have to be a stepmother to my baby."


    Emily couldn''t stand Xanthe''s greedy and mocking smile anymore. Her elegant demeanor broke, and she got up and left.


    @ BB


    "Emily?" Sean had juste back and saw the embarrassed look on Emily''s face. Then he saw Xanthe making a silly face and sticking out her tongue at him, and he understood immediately. Xanthe thought Emily was one of those blind dates of his. Remembering how they always made those high-societydies angry, Sean felt embarrassed.


    He took Emily''s hand and said to Xanthe with annoyance, "What nonsense did you say? Emily is my friend. Apologize to her now!"


    Xanthe''s smile froze instantly and slowly faded away.


    "Sean, what do you mean by that?" Xanthe also stood up. "I helped you, and now you''re asking me to apologize?"


    Sean lost his patience. "I didn''t ask you to help."


    "Fine." Xanthe immediately turned hostile, throwing the gold foil rose onto the table. "If you don''t want my help, then forget it. All my goodwill was wasted." With that, Xanthe turned and walked away, not looking back even when Sean called after her.


    00 0000


    67


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 Chapter 283

    "Xanthel Sean was taken aback, watching Xanthe walk away without looking back. He thought, ''Seriously? Is she really mad just because of onement?''


    Emily observed Sean''s reaction and felt a twinge of displeasure as she noticed all his attention was focused on Xanthe''s departing figure.


    "She imed she was pregnant with your child, but your parents didn''t like her, so she couldn''t get into the Nelson family. She even misunderstood our rtionship, using me of trying to harm her child..." Emily couldn''t bring herself to say thosest two words. Sean''s mouth twitched hard. He thought, ''Xanthe is something else. I just left not long ago, and she''d alreadye up with a new tactic to scare off another blind date?''


    He waved it off with a helpless smile. "She thought you were my date. She''s just making things up. Don''t take her seriously, Emily. That''s just how she is, no ill intentions."


    Emily furrowed her brows lightly. "Even if it was a misunderstanding, it was very rude of her to disrupt your date like that. What will others think of you?"


    Sean scratched his head. "It''s a bitplicated to exin right now. Let''s not talk about her. Emily, we haven''t seen each other in years. You helped me a lot before you went abroad. Now that you''re back, we should catch up properly Let me treat you to dinner tonight." Emily''s eyes sparkled briefly before she regained herposed demeanor. "Alright."


    Xanthe was so frustrated with Sean that she took a cab to another fancy restaurant to treat herself. She thought, ''No one is going to make me feel bad without a good meal!


    After stuffing herself and heading home, Sean finally called. Seeing his name sh on her screen, Xanthe changed his contact to "Badass" and tossed her phone aside. "Oh, remember me after your date with a pretty girl? Bye-bye!"


    Sean tried calling Xanthe multiple times without sess. After agonizing over it, he started typing out a lengthy exnation about Emily. As the words piled up, he suddenly stopped himself


    "Why am I exining so much to her? Her dad still works for me, and she''s giving me attitude? No way, not happening!" Sean deleted the whole message and decided to let it go.


    *****


    The day after Yvette got injured, she underwent kidney surgery. Two hours post-surgery, she awoke, groggy and in pain the anesthesia wore off.


    as


    Opening her eyes, she saw Reba by her bedside. Yvette tried to speak but even the slightest movement sent sharp pains through her body, as if her soul was being ripped from her flesh Still unaware of what had happened, tears slid down her face. "It hurts..."


    Reba woke with a start and, seeing Yvette awake, smiled despite her exhaustion and worry. "Yvette, you''re awake!"


    "Pain..." Yvette uttered weakly.


    Reba tried to soothe her. "The doctor said it''ll hurt a bit as the anesthesia fades. Yvette, you''re too weak for more meds right now, but the doctor said it''ll feel better in a couple of days. Hang in there, okay?" Yvette was confused. "Surgery?"


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Reba held her hand tightly, trying to calm her. "It''s okay, Yvette. They just removed one kidney. You''ll recover soon and be healthy and beautiful as ever."


    Yvette thought, ''My kidney? I have lost a kidney!" "Why, why did you remove my kidney?" She, emotional, tried to get up.


    Reba was startled, and Felix rushed over, quickly restrainingvette back onto the bed. His grip was firm, making Yvette''s bones ache.


    She cried out desperately, "My kidney, why?"


    Felix, devastated, exined what happened after she fell off the slope. Yvette felt like she''d been smacked with a harsh truth.


    She thought, ''So many people were around during the copse, yet I was the only one to step on loose ground and fall. And just then, falling off the mountain, a branch pierced my kidney, and it had to be removed! How absurdly coincidental! ''Where is my luck? The luck I snatched from Shakira? How does ite to this?''


    Yvette breathed carefully through the pain, tears streaming down her face filled with agony and resentment.


    She thought, ''I feel so tragically innocent, all because they pushed me to it. If Lonely Bird hadn''t pushed me... If E hadn''t betrayed me... If those crude vigers hadn''t insulted me and Felix had backed me... I wouldn''t be in this situation! It''s all their fault!'' Yvette''s eyes were full of tears, her resentment hidden from Reba and Felix. Reba only knew that seeing her precious daughter cry so much broke her heart..


    "Yvette, don''t cry. Seeing you cry makes me hurt so much. My dear, it''s my fault for not protecting you," Reba sobbed, covering her face.


    Felix looked weary and regretful. Even if he didn''t trust Yvette as he once did, he felt responsible for her injury. "Yvette, whatever you want, just say the word and I''ll do it."


    Yvette gritted her teeth in hatred. She thought, ''I have lost my kidney-could you give yours to me?''


    Yvette stared nkly at the ceiling in despair. "Why save me? Felix doesn''t believe me, the vigers curse me, and everyone says I''m a bad person. What''s the point of living like this?"


    "Yvette! No, it''s their fault. They''ve wronged you!" Reba''s heart shattered seeing her daughter''s fragility.


    She continued, "Your father and Finn are already handling this. E, the vigers who indirectly harmed you, and the production team who failed to protect you. They''ll all pay for the pain they''ve caused you."


    Yvette''s eyes gleamed eerily. "What about Lonely Bird?"


    Felix looked up sharply, frowning. "Lonely Bird is a victim in this too."


    Yvette recoiled in fear.


    "Felix, at a time like this, how can you say such things to upset your sister?" Reba looked at her son in disbelief, her eyes filled with disappointment.


    50


    Felix clenched his fists tightly, unyielding. He felt guilty for not protecting Yvette as her brother, but that didn''t mean Lonely Bird should be med.


    He thought, ''If Yvette hadn''t provoked E, none of this would have happened. Just because Yvette is injured, doesn''t mean the pain inflicted on Lonely Bird could be ignored.''


    Reba red at Felix, then turned back to Yvette with a gentle tone. "Yvette, don''t worry about Lonely Bird. With Mr. Goodman backing her and her disappearance since yesterday, it''s not easy to act against her. But rest assured, Mom will Chapter 283


    make sure you get justice.


    Moved. Yvette sobbed, "Mom, you''re all I have..."


    Reba said, "Oh, my poor child, don''t cry, it breaks my heart!"


    40/00


    Watching the unconditionally supportive mother-daughter duo Felix clenched his fists and walked away. Reba''s eyes followed Felix''s movements, her face growing colder.


    This time, she was utterly disappointed in Felix. She thought, ''Despite Yvette speaking up for him countless times, Felix, as her brother, hadn''t protected her. He refused tofort her and still sided with the who had caused Yvette''s misery. one


    A son who can''t empathize with his family-what difference does it make if he is there

 Chapter 284

    "Mom, I''m thirsty..." Reba suddenly remembered and used a cotton swab to moisten Yvette''s lips. "The doctor said you can drink water only twelve hours after waking up, so let''s just riisten them first." Yvette enjoyed Reba''s careful attention, her thick eyshes fluttering gently.


    "Mom, do Grandma and Dad think I embarrassed the family?" asked Yvette.


    Reba''s expression froze. After E publicly used Yvette in front of the national audience, Selena mmed her cane to the ground, clutching her chest, seething so much she was speechless. Selena had invited a bunch of her old friends to watch the livestream, gushing about the pride she had in her granddaughter. Little did she know, it would all turn into a big joke.


    Since Yvette had her ident, Selena hadn''t asked about her once. "Yvette, your grandma hasn''t visited because she hasn''t been feeling welltely.


    "Your dad and Finn are busy with thepany and dealing with the online rumors. Once things calm down, they''ll definitelye to see you." "Okay," Yvette replied softly. "I''ll get better soon, so you guys don''t have to worry about me."


    "Good girl," Reba said, feeling relieved.


    The next day, Reba stayed by Yvette''s side, personally taking care of her. By evening, seeing Reba looking tired, Yvette


    convinced her to go home and rest, assuring Reba that the caregiver could look after her.


    Reba had been staying at the hospital and hadn''t gone back home. Seeing Yvette was in good spirits now, she agreed to return.


    "Yvette, get some rest. I''lle by tomorrow."


    "See you tomorrow, Mom." Yvette''s affectionate gaze made Reba''s heart melt. After giving the caregiver detailed instructions on how to take good care of Yvette, she finally left.


    As soon as Reba left, the weak gentleness on Yvette''s face disappeared instantly. She asked the caregiver to bring her phone over, and half an hourter, she found an excuse to send the caregiver off to buy something for her. When Yvette was the only one left in the ward, Lago and Jessie, who had been waiting at the hotel nearby, found the right opportunity to sneak in.


    Seeing Yvette lying weakly on the hospital bed, looking as fragile as a paper figure, Jessie couldn''t help but sob while covering her mouth.


    "My poor girl, you hurt like this and I can''t even take care of you..."


    "What are you crying about? I''m not dead yet." Jessie let out a hup through her sobs, feeling wronged but quieting down.


    Lago walked to the other side of the bed. "I asked Dr. Jenkins, and he said the surgery went smoothly. After a week of rest, you can be discharged. This time, you''re incredibly fortunate to have escaped with your life!" "Fortunate? You want the kind of luck that gets your kidney pierced by a tree branch?" Yvette gritted her teeth.


    Lago was at a loss for words. "Well, no one could have seen thising..."


    He never thought it would be such a coincidence.


    "Dan?n it. Didn''t Shakira''s lucky fate switch to me? Why am I still so unlucky? It''s one thing after another, and now disaster strikes. If this happens again, what else can they cut out of me?" Yvette ranted her true nature now on full disy. +5


    Lago and Jessic couldn''t figure it out either. They thought, ''We have been fine for so many years, so why are things going offText ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    the rails now?


    Lago said, "We had the perfect chance to swap


    "That day, we watched Reba and her fankira''s kidney and end things once and for all


    ask Shakira to give you her kidney in the parking lot. Who would have


    thought the Nelson family would be so scared of Walter that they wouldn''t dare use force? We were so frustrated just


    Jessie said angrily. "Exactly, Reba seemed to


    at first, but after a few sarcastic remarks from Shakira, she just backed


    down. If it were me, there''s no way I''d leave without dragging Shakira into the surgery room."


    As she said this, Jessie stole a nce at Yvette to see her reaction.


    Jessie thought, "These days are the most vulnerable for Yvette, with Reba taking care of her every day. Yvette must be so touched. In the future, she''ll be even closer to Reba and leave me behind!


    ''I need to show Yvette Reba''s fake facade soon to stop her from being lured away by little favors!


    Sure enough, upon hearing this, Yvette darkened her face. "Humph, I wondered why she''d be so kind and take care of me all the time Apparently, it''s out of guilt."


    "All in all, they still can''t bear to hurt their own daughter," said Jessie.


    Lago quickly jumped in to exaggerate the story, sharing the same concerns as Jessie. They both feared Yvette had a soft spot for the Nelson family. "Well, it''s true. Shakira is her own flesh and blood. It''s different." Yvette''s expression was cold and she said mockingly, "So, what have you, my biological parents, done for me?"


    Lago and Jessie exchanged a nce and hurriedly replied, "Of course, we care about you. Right after the ident, we got a hotel room nearby and kept tabs on your condition, just so we could be here immediately if anything came up." Yvette scoffed, "Oh, and what good is that?"


    "There''s more," Lago replied with a mysterious smile. "We''ve brought someone you''ve always wanted to see." As Lago spoke, Jessie couldn''t wait to open the door, and a slender elderly man with gray hair slowly walked in.... These days, Shakira was so busy she could hardly keep up.


    Brian took her to confirm the 3% of Lopez Group that was gifted to her.


    It had got everything from big stuff like real estate, steel, cutting-edge tech, medicine, and hotels, all the way down to the little things like courier services, milk shakes, and florists.


    It covered almost every industry that mattered to the people. Wow, this wasn''t just a wicked capitalist, it was a billionaire evil.


    Soon, it was Carnaval. Enrique had arranged for lunch, and early that morning, Shakira yed with her cat and walked her pet alligator, then picked up the gifts Levi had prepared and headed to the Sullivan residence.


    The Sullivan residence was nestled in the old downtown vi district. As Shakira got close, she messaged Xanthe, and the whole Sullivan family came out to warmly wee her in the front yard.


    "Shakira." As soon as the car stopped, Xanthe eagerly hopped over to open the car door.


    Shakira was surprised by the warm wee. "Why are you out here in the cold?"


    Bit 4


    10


    Xanthe winked at her and said, "You''re our special guest. Of course, we must give you a proper wee. Come on in. I''ve made some hot chocte just for you."


    Shakira smiled and greeted Enrique and Helen Sullivan, "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan."


    The couple responded warmly and then noticed the gift boxes she was carrying, which were filled with expensive health supplements. "Shakira, you shouldn''t have brought anything." Xanthe added, "Exactly, we have everything we need."


    Shakiraughed and handed the gifts to Xanthe, "Levi helped me pick these out, just a small token."


    +5)


    "Oh? Something from Mr. Lopez''s collection? We have to keep them. They''ll bring us luck." Xanthe chuckled as she epted the gifts. Enrique and Helen were amused by their lively daughter. A group of people were chatting andughing as they were about to head inside when another car stopped at the entrance and honked.


    Turning around, they saw three smiling faces poking out of the car window. "Enrique and Helen, how did you know we wereing and even came out to greet us? It''s really too considerate." Shakira recognized the person sitting in the backseat as Lucy, Xanthe''s cousin she met at the airport.


    Looking at the couple with simr features to Lucy, she realized they must be Xanthe''s uncle and aunt. While she was thinking, the car engine stopped and the three of them came over.


    Odalyn Sullivan noticed the pile of supplements Xanthe was holding and her eyes lit up. "You even prepared gifts for us? That''s so thoughtful," she eximed, reaching out to take them from Xanthe.


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 Chapter 285

    Xanthe moved her hand away and said directly, "Aunt Odalyn, these are gifts Shakira brought for my family, not for you."


    Odalyn looked a bit disappointed, her eyes lingering on the pile of supplements. "Oh, I see. I made a mistake."


    Xanthe rified, "Plus, we all came out to wee Shakira. Uncle Jackson and Aunt Odalyn, you didn''t mention you wereing today."


    Jackson chuckled, "Oh, it''s Carnaval. More people make it lively. Since you have a guest, let''s head inside and sit down."


    Jackson was even more eager than the hosts.


    With a gentle smile at the corner of her mouth, Shakira nced around the family, her gaze briefly resting on Lucy, who hadn''t spoken but whose eyes were filled with hostility.


    The group chatted andughed as they entered the house. Xanthe couldn''t wait for Shakira to try her new drink. Shakira took a sip and found it smooth and sweet. "It''s delicious." Xanthe was happy for the praise. "As long as you like it."


    Lucy watched closely. "Xanthe, what about mine?"Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "I just made one cup. If you want some, make it yourself," Xanthe saidzily, waving her hand.


    Lucy pouted, immediately feeling upset. "Xanthe, I''m a guest too. How can you y favorites and only entertain Shakira?*


    Before Xanthe could say anything, Odalyn, who had eagerly followed Helen into the kitchen to make coffee, came in carrying bags of seafood, smiling widely.


    "Enrique is always out socializing, and Helen frequently eats at her parents'' ce. These good stuff would go to waste if we didn''t eat them. I''ll take them back with me, and once I''ve cooked them up, I''ll call you all over to enjoy them."


    Shakira watched, raising an eyebrow slightly. With a faint smile on her lips, she casually said to Lucy, "Have you ever seen a gueste over and leave with stuff like this?"


    Lucy didn''t know what to say.


    Xanthe was used to it and spoke directly, "Right? Every time your familyes over, you take things back, so you''re hardly guests anymore."


    Lucy held her breath, unable to rebut. She bit her lip, red at Shakira angrily, and then got up to find some water in the kitchen.


    Xanthe pulled Shakira into her room while the adults were chatting downstairs, and they started ying a game together. As soon as they logged on, a notification popped up saying Sean was online. Xanthe quickly ignored it, but a momentter, someone else joined their team. It was none other than the annoying Sean. Sean joined the voice chat, "Sha... are you at the Sullivan residence?" Oops, he almost slipped up.


    Shakira just gave a simple response while Xanthe listened nervously.


    What was Sean trying to greet Shakira?'' In a split second, a million possibilities ran through her mind... ''Sister? Best buddy? Or... wife? No way!'' Xanthe shook her head frantically to dismiss the most likely but least eptable option. Xanthe wondered, ''How could it be a wife? Shakira would never cheat on Mr. Lopez like that. But what was Sean trying to address Shakira?''


    "Xanthe, what''s wrong? Shakira asked her to get the game ready but Xanthe didn''t respond.


    When Shakira looked up, Xanthe seemed as if she''d been hit hard, her face full of despair and confusion, frozen in ce. Curiosity gnawed at Xanthe, but she wasn''t ready to ept the answer.


    She feared the truth would be too harsh for her to handle. "I''m just missing one person. I''m waiting for Lucy


    Just as she finished speaking, Lucy went back to the room, and Xanthe urged her to quickly get online. Hearing thepletely different tones Xanthe used with her and with Shakira, Lucy felt a little upset. Reluctantly, sheplied. Initially pouting, Lucy brightened up the moment she saw the skin guru on the team.


    Shakira said, "Everyone''s here. Let''s start."


    "Hey, hold on. I''m changing my skin." After fiddling around for a bit, Lucy finally decided on a skin.


    Shakira noticed that Lucy''s new skin had a yellow-and-ck palette, which was a less expensive version of Sean''s exclusive ck-and-gold skin. On the four-person disy screen, they looked like they were wearing matching outfits.


    Shakira gave a deep nce at Lucy, whose smile seemed to leap out from her phone screen, and then she started the game. Xanthe was all over the ce, constantly expressing her disdain for Sean while paying close attention to every interaction between Shakira and Sean with great focus.


    She never thought that jerk Sean would stick to her like glue from the beginning.


    When she went into a building to loot, he''d block her way in. When enemies showed up, he''d hide behind her, messing up her aim.


    When she got ambushed and died, he''d shamelessly loot her crate and even do his own voice-over in the game, "So rich, so tempting." That annoying jerk. She really felt like strangling him.


    As for Lucy, she was really frustrated. She had finally got the chance to hang out with Sean, hoping they could interact and team up to impress.


    But Sean just stuck with Xanthe, and the two kept circling around together. Lucy felt awkward on the sidelines, unsure whether to watch or not. She didn''t want to walk with Shakira. When she was on her own, she got beaten up pretty badly.


    After ying a few rounds, there was no enjoyment, feeling more like a robot than a real person. In the end, the group managed to win a game thanks to Shakira, the only one ying seriously.


    "Still ying? Come down for lunch," Helen called out to them with a smile.


    The three of them responded, washed their hands, and took their seats at the dining table. Lucy''s family often came around. Everyone had their own familiar ces at the table.


    Shakira was thest to arrive and noticed only two seats were left. With Xanthe and Helen sitting together, she instinctively left the seat near them for the host, Enrique, and took another spot herself.


    It subtly seemed like she had ced herself at the center of the table. Lucy eximed in surprise, "Shakira, what are you doing? That''s my uncle''s seat."


    Even Jackson and Odalyn gave disapproving looks. Odalyn, taking on the role of the elder, said, "Girl, not to be rude, but you''re being a bit inappropriate. Enrique came out with a te of smoked salmon, heard the remark, and cheerfully exined, "It''s alright. It''s alright. I actually saved this seat for Shakira."

 Chapter 286

    Enrique remained unfazed, even bursting intoughter, "Jackson, actually, Shakira was the one I told you about before, the person who convinced me through Xanthe to join the Southville Project." Enrique was just moderately wealthy before, and Crescentville had plenty of wealthy people.


    Thanks to the Southville Project, Enrique smoothly entered the mid-level of Crescentville''s business scene and gained the favor of Sean, the boss of Yonder Digital, sparking considerable envy among his peers. Jackson and his family had heard Enrique mention this at the celebration party before, but Enrique wanted to protect Shakira and didn''t want to cause her any unnecessary trouble, so he didn''t directly reveal her identity. Hearing this, Jackson and his family looked at Shakira with expressions of shock. "She was the one who helped you secure the Southville Project?"


    Enrique nodded. "It was her. Do you think she should take the main seat today?"


    Jackson and Odalyn gave an awkwardugh, "Of course." At the celebration, Jackson felt envious, wondering why he never encountered such a valuable benefactor. He had never imagined that the fabled benefactor was just a young girl. What was even more surprising was that Enrique actually followed the advice of a young girl topete for a project that everyone was fighting over... Now, they looked at Shakira with newfound respect, not regarding her as just a junior anymore. Xanthe was keeping the energy high. "Alright, let''s dig in. We have a schedule to keep."


    Helen asked, "Oh, do you have ns forter?"


    "Yeah, there''s a promotion at Vogue Mall today. Shakira and I are going to check it out. I''m almost out of skincare products," said Xanthe.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Lucy chimed in, "Xanthe, I''d like to go too."


    Normally, Xanthe would have no problem with her tagging along, but this time she turned to ask, "Shakira, would you feel ufortable if Lucy came with us?"


    Lucy''s grip on her spoon tightened. Shakira stayed as calm as always. "Not at all."


    "Okay, let''s all go together then," Xanthe agreed.


    Lucy''s smile stiffened slightly, and her eyes turned gloomy as she focused on her meal.


    After everyone was full, they sat in the living room enjoying some fruit. Just before they left, Enrique called out to Shakira and handed her an envelope.


    Instinctively, she tried to refuse. "I don''t..."


    Xanthe interrupted, slipping the envelope into Shakira''s pocket. Oh,e on. Shakira, just ept it. Thanks to you, our family has made quite a bit of money. This little gift is nothing inparison." Enrique gave his daughter a reproachful look. "Xanthe''s words might be blunt, but she''s right. It''s a tradition. When you visit us, you shouldn''t leave without a gift, right?"


    With that said, Shakira didn''t insist on giving it back. "Thank you, Mr. Sullivan," she said with gratitude, subconsciously feeling her pocket. Her eyes widened in surprise. This envelope was really thick.


    Lucy, walking in front, saw what happened. She spotted that envelope of cash. It was a thick stack, probably 1,500 dors or even 3,000 dors. Remembering that Enrique only gave her 1.000 dors this year, Lucy was green with envy. 1/3


    The drive to the mall took-three minutes. Today was Carnaval, and the mall was brimming with festive decorations and a lively atmosphere.


    As a mall member, Xanthe checked the day''s shopping discounts and, with a grand gesture, announced, "Go ahead and buy whatever you desire. I''m treating everyone today."


    Lucy blinked. "Can I really buy anything? I''ve heard the new LP ck Truffle series is amazing..."


    Xanthe, waving her gold card, confidently said, "Buy them all."


    "Wow, thanks, Xanthe. You''re so generous," said Lucy.


    Lucy''s eyes crinkled as she smiled, which was exactly why she wanted to go along. Whenever she went out with Xanthe, all she had to do was sweet-talk a little, and Xanthe would buy her whatever she wanted. After she bought new stuff today, she could even pass on the La Mer set she took from Xanthe''s makeup collection.


    A few girls in her ss had been showering me withpliments and calling her Princess Lucy ever since they got their hands on her stuff.


    Shakira noticed the scheming look in Lucy''s eyes. She remained silent, following them to the skincare section.


    The sales assistant recognized Lucy and eagerly introduced the products to them, doing a skin assessment and rmending suitable products.


    "You both have nice skin, but it''s a bit dry, so our new luxury daybreak series would be perfect for you..." said the sales assistant.


    She was all enthusiasm as she rmended products to Shakira and Xanthe. Shakira, on the other hand, took a discreet


    200 dors, and the cream was priced at 250 look at the price tags. The toner was a steep 1,000 dors, the serum dors.


    No wonder she felt that their gship store was more luxurious than the other subsidiaries when she followed Brian to sign some documents at thepany the other day. Even a single bottle seemed like a rip-off.


    Xanthe nudged her. "Shakira, just buy it. I''ll get it for you."


    Shakira didn''t answer right away but asked, "What about you?"


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Xanthe said, "If you buy it, I will buy it too."


    Shakira nodded. "Alright, let''s buy it then."


    Xanthe smiled happily and told the sales assistant, "Wrap them up, please."


    Lucy, standing nearby, watched them spend tens of thousands without blinking an eye. She couldn''t help but grit her teeth. Taking advantage of the moment when Xanthe went to the restroom, Shakira thought about calling over the sales assistant. At that moment, Lucy approached, with her teeth clenched and an icy demeanor. "You''ve got some nerve, huh? Letting Xanthe buy you stuff that''s worth so much?"


    -Shakira''s eyshes fluttered slightly as she turned her gaze to Lucy, who no longer hid her disdain and hostility. "Oh, really?


    Do you have any problems with it?"


    "Of course!" said Lucy. She thought, ''You''ve spent so much of Xanthe''s money, and now she has less to spend on me.'' Lucy clenched her fists, ring angrily at Shakira.


    Just before Lucy left, her parents reminded her over and over again to get closer to Shakira and build a good rtionship, nu, Nov 21


    203, 676


    thinking maybe in the future she could help their family. However, Lucypletely didn''t buy Enrique''s "benefactor" story.


    That was just an excuse Enrique made up. He probably wanted to bid himself but didn''t want to include Jackson. Enrique exaggerated the risks to make Jackson back out and then took advantage of Shakira''s persuasion to join the bid. Ultimately, she just didn''t believe Shakira had that kind of ability.


    Lucy''s eyes were red. "Even if you''ve done Uncle Enrique a favor, he''s been more than generous to you. What you owe should be paid off by now. You spend Xanthe money so recklessly and without restraint. Can you really live with yourself?"

 Chapter 287

    Shakira raised her eyebrows nonchntly, taking her time to savor the personal condemnation from Lucy. "Reckless spending, without restraint..."


    0


    She leisurely folded her arms. "ording to you, your uncle has also been kind to you, right? And you''re full of conscience. Today is Carnaval, so I assume you didn''te along just to spend Xanthe''s money, did you?" With her chin up and standing on moral high ground, Lucy said without hesitation, "Of course. Xanthe treats me so well. When I ask her to buy things for me, it''s just joking. There''s no way I''d actually let her spend money. "Unlike you". Lucy stared at Shakira, her tone confident and assured. "Taking advantage of favors without limits. Xanthe always praises you for treating her well, but from what I see, you''re just like the rest, using her for her money and benefits." The sales assistants nearby heard this and looked at Shakira with a hint of disdain. But Shakira seemed unfazed by their expressions and instead had a moment of realization. "Oh, I see. I misunderstood you."


    With her head held high, Lucy felt empowered after scolding Shakira, now regarding herself with a sense of authority and dignity, while viewing Shakira as nothing more than a jester.


    "What are you all chatting about? I saw you guys talking non-stop from a distance." Xanthe returned with a curious smile, wanting to know the gossip.


    "Just now, Shakira was saying she feels bad about spending your money on pricey skincare products," Lucy quickly cut in, grabbing the opportunity before Shakira could react, and shot a sidelong nce at her. Xanthe looked at Shakira, astonished. "Shakira, are you really so formal with me?"


    Shakira gave a gentle smile and said, "It''s Carnaval today, and I was just thinking about what gift to give you."


    She paused briefly before teasingly pulling Lucy into the conversation. "It''s not just me. Lucy also said she was embarrassed to spend your money on those skincare products and was nning to pay for them herself." Lucy''s eyes widened in surprise. She had just mentioned it casually, never actually nning to buy it herself.


    This set of skincare products wasn''t as costly as theirs, but together, they would still be about 3 thousand dors. Her living


    expenses


    for half a year were only 3 thousand dors.


    "Really?" Xanthe was even more surprised. She could understand Shakira, but Lucy had always spent her money without a second thought. Xanthe wondered, ''Could it be that she''d suddenly grown a conscience?'' Lucy forced a smile. "Shakira is right. It''s Carnaval today. How could I feel right always spending your money?"


    Xanthe nodded, feeling emotional. "It''s nice that you''re thinking this way. This is the first time you''ve ever offered to pay. Very good. You''re finally growing up."


    "Oh? The first time..." Shakira said thoughtfully. "You are growing up now."


    Xanthe unexpectedly brought up the past, and Lucy could feel the knowing looks from Shakira and the sales assistants. She bit her lower lip tightly.


    The moral boomerang she had thrown came back to hit her hard, and she was so embarrassed she wished she could vanish into thin air.


    The sales assistant handed over the packaged skincare products with a smile, saying, "We ept credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay." Xanthe and Shakira stayed silent, one feeling relieved and the other enjoying the spectacle. Lucy was already caught up in


    this and could only force herself to say, "I''ll use PayPal.."


    She approached the sales assistant and said in a soft voice, "Can use Afterpay here?"


    The sales assistant nodded. "Yes, but there''s interest in the installment n."


    Lucy gritted her teeth. "Installments... six... no, twelve months."


    The sales assistant, who had been through all kinds of gossip storins, remained unfazed. She set up the payment page and gestured for Lucy to scan the code. Lucy opened her phone and then looked back at Xanthe.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    But Xanthe and Shakira seemed engaged in their own conversation, not even looking her way, with no intention of helping at all... Lucy felt increasingly frustrated and grudgingly proceeded with the payment.


    Taking the heavy gift box of skincare products from the sales assistant, Lucy felt like her heart had turned to ashes. She wondered, ''When will I ever finish paying off this debt?''


    Lucy''s eyes were fixed on Shakira. "It''s your turn, Shakira."


    Shakira gave an ambiguous smile.


    She stepped forward, took a silver-blue card from her pocket, and handed it to the sales assistant. This was what she had intended to do before Lucy came to "chat" with her.


    The sales assistant took the card and was visibly startled upon seeing it. Her previously polite manner suddenly changed to one of respect and caution. After a few swift movements at the counter, she bowed and handed back the silver-blue card with both hands. Lucy stared intently, frowning in confusion, "That''s it? No password or signature required for the payment?"


    The sales assistant smiled, "Ma''am, the silver-blue card is a shareholder card with unlimited consumption of any products from our group''s subsidiaries."


    "N-No limit? Does that mean no matter how much she buys, she doesn''t have to spend any money?" Lucy thought she must have misheard. "Wait, are you saying her card is a shareholder card..."


    The sales assistant kept her smile and said, "Yes, only the group''s shareholders have this privilege."


    "The shareholder!" Before Lucy could gasp again, Xanthe was already shouting. "Shakira, you''ve quietly be a little rich girl."


    She yfully nudged closer. "Could it be Mr. Lopez''s New Year gift?"


    Shakira thought for a moment and then said mysteriously, "It''s more like a gift from the Nelson family." If it weren''t for Reba''s words, Walter wouldn''t have suddenly decided to give her these things. Shakira wondered, ''If those from the Nelson family knew, would they be upset about giving such an opportunity away for free?''


    Xanthe was stunned. "Huh?"


    With the tight-fisted nature of the Nelson family, there was no way they''d give something this good to Shakira. Even if they beat her to death, she wouldn''t believe it.


    Xanthe pleaded, "Ohe on. Since it''s free, I want more."


    "Yeah, go ahead, I''ll get it for you," said Shakira.


    "Having a rich best friend feels amazing! Shakira, can you buy me a Maserati or a mansion?" asked Xanthe.


    Shakira said yfully, "Read but no reply."


    "How can you do this?" Xantheughed.


    The two of them talked andughed as they walked away, leaving Lucy behind with a livid face.


    She thought about how she had mocked Shakira in front of the saleswoman, saying that she was only friends with Xanthe for the money, but reality had pped her hard in the face.


    She couldn''t stay there any longer and hurriedly left with the expensive skincare products she had just bought.


    The gossip quickly spread through the internal chat group of the mall, and two monthster when Lucy came back with her ssmates, they recognized her and whispered andughed behind her back. She got so scared that she never dared to set foot in that mall again, but that was a story for another day.


    It was at Harborview Medical Center. Today was a holiday, and after Reba''s persistent urging, Cody, along with Finn and others, came to the hospital to visit Yvette.


    Yvette''s cheeks were tinged with fear, her voice full of guilt. "Dad, Finn, Felix, and Jayden, I''m sorry for getting you all involved in this..."


    Felix stood quietly at the back leaning against the wall, while Finn and Jayden stepped forward tofort her, "It''s all over now Focus on healing and don''t worry about it anymore."


    Reba added, "Yes, Finn has already taken care of the matter. That culprit, E, didn''t even get punished, so how could your innocent slip be a problem?"


    After E was taken by the police, there was no one to look after the elderly in theirmunity.


    Hearing about this from Kevin, Shakira asked Sean to drop thewsuit, which eventually led to E publicly apologizing to Lonely Bird and Haruca Hospital in a newspaper, bringing the matter to a close. Yvette lowered her brows, her pale face making her look sorrowful. "Does Grandma not want to forgive me?"


    Reba held her hand. "Actually, there''s something I haven''t mentioned these past few days. Your grandma fell ill and can''t get out of bed."


    Yvette suddenly lifted her head, her eyes filling with tears. "Grandma has always been healthy. How could she suddenly get sick? Is it serious? What did the doctor say? It must be my fault for making her upset. It''s all my fault." "This has nothing to do with you," Reba said, feeling a pang of heartache for Yvette''s cautious and fragile state.


    "The other day, there was ate cold snap. Your grandma went to visit a friend''s house at night, and aftering back and catching a draft, she suddenly fell ill. Maybe she''ll get better in a few days," said Reba.


    Yvette looked down in disappointment. "Grandma''s not feeling well, but I can''t be there to take care of her."


    Seeing how upset she was, Cody felt a pang of sympathy andforted her, "The doctor said you''ve been recovering faster than expected, so you can be discharged early. You''ll have plenty of time to take good care of your grandma then."

 Chapter 288

    Yvette spoke with genuine determmation, "Yes, once I''m home from the hospital, I''ll stay by Grandma''s side every day until


    she recovers


    Seeing her dedication, Reba and Cody felt truly gratified.


    Suddenly, Felix, who had been silently leaning against the wall, ared intently at Yvette without blinking. "Did you call Grandma before she got sick a couple of days ago?" Yvette''s heart leaped to her throat, but she managed to keep her expressionposed and asked in confusion, "Are you talking about me, Felix? I didn''t call Grandma."


    Felix''s brow furrowed. "I was passing by Grandina''s room that night, and it seemed like she was talking to you. She even promised you something."


    "How could it be? You must have misheard, Felix," Yvette said, lowering her head with a mocking smile on her lips.


    "Felix, do you really believe I called Grandma, and that caused her to fall ill? I''ve been healing from an injury and haven''t contacted anyone. If you don''t believe me, feel free to check my phone," said Yvette.


    With that, Yvette unlocked her phone and handed it to Reba Seeing Yvette''s face filled with sadness as she tried to stay strong, Reba felt her heart ached as if it had been pierced.


    2


    "That''s enough!" Reba snapped, ring at Felix. "I asked you to visit Yvette, not to interrogate her. If you don''t want to stay, you should leave."


    Felix was taken aback by the deep disapproval in Reba''s eyes. Reba had never did have that look when facing Shakira, or even Lonely Bird. looked at him that way before, but she


    These past few days, Reba had been cold toward him, but he didn''t think much of it. However, now he couldn''t ignore the seriousness of the situation.


    So, when it came to him and Yvette, Reba would choose to abandon him without a second thought. Realizing this, Felix scoffed at himself, his heart heavy with disappointment. Felix said, "Alright, if that''s how it is, I''m leaving now."


    ""Felix!" Finn shouted.


    "Felix!" Jayden called out.


    Finn and Jayden wanted to follow, but Reba stopped them. "Finn and Jayden, let him go."


    She was furious. "Yvette is so frail, yet he assumes the worst about his own sister. It''s just so disappointing."


    Finn pressed his lips tightly together, and Jayden had deep furrows in his thick brows. The air in the ward was oppressive and suffocating.


    Cody didn''t look happy, and just then, his phone rang. He stepped out to answer it. It was an unknown number, but the caller hung up without saying a word. Without much thought, Cody wandered off to the outdoor garden that extended from the hallway. The garden offered a broad view of the nearby central park. Cody had taken only a few steps forward when he suddenly froze, a look of surprise and excitement spreading across his face. "Mr. Joyce?"


    <


    Chanter 988


    He quickly approached the skinny old man with gray hair sitting on a nearby bench. Once he confirmed it was the person hell been looking for, he was overjoyed, Cody eximed. Mr. Joyce, I''ve been searching for you for so many years, and now I finally see you again.


    Modis slowly raised his head, his cloudly eyes fixing on Gody''s fate as if he were trying to remember something. After a moment, recognition set in. "It''s you


    "Mr. Joyre, you actually remember me?" asked Cody in surprise


    Modis said with a meaningful look, "After years of divination, there''s only one girl with such a unique destiny. I surely remember her."


    Cody was clearly excited. "Eighteen years ago, when my wife was pregnant, we were lucky to get your warning, which helped us avoid disaster.


    "Even though we found our biological daughter this year, we still shed with her, causing disaster in our home. I''ve been wanting to find you to cast another divination, but there''s been no news at all. I never expected to meet you by fate today!" Back then, it was Modis who divined that Reba''s unborn child would be ipatible with the Nelson family and would affect its century-old legacy.


    The solution was to have a child with good fortune live with the family, and only reunite with the biological child when she was grown up.


    At that time, Cody didn''t believe it and even went until after Reba gave birth that he...


    ask Norman for advice, only


    confirm that Shakira was a jinx. It wasn''t


    Cody snapped back to reality, looking at Modis as if he was a savior. "Mr. Joyce, you have to save me this time. Our entire family is about to be destroyed by that jinx."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    Modis''s eyes were murky, and his gaunt face was tinged with a dark hue. Under Cody''s hopeful gaze, he slowly shook his head. "Mr. Nelson, I can''t do this."


    Cody was shocked. "Mr. Joyce, what do you mean by that?"


    "Fate is fixed. You changed it once eighteen years ago. Now, nature won''t allow you to change it again. If you try to force it, I''m afraid..." His hoarse voice grew quieter, filled with heaviness. "You''ll face an even more terrible consequence." Cody slumped into the chair, his eyes vacant as he gazed nkly into the distance. "You''re telling me our whole family''s going down because of one child?"


    Modis took a deep breath, signaling agreement by staying silent.


    "No, absolutely not." Cody refused to ept this fate. He thought, ''How can the century-old legacy of the Nelson family be destroyed in my generation, and how can it end because of a woman?''


    His gaze was intense. "Since I could change it eighteen years ago, I can definitely change it once more now!"


    He looked at Modis with determination, his eyes filled with ambition. "Mr. Joyce, please help us once more. I''m willing to pay any price. As long as the Nelson family can rise to glory again, I''ll do whatever it takes."


    Modis let out a couple of low, sinister chuckles. "Are you really willing to pay whatever it takes?"


    Cody didn''t hesitate for a moment. "I am!"


    After a long while, Modis finally spoke again, his voice as light as if carried by the wind, "Alright, I''ll help you this time." "Thank you, Mr. Joyce." Cody''s face flushed with excitement.


    After saying goodbye to Xanthe and Latcy, Shakira went back to Easke Valley Estate. While Walter was busy with a meeting in his study. Shakira put on an apron and decided to make a bunch of doughnuts in the kitchen. She recalled everyone''s taste preferences, including Matthew, Sen, and Cathy, Gideon, and even made some for Xanthe as well.


    Levi came in to bring her some coffee and was amazed by the colorful doughnuts spread across the table. "Ms. Nelson, you''re really talented. These doughnuts look even better than the ones sold outside."


    Shakira chuckled and asked, "Levi, what vor do you like best? Levi was ttered and replied, "Ms. Nelson, I''ll eat anything you make. I wouldn''t dream of troubling you..."


    "It''s so simple, really, no trouble at all," Shakira said, ncing at the clock. "I can even make some for the cats too."


    Since cats couldn''t eat sweets, she decided to shape some minced meat into small doughnuts for them. Levi couldn''t help butugh, joking, "If Mr. Lopez finds out you went through all this trouble, he''d probably lecture you." Shakira gestured for Levi to keep quiet. "Then let''s not tell him, she whispered yfully. Her hand had long healed and Walter''s fussing was unnecessary.


    Just as Shakira said that a cold voice interrupted, "What are you keeping from me?"

 Chapter 289

    Shakira stuck out her tongue, turned around, and noticed that Walter had appeared at the door without her realizing it. She yed dumb. "Nope, I didn''t say anything. You must have misheard because you''re too far away." Walter nced at her mischievous little face, and then his gaze fell on the table full of colorful doughnuts.


    The corner of his mouth twitched slightly and he was about to speak again when Shakira quickly brought a freshly baked doughnut up to him, casually popping it into his mouth.


    Words failed Walter.


    Shakira looked at him with eager eyes, her eyes sparkling. "Tastes good, doesn''t it? This one is sugar-free, made especially for you."


    Not only was it sugar-free, but the doughnut had a subtle tanginess of hawthorn. Walter''s eyes widened with surprise as he looked at her deeply. For these tiny doughnuts, she had put in quite a bit of thought.


    Shakira was all smiles, feeling quite proud of herself. Walter raised his chin, gesturing at the table. "Don''t tell me all of these were made just for me."


    "Since I was at it, I made some extra to give to my friends." Shakira started counting. "Benji, Kyle, Calton, Gavin, and Xanthe''s family, plus the show crew."


    After a moment, she added, "Matthew and the others should get some too, and also Mr. Reynolds of Yonder Digital, because they helped me before."


    Walter frowned slightly, "Benji and the others don''t eat this kind of thing."


    "It''s the thought that matters. They''re your good friends, so they''re my friends too." Walter''s frown rxed when he heard her say this naturally. There was an inexplicable brightness in his eyes. "Alright, that''s enough for now. You''re starting your internship in a couple of days, so get some good rest," said Walter.


    Shakira yfully saluted. "Yes, sir."


    Whew, luckily he didn''t mention the injury on her hand.


    After dividing the doughnuts ording to everyone''s preferences, Shakira asked Levi to help with packing and delivering them. By dinnertime, Benji, who had been out all day, returned home just in time.


    Tonight was just like New Year''s Eve. Everyone gathered around a round table to enjoy a barbecue while watching a TV special for the Carnaval. Benji boldly asked for the spicy broth specially made by Shakira, which made him slurp and stick out his tongue. The spiciness made him grab the doughnut nearby, eating it all in one bite. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "Hey, today''s doughnuts are interesting, shaped like cats, and there''s even red bean paste inside?"


    Levi was enjoying his serving of tea-vored doughnut, finding it very fresh. "Mr. Benji Lopez, you might not know, but this year, these doughnuts were handmade by Ms. Nelson."


    "Shakira is incredible. Even her doughnuts have so many varieties." Benji gave a thumbs-up in praise. "Having her around really makes life great."


    Shakira choked a bit. "Mr. Benji Lopez, don''t you think you''re overdoing it a little?"N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    "I don''t think so. Shakira, you have no idea. Without you, this festival wouldn''t have been this good," he said excitedly, snapping a picture of a doughnut, adding a caption, and showing it off on his Instagram. 1/3


    5:42 FT, Nov


    Not long after, a bunch of rich kids started liking it. Benji refreshed his feed and saw that Calton had also posted on his Instagram, a picture of a cat-shaped doughnut just like his. Only the bowl and table were different.


    Just as Benji was about toment, two more posts popped up one from Kyle and another from Gavin. And even Sean and Kevin also had cat-shaped doughnuts. Gavin added a caption too I First time trying fam doughnuts, quite interesting. Benji looked up in surprise. "Shakira, why do Calton and the others also have doughnuts?"


    "Oh yeah, everyone got a share," Shakira said. "I wasn''t ying favorites.


    Benji was sulking inside, thinking, I''m not the one getting special treatment after all. I''m not happy!


    Walter grabbed his phone and checked it out. With a slight raise of his eyebrow, he snapped a picture as well. But his caption turned out to be the most distinct among them.


    Tonight, when the elites of Crescentville shared the same post on Instagram, which sparked quite a buzz.


    Before long, someone revealed that not only these top rich kids were eating a certain doughnut, but even the Four Elders were on the same diet.


    The trending topics, dominated by the Carnaval G and fireworks, also saw a new and unique topic climb its way up: kitten doughnuts,


    [Wow, those doughnuts must be incredible if even the rich kids are posting about them on Instagram.]


    [In my opinion, it''s not just about how tasty the doughnuts are, it''s about how special the person who made them is!]


    [OMG, the person making these doughnuts must be super adored and cherished. How blissful!]


    [Hold up. The Four Elders posted as well. They''re eating the same stuff.]


    [OMG, connections with the Four Elders? That''s some deep ties.]


    [I''ve read through all the gossip, and it seems that the top five families all posted about this, except for the Nelson family. Looks like they weren''t invited again this time...] [Everyone says the Nelson family is the onegging behind among the top five families, but in my opinion, they''ve already been quietly left out by the other four without even realizing it!] [Does anyone


    else find this trend familiar? It seems just likest time when the Four Elders made aeback, they all posted the same dish and it went viral.]


    [Wait! Is it the same person who cooked for the Four Elders and made these doughnuts? And that person is connected to the top families in Crescentville? Who is this person? Such a mysterious identity!] [Here''s thetest scoop. Walter, the head of Lopez Group, posted on Instagram too, with the same doughnuts and captioned them "Mine".]


    [Alright, now I understand. These doughnuts taste like romance]


    [Aww, no wonder she''s so adored. It turns out that she''s Mr. Lopez''s sweetheart. Who wouldn''t envy that kind of attention?]


    The trending topic of doughnuts was discussed byizens all night. Meanwhile, the person who made the doughnuts was enjoying a leisurely evening.


    After finishing her nighttime routine, shey on the bed with her legs crossed, resting her chin on her hands, and stared intently in one direction.


    The bathroom door opened, and Walter, wrapped in a thin bath towel, appeared through the steam. Shakira, swinging her


    16:42 Fri, Nov 22 B D D


    legs, blinked flirtatioudy and patted the spot beside her.


    She said, Come on over."


    jies darkened abruptly as he maneuvered his wheelchair forward. As soon as he reached the bedside, he grabberf


    her slender wrist and pulled her toward himself. There was a flicker of fire in his eyes. "You''re in such a hurry tonight?


    He was about to kiss her when his lips touched something cold.


    Three needles were right in front of him. With a mischievous look in her eyes, Shakiraughed cheekily. "What are you thinking? I wanted you to lie down quickly so I can give you acupuncture." "Oh, messing with me?" Walter chuckled softly.


    He grabbed her silver needles and tossed them to the side, his tall body suddenly pressing down on her. "But there''s a price to pay..."


    Before Shakira could even plead for mercy, Walter''s cold, sharp aura enveloped herpletely, overwhelming and threatening to engulf her.

 Chapter 290

    Walter''s kiss was aggressive and overwhelming, and even though Shakira had been forced into "practice" inany times, she couldn''t resist.


    In the end, she was like a kitten with its neck held, meekly and softly nestled in Walter''s arms.


    After a moment to catch her breath, Shakira, feeling dizzy, still tried to struggle and reach for the silver needles. Walter nced over, his eyebrows lifting. "Want more?" Shakira puffed out her cheeks in anger. "Do you still want acupuncture or


    not?"


    Walter didn''t say a word, his heated gaze rested on her. She understood that if she dared to get up, he was ready to kiss her back down.


    Shakira pouted and couldn''t help but poke his chest with her finger. "Are you disappointed in me too?"


    ''After all this time, there hasn''t been any progress with his legs... Is he thinking of giving up?'' thought Shakira.


    Walter''s eyes flickered slightly. "No." Hisrge hand wrapped around her palm, gently tightening. "Are you not tired today? I don''t want you to overwork." Shakira looked up at him intently with clear eyes.


    "Re


    "Yeah." Walter patted her back, with a slow andforting rhythm. "Let''s rest tonight. We have plenty of time. No hurry."


    Shakira nodded. "Okay, but you must do it tomorrow night."


    "Alright, you''re the boss. Go to bed now," said Walter.


    "Okay," Shakira agreed.


    In his arms, Shakira quickly found afortable position and dozed off. Walter listened to her gradually deepening breaths but his expression slowly tightened.


    Berry, fuming over the increasingly bizarre rumors of wealthy families circting online, had a restless night. The momen Walter posted on Instagram, she realized that the homemade doughnuts were crafted by that spiteful Shakira. However, witnessing the cluelessizens fawning over Shakira and even associating her with the Four Elders made Berry burn with jealousy.


    Berry thought, ''Does Shakira think she is worthy of beingpared to the Four Elders? Just because she yed a piano piece for them once, does she think she''s made connections with them? It''s shameless!''


    Berry brought some fruit to the hospital to visit Yvette and casually told her about the whole situation. To her surprise, Yvette justughed it off,pletely unfazed.


    Berry was taken aback. "Why are youughing? That woman''s chasing clout with the Four Elders and people online are mocking the Nelson family... Aren''t you upset?"


    In just two days, Yvette appeared vibrant and healthy, without any signs of her previous weakness. Sheughed softly and dismissively at Berry''s words, "Berry, you need to understand those people who barely get by have no real perspective." Watching Yvette''s self-elevating attitude made Berry feel a bit awkward. "You''re right, Yvette. You''re so generous not to bother with those poor


    folks."


    "Shakira is just using Mr. Lopez as an excuse to shamelessly cozy up to the four elders and the rich kids. They''re only respecting her because of Mr. Lopez," Yvette sneered. "Without Walter, who would even pay attention to her?"


    Berry gritted her teeth m jealousy, almost overwhelmed by it. What a shameless bitch, always taking advantage!"


    "Of course, she''s going to seize the opportunity. Once Mr. Lope kicks her out, she won''t have anything left," said Yvette.


    Berry said. "I understand, but seeing her unting Mr. Lopez''s name just makes me so mad. She was supposed to be Mr. Lopez''s "savior, yet she didn''t get any of these perks.


    Yvette noticed the bitterness and jealousy almost spilling over Berry''s eyes. She paused for a moment and then said, "If you''re really that upset, there are ways to deal with it." Berry''s head snapped up. "Yvette, I knew you''d have an idea."


    "Aren''t you about to start your internship? It''s going to be so long. You and Mr. Lopez are on such good terms. Why not ask him for a favor and see if he can get you transferred to Lopez Group?" Yvette suggested. Hope gradually disappeared from Berry''s face. "How could I convince Mr. Lopez? I haven''t seen him in a long time..." Since that encounter on the ne over Silverwave Bay, Walter hadn''t spoken to her at all" Berry''s heart was pounding with anxiety. She thought, ''Did I finally get a chance to get close to Walter only to end up achieving nothing? How could I possibly ept that?''


    Yvette chuckled, "If Mr. Lopez doesn''t want to see you, you can just go and find him yourself."


    Berry was puzzled. "You mean..."


    Yvette advised, "You got an internship with that smallpany that''s linked to Lopez Group, right? If they know about your rtionship with Mr. Lopez, they''ll definitely make sure you meet him. "It''s just making connections. Who doesn''t do that?"


    With Yvette''s gentle whisper, the confusion in Berry''s eyes gradually cleared. She smiled brightly, "Yvette, you''re so smart!"


    Yvette curled the corners of her mouth and let out a soft chuckle.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Berry''s internship began in just a couple of days. As soon as she left the hospital, she eagerly hurried to thepany. It was situated in an old building downtown, upying just two floors. Thepany had fewer than five hundred employees in total. Actually, its size wasn''t that bad. But after seeing the imposing skyscrapers of Lopez Group in the CBD, she was not impressed by this rundown ce at all.


    Berry looked around with disdain, not wanting to give it more than a passing nce, and went straight to the HR department. The HR manager, knowing she was a top student from Crescentville, warmly weed her.


    Berry suppressed her disdain and exchanged a few pleasantries with the manager. Absentmindedly, she ced her designer handbag, worth tens of thousands, on herp.


    The manager, with a keen eye, noted Berry''s actions with curiosity. "You''vepleted the onboarding process. For now, you''re assigned to the Operations Department. I''ll have a colleague show you the way." Berry gave a slight smile. "Alright, thank you."


    The manager kept filling out the onboarding paperwork when Berry''s phone beeped with a notification. She looked at it and smiled, taking a few steps to a quieter corner.


    Her excitement was evident, and even though she lowered her voice, the manager in the room could still hear her yful tone over the phone. "Mr. Lopez, I''ve already arrived at the internship location."


    The manager''s pen paused abruptly. She wondered, ''Mr. Lopez?"


    16:42 Fri, Nov 22 B B (2


    Unaware of the manager''s ingense gaze. Berry continued her vor message to the person on the other end. "Everyone here is nice, and the work environment is great, I can definitely manage here. There''s really no need to transfer me. "Got it. I''ll work hard. Remember to eat on time and don''t forget to have meals when you are busy"


    In just a few words, the manager was leftpletely stunned, thinking. Given the recent online buzz about a mysterious favorite and the sweetly spoiled Berry, along with her extravagant essories that seem far too mature for her age... Could it be that this intern is actually Mr. Lopez''s girlfriend?


    The manager was still battled, while Berry sent another voice message to someone else with a slightly more serious tone, "Brian, remember to remind Mr. Lopez to eat on time. His stomach isn''t well."


    After sending the voice message, Berry turned back to the desk. The phone screen was still on, clearly showing the chat between Brian and her to the manager watching.

 Chapter 291

    It was confirmed that Berry was the mysterious favorite.


    Seeing the manager, Donna Dudley, almost glued to her phone screen, Berry kept herposure but secretly felt d¨¦lighted.


    It wasn''t until the phone screen went dark that Donna realized she had lost herposure. She cleared her throat lightly, her smile growing wider.


    "The colleague is already outside. Take some time to get familiar with your workspace, and you can manage the rest of your time as you wish," said Donna. Berry nodded. "Okay."


    As Berry stepped out, a young girl eagerly approached her to chat and guide her to the department.


    As soon as Berry left, Donna hurried to John''s office. When John found out that the trending mysterious favorite was in hispany, he was stunned.


    John asked, "Are you sure you didn''t mistake her identity?"


    John quickly opened his phone and found Brian''s contact to show it to her.


    Donna nced over, visibly excited and firm. "That''s the one. She even instructed Brian to take care of Mr. Lopez. She paused and added softly, "And Brian has responded in the chat history too."


    Looking at the read-but-no-reply page from Brian, John was speechless.


    After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Where did you settle her?"


    Donna exined, "The operations team. Mr. Gilbert, do you need her moved to your side?"


    John shot a nce at Donna. "What good does it do to transfer her to my side? Mr. Lopez''s favorite should definitely go straight to him."


    Donna suddenly realized and switched back to a businesslike tone, "The team working on the smart partnership project with Lopez Group moved into their headquarters before the end ofst year. Due to ack of staff, I''m sending two more employees this time." John agreed, "Okay, let''s do that."


    John thought, ''Who would have thought such a big opportunity would fall into myp? Even though it''s just an internship, if Berry can secure Mr. Lopez''s backing, I won''t have to worry about passing Lopez Group''s annual partnership review in the future! Berry had barely settled into her seat when someone from the HR department came with orders.


    When Berry heard she was being transferred to the project team at Lopez Group, she was so happy that she almost jumped


    1. up.


    She pretended to be cool as she followed orders, but once she left thepany, she couldn''t wait to share the good news with Yvette. She opened the chat page to find that Brian had coolly replied to her with a question mark.


    Berry felt a bit guilty, but thinking about the rare opportunity, she deleted the chat history with Brian and acted like she didn''t know anything.


    However, before she could keep celebrating, a message from an unknown number popped up, and Berry''s expression changed instantly.


    With just a day left before starting at Lopez Group, Shakira took some time to video call with Gideon and Sean.


    "Lago signed a contract with Nelson Group''s cafeteria. All the goods he stocked up before the New Year were sold out. The factory is working overtime to catch up. From what I heard, he''s expecting another big order soon," Gideon said. Sean didn''t know about this and was shocked when he heard it.


    "Really? Is Nelson Group managed so poorly now that Lago even took over the cafeteria contract?" asked Sean.


    Shakira had expected it, smiling softly, "It was Yvette."


    Sean asked, "What? Shakira, did you know?"


    Shakira''s eyes sparkled. "While recording the show, I overheard Yvette calling Finn''s assistant from the room. Nelson Group has beenying off stafftely, which just gave Yvette an opening"


    "Lago is really sly, isn''t he? When he can''t find anyone outside to work with and make money, he starts taking advantage of Nelson Group," Sean sneered.


    "Isn''t that typical of him? He''s always trying to bleed Nelson Group dry," Gideon said casually. "Before, he didn''t have the chance, but now he''s doing it openly under someone else''s name."


    "You''re right," Seanughed, pping his thigh. "Did someone from the Nelson family offend Lago''s ancestors before? He''s just taking everything he can from the Nelson family. At this rate, the Nelson family might end uppletely drained by him one day." Gideon''s eyes were dark as he harshly cursed, "That''s just the Nelson family''s own doing."


    Sean said, "Absolutely right. If that day everes, we''ll definitely pop some champagne to celebrate."


    Gideon nodded in agreement, and when he looked at Shakira, his gaze softened, "I have a bottle of vintage Cristal champagne, which I''ll give to Shakira as a celebratory gift."


    Shakira was lost for words.


    She thought, "That bottle of vintage Cristal champagne...N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ''Isn''t it a rare heirloom passed down through the royal family?


    ''Gideon, you''re so thoughtful. Do your royal grandparents know how considerate you are?''


    Shakira''s lips twitched. "No rush on that. Lago''s just getting a taste of sess, and he''ll have plenty of tricks up his sleeveter."


    Pausing, she looked at Sean. "How''s the software I asked for your help with? Any progress?"


    "Whoa!" Sean, who was busy gossiping, suddenly remembered his own matter. "Shakira, that software you developed for feeding stray animals is awesome! It''s been online for less than two months, and the response has been really good!" Gideon had heard about it. "Are you talking about that software that broke the yearly download records just a month afterunching, Virmo?"


    Sean said, "Exactly. It was Shakira''s solo idea, and I was responsible for bringing the tech team together. Cool, right?"


    18:09 Mon, Nov 25 (00


    Chapter 291-


    Gideon''s eyes lit up. "Shakira''s so smart. I downloaded that software too, and it''s really impressive!"


    Sean protested, "Gideon, why are you only praising Shakira? What about me? Without me, this software wouldn''t have existed!"


    Gideon chuckled, "Without you, Shakira could have made the software on her own."


    "Shakira is busy treating patients. She didn''t have the time, so it had to be me," said Sean confidently.


    46%


    Hearing their bickering, Shakira rubbed her ears. "The fact that this softwareunched so quickly is indeed mostly thanks to Sean." Praised personally by Shakira, Sean looked up proudly with his chest puffed out.


    Gideon looked a bit aggrieved, his delicate face full of grievances. "I have a tech team too. Why didn''t Shakira ask me for help?" Shakira didn''t know what to say.


    She thought, ''Should I say it''s because I am used to bossing Sean around?''


    "Alright, I''ll ask you for a favor next time," Shakira said.


    Gideon smiled broadly, "Great, it''s a deal."


    Shakira chuckled, "I came up with the idea for this software while I was at the hospital. First, it lets us feed stray animals and provide them with nourishment and warmth. "Secondly, it can effectively and promptly help with spaying and rescuing injured stray animals, and it also helps find adopters for them. It''s a win-win on all sides."

 Chapter 292

    Chapter 292 0446%


    Sean grinned checkily, "Quite a few majorpanies are reaching out to our software developers to coborate. Even Lopez Group came knocking." Shakira''s curiosity was piqued. "Lopez Group?"


    "Yeah, they''re impressed with the core automation technology of our software and want to invite the lead designer to join their biggest project of the year."


    At this point, Sean, who was all about the drama, winked at Shakira. "What do you say, Shakira? Want to earn big with Lopez Group? I hear they offer the core creative team an amazing eight-figure sry." Gideon disapprovingly suggested, "If Shakira cared about money, Virmo wouldn''t be free."


    "That''s true. Shakira isn''t worried about small changes," Sean added yfully. "If Shakira came back to lead Yonder Digital, who knows how much our profits would grow. An eight-figure sry would be just pocket money." Shakira coughed a couple of times. This was a topic she didn''t dare continue, or else Sean''s irritation would flood the entire conversation.


    "I''ve got to do my internship. Yonder Digital can wait... We''ll talkter." She quickly found an excuse and logged off.


    Seeing her unease, Sean was puzzled. "Gideon, with Yonder Digital behind her, why does Shakira even care about this internship? She could just exin the situation to Mr. Jensen. As the founder of Yonder Digital, does she really need to bother with an internship?" Gideon stared at the now-darkened avatar, his eyes flickering with a mix of light and shadow, his face deeply pensive. After a while, he finally replied to Sean, "Maybe... she just doesn''t want to see you."


    Sean couldn''t believe his ears. "What do you mean by that, Gideon? Why are you running? You''d better exin yourself to me!"


    ***


    These past few days, Shakira had adjusted her jeg and was now waking up naturally right at eight. After getting washed up. she went downstairs and discovered Walter leisurely sipping coffee and reading the news, though he was supposed to be in the study. "Good morning," said Shakira.


    Shakira sat down and took a big bite of her sandwich, which contained her homemade mayonnaise, creamy and rich. With a satisfied squint, she found a moment to ask Walter, "Why don''t you have an early meeting today?"


    "I''ll drop you off at thepany first, and then I''ll attend the meeting," replied Walter.


    "Oh, okay." Shakira nodded automatically. But once the information sank in, she was shocked, nearly choking, and suddenly wide awake. "You''re taking me to thepany?"


    Walter handed her some milk, raising an eyebrow at her exaggerated reaction. "Can''t I?"


    Shakira shook her head. "Of course not."


    Worried that he''d get upset, Shakira quickly exined, "I''m just an intern. How can I have the CEO of thepany drive me to work? If someone sees that, how am I supposed to have a good internship experience?"


    She actually objected to announcing their rtionship. Most people would jump at the chance to be associated with him and enjoy some perks. But she was the other way around. She just wanted to keep a low profile. Within seconds, Walter was


    18:09 Mon, Nov 25 @ U


    looking displeased.


    46%


    Shakira naturally knew what he was thinking. Trying to calm him, she softened her voice and said, "I''m not trying to hide our rtionship. I just think there''s no need to be too shy."


    She blinked and added, "Imagine if someone interrupted you at work to chat about unrted stuff. How would you feel?"


    Walter didn''t hesitate. "Kick them out."


    Words failed Shakira.


    She thought, ''Wow, Walter is really straightforward and ruthless


    Shakira''s mouth slightly twitched. "Yeah, you can throw someone out, but I can''t. If they''re scared to ask you, they''ll definitelye and bother me.


    "You don''t like being interrupted while you''re focused on work, so how could you bear to see countless peopleing to disturb me?"


    Hearing this, Walter frowned.


    Shakira paused and added softly, "Internships are tasks given by the school to check if we can achieve results in the real world. Are you sure that once everyone knows about our rtionship, they won''t have any personal agendas "I also hope to achieve sess with my own abilities."


    These words eased Walter''s displeasure quite a bit. "Alright, you''re the boss." He naturally thought he should cherish their time together and hadn''t really considered much else.


    After thinking it over, Walter took a step back. "Let Levi choose a low-key car from the garage to drive you to work. As for after work..."


    Shakira, being thoughtful, chimed in, "If time permits, I''ll wait for you to have dinner together after work."


    Walter nodded with satisfaction. "Sure."


    In the end, Levi found a small electric car in the garage that Benji barely used before forgetting about it. Shakira was amazed and said, "Mr. Benji Lopez actually took a liking to this kind of car?"


    Levi thought for a moment and said, "It must have been bought when Mr. Benji Lopez tried to woo a socialite from Torrania who was visiting Crescentvillest time and got himself an Uber driver gig for the asion."


    Shakira was stunned and asked, "Such a small car could be used for Uber?"


    Levi smiled and replied, "Exactly because it was small, the socialite''s bodyguards couldn''t stay close, making it easier for Mr. Benji Lopez to make his moves."


    Shakira was lost for words.


    Shakira gave a thumbs up. Benji really had a lot of tricks. No wonder he could lead Walter astray.


    Shakira arrived ten minutes early at Lopez Group Tower. After she reached the HR department, she was led to a conference room to wait. The room was filled with new employees starting today, and Shakira guessed there were at least thirty of them. After a short while, Xanthe hurried in just in time, grabbed a form, and sat next to Shakira. She was out of breath. "Oh my gosh, I gverslept and almost showed upte..."


    Shakira chuckled as she noticed the dark circles under Xanthe''s eyes, "Did you stay uptest night?"Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Xanthe frowned and sighed, "Just thinking about starting work a nine o''clock every day kept me awake."


    Shakira couldn''t help but chuckle, "Didn''t you have morning sses before?"


    Xanthe argued, "We only had two or three carly sses a week. And I could even doze off during ss, but going to work is thest thing I want to do!"


    Shakira was at a loss for words. While Xanthe filled out her information form, she chatted with Shakira, "I didn''t expect so many people to join the Lopez Group in one day. There must be about thirty or so, right?


    "I heard outside that there are three onboarding days each week, so that''s nearly a hundred people a week, four to five hundred a month. That''s huge..."


    Shakira wasn''t surprised. "Having many new hires means that many are also leaving or being transitioned out. It''s how HR maintains bnce." Xanthe said, "Oh, that''s how it works."


    Xanthe''s eyes spun around, and she suddenly mentioned, "Shakira, did you hear? There are some people among the new hires who got in through connections."

 Chapter 293

    Shakira was surprised. "You just arrived, and you''ve already four out so much?"


    Xanthe puffed out her chest. "I''m the queen of gossip, you know And I heard this in the elevator. They were saying that among the new interns, there''s someone who got in by pulling some strings..." 46%


    Before Xanthe could finish her sentence, the conference room door opened and a slender figure walked in. Shakira recognized the girl, and a knowing smile appeared on her lips, mm, the subject of your gossip might have just arrived." "Who?" Xanthe quickly craned her neck to follow Shakira''s gaze and was stunned. "It''s her?"N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Fiona entered, just like the other interns, found a seat, and began filling out forms.


    Suddenly, the conference room buzzed with whispers, "Wow, isn''t she the daughter of the Banks family, Fiona, who made the headlines recently? Why is she interning too?"


    "Lopez Group has such strict selection criteria, yet a would-be criminal like her can get in? It''s just not fair!"


    "Hush, the Banks family works a lot with Lopez Group. She probably got in through connections!"


    "The scandal at the beginning of the year was massive, but it was all covered up. Being the heir of a big family, even with a terrible reputation, there''s always someone to defend her!"


    "My cousin works in Lopez Group''s Admin Department and heard the gossip right in the morning about some interns having connections. I thought Mr. Lopez brought in his mysterious girlfriend, but it turns out it''s her."


    "Stop talking. She has strong backing. Be careful, or she might make things difficult for us byining to the manager."


    The gossip never took a breather.


    Soon, Fiona became the target of everyone''s criticism and was isted. Shakira thought Fiona might show up, especially after she caused such a scene at the vist time and said those things...


    Just then the HR supervisor entered the conference room and started the orientation for the interns. Shakira looked down and stopped overthinking.


    In the CEO''s office on the top floor, a few uninvited guests strolled into the office lounge. When Walter finally arrived, Calton leaned casually against the automatic door and teased, "Mr. Lopez, who barely steps into the office each month, actually showed up today." As he said this, he turned his head back. "Remember to send the money to my ount, losers!"


    Benji, after making a facial payment on his phone, was indignant. "Walter, I''m so disappointed in you. On my first day at thepany, you made me take the bus to avoid gossip, but today you''re ying favorites just because Shakira ising to work!" Gavin shook his head. "We underestimated Mr. Lopez, always the devoted fianc¨¦."


    Kyle silently took out his phone too.


    Words failed Walter.


    *


    He didn''t expect Kyle to join such a childish bet.


    Walter remained expressionless. "I didn''t bring her. She drove herself."


    46%


    Calton rubbed his chirr with a mischievous grin as if he had figured it all out. "You were going to give her a ride, but Shakira turned it down, huh? She wanted to avoid gossip, after all....


    Walter cast a sharp nce over and said, "You can just keep quiet


    Calton''s annoying grin grew even widers


    Benji couldn''t help but burst intoughter.


    He thought, ''Wow, how the tables have turned. Today, it''s Walter who is being told to avoid gossip? Shakira did a great job!''


    Gavin couldn''t help but chuckle and patted Walter on the shoulder. "If you''re so reluctant, why not keep her close? Brian has been with you for many years. It''s about time he shares some responsibilities with a neer."


    "Let her be." Walter''s stern face softened with a hint of fondness. In Lopez Group, she can do whatever she wants."


    "Tsk!" The group was fed up with the early morning dose of lovey-davey disy and couldn''t bear to stay any longer. They said their goodbyes and left.


    Once in the elevator, Benji, feeling spontaneous, asked his secretary next to him, "Go find out which department Shakira has gone to. I''ll drop by."


    *****


    Shakira was assigned to the Marketing Department, while Xanthe and Fiona went to the Finance Department. After making ns to have lunch with Xanthe at noon, Shakira followed the marketing team and took the elevator to the 19th floor, where their department was located. The Marketing Department had four teams, and the director, Charles Gordon, called the four leaders for a brief introduction. "The HR Department has assigned four interns to us. Each of you will pick one to mentor."


    With that, Charles asked the four interns to introduce themselves.


    First up was a cheerful and handsome young man wearing sses and a designer suit. He confidently stepped forward. "I''ll go first. My name is Quincy Reed. I graduated from Howell University and got in through internal recruitment. I''m skilled


    at..."


    The second was Larry Stewart, who carried himself with an aloof and indifferent demeanor. He was tall and lean, having transferred from the Security Department after passing some exams. He stood straight and introduced himself with poise and confidence. After Larry finished speaking, Shakira noticed that the girl who had been keeping her head down hadn''t moved, so she stepped forward.


    Just as she was about to speak, one of the chubby team leaders said with a broad smile, "I know, you''re the top student personally chosen by Mr. Lopez from Crescentville University!"


    After he spoke, Shakira clearly felt Quincy''s eyes on her, with a seemingly unfriendly look.


    Shakira gave a calm, gentle smile and said, "As a neer to Lopez Group, there is much I need to learn from my


    The group shared a lightugh, turning their attention to thest girl.


    The director cleared his throat and said, "Her situation is a bit unusual."


    seniors."


    The girl, who had been keeping her head down, took out her phone and typed before it mechanically said, "Hello everyone, my name is Rachel Hall, and I graduated from Crescentville Special College for the Disabled..." Rachel was mute.


    46%


    The team leaders immediately understood. Lopez Group hired a certain number of employees with disabilities each year, but they were mostly ced in less important departments. This was the first time someone with disabilities had entered a core department. Having just recognized Shakira, Benton Watt chuckled, "Alright, let me choose first. My current project is still in the optimization phase and hasn''t passed the proposal stage yet, so III have Shakira help me."


    The other three expressed their dissatisfaction, "Come on, Benton, you''re taking the best and leaving us with no choices."


    "Exactly, does that mean our projects don''t matter?"


    Benton turned to Charles. "The Intelligent Self-Driving Project is a major deal, a top priority. What do you think, Mr. Gordon?"


    Charles thought for a moment. "Then let''s have Shakira join Team Four first."


    This was taken as implicit agreement with Benton''s suggestion. The other three leaders had no choice but toply, each choosing their own team members to bring back to their respective teams.


    Benton, pleased, guided Shakira to the cubicles for their team. "Shakira, you''re new here, so let Maris show you around an get you familiar with the environment and the current projects we''re working on. Share your ideas with me anytime." Shakira nodded. "Okay."


    Once Benton left, Maris Thorne from the next cubicle looked over at Shakira in a business-like manner. "I''m Maris Thor You''re here because you''repetent. Lopez Group isn''t like otherpanies. We move fast here. Keep up and learn quickly. Mistakes aren''t tolerated."


    With that, Maris handed a document to Shakira, assigning tasks directly. "The team from Norpa Technology working on Lopez Group is in the conference room by the entrance. Go coordinate with them on personnel and progress, and then me the details." Shakira took the document and headed out. The ss door had a list of users on it. Shakira knocked on the ss and wa about to enter when she overheard someone inside tteringly saying, "Berry, you''re so amazing. Do you know many bigshots?" 18:10 Mon, Nov 25


    I

 Chapter 294

    Berry''s voice was tinged with pride andcency. She spoke with a mix of arrogance and false modesty, "I''m acquainted with some of the more well-known ones."


    "Wow! Do you know Mr. Jennings? Is he as good-looking in person as he is in the magazines?"


    "Hmm, he''s okay," Berry replied casually, fiddling with her shiny nails. "Among ordinary people, Mr. Jennings definitely stands out, butpared to those few, he''s still not quite impressive."


    The girls nearby were almost dying of envy. They thought, ''If Mr. Jennings is just okay, then how amazing must Mr. Clifton and Mr. White be? Not to mention the high-achieving Mr. Lopez... Berry is truly living the good life!'' Watching Berry naturally enjoy the ttery and admiration, clearly having a good time, Shakira sarcastically curled her lips and knocked on the ss harder.


    The others, lost in their daydreams, jumped in surprise and red in the direction of the noise. "Who''s that knocking so loudly? You scared the hell out of us!"


    Leading them was Wendy Diaz in her thirties, exuding an intimidating presence. "Who are you? I don''t recall seeing you before."


    Shakira noticed Berry looking flustered after seeing her. She spoke calmly, "My name is Shakira Nelson. I''m the new intern in Marketing Team Four, responsible for monitoring the progress of Norpa Technology."


    "An intern who just started today? Maris actually sent a brand-new intern to brush us off?" Wendy turned angry. Next to her, a young assistant gently pulled at her sleeve. "Even if she''s an intern, she''s part of Lopez Group..."


    Wendy pushed the assistant aside, snorting through her nose and pointing at Shakira''s face. "Where''s Maris? Get Maris here. It''s bad enough she held up our approval before, and now with Mr. Lopez''s..."


    Just as Wendy was about to speak more, she paused abruptly and then changed her approach. "Anyway, our project is very important. It''s not something a random intern can understand. Quickly get Maris over here, or we won''t have this meeting today!" Watching Shakira being hassled, Berry, who had been watching from the sidelines, nearly burst outughing. She thought, ''Mr. Lopez is truly impartial. Even after Shakira joined the Lopez Group, she is treated like any other intern.


    ''I recently heard that Norpa Technology gets stuck in audits every year, and Maris is one of the key people blocking it. How can I not realize how much Norpa Technology resents Maris?


    ''Now, at the critical moment, Maris sent Shakira over. Norpa Technology found a chance, and they wouldn''t let it pass to humiliate her, would they?


    ''Shakira, you really brought this upon yourself. Who told you to walk right into trouble? Let''s see what you can do now!''


    On her way here, Shakira had briefly looked over the documents. Faced with Wendy''s aggressive questioning, she stayed unfazed.


    Shakira said, "Norpa Technology has been working with Lopez Group for years. This year, Norpa Technology intends to provide Lopez Group with autonomous image capture functionality. The preliminary n has been approved, and this meeting is to address any issues from the initial n."


    At this point, Shakira coldly asked, "May I ask if there''s anything about this meeting that anyone doesn''t understand?"


    Her words were clearly calm and peaceful, yet carried a subtle sharpness, weighing down on their hearts, making them uneasy.


    -46%


    Wendy was surprised by Shakira''s calm demeanor. While they were still flustered, a group of people showed up outside the ss door, making quite an impressive entrance. Maris hurried through the door, clearly flustered. "Shakira, you didn''t cause any trouble, did you?" She nced around and was relieved to see that nothing had gone wrong. Shakira frowned and was about to say something when she noticed the group of people outside had arrived at the door, all of them smiling as they looked into the conference room. Everyone in the conference room was stunned at the sudden appearance of Benji, Calton, and the others. Benji, Calton, Gavin, and even Kyle, who rarely showed up, were all present. The girls who were just asking Berry about Calton and Gavin almost popped their eyes out in shock.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Benji cleared his throat and tried to act serious. "We''re just doing a routine check. Aren''t you guys having a meeting? Carry on."


    Maris winked at Shakira and then naturally took over to continue the conversation with Wendy for her.


    Wendy, who had been shouting at Shakira earlier, was now terrified by the impressive scene and didn''t dare to misbehave


    anymore.


    Both sides temporarily put aside their grudges and began the meeting. Benji and his group observed for a while before casually leaving the conference room.


    As soon as they left, the conference room instantly felt emptier. Everyone except Shakira let out a huge sigh of relief.


    "My heart almost jumped out of my throat."


    "Wow, I can''t believe I''m actually seeing the people from the cover of the financial magazine in real life! Oh my goodness! They truly are exceptional. That aura, that presence, so handsome!" Even Maris frowned in confusion, "Why would theye to this floor...


    Seeing her confused expression, Wendy realized Maris didn''t know the inside story and snorted with pride, "Of course, it''s because we have someone they want to see here."


    Maris sneered, thinking she was just babbling nonsense, "Let''s continue the meeting."


    Half an hourter, the meeting took a break for ten minutes. Wendy saw that Benji and his friends hadn''t left and suddenly had an idea, calling Berry over.


    Wendy greeted Berry with a smile, which waspletely different from her attitude when facing Shakira. "Berry, could you help introduce us? Ourpany has always wanted to partner with Jennings Group."


    Berry looked troubled and didn''t speak for a moment.


    Wendy quickly asked, "You''re so close with Mr. Jennings. Even if we don''t discuss coborations, just help me meet him, and I can give him my business card."


    Hearing this, Berry nodded. "Giving a business card is fine, but discussing coboration isn''t something I''mfortable with."


    Wendy suddenly understood. "I get it. I really do. If you mention it, it bes a favor, and I won''t go that far. Rest assured."


    Berry smiled shyly and led the person in charge out the door.


    Benji and the group hadn''t left. They were waiting for Shakira toe out and talk. But instead of Shakira, Berry came over unexpectedly.


    G


    "Mr. Benji Lopez. Mr. Jemings..." Berry called out to them one I


    Seeing how "well-acquainted" they seemed, Wendy was absolutu

 Chapter 295

    hapter 295


    Many employees who heard Benji and the others were here came over to watch. When they saw Calton bluntly turning Berry down, they couldn''t help butugh, casting disdainful nces at Berry and others. Wendy feltpletely humiliated, her face turning red with embarrassment, never expecting this kind of oue.


    Berry was equally embarrassed, inwardly cursing Calton and even his family, ''What a petty jerk. He not only targets me but also makes me lose face so publicly!''


    Berry was extremely embarrassed and didn''t know how to salvage the situation when, in the next moment, Calton, who had been distant just a second ago, turned toward a certain spot, his handsome face now showing a more amiable and approachable demeanor. Calton nced at Shakira, who had just stepped out of the conference room to stretch, and changed his tone to her, "You came out of the same conference room... Are you colleagues?" out to


    Shakira replied seriously, "These two are representatives from Norpa Technology sent to Lopez Group, specifically handling the new project. I''m in charge of following up on this meeting."


    "I see." Calton nodded with a look of sudden realization, gestured toward the anxiously waiting person in charge with his chin, and asked, "What do you think of her?"


    Wendy suddenly felt her heart leap.


    Shakira exchanged a look with Calton and saw the mischievous glint in his eyes. She answered honestly, "Not bad."


    Calton nodded, understanding instantly. "Not bad... So it means things aren''t going well. Looks like I was right to reject them."


    Berry was rendered speechless.


    So was Wendy.


    Wendy thought, ''Finally, the suspense is finally over. What is this all about?


    ''Isn''t Berry Mr. Lopez''s beloved girlfriend? Didn''t the bigshots enjoy her handmade doughnuts during the Carnaval? How did things end up like this? Judging by this, it seems that Mr. Jennings treats Berry even worse than he treats a new intern at Lopez Group! ''If only I had known, I wouldn''t have made things difficult for Shakira just now, or I wouldn''t be in this awkward position.


    Wendy shot Berry an angry look before heading back to the conference room.


    Berry bit her lip hard and followed with her head down. As she walked past Shakira, she gave Shakira a dirty look.


    From the brief conversation in the conference room; Shakira could roughly guess what was happening. It seemed that the one who pulled the strings mentioned in Xanthe''s gossip wasn''t Fiona, but Berry, who was trying to act big by using someone else''s influence. Berry was really hooked on it. First, she pretended to be a fox to get close to Walter, and then she pretended to be the one who made doughnuts.


    "Shakira!" Shakira was deep in thought when Benji quietly snuck over, whispering to her.


    Shakira''s eyes flickered, but she didn''t move.


    Benji looked around, his face stern. "Don''t you need to work?"


    III


    18:02


    3Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    15%


    When the usually cheerful Benji suddenly got angry, everyone was too scared to mess with him and quickly scattered to get busy with their own things. Then, Benji turned toward Shakira''s direction and spoke with authority, "You,e here." Shakira raised an eyebrow and walked over to him. As soon as she stood in front of Benji, he immediately switched to a pleading tone, winking at her. "Shakira..."


    The onlookers couldn''t help butugh at Benji''s cowardly act. Shakira sighed, "Mr. Benji Lopez, just call me by my full name."


    Shakira pointed at the newly issued ID badge she had just received.


    Benji nced over and chuckled, "No one can hear us. When we''re alone, I''ll keep calling you Shakira, it just feels natural."


    Shakira had no choice. "Why are you all here?" she asked.


    and work hard on "Of course, we''re here to see you," Benji whispered. "I heard from Walter. I know you want to avoid S P your own, but the workce is filled with those annoying politics. Even the strictly managed Lopez Group can''t escape them... "If people know you don''t have any support, they''ll try to step over you to move up. That''s why I came around to give you some backing, so no one dares to target you casually."


    Shakira was a bit surprised and said gratefully, "Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Benji Lopez."


    Benji said, "We''re family. That''s what we do."


    Calton finally realized. "So, that person from Norpa Technology was making things difficult for you?"


    Shakira pursed her lips. "Pretty much."


    "I knew it. These guys are all bark and no bite when ites to their bosses, but they pick on you because you''re just an intern. They''re taking it out on you!" Benji was seething with anger.


    Shakira shrugged nonchntly. "It''s fine. You also said the workce can be tough. I joined this internship to face things like this, just like everyone else."


    Gavin chuckled knowingly, "Ms. Nelson, no wonder Mr. Lopez likes you so much. Your unique charm is indeed intriguing.


    Benji red fiercely. "Why are you giving Shakira that suggestive look? Trying to steal her away?"


    Gavin''s smile faded as he warned. "Benji, if you want to court death, I don''t."


    Benji huffed, "d you understand. Why''d you give Shakira that flirtatious look?"


    Gavin rolled his eyes, not bothering to argue with Benji.


    As Benji reprimanded Gavin, Shakira suddenly remembered what Levi had mentioned before she left home. She spoke up, "Mr. Benji Lopez, I drove the electric car you had parked at home when I came over." "Oh, that''s fine, feel free to use it whenever you want, Shakira," said Benji.


    Shakira smirked, "I heard that you used to drive the electric car for Uber rides just to chase your girlfriend. I''m curious. How did you manage to get only her ride requests?"


    Benji chuckled and waved his hand modestly, "Oh, it was simple I invested in the ride-hailing apppany and had their developers adjust the system so only her requests were sent to me."


    He reminisced with a nostalgic smile. "I picked her up three times that day. She thought it was fate and agreed to be my girlfriend that very night."


    Words failed Shakira.


    D


    He bought the cheapest car but invested in the most expensive shares. Benji certainly knew how to handle his money.


    45%


    0


    Maris walked out of the conference room and saw Shakira and Benji with a few others, her eyes showing a hint of surprise.


    "Mr. Benji Lopez," Maris approached, nodding courteously to Benji, then turned to Shakira. "The meeting continues at 2 PM. You should head back for now."


    Shakira nced at the time. "Alright."


    After Maris left the conference room, Wendy mmed the documents onto the table. Noticing the tense atmosphere, the two girls quickly shut the ss door. With a stern face, hiding her anger, Wendy turned to Berry. "Give me an exnation."


    Facing the burning anger from Wendy, Berry remainedposed. In the earlier panic, she had already thought of an


    excuse.


    5


    Berry said, "I didn''t think it through just now. We should be cautious to avoid gossip, especially since we''re in Lopez Group."


    Wendy thought, "Trying to find another sponsor while in Lopez Group is like a p in their face. No wonder Mr. Jennings was so polite to a young intern. He was doing it for Berry''s sake, helping us out. ''If word of this reaches Mr. Lopez... He won''t me his girlfriend, but he''ll definitely think we are unfaithful!''


    Wendy changed her expression when she realized the implications, breaking into a cold sweat.


    She quickly apologized to Berry with the utmost ttery, "Oh, my mistake. Luckily, we have you, Berry. If it weren''t for you, I could have really messed things up!"


    Berry''s lips curled into a proud smile. "It''s nothing. After all, even Calton has to show respect to someone."


    She left her words unfinished, but everyone naturally assumed that the person referred to Walter.


    "Exactly, because you are no ordinary person," said Wendy.


    With just a few words, they werepletely convinced. Berry didn''t say anything more and left the room with a satisfied smile amidst their ttery.


    Berry thought, ''So, this is what it feels like to have someone powerful on my side... It''s really satisfying!"


    She was about to tell Yvette about this when someone suddenly blocked her path. Berry looked up, and the smile on her face immediately froze.


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 Chapter 296

    Kyle towered over her, well over six feet, his cool, detached gaze sweeping down as if to mock her for having the audacity to show up. Berry''s face twitched with nervousness and panic she couldn''t hide. "Mr. White." Kyle spoke coldly, "Why are you in Lopez Group?"


    Berry almost bit her tongue. "I''m interning in Norpa Technology. HR said they were short-staffed here, so they transferred me over."


    "Oh, really?" Kyle''s tone was indifferent, as usual. He always treated everyone and everything with a gentle demeanor that made it impossible for people to guess his true emotions.


    "Norpa Technology has worked with Lopez Group for many years. I''ve attended their biddin member of the Lopez Group is top-notch in terms of skills. And you..." He let his words han iplete.


    16


    gs before. Every the sentence


    But Berry felt deeply humiliated. She thought, ''Even Kyle looked down on me. Why? I am part of the White family too, ever if I am just a branch member. Can I really be considered less important than Shakira, an outsider?''


    Berry was seething with frustration, yet she couldn''t bring herself to confront Kyle. As the presumptive heir to the White family, he wielded the influence to make her family''s life within the n a living nightmare with just a single utterance.


    She hung her head low, her voice trembling. "Maybe they thought students from Crescentville University wouldn''t be too bad, and since they couldn''t find anyone suitable on short notice, they decided to bring me over..."


    Kyle stared at her for a long time before moving aside. "Since you''re here, just focus on your work and don''t mess with people who are out of your league." With this stern warning, Kyle walked away.


    Left standing there, Berry clenched her fists in shame and anger.


    She thought, ''Do they look down on me? I am going to mess with her!'' With her eyes reddened, Berry angrily picked up her phone to text Brian, only to find a message from him first. Brian: [Ms. White, pleasee to the CEO''s office on the top floor.]


    Berry almost dropped her phone. After quicklyposing herself, she ran excitedly toward the elevator.


    Brian waited by the elevator. As soon as Berry arrived, he guided her to the CEO''s office. Berry was so happy, her heart was racing and her emotions were all over the ce.


    "Brian, is Mr. Lopez asking for me?"


    "Yes," Brian confirmed with a nod.


    Berry asked, "Why does Mr. Lopez suddenly want to see me? Is it..."


    Brian said, "Ms. White, you''ll know once you go in."


    After Brian knocked on the door, he signaled for her to enter. Berry walked in nervously, and the first thing she noticed was the huge floor-to-ceiling ss, with a stunning view of downtown Crescentville below, This kind of thrilling and intense feeling of standing at the top of power was something Berry had never experienced before. Walter saw her distracted and tapped on the desk. "Come, have a seat." Berry, both nervous and excited, slowly walked toward Walter. Looking at the man who owned everything in sight, she blushed. "Mr. Lopez...


    45%


    Seeing Berry''s lovestruck expression, Walter couldn''t help but have a sh of disdain in his eyes. "When did youe back from Silverwave Bay, Ms. White?" he asked straight away.


    Snapping out of her trance from Walter''s stunning face, Berry instinctively replied, "Yvette''s family and I returned on the same day, the night of the second day of New Year."


    Walter''s gaze deepened. On the day of the annual meeting, she was still in Silverwave Bay.


    "Have you regained any memories recently?" Walter unexpectedly asked, startling Berry to her core.


    "I..." Berry hesitated for a moment and answered vaguely. "Some pictures sh by now and then. I''m not sure what they are. Those pictures feel too unfamiliar, and I don''t know if they belong to my memories or something else..." Seeing her avoid his eyes, Walter didn''t ask any more questions. He just reached out his ha phone."


    r and said, "Give me your


    Once he checked the phone, he would know if it was Berry who logged into the software that night at Silverwave Bay.


    Berry instantly panicked, her face turning a bit pale. "Mr. Lopez, that might not be a good idea."


    "Why? Is there something there I shouldn''t see?" asked Walter.


    "Mr. Lopez, you have been so good to me. Of course, I''m willing to share everything with you, but..." Berry''s pupils trembled, like a scared bird, cautious and guarded. Berry continued, "Until my memory is fully restored, there are some things I want to figure out by myself. I don''t want to have any misunderstandings with Mr. Lopez." "Alright then." Walter nced at the phone she was holding tightly. "You can leave now."


    Berry was surprised. "Mr. Lopez, you asked me here... just to see my phone?"


    "Nothing much," Walter said curtly. By this time, Brian had already opened the door, waiting for her to leave. Berry felt disgruntled and didn''t have a clue what Walter was up to, but sheplied and left.


    As she turned to leave, her eyes caught a glimpse of the photo frame on Walter''s desk, making her widen her eyes in disbelief. Brian had already approached her. "Ms. White, please.


    Berry bit her lower lip and left without looking back. No one noticed the intense jealousy brewing in her eyes.


    *****Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Shakira and Xanthe went to the cafeteria together. Xanthe, who had been feeling down all morning, suddenly perked up when they reached the cafeteria, which seemed to have dishes from all over the world.


    She craned her neck, looking around. "Oh my gosh! The cafeteria here is amazing. They have every type of cuisine, even delicacies from different countries. And wow, bird''s nest and caviar for just 30 dors? They''re living the high life!" Xanthe grabbed Shakira''s hand. "I''ve made up my mind. During my internship, I''m going to do something major."


    Shakira lifted an eyebrow. "Oh?"


    Xanthe said, "I''m going to start a vlog showing what I eat at work every day. I bet I won''t repeat a meal in three months. People online will be so envious."


    Shakira thought, ''That does sound quite ambitious.


    The two of them took seats by the window. Xanthe eagerly pulled out her phone to take some pictures. "Shakira, how''s your department?"

 Chapter 297

    Shakira waited for her to finish taking pictures and answered casually, "It''s alright. How about you?"


    Xanthe shook her head. "Not too well. That girl Fiona seems familiar to me."


    I? ? ?? 45%;


    Shakira raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to say more. But then Xanthe nearly jumped when a new message appeared on her phone.


    "What the heck? Has the Nelson family gone crazy? They''re actually starting apany for Yvette under such circumstances?" Xanthe eximed.


    Q


    45%


    Shakira''s eyes shed with a hidden gleam. When she heard Xanthe''s words, she also unlocked her phone. Sure enough, she saw the messages from Berry and the others in the ss group. It wasn''t really a chat, more like showing off. Kylie Stanton @Yvette: [Yvette, how are you doing? I heard you were hospitalized and thought it was just a rumor, but then someone from Lopez Group said you didn''t show up for the internship.]


    Berry: [Yvette is out of the hospital and will recover soon. Besides, it doesn''t really matter if she interns in the Lopez Group or not. Her family is starting a newpany for her. Being her own boss is so much better.]


    Lindsey Acosta: [What? Anotherpany? Didn''t Yvette already have an entertainmentpany?]


    Berry: [Yvette''s parents are preparing her to take over. Onepany isn''t enough. This timepany focused on beauty and skincare products.]


    Andy Calderon: [Wow! No wonder she''s a rich kid. This is fantastic!"]


    Kylie: [Beauty and skincare, huge profits right there!]


    Owen rke: [Is it toote for me to be reborn into the Nelson family?]


    ening a tech


    Berry: [Please, the Nelson family has plenty of sons and don''t need any more. There''s only one precious daughter!"


    Xanthe angrily grabbed a chicken wing and took a big bite. "Berry sure likes to suck up to Yvette, acting like she''s the one getting all the attention. Ugh, how didn''t I notice it before? She''s been hiding her true talent as a super ass-kisser!" Shakira put her phone down, already back to her usual self, and began to leisurely enjoy her lunch.


    Seeing Xanthe fuming, she couldn''t help but tease with a chuckle, "Isn''t it possible that she''s always wanted to kiss up, but you just never gave her the chance?"


    After thinking about it, Xanthe felt relieved and nodded in agreement. "That''s exactly right. She gets benefits without even trying to please me. Unlike when she is with Yvette, Berry has to work so hard as an apple polisher!"


    Shakira absentmindedly muttered, "But what does Yvette have that''s worth all that effort?" Xanthe was too busy being angry to hear her talk to herself about it.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Seeing many ssmatesing out to congratte Yvette with excessive ttery made Xanthe feel nauseated, and she mmed her phone face down.


    Xanthe was confused. "What is the Nelson family thinking? Yvette messes up everything. She can''t do anything right, yet they still pour money into her, start apany, and n to make her the heir? Aren''t they afraid they''ll sink the entire Nelson family?" Shakira wasn''t really surprised. After all, in her previous life, when her health was declining and her mind starting to wander, she had heard about Yvetteunching a beauty techpany.


    At that time, Mitchell was not in any trouble, and he used his resources to promote Yvette into the role of a beauty industry princess through his entertainmentpany.


    Felix took charge of research and development, willingly dedicating his expertise in pharmaceuticals to cosmetic science for his cherished sister.


    Yosef even served as Yvette''s legal advisor in private, safeguarding her interests.


    Finn also helped by instructing Yvette onpany management and operations. In addition, Jayden leveraged his connections to establish Yvette''spany as the most respected and safest beauty brand nationwide.


    T


    18:02


    000, 45%;


    5


    Little did she expect that Yvette would be so disreputable, yet the Nelson family was still willing to give everything for her. Xanthe couldn''t understand it, but Shakira could vaguely guess the reason.


    It was because Cody believed that Yvette brought good luck to the Nelson family; because Reba deeply loved and trusted the daughter she had raised; and because everyone in the Nelson family was blind to the truth and chose to ignore reason. If they loved spoiling Yvette so much, then let them. The more they pampered her, the harder she would fall.


    Xanthe grumbled under her breath, suddenly remembering something and angrily mming the table. "No wonder Fiona''s vibe felt so familiar. I just realized it." It finally dawned on Xanthe. "She''s basically a carbon copy of Yvette." Shakira looked at her.


    Xanthe excitedly chattered on, "We just went to the Finance Department to greet everyone, and the man assistant team leader to guide her.


    an


    "She was so snotty, boasting about her CFO past in Banks Group, saying she wasn''t under some assistant''s thumb. She even imed Mr. Lopez wanted her to run the show in Lopez Group..."


    Words slipped out of Xanthe''s mouth before she realized, and she was slow to catch on. She quickly checked Shakira''s expression. "Oh, my big mouth just can''t stop talking."


    Xanthe was extremely annoyed. "Shakira, don''t believe her bragging for a second. How could Mr. Lopez possibly trust a maniptive schemer like her?"


    With a calm expression, Shakira reassured, "I didn''t believe it."


    Xanthe leaned in closer. "Really?"


    Shakira looked up, her eyes full of sincerity, "Really."


    Xanthe leaned in so close it seemed like she wanted to inspect Shakira''s pores just to be sure.


    After staring for a long time, Xanthe said sadly, "No. You must be mad. You''re lying to me."


    Shakira didn''t know what to say. She thought, ''Alright, fine, whatever you say!''


    After being "stimted" twice in a row, Xanthe couldn''t concentrate on her meal at all. As soon as she parted ways with Shakira, she quickly took out her phone to find Walter and knelt in apology. While Xanthe was frantically typing messages to Walter, Sean was equally frantically messaging Xanthe: [Hey, it''s been days. Can you reply to me?]


    [Even a punctuation mark would do as a reply!]


    [I apologize. You''re the bigger person here. I was wrong, okay? Tonight''s blind date is with my childhood crush. If you don''te, I''m pretty sure this one is going to be a done deal!] [My queen, can you please save my life?]


    ''Morals? Dignity? When you''re backed into a corner with no way out, like me, you just let it all go!'' thought Sean.


    Little did he know that Xanthe had set his messages to silent and pinned a bunch of other chats, which effectively pushed him down. So no matter how much he texted, she wouldn''t see thing.


    Two hours passed, and still no response from Xanthe. Sean was starting to lose it. He finally understood that Xanthe hadpletely blocked him.


    "No, I can''t just sit here doing nothing." He suddenly had an idea excitedly opening the game and checking his friend list.


    111

 Chapter 298

    Chapter


    298


    Shakira was taken aback, still trying to understand why Walter was so eager to contact her. Just as she was about to click the messages from Walter, a notification from Xanthe''s message popped up, and she identally clicked on it instead. Xanthe sent a video featuring Brian in the Finance Department, looking serious as he loudly announced to everyone, "Mr. Lopez is fair and strict. He never allows anyone to get a job in thepany based just on connections.


    "If any employee privately spreads rumors about Mr. Lopez, you are encouraged to report it anonymously. Once verified, any unqualified individuals with connections will be removed from thepany immediately." Brian spoke with a force that echoed. Almost naming Fiona, who blushed with embarrassment amidst the crowd. This morning, she had bragged about being favored by Walter.


    A few hourster, Brian, Walter''s most trusted assistant, personally went to the Finance Department to clear things up. The p in the face was so loud. One could almost hear it echoing in every corner of the Finance Department. After watching the video, Shakira received another message from Xanthe: [Mr. Lopez is really something. He doesn''t give the angelic bitch a chance to cling on!]


    Shakira shook her head and chuckled.


    She reopened the chat with Walter, and sure enough, it was exining why Fiona was brought into thepany.


    It turns out that Fiona''s parents had secretly asked Benji for help, and Benji didn''t know Fiona had caused trouble at the vi, even speaking rudely and making threats, which was why the Finance Department hired her. Otherwise, Walter wouldn''t have agreed to Fiona''s involvement in thepany. Shakira noticed his growing worries through his messages. After pondering for a bit, she entered a private meeting room to call Walter. Walter picked up immediately. "Is the meeting over?"


    Shakira raised her eyebrows in surprise.


    She thought, ''He knew I was in a meeting, which indicated he had someone check up on me. Could it be that he was so concerned I might be upset for several hours?''


    Thinking about this possibility, Shakira felt as if a feather brushed her heart. It was a ticklish sensation.


    "Did Xanthe secretly inform you?" asked Shakira.


    Walter hesitated briefly. "Yes, she apologized to me, saying she expressed herself in a way that made you misunderstand."


    Shakira raised her eyes, looking at her reflection in the ss mirror before her. A smile, sweet and joyful, appeared on her lips, something she didn''t even notice.


    She exined, "I told her I wasn''t mad, but she didn''t believe me. I was in a meeting this afternoon and had my phone on silent, so you thought I was mad too."


    "I don''t think you''d get upset over something like this," said Walter.


    His response took Shakira by surprise. "Then why did you still let Brian..."


    "Just because you''re not upset this time doesn''t mean you won''t be next time. I have to prevent this kind of issue." Walter acted calm and collected. "No one else gets a chance but you."


    Shakira burst intoughter and pointed out without mercy. "You say that with so much confidence, but why did you send me so many messages at first? Was it only when you found out I was in a meeting that you calmed down?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    111


    Walter, having his true feelings exposed, was rendered speechless.


    55%


    The silence on the other end was palpable, and Shakira''sughter grew. "To make up for the forty-five minutes of anxiety you''ve endured, I''ll treat you to some delicious food tonight. Let''s have a barbecue!"


    In Rosewood Hotel, Lucy dressed up elegantly and headed to Continental Lounge. On the way, she kept looking at photos of Sean, practically imprinting his image in her memory.


    Now, as she lifted her eyes, she spotted him right away among the bustling crowd. Lucy''s eyes sparkled even more brightly.


    Sean was even more handsome and elegant in person than in photos, exuding an air of wealth and sophistication. She stared intently, making her way toward his table.


    Sean had been chatting with his old ssmate, Be Braun, who had a thing for him for ten minutes now. Her exuberance


    d warmth were making Sean feel increasingly uneasy, causing him to keep ncing at the door every few moments.


    Sean thought, ''Gosh, Xanthe won''t just leave me hanging, will she?''


    Just as he was about to lose hisposure, a gentle and soft voice with a questioning tone came through. "Sean, who is she?"


    Sean looked up happily but then froze. "You..."


    Lucy sat down right next to Sean, holding his arm tightly as if she owned the ce, and red at Be across from them. "Who are you, and why are you having dinner with my boyfriend?"


    Be was shocked. "Sean, y-you have a girlfriend now?"


    Sean was dumbfounded.


    He wondered, ''No way, where''s Xanthe? Who''s this girl?"


    As Sean tried to disengage, Lucy held him tighter. "Sean! If my cousin Xanthe hadn''t told me she saw you having dinner alone with another girl, I wouldn''t have known. Didn''t you vow to keep me in the loop?"


    Now Sean understood. He thought, ''This girl who shows up out of nowhere is Xanthe''s cousin!


    ''Xanthe didn''t want toe, so she sent her cousin to handle it?


    Sean felt suffocated and frustrated.


    Be noticed Sean wasn''t defending himself and instead looked upset, so different from the confident guy she used to have


    a crush on.


    "Sean, I didn''t expect you to be this kind of person. If I had known you had someone, I wouldn''t havee." Disappointed beyond measure, Be grabbed a ss of water and threw it in Sean''s face before leaving in anger. Lucy was taken aback. "Wow, throwing water like that is so rude. She sympathetically picked up a napkin to wipe Sean''s face. "Are you alright, Mr. Reynolds?"


    Sean gently pushed her aside, withdrawing his arm. "I''m fine." He stood up, maintaining a polite distance. "Ms. Sullivan..."


    "My name is Lucy Sullivan. You can call me Lucy, Mr. Reynolds, said Lucy.


    "Ms. Sullivan, thank you for your help today," Sean said, taking out his phone. He transferred 1,500 dors dors to Lucy. "This is your payment."


    Lucy thought, ''I just said a few words, and Sean gave me 1,500 dors? What if I be his girlfriend or even his wife?'' Lucy''s smile was hard to contain, and the greed in her eyes grew more intense.


    III


    0


    Lucy said, "It''s my pleasure. Mr. Reynolds, you''re Xanthe''s friend, so you''re my friend too. Xanthe didn''t want toe, so I''m helping out, it''s really no big deal."


    In the whole conversation, Sean only caught one piece of information. He thought, ''Xanthe didn''t want toe? How dare she!''


    Sean gave a cold smile. "It''s okay, Ms. Sullivan. You won''t be bothered like this again."


    Lucy saw the anger on his handsome face as he said this, and she felt hesitant. She wondered, ''When he mentioned Ms. Sullivan, did he mean me or Xanthe?''


    Sean no longer looked at her. "The dishes on the table are untouched. If you''re hungry, go ahead and eat. I''ve already settled the bill." With that, he walked straight out. Lucy couldn''t bear to miss this chance, so she quickly caught up. "Mr. Reynolds, I..."


    As soon as they exited the restaurant, two men in ck blocked their path. "Mr. Reynolds, Ms. Sullivan, pleasee with


    us."

 Chapter 299

    hapter 299


    Ten minutester, under the escort of the men in ck, they took the elevator to the presidential suite on the top floor of Rosewood Hotel.


    In the middle of the living room, avish sofa was upied by an elegant and sophisticated woman, though her face was filled with anger as she red at Sean, who walked in sluggishly


    Lucy felt her heart racing, curious about the woman''s identity.


    Eve grabbed the pillow next to her and tossed it at Sean''s face. "You rascal. I knew there was something fishy about how eager you were for blind dates. You were totally ying both sides behind my back! "No wonder none of them worked out. You must have been the problem all along!"


    Pretending to agree to the dates while secretly sabotaging them. It was a miracle any of them even had a shot.


    Sean caught the pillow and stopped. With a skillful move, he ced the pillow under his knees and knelt on it with a thump.


    His sliding kneel was perfectly executed. "Mom, I was wrong."


    Eve sneered, not even sparing him a look. Instead, she turned sharply toward Lucy.


    Lucy instinctively tensed, feeling incredibly guilty. "Hello, Mrs. Reynolds, I..."


    "know you, Ms. Sullivan," said Eve.


    Compared to the disdain she showed toward Sean, Eve''s tone was slightly rxed, but her face stayed stern with an authoritative look in her eyes. "You''re the one who''s been repeatedly helping my son ruin his blind dates, driving away all his potential partners." Lucy parted her lips slightly and was worried about causing trouble for herself. Just as she was about to deny it, Eve pulled out a checkbook, picked up a gold pen, and started writing with an air that left no room for refusal.


    "Sean has been on thirteen blind dates. Here''s 130 thousand dors as a fee for your efforts. After this, please don''t contact my son anymore," said Eve.


    The man dressed in ck took the check from Eve and handed it to Lucy. Lucy had never seen a check like this before, let alone received such arge amount.


    Sean gave her 1,500 dors, but Eve was even more generous. The fleeting thought of bing Sean''s girlfriend, or even his wife, had crossed her mind and now seemed more attainable, glowing with tempting allure. Lucy''s eyes showed clear signs of greed.


    She quickly stepped back, waving her hands in denial, looking at Eve with sincere eyes. "Mrs. Reynolds, you''ve misunderstood. I''m not helping Mr. Reynolds for the sake of money. I just want to help him so he won''t be troubled by this." She finished her sentence with a shy, sweet smile.


    Eve, who participated in various charitable activities, had seen that look in countless other eyes before. She blinked. "So, you''re quite the altruistic girl, aren''t you?"


    Lucy''s smile became even sweeter, tender, and gentle, giving the impression of being very close to Eve. "Mrs. Reynolds, you''re so kind, and Mr. Reynolds is so charming. If there''s anything you need, I would be more than happy to help both of you." Sean found her words a bit strange. This was the first time he''d met Lucy, and she was already acting so familiar.


    <


    19


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    Looking at her son standing there all awkward and dumbfounded, Eve felt very disdainful. She thought, ''When I was young, I was truly stunning with countless admirers, and I could always tell what they were thinking with just a nce. ''How did my son turn out like this? It must be his father affecting my excellent genes!''


    With a slight smirk, Eve said casually, "Ms. Sullivan, this is my first time meeting you, and you''re so polite."


    Lucy, believing she had left a good impression on Eve, quickly responded, "Mrs. Reynolds, I felt an instant connection with you, like you''re an aunt to me. You feel very familiar."


    Eve asked, "Oh really."


    Eve signaled to the man in ck, saying, "In that case, I''ll take back this check so as not to taint your pure


    intentions."


    Watching the check fly out of reach without even touching it, Lucy stared wistfully but still managed a slight nod. She kept convincing herself: ''It''s just 13 thousand dors. Once I be Sean''s girlfriend, there''ll surely be much more. Eve spotted all of Lucy''s subtle expressions and secretly mocked her.


    She turned her gaze back to Sean, who was kneeling on the ground, and let out a cold snort, "As for you, Sean.


    "I''ve swallowed my pride to find you so many exceptional girls, and you dare to send them all running with your tricks. Handle this mess yourself!"


    Sean replied, almost in tears, "Come on, Mom. This is just between us. Is it really necessary..."


    Eve nodded. "Of course, it''s necessary."


    Eve didn''t spare any mercy for Sean. "Your shamelessness is one thing, but don''t drag my name through the mud. If I hadn''t caught on, I''d bebeled as the mother of a brat in high society!"


    Sean thought it wasn''t a problem since he didn''t care about reputation at all. But when he nced up and saw Eve''s intense warning look, he quickly backed down.


    Sean said helplessly, "Alright, alright, whatever you say, Mom..."


    If he dared to talk back, he''d have no peace for the rest of the year.


    Eve was satisfied. "Good, it''s your promise after all."


    Eve leaned back on the couchzily. "I''m going to contact an entertainmentpany to create a dating show. You''ll be the main guy, and all these socialites you''ve let down will be the female guests to interact with you." Sean perked up his ears, feeling there was more to it. "Mom, weren''t you asking me to apologize? Bringing them on a show as my guests seems more like I''m benefiting from them."


    "What benefit? The show is for you to serve them and sincerely apologize. In the end, every one of them will turn you down, and the show will end with you staying single. It lets everyone vent, and the audience loves it!" Sean couldn''t believe his ears.


    He thought, ''Serving a group of girls and getting rejected by all of them in the end? How humiliating!


    "The worst part is, that I was not the only one at fault. All those awful ideas came from Xanthe. So why do I have to suffer alone?''


    Sean refused to give in like that, angrily standing up and marching toward Eve.


    Looking at her son towering over her, Eve raised an eyebrow. "Rebelling, are you?"


    One moment, Sean was all fierce, and the next, he was sitting beside Eve like a calm little squirrel.


    Sean said, "Mom, I have my reasons."


    Sean leaned in close to Eve''s ear, speaking softly enough just for them to hear, with a yful glint, "Actually... I''ve got someone I like." Eve''s lips twitched. "Don''t tell me it''s Ms. Sullivan."


    Sean said, "It''s her, but not exactly her."


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    11


    Sean smacked his lips. "The one who helped me before was Xanthe. She''s upset with me and didn''te this time. Instead, her cousin Lucy came."


    Eve gave Lucy, who was ncing over, a knowing look and sighed in relief, "Phew, I thought you had no interest in anyone and ended up fancying an angelic bitch."


    Sean suddenly realized. "No wonder she seemed odd, so this is what an angelic bitch feels like."Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "Don''t tell me you''re deliberately using this method to get close to that girl?" Eve snorted.


    "Only you understand me." Sean shrugged helplessly. "She doesn''t like me. I had no other choice."


    Eve smacked him on the head, feeling exasperated. "You''ve got the looks and the money. Just post selfies showing off your abs, shower her with gifts like bags and milkshakes, and asionally send her money. "Stay consistent, and even if you can''t win her heart, you''ll surely shake up her worldview gradually."


    Sean didn''t know what to say.


    He thought, ''You''re honestly like my mom!"

 Chapter 300

    Chapter


    300


    Seeing her son looking so clueless, Eve suddenly realized why he was still single despite his good looks.


    She thought, ''What''s the point of being sharp at work if his mind is nk when ites to romance? How is he supposed to win a girl''s heart like that?'' Eve rubbed her temples and let out a deep sigh.


    On the other side, Lucy couldn''t hear their conversation, so she scanned the room with her eyes.


    The luxurious suite at Rosewood Hotel, which cost a hundred thousand a night, featured baster marble floors and a dining table with a surface costing tens of thousands ording to some online videos she had seen. The floor-to-ceiling windows behind the sofa and thevish decorations from luxury brands all disyed extravagance.


    This was the kind of life Lucy never dared to dream of. Yet here it was, suddenly within her reach.


    Lucy thought, ''I''m prettier than Xanthe and way more agreeable. Why should I have less than her? Just because she was born into a rich family with a dad who knows how to make money?


    ''As long as I find a man who can earn more money, I can live more freely than Xanthe!''


    Those long-hidden greedy desires, buried deep in her heart, began to grow wildly now that they had a glimmer of hope.


    Sean stood up from where he was, and Lucy quickly hid her little thoughts, standing obediently in ce with a serene smile on her face, looking at Eve. Eve''s eyes subtly swept over Lucy''s face before pulling away. She snorted, "If you don''t like blind dates, then I''m toozy to find a match for you. Do whatever you want."


    Sean gave a deep bow. "Mom, you are so wise!"


    Eve red at him and then turned to Lucy. "Ms. Sullivan."


    Lucy quickly responded, "Mrs. Reynolds, you can just call me Lucy."


    Eve kept a distant attitude. "Ms. Sullivan, you are just here at your cousin''s request to help out. You don''t really know Sean, so there''s no need to be so familiar."


    Lucy''s expression froze, and she was visibly awkward and embarrassed.


    Eve showed little concern for protecting Lucy''s dignity, instructing the man in ck to escort her out, and then she got up to walk to her room. Sean didn''t linger either, striding outside as well.


    Lucy felt a panic in her chest and quickly followed. "Mr. Reynolds, I..."


    Sean turned back with an impatient frown. "Didn''t I give you money? Why are you following me? Just take a cab home on your own."


    Lucy watched the elevator doors close in front of her, pinching her palm hard, her gaze turning cold with unwillingness.


    *****


    -The next day, Shakira had just arrived at her cubicle when Benton announced that everyone should meet in the conference room. As an intern, Shakira sat in the back row. Shortly after, Quincy, Larry, and Rachel followed the three leaders into the room.


    Larry and Rachel casually took the empty seats beside her, while Quincy just nced at them and went straight to the position behind the main seat in the second row.


    BB


    54%


    Shortly after Charles hurried in, Quincy promptly stood up to pull out a chair for him.


    His attentive gesture caught Benton''s eye, who gave a half-smile and joked with the leader of the second team, David Harris, "David, your intern sure knows the ropes well."


    Quincy cracked a smile, but David''s face turned serious. He couldn''t stand people like Benton, who never worked hard and only knew how to butter people up, and he wasn''t too impressed with Quincy''s little schemes either. Charles started the meeting. "Time is limited. Let''s move quickly. Each team gives a quick update on this week''s progress."


    The team leaders took turns giving brief reports. When they finished, Charles turned to Benton, "How''s Communication with Norpa Technology going? The Research Department is still waiting for our draft proposal." Benton said, "They just finished their meeting yesterday, but I haven''t received thetest updates yet..."


    Benton quickly looked at Maris, who felt a bit guilty. "I assigned the new intern to take care of the meeting notes and recording updates."


    Now, everyone''s eyes were on Shakira. Quincy looked on, clearly enjoying the moment, waiting for Shakira to embarrass herself. I was only her first day, and she was already in such a spotlight. Surely, she wasn''t ready for this. Shakira stood up, took out a document from the folder she had brought, and handed it directly to Benton.


    "I''ve prepared all the minutes from yesterday''s meeting in a document, but due to limited time, there''s only one copy avable right now," said Shakira.


    As soon as Benton received it, his boss, Charles, said, "Let me take a look."


    Benton held it with both hands as he handed it over, but couldn''t help saying, "Mr. Gordon, the neer might not have done it perfectly. Should I review it myself and report back to youter?"


    "Oh, Benton, I almost thought you were protecting your subordinate. You are not taking it seriously yourself and trying to cram at thest minute," David said with a mocking tone.


    Benton was so angry that he red at David twice.


    Charles opened the document to the first two pages.


    Everyone in the conference room had different expressions. Beside her, Rachel and Larry looked worried about Shakira, while most others were waiting to see the drama unfold, especially David, who was eager to watch the show. David thought, ''Yesterday, when we were vying for the interns, Benton said it was a crucial project. But now he didn''t go himself and sent his subordinates instead. Any minor mistake, and he''s in trouble!''


    Charles''s brows knitted tighter and tighter. He lifted his head with intensity in his eyes.


    He stared directly at Shakira. "Are you saying youpleted this document by yourself?"


    To the people there, it seemed like he was about to start an interrogation.


    Without hesitation, Shakira replied, "Yes."


    Charles nodded, closed the file, and handed it back to Benton.


    Benton was anxious. "Mr. Gordon, I..."


    "What?" Charles snorted. "You''re lucky that you chose a talented intern."


    Benton, expecting a reprimand, waspletely stunned. "Huh?"


    54%


    He quickly opened the document Shakira had prepared, skimmed through it fast, and immediately started grinning with joy.


    Benton praised, "Wow, Shakira, you did a great job with this summary. Not only did you organize everything, but you also connected it with the previous progress in a detailed overview. I get the general idea at just a nce!" Benton was beaming with pride. "Impressive! You''re a promising talent. As expected of Crescentville University''s top student!"


    Shakira remained calm andposed. "Thank you for your praise."


    Benton patted her on the shoulder, inviting her to sit, and noticed the envious looks of David and others. He felt even more smug. "Thest intern this outstanding was Ms. Palmer, who came from a branch office back in the day, right?" David sneered, "Ms. Palmer is one of the fastest-rising stars in ourpany. Benton, you''re really boosting your own imageText ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    here."


    Benton leisurely sat back in his chair with a chuckle, boasting openly, "Young people have endless potential. She''s definitely better than the intern in your team who just does waiter tasks."


    David was rendered speechless.


    So was Quincy.

 Chapter 301

    Seeing George''s smug look, Charles shook his head. Suddenly, he thought of something and asked, "George, what is Shakira handling in your team now?"


    George responded cheerfully, "Mr. Gordon, Shakira is still getting used to things. Give it a few days, and I''ll evaluate her abilities before assigning her new tasks."


    Charles said, "You''re just wasting time. I think Shakira should participate in the Norpa project, not as an intern, but as a full-fledged team member."


    As soon as he said this, many in the meeting room gasped. They thought, ''Shakira will be promoted to a full team member after only two days of internship? Normally, it will take at least a three-month transition period.'' Everyone was curious and wondered, ''It''s just some meeting follow-up material. How impressive could Shakira be?'' As for David and the other team leaders, they looked at George with so much envy.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    If George hadn''t spoken up first yesterday, Shakira would have joined their team. Grinning, George quickly said, "Alright, we''ll go with Mr. Gordon''s decision."


    He winked at Shakira. "Aren''t you going to thank Mr. Gordon for the promotion?"


    Charles said to Shakira, "Don''t listen to George; I don''t need ttery. At Lopez Group, we let ability speak for itself. Keep up the good work."


    Shakira nodded seriously. "Got it, Mr., Gordon."


    After the meeting ended, everyone left the room. Quincy tried to join David''s team, but David just told him to go to the warehouse to organize the files.


    Quincy got upset with displeasure. As he turned back, he casually noticed Shakira walking behind him and angrily red at her. Shakira paid no attention.


    Rachel and Larry walked over. Rachel admired Shakira and spoke with her pen in a mechanical voice, "Larry and I were worried about you, but we shouldn''t have been. You''re amazing. Even the strict Mr. Gordon praised you and promoted you to a team member."


    Larry looked cold, but he had a calming warmth in his voice. "It''s clear Mr. Gordon really appreciates you."


    Shakira curled her lips into a smile, "Thanks."


    "You don''t have to be so polite with us; we''re all interns here. We can help each other out if needed." Rachel''s face looked shy, but when she smiled, her cheeks showed adorable dimples.


    Shakira nodded. "Alright." Noticing their closeness, she asked, "Did you know each other before joining the Lopez Group?"


    Larry answered honestly, "Rachel and I are neighbors; we grew up together."


    Rachel moved closer, and spoke with the pen, "Let''s go to the cafeteria for lunch. I won a free meal yesterday. It''s on me today."


    Shakira blinked and said, "I have another friend. I wonder if she can join us for a free meal?"


    Rachel''s eyes sparkled even more. "Sure. Shakira''s friend is very wee."


    Shakira sent a message to Xanthe, and the four of them gathered at a table. The lively and straightforward Xanthe got along with the shy and sweet Rachel immediately. Both liked to gossip chatting away non-stop.


    0


    3


    54%


    Larry would asionally join in with a fewments, while Shakira just listened quietly, enjoying the gossip as she ate.


    In the afternoon, Shakira returned to work, and Maris came over a bit nervously. "Shakira, I''m d you did well during yesterday''s meeting, or our team would have been in trouble."


    Maris, still a bit shaken, felt somewhat guilty thinking back to how cold she had been towards Shakira.


    "I''ve sent you all the information on the Norpa project. Take a look, and feel free to ask me if you have any questions. We''ll handle this project together from now on," Maris said.


    Shakira sensed Maris''s attempt to curry favor with her and politely epted before getting back to work


    There was a wee party for the month''s new employees this evening. Several department heads had arranged a venue, and everyone gathered to celebrate.


    Shakira understood she couldn''t avoid the event. Before leaving she sent Walter a message telling him to have dinner without waiting for her. However, he didn''t reply, and Shakira guessed he was probably busy. When Shakira arrived at thepany''s open-air barbecue area, she noticed the understated yet prestigious Maybach parked across the artificialke and felt nervous.


    The colleagues around said in amazement, "Wow, someone actually drove a Maybach into this ce. Whose car could it be?"


    "It has a special license te number. Could it be Mr. Lopez''s car?" one man said.


    "Are you crazy? There''s no way Mr. Lopez would show up at our newbie wee party; it''s probably some top executive''s car," another man said.


    "You don''t know, do you? There''s gossip that Mr. Lopez has a girlfriend within ourpany," a woman said.


    "Didn''t Brian personally debunk that rumor yesterday? Yet you still believe it?" another woman asked.


    "You''re behind on the gossip. Brian debunked the rumor about Ms. Banks bragging about her closeness with Mr. Lopez, It turns out, Mr. Lopez''s girlfriend is someone else," the woman said.


    "Oh my gosh, does that mean Mr. Lopez''s girlfriend is one of us one asked.


    The gossip was in full swing when Xanthe whispered in Shakira''s ear, "Isn''t she among us?"


    Shakira shivered slightly and gave Xanthe a reproachful look, who was smug because she knew the biggest secret. Shakira asked her, "Did you tell him yesterday?"


    Xanthe, who had been subtly helping Walter, quickly changed the topic. "Hey, why isn''t the moon out tonight? Where is it?"


    Shakira thought, ''With such a big moon overhead, are you blind?''


    Before Shakira could question her again, Xanthe quickly invited Rachel and Larry to go for a barbecue,pletely blocking Shakira''s chance to get answers.


    After dinner, colleagues gathered in small groups to drink and y games. Maris invited some people from Norpa to join in. When it was time for games, she called Shakira over, "Shakira,e join us. The more, the merrier." Shakira was about to refuse, but Xanthe saw Berry standing with people from Norpa. She immediately linked her arm with Shakira''s and approached with a sweet smile, "Sure. Can I y too?"


    Shakira didn''t say anything.


    Maris paused for a moment and said, "Uh, sure."


    BB


    54% +5


    Xanthe, the friendly one, pulled Shakira down to sit. "What are we ying?"


    "Never Have I Ever," a girl from Norpa exined the rules, "Everyone has five chances to say something they''ve done that others might not have."


    "If someone hasn''t done it, he folds down a finger. If they have, the person who said it folds down a finger. Whoever folds all five fingers first has to ept a punishment set by the person with the fewest fingers folded," the girl added.


    Xanthe smiled, "No problem." Then she leaned in to whisper to Shakira, "Shakira, it''s two against one. We have to take down that little brat." Shakira didn''t know what to say.


    Berry felt Xanthe''s icy re. She quickly took the lead and said, "I''ll go first." She held up five fingers, her eyes twinkling with a hint of unintended pride. "I...once called Briante at night."


    0

 Chapter 302

    As soon as she said that, a cold gleam flickered in Shakira''s eyes Berry''s self-revealing words shocked everyone present.


    "Call Brian in the middle of the night? Even the top executives won''t dare to do that, one said.


    "How could the top executives be like Berry? They contact Brian for business reasons, while Berry must have private matters," a girl said.


    Those who were in the loop exchanged knowing nces and smiled. Some were puzzled. "Huh? What does that mean? Did I miss something?" "You didn''t know? Berry is..." the girl said.


    As everyone started making various assumptions, Berry''s face flushed, and she quickly interrupted in a clear voice, "Let''s concentrate on ying the game, okay? I''m ready to go all out to avoid getting a punishment." "Yeah, yeah. We haven''t done what you did. We all have to fold down a finger, huh?" Others ttered Berry.


    Berry''s face showed growing arrogance. She unconsciously nced at Shakira, noticing she seemed unbothered, and Berry secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    Xanthe was still confused. "Wait, are you saying that people in the Lopez Group are so snobbish? Just because she called Brian and now she gets so much attention?"


    Shakira softly reminded, "Those girls are from Norpa, not the Lopez Group."


    Xanthe said, "I knew it. They''re so inexperienced." She knew it wasn''t the right ce to make a scene, so she dared to whisper softly into Shakira''s ear.


    Shakira was nomittal, and after Berry, the other two girls also shared their stories. Then it was Xanthe''s turn. She said, "I once lost over 1200 thousand dors in a day in La Vido."


    The table went silent as everyone quietly folded down their fingers. No one had that kind of loss. Xanthe, cheerful, signaled that it was now Shakira''s turn.


    Berry was anxious and unsure if Shakira would mimic her and mention something about her rtionship with Mr. Lopez.


    Shakira''s gaze coldly swept over Berry, who had unconsciously bitten her lower lip. She spoke slowly, "I''vee first in my grade three times at Crescentville University."


    Everyone gasped, nervously folding down their fingers. Being first in the grade was good enough, and three times was impressive. Berry let out a big sigh of relief as long as Shakira didn''t mention Mr. Lopez.


    "Berry, it''s your turn." A group of girls eagerly waited to hear Berry spill the gossip; they were more excited than anyone else. Berry thought for a moment, blushing a bit. "There''s someone I like on the top floor of the Lopez Group building." Once again, Berry''s revtion sent everyone into a cheering frenzy.


    "Who could it be? There are only a few guys who work on the top floor," a girl said.


    "Who else could it be, but..." another girl said.


    "Wait. Shakira, why didn''t you fold down your finger?" someone noticed keenly, pointing out the obvious. Berry tensed up. Unlike Berry''s act of innocence, Shakira openly admitted, "The person I like is on the top floor too." "Wow! Also on the top floor? Could it be that you both like the same person? Could it be any more dramatic?" a girl asked.


    1UT Thu Nov 20, VELA


    I thought this game was being, but now I realize my previoup of friends his didn''t me how to y This is incredibly exciting another ghi said.


    Shakira just sandled without saving anything, while Berry stood there with a stiff smile. She was almost terrified after blurting out without thinking, giving Shakira a chance to take advantage Xanthe picked up on the implication and started to get angry. Berry out of her mind? What does the even mean? The person she''s talking about couldn''t possibly be Mr. Lopez, could n Shakira didn''t care. Whatever."


    "Yeah, let her say whatever. Mr. Lopez would never like her anyway. But this is so irritating, Xanthe rolled up her sleeves in frustration.


    As the hubbub grew, quite a few colleagues gathered around. After learning about the whole story, everyone looked at Berry with eyes full of curiosity and something more meaningful.


    By now, the game had taken a new turn. Everyone casually said something, waiting for it toe back to Berry and Shakira. for some exciting news.


    This time, it was Shakira''s turn again. She looked at ease and said, "I won first ce in the Yonder Digital designpetition."


    "What? You''re the designer who got copied but still managed to seed?" one man asked.


    "Wow. I remember when that went viral on social media. The first-ce winner''sst name was Nelson, and that was you," a girl said.


    "Oh my goodness, Shakira! What else are you the top in? Just tell us everything all at once so you can win the game," another girl asked.


    Shakira didn''t respond and calmly stared at Berry, "It''s your turn"


    "I..." Berry stammered.


    Xanthe couldn''t tolerate Berry''s pretense anymore and impulsively said, "Just tell us whatever you know about the top floor already. This game is just an excuse for you totch onto that person''s fame." Berry shivered suddenly. "I didn''t."


    A few girls from the Norpa immediately stood up for her. "What are you doing? Berry hanging out with the top floor guy is making you jealous?"


    "Huh? Why would I be jealous of her?" Xanthe asked.


    Xanthe felt likeughing at this and lifted her chin arrogantly.


    "I would be too embarrassed to even mention those two things she talked about. ying this game, she wants others to know about her rtionship with the top-floor guy. What does it have to do with me?" Xanthe said.


    A few girls wanted to argue back, but after carefully thinking about what Xanthe said, they were left speechless and began to feel that Xanthe might actually have a point.


    In the game, everyone talked about their own business, but Berry kept hinting at her "close rtionship" with Mr. Lopez. When the girls looked at her curiously, Berry panicked right away.


    "I just didn''t want to lose and get punished. I wasn''t sure if I could say this, but if it made you unhappy, I apologize," she quickly said.


    17:01 Thu, Nov 28 DB.


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    Berry acted like she wasdeeply wronged, then got up hurriedly and stumbled away, looking very upset. The girls felt guilty.


    "Great, you pissed Berry off. Happy now?" a girl asked.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    "I''m not ying anymore. It''s just no fun," another girl said.


    Berry ran off in a panic, so there wasn''t any gossip to watch, and everyone scattered. Xanthe snorted, "She tries to be sneaky right under my nose. It won''t happen." Shakiraughed and shook her head, sipping some drinks.


    Just then, they heard a noise not too far away. Rachel and Larryqueezed through the crowd and sat down next to them. Xanthe stretched her neck curiously. "What''s happening over there? It got lively all of a sudden."


    Larry handed a tissue to Rachel to wipe away the sweat. "Benji and Mr. White areing, so everyone is going over to toast with them."


    Just as he finished speaking, Shakira''s phone vibrated. Benji sent a message: [Shakira, help me!]

 Chapter 303

    Chapter 303 70%


    Shakira sent a question mark. Benji replied, (Shakira, I really didn''t know Fiona was so bold to run to the vi and provoke you like that. I would have never let her into thepany if I had known.JText ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Who would have guessed Fiona would go around saying she got in through Walter''s connections? Now Walter wants to get rid of her, and maybe me too.]


    Thinking about those miserable months sent off to the northeast, Benji decided to ask Shakira for help this time. Otherwise, he might get sent to the Abyssal Rift of Zulutha next time. Shakira sighed: I know, it''s not your fault. I''ll have a word with Walter.]


    Benji sent several crying emojis: [Shakira, whether I get out of this alive is up to you.]


    Shakira''s lips twitched despite herself. While everyone was distracted by Benji, Shakira checked the time and told Xanthe and the others, "I need to head home early. You guys have fun."


    She turned to Larry, "Could you help take Xanthe and Rachel hometer?"


    Larry nodded earnestly. "Sure, I will."


    Rachel was surprised. "Shakira, it''s only eight-thirty."


    Shakira gathered her things. "Sorry, but we turn in by ten at my house."


    Rachel''s round eyes widened in shock. Xanthe took a big sip of her sweet cocktail, wiped her mouth, and chuckled, "You don''t understand. She''s kept on a tight leash by her boyfriend at home." "Oh. Shakira has a boyfriend," Rachel said with her talking pen in surprise.


    Being a reliable best friend, Xanthe didn''t spill any more secrets and continued sipping her drink. She thought, ''So sweet and delicious.


    Shakira quietly went away from the quieter side of the grass field. ncing at the Maybach across the artificialke, Shakira smiled happily.


    Just as she walked around a bush, a middle-aged man with a big belly appeared, rustling through the underbrush.


    Smelling of strong alcohol, he stared at Shakira''s face for a while and then chuckled, "Are you the new intern that Charles praised?"


    Watching him stagger towards her, Shakira frowned, "And you are...?"


    "The most important project under Charles''s supervision is approved by me. So, who do you think I am?" the man asked. Shakira noticed his obviously smug expression and smiled slightly, "The project manager, Ted." Ted''s smile grew wider, "Such a smart girl. No wonder Charles has praised you so much."


    He walked to Shakira and was less than an arm''s length away from her. Ted''s heart was stirred by her beautiful, exquisite face, now more alluring than ever.


    "Smart girl, since you''re so clever, you should know how to make choices that will let you get promoted..." As speaking, he smiled and reached his hand towards Shakira''s chest.


    Shakira''s eyes turned icy cold as she was about to make a move when suddenly, a bright light shed around her. She squinted slightly, and the interruption left Ted baffled, causing him to turn his head in confusion.


    70%


    The next moment, the Maybach with its headlights on roared to life, speeding across the grass straight towards Ted.


    Ted, half-drunk, suddenly snapped awake in fear. His feet moved faster than his brain, and he ran frantically to the side.


    But the high-performance Maybach quickly changed direction, continuing to chase after him.


    Ted ran under arge tree, trapped by waist-high thorn bushes on both sides, with nowhere to escape. "No! Help! Somebody help!" he shouted.


    The Maybach shot forward like an arrow while he screamed and clutched his head, hitting the target precisely.


    With the loud noise of tires screeching on the grass, Ted opened his sweat-drenched eyes and found the hood of the Maybach just inches from his knees.


    Ted''s legs gave way, causing him to fall to his knees on the car''s hood.


    The ring white headlights illuminated an angry and authoritative man seated in the back of the Maybach. He seemed like a demon from hell, with chilly eyes gazing at Ted as if he were a corpse.


    Cold sweat from fear trickled down Ted''s back; tears and snot unintentionally streamed down his face, and his legs felt an unsettling chill.


    "Mr. Lopez!" He couldn''t fathom what he had done wrong to provoke this man so much that he nearly got run over by a car.


    He couldn''t figure out any reason, and just then, Shakira walked over. She quietly nced at Ted, who was scared to death and noticed the dark stains between his legs, frowning with disdain. Before Ted could speak, Brian, sitting in the passenger seat, had already gotten out of the car.


    He respectfully lowered his head to Shakira, took the reusable bag from her hand, and opened the car door for her.


    Seeing Brian, a top aide in thepany, do these things for Shakira, Ted thought of something terrifying.


    Shakira got into the car with her head down, while Walter pulled her into his arms from where she was sitting at the edge. It was an act of asserting authority.


    Ted was so shocked that he raised his hand and pped his face. "Damn it. I''m so stupid. I got drunk and disrespected Mr. Lopez''s girlfriend. I made a horrible mistake."


    Inside the car, Walter''s cold, deep voice came out. "Yes, you did."


    Ted''s massive body trembled, and with a bitter expression, he didn''t dare to move.


    Shakira was worried he''d cause a scene and alert everyone at thepany. She whispered, "Let''s head back. He didn''t even touch me, and he''s all dirty now..." Walter gently squeezed her finger and said casually, "If he had touched you, he''d be a goner by now."


    Ted thought, "Thank goodness! My arms were too short to reach her.


    Walter didn''t say another word, and Brian turned around to get in the car. Just before leaving, he nced at Ted and said, "HR will contact you tomorrow." They drove the Maybach smoothly backed up and drove away.


    It took Ted quite a while to process everything, then he dropped to his knees on the grass.


    His phone buzzed in his pocket. When he answered, it was Quincy eagerly asking, "Ted, did you get her? Didn''t I set you up with a nice girl this time?" 17:01 Thu. Nov 28


    Ted''s chest heaved wiffrang "Idiot! Quincy, you almost got me killed!"


    Looking out from the car, the streetlights outside flickered between bright and dim.


    K$70%


    Shakira looked at his striking face, handsome whether he was in the light or dark. A thought crossed her mind, and she leaned forward to nt a kiss on Walter''s cheek. Walter was caught off guard and looked at her deeply. He moved the siding, leaning towards her. Shakira quickly conceded. "Hey, hold on. I just wanted a quick kiss." Walter''s words were lost as they kissed. "Well, I want a quick kiss o


    Shakira couldn''t talk and thought, "This isn''t just a quick kiss; it a deep one.

 Chapter 304

    Walter timed his retreat perfectly, just within the limits Shakira could ept. Her cheeks were flushed red, tinged with a beautiful Inue.


    The previous coldness and ruthlessness she showed while punishing Ted had nowpletely turned into gentle affection.


    He held her shoulders, allowing her to rest against his chest and breathe steadily. Shakira yed with the special gold button on his shirt. "What made you think toe over?* Walter answered honestly. "I was worried you might drink tonight; I couldn''t stop worrying."


    "Well, alright. I only had a little bit," she insisted, defending her innocence.


    Walter raised his eyebrows. "Are you sure it''s not because you knew I was here, so you didn''t dare to drink more?"


    Shakira thought, ''Does he really need to be so blunt? That''s kind of harsh!


    Shakira paused for a moment, remembering Benji had pleaded with her for help. "Benji just messaged me an apology. I''ve decided to forgive him."


    Walter smirked. "He knows how to get away with things."


    Shakira found his remark amusing. "Is it possible that you''re just being strict as a big brother? It''s not really a big issue, so you don''t have to be so critical."


    "If I hadn''t handled it in time, who can assure this wouldn''t have caused a rift between us?" Walter said coldly.


    If Shakira had been more spoiled or unreasonable, and if they hadn''t always opted to talk things out, Fiona''s presence would have been an unpredictable ticking time bomb between them.


    Shakira reflected and said, "Even if something happens, Benji isn''t really at fault. The real culprit is Fiona."


    "Fiona is evil, while Benji is just stupid," Walter said, not hiding his disdain.


    From his tone, Shakira could tell he was genuinely angry. No wonder Benji came to her for help; he must have realized he messed up this time.


    Shakira blinked yfully and asked, "So, are you not nning to forgive Benji?"


    Before Walter could answer, she sighed dramatically, as if she had no other choice, "Looks like I''ll have to apologize to him after all. He begged me for so long, saying you''d listen to me. But it turns out he overestimated me." Walter gave her nose a yful poke, seeing through her instantly. "You little fox, trying to set a trap for me?"


    Shakira stuck out her tongue, her bright eyes sparkling mischievously. "This trap is designed just for you, sir. Are you going to fall for it or not?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    Walter tenderly held her captivating face and leaned down to kiss her again. "How could I possibly turn down your request?" After Walter left with Shakira, the others, including Benji all departed about half an hourter. As the key figures left the scene and they had worked the next day, everyone decided to wrap it up for the night.


    Larry didn''t drink any alcohol, and Rachel obediently sipped on juice. Only Xanthe enjoyed a few cocktails, getting slightly tipsy. The two of them decided to hail a cab to take Xanthe home.


    Once they got there, Rachel had already fallen asleep. Larry took off his jacket to cover her and asked the driver to wait. He helped Xanthe out of the car.


    17:01 Thu, Nov 28 D.


    It waste at night, and since it was Larry''s first time in this neighborhood, he was unsure of the building numbers. He steadied Xanthe against a wall and gently tapped her cheek. "Which building is yours?" 70%


    Xanthe squinted her eyes and mumbled something. He couldn''t quite catch what she said, so when he leaned closer to hear her better.


    Just then, he heard hurried footstepsing from behind. Reading quickly, he spun around while holding Xanthe halfway.


    At that moment, he finally saw who was the person. Larry was slightly taken aback as the man had appeared on the covers of financial magazines multiple times-the entrepreneur of the year.


    It was Sean, the leader of Yonder Digital. Frowning, Larry looked at him warily, "Mr. Reynolds, what are you trying to do?"


    Sean noticed Xanthe, who was nearly copsing into Larry''s arms and stumbling unsteadily. His usuallyposed face turned serious immediately. He asked Larry, "Hand her over."


    With a tense expression, Larry was about to confront Sean when Xanthe suddenly opened her eyes.


    She looked at Larry, then at Sean, and quickly regained her bnce. In a few steps, she walked up to Sean and pped the back of his head. The p echoed loudly. Larry and Sean were both surprised.


    Sean grabbed Xanthe''s hand and pulled her into his arms, gritting his teeth. "You crazy woman, I''m helping you and you hit


    me?"


    "Of course I hit you!" Xanthe retorted confidently, "Not only did you bully me, but you also picked on my coworker. I''m not a pushover."


    "Even if you''re a pushover, you''re a dangerous one," Sean retorted, holding his head in frustration.


    Xanthe ignored him, her face puffed up with anger. When she looked at Larry, she was all smiles, "Larry, I''m home now. You guys should go back and drive safely." After saying this, she let out a loud belch that nearly knocked Sean out.


    Larry gave her a serious look for a few moments before nodding. "Alright, get some rest. See you tomorrow."


    "Bye," Xanthe continued waving with a smile, even after Larry got into the car.


    Sean put down her arm, quite annoyed. "That skinny twig can run with the wind. Do you really think you can lean on him without squashing him t?"


    Xanthe instantly wore a fierce face, her big, bright eyes staring at him without blinking. Sean was startled. "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    "Why are you here?" she asked. "You have the nerve to ask. I''ve been calling and messaging you with no reply. Do you know how hard it was to find you?" Sean said.


    "Why should I respond to you? We''re over!" Xanthe said. "You think it''s over just because you say so? No way," Sean said.


    Sean nced at her, noticing her ring at him fiercely. It felt kind of funny. He thought he''d be angry seeing her when he was on his way here.


    But when he actually saw Xanthe, he found it pretty amusing. Sean thought, ''She looks like a drunken fool. It is quite entertaining.


    Sean smiled, and just as he was about to speak, a sharp pain shot up from his left foot. His face twisted because of the pain. 17:01 Thu, Nov 28BB.


    Xanthe stomped on Sears fancy handmade leather shoe twice. The pain sent Sean sprawling to the ground.


    "Xanthe! You crazy woman!" Sean said. "Wrong. I''m your master


    Xanthe safel


    70%8


    Xanthe looked up, ignoring his cries, and strutted back to her huge. She thought, I didn''t teach him a lessonst time, but this time is satisfying.


    Sean stayed put, clutching his foot. He bit his lip hard to avoid crying out loud. If someone recognized him, it would be too embarrassing.


    Enrique, who heard a gut-wrenching cry, came to the foyer in time to see his daughter returning. Confused, he peeked outside. "Sweetheart, did someone scream outside? The voice sounded oddly familiar..." Xanthe nudged Enrique back in. "Probably some unlucky guy fell t on his face. Ignore it." "Alright, alright, Enrique said.


    The next day, as soon as Shakira arrived at the office, she overheard some gossip. "Did you hear? Ted from the project department got fired," someone said.

 Chapter 305

    "What? Ted has worked for a long time in thepany and was one of the main leaders of the smart project." one said.


    "Once this project kicks off, he''s bound to be a big star in thepany, potentially getting a promotion. Why would thepany let him go..." he asked.


    "The version I heard is that Ted ticked off Mr. Lopez. Even the project department couldn''t save him, and it was Brian who personally went to deliver the order," another man said. "Great. I''ve heard that Ted has been abusing his power because he''s been with thepany for a long time and has a high position," a woman said.


    "He bullies his subordinates and is always getting handsy with female colleagues. Losing his job is his karma," the woman added.


    Shakira put her belongings down and went to the break room to make some coffee. Quincy looked utterly lost and worn


    out.


    Hearing the noise, Quincy turned around and met the clear eyes of Shakira. His hand, which was pouring hot water, suddenly jerked, and boiling water sshed onto the back of his hand. Quincy cried out, holding his quickly reddening hand.


    Shakira frowned, pulled him over to the sink, turned on the faucet, and said curtly, "Cold water for 20 minutes."


    Quincy was trembling, not knowing if it was from pain or fear. With cold water rushing over his hand, he kept his head down, not daring to look at Shakira again.


    Shakira didn''t want to argue with him anymore. She made her coffee and turned to leave.


    Just as she was about to step out of the break room, a faint voice came from behind. "Shakira, are you really dating Mr.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Lopez?"


    Shakira stopped. She nced at him, her cool face showing no expression as she asked, "What''s your rtionship with Ted, the project manager?"


    Quincy was like a deer in headlights. "How did you know?" Realizing he had let something slip, Quincy quickly covered his mouth, looking utterly terrified.


    Shakira understood. "No wonder Ted got in touch with me. It was because of you."


    "No, this has nothing to do with me. It was Ted''s wrongdoings that caught up to him, and Mr. Lopez just happened to catch him this time. It''s not my fault," Quincy said. Quincy babbled incoherently, clearly terrified, and quickly ran away without looking back.


    Shakira also left the break room and returned to her desk.


    After they left, the door of a nearby emergency exit quietly opened, and Berry silently stepped out: She had heard about what happened to Ted from the manager earlier that morning.


    Tond a deal with the Lopez Group, they worked hard on Ted, howering him with gifts and even sending a young woman from the PR department.


    Unexpectedly, Ted got fired, and all their efforts were in vain.


    Berry wasn''t initially interested in this matter, but upon learning that Tim was punished because of Shakira, she felt uneasy


    Fri, Nov 29 B BO


    1972%


    She thought, ''Shakira is so greedy. She''s got Mr. Lopez all smitten, even leading to the dismissal of veteran employees without hesitation.


    ''Isn''t this harming Mr. Lopez''s good name? If it were up to me, I''d be thoughtful enough to ensure the Lopez Group wouldn''t lose such experienced employees.


    A wave of jealousy surged through Berry, and at that moment, her phone kept buzzing with notifications.


    "Go to hell": [Not answering my calls? You are tough now.]


    "Go to hell": [You think you can shake me off like this? Don''t forget. For those three years, you were kneeling like my dog every day. If I could make you kneel for three years, I can make you kneel for a lifetime.] "Go to hell": [Just wait. I''ll find you soon. Haha!]


    Seeing the messages pop up one after another, the dark and humiliating memories she had buried deep in her mind surged forth like a flood.


    Berry got goosebumps as nausea swelled in her chest. She clenched her teeth and shut off her phone decisively, her eyes filled with a furious red.


    Meanwhile, Ted, defeated and downcast, came to sign thepensation contract in the finance department. Once he entered the office, his colleagues started discussing it.


    Xanthe drank quite a bitst night and had a terrible headache.


    Her memories fromst night were a bit confused. She thought, "Did I see Sean and stomp on his shoe? Whether it was real or a dream, it was amazing!''


    While massaging her sore temples, she opened the spreadsheet. The team leader had given her a task before she left work yesterday, and she hadpleted half of it. She needed to finish the rest and submit it before noon. However, when Xanthe opened the document, she was stunned for almost two minutes at the sight of the nk page. "Where''s my spreadsheet?" she asked.


    Xanthe couldn''t believe her eyes. She closed the document and opened it again. It was still nk.


    She thought, ''Where is the half I did yesterday? How does everything vanish? I did it in my dream? Xanthe started to panic. "No, I remember saving it..."


    A coworker noticed her distress and kindly reminded her, "Steven is very strict with new staff. You should redo it quickly." Xanthe was on the brink of tears. "But even if I redo it now, I won''t finish in time. I''ll exin to Steven..."


    The coworker looked at her sympathetically, "Don''t do that. If he finds out you lost half the work because you didn''t save it, he''ll be even angrier. That''s a rookie mistake. It''s better to just say you haven''t started it..." Since Xanthe couldn''t submit it on time, it was best toe up with an excuse that didn''t sound as bad.


    Xanthe felt like banging her head against the wall. Staring at the empty spreadsheet, her mind was nk, and she had no clue where to start.


    She was at a loss when she heard a female voice behind her. "Did Steven ask you to reviewst year''s financial statements? Xanthe whipped around and said, "Fiona, it''s you?"


    Fiona gave her a friendly smile, "I''m working on the second half of the year. Since it needs to be integrated with the first half report, I''ve already done some of it. If you don''t mind. I can share what I''ve done with you. 16.17 Fri, Nov 29 BBO


    1872%


    Xanthe was skeptical and didn''t believe Fiona was being genuinely kind. Although Fiona was easygoing, Xanthe wasn''t convinced since there was no real friendship in the workce, and she doubted Fiona would help her without a reason.


    0


    Fiona could clearly see the caution in her eyes and gently bit her lip. "I know you''re Shakira''s best friend. I made mistakes before and now I regret them deeply. I''ve realized how unfair I was to Shakira, so I want to make things right." She willingly handed over the USB drive. "I''m giving you my copy. It''s up to you whether you want to use it or not, but I''m just following my heart and doing what I feel is right."


    Without caring if Xanthe epted it or not, Fiona left the item and walked away without any hesitation.


    Xanthe was puzzled, wondering what was going on with Fiona.


    She opened the USB drive and looked at the detailed reports inside, then found Fiona''s profile on thepany chat app and sent her a private message.


    Xanthe: [I used your stuff. Give me your Venmo, and I''ll pay for you.]


    Fiona: [No need. I don''t need the money.]


    For the first time being refused a money transfer, Xanthe was left speechless.


    0

 Chapter 306

    It was lunchtime, and Shakira and her friends were waiting for Xanthe in their usual spot in the cafeteria.


    Usually, Xanthe was the first to arrive to grab a seat and fret over what to eat that day. But today, after waiting for about fifteen minutes, Xanthe still hadn''t shown up.


    Rachel tilted its head and took out her talking pen. "Isn''t Xanthe having lunch today?" Shakira tried to call Xanthe. She dialed twice, but there was no answer. It was the first time she couldn''t reach Xanthe.


    Shakira stood up, "You guys eat first, I''m going to check the finance department." Rachel and Larry exchanged a nce. "I''ll go too."


    Larry walked over to the takeout area. "You guys go ahead, I''ll pack some food for her and bring it overter." Shakira nodded. "Okay."


    Many employees brought their lunches. By the time Shakira got to the finance department, many were eating at their desks, asionally ncing in one direction. As Shakira arrived, she faintly heard yellinging from a nearby cubicle. She frowned and asked a colleague near the entrance, "Excuse me, is Xanthe here?" The colleague looked surprised. "You''re looking for Xanthe?"


    He pointed towards the frosted ss cubicle where the shouting wasing from. "She''s in there getting reprimanded. If you''re looking for her, you might want toe back another time; I don''t think she''ll be out anytime soon."


    Even from about thirty feet away, the furious scolding was impossible to block out, not to mention how suffocating it must be inside.


    Rachel asked with her talking pen, "Is Xanthe being yelled at in there?" The colleague shook his head with sympathy. "Yes, it''s been over half an hour already."


    Shakira''s expression turned serious when she heard that. Under the astonished looks of those around her, she walked directly toward the cubicle. Even Rachel following her was taken aback.


    She then grasped what Shakira wanted to do but quickly hurried to catch up. Shakira alone might not have enough influence, and Rachel wanted to help out.


    Shakira nced at the namete in front of the cubicle and, without a word, pushed the door open. The loud, harsh scolding inside reverberated throughout the whole finance department floor.


    "Useless! You can''t even handle a simple report, yet you steal work from your colleagues. You are from Crescentville University, but a student like you only brings embarrassment to the school. Or did you cheat in the exams with shady tricks..." Steven said. "Steven, that''s quite offensive. Someone who doesn''t know better might think Xanthe caused thepany a billion-dor loss, justifying you cutting into her break time to insult her like this," Shakira said.


    Steven suddenly went silent. Xanthe''s eyes had been red. Shakira appeared just like an angel at Xanthe''s breaking point,ing in to bring her hope.


    "Shakira!" Without hesitation, Xanthe threw herself into Shakira arms, finally releasing the pent-up emotions she''d been holding back, crying out.


    "I''m not that bad. I just identally forgot to save it, I clearly remember saving it halfway throughst night, but when I opened it today, everything was gone..." Xanthe said. Xanthe was sobbing inconsbly. "You have to believe me. I really didn''t take Fiona''s stuff..."


    Hearing that name, Shakira looked serious. She gently patted Xanthe''s back, soothing her with a soft voice. "Don''t cry. I''m here, and nobody can bully you?


    As she spoke, Shakira gave Steven a cold nce, which made Steven''s heart quiver with instinctive fear.


    He thought, ''It is strange that this girl, who barges in so suddenly, actually has such an intimidating, aura despite her young


    ageN?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Steven was momentarily distracted before quickly straightening bis expression, making himself look authoritative by sping his hands behind his back.


    "Hey, youngdy, do you think you can do whatever you want here? Steven asked. Shakira sneered, "Wasn''t it you who started the trouble first?"


    "Disciplining my subordinates is none of your business," Steven said.


    "You gave her harsh insults and personal attacks. What would the HR department of the Lopez Group, known for its elite and disciplined system, think of you scolding your staff in such a manner? Shakira asked.


    Outside, the employees stretched their necks to watch, and Steven, repeatedly embarrassed by Shakira, was red with rage. "You! Which department are you from? Bring your manager here. You don''t have the right to speak to me!"


    Steven, boiling with anger, was sure Shakira woulde in with Xanthe. He thought, No matter her boldness, she was just an intern. Is an intern trying to stick up for someone? She should realize her standing'' "Marketing department, Shakira." Shakira ced her ID badge on the table. "You don''t qualify to speak with my manager."


    "Oh, you''re bold. Don''t think I can''t deal with you!" Steven picked up the phone without hesitation.


    Xanthe quickly moved forward to hold down the phone, stopping Steven from proceeding. "Steven, this has nothing to do with Shakira. Don''t talk to her manager; it''s all my fault." Steven snorted, "You sure are loyal." Shakira pulled Xanthe aside. "Xanthe, tell me again. What exactly happened?"


    Steven sneered, "Do I need to exin? She has just started her internship and is already beingzy. She couldn''t finish the task herself, so she used other employees'' work." "We''ve caught her red-handed, and she still wants to deny it," Steven added.


    Xanthe quickly shook her head. "I didn''t. I really had done half the report before leaving workst night. I have no idea why there''s no record of it now."


    She looked anxiously at Shakira. "Fiona saw that I''d lost the data, so she gave me a USB drive. She said she had done the parts I needed and I could use it."


    "Yes, I opened her file, but I didn''t use it! I handed in only my work, but Steven insists I used Fiona''s," Xanthe added


    Shakira understood and patted her gently on the shoulder. Then she looked at Steven and asked, "Why are you so sure that the work Xanthe submitted wasn''t done by her?" "Do you even need to ask? The report she submitted is exactly the same as the one Fiona gave me. If it''s not copy-pasting, then what is it?" Steven asked.


    "Just because the report has a simr format doesn''t make it solid evidence," Shakira said. "You think it''s not evidence? Well, I say she didn''t do it herself, Steven said. "You want evidence?" Shakira said casually, "Then check the surveince footage."


    When Shakira mentioned checking the surveince, Steven sneered, "You think you own the Lopez Group''s security


    <


    department? You think you can just check the surveince for


    Shakira smiled, "I don''t need to ask for help from the security do you mean?"

 Chapter 307

    Shakira didn''t reply but turned to Xanthe, "Xanthe, can I borrow yourptop for a moment?"


    0


    "Oh, sure." Xanthe quickly stepped up, grabbing theptop from Steven''s desk and handing it to Shakira.


    After unlocking it, Shakira moved to the front, her fingers flying rapidly across the keyboard. The dialog box on the screen filled with a long string of unfamiliar code, and the three of them watched in awe. Xanthe was surprised. "Holy crap! Is this the hacker code?"


    Larry came in carrying a packed lunch and noticed many people stretching their necks to look into the cubicle from the doorway.


    As he entered, he saw Shakira working on code on herptop. He calmly blocked the doorway and closed the door behind


    him.


    Colleagues waiting outside for some juicy gossip were very disappointing.


    Larry handed the takeout box to Xanthe. "You eat first."


    Xanthe''s eyes brightened with gratitude. The dark clouds from being scolded by Steven were dissipating, thanks to Shakira and the others. She smiled, "Oh my gosh. Thank you all."


    With friends supporting her, carefree Xanthe immediately opened her food and started eating.


    Steven was about to start scolding when Shakira interrupted him "I''ve got it."


    With those words, everyone turned their eyes to the screen in front of Shakira. They all stared in disbelief at the image on the screen. It was a view from the finance department''s office surveince camera, pointed right at Xanthe. Steven gasped, looking at this scene as if it were something out of a fairy tale. "How is this possible? How did you do it?!"


    No wonder he was so shocked. The Lopez Group''s cybersecurity was among the best in the country. Yet Shakira, a rookie intern, somehow managed to effortlessly hack thepany''s internal firewall, as if she owned the ce, checking out thepany''s surveince. Steven thought, ''Is she really just an intern?''


    Shakira was unfazed and soon discovered the problem. "Look here. Before 11:30, Xanthe was at her desk working on some spreadsheets."


    As she spoke, Shakira pressed a key, zooming in, clearly showing that Xanthe was working on spreadsheets on her screen.


    Excited, Xanthe took a big bite of her chicken leg and eximed "Right here. This is my


    work."


    Steven squinted slightly, noticing this detail as well, and his expression gradually turned serious


    Twenty minutester, employees began heading to the canteen. Xanthe saved her work, closed herptop, and left her desk with her water cup.


    Recalling the events, Xanthe said, "Before I went to find Steven, went to the break room to get a drink."


    At that moment, someone reappeared on the screen. She quickly opened Xanthe''sptop, deleted the spreadsheet contents, inserted a USB drive, copied files into it, and then stealthily left.


    The whole process was executed with great skill, fully aware of the surveince angles and avoiding thempletely.


    III


    1


    0


    16:17 Fri, Nov 29 B BO


    Xanthe''s eyes nearly popped out. "Darn it, someone set me up! Who could it be?" She blinked, taken aback. "Could it be Fiona?"


    72%


    After thinking it over, it suddenly made sense to her. "I knew she wouldn''t just change and start helping me for no reason. So this is what she was waiting for."


    Upon hearing the name, Shakira frowned. She tapped a few keys on her keyboard and switched the view to the cameras near the entrance.


    Steven watched her move effortlessly through the Lopez Group''s securedwork and the surprising part was that thepany


    hadn''t even detected the intrusion or raised an rm yet.


    Steven''s heart skipped a beat. He thought, ''A genius. She has to be a dangerous genius.


    He kept silent, quietly slipping behind his desk. Taking advantage of no one noticing, he pressed a ck button underneath it.


    After switching through several angles, they finally caught a clear side view of the person sneaking away from Xanthe''s desk.


    Xanthe hurried over, gasping in disbelief. "It''s actually her?"


    It wasn''t Fiona, but Sophia, the coworker sitting next to Xanthe.


    Steven nced over, his expression quickly bing serious. He said, "The person who reported Xanthe for using Fiona''s spreadsheet was Sophia too."


    "So it was her setting me up all along." Without hesitation, Xanthe rushed over to confront Sophia, who was having lunch at her desk. She forcefully pulled her up.


    "Why are you setting me up? How did I offend you? Reporting me wasn''t enough, you even secretly deleted the spreadsheet I worked on all morning." Xanthe''s eyes were red with anger. She was genuinely upset after getting scolded for no reason. Sophia saw the aggressive people approaching and was panicked. She pretended to be oblivious. "Xanthe, what are you talking about? I don''t understand..."


    Shakira brought out herptop. "The surveince recorded everything; the evidence is clear." She paused, then went straight to the point. "You were also the one who deleted the spreadsheet Xanthe saved yesterday, right?"


    Seeing the video on the screen, Sophia was shocked. She knew she couldn''t deny it, so she forcefully pushed Xanthe aside. A moment ago, she looked lost, but now her expression was full of selfish distortion.


    "I did it. So what? You messed with my probation review. Everyone will be evaluated, and my score is low. I can''t secure a permanent position because of you," Sophia said.


    Pointing at Xanthe, Sophia with an entitled tone justified her actions, shocking everyone.


    "Aren''t you rich? If you can''t handle this job, just go home and inherit your family wealth. Whypete with us regr workers?" Sophia said.


    "Shameless!" Steven scolded furiously, "You couldn''t even manage simple reports and got penalized for your errors. Yet, you still try to drag your coworkers down with you. Someone with yourck of ethics doesn''t deserve to stay with the Lopez Group!" The other colleagues all stepped back from her, whispering to each other, "I never expected her to be like this. She always seemed so friendly and easy to get along with...".


    "That''s really scary, smiling while stabbing someone in the back. Luckily I''m not close to her, or I''d be in trouble," one man said.


    10. 10.


    1¡é4 % 72%Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Fortunately, Xanthe had someone to help her, or she''d have been the scapegoat for sure. If we keep people like that around, won''t we all be in troubleter?" another man said.


    "I''ll report this to HR as it happened. You can leave right now." Steven pointed at the door firmly.


    Sophia''s face visibly turned red with shame. She hurriedly picked up her things and rushed out.


    Xanthe hugged Shakira tightly. "Shakira, I''m so d that I have you, otherwise I''d be med for sure."


    Shakira patted her shoulder and smiled.


    At that moment, a few security team members entered the finance department. Steven quickly went to greet them, "Thank goodness you''re here. She is the one who sneaked into the securework to check the cameras. So tant." In an instant, everyone turned to lo

 Chapter 309

    Shakira raised an eyebrow but kept walking toward the car.


    In the backseat, Fiona nced at Walter, who looked cold and indifferent. Her pride felt wounded.


    Biting her lip, Fiona was about to leave when she spotted turned more troubled as she realized it was Shakira.


    a famr figure out of the corner of her eye. Her expression


    "Walter, I know you think about my past mistakes, but I''ve really changed. I''m not spoiled anymore," Fiona said softly, her eyes on Walter..


    "You might think I''m talking about Shakira to get your approval, but I promise I''ll show you how much I''ve improved!" Fiona''s words were filled with sincerity.


    If it were any other guy, he might have softened. But Walter just tilted his head, showing no emotion. "If you''re not seeking praise, you don''t need to talk."


    Just then, Shakira arrived at the car and overheard Walter''s icy tone. "If Shakira hadn''t let you stay, you wouldn''t be here." Fiona gasped. She thought, ''What does he mean? Am I supposed to thank that awful woman?''


    Fiona dug her nails into her palm, fighting back anger. With a soft tone, she replied, "Yes, you''re right, Walter. Shakira is kind and forgiving, so I should help her."


    She added, "But I wonder if Shakira still misunderstands me. Would she give me sensed something off.


    Chuckling quietly, she interrupted. "Ms. Banks, chances are made by oneself."


    a


    chance to redeem myself?" Shakira


    Fiona looked surprised. "Shakira?"


    It seemed she just noticed Shakira, ncing at Walter before saying, "Shakira, I just Fiona, Shakira opened the other door and slid into the car.


    came


    over


    Fiona thought, ''What an insatiable brat!''


    *


    Leaning out slightly, Shakira casually asked, "Ms. Banks, do you have any more business? If not, we''re leaving."


    Her fists clenched tighter.


    Keeping a fake smile, Fiona replied, "Walter, let''s chat another time."


    Walter coldlymanded, "Drive."


    The car sped away while Fiona watched, her gentle facade cracking, her expression darkening.


    Inside the car, Walter took Shakira''s hand, studying her closely, "Feeling jealous?"


    Shakira pinched his middle finger, tilting her head. "Is Fiona really worth my jealousy?"


    Walter replied sincerely, "Not at all."


    ""Well then..."


    600


    ge


    *


    talk with Walter." Ignoring


    574


    "Since you''re not jealous, maybe you can help me deal with my jealousy." Walter gently turned her chin to face him, his deep-set eyes shadowed.


    He said, "For Xanthe, you really go all out, don''t you?"


    His words wereced with jealousy.


    Shakira wondered, ''Is it toote for me to feel jealous now?"


    "Listen to my excuses... uh, exnations!" She struggled to pull her cheeks free while lifting her hand to rest on his.


    30%


    "What Steven said was outrageous, and I was too upset to consult you before deciding." Shakira blinked, her eyes sparkling with innocence. "If you''d been there, I know you would''ve supported me!" Walter sighed. "Haven''t I already supported you a hundred times?"


    "Sure! I always knew you were on my


    side."


    Finally, Shakira pulled her face free from his grasp. Seizing the moment, she cupped his handsome face in her hands. Shakira said, "What''s there to be jealous of? Xanthe is my dear friend, and your significance is... different." Walter seemed pleased, a subtle smile appearing.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Casually, he asked, "Who taught you that coding skill?"


    Shakira scratched her face, knowing she couldn''t answer casually like she would to George.


    HEAR


    Under Walter''s intense gaze, she confessed, "In the past, I took on many jobs to pay for my grandmother''s medical bills... "Someone referred me to a caregiving job, where I read to a visually impaired woman for three and a half hours daily. "She had me read books on advanced programming and coding for nearly three years until her hearing declined. "Though I didn''t understand the texts, I worried she might find it ufortable to listen, so I looked for rted materials myself. Over time, I became familiar with them and learned to write code."


    Walter fell silent.


    He felt a mix ofpassion for Shakira''s past and admiration for her determination.


    It was hard to believe an ordinary person could self-learn such advanced skills just through reading. Compared to the highly-paid hackers in Security, she was on another level.


    After a moment, Walter said, "If anyone from Security asks you about the firewall issues, don''t feel obligated to answer." Shakira was confused. "Why? Shouldn''t we fix the vulnerabilities right away?"


    In truth, after leaving Finance, the head had already messaged her to apologize and offer help; she just hadn''t responded. Walter knew about the security loopholes but wasn''t worried. "You''re the only one who can spot and fix this, right?" Shakira responded, "Yes."


    "Well then, that''s enough. Since you can solve it, there''s no rush; let them think about it. Why hire expensive staff if they''re just mascots?"


    Shakira was speechless. She thought, ''Fine, if you''re not in a hurry, then neither am I!''


    Feeling her energy returning, Yvette put on a beautiful makeup)


    She glided to Selena''s room.


    As Yvette opened the door, a wave of musty, dark energy hit her

 Chapter 310

    Yvette told the maid, "I''ll spend some time with Grandma; you can take a break." Once the maid left, the room was filled with the strong smell of medicine and alcohol, making Yvette wrinkle her nose.


    As she got closer to the bed, she saw Selena, once lively but now weak like a wilted nt. Yvette''s cold gaze was full of mockery.


    Selenay on her back, eyes open but unseeing, like aa patient. After a long moment, Selena finally turned to Yvette, her eyes wide with horror as if seeing something shocking.


    But trapped in her own body, Selena couldn''t move, her fear frozen.


    Seeing this, Yvette smiled wider and softly said, "Grandma, you''ve realized something, haven''t you?"


    Yvette''s eyes scanned the room before settling on a nearby chair. She picked up a cloth, lifted the covers, and started wiping Selena''s arm leisurely.


    Yvette said, "Honestly, I have to thank you, Grandma. If you hadn''t been so healthy, I wouldn''t know who to turn to for my quick recovery."


    Selena''s eyes widened as if she grasped a sudden realization.


    Yvette continued, "Grandma, you''ve been so proud your whole life; seeing you like this is really pitiful... It makes my heart ache


    Yvette feignedpassion. "Out of pity for you, I''ll enlighten you.


    "When I was in the hospital after my ident, I called you. Instead of asking about my injuries, you yelled at me. Do you remember what you said?" Yvette paused, letting the memory surface. "You said I was a wretched child, that no matter how much the Nelson family did for me, I''d never change.


    "You even told me to die, so I wouldn''t tarnish the family name!


    Yvette chuckled to herself, moving from Selena''s arm to her neck. "It''s a shame, though; none of your words came true. Instead, it seems you lent me your longevity, allowing my quick recovery while your health declines." Yvette covered Selena''s mouth and nose with the cloth, watching her eyes bulge in terror.


    Amused, Yvette tossed the cloth aside andughed. "Grandma, I was just joking! With my parents and brothers helping meText ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    future?" start apany, why would I harm you and risk my


    Selena''s gaze shifted from fear to shock and finally to rage.


    Unfazed by Selena''s anger, Yvette unted her confidence. "I''ve borrowed your longevity, Finn''s leadership, Felix''s talent, and Jayden''s calm execution. Too bad Yosef isn''t in Crescentville I''d borrow from him too. "Soon, mypany willpletely surpass the Nelson Group, bing Crescentville''s brightest new kingdom. When people talk about the Nelson family, they''ll only think of me!"


    As Yvette boasted, tears streamed down Selena''s face, each drop a testament to her regret


    and despair.


    After two big sesses, George transferred Shakira to the Norpa Technology project team, making her days busier. Every day, Shakira arrived ready to work, even stayingte; though hectic, it felt fulfilling. She mostly ignored outside chatter until Xanthe mentioned thetest online buzz during lunch.


    30%


    Xanthe said, "There''s a big marketing push for Rippling Heart skincare, especially among wealthy socialites and officials. A famous cancer survivor said her e-prone skin became smooth after using it. One socialite even said it''s hard to get... Xanthe mused, scratching her chin. "Could this brand be really amazing and low-key for so long that I never heard of it?"


    Shakira narrowed her eyes. "Someone recently bragged about starting a skincare techpany." "Yvette!" Xanthe eximed, suddenly alert. "How did I not connect the dots? Rippling Heart is hers!" Xanthe''s curiosity turned to disgust. "That giarizing Yvette! I almost tried to buy it; thankfully, I didn''t!"


    Shakira''s expression darkened. "Yvette is moving fast; the Nelson family must be backing her up."


    "Attracting high-society women would need a lot of money and connections. Could Yvette actually make this work?" Xanthe said, fuming as she smashed her potato into a mushy mess.


    But Shakira remained unconvinced, "Maybe not."


    Xanthe looked at her, expectant. "So you think Yvette can''t achieve anything significant?"


    Shakira shook her head, chuckling softly but saying no more as she returned to her meal.


    Unlike Shakira''s intense schedule, Xanthe took time after meetings to ck off and find connections to buy Rippling Heart. She didn''t want to use it; she just wanted to prove that someone as unprincipled as Yvette couldn''t produce anything good. Xanthe aimed to get the skincare product for testing, eager to uncover its secrets. But despite her efforts, she couldn''t find anyone among her friends who could get Rippling Heart, as the buying process was strict and exclusive.


    Frustrated, Xanthe ranted to herself, convinced Yvette was creating an illusion of exclusivity to impress elite socialites, making it seem like only the privileged could buy the skincare line.


    After a day filled with frustration, Xanthe got a mysterious phone call. "Ms. Sullivan, I hear you want to buy Rippling Heart;/ our madam has a set avable for you."


    Xanthe perked up. "Really? Your madam is amazing! Where is she? I''lle pick it up right away!"


    B


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 Chapter 311

    After finding out that the kind madam was in Rosewood Hotel''s presidential suite, Xanthe decided to visit her. The hotel lobby had a fancy shopping mall, so Xanthe browsed luxury boutiques, picking up two beautiful essories before heading to the top floor. Xanthe followed well-trained bodyguards to the stunning rooftop conservatory, where she found Eve painting under the bright moonlight. "Good day, Madam," Xanthe greeted politely.


    Eve looked up from her canvas, smiling at Xanthe''s cheerful greeting. When Xanthe saw Eve''s face, she felt momentarily breathless. Eve thought, "This girl is so beautiful, so young, so graceful... But something about her seemed familiar


    Noticing Eve''s curious gaze, Xanthe quickly added, "I really appreciate you reselling the Rippling Heart to me; I brought a small gift for you."


    Eve recognized the elegant packaging as a recent limited edition, her smile growing. Xanthe''s thoughtful gift was a stark contrast to thest woman, who barely hid her greed.


    "Ms. Sullivan, you''re too kind. It''s just skincare products; they''re not worth much. You shouldn''t have brought a gift," Eve replied.


    "I had to make connections everywhere to get this set, and your generosity made it possible!"


    "I haven''t used such products in over a decade; they feel too much. At my age, just a ssh of water works," Eve said, her eyes crinkling with warmth.


    Xanthe''s eyes widened in disbelief. "You haven''t used skincare for over ten years? Wow, your skin looks amazing!"


    Eve raised an eyebrow, and the bodyguards stepped in closer, their demeanor cautious.


    Realizing her mistake, Xanthe stepped back, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I''m so sorry! I startled you..." She had rmed the bodyguards too.


    Eve blinked, trying to suppress augh. "No, you didn''t scare me at all." She waved the guards away, leaving just the two of them on the terrace.


    Noticing Xanthe''s lingering awkwardness, Eve gently lightened the mood. "I feel a special connection with you, Ms. SullivanText ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Relieved that Eve was friendly, Xanthe exhaled quietly. Smiling, Xanthe replied, "Yes, I find you easy to talk to. I thought ady in a hotel suite would be intimidating!"


    Having met few high-society women besides the fiery Reba and Selena from the Nelson family, Eve''s gentle demeanor was refreshing.


    Eveughed, covering her mouth. "I have my airs, but only towards others. With you, it''s different." Winking yfully, Eve added, "After all, you are my son''s secret crush; how could I not be nice to you?"


    At first, Xanthe was confused, but then she burst outughing. "Are you joking? You look so young, yet you have a son and are secretly in love..." Suddenly, the realization hit Xanthe, freezing her smile. "Wait, your son has a crush on.... me?" Eve nodded with a smile. "Yes, indeed."


    Xanthe gasped. In her mind, she thought, ''No wonder luck has been on my side; I''ve caught someone''s eye!"


    But then the humor faded as she realized how absurd this all was. She had juste to buy skincare, never expecting such a


    twist.


    Abruptly, Xanthe asked, "Your son, who has a crush on me, is Sean?"


    Eve frowned slightly. "Are there any other boys interested in your That rascal must be feeling pressured..."


    Xanthe quickly shook her head. "No, no, no one is interested in me, and Sean..."


    59%


    She almost rified but held her tongue. In a sh, Xanthe''s mind raced. Eve sought her out for one reason: to discuss Sean''s failed matchmaking. But now, Eve believed Sean actually liked her.


    So, the matter was out in the open, and Eve must have confronted Sean, leading him to make up the crushing story.


    But Sean was attached to someone else. Sean pushing her forward was just a way to protect both himself and Shakira. If Eve found out that Shakira, the real object of Sean''s affection, had a fianc¨¦, a worried mother might do something crazy. Xanthe assessed amiable Eve, unsure of her temperament.


    After a moment, Xanthe said, "I''m sorry, Madam. I shouldn''t have deceived you with Sean; I regret disappointing you."


    Eve looked at Xanthe''s apologetic face, her smile still there. "There''s no need to apologize. I know you were pressured by that rascal, and I hold no grudge."


    Xanthe nodded. "You''re truly generous, Madam. Most of the me lies with Sean."


    In her mind, she thought, ''I share some me, but the bigger fault is your son''s; don''t hold me responsible for his actions!" Eveughed again. "True, you''re right. I''ve already scolded him. Honestly, I wanted to meet you out of curiosity about the girl who captured his heart."


    Xanthe looked down, feeling a bit guilty. "There''s really not much to see..."


    "I find you quite lovely, and the more I look, the more I like your Eve said, gently taking Xanthe''s hand.


    "Actually, my reason for inviting you isn''t just to give you the Rippling Heart. More importantly, I have a favor to ask," Eve added.


    A sense of worry crept into Xanthe''s mind. "Madam, what could I do for you?"


    Xanthe wondered why both Sean and his mother seemed to want her help-was this a family trait?


    Eve looked into Xanthe''s anxious eyes, speaking slowly. "I''d like to ask you to date my son."


    Xanthe''s heart, previously in turmoil, is finally dead. She thought to herself, ''Good heavens, the requests from Sean and his mother are the same!''

 Chapter 312

    COMMENT


    59%


    Xanthe was stunned, her lips twitching as she hesitantly asked, "Madam, you can''t force matters of the heart; wouldn''t that be unwise?"


    Eve smiled brightly. "I get that feeling can''t be forced, and I don''t want you to feel pressured." Then, her tone softened. "Have you ever thought about taking on a side venture?"


    Xanthe blinked in confusion. "What?" Eve just smiled back. From a nearby box with the Rippling Heart set Eve pulled out a stack of checks.


    With her exquisite face slightly lowered, Eve began writing. "I know my son well; dating him might be tough. So, here''s my offer: thirty thousand a day, paid weekly. Ms. Sullivan, consider if this works for you."


    Thirty thousand a day adds up to 900,000 a month. Xanthe thought, ''A side venture? It''s basically a ticket to wealth!''


    Her face lit up with excitement, but a hint of hesitation lingered. "But, Madam, why do you want me to pretend to date


    Sean?".


    "Because he likes you, and I want to support his feelings." Eveid out her intentions. "If youe to like him, great! But if not, maybe it''ll just be a fun memory, and he won''t waste his feelings." Xanthe felt touched by Eve''s words. No wonder Sean was so carefree; he grew up in such a positive environment.


    But what really captivated Xanthe was that hugemission. Even if this n felt a bit underhanded, no one could turn down 900,000 a month.


    She thought, ''Besides, Sean admitted he liked me; I can''t let down Eve''s motherly love!*


    Her eyes sparkled with determination. "I''ll do whatever it takes, Madam! Just tell me how to proceed!"


    Xanthe''s eagerness brought a genuine smile to Eve''s face. Her honest enthusiasm was refreshing in today''s world.


    Eve replied, "Excellent, here''s to a sessful partnership." "Absolutely!" Xanthe eximed. Working with a wealthy woman would be a joy.


    Compared to that, Sean seemed tight-fisted. Xanthe felt thrilled about their new agreement.


    But then a sudden worry hit her. "But how do I start this romance? It feels a bit sudden..." In her eagerness for money, she had totally overlooked that Sean didn''t really like her.


    Eve smiled knowingly, her eyes sparkling. "That''s easily fixed; I''ll handle it for you."


    Xanthe perked up. "Oh, great!" She felt relieved to avoid any awkwardness.


    Later that night, Sean was jolted awake by a message from Eve.


    Eve: [I''ve set everything up regarding your crush; now it''s up to you to make it work.]


    Sean: [?]


    Eve: [I''ve put in a lot this time, so don''t let me down!]


    Sean: [??]


    He wondered what she meant by "crush"..


    That night, when Xanthe scuffed his shoes, it felt like she''d stomped on his pride. As he limped to his car, he decided not to


    D


    15


    Sun, Dec


    seek her out anymore.


    But now...


    The next morning, barely sleeping, Sean jumped out of bed and headed straight to the Lopez Group.


    59%


    Meanwhile, Xanthe, buzzing with excitement all night, had dark circles under her eyes but radiated energy; it was clear she was in a great mood.


    Even when Fiona came to see her, Xanthe greeted her with an unusually bright smile. "Here''s your drive; I haven''t used it, so it''s back to you." Fiona epted it. "I heard what happened yesterday; luckily, the truth came out, or I would''ve caused trouble."


    Xanthe shrugged. "I don''t really like you, but this isn''t your fault. If Sophia wanted to ditch me, she''d have found someone else without you."


    Fiona was speechless. Xanthe''sments weren''t exactly kind.


    Fiona pursed her lips before speaking again, a mix of envy and longing in her voice. "Thank goodness for Shakira; it''s amazing how fiercely she defended you. I wish I had a friend like that."


    Xanthe missed Fiona''s sarcasm, grinning with delight. "Exactly! Not everyone is lucky enough to have a best friend like Shakira; I feel so fortunate!"


    Fiona thought, ''Is Xanthe pretending to be clueless, or is she really that naive?''


    Taking a deep breath, Fiona finally spoke up. "I''ve known Shakira for a while, but we had misunderstandings that caused issues...Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "Now that I see my mistakes, I realize Shakira and I shouldn''t be enemies; we''d be better as friends. Unfortunately, when I apologized, she didn''t want to forgive me. If only I could change her view of me and show my true intentions."


    Xanthe finally seemed to understand, looking at Fiona in surprise. "You want to be friends with Shakira?"


    "Exactly," Fiona replied with a bright smile. "Xanthe, could you help me?"


    Xanthe looked taken aback, feeling offended. "Why should I help you? Shakira is kind; but if you crossed her boundaries, how can you expect forgiveness?"


    Fiona''s smile faded. "It was a misunderstanding; I never meant to hurt her..."


    "Misunderstanding or not, damage has been done. If I stab you and then apologize, would you just forgive me? If you think that''s how it works, I can stab you right now," Xanthe said, reaching for a fruit knife on the table. Fiona''s face turned pale as she stepped back. "Xanthe, I''ve helped you before; how can you treat me this way?"


    Xanthe rolled her eyes. "I never asked for your help. And even if you did help me, it wouldn''t be about Shakira. Treating others as you want to be treated. I won''t go to Shakira for you. That would betray her." Fiona''s face flushed with anger. "Didn''t you also help others hurt Shakira in the past? What''s the difference? How dare you criticize me!"


    Xanthe replied, narrowing her eyes, "Ah, you''ve done your research. You say you want to be friends with Shakira, but you are with such a calcting nature. You seem well-meaning, but you''re actually quite malicious!" Xanthe gathered the Rippling Heart, ready to seek out Shakira,pletely ignoring Fiona, who was fuming.


    As Xanthe approached the elevator, she bumped into a group of people inside.


    Among them was Sean, grinning ominously, nearly blinding her with his smile.


    With steely resolve, Xanthe thought, "The moment to earn some money has finally arrived!''


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 Chapter 313

    Chapter 313 59%


    Just as Xanthe was about to call out to Sean, the public rtions manager walked into the elevator. Noticing Xanthe blocking the entrance, he frowned and said, "Don''t you know the etiquette? We have esteemed guests!" Sean nced over and replied, "It''s fine; let her in." The manager chuckled politely. "Mr. Reynolds, I''m sorry for the oversight." Xanthe scoffed silently.


    Xanthe wanted to find Shakira, but running into Seanplicated things. So, she decided to wait until they left. Sean kept ncing at Xanthe, and when he noticed she wasn''t interested, He clenched his jaw.


    He thought, ''My foot still hurts! How ungrateful she is, pretending not to care!''


    Clearing his throat, Sean said, "I''d like to explore the Lopez Group."


    The manager responded, "Of course, Mr. Reynolds. I''ll have the secretary..."


    "No need for that, let her show me around," Sean said, pointing to Xanthe, who was shrinking in the corner.


    Everyone fell silent, shocked. Xanthe felt a jolt of surprise. She wasn''t ready for this.


    "Mr. Reynolds, this employee is from finance; she''s not trained in hospitality."


    Sean''s tone was casual but firm. "She may not be a host, but she knows thepany, right? Your formality makes me ufortable."


    The manager felt helpless, turning to Xanthe, embarrassment on his face. Noticing her employee badge, he softened. "Ms. Sullivan, I''ll inform finance about this; please cooperate."N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Xanthe replied, "... Fine." Her luck was strange; she tried to sneak away but still ended


    up with Sean.


    Under the watchful eyes of the public rtions team, Xanthe followed Sean out of the elevat explore?" she asked curtly.


    Sean gritted his teeth. "The rooftop!"


    "What do you want to


    Xanthe thought, ''Fool. Who wants to roam anotherpany''s rooftop? What''s he hoping for, a view?''


    As Sean dragged her along, Xanthe took the chance to shake off his grip. "What are you doing? You''ve wrinkled my clothes." Her hair was a mess from the wind, and she quickly tried to smooth it down. Seeing Xanthe still cared about her appearance, Sean ground his teeth. "Xanthe, doesn''t your conscience hurt?"


    Xanthe''s heart skipped a beat. She instinctively


    him.


    Ought he was talking about the money Eve offered her to pretend to date


    But her guilt quickly faded, and she shot back, "If you don''t care why should I?"


    Sean wondered, ''Is she really trying to be more reasonable than me?''


    Frustrated, he kicked off his shoes and peeled off his ck business socks, pointing at his bandaged foot. "My foot hurts so badly I can''t sleep!"


    Xanthe recoiled in disgust, pinching her nose as she stepped back. "What''s your problem? Just because we disagree doesn''t mean you can run around barefoot!"


    Sean was breathing heavily, almost fainting from anger. "And you say it has nothing to do with you? This is all your fault!"


    59%


    Xanthe raised her voice, nearly cracking in the wind. "When did I cause your foot to look like that? Don''t nder me; it''s been ages since west met!"


    Seeing her attitude pushed Sean over the edge.


    His teeth ground together in frustration. "That night, you were cornered by someone, and if I hadn''t rescued you, who knows what would''ve happened! You don''t thank me, and you forget I stepped on your foot! Unbelievable!" Sean''s outburst sparked something in Xanthe; she blinked slowly, memories surfacing.


    "Wait, so that wasn''t a dream..." Xanthe murmured, looking at Sean''s foot.


    Sean hopped on one foot, exasperated. "You think it was a dream? So you''ve dreamt of disrespecting me a lot?"


    Xanthe didn''t deny it. "So what? You had iting!"


    "Xanthe!"


    "Stepping on your foot was minor; when you kicked me out, I should''ve thrown everything at you, scoundrel!"


    Sean stared at her in disbelief. He couldn''t believe she was reprimanding him like this.


    Seeing Sean flustered, Xanthe shook her head in disbelief. ''How could someone as sharp as Eve raise such a foolishly handsome son?''


    Not wasting time, Xanthe stated, "Eve must''ve told you about the matchmaking, right? You told her you liked me, and that''s why she''s trying to set us up?"


    Sean replied, "You''re quite observant. Did my mom contact you yesterday?"


    "Yeah, we talked for over an hourst night."


    After venting his frustrations, Sean bent down to put on his socks, casually asking, "What did my mom say? Does she want us together?" Xanthe replied, "Pretty much. Eve offered me thirty thousand a day to pretend to date you."


    Almost tripping, Sean gasped. "Thirty thousand a day?"


    Xanthe nodded.


    Sean fell apart again. "Is my mom insane?"


    Xanthe lifted her chin defiantly. "Eve cares about you; appreciate that, Sean!"


    Sean looked at her with a mocking expression. "How can you shamelessly ept that? Can you sleep at night scamming an olddy?" "Scamming? You''re the one who told your mom you liked me, and she asked me to help you. If I say no, wouldn''t that break her heart?"


    Sean was momentarily speechless, scratching his head. "No, I need to clear this up with my mom."


    Xanthe shot him a cool nce. "Eve asked me to keep this confidential. If it weren''t for our past, I wouldn''t tell want rity, fine, but don''t ruin me. Eve and I have a good rapport."


    you.


    If you


    Sean stared at her in disbelief, struggling to understand. He thought, ''Mom disapproves of Lucy; how could she like Xanthe?" "Alright, I''ll handle this. I''ll let you know if there''s any news." Sean said, pausing before adding angrily, "You better take me 15:50 Sun, Dec 1


    off your cklist; I don''t want to go back to your cousin."


    This time, Xanthe was utterly confused. "My cousin?"

 Chapter 314

    Chapter 314.


    Sean eximed, "Ever since you stopped responding to me, I had another matchmaking event. I reached out to Lucy through the game. You ignoring me is one thing, but then you had Lucye here, and now my mom''s involved!" The more he spoke, the angrier he got.


    If Lucy hadn''t been caughtst time, Sean might''ve denied everything and dismissed Xanthe as just an aplice.


    With thirty thousand a day, he could have fun in Crescentville without a care.


    Xanthe waspletely taken aback by Sean''s usations. "I blocked your messages; I had no idea you were being set up!" Sean furrowed his brow, as if realizing something. He coldly scoffed, "Lucy didn''t tell you-she came here on her own!" Xanthe clenched her fists, now understanding that Lucy acted independently.


    Xanthe thought, ''But why? Lucy doesn''t even know Sean; why would she help him?''


    Seeing Xanthe''s expression, Sean coolly remarked, "Lucy isn''t as innocent as you think."


    Xanthe''s demeanor darkened, and she pressed her lips together.


    Sean said, "You can handle your own affairs; just remember to unblock me."


    With that, he waved dismissively and smoothed out his wrinkled trousers as he walked away.


    As Sean took the elevator down, he initially nned to head home.


    Suddenly, he remembered Shakira worked at Lopez Group.


    He called someone from Public Affairs, "Is there an intern named Shakira at yourpany? I want to visit her; is that okay?


    Shakira and Maris were in a meeting with the team from Norpa Technology.


    Midway through, a tall figure in a suit appeared outside the frosted ss.


    The people in the meeting room instinctively shifted their attention. A couple of young women from Norpa whispered excitedly. "Who''s out there? So handsome!"


    "And so charismatic-not any less than Mr. Lopez or Mr. White!


    "Exactly! And his smile is so vibrant; it''s infectious!"


    Shakira was distracted by their chatter and stole a nce outside.


    Her heart skipped a beat.


    Outside, Sean, unaware he was visible, met Shakira''s cold gaze, causing him to flinch. He quickly forced a charming smile.


    Sean''s smile captivated the young women even more.


    "Ah, he''s looking this way!" one eximed.


    "His smile is dazzling, like Cupid struck my heart!" another gushed.


    Noticing Maris speaking but unable to voice her feelings, Shakira raised her hand. "Sorry, I need to handle something."


    <


    3


    Maris nodded. "Sure, go ahead."


    Shakira closed her notebook, stood up, and walked out, swiftly filling Sean away with her.


    The young women were left visibly disappointed. One said, "Wait, is he here for Shakira?"


    Another added, "I thought he was some wealthy heir; who knew he was just here for her? How does she keep getting so lucky?"


    "Maybe she attracts those types, knowing what kind of woman captures their attention," Berry said casually.


    "Wow, Berry, you''re spot on! I always thought Shakira was a bit odd, but you nailed it."


    "Right, I noticed she''s close with Larry from her department. He''s usually aloof, yet he only socializes with Shakira and Rachel. Rachel and Larry are childhood friends, but how has Shakira integrated so quickly?" one said, clearly envious. "And then there''s Quincy-I saw Shakira holding his hand in the break room the other day. Such intimacy indicates aplex rtionship!"


    "Ugh, Berry, do you think Shakira might be a flirt?"


    Berry feigned surprise, but a smirk yed at her lips. "Maybe! Fortunately, there aren''t many men here; I should warn a few


    guys."


    "Absolutely, I''ll remind themter!" one agreed.


    Shakira dragged Sean into an empty conference room.


    Once the door was closed, she crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "What are you doing here?"


    Sean, standing with his head bowed, looked as timid as a giant quail. "Shakira, I happened to be at Lopez Group and thought I''d drop by..."Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Shakira rubbed her temples. "I''m interning at Lopez Group..."


    Sean quickly interrupted, "I know! I was just watching from a distance, not wanting to disturb you."


    Shakira thought, ''You''re practically pressed against the ss, and you call that watching from a distance?''


    Seeing her annoyance, Sean quickly added, "Please don''t be upset. I''ll leave right now. I won''t disturb you again unless you ask me to, and I won''t expose our rtionship!"


    Shakira sighed. "I''m not trying to send you away; it''s just that there are too many people here."


    Sean nodded obediently. "I understand! As long as you''re doing well, I''m fine."


    Shakira couldn''t help butugh. "What issues could I possibly have?"


    "I''m worried about Walter''s intentions," Sean blurted out.


    Shakira fell silent.


    Shakira averted her gaze and cleared her throat. "You should head back for now; I''ll meet up with you in a few days when I''m free." "Alright, sounds good!"


    During lunch break, Berry avoided her colleagues and went to the top floor.


    <


    18:37 Mon, Dec 2 GO.

 Chapter 315

    On the hospital bed, Walter, in just ck shorts, showed off his sculpted physique. He propped himself up and started getting dressed.


    A knock on the door made him call out, "Come in."


    The doctor entered, excited, holding a freshly printed exam report. "Mr. Lopez, almost ny percent of your injured nerves and muscle tissue have healed! The itching and soreness are just signs of recovery. Soon, you''ll stand and walk normally again." As the doctor spoke, he couldn''t help but admire Walter''s progress. "Who''s the miraculous healer behind your recovery? I''d love to consult them; this is amazing!"


    In just a few months, Walter was nearly back to normal. Such medical skill was rare, both nationally and globally.


    Walter smiled faintly at thepliment. "She is remarkable, but she doesn''t want to be disturbed."


    The doctor looked disappointed. "Oh! The healer wants to stay unobtrusive? What a pity!"


    Having finished dressing, Walter kept a neutral expression. "This shouldn''t be discussed publicly."


    "Got it," the doctor replied.


    Walter settled into his wheelchair and left the exam room.


    Brian was waiting in the hallway with Berry, who was anxiously fidgeting.


    Seeing Walter, she rushed forward, concern on her face. "Mr. Lopez, why are you at the hospital? Are you okay?"


    Walter coldly replied, "What happened with Shakira?"


    Berry felt her concern dismissed, leaving her awkward.


    She lowered her head, biting her lip, hesitating. "I''m not sure if I should say this..."


    Walter''s patience vanished. He told Brian, "Take her back to thepany."


    "I''ll speak!" Fearing Brian would whisk her away, Berry grabbed the safety strap on the wheelchair tightly.


    "Today, Mr. Reynolds from Yonder Digital came looking for Shakira. We were in a meeting when Shakira saw him and went outside. Everyone noticed their closeness; she was the one who took Mr. Reynolds away." Feeling Walter''s icy gaze, Berry grew cautious.


    "I hesitated a long time before telling you! I don''t doubt Shakira, but everyone''s gossiping about her interactions with male colleagues. Nobody knows about her rtionship with you-what will they think if they find out?" Walter coldly retorted, "Who are these people you speak of?"


    Though unsure of his intent, Berry felt a chill. "Just some colleagues in the department..."


    Walter pressed, "Who?"


    His words were heavy, full of storm


    Berry was momentarily stunned by Walter''s rising anger.


    III


    Without thinking, she blurted out names of some gossiping female colleagues from Norpa Technology.


    Afterward, regret washed over her, and she pleaded, "People can be cruel, Mr. Lopez! I want to help Shakira, but there are things I can''t address as an outsider."


    Walter interjected, "You, an outsider, don''t need to worry about is."


    He nced at Berry and told Brian, "Send her back."


    Brian nodded.


    Frightened, Berry was eager to escape Walter''s presence and hurried away, moving faster than Brian.


    After sending Berry off, Brian returned to the car.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Inside, the atmosphere was tense as Walter reclined, eyes closed


    Brian said, "Today, Mr. Reynolds visited and wanted Xanthe with him during the tour, and they spent nearly half an hour alone on the rooftop. Afterward, Sean met with Ms. Nelson; their chatsted less than two minutes."


    [


    Hearing this, Walter opened his eyes, his gaze calm yet unreadable. "In less than two minutes, there''s already gossip?"


    Brian continued, "Ms. Nelson is busy and not very sociable; recently, she''s been getting closer to interns Larry and Quincy, which has sparked gossip..."


    Walter replied, "People from Norpa Technology should focus on their work, not on who''s associating with whom."


    He smirked coldly. "Those partners aren''t worth Lopez Group''s time."


    Brian understood immediately. "I''ll have the legal department draft a termination contract."


    Walter didn''t respond, implicitly agreeing.


    Brian asked, "What about Ms. White?"


    Walter interrupted, "Brian, tell me, who''s better-Sean or me?"


    Walter''s sudden question nearly made Brian''s heart stop.


    Brian thought, ''Oh no, is Walter actually jealous?''


    Without hesitation, he dered, "You are unmatched."


    His resolute expression showed unwavering conviction. "Ms. Nelson''s feelings for you are clear. No one else can sway her."


    Walter huffed softly. "I never doubt her feelings for me."


    This relieved Brian, but he remained puzzled. "Then whypare yourself to Mr. Reynolds?"


    Walter countered, "Why do you think Berry rushed to tell me when she saw Sean looking for Shakira?"


    Walter''s gaze was piercing, sharp as an eagle''s, able to see right through anyone.


    Even Brian, not experienced in love matters, began to understand. "Ms. White will also be addressed."


    Walter turned to look out the window, silent for a moment, then calmly instructed, "Since Yonder Digital and Mr. Reynolds didn''t get proper hospitality at Lopez Group, invite Mr. Reynolds to dinner at Veiled Vine tonight." Brian, initially thinking he understood Walter''s intentions, was taken aback. "What?"


    <


    18. 18.


    Mon,


    Seeing Walter''s cold profile, Brian''s heart raced.


    He thought, Just moments ago, Mr. Lopez seemed intent on defending Shakira-why invite Mr. Reynolds to dinner now? Is Mr. Lopez truly jealous?''


    During lunch, Shakira received the Rippling Heart set from Xanthe.


    Xanthe, holding a steaming rack ofmb chops, stuffed her mouth. "Last night, I scrolled through videos, and nearly all were about Rippling Heart. I clicked on the ones I didn''t like, and still got more. It infuriated me!"


    0

 Chapter 316

    Shakira handed Rachel her milkshake and said, "Drink up before we move on." Last night, Shakira saw tons of marketing promos everywhere.


    There were short videos, Twitter posts, shopping sites redirecting to ads, and even reading apps that featured simr products. The Nelson family really went all out to boost Yvette''s image. Rachel looked at the set beside her. "Can I open it?"


    After swallowing her bite, Xanthe replied, "Sure, go ahead! Not like I''d actually use Yvette''s stuff."


    Rachel unwrapped the packaging, curious if the skincare products were really as miraculous as advertised. Shakira watched Rachel''s actions closely.


    Inside the set were a toner, a serum, and a lotion, all in sleek ck and gold bottles that looked luxurious.


    Xanthe shook one and scoffed, "It''s nothing special."


    Shakira said, "Maybe there''s more to it. Users say it works for all skin types and fixes eighty percent of skin issues."


    Xanthe shot back, "Anti-aging, anti-inmmatory, e treatment, and whitening? Total nonsense!" Skeptical, Xanthe opened the serum and took a whiff. Her face soured, and she turned away, feeling sick. "Ugh, that smells terrible!" Xanthe eximed.


    "Smells bad?" Shakira asked, lifting the serum to smell it herself. A harsh, bitter scent filled the air, clearly unpleasant.


    Shakira frowned slightly. "It''s probably all the herbal ingredients. No added fragrances."


    "Wow, that''s disgusting! Who could use this and sleep?" Xantheined, pinching her nose and pushing it away. "There''s aponent which helps with calming and sleep, so it might actually be soothing," Larry added. Xanthe looked shocked. "Wow, you-a guy-know about skincare?"


    Larry shook his head. "Not really, but I have a good nose. My mom uses herbal medicine, so I recognize some herbs."


    Xanthe pushed the bottle toward him. "Take another sniff."


    Larry inhaled carefully. "There are definitely some herbs in here."


    Shakira whispered, "These herbs might help with inmmation, but they aren''t for everyone."


    Turning to Xanthe, Shakira asked, "Can I borrow this set for a few days?"


    "Of course! I meant to give it to you," Xanthe said cheerfully.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Shakira smiled. "Thanks."


    Later, Shakira went back to the office and texted Jasmin to send a set for ingredient analysis. Jasmin: [OK]


    Jasmin: [By the way, that fellow''s vital signs have been all over the ce. Want to check it out?] Shakira: [Let''s n for the weekend.]


    <


    18:37 Mon,


    Jasmin: [Sounds good. Just let me know in advance.]


    After setting up a courier to pick up the package, Shakira prepared to wash her hands and get to work. As she opened the partition door, she overheard a conversation about her.


    "Shakira is something! I just saw her with a set of the hot new sosialite skincare products, Rippling Heart!"


    "Really? It looked too fancy for her! Rippling Heart doesn''t send their products to some without backing!"


    "Of course she has connections! On her first day, she was chatting with Mr. Lopez. This morning, Mr. Reynolds came by, and she practically pulled him into the conference room!" "George and Charles like her too. Even Quincy, who was rude to her, is now polite-how weird is that?"


    "Wow, she really knows how to handle people!"


    "Few female friends but thrive with men. So shameless!"


    The conversation abruptly stopped.


    The women in the restroom exchanged nervous nces as Shakira pushed the door open, her face calm.


    Seemingly unfazed, Shakira walked to the sink and turned on the faucet.


    Her slender hands sparkled under the running water, stunning the onlookers.


    The women felt a wave of anxiety, unsure of what Shakira might do. They remembered her recent sh in finance and knew she wasn''t someone to mess with.


    One stepped forward, saying, "Shakira, we weren''t gossiping about you. Everyone knows that!"


    Shakira carefully washed her hands, turned off the water, and dried them with a towel before leaving.


    Feeling ignored, the women were both anxious and angry. One shouted, "Shakira, what do you mean?"


    Another added, "Are you feeling guilty?"


    Suddenly, Shakira stopped in her tracks.

 Chapter 317

    hapter 317


    Theughter of the women stopped suddenly. They exchanged worried looks, their faces turning pale. Shakira turned around, her perfect features giving nothing away.


    She walked towards them confidently, causing their irritation to spiral into panic. They pushed each other, scrambling into a corner. Back at the sink, Shakira picked up the crumpled paper left behind. Then she looked at themzily, her eyshes fluttering slightly as if mocking. Realization dawned on the women, their expressions twisted in horror. "Shakira, you tricked us!"


    Shakira found their predicament amusing. "You chose to be fools; that''s not my problem."


    Before they could protest, Shakira pulled out her phone and waved it. "I recorded everything you said," she warned. "If you keep this up, I''ll send it to Charles. If you''re so bored, I''ll help you find something to do." The women were frozen, their hair standing on end. They could only stare as Shakira walked out. Silence filled the room, thickening the tension. Shakira opened her phone, smirking at the nk screen.


    When she sat at her desk, she felt sharp gazes on her back, like tiny needles. Unbothered, she started typing her password and got to work.


    Soon, people from marketing rushed to the office entrance, murmurings filling the air. "Brian is here!"


    "Wow, I heard about that intern who got in through connections, Brian cleared things up in finance that afternoon. Is he here for that?"


    "Isn''t that about Shakira? But Mr. Lopez shouldn''t be involved..."


    "You never know! Just days ago, Shakira revealed a bug in thepany''s firewall, and Mr. Lopez praised her. Now, with rumors flying, if someone twists this, it could hurt his image. We need to tackle this first!" "Exactly! Office romances are a grey zone, and Shakira''s issues with multiple men could disrupt everything. Who knows what trouble might happen?"


    Everyone paused to watch, eager for a glimpse of the unfolding drama, especially since they''d missed the earlier excitement Brian''s presence promised more.


    The scared woman who had encountered Shakira in the restroom now looked smug, sure that her arrogance was about to face consequences.


    Even employees from the Norpa Technology office came out to witness the buzz. Berry watched from a distance, grinning widely.


    When Shakira spotted Brian, surprise flickered over her. Sensing something was off, she stood as Brian approached her desk, hesitating for a moment.


    His eyes quickly scanned Shakira''s face, a brief acknowledgment passing between them before he nodded and moved on. Shakira thought, ''Great, he''s not here for me.'' Curiosity ran through the crowd-why wasn''t Brian looking for Shakira?


    Brian walked straight to the Norpa Technology office with several legal department staff. The project leader rushed over. "Brian, did Mr. Lopez give any instructions?" Brian nced at the legal team as they held up a document, reading it clearly. The Norpa Technology employees absorbed the news, their faces turning to shock. 18:38 Mon,


    Chapter 317-


    ''Lopez Group ended their partnership with Norpa Technology? low could this happen?''


    Berry felt dread creeping up her legs, staring at Brian, the center of attention.


    3


    The leader''s face fell when Charles and George arrived, both equally stunned. Though the legal team insisted on termination, confusion filled the air. Charles asked, "Brian, why would Mr. Lopez suddenly want to end the partnership?"


    38%


    The project leader said, "Everything was going so well. We had a meeting this morning; how could this happen? If there are any problems, we can fix them!"


    Brian replied firmly, "Some Norpa Technology employees have spread rumors about my staff, ruining their reputations and disrupting order. Mr. Lopez decided not to renew our contract with you." With that, Brian handed over the termination contract to the shocked project leader from Norpa Technology. "Logistics staff are waiting outside; they''ll help you gather your things in ten minutes." Then Brian left quickly with the legal team. Onlookers were left in disbelief, struggling to understand what had just happened.


    The leader finally turned to the three pale women, shouting, "What did you do?!"Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    The three looked like the world had copsed around them and cried out in panic. "We don''t know!"


    "We didn''t spread rumors; we didn''t say anything..."


    Just then, a marketing employee cut in, "Aren''t you the ones who called Shakira a flirt?"


    More joined in.


    "Exactly! At lunch, you told your male colleagues to be careful of Shakira; that''s how we found out!"


    "Is it true this rumor came from Norpa Technology? No wonder Mr. Lopez is furious! Outsiders, using our space, dare to malign our employees!"


    "Brian can remember who was gossiping. This issue is longstanding. Those who spread idle chatter deserve their fate!" Colleagues thought they could talk about Shakira freely, but people from Norpa Technology weren''t seen the same. It was an obvious double standard. Other women, waiting for Shakira''s downfall, felt a chill. They were lucky to avoid her wrath.


    In a fury, Walter dismissed Norpa Technology. If he discovered they were gossiping, the consequences would be severe.


    Hearing mockery from outside, the project leader''s face shifted. She mmed down the documents in her hands, shouting, "You fools! Your actions have brought thispany to its knees!


    George, who''d caught wind of the gossip from his secretary, wore a tight grin. "What are you all waiting for? Brian only gave you ten minutes; hurry up and leave!"

 Chapter 318

    The project leader was feeling hopeless. She never thought that big project could be threatened by the gossip of just three


    women.


    Trying to fix things, she begged George, "Lopez Group is aboutunch the smart supermarket and security system. Only Norpa Technology meets your standards. Please, don''t let this stall issue hurt our interests!"


    In a lower voice, she added, "If you help us this time, I''ll make sure your hard work gets recognized, and you''ll get your rewards!"


    George, unimpressed by her pleas, announced loudly, "There are many talented people in this country. Your teamcks integrity and is damaging others'' reputations. Lopez Group will end your contract, and future partnerships will think twice about working with you!" The project leader turned pale and stumbled back, hitting the corner of a desk. She panicked, thinking, ''If the Lopez Group pulls out, Norpa Technology is finished... I''ll lose everything!"


    Her eyes, once bright, now red at the three employees like she wanted revenge. She yelled, "If Norpa Technology copses, all my hard work will be wasted... I will make you pay!" In her anger, she lunged at the three women.


    Terrified, the three shouted, "It wasn''t us! We''re confused about how this started!" "It''s Berry! She called Shakira a flirt and suggested we warn the male colleagues. She''s to me!"


    "Berry, say something! Mr. Lopez is your boyfriend, isn''t he? Why isn''t he helping you?" Amid the chaos, the women threw usations that stunned them all. Whispers spread. "Mr. Lopez''s girlfriend is an intern from Norpa Technology? What a joke!" "During the meeting, Mr. Lopez showed off his girlfriend. Would he let her stay at Norpa?" "His girlfriend must be stunning, while Berry is just average!" "Even Fiona wouldn''t call herself Mr. Lopez''s girlfriend; it''s an exaggeration!"


    "No wonder they thought they could act above all rules. Turns out, it was all fake! Ha!" Berry froze as the mockingughter seemed to freeze her blood. She wondered how it hade to this.


    ''Shouldn''t Mr. Lopez be dealing with Shakira instead? Why is Norpa Technology facing the bacsh?'' As Berry locked eyes with Shakira, Berry noticed a cold detachment on her face. Shakira was just watching, making Berry feel more chaotic. Berry felt sure Shakira wasughing at her. The whole marketing team was likely mocking her over her ambitions and dreams.


    Berry figured Shakira knew about her reporting to Mr. Lopez, which made Shakira smug. Overwhelmed by jealousy and hate, Berry lost sight of everything else.


    Suddenly, a sharp p jolted her back. The project leader shouted, "Are you deaf?! Speak up! What''s your rtionship with Mr. Lopez?!"


    With everyone watching, Berry felt heated, yet no one was willing to defend her. Clenching her fists, she shouted back, "I never said I was Mr. Lopez''s girlfriend! You''re making this up; it''s got nothing to do with me!"


    Turning to the three women, Berry continued, "And you! Did I force you to do anything? Your mistakes are yours alone!" Having vented her frustration, Berry quickly gathered her things and threw her ID onto the desk. "I quit!" The others from Norpa Tech stood in shock. They remembered how Berry had hinted at things from day one. Now, seeing her lead them into chaos, they wanted to tear her apart. But before they could react, Berry had already left. The logistics team of the Lopez Group meant business. When they said ten minutes, they stuck to it. Norpa Technology''s belongings were quickly taken out of the Lopez Group building


    Tue,


    News spread fast throughout the Lopez Group and beyond, reaching even global markets. Norpa Technology turned into the biggest joke of the new year; soon, it would be shut down-something still toe.


    In just an hour, Norpa Technology was fully ousted from the Lopez Group. Everyone returned to their daily tasks, while Shakira, having lost her partnership, was reassigned new work that would start tomorrow. Leadership had an emergency meeting, and employees left the office right on time for once, avoiding overtime. Shakira got a quick text from Walter and headed to the parking lot to wait for him.


    As his car approached, Shakira leaned down to get in, seeing Walter with his eyes closed, looking exhausted.


    0Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

 Chapter 319

    COMMENT


    The private room was empty, except for a shy handbag left on one of the chairs. The sound of running water echoed from the restroom, which hadn''t been closed properly.


    Shakira frowned, struggling to figure out her coboration partner. ''What kind of executive forgets to close the restroom door?''


    "I need to use the restroom too; I''ll be right back," Shakira said, making up an excuse before leaving.


    Walter stayed silent, watching her with an unreadable look in his eyes.


    When Sean arrived, he spotted a donut with an interesting vor outside the alley and couldn''t resist. Unbeknownst to him. while waiting for Walter, he ended up with donut stains on his clothes, scrubbing at the mess for what felt like forever. As Sean came out, he was drawn to Walter, who looked regal even from his wheelchair. Sean thought to himself, ''It''s clear why Walter is Crescentville''s top aristocrat- Kyle doesn''t evenpare. Even I admire Walter''s wless appearance. Sean felt a mix of admiretion and pity for Walter.


    Walter said, "Mr. Reynolds, the way you look at me could lead others to misunderstand."


    Sean''s eyes shed with a meaningful grin. "Mr. Lopez, you know how to joke."


    Sean took a seat across from Walter and leaned back in his chair. "I''m surprised you would personally arrange a dinner with


    me."


    Sean couldn''t shake off the memory of how inattentive Walter had been during hisst visit, thinking this sudden hospitality was suspicious.


    Walter smirked slightly. "Given Mr. Reynolds'' uninvited presence, I thought some attention was due."


    Sean replied, "Yourpany is top-notch; it''s only right for us to seek guidance from Lopez Group, and I''ve learned quite a bit during this visit." Walter cut him off, "I hope you have learned how to improve your building''s rooftop terrace design."


    Sean fell silent, feeling confused and annoyed by Walter''s unexpected scrutiny of him.


    "Is it wrong to catch up with a friend, Mr. Lopez?" Sean scoffed.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Walter said, "No, but..."


    Walter''s gaze turned sharp, serving as a clear warning. "Just stay away from her."


    A jolt ran through Sean; he felt the pressure from Walter like a lion guarding its territory, ready to strike if needed.


    Sean silently took a breath, puzzled by Walter''s sudden hostility


    Sean thought, ''Is he talking about Xanthe? Surely not- she is just an intern. Could Walter be so attached to her?''


    The thought unsettled Sean.


    What kind of taste does Walter have, finding Xanthe appealing? Isn''t he involved with his maid? Is that romance over, or is he just ying both sides?"


    His mind raced with outrageous possibilities.


    Chapter 319-


    Walter watched Sean''s face shift, causing a slight twitch at his brow.


    He had a feeling that Sean''s head was filled with all sorts of random, useless thoughts.


    "Mr. Reynolds, we haven''t added each other as friends yet, have we?" Walter said finally. "True," Sean admitted.


    They hadn''t spent enough time together to form a friendship.


    Sean pulled out his phone and said, "Let''s do this now."


    "Fine," Walter agreed.


    After epting, Sean jumped onto Walter''s Instagram profile, which was as nd as Walter himself.


    Walter had just begun using Instagram- yet each post seemed odd, especially one with cats and a im of ownership. It felt strangely familiar, stirring something in Sean''s memory. He tried to ce it, but couldn''t.


    Suddenly, he switched off Instagram and messaged Shakira. Sean: [Shakira! You won''t believe this!]


    Shakira: [?]


    Sean: [Walter likes Xanthe!! Isn''t that wild?!!]


    On the other end, Shakira started typing.


    Momentster, a knock disrupted their conversation, followed by the door creaking open a bit.


    Suddenly, Sean recognized a familiar female voice. "Sean, make sure to eat more pig brain; you really need more brain." Sean''s eyes widened in shock as he locked eyes with Shakira, who had just entered. Tension filled the room, with Sean''s eyes wide as he processed it


    Then a notification popped up on his screen, and instinctively he tapped it to find a voice note from Shakira. "Sean, make sure to eat more pig brain; you really need more brain."


    Sean and Shakira fell silent, stunned.


    Walter silently watched their reactions.


    Upon hearing Shakira''s voice from Sean''s phone, Walter''s expression darkened.


    With a chilling grin, he said, "Mr. Reynolds, have you heard my words before?"


    At that moment, it hit Sean hard. The man behind Shakira was Walter.


    BB

 Chapter 320

    Watching Sean and Walter about to sh, Shakira sighed heavily She looked at Sean before walking over to Walter and taking his arm. In a soft voice, she said, "Sean just messaged me about Xanthe. Don''t overthink it."


    Leaning close to Walter, she whispered, "Did you say something that made Sean think you liked Xanthe? That''s why I replied like that." Walter, fuming, paused as he heard Shakira''s calming words. Walter scoffed, "Sean just doesn''t havemon sense." Shakira was left speechless.


    Sean, eyes zing, watched in disbelief as Shakira looked so close to Walter. She seemed delicate and fragile, like a little bird, fueling Sean''s anger. He realized the forbidden person Walter mentioned was actually Shakira, not Xanthe.


    Walter''s Instagram post clicked for Sean-it had the same cat photos Shakira had shared before. And that mysterious vehicle at Easke Valley Estate. Walter even showed up for the internship selection and the mountain outing.


    All these events connected, revealing that Walter was that man. Despite all the clues right under his nose, Sean had been blissfully unaware until now.


    Anger washed over Sean, like watching his prized veggies ripped out by a hedgehog. He felt like he might explode, but there wasn''t much he could do against Walter. What hurt most was seeing Shakirafort Walter while throwing Sean a warning look.


    The difference in how they were treated left Sean feelingpletely deste. He thought, ''Walter is furious and feel the same! Shakira coddles this worthless guy too much!''


    Just then, the waiter entered, setting the pre-ordered dishes down on the spinning table. Shakira asked, "Shall we eat first?" The two stayed locked in their standoff-one cold, the other boiling with rage.


    Taking charge, Shakira sat down. "If you''re not going to eat, I will! She started eating the pigeon, enjoying its crispy texture. Without a word, she took a pigeon leg and put it on Walter''s te, passing the remaining half to Sean.


    Walter noticed her clear favoritism, raising an eyebrow, but began eating the pigeon she served him. Sean felt dizzy, almost in tears from Shakira''s tant bias.


    Sean couldn''t just sit back and watch Walter eat while he starved. He believed Shakira was surely charmed by Walter, and once she saw Walter''s true nature, she''de to her senses.


    With a heavy sigh, Sean quickly finished the pigeon Shakira had given him. Walter''s cold voice cut through, dripping with mockery, "Mr. Reynolds seems to enjoy his food." Sean shot back, "Same to you."


    Walter''s face darkened as he offered food to Shakira. "You''ve worked hard; eat well." A sense of fear crept into Shakira''s heart. As expected, Sean responded by piling his own food onto Shakira''s te. Shakira''s eyes twitched involuntarily. Suddenly, Walter shoved Sean''s hand away. His icy voice, with a strong warning, echoed, "I''ll take care of my girlfriend; your hand is too close."


    Sean rubbed his wrist, surprised by Walter''s grip. Walter''s hold threatened to incapacitate him.


    Sean protested, "You are too controlling! I''m just Shakira''s friend Will you restrict your girlfriend''s social rights?"


    Sean paused, clenching his teeth. "Besides, isn''t your girlfriend that little maid? When did she be an intern? You must have many girlfriends!"


    Walter''s brow furrowed deeply. He wondered about Sean''s intelligence-how had Yonder Digital thrived with Sean? Shakira''s heart raced, fearing Walter''s irritation would provoke Sean. She quickly stepped in, "We haven''t publicized our


    17:17 Tue, Dec 3.


    rtionship, so please keep it a secret."


    124378%8


    Keeping this private meant if they ever broke up, no one would know. Sean felt relieved, thinking it showed Shakira wasn''t fully onboard with this guy. Sean replied, "No problem."


    Shakira sighed with relief, turning to Walter with a coaxing voice. "Mr. Reynolds is a guest; let''s treat him nicely. We can talk at hometer?" Walter firmly held her shoulder. "I''ll follow your lead.


    Shakira''s smile brightened as a weight lifted off her heart. Their tense dinner ended without further drama. After Sean left. Shakira and Walter returned to their vi.


    On the way, Shakira shared her history with Sean. "Years ago, I sold design sketches, and Sean was a buyer. We became friends as we coborated more and sometimes yed games together. After bringing Xanthe, they started to interact" The car''s dim light hid Walter''s true feelings. After a long silence. Walter asked, "So, thest design contest was your and Sean''s scheme?"


    Shakira was surprised by his uracy. She admitted, "Yes."


    Looking into Shakira''s bright, honest eyes, Walter smiled as he gently pinched her nose. "A little fox eager for revenge"


    Shakira frowned. "Yvette wouldn''t have entered if she hadn''t used my sketch." Walterughed coldly. "She was too greedy, unable to change her ways." "True." Shakira looked down. She questioned if someone as foolish and greedy as Yvette really could lead apany and develop products.


    Once home, Walter went to wash up while Shakira unlocked her silent phone. As expected, Sean had flooded her with dozens of messages.


    Sean: [Shakira! Are you crazy? A man like Walter doesn''t deserve you!] Sean: [If you like a controlling type, I can find you one way better than Walter!]


    Shakira: [Are you sure you can find someone more handsome?] Sean: [Does he need to be better looking?]


    Shakira: [Someone simr would be fine.] Sean: [Maybe besides looks?]N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Shakira: [Then let''s find someone richer?] Sean: [Why don''t you just end my misery instead!]


    Sean: [Plus, he''s not loyal; he has that little maid!]


    Shakira: [If that maid is me, then it wouldn''t be a problem, right?] Sean: [...What?!]

 Chapter 321

    At Veiled Vine, Shakira worried Sean might find out the truth, causing a scene. She then figured it''d be better to tell him directly. She hadn''t expected Walter to have invited Sean as a guest today.


    Lost in thought, Shakira jumped at Sean''s intense call. She stepped out onto the balcony to answer. Sean didn''t let her speak. "This is uneptable! We need to clear things up today. What do you mean the little maid is you?"


    Hisst words were nearly a shout. Shakira dropped any pretense. "It means exactly what you think. After leaving the Nelsons, I went to the Lopez family."


    Sean looked pained, clutching his chest. "So you''ve been avoiding us because you''re working as a maid?"


    "Yes," Shakira replied firmly.


    "Shakira, I never thought you''d indulge in something so odd!"


    After a moment, Shakira said, "It''splicated. I chose to stay with Walter. If you''re mad, be mad at me."


    Sean took a deep breath. "Shakira, do you really like Walter?"


    Leaning against the railing, Shakira gazed at the city lights. Every word she spoke was clear and resolute. "Yes, I really like Walter, and my feelings are serious." Sean struggled to ept it. "If that''s true, why not go public?"


    Shakira rubbed her temples in frustration. "I''m interning at Lopez Group. If I reveal this, I can''t work properly. I want to avoidplications."


    Sean knew Shakira well. Still, he didn''t expect her reluctance was due to work. He had to admit it: Shakira cared for Walter enough to be a maid.


    Imagining Shakira submitting to Walter sent chills down his spine. A reality he never dreamed of was now in front of him.,


    "Let''s put this aside for now. I''ll exin and apologize when we meet next." Shakira hung up, only to find Walter''s intense gaze on her.


    Shakira asked, "How did you...?"


    Walter pulled her into an embrace. Worried about his anger, she said, "I was just..."


    Walter cut her off. "I know it was Sean."


    His hand caressed her cheek, moving to the back of her head. In a low voice, full of satisfaction, he said, "Hearing my little fox tell Sean about her feelings for me makes me happy." Shakira blinked. "What''s there to be happy about?"


    Walter leaned down and kissed the corner of her mouth. "I''m happy... that you love me and you''ve put me first. It means a lot."


    His embrace felt warm and tender, making her heart race. With her eyes closed, Shakira enjoyed the kiss, her cheeks flushed.


    After work, Xanthe went straight to Jackson''s house instead of home.


    Jackson asked, "Xanther What brings you here?"


    Xanthe,cking her usual cheer, said, "Is Lucy home?"


    "Lucy? She''s in her room. You''re looking for her? I''ll call her..."


    Before he could finish, Xanthe dashed upstairs. "I''ll find her!"


    Her urgency surprised Odalyn, who came out of the kitchen. "Has Xanthe lost it?"


    Jackson wondered, "Could Lucy have upset her?"


    Odalyn worried. "What trouble is Lucy causing? I need to make her apologize!"


    "Let''s see if they can sort it out first. If not, then we''ll have Lucy apologize!"


    Xanthe stood outside Lucy''s door. Inside, Lucy bragged about a limited-edition game skin she bought, "This costs less than my weekly allowance!"


    Her teammate ttered her, saying, "For Lucy, that''s nothing! She even gifted me a fancy perfume!"


    Lucyughed, "That perfume? I barely use it. I can send you more if you want."


    Cheers erupted from the other end. "Thanks, Lucy! You''re so generous!"


    Outside, Xanthe''s fists clenched. That perfume was a gift from her dad, which Lucy had repeatedly demanded.


    Xanthe thought, ''And then she gave it away as a gift?'' Taking a deep breath, Xanthe kicked the door hard.


    With a loud bang, the door hit the wall, shocking Lucy, who turned to see Xanthe''s fierce look. Lucy shrank back. "Xanthe, why are you here?"


    Xanthe approached, eyeing the game skin on Lucy''s phone. With icy sarcasm, Xanthe said, "You often pretend to be poor, yet here you are unting wealth. Are you using my perfume to impress others?" Lucy''s face fell. She quickly quit the game, avoiding Xanthe''s gaze. "I was just joking. The things you gave me are still here, I gave away duplicates..."


    Xanthe scoffed, "Duplicates? You can''t fake game skins! You got money from Sean and wasted it!"


    Lucy nearly bit her tongue. "That''s ridiculous! I earned that money myself!"


    "Really? If you did, show me. Let''s see who sent you money." Xanthe lunged for her phone.


    Lucy panicked. The transfer records from Sean were on that phone. Angry and embarrassed, she shoved Xanthe away. "So what if Sean gave me money? I earned it fairly!"


    "What is it if not deceit?" Xanthe raised her voice, staring at the angry Lucy as though Lucy were a stranger.


    Xanthe pointed out, "That perfume my dad bought for me-you asked for it and gave it away!


    "Sean asked you to tell me, yet you hid it from me. Are you really looking out for me?",


    Xanthe stepped closer, her eyes piercing. She questioned, "Was your sweet demeanor all an act? Have you just been using


    me?"


    Lucy felt cornered, realizing Xanthe wouldn''t believe her no matter what she said.


    "What if I was acting? Lucy snapped, revealing her darker side. Lucy retorted, "You make friends outside but still get fooled. 17:32 Wed, Dec 4 GG.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    I''m your cousin-wouldn''t it be better to share your money with me?"


    I

 Chapter 322

    "What did you say?" Xanthe was shocked to hear such disgusting words from Lucy. Lucy had always been by her side, almost like a sister. Xanthe had always shared good things with Lucy, only to find out it was all a show for money. That sisterly bond was just a lie for her own gain. Seeing Xanthe hurt actually satisfied Lucy, as if the truth was finally out. After feeling so oppressed for years, Lucy had been waiting for this chance.


    Lucy said, "Xanthe, who do you think you are? If it weren''t for your money and my parents pushing me to be nice to you, I wouldn''t put up with you!


    "Do you think I''m the only one who feels this way? Your so-called friends, Yvette and Berry, and even Shakira... what''s the difference?"


    Xanthe''s fists tightened, and she growled, "Shut up! Shakira isn''t like you, greedy scum!"


    But Lucy justughed louder. "Xanthe, the truth hurts! With your personality, you can''t have real friends!"


    Angered by Lucy''s mockery, Xanthe stepped closer and pped her hard. "How dare you hit me, Xanthe-" Lucy jumped up, ready to fight back.


    Lucy was no match for Xanthe, though, who quickly pped her down. With her palm stinging, Xanthe looked down at Lucy with cold disdain. "Save your sob story. Don''t me your parents for your failures. You''ve used me!


    "If you had any dignity, you''d return what you took from me. But you only think about showing off. You''re just pathetic. "From now on, our bond is over. Don''t ask me for anything; I refuse to acknowledge a cousin who''s so ungrateful!" Xanthe turned and left, firm in her decision.


    At the staircase, Jackson and Odalyn were eavesdropping. Seeing Xanthe leave, they rushed to her with fake smiles.


    "What happened, Xanthe? Did Lucy upset you? I''ll teach her a lesson!" Jackson said.


    "I''ll go in and demand an apology from her!" Odalyn added.


    Xanthe looked at the couple and felt a wave of self-mockery. Lucy was draining her money. Jackson and Odalyn were ''draining her father''s money. It hurt to see her father was eager to help them.


    "I have no problem with Lucy. It''ste, so I''ll be going," Xanthe said, ignoring them and walking away.


    The couple smiled as they waved her off, then hurried to Lucy''s room. Lucyy on the bed, her face swollen. Jackson and Odalyn were shocked. "Did Xanthe do that?"


    Lucy cried out, "Yes! You have to punish her!"


    Jackson responded, "Why would we get involved in this?"


    Odalyn said, "Be nice to Xanthe. We can''tpete with her family! If you want money, trips, and luxury items, you need to be friendly and gain benefits from her. Why can''t you see the importance of humility?" Lucy sobbed, "But she hit me!"


    Jackson firmly said, "Didn''t you provoke her? You need to stay low for a bit. Then apologize."Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    But Lucy stubbornly refused to admit her wrongs. She was too afraid to tell her parents that she had just had a big argument with Xanthe. "I won''t! I''m not saying sorry!"


    "You''re defying me? You need a lesson!" Jackson said, raising his hand.


    Odalyn intervened, "Stop! She''s upset. Let her think it over. She need to reconcile when she runs out of money."


    Jackson cursed. "It''s shameful-wanting benefits and acting tough. How did I raise such a foolish kid?"


    90%


    Odalyn replied, "She''s knownfort her whole life. She''ll learn soon!" As Jackson grumbled, Odalyn led him away.


    Once the door closed, Lucy sat quietly, tears streaming down her face. She thought, ''My parents think I only rely on Xanthe and can''t seed alone. Xanthe felt the same. If Xanthe won''t let me thrive, then I''ll make herforts insecure!'' Walking down the street, Xanthe feltpletely lost. She thought, ''Why does it keep happening-with Yvette, Berry, and even Lucy, who has been close to me since childhood?''


    Xanthe had always treated them kindly and wondered why they only used her for their gain. She wondered, ''Is finding a real friend impossible?''


    Her head was full of thoughts as she noticed two girls in uniforms. They were sharing ice cream andughing together.


    Just then, her phone rang. Xanthe answered numbly, and Sean''s voice came through, sounding down. "Xanthe,e to work."


    Xanthe replied briskly, "I''m not in the mood."


    Sean snapped. "You took 900,000 from my mom this month, and you''re not in the mood?"


    Xanthe considered hanging up but checked her bnce and held back. "What work are you talking about?"


    Sean said, "Shakira and Walter are dating-did you know?"


    Xanthe asked, "How did you know that?"


    Sean replied, "You knew it! Get to the Rosewood Hotel. Fast!"


    Sean had a suite at the Rosewood Hotel. Xanthe used the card to enter and found Sean in the living room, bottles everywhere, and alcohol in the air.


    Xanthe frowned as she approached and saw Sean flushed with a half-empty beer bottle. The other bottles had been opened but remained untouched, their aromas simply enriching the atmosphere. Xanthe sighed, wondering why Sean soughtfort in drinking while still knowing his limits.


    2

 Chapter 323

    Sean, barely awake and a bit drunk, mumbled, "You finally made it."


    Xanthe, rolling her eyes, sat beside him and pointed at his beer. Just a few sips, and you''re already out cold?"


    Sean, feeling humiliated, shot back, "I''m totally fine!"


    Xanthe sighed, not wanting to argue with a drunk.


    Suddenly, Sean leaned in close, staring intently at her. Xanthe felt flustered and tried to push him away, but he wouldn''t


    move.


    17%


    "Xanthe! You tricked me! You knew Shakira was with Walter!" Sean eximed, frustration bubbling.


    Taking a deep breath, Xanthe replied, "I owe you an apology. I know you''re upset. I''ll ept any punishment, just not too harsh."


    Xanthe added, "But I need to say: Shakira and Mr. Lopez are a great match!"N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Sean protested loudly, "How can that be? Shakira is beautiful and smart, while Walter is grumpy and can barely move. They don''t belong together!"


    Xanthe thought, ''How dare you trash my favorite couple!''


    Fuming, she shot back, "Walter''s temperament shows his love for Shakira. He protects and cares for her! Even with his challenges, he''s more reliable than some able-bodied men! Why are you still so stubbornly prejudiced?" Sean stared at her, momentarily shocked by her passion. After a beat, he opened his mouth, feeling frustrated and unable to express his feelings.


    Sean stared at Xanthe''s lively face, frustration flooding his mind. He recalled their idental kiss in the mountaintop cabin, her shocked blush still vivid in his memory.


    Sean leaned in, wanting to kiss her again. When Xanthe saw his face getting closer, her heart raced. But as their lips met, she jolted back and elbowed him in the head.


    "Ouch!" he yelled, falling to the floor. Thank goodness for the carpet; otherwise, he would''ve really hurt himself.


    "Xanthe, are you trying to kill me?" Sean groaned.


    Xanthe rubbed her elbow. "Your mom gave me money, but that kisses at a different cost."


    Sean thought, ''What a cruel woman! Which man will be able to suffer alongside her?'' The alcohol wore off, and he sat on the floor, head down. Finally, he muttered, "I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to... I won''t drink again!"


    He rarely drank and had never been this reckless before. He lost control. Seeing his remorse, Xanthe forgave him. "It wasn''t a big deal. Let''s leave it at that." She nced at him, curious. "Are you that upset about Shakira and Mr. Lopez?"


    "Of course!" Sean replied instantly. It felt like watching his prized cabbage trampled by a pig. No one epts that lightly. Seeing his anger Xanthe felt helpless. She never expected Sean to care so deeply for Shakira beneath his carefree facade. With a sigh, she pulled him back onto the sofa. "They love each other. Your anger won''t help. It''s better to ept it and focus on your happiness."


    "That sounds nice, but how can I just ept it? It hurts!" Sean grimaced. 89%1


    Xanthe frowned. "What are you nning to do? Break them up


    #


    2


    Sean shrank back. "I wouldn''t dare!" Though he had objections, they were just that. He wouldn''t interfere with Shakira''s choices.


    Xanthe nodded, relieved by his humanity. Then Sean clenched his fists. "I can wait! I''ll wait for them to break up!"


    Xanthe thought, "That day will nevere! They''re in it for life!


    She said, "I understand your difort. Maybe I can help ease your pain for a bit."


    Sean eyed her suspiciously. "What are you nning now?"


    Xanthe encouraged him, "You can''t just hold onto anger. Think about what youckpared to Mr. Lopez. Are you not caring or charming enough?"


    Sean scoffed, "Why should Ipare myself to Walter? I''m clearly better!"


    Xanthe rolled her eyes.


    Sean asked, "How can you look at me like that? You think I''m worse than Walter?"


    "If you were better, wouldn''t Shakira choose you instead of him?"


    "Uh, what does that even mean?"


    "You can''t wait and do nothing. If Shakira does break up, you''ll still miss your chance. Since I took your mom''s money, I might as well help you learn how to pursue a girl."


    Finally, Sean realized Xanthe thought he liked Shakira. He was frustrated-he saw Shakira as family. How could it go so wrong? Seanughed with irritation. "Thanks, but I don''t need your help." Xanthe shrugged. "Alright, it''s up to you."


    With her lightening his mood, Sean felt less down. He wiped his face, got up, and grabbed his car keys. "Let''s go; I''ll drive you home."


    ''Xanthe smirked. "With how you are, I''d rather take a cab!"


    As she grabbed a bottle of his fine red wine and waved goodbye, Sean realized he''d been looked down on again. "You think you can teach me? You''d probably lead me astray!"


    That morning, Shakira got a message from Maris, telling her to arrive early for a meeting. March had just started to warm up, but a cold rain had set in.


    Walter was busy arranging her scarf when he noticed the message and frowned. "Have Brian limit messages outside work hours." Shakira looked up, amused. "Lopez Group is yourpany, Can''t you at least make some money?"


    Walter shrugged it off. "Lopez Group doesn''t sweat the small stuff. If we did, it''d mean we''re inefficient." Shakiraughed. "Today''s different, especially after you canceled the Norpa Technology deal yesterday." She gently touched the corner of Walter''s mouth. "Mr. Lopez, don''t be upset now." Walter huffed, falling silent.


    When Shakira reached her workstation, she found it empty. She entered the meeting room with her notebook. "Sorry, I''mte." As she opened the door, she spotted Yvette sitting right in front.

 Chapter 324

    Shakira nced around briefly before steadying herself and moving on. She noticed Xafithe, Fiona, and some finance colleagues in the meeting. When Xanthe spotted her, she waved excitedly. Shakira nodded slightly as George called, "Shakira,e sit with us!" Before she could move, David''s sarcastic grunt echoed from the corner. "George, your team needs better etiquette. All the leaders are here, yet your intern strolls in like she owns the ce Did a little luck give her wings?"


    Shakira narrowed her eyes at David, who had once seemed like a solid leader. She realized she might''ve overestimated him.


    George brushed off David''s jibe. Once Shakira sat down, he defended her. "Shakira''s a top candidate from our department. We need to be patient. Remember, David, you took in an intern who missed her start date-let''s not throw stones."


    A low chuckle went through the room, and David''s sarcastic smile vanished. Shakira kept her head down, fighting back a smile.


    Charles began, "Now that everyone''s here, let''s start. Yesterday, we ended our partnership with Norpa Technology, and 1 think you all know that. Ut quickly outline our meeting goals.


    "The focus this quarter will shift to smart, unmanned interactive connections, especially in smart supermarkets and autonomous vehicles. With Norpa gone, we need new software development partnerships.


    "This is our top priority this quarter. If anyone has connections, pursue them! Don''t worry about the budget; the finance department will handle that. "And bonuses for securing coborations will be substantial. We value everyone''s contribution." Hearing this, several employees felt motivated. Charles continued, "Last night, department leaders agreed on a new strategy: we''ll pursue two paths. First, seek strong project partners externally." Quincy raised his hand. "Charles, before we teamed up with Norpa, many softwarepanies wanted to work with us. Why not go back to that pool?" Charles shook his head. "We chose Norpa because the others didn''t meet our standards. It''s not wise to settle for mediocrity


    now."


    Larry added, "To stick to our timeline, we need a team better than Norpa. Only Yonder Digital and Ortiz Group can match us in software development."Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    George analyzed, "Yonder Digital is also into smart interaction projects;peting with them is tough. And Ortiz Group? They''ve had few coborations with us."


    Charles stated, "In five years, we''ve only worked with Ortiz once, and they chose not to renew." Silence fell over the group. Yonder Digital was apetitor, and past issues with Ortiz made this step seem pointless. Just then, Yvette broke the tension with a soft voice, "If we want to partner with Ortiz, I might have a solution."


    Everyone turned to her, surprised. Yvette said, "Joe, the heir of Ortiz Group, is my boyfriend. I''m sure I can persuade him to coborate with us."


    The room buzzed with excitement. "Wow-" "Impressive! With Yvette, this coboration is a sure thing!" "Yvette, your humility is refreshing! You''re set to marry into the Ortiz, yet you''re interning here?"


    Yvette blushed, her sweetness shining through, "The internship process is random. I came here to improve myself..."


    "Even running your ownpany, you seek self-improvement? With your determination, I could''ve gone to top


    Dec 6


    @ 59%


    Chapter 321-


    universities!" a colleague remarked.


    Feeling encouraged. Yvette turned to David and Charles. "Please give me this chance; I''ll work hard to secure the Ortiz partnership."


    David appreciated Yvette''s background and her humility, which were key reasons he kept her on. He also valued her academic performance at Crescentville University, even if it didn''t match Shakira''s top ranking. Shakira''s talent often came with arrogance. David nodded. "In that case, I''ll take on this mission for you."


    Charles nced at David and said, "Give it a shot."


    "Thank you both! I won''t let you down!" Yvette replied enthusiastically.


    The others watched her in a mix of envy and admiration for her connections.


    Charles continued, "Besides Yonder Digital and Ortiz if anyone has suitable teams in mind, share them. We might find new opportunities.


    "For the second step, it builds on the first. Earlier this year, a new app took the charts by storm. Are you


    Someone asked, "Charles, are you talking about the ''Virmo'' app for stray animals?"


    familiar with it?"


    Charles''s eyes lit up. "Exactly! The live-streaming, positioning, and feeding alerts in ''Virmo'' are perfect for our project. Other departments have talked to their leaders, but we didn''t secure a deal.


    "So for the second task, we should pursue this. If we can partner with the chief designer of Virmo, we can speed up our project significantly."


    Murmurs of doubt spread among the crowd. "Really, Charles? Other departments failed to attract that talent. Can we pull it off?" "This is tougher than negotiating with Yonder Digital!"


    Charles chuckled, noticing only Shakira keeping her cool amid the tension. He asked, "Shakira, do you feel confident about securing the chief designer from Virmo?"


    His question silenced the room, all eyes on Shakira. Stunned by the attention, she hesitated. ''How am I supposed to secure myself?''


    Shakira finally replied, "I can give it a try."


    "Hah? George, your team mayck skills, but not guts!" David mocked.


    Others exchanged curious nces at Shakira, wondering if she''d overstepped. They thought, ''Does Shakira really think she could take on such a tough task like Yvette, who has all those connections?''


    COMMENT


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    C

 Chapter 325

    hapter 325 bre


    Yvette nced over in Shakira, a fine, envigente on her fee


    She was pretty sure Shakira was packing after seeing her easily handle the Ortis family, something the whole department found challenging


    Meanwhile, Xanthe, Rachel, and Larry watched with worried eye. If they weren''t so far away. Xanthe might''ve rushed over to stop Shakira from falling into any traps set by whemers.


    David shot a mocking look, at Shakira shrugged and replied with ayered smile, "Mr. Harris, maybe focus more on your


    own team?"


    David''s face turned even darker.


    Then George said. "Yeah, David, your team''s task isn''t easy either Better mind your own! Who knows, maybe Shakira will nail Virmo, and your team might not..." He left the sentence hanging, dripping with challenge. "Fine! Let''s see if your toe''s got skills or if mine''s better!" David retorted, gritting his teeth.


    The early meeting ended with a face-off between the two teams. As everyone dispersed, George approached Shakira, looking serious.


    Though Shakira knew George defended her because of team loyalty, she still appreciated it. She hesitated about saying something formal to put him at ease.


    But then he suddenly rxed, looking ready to cry. He had been so tough earlier, now he seemed all timid. "Shakira, you''ve got to go all out for us! We can''t let that jerk David look down on us." Shakira chuckled, "Alright, I''ll work hard to nail the task."


    George sighed, "Actually, it''s okay if you can''tplete it. You''re the only intern on the team. I don''t want to push you too hard. If we can find a suitable partner outside, that''s fine too..." Shakira''s eyes shed. "Got it."


    After some encouraging words from the other teammates, Xanthe, Rachel, and Larry finally came over. Xanthe said, "Shakira! You''re even more impulsive than me now."


    Xanthe was pacing anxiously. "Yvette only got here through connections. Even though we''re annoyed, we shouldn''t make it hard on ourselves."


    Rachel, who was so worried she instinctively started using signnguage, quickly switched to her reading pen. "Shakira, maybe we should talk to Mr. Gordon and ask for some leniency?"


    Larry pursed his lips. "Since you''ve already made a promise during the meeting, backing out now would be worse than failing. We''ll have to push through. I''ll keep an eye out for any news on Virmo to help you." Seeing their concern, Shakira gave a warm smile. "Don''t worry about me. I wouldn''t have taken this on if I wasn''t confident."


    Xanthe''s eyes lit up. "So, Shakira, you already had a n?"


    Shakira replied, "Well, sort of."


    Xanthe sighed in relief. "See, I knew it. Even though you can''t stand Yvette, you''re not that irrational. Here I was worrying for nothing."


    Shakira chuckled but then noticed the red veins in Xanthe''s eyes and an unusual swelling at the corners. She frowned,


    "Xanthe, were you cryingst night?"


    The other two turned their heads in unison. "What? Xanthe, what''s wrong? Are you not feeling well?"


    Xanthe immediately gave a guilty smile. "No, no, I just stayed upte reading a novel."


    "No, you were crying." Shakira said firmly, "When Yvette and Berry betrayed you before, you looked just like this, only you were even more of a mess then."


    Xanthe said, "Shakira, let''s not bring up the dark past if we want to stay friends."


    Shakira didn''t say anything, but her gaze was locked on Xanthe


    Xanthe knew Shakira had seen right through her. She sighed and confessed, "It''s about my cousin Lucy. We had a big fallout yesterday."


    Shakira didn''t look surprised at all. Xanthe noticed and gave a self-deprecating smile. "Shakira, you''re so smart. Did you already figure it out?"


    "I haven''t met her often, but I sensed something off," Shakira replied after a few moments of thought, "She feels like another Berry to me."


    "Exactly!" Xanthe said, her face falling into disappointment and frustration, looking like a small, sad hamster. "I''m such a fool, always getting tricked by the same kind of backstabbers. I treated them like sisters, but to them, I''m just an ATM." Shakira said, "It''s not your fault. They aren''t worth your genuine care. Cutting ties with them is your gain. They might say they don''t care, but deep down, they''ll regret losing a friend like you."


    Xanthe''s eyes sparkled with unshed tears as she looked earnestly at Shakira. "Really? So, if you lost me, it would be a huge regret for you, right?"


    Shakira raised an eyebrow and answered seriously, "Nope, since I don''t need you as an ATM."


    The blow left Xanthepletely stunned.


    Shakira walked away with a mischievous smile on her lips. Rachel, worried that Xanthe might be deeply hurt, stood there in shock.


    Before Rachel coulde up with somethingforting to say, Xanthe dashed over to Shakira and hooked her arm, suddenly lively as if she had a wagging tail.


    Xanthe said, "I don''t care! I''m sticking with Shakira no matter what. I know Shakira would never abandon her good friend."N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Shakira stayed quiet, but with Xanthe goofing around, the two of them walked away together. Rachel still couldn''t quite wrap her head around it.


    Larry chuckled and exined, "Shakira''sment made it clear that her friendship with Xanthe has nothing to do with money."


    Rachel finally understood and smiled, "Shakira is a tough cookie, but she''s a soft-hearted friend."


    They headed to the restaurant, and now that Xanthe had untangled her emotional mess, she had a great appetite and grandly treated everyone to lunch. Just as they sat down, they heard sycophantic voices not far off.


    "Wow, Yvette, is that a limited-edition Constetion Diamond watch on your wrist?"


    "It is! It''s the one that had all the millionaires fighting over, worth millions, and not just buyable with money. Yvette, you''re 15:48 Fri, Dec 6 GWG.


    Chapter 323-


    so loaded!"


    "Come on, think about who Yvette''s boyfriend is. A couple of million is nothing; he can make that in minutes."


    3378


    Blushing slightly under her colleagues'' praise, Yvette exined, Actually, this isn''t from Joe; it''s my internship gift from my


    parents.


    "It''s a family tradition. When we''re out and about, we need to look presentable, and our attire needs to be worth over a million to match the Nelson family status.


    "I thought wearing too much bling at work might be inappropriate, so I just wore the watch."


    Her words left everyone awestruck again.


    "Going out with attire worth over a million! I thought that was just a saying, but it''s actually true and happening right here." "I''ve heard Yvette''s family dotes on her like she''s a real-life princess. She must''ve saved the gxy in her past life!" "No kidding, with several brothers pampering her, you know this princess is really high-value. Honestly, reincarnation is an


    art!"


    "Yvette, does your family need another daughter? I can guard the door for you."


    Yvette covered her mouth,ughing lightly, her eyes drifting towards Shakira''s table nearby.


    She smiled loftily and, with a tone dripping with subtle boasting, said, "Sorry, my parents think having just one daughter like me is enough."

 Chapter 326

    Xanthe said, Damn! Yvette can really talk big without batting an rye. Back when I hung out with her. I never heard anything about this million-dor nonsense''


    Fuming, Xanthe almost snapped her spoon in half. "And one daughter is enough? Is she even the real daughter of the Nelson family? Does she have any self-awareness?*


    The more she listened, the angrier she got, and was about to jump up and expose Yvette''s facade in front of everyone.


    Shakira reacted faster, pressing down on Xanthe''s hand and gendy pulling her back into her seat.


    Xanthe''s eyes widened. "Shakira!"


    Shakira stuffed a fried shrimp from her bowl into Xanthe''s mouth. "The more you mind her, the more she''ll revel in it. Eat your food."


    Xanthe chewed the shrimp, her mouth full, and despite her anger, she obediently listened. She thought, ''Shakira is right. I can''t fall into Yvette''s trap!


    Yvette had been watching Shakira all along and, seeing her calm demeanor, felt even more triumphant. She thought, ''Oh Shakira, no matter how indifferent you act, there''s no way you''re not bothered inside, right?


    I want everyone to know just how well your so-desired family treats and spoils me. No matter how lucky you are, you''re destined to be beneath me in this life!*


    With a smirk on her lips, Yvette basked in the admiration of her colleagues. As the chatter continued, someone suddenly changed the topic. "Hey, look at the shareholders list of our group. When did we get a new minor shareholder?" "Wow, you''re right! It wasn''t therest month. How did a neer suddenly get a 3% stake?"


    In an instant, everyone''s attention shifted to thepany''s stock changes. Compared to Yvette''s unting, they were far more intrigued by this mysterious new shareholder.


    "Hey, do you guys think this new shareholder could be Mr. Lopez''s girlfriend?"


    "Could be, you know!"


    "Yeah, Mr. Lopez took her to meetings. And during the holidays, she was all over his Instagram. Giving her some shares would just be a casual gesture for him."


    "The first name is hidden, but theirst name is Nelson..."


    "Wait, could it be Yvette?"


    Just as someone threw out the bold guess, it was shot down immediately.


    "There''s no way, the Nelson family and the Lopez Group have nothing to do with each other. Yvette''s boyfriend is Joe Ortiz. She can''t be connected to Mr. Walter Lopez or Mr. Benji LopezContent ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "If it were Yvette, she''d have low-key bragged about it already. No need for us to specte."


    "Yeah, it''s more likely to be Shakira!"


    "Ugh, whoever it is, I''m so jealous! A 3% stake in the group is worth billions. If it were me, I''d be set for life."


    "Think bigger, I''d be set for many lifetimes."


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    Xanthe suddenly realized something, her eyes practically popping out of her head. Mouth agape, hit by a wave of shock and excitement, she forgot how to speak, resorting to shaking Shakis arm vigorously, her expression hriously exaggerated. Rachel panicked. "Shakira, is Xanthe choking?" She hurried over to help.


    Shakira met Xanthe''s gossip-hungry gaze and instantly knew what she was thinking. "She''s fine, she just wants the scoop"


    Shakira calmly picked up a juicy slice of watermelon and popped it into Xanthe''s mouth, leaning in close. "You guessed right. You''re the only one who knows. Don''t spill."


    Xanthe thought. The only one who knows! That''s totally VIP status for the number one fan like me!


    Xanthe bubbled with excitement, munching watermelon with a grin bigger than a cat who got the cream. "Okay, okay. I won''t say a word."


    "Oh man, if Yvette, who brags about a million-dor worth, finds out you''re worth billions, she''ll lose it!" She promised not to say but her face was practically screaming to reveal the juicy secret.


    Shakira quietly chowed down on her watermelon, unable to watch any longer. She hadn''t expected their secret to be discovered so quickly; itenust have just been updated on the records after the legal process.


    Rachel and Larry exchanged confused looks, not understanding the girls'' cryptic exchange. They just continued eating watermelon.


    Xanthe kept making mocking faces at Yvette, making it clear that the "Nelson" on the Lopez Group''s shareholder list was indeed Shakira.


    Yvette thought, "Three percent of Lopez Group! How does Shakira deserve that? What kind of magic spell does she cast on Walter to make him hand over his shares to her?


    ''It should have been mine. Walter is the fianc¨¦ she ditched, the moody cripple I disdained, who ended up being Shakira''s huge windfall.''


    Even though Yvette kept convincing herself that she didn''t want Walter, knowing Shakira had such immense wealth shattered all her mental defenses.


    Nothingpares to 3% of Lopez Group. That''s hundreds of billions, an unimaginable fortune anyone would envy.


    As Xanthe guessed, upon realizing the truth, Yvette''s facade began to crack. Her smile faltered, and rage twisted her expression. She couldn''t eat anymore and got up abruptly.


    In the restroom, Yvette''s face was grim. Suddenly, a dark voice interrupted her thoughts. "You wish Shakira was dead too, don''t you?"


    Hearing her innermost thoughts voiced out loud, Yvette''s heart pounded, She looked up and saw, reflected in the mirror, a morous, haughty woman who had appeared behind her.


    Yvette narrowed her eyes. "You''re... Fiona?" She recognized her and turned around, her face easing into its usual gentle demeanor. "Ms. Banks, were you talking to me?"


    Fiona let out a mockingugh. "It''s just us here, drop the act. When Shakira shamelesslytched onto Walter, I had her thoroughly investigated. If not for the Nelson family kicking her out, she wouldn''t have clung to Walter.


    "In the end, it''s the Nelson family-no, it''s you, Yvette-who turned Shakira into a big winner, giving her a dream life she could never have reached otherwise."


    Fiona''s sarcastic remarks broke through Yvette''s defenses once again. She clenched her fists and stared straight into Fiona''s venomous eyes. 15:49 Fri, Dec 6 Gu


    In an instant, Yvette let out a scoff, realization dawning on her. "So, Ms. Banks, it looks like you couldn''t outwit Shakira and now, after your defeat, you''re out of options and trying to provoke my anger to do your dirty work for you." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Sorry, Ms. Banks, though Shakira doesn''t like me, I won''t do anything to hurt her. If possible, I''d appreciate it if you didn''t make things difficult for her."


    Seeing Yvette''s almost all-knowing smile, acting all innocent and pure, Fiona felt nauseous. "No wonder Shakira would rather leave the Nelson family. Turns out you''re a world-ss maniptor, making everyone ufortable." Fiona crossed her arms. "I thought you''d make a good ally, but clearly, I overestimated you." She turned to leave.


    Yvette''s expression darkened, biting her lip, she softlymanded, "Stop."

 Chapter 329

    Night falls at Easke Valley Estate.


    After dinner, Shakira pushed Walter to thekeside for a stroll, while they stopped by to feed Otto ate-night snack. Once their food settled, she wheeled him back to the room, preparing for an acupuncture session.


    Walter watched her calmly cing the needles, his thick eyebrows raising slightly. He couldn''t help but ask, "The marketing department has a project initiation meeting the day after tomorrow. With the cessation of the Norpa coboration, shouldn''t you be busy selecting new partners?"


    "We are busy," Shakira said, holding a silver needle in one hand and turning Walter''s head back with the other, swiftly inserting the needle. "But that doesn''t stop me from treating you


    From a position where Shakira couldn''t see, as she ced the third needle, Walter''s eyebrows twitched slightly.


    Tilting her head to look at him, Shakira asked, "Did I identally insert it too deeply? Does it hurt?"


    Walter replied calmly, "No sensation."


    Nodding, Shakira murmured, "Makes sense. If it hurt, you''d have told me before


    A fleeting shadow crossed Walter''s eyes, but he carried on the previous Charles to recruit the lead designer of the Virmo app into the project?"


    even


    11


    conversation. "But I heard you took on a task from


    Hearing this, Shakira''s lips curved as she quickly inserted the remaining needles and crawled onto the bed beside Walter. With a mischievous smile, she nced at him. "Why is the ever-busy Mr. Lopez so curious about my work?"


    A few tingling sensations coursed through his legs, and Walter felt his temples throb. As she moved closer, he couldn''t hide his expression in time and turned his face away, a rare hint of panic in his demeanor. Seeing his reddening ears, Shakira chuckled, thinking Walter was embarrassed at being caught spying. "You were so bold when you were snooping, why are you shy now?" she teased,ughing softly. Walterposed himself for a moment before turning back around. He captivating than the night sky full of stars outside the window.


    saw her bright,ughing eyes, which


    were


    far


    more


    Walter''s Adam''s apple bobbed slightly, and in a deep, resonant voice, he leaned down, his dark yfulness. "If I don''t keep tabs, how else can I be there to pick you up right after work?"Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    eyes


    full of


    §á§à§Ý


    cre


    Realizing his intentions, Shakira''s eyes widened in shock. "No way, you still have needles in-" Her protests swallowed by Walter''s lips.


    She never imagined she''d ever be pinned down for a kiss while giving someone acupuncture. If she had known, she wouldn''t have teased Walter earlier. Now she was paying for it immediately, no need to wait overnight, With nothing else to do while lying there with needles in him, Walter decided to shower Shakira with nuzzle her nose, and peck delicately at the corners of her eyes.


    Wisses on her cheeks,


    Watching Shakira''s cheeks flush under his attentions, Walter grinned smugly, like a lion thoroughly enjoying its new ything, his eyes half-closed inzy satisfaction.


    When the time was up, Shakira quickly turned over, pushing him away to remove the needles and shooing him off to soak in his herbal bath. Finally, her burning cheeks had a chance to cool down.


    She returned to her small room to tidy up the cat''s bedding, just as Sean sent a message saying he had something urgent to


    discuss.


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    19:12 Sat,


    She called Sean, who sounded surprised. "Shakira, I thought you wouldn''t have time for a call."


    The background noise on Shakira''s end was filled with meowing "I''m cleaning the cat''s nest. You can talk. I''ve got some things to discuss too."


    Sean protested loudly, "I want to see the cat too! Let''s video chat And without waiting for Shakira''s response, he switched to video mode.


    Shakira had no choice but to ept. As soon as the video connected, Sean''s view was filled with Shakira''s blushing, delicate face, taking up the entire screen.


    Sean muttered, "No way, Shakira. Is taking care of cats so exhausting that just cleaning their nest makes you blush?"


    Shakira cleared her throat, trying to change the subject. "What''s up? You first."


    Sean said, "Oh, right. It''s not a big deal, really. Just wanted to let you know that Keith, the software engineer who was building the Virmo foundation, suddenly sent me a resignation email tonight." "So suddenly?" Shakira was surprised.


    Sean said, "Yeah, there have been people trying to poach the Virmo teamtely. I thought I''d give you a heads-up to prevent any mishaps."


    Shakira reassured him, "It''s okay. If he wants to leave, let him go. He was mostly handling the basics; the crucial stuff wasn''t handed to him."


    Sean said, "That''s a relief! If he tries to take Virmo stuff to anotherpany, I won''t let him get away with it."


    As Sean spoke, he caught a glimpse of the back of Shakira diligently cleaning the litter box on the screen and shifted his gaze around the room to see how Walter, that dog of a man, had set up her space.


    But he didn''t forget the main point either. "Shakira, what did you want to talk to me about?"


    Shakira continued her task. "Sean, I need you to step in and facilitate the coboration between Virmo and Lopez Group."


    Her calm statement was like a bombshell, leaving Seanpletely stunned. He said, "Wait, what? Shakira, you''re dating Walter, and now you want to hand Virmo over to him?"


    His outburst scared the cats near the phone, causing them to scatter. Shakira picked up the phone and exined helplessly, "It''s a coboration, not a gift. Virmo provides the technology, and Lopez Group provides the funds. It''s mutually beneficial." Sean didn''t buy it. "Shakira,e on, you can''t fool me. Others might not know, but I do.


    "I can bet that across all of Crescentville-no, all of the nation-there''s no one with a higher individual cash flow in their ount than you. Not even Walter! And you''re telling me you''re doing this for the money?"


    Shakira was taken aback. "I have that much money?"


    Sean roared, "I manage your ounts, of course, I know! Domestically, if you don''t im the number one spot, no one dares to im second! Even Yonder Digital''s cash reserves are under your name."


    Shakira scratched her face. "Alright, it''s not just about the money. It''s also because this is my internship task. The division at Lopez Group that I''m working with is this one, and I want to use their funding toplete what I couldn''t before."


    Sean''s tone became extremely intive. "Shakira, Yonder Digital also provides funding support."


    Shakira, looking serious, tried to brainwash him. "So, I need you to step in and facilitate a coboration between Yonder Digital and Lopez Group. This way, Yonder Digital earns money, and I do well at Lopez Group and get bonuses. It''s a win- win."


    59%


    Sean covered his ears, unwilling to ept such a cruel reality. He thought, ''It''s confirmed, Shakira has been brainwashed by Walter into a loving brain. He wouldn''t have believed such an excuse even when he was three. The next day.


    As soon as Shakira entered the office, she was surrounded by her colleagues. "So, Shakira, any news from Virmo?"


    Before leaving work yesterday, they had gathered all their contacts for Shakira to get ahold of the peripheral staff from the Virmo team, hoping to connect with them.


    Before Shakira could answer, George''s assistant rushed in, flustered. "Bad news! The core team of Virmo has been intercepted by Yvette."


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 Chapter 330

    For a moment, everyone''s faces changed. Before they could react, Yvette approached a few people from the second team, looking quite pleased with herself. Maris and the other team members immediately put on cold expressions, and an invisible tension pulled between the groups.


    An older employee, Lily, addressed Maris with no courtesy, "Maris, we need to hold a big meeting. Could you let us have the NI conference room this afternoon?" Although she was asking, her tone was arrogant and dismissive. Maris responded with a forced smile, "We need it for a meeting. Why should we give it up just because you say so?"


    Lily let out a smugugh. "Oh, Maris, haven''t you heard? Yvette sessfully persuaded the core members of Virmo to cooperate with us. Of course, we need a big meeting to prepare for tomorrow''s project kickoff." This news made Maris and her team''s faces darken even more with rage. "What''s your group''s deal? Can''t you use your Ortiz family connections and stop poaching the Virmo project from us?"


    "Poaching? If you''ve got the ability, anyone cannd it,"ughed the second group. Lily mocked them with a disdainful smile, "You couldn''t secure the cooperation, and now you''re mad we did what''s best for thepany?" Yvette stepped between both groups, acting as a peacemaker with a poised and graceful manner. "We''re all colleagues in the same department working for thepany''s benefit. Let''s not get upset."


    She paused and then offered an apologetic smile, winking at Shakira who had remained silent the whole time.


    Yvette said, "Sorry, Shakira. After thinking about itst night, I realized that mixing personal feelings with professional tasks isn''t right, so I decided against persuading the Ortiz family. "With a try-it attitude, I turned to Mr. Gordon''s more interested Virmo, and unexpectedly I really convinced him."


    Her demeanor was both humble and resigned, subtly unting her connections and abilities. "Shakira, we''re all working for the department''s benefit. You''re not mad at me, right?"


    Her performance was seamlessly polished, an act full of subtle vanity. Shakira had seen it all before and remained unfazed. "What you do is none of my business."


    Yvette shed a bright smile. "As long as you''re not mad at me. So, could you possibly persuade Maris? The biggest conference room we have is the N1. If you guys don''t need it-" "Who said we don''t need it?" Shakira casually interrupted her.


    Yvette paused, and the second team behind her, feeling emboldened, chimed in, "You haven''t secured anyone for the project, why hog such a big conference room? It''s like a dog in the manger."


    Maris and her team were enraged but couldn''t refute their brazen arrogance, turning red with frustration. After all, they did


    Shakira, however, remained unbothered, raising an eyebrow. Speaking in a rxed tone, she said slowly, "Oh, as it happens, I''ve also secured the core team of Virmo. We need to prepare for a project kickoff meeting." Yvette''s haughty expression suddenly changed. Maris and her team were thrilled. "Really, Shakira? You managed to contact them?"


    Shakira replied, "Yeah, it''s all set. They''ll be here this afternoon.


    "Fantastic!" Their spirits lifted, and they proudly faced the second team. "Now, who knows which group willnd the project?"


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    Sat, Chapter 330


    1


    "What are you all doing,ughing so heartily instead of working Charles, George, and David happened to walk by and noticed the two groups gathered. Curious, they approached.


    Maris stepped forward and exined the situation. Charles was ted. "Excellent! I never expected the elusive Virmo team to be courted by members from both groups. This coboration is bound to proceed smoothly." George''s face glowed with pride. "Shakira really is our team''s lucky star. With her around, everything just falls into ce."


    "This can''t be true!" Yvette clenched her fists secretly and pointed at Shakira, insisting, "The core team of Virmo signed an agreement. As of now, only one person has left, bearing the penalty. How could you have secured a core member?" David chimed in with a meaningful tone, "So, are you saying the fourth team is lying?"Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    George immediately jumped in to defend, "Impossible! Shakira is smart and reliable; she wouldn''t make such a basic mistake."


    Charles frowned, "This is too important to get wrong. Has everything been verified?"


    Yvette replied, "Mr. Gordon, this core member was connected through Finn. I personally verified their identity, and there are no issues. As for the person Shakira found..." She hesitated, her eyes evasive, and didn''t continue. Charles and the others felt a chill run through them, instantly drawing a conclusion. The connections between Finn from the Nelson family were beyond doubt.


    As for Shakira, a mere intern, her most significant title was being top of her ss at Crescentville University. There was a chance she''d been misled.


    C


    Yvette''s words also made George waver, ncing nervously at Shakira.


    Facing suspicious looks from everyone, Shakira remained unfazed. "My contact is solid."


    Seeing her confidence, Charles wasn''t sure how to proceed.


    David smiled and suggested, "Mr. Gordon, since they''re all part of the Virmo core team, why not have one joint project kickoff meeting this afternoon? We can involve the other teams as well.


    "That way, everyone can see firsthand the talented individuals capable of such remarkable technology."


    George, however, wasn''t thrilled. "A joint meeting? What about the project kickoff tomorrow?"


    David taunted him, "George, are you nning to secretly verify their authenticity ande up with an excuse if there''s an issue by tomorrow?"


    "What nonsense! I absolutely trust Shakira!" George huffed, feeling caught. "Fine, a joint meeting it is! Just be careful it''s not your team that has a problem, and don''t expect any sympathy from us if that''s the case." David snorted disdainfully, showing his contempt.


    Charles spoke up, "Alright, it''s settled. Prepare for the 2 PM meeting. Notify the entire department."


    "Yes, Mr. Gordon!"


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    David led Yvette and her team out. George, still somewhat uneasy, kept double-checking with Shakira until he finally left, looking slightly dazed.


    Time was ticking and all four teams were busy preparing the content for the afternoon meeting.


    The morning flew by, and after lunch, everyone from the Marketing Department gathered in the NI meeting room. It was packed, practically the whole department was there, ready to witness the big departmental showdown.


    Sat,


    59%


    Charles, along with the four team leaders, sat in the front row. Shortly after, Yvette entered with a young man sporting a id shirt and ck-rimmed sses.


    *


    "Mr. Gordon, Mr. Harris, this is Mr. rk, the lead creator of Virmo," Yvette said. "Mr. rk is the software engineer responsible for building Virmo." "Wee, Mr. rk." Charles''s eyes brightened as he extended his hand with a smile.


    Feeling confident about his project''s sess, David smugly nced at George. "Hey George, where''s your girl, Shakira? Didn''t she find anyone to pitch for her and just ditched?" George''s face turned dark, just about to retort when azy, mocking voice came from the door. "Well, well, I wondered who dared to unt the Virmo name around. And here you are."


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 Chapter 331

    Keith''s heart skipped a beat. Everyone in the meeting room turned to look in the direction of the voice, and when they saw who it was, they were all shocked.


    "Mr. Reynolds!" Charles''s face was full of respect as he rushed over to greet him, "We didn''t expect you. Please forgive theck of hospitality."


    Wearing a stylish charcoal gray suit, Sean stood with an air of mboyance, his arms crossed and a faint smile on his face. "No need for formalities, Mr. Gordon. Your team member, Ms. Shakira Nelson, has been more than amodating." After pausing briefly, Sean added with emphasis, "In fact, it''s been an experience of unparalleled hospitality. Quite the personal touch!"


    Shakira silently sighed, thinking, ''Could you be any more dramatic?''


    George grinned, ying along, "Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Reynolds. Shakira is one of our own. It''s an honor for our team to have her hosting you."


    Taking a deep breath, Shakira stepped forward and said, "Mr. Sean Reynolds is in charge of Virmo. This is Ms. Caroline Goodman, the sole software engineer behind Virmo."


    Everyone finally noticed the girl standing behind Sean and Shakira, wearing a short dress. Following Shakira''s introduction, the room collectively gasped in realization.


    "What? Virmo was created by Yonder Digital?"


    "And the sole software engineer is a young girl? She looks kind of familiar..."


    "Oh my gosh, Caroline Goodman. Isn''t she that famous fortune-teller who became an online sensation with her urate predictions?"


    "Yeah, exactly! Her predictions were spot on! I even followed her for a while, and everything she said came true. But then she stopped streaming for a long time, and I thought she went offline. Turns out she switched to software development?"


    "She went from a top-tier fortune-teller to a software engineer whose creation has been dominating the charts for months. It''s like the universe is feeding her sess with a silver spoon."


    "Shakira is amazing! She managed to bring in Yonder Digital''s president."


    "Rumor had it that Team Two used to look down on Team Four, thinking they had an edge with the Nelson family''s daughter. Bet'' they didn''t see thising-Shakira''s got some powerful connections too."


    "Didn''t Shakira win some big designpetition before? That contest was hosted by Sean Reynolds. She may not rely on her family, but she definitely made an impression with her talent."


    "Wait a minute, so Shakira brought in the two big bosses behind Virmo? Then what about Yvette''s guy..."


    Yvette''s face stiffened, her forced smile barely holding.


    She thought, ''Damn it. Caroline, that witch, was the one who went online saying the Smith residence had terrible juju, causing Lago''s downfall and making everyone avoid him. It''s all Shakira''s plot-they''re all in on it! "That witch! Trying to sabotage my ns and steal my credit? No way!"


    Standing behind the stunned Keith, Yvette gritted her teeth. "Didn''t you say there was no chance another person could emerge iming to be behind Virmo?"


    14.25 Sun,


    Keith snapped out of hits daze, stuttering, "Our team definitely didn''t have anyone else. I''m not aware of who the big boss is: we were in touch with a coordinator."


    Yvette was fuming. She thought, "This useless fool doesn''t know anything! "You don''t know the big boss, but what about the software engineer? Is it really Caroline?" Yvette pressed anxiously


    Keith hesitated, "When the tform was being built, the genius herself spoke to me. I never saw her face, but the vibe she gave off ispletely different from this girl.


    He looked Caroline up and down several times.


    Suddenly, he spoke up, "No, it can''t be her. I had a video call with the genius once. I didn''t see her face, but I distinctly remember her hands-they were slender and clean, not decorated with garish nail polish. Yvette''s eyes narrowed. "Are you sure?"


    Keith nodded confidently, "Absolutely. I won''t mistake that. She is definitely not the genius!"


    Yvette''s lips curled into a sly smile. She thought, ''Not the real person? That makes things easier?Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Charles and the others were still reeling from the shock of Sean''s involvement with their project.


    As Charles was pondering what to say, Yvette strode over with Keith. Keith dered firmly, "I don''t know these people. They are not part of the Virmo team."


    Charles was taken aback. "What, you don''t recognize them?"


    Keith shook his head. "Nope, not at all!"


    Sean almost burst outughing. "Whether or not you recognize me, I sure recognize you, Keith. Now I get why you suddenly resigned; you got poached by the Lopez Group." Sean''s steely gaze swept over to Yvette, filled with scorn. "Originally, I hoped you''d have a better future. But seeing who you''ve decided to work for, I take back my well-wishes."


    Seeing Keith rendered speechless by Sean''s words, Yvette put on a face of aggrieved innocence while continuing to sling mud. "Mr. Reynolds, I apologize for any negative impression you might have had of me due to unavoidable circumstances. "However, that''s a separate matter. Bringing people here to impersonate the Virmo team, even though Mr. Reynolds and Shakira are on good terms, is quite a clumsy tactic, isn''t it?"


    Shakira let out a short, incredulousugh. "Yvette, your skill at twisting the truth is as impressive as ever."


    Yvette sighed dramatically, "Shakira, I know you don''t want to lose to me, but facts are facts and cannot be distorted by anyone."


    As she spoke, she produced the resignation notice Keith had received the previous day, clearly stamped with the Virmo seal, which was undeniably authentic.


    She made sure everyone had a good look at it before turning back to Shakira, adopting a patronizing tone. "Shakira, let''s not make this any worse than it already is. It benefits neither thepany nor us.


    "And how could you bear to drag Mr. Reynolds into this nonsense? Just tell everyone the truth. I''m willing to let bygones be bygones and pretend none of this ever happened, so you don''t have to face any awkward consequences."


    Seeing Yvette act so magnanimous and forgiving, the previously confused crowd began to shift their stance. "Wow, so Shakira is really that desperate to save face, she''d even go as far as faking this? That''s disgusting!"


    "And dragging the Yonder Digital boss into it too. Could Shakira actually be a Yonder Digital nt in Lopez Group? The


    Sun, vec o


    more you think about it, the scarier it gets."


    10468%-


    "It could be true! Yonder Digital and Lopez Group have always kept to their ownnes. Suddenly, as soon as Shakira starts her internship, Mr. Reynolds keeps dropping by the Lopez Group..."


    "I thought it was odd Mr. Reynolds showed up out of nowhere. Virmo really belonged to Yonder Digital, do you think they wouldn''t promote it aggressively?"


    "These business war tactics are so low-level."


    "You don''t get it. Sometimes the simplest tricks are the most effective. Otherpanies steal lucky charms or water money trees with boiling water. Just the other day, a carpany boss called out apetitor directly on social media." Yvette truly shows the ss of someone from a big family. She knows how to put the bigger picture first."


    "Exactly. Coborating with outsiders for personal gain and lying to everyone-if this gets out, how humiliating would that be? Not to mention the other departments in our ownpany willugh at us for a whole year."


    "Ugh! These kinds of dirty tactics to climb the corporatedder are really sickening!"


    The meeting room was buzzing with discussions. Just as Charles''s expression showed slight hesitation and George looked pale and defeated, Shakira''s calm yet powerful voice rang out once more. "Why don''t we just have a test to see who the real Virmo engineer is?"

 Chapter 332

    Shakira lowered her gaze slightly. "Since we have two Virmo software engineers here, why don''t we see who is more skilled and more qualified to coborate with Lopez Group?"


    David sneered, ring at Shakira with a sinister look, "A little girl like you think you get to decide things around here? Just because you say so?"


    "And if she doesn''t get to decide, do you?" Sean''s typically easygoing tone turned icy cold.


    David was instantly choked up, his face turning red with frustration. Charles, instead of immediately responding, turned to Sean. "Mr. Reynolds, what do you suggest?" After all, the head of Yonder Digital wasn''t someone they could afford to offend easily. Sean shrugged casually. "I''ll listen to her." With Shakira in charge, Sean naturally deferred to her.


    Those simple words left the crowd in awe. They thought, ''How close must they be for a high-rankingpany president to listen to an intern so obediently? Anyone else would have left in a fit of rage at being questioned


    Charles''s expression softened slightly, impressed by Sean''s willingness to cooperate. He also supported Shakira''s suggestion for a skills test. It would rify the current messy situation and help elect the best partner, benefiting all parties involved. Yvette secretly observed Charles''s expression, easily guessing his thoughts. She bit her lip in frustration, not expecting Sean, the CEO of Yonder Digital, to protect Shakira to such an extent.


    Taking a deep breath, she put on a facade of cooperative retreat. If Shakira wants a test, then let''s do it."


    Charles nodded, "Since both sides have no objections, how do you two engineers suggestpeting?"


    Caroline nced at Shakira and said to Keith, "You decide."


    Keith raised his voice. "Ladies first. Ms. Goodman can decide, and I''ll ept whatever she chooses." He was confident that he could beat her, no matter the challenge.


    Seeing Caroline in a bit of a bind, Shakira arched an eyebrow and suddenly suggested, "How about you both test your skills by trying to breach Lopez Group''s newly reinforced firewall? We''ll judge by the progress made." The entire marketing team stared wide-eyed, and even Charles''s mouth twitched.


    They thought, ''Who the heck asks someone to attack their ownpany''s firewall? Good thing we aren''t from the security department, or this would be a nightmare!'' Caroline didn''t hesitate and blinked. "Sure."


    Keith knew just how tough Lopez Group''s security team was. But seeing the prompt eptance from Caroline, he couldn''t back down. "I have no problem with that."N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Charles waved his hand, instructing his assistant, "Contact the tech department to prepare."


    At that moment, Shakira interjected, "Mr. Gordon, I propose using separate meeting rooms."


    "Enough already! Don''t push it!" David couldn''t hold back any longer and shot an exasperated re at Shakira.


    "Mr. rk isn''t rushing; why are you, Mr. Harris?" Shakira said calmly. "I''m merely ensuring that the evaluation is fair and impartial, avoiding any issues of copying or cheating, which would just be a bigger headache."


    As she finished, Sean and Cathy both nced sharply at Yvette. Feeling offended, Yvette''s face hardened, and she forced a smile. "Whatever you say, Shakira. We''ll follow your lead."


    45


    Before long, Charles''s secretary set up two separate meeting rooms and arranged technical support from the IT department. On therge screen in the N1 room, everyone could clearly see the shared screens of the twoputers. Shakira apanied Sean and Caroline to one meeting room, while David, Yvette, and Keith upied the other. Once both sides were ready, Charles announced the start of the timing


    Keith immediately started coding tounch an attack, while on Shakira''s side... As soon as Caroline was sure no one outside could see inside, she quickly got up and gave her seat to Shakira Shakira, have a seat." Shakira shook her head helplessly. "Why did youe over?"


    Sean pouted, "Shakira, you called so urgently, how was I supposed to find a bunch of extras in such a short time? Cathy was already here, perfect timing! Besides..." Caroline chimed in with a broad grin. "Besides, I insisted oning! Shakira and Sean filled me in. I haven''t met your boyfriend yet. I want to see him too."


    Shakira thought, ''So it is a cover. The real reason is gossip. She rubbed her temples. "Today might not be convenient. Next time!"


    Watching the timer tick away, Sean began to get anxious. "Look, we can chatter, but Shakira, can you start working?" Shakira only slightly raised an eyebrow, maintaining a calm demeanor. "No rush."


    Sean thought, ''Not in a rush now? When will she be?''


    Wette watched Keith''s fingers fly over the keyboard and felt somewhat reassured. "How confident are you?"


    Keith, who was already sweating, replied, "About thirty to forty percent."


    Yvette frowned, dissatisfied, "Why only thirty to forty percent? Shakira cracked it open and essed the surveince before


    Fully focused on the screen, Keith gave a perfunctory response. Attacking a firewall is one thing. Sneaking in to check surveince is another. When youunch an attack, Lopez Group''s security team will immediately defend, which is way harder than sneaking in." "Oh, I see." She thought, ''Berry talked up Shakira''s skills so much, making it seem like she could rival the Lopez Group''s prized security team. Turns out it is just some sneaky actions that earned her that reputation.


    Yvette was still uneasy and, after saying something to David, returned to the main conference room herself. On the big screen, Keith had already advanced 11% in his attack, while Shakira''s side hadn''t even begun.


    Yvette''s smile grew more confident. She thought, ''Shakira, you can struggle all you want. This time, you''re definitely going to lose!''


    2044


    Nearly twenty minutes had passed, with Sean and Caroline practically running in circles around the room in a frenzy, when Shakira finally made a move.


    She ced her hands on the keyboard, briefly pausing before her fingers began flying across the keys, moving so fast they seemed to blur. Sean and Caroline quickly gathered around, staring intently but soon getting dizzy from the iprehensible flurry of code. Despite her rapid pace, Shakira found the time to instruct Sean, There''s something you need to do now."


    Sean said, "Okay."


    On the NI big screen, Keith''s progress had reached 38%, but he couldn''t advance further, clearly held back by the security team. Meanwhile, Shakira''s side was crawling painfully to 9%.


    20


    Dec


    "Less than five minutes left, Team Four is definitely going to lose


    "Wow, Shakira really has guts, embarrassing herself over and over again. Now look, it''s a major embarrassment.


    "If it were me and I lost this badly, I''d have no face to stay in Lopez Group."


    68%%


    As time ticked by and the thirty-second countdown began, the progress difference between the two sides hardly changed. Team Two was beaming with smugness, while Team Four looked defeated. "Last ten seconds, ten!"


    George hung his head, unable to watch anymore.


    "Nine!"


    Yvette stood up, prepared to bask in the glory of victory.


    Suddenly, an incredulous shout erupted from the crowd. "Wait, am I seeing things?"


    "Shakira''s progress is at 20? Did she just rocket forward?"


    "She overtook him, she''s caught up and passed him."


    "Damn, not just overtaking, she''s zing through, shooting straight for 90."


    Yvette''s eyes widened in terror as she watched the numbers on the screen race ahead. She thought, ''No, this can''t be happening!''


    In the final moments of the countdown, Shakira''s progress bar hit 99.99%. The entire room erupted into chaos.


    Amid the noise, someone eximed, "Look, Virmo''s official website just posted an announcement-their two main creators, the major financier, and the sole software developer, are officially recognized as- "Sean and Caroline, ording to their official statement! Shakira told the truth, it was Yvette who lied!"


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 Chapter 333

    Yvette''s face turned ghostly pale. She thought, ''How could it turn out like this?'' Keith was confident that Caroline was not the mysterious expert, wasn''t it?


    Thepetition ended. Shakira waited for her team to return to NI meeting room. They heard a noisymotion inside. just as they reached the entrance. Shakira was about to go in when David, who hadgged a step behind, suddenly took two big strides forward, blocking her way. He chuckled arrogantly. "Ignorant girl, let''s see how you handle this now." After saying that, he walked right in. Seeing Charles who smiled and stood up to greet, he went straight to shake the extended hand. Both Charles and the others were lost for words.


    David, who was convinced that Shakira and her team were done and was unaware of the announcement on "Warmth" website, assumed that the project was a sure thing and started bragging. "Don''t worry, Mr. Gordon. I''ll supervise Mr. rk throughout the course. He''s very capable. With his skills and our team''s effort, I believe we''llplete this task excellently," said David.


    As he said this, he shot a taunting nce at Benton. Unexpectedly, Benton burst outughing, clutching his stomach.


    David sneered. "Benton, how can you still beughing."


    "Uh? Haha." This made Bentonugh even harder, like a crowing rooster, unable to say anything else.


    David shook his head and thought, ''Look at that. Benton really can''t stand losing. He''s gone crazy over such a small issue.


    At this moment, his reliable secretary Jeff quietly came up to him, trying to keep his head low. "Mr. Harris, take a look up."


    David was not happy. "What are you whispering about? Speak up


    Jeff took a deep breath and spoke clearly and loudly, "Mr. Harris, look at the screen. Our team lost."


    "What did you say?" David was taken aback, lifting his head to look at the screen frozen in the final frame ahead. His eyes widened in shock as if he had been struck by lightning. Charles finally pulled his hand away, wiping the sweat from his palms. "David, you''ve messed up this time."


    David''s mind went nk, with his entire body stiff for a moment. Suddenly, he turned and grabbed Keith, almost pushing his head against the screen. "Didn''t you say we had this won?"


    Keith looked rmed. He thought it was impressive to have broken through nearly 40%, and hadn''t figured that the opponent was merely 0.01 away from breaking through the firewall of the top security team domestically.


    "Th-there must be something wrong with this. No one could have done this, especially against the Lopez Group-" said Keith.


    "You think others can''t do it just because you can''t do it?" Sean retorted sharply. "Keith, Warmth has already announced it. You impersonated a lead engineer to gain personal benefits; get ready to receive a letter from Warmth''swyers." Terrified, Keith confessed immediately. "No, this has nothing to do with me. I''m not the one pretending. It was her who told me to say I was a key team member. It was all her idea."


    "You spineless coward," murmured Yvette. She was so angry with Keith that she could barely resist the urge to hit him.


    David was trembling with anger. "Yvette, do you really think that the whole department and I are fools?"


    Yvette''s face, which was already pale, lost thest bit of color. She stared in disbelief at Keith, who had betrayed her.


    "Mr. rk, how can you nder me like this? You were the one who first imed ''Warmth was your creation and was indispensable to the team. Now that things have gone wrong. Are you trying to shift the me onto me?" Frantically, Keith almost lunged forward. "You''re lying, you''re lying. You were the one who-"


    "What are you doing? This isn''t a ce for your antics." Fortunately, the security team acted quickly, pinning him to the ground and silencing his noisy mouth.


    67%


    Yvette curled up, with tears filling her eyes as she trembled in fear from Keith''s outburst. "I don''t know why this happened. If I had realized he was a fake sooner, I would''ve never brought him to thepany."


    "Mr. Harris, Mr. Gordon, please trust me. I was deceived too. Thankfully, Shakira brought Mr. Reynolds and Miss Goodman to reveal his true colors. If we had signed the contract, the mistake would have been harder to fix," Yvette cried and was filled with regret. "I thought she was involved with Keith, but it turns out she''s innocent after all."


    "Since he was introduced by Finn, of course, Yvette wouldn''t suspect. Who would have thought he had such evil intentions?"


    "Being innocent is one thing, but neglecting responsibilities is another. If Shakira hadn''t stepped in, our department would have be the biggest joke in the Lopez Group because of the whole mess."


    "Exactly. She wasn''t careful enough. Does she think a few tears will just cover it up?"


    Yvette was lost for words.


    Sean turned to Shakira and muttered, "Damn. With acting skills like that, why is she even bothering with business battles instead of heading to the entertainment industry?"


    Shakira gave a slight smirk. "She wanted to break into the entertainment industry, but sadly, her path got blocked."


    "Oh, right. You''ve got half the credit for blocking her way. With the giarism scandal on the inte and grabbing resources meant for their artists, could she still break into the entertainment industry? Are her fans that desperate to pick up scraps?"


    Charles stepped forward again, sincerely apologizing to Sean and Caroline. "Mr. Reynolds, Ms. Goodman, I''m sorry. We were misled by some nasty rumors, and you were treated unfairly. I apologize." He bowed deeply.


    Sean, with his hands in his pockets, was unimpressed. "Just apologizing isn''t enough, is it?"


    Charles quickly got it. "Don''t worry, Mr. Reynolds. We will ensure those making mistakes face strict consequences." He then turned to instruct David. "Deduct the quarterly bonuses of all team members who were in charge together with Yvette, and re-evaluate their positions."


    As soon as the punishment was announced, there was an uproar in the second team. "What the heck? Are we all being punished for her mistake?"


    "What can we do? She''s a rich heiress who insists on doing things on her own instead of using her connections. We''re just extras and are used as stepping stones in her story."


    "Damn it. I knew she was doomed the moment Mrs. Ort¨ªz kicked her out yesterday."


    "Dragging us down just because she can''t handle it. How shameless!" These angry words disregarded Yvette''s feelings. She kept her head down and was too embarrassed to meet their gaze


    Listening to those trash talks against Yvette was music to Sean and Caroline''s ears; they felt absolutely delighted.


    3


    67%Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    At that moment, Brian appeared at the conference room doorway with a group of people. "Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Lopez would like you to join him on the rooftop to discuss the project partnership. Senior executives of the Marketing Department will follow." Shakira was surprised. "Does Mr. Lopez want to discuss this project himself?"


    Brian nodded to her. "It''s about the coboration with Yonder Digital; we can''t afford to take it lightly."


    Caroline quietly cheered from the side. "Yay. I get to meet Walter


    Shakira was lost for words.


    The group followed Brian to the CEO''s office on the rooftop. Yvette spotted Fiona among the crowd. When Fiona caught her eyes, she turned and walked away.


    Yvette, upset, ran after her and blocked her path. "Fiona, you are trying to trouble me on purpose, aren''t you?"


    Fiona rolled her eyes. "You asked me to find someone, and I did. You''re the one who messed it up."


    She shook off Yvette''s hand andughed with scorn. "When it was time to boast, you sure praised the Nelson family. When there''s a problem, you want to me it on me. Tsk, fortunately, it''s the Nelson family that''s being embarrassed." Watching Fiona''s arrogant back as she walked away, Yvette''s eyes were filled with angry red veins.


    After Yvette and the others arrived at the CEO''s office, they were surprised to meet some familiar faces from the Security


    Department again.


    They came out of the office looking disgruntled, staring at them bitterly. Brian exined, "The firewall was almost breached, so Mr. Lopez has ordered them to fix it within three days." Hearing this, Charles and his group were embarrassed and avoided eye contact, feeling guilty. Shakira, however, stayed calm and focused, seemingly unfazed.


    "Mr. Reynolds, pleasee in." As the honored guest, Sean was the first to walk into the CEO''s office. The stunning panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows caught his eye and were impressive. Sitting behind his desk, Walter exuded a strong presence. "Mr. Reynolds, please have a seat. I''ll finish dealing with my internal staff before we discuss our coboration in detail." "Sure." Sean guided the curious and sharp-eyed Caroline to the guest area and sat downfortably to watch the scene unfold.


    Walter slightly furrowed his eyebrows and looked towards the marketing team with an intense and authoritative presence.


    "With such a low mistake, you guys hardly deserve to be called elites." Walter sneered coldly, pausing before scanning the room and focusing on Brian. "Where is she?" Everyone in Charles''s group was tense, wondering who he meant. Then, Brian quietly brought Shakira out from the back of


    the room.


    Walter fixed his intense gaze on her. "Come over here."


    Shakira thought, ''Why do I feel like Big Devil wants to eat me up

 Chapter 334

    In front of others, Shakira obediently approached the desk. Walter drummed his fingers on the desk and said in a low voice, "Come closer."


    eyes


    inadvertently


    Shakira was lost for words and had no choice but to walk around the desk and stand by his side. As her drifted upward, they were caught by a photo frame on the desk. Looking closer, she almost gasped in surprise. Shakira thought, ''Wasn''t it-


    In the next moment, a warm hand reached over and firmly held her right hand. Shakira stared at him in disbelief, but Walter pretended not to notice.


    Not far away, Charles''s group watched as Shakira stood beside Mr. Lopez, each feeling uneasy, unable to figure out Mr. Lopez''s intentions.


    Under the table, he held her hand tightly, yet on the surface, he remained distant and stern. He shot another disdainful look at Charles''s group. "A bunch of fools, not even as good as a young girl." Everyone felt ashamed, unable to lift their heads after being scolded.


    Benton, quick on his feet, was the first to bow. "Mr. Lopez, Mr. Reynolds, we made a serious mistake, almost missing the opportunity to coborate with them. If only you can calm down, I''m willing to ept punishment. I apologize to Mr. Reynolds and Shakira."


    The entire Marketing Department knew Benton was excellent at ttery. Seeing his move, the other two team leaders imitated him, bowing and apologizing to Shakira and Sean with genuine sincerity. Charles also made his position clear, offering a sincere apology. A group of executives all bowed their heads toward Shakira standing next to Walter, leaving David as the only one still standing up straight.


    Walter swept his cold eyes over the bowed heads before settling on David. It was a casual nce but carried a hidden resolve.


    David shuddered all over. Though full of frustration, he was unable to resist. He bent down. "I failed to recognize greatness and apologize to Mr. Reynolds and Shakira."


    Seeing the neatly lined-up executives, Sean was awestruck and thought, ''Walter''s move was harsh. He forced a group of executives to swallow their pride and apologize here, effectively blocking my path for negotiations based on their earlier negligence. Thinking about it, Sean whispered to Cathy, who was looking at him with bright eyes, "See, wasn''t I right? Walter is so sneaky and underhanded."


    Cathy looked at him like he was talking nonsense. "Are you blind"


    "What?" Sean waspletely baffled. "What the heck? Why are you insulting me?"


    "How is Mr. Lopez sneaky? He''s clearly supporting Shakira quietly."


    Sean''s entire worldview was shattered in disbelief. "What?"


    Cathy looked at the clueless Sean. "Don''t get it? He''s making them apologize to you openly. Isn''t he standing up Shakira actually? You should y fewer games and read more books like The Bossy CEO Fell For Me. That''ll help you find a partner." "I think you''re the one who''s wrong," replied Sean.


    Cathy shrugged. "Believe it or not, I bet they are secretly holding hands under the table right now."


    16:54 Mon


    Sean was lost for words


    3


    +6


    Sean was startled. Imagining that scenario, his whole perspective was shaken. "No, that''s not possible. Shakira isn''t that kind of person."


    He was getting angry when Walter turned around. "Mr. Reynolds are you satisfied with this apology?"


    Sean instinctively wanted toin, but he immediately met Shakira''s intense stare, nearly tying his tongue. "Of course. I''m satisfied. I can feel Mr. Lopez''s sincerity."


    Walter nodded and turned to look at Shakira. "What about you?"


    As he asked the question, he subtly pinched her index finger under the table.


    His expression was clearly showing a bit of sass. "See, I''ve got your back."


    Shakira sighed helplessly. "Mr. Lopez, I''m quite satisfied."


    "Since you are happy with it. Let''s move on from this," said Walter.


    -3.


    Walter stated. "Rewards for achievements and deductions for failures are clear. You, as the leader, have failed in supervision and management, so your quarterly bonuses will be deducted. The deducted amount will be given to Shakira as a bonus once the project is signed." They were lost for words and thought, ''Oh my god, the quarterly bonuses of each of us is at least in the six figures. If all that went to Shakira, wouldn''t it be nearly 300 thousand dors?


    They regretted it so much, but without Shakira, it might not have just been losing the bonus.


    With that thought, it suddenly didn''t hurt so much.


    Walter stared at them. "Do you have any objections to this decision?"


    They shook their heads like rattles. "No, no, Mr. Lopez, you make a wise decision."Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "Alright, everyone, get back to work," said Walter.


    Cathy patted Sean on the shoulder. "See, I told you. Not only is he supporting Shakira, but he is also bringing money to her."


    Sean was lost for words and was stillpletely caught up in what Cathy said about them holding hands under the table.


    He suddenly stood up, as if on impulse, and walked toward Walter. "I just remembered there''s something at the office and I''ve got to go. I''ll have my secretary follow up on the coboration." Sean suddenly froze. Under the table, Shakira was really holding hands with that guy.


    Sean thought, ''Shakira, why have you be so disheartened? It must be the jerk who led you astray!


    Sean was close to a mental breakdown, watching helplessly as his cherished beauty was carelessly taken by someone unworthy.


    Shakira sensed something was wrong and quickly pulled her hand back. "I''ll go downstairs too. Let me see you off."


    Without any argument, she pulled Cathy, who had an amused smile and ushered the almost petrified Sean out the door.


    After everyone left, Walter at the top showed a barely visible wicked grin.


    Brian was confused. He thought, ''Mr. Lopez was angry when Ms Nelson brought Sean. What is he smiling at now?"


    0


    <


    -


    75%


    "Warmth" reported that someone had impersonated the core member of their team, leading to Keith being taken by the police. Yvette, feeling uneasy at thepany, was soon called over too. Keith insisted that Yvette had convinced him to impersonate. Yvette, both angry and scared, tearfully called her eldest


    brother Finn.


    After receiving the news, Finn brought the top legal team of the Nelson Group and quickly got Yvette out on bail.


    Once in the car, looking at her eldest brother, Finn, who sat apart and gazed out the window with a distant air, Yvette felt an unfamiliar strangeness, like she couldn''t reach him anymore. Though Finn wasn''t as close to her as other brothers, he had always been kind and forgiving to her.


    Feeling a rush of anxiety, Yvette bowed her head and began to cry. "Brother, it''s all my fault. I trusted the wrong person."


    Finn suddenly spoke.


    Yvette, with tears still on her cheeks, quickly looked up, with her eyes wide open. "Br-brother, what did you say? I don''t understand."


    "When you took Keith to the Lopez Group, you said I had pulled strings to find him for you," said Finn.


    Finn turned around and looked at his gentle and kind sister, who was like a delicate flower in the rain, with unprecedented coldness. "The truth is, I knew nothing about it."

 Chapter 335

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    Yvette''s face turned pale. "Brother, you don''t trust me just because of this?" Finn frowned deeply, and before he could say anything else, Yvette''s tears fell even more heavily. She buried her face in her hands, sobbing andining.


    "Yes. I lied about this. Keith was found by Fiona, Miss Banks of the Banks Group, through her connections. She was a new friend I knew at thepany."


    "I didn''t mean to deceive. Fiona made some mistakes and everyone knew it. The wholepany was biased against her. I''ve experienced that feeling of being criticized and misunderstood, which was unpleasant. Fiona has changed and wants to help me and thepany."


    "If I tell the truth that Keith was hired because of Fiona''s connections, they would start to distrust him.


    "We didn''t know Keith would lie to and deceive us. When everything was revealed, I was so relieved that Shakira had found Mr. Reynolds and his team. At least, I didn''t make a huge mistake"


    Yvette''s voice became choked and hoarse. "I thought you came to save me for you understood and know me. I hadn''t thought, after all these years as siblings, even you don''t believe me. Did I mess up so badly that I let you down too?"


    At the end, Yvette slowly lifted her head, with her eyes brimming with tears and full of sorrow and grief.


    Finn was silent for quite some time. Regardless of the reason, the facts couldn''t be changed. She deceived everyone for fear of being suspected, even making him bear the me.


    Finn, who was meticulous and strict at work, couldn''t tolerate such selfish and overly ambitious subordinates in the


    Strangely, Finn suddenly thought about Mitchell and Felix. Ever since they were kids, Mitchell had been the closest to Yvette, yet before disappearing, he gradually became distant and indifferent to this deep sibling bond.


    Felix was the same case. At that moment, he could somewhat empathize with his "sister" who had been part of the family for neen years. He realized she wasn''t as naive and innocent as she seemed.


    Finn''s eyes grew more intense. After a moment, he hesitantly pulled out a sky-blue handkerchief from inside his suit jacket. "Stop crying. Wipe your tears."


    Yvette took the handkerchief and wiped her face, leaving dark marks from her tears on it.


    Finn''s expression stayed serious. "Whether your intentions were good or not, lying is still wrong, especially when ites to work matters.


    "As you mentioned, if it weren''t for Shakira, no one would have caught Keith''s pretense. By the time you all signed the contract and got the project started, it would have been toote to correct anything." Yvette mumbled quietly, "I was reflecting on my actions while waiting for you. I felt frustrated and full of regret.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "If I hadn''t been sopetitive about the project with Shakira, none of this would have happened, and no one would have misunderstood you. It''s all my fault. I''m really sorry."


    Finn rubbed his forehead, feeling a sense of powerlessness as if he were hitting a cotton pillow. He didn''t say anything else and just told the driver to take them home.


    Yvette kept her head down, pretending to wipe her tears away, and in a moment, the look of grievance and pity had vanished from her face.


    16:54 Mon, Dec 9 G ti


    75%


    5


    After returning to her desk, Shakira dove into preparations for the uing project meeting. Time was short. After a flurry of activity, it was nearly ten at night. As she emerged from the four-hour meeting, a sudden thought hit her- She thought, "Terrible. I forgot to tell Big Devil not to wait for me.


    Shakira quickly grabbed her phone, surprised to find that Walter hadn''t sent her a single message. That didn''t make sense.


    Colleagues said goodbye to her, and Shakira replied absentmindedly, slipping into the stairwell as she called Walter.


    He picked up after just one ring, sounding mock-upset. "Finally you think of me, huh?"


    "Sorry, sorry. I''ve been stuck in meetings all day and haven''t had a chance to check my phone," said Shakira.


    Walter''s voice turned sharp. "So you haven''t eaten? Neglecting your health for a few bucks?"


    Shakira meekly epted the scolding but softly defended herself. "After sealing the deal, I get about 300 thousand dors as a bonus, not just a few bucks." "Shakira," he shouted.


    "Yes. Don''t get upset, please. Missing one meal isn''t a big deal. I''m heading back now."


    "No need to go back. Come up here."


    Shakira was puzzled. "Huh?"


    know you''re workingte. I didn''t leave the office."


    "Oh. Wait for me. I''ming up right now."


    Shakira quickly gathered her things and rushed to the private elevator. The executive office was already empty. She made her way into the arms of the handsome man under the curved sky ceiling. His scent melted away all the tiredness from her busy day. Walter gently stroked her long hair, pulling her onto hisp.


    Just then, Brian came in with the freshly heated meal. Seeing the scene, he quickly set the food down and quietly left the


    room.


    Shakira''s eyes lit up as she saw the sizzling roasted beefsteak on the table. "Are these from Veiled Vine?"


    As soon as she finished speaking, her stomach growled.


    Walter yfully pinched her nose. "Hurry up and eat."


    "Haha. Then I won''t hold back."


    Shakira put on gloves and started devouring the roasted pigeon. It was delicious.


    ww


    Walter watched her intently. The breathtaking view of the bustling city outside contrasted with the sight of this cute girl devouring the pigeon, with her face shiny with oil.


    He felt it like a dream, something he never imagined. But now, his arms were filled with the solid warmth of reality.


    Walter grabbed a napkin and gently wiped the oil from her cheek. "Slow down. No one''s going to take it from you."


    "It''s just too tasty. I can''t help it. Did you have any?"


    Walter teasingly remarked. "Do you think I''d starve myself, just waiting for you?"


    Shakira''s eyes twinkled with yfulness. "I know you wouldn''t, but I bet you didn''t eat much."


    Walter raised an eyebrow. This Little Fox was absolutely right.


    0


    After finishing roasted beefsteak, Shakira took a piece of gammon. She ate a bite herself, then fed a spoonful to Walter. He happily epted and even finished off the mushroom soup. Shakira finished eating and drinking and then burped contentedly. "Let''s head home. You must be getting sleepy by now."


    Usually, Walter would be in bed by ten, but now it was almost midnight.


    Walter didn''t move, with his eyes fixed on her. "Aren''t you going to exin?"


    "Exin what?" asked Shakira.


    Walter kept silent. Shakira thought for a moment. "You mean the Warmth project? Of course, I know about it as I often y games with Sean and Cathy." Walter''s gaze was enigmatic. "After you joined thepany, several departments were looking to coborate with ''Warmth, but you didn''t tell me." Shakira thought for a moment. "At first, they were low-key and just wanted to help stray animals. They didn''t consider deeper business coborations." "As for why they areing today, It is because I couldn''t pass up the big bonus, so I persuaded them."


    Shakira looked at him eagerly. "Does that exnation satisfy you?"


    Walter lightly flicked her forehead. "Money lover."


    Shakira covered her forehead and pouted. "Being a money lover has its benefits, doesn''t it? Otherwise, some people might have taken advantage of us." Walter chuckled and shook his head.


    He started the wheelchair and was ready to take her back holding her like this.


    But Shakira grabbed the table. "You''ve asked your questions and now it''s


    my turn."


    Shakira pointed at the photo frame on the table. "Why did you leave it here? It''s not good if someone sees it."


    Walter grabbed her hand and asked back, "What''s wrong with that?"


    Shakira blushed slightly. "It just doesn''t seem appropriate. CEO of the Lopez Group puts a couple''s photo on his desk? It doesn''t match the image of a domineering CEO."


    Find


    "I think it fits perfectly," Walter said seriously. "All the CEOs in romance novels are love-obsessed. I''m just going with the


    flow."


    Shakira was lost for words.


    SVIP ward of Harborview Medical Center covered nearly 3300 square feet and was arge suite of two rooms. Jaslene, resting on the ward, vaguely heard the sound of something shattering and a shrill voice hurling insults outside. She slowly opened her eyes. The door opened, and Fiona walked in briskly. Seeing Jaslene awake, her angry face instantly broke into a smile. "Grandma, you''re awake."

 Chapter 336

    Jaslene weakly smiled, slowly sitting up with Fiona''s help and leaning against the headboard. Noticing the redness in the corner of her precious granddaughter''s eyes, she straightforwardly asked, "Who upset you this time?" Fiona lowered her head, gently pressing her face into,


    "Don''t I know you well?" said Jaslene.


    Jaslene''s palm. "No one did."


    Fiona pouted and muttered, "It''s those clumsy caregivers. They can''t even get the temperature right for hot soup. So useless. I''ll rece them all tomorrow."


    Jaslene chuckled, with her wrinkled face full of warmth and kindness. "Well, my darling granddaughter looks out for me. That makes me so happy."


    "As long as you''re happy, Grandma, I''lle see you every day. Fiona murmured softly, "May Grandma have a long life."


    Jaslene felt a warm glow in her heart. Fiona personally fed her some soup and gently wiped her body with a warm towel before leaving reluctantly


    As soon as she left, Jaslene''s gentle expression faded. She turned to the old butler Kant and asked, "What''s going on with Fiona today?"


    If it was just the caregivers messing up, she wouldn''t get so angry Kant hesitated, but couldn''t withstand Jaslene''s authoritative presence and came clean about everything. woli to do with Mr. Lopez''s


    "Ever since Fiona joined the Lopez Group, she has been in a bad mood. It probably has something fianc¨¦e," said Kant.


    "Is it still that girl with the surname Nelson?" asked Jaslene.


    Kant replied affirmatively.


    Jaslene sneered, with a hint of anger in her voice. "That little vixen surely has some tricks, managing to


    "Invite her over tomorrow. I need to talk to her," said Jaslene.


    linger until now."


    Shakira thought she could sleep in, but Xanthe, who had been quiet for a few days, called her early in the morning on the weekend.


    A


    "Shakira, you promised to catch up and gossip with me. I''ve been waiting for days, and I''m about to explode."


    Shakira yawned and rubbed her ear. "Did it have to be so early?"


    "Hmph, if it wasn''t for knowing you and Mr. Lopez had important stuff to handlest night, I would''ve kept you up chatting."


    all


    night


    Hearing the wild chat from the other end, Shakira almost choked on her spit. Suddenly feeling yful, she lowered her yoice. "How do you know we don''t have anything important to handle this morning?"


    Xanthe was lost for words, paused for a good thirty seconds, and then suddenly hung up. Listening any longer would be disrespectful to Mr. Lopez''s efficiency.


    Shakira couldn''t help butugh. As a couple fan leader, she was way too dedicated.


    In the end, Shakira arranged to meet Xanthe in the afternoon. They nned to go out for some facial cleansing and


    1/3.


    hydration treatments.


    68 375%=


    All afternoon, Shakira answered all her questions, barely managing to satisfy Xanthe''s curiosity that had built up over the past few days.


    After the cleaning part was over, theyy on the massage chairs with hydrating masks on. Before long, someone knocked and came in. Shakira opened her eyes, catching Jasmin sneaking in, who was trying to rece the massagedy. Jasmin awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "Sh-Shakira...


    Shakira interrupted him. "Mr. Sullivan, is the matter I requested you to handlest time settled?"


    Upon hearing this, Xanthe nced over and realized there was an extra person in the room.


    "I''m here exactly for this," replied Jasmin.


    Jasmin gestured for the two massagedies in the room to leave. He got up, closed the door, walked over to Shakira, and handed her some documents with a mysterious air. "All the ingredients are listed here."


    Shakira took it and quickly skimmed through it.


    "What''s this all about?" Xanthe, who loved gossip, craned her neck to take a look and quietlyy back down seeing it was all in technical jargon.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Xanthe grumbled and thought, ''The woes of not being academically gossip.


    Since she was brought here, Shakira didn''t intend to keep it


    I are failure to even keep up


    a


    secret.


    "It''s theponent analysis of ''Rippling Heart," said Shakira.


    Xanthe''s tired eyes lit up instantly. She sat up excitedly. "So, how is it? Any issues with it?"


    Jasminughed at her reaction. "Why would you think that? This skincare product is popr. They wouldn''t risk any ws in their ingredients. But there''s nothing particrly impressive either; it has the usual stuff for whitening, moisturizing, and anti-aging, like other luxury brands'' top lines."


    He stroked his chin. "I''ve seen a lot of positive reviews online. Most testers are socialites and wealthy women. If it only has theseponents, why is everyone raving about it?"


    Xanthe scoffed. "It''s just a scam for gullible people. Her marketing is top-notch, making it sound more effective than big-name brands. Seriously, Yvette is shameless to create this nonsense to rip people off."


    "No, there''s a problem with the ingredients," Shakira suddenly spoke up, making both of them pause.


    Jasmin was incredulous. "Shakira, how could there be a problem? Aren''t these ingredients all normal?" "They''re normal, but soybean extract and salicylic acid should not be used on cancer patients," added Shakira.


    Jasmin was puzzled. "Cancer patients?"


    A light bulb went off in Xanthe''s head. "Right. Yvette sent a set of these products to a popr anti-cancer influencer online. If cancer patients can''t use these ingredients, then Yvette is endangering lives." Xanthe quickly pulled out her phone. "I''m going to report her right now to make sure Yvette doesn''t harm anyone."


    "Hold on a moment." Shakira held her back, "Don''t be impulsive These ingredients were extracted from the skincare set you gave me. That doesn''t mean the set she sent to the anti-cancer influencer has them too."


    Jasmin understood. "You mean she customizes each set for individual people?"


    111


    J


    "It''s possible." Shakira nodded, then asked Xanthe, "Xanthe, how the skin of thedy who gave you this set?"


    75%


    Day 1 a little makeup-maybe just some


    "Uh, she has really nice skin. It was at night when I saw her. She seemed to wear just eyebrow pencil and lipstick. She looked quite young."


    "That makes sense then. Her skin doesn''t have any major problems, and these ingredients have basic effects. They''re suitable for her."


    Shakira analyzed. "Most users are socialites and wealthydies. Some promote it out of respect for the Nelson family. But, it''s not entirely for that reason. It does have some effects and it''s not hard to get that effect by an exclusive, custom-made, luxury skincare." "Really? Yvette is actually willing to spend money like that? I find it hard to believe." Xanthe sighed, lying back down with disappointment.


    Shakira chuckled and thought, ''Of course, Yvette wouldn''t be honest, but she had to admit that this time Yvette was pretty


    smart.''


    Shakira didn''t respond. She gave Jasmin a look and slowly stood up. "Xanthe, I''m going to the restroom."


    "Alright, go ahead. I''ll wait for you." After leaving the private room, Shakira and Jasmin took the elevator up to the recovery ward. Inside, all the machines were running normally and showing Mitchell''s vitals, which looked much better thanst time when she visited. Shakira squinted a bit and said, "Wow, he''s pretty resilient."

 Chapter 337

    ?Chapter 337


    Jasmin stood behind with his arms crossed and chuckled. "It is said that troublemakers live long. You still managed to bring him back when he was on hisst breath. Isn''t that tough luck?"


    Shakira was lost for words, silently looked back to nce at him, and coughed. "Ahem."


    Jasmin, respectful of Shakira, touched his face, with the smile falling away.


    The ward was equipped with professional medical tools. Shakira picked up a stethoscope to listen to Mitchell''s chest and then ced her hand to feel his pulse.


    As she checked, she noticed Mitchell''s index finger moved slightly. It was subtle, but definitely a response. Shakira frowned a little and asked, "When did he start showing slight reactions?"


    "It was when Ist sent you a message. The caregiver noticed some signs, and I informed you immediately. We''ve been noting it down-it''s happening more oftentely." replied Jasmin.


    Jasmin, with his hands behind his back, asked, "Does this mean he''s waking up?"


    Shakira took off the stethoscope. "Yes, it won''t take long before he wakes up."


    Jasmin admired her. "No wonder you''re the mentor, bringing him back even after that."


    Shakira turned sideways, looking down at the handsome man with closed eyes lying on the hospital bed. "It''s his strong will to live and it has nothing to do with me."


    "Oh, don''t be so modest, Shakira." Jasmin chuckled, suddenly thinking of something that made his smile meaningfully. "When Mitchell wakes up, the Nelson family will be thrilled, right? The one who caused his ident can''t escape this time. Karma''sing for them."


    "Who knows?" With a nonchnt attitude, Shakira got up and walked towards the door. Before leaving, she remembered. "Oh, right. You managed to get that set used by the girl who fought cancer. Check the ingredients for me."


    Jasmin made an okay gesture. "No problem, it seems like Shakira is also interested in these miraculous skincare products." "I just feel there''s something fishy about it. It is better to investigate to know for sure. Thanks for your help," said Shakira. "No need to thank me. Shakira. It''s no big deal," replied Jasmin.


    Shakira nodded and pushed the door open to leave.


    Jasmin stood at the foot of the bed, looking at the man lying there like a sleeping prince. His eyes were full of interest. "How interesting it is!" he mused.


    After finishing her skincare routine, Xanthe pulled Shakira along for a shopping trip at a nearby mall.


    Xanthe confidently made her way to her usual beauty brand''s store, only to find...


    "Huh? It''s gone, did they move it?" asked XantheContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Shakira noticed a notice on the wall. "New store under preparation." It looked like some new store would be opened.


    "What''s going on? This keeps happening. I went to the mall at Lions Gatest night for this store.


    "It had moved too. This brand is famous for picking prime spots where there''s a lot of foot traffic. What are they thinking of moving two locations one after the other?"


    Shakira, deep in thougin, snapped a photo and sent a message to Sean. Xanthe, not giving up, found another store nearby, Just as they were about to head there, a ck car blocked their way.


    "Ms. Nelson, Mrs. Banks would like you toe over." Seeing the menacing group of men in front of them, Xanthe held tightly onto Shakira''s arm and shouted at the leading old man, Who is Mrs. Banks? Is this an invitation or a kidnapping?"


    The old man remained unfazed and quietly said, "Please cooperate, Ms. Nelson, otherwise it won''t look good if the other two gets hurt." Xanthe, with her quick temper, inmediately lifted her foot to kick the man and didn''t care about respecting the elderly now.


    Shakira noticed out of the corner of her eye that the man in ck on their left was already making a trained attack move. She quickly pulled Xanthe back, put her arm in front of Xanthe, and said, "I''ll go with you all."


    "No way," Xanthe said confidently. "If you''re going, we''re going together. If they try something, I can help you fight them off." The old man gestured. "As long as you both cooperate, not a single hair on your head will be harmed."


    The car drove from the mall to Harborview Medical Center. Then they took the elevator to the SVIP ward. Shakira''s mind started putting the pieces together, and she was pretty sure who had "invited" her here.


    Passing through the doorway into the top-tier suite filled with the strong scent of alcohol, Shakira remainedposed. Jaslene sat by the bed. Her gaze was rude and straightforward as she sized up Shakira. "It seems that you know I had him brought you here."


    Shakira shrugged. "In my circle, there are few who are as audacious and brash as you." Jaslene''s eyes suddenly turned cold. Xanthe, still puzzled, whispered, "Shakira, who''s this olddy? She seems really fierce."


    "Fiona''s grandma, the former head of the Banks family," replied Shakira.


    "Fiona''s grandma." Xanthe instantly felt relieved. "Now that you mention it, I really think they are quite simr. Fiona also looks down her nose at people. Guess it runs in the family."


    "Shut up." Jaslene snapped, "You dirtymoners, who gave you the audacity to judge our Fiona."


    Xanthe felt annoyed. "Jaslene, are you alright? Is Fiona a princess or something? Andmoners... are you acting out a royal drama at your age."


    Seeing Jaslene''s eyes widen and her face turn red, Shakira felt a slight worried. She kindly reminded, "Jaslene, if you''re not feeling well, take in some oxygen might help."


    "Shut up, you seductress. It''s not your ce to order me around, shouted Jaslene.


    Jaslene red angrily. "I used to ignore it, thinking Walter would get tired and kick you out when he was done. I didn''t expect you to have such a strong hold on him this long, and even sneaking into Lopez Group as an intern."


    "Since you''re obstructing Fiona''s path, I have no choice but to intervene," said Jaslene.


    Jaslene squinted slightly and pointed to the documents on the table. "On the table are the documents of two sets of 6800 square feet luxury apartments downtown and a check of 1.5 million dors.


    "They are the most crucial turning point in your life. I''m giving you one chance, Shakira. Be smart. Take what you should, and disappear from Walter''s life, or else..."


    She didn''t finish talking, with her eyes showing a sharp, dangerous gleam. Facing Jaslene''s threats and bribes, Shakira found it ridiculous and thought, "Do these high-society elites think they''re superior? Can they ignore all limits and do whatever they please because of money and power?''


    Xanthe eximed, "Wow, those luxury apartments at Fortune Global are now worth over three million dors. Two apartments plus 1.5 million must be worth nine million dors.


    Jaslene scoffed, thinking they were all short-sighted. "Shakira, did you hear that? Even your friend knows the right choice to make."


    "No. I''m surprised at how stingy you''re." Xanthe calcted for her. "Shakira is with Mr. Lopez now. She''s the girlfriend and future wife. The Lopez Group is worth hundreds of millions of dors. You''re trying to get by with nine million dors? That''s cheap."


    Jaslene''s face turned dark. "You-"


    "Plus, even if Shakira took your money and left, Mr. Lopez wouldn''t get together with Fiona. Even if he likes the guy next door, it still wouldn''t be your Fiona," said Xanthe.


    Jaslene red at Xanthe who was spilling harsh words like a little firecracker, and pointed a trembling finger at her, with her face flushed with anger.


    Before Jaslene could start cursing, she heard Xanthe muttering to herself in confusion. "Weird, even if Fiona is an only child, she shouldn''t be spoiled so mindlessly.


    "Nearly getting killed because of her precious granddaughter, yet she''s still thinking about getting rid of her granddaughter''s love rivals?"


    Jaslene was so angry that she nked out. "What did you say?"

 Chapter 338

    Chapter 338*


    Frightened by Jaslene''s sudden change, Xanthe quickly hid behind Shakira Jaslene was visibly emotional. "Tell me Who do you say harmed me? Her face was filled with anger and sadness and her clouded eyes shook as if she had realized something She took charge of the Banks family for decades and had seen all sorts of people. She could grasp the meaning behind the young girl''s seemingly innocentment. Seeing Jaslene''s expression, Shakira had already surmised what might be possible. Jaslene still cared for Fiona because the Banks family had kept her in the dark. She was unaware that her cherished Fiona was the person who led her to depend on machines. The suffering she endured was from the evil she fostered all these years.


    "Don''t go, please tell me." Jaslene raised herself slightly and reached out to Xanthe. In the next moment, her face turned visibly grayish and pale, and put up a look of pain as if she were suffocating. She copsedpletely.


    The caregivers were terrified. "Jaslene, doctor, call the doctor, quick." Amidst the chaos in the ward, Shakira quickly stepped up, pressed the emergency button by the bedside, and checked for any signs of breath from Jaslene,


    Her expression turned serious. Without hesitation, she climbed onto the bed, positioned herself, and started CPR on Jaslene. As Kant entered and saw Shakira on top of Jaslene, he rushed forward shouting, "You awful woman, what are you trying to do?" Before he could pull Shakira away, she turned and yelled, "If you want her to live, then stay out of the way." Her beautiful face wasposed and determined, allowing no doubt that she was serious.


    Kant was stunned, and Xanthe quickly rushed over to help, grabbing him. "Shakira is saving her; she wouldn''t harm Jaslene


    Soon, doctors rushed in after hearing the news. Shakira nced over, felt that Jaslene''s breathing had stabilized a bit, and then hopped off the bed. The doctors hurried to diagnose her condition, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief when it seemed okay. "Youngdy, you''ve studied medicine, right? Fortunately, you gave Jaslene CPR right away; otherwise, by the time we got here, it might have been toote." Kant realized he almost caused a disaster with his dy.


    He approached with some embarrassment. "I''m sorry, Ms. Nelson. I don''t know about medicine and almost hindered you from saving Jaslene."


    Shakira looked at Jaslene who was now wearing an oxygen mask and receiving a stimnt injection. Her expression was calm. "Keep Jaslene happy and don''t bother me again. I can''t agree to what she requested."


    After saying this, Shakira left with Xanthe. As they exited the hospital, Xanthe''s legs were still unsteady, and she was still in a daze.


    Once in the taxi, she slowly realized and asked Shakira, "Shakira, did what I said cause Jaslene''s episode?"


    Turning around and seeing Xanthe look down, Shakira knew what was troubling her. Xanthe, who was always direct, didn''t intend to cause any harm.


    Shakira gently patted Xanthe''s shoulder tofort her. "It''s not your fault. You spoke the truth. It''s Fiona who kept the truth hidden, not you. You didn''t know she deliberately kept it a secret.


    "So she had no idea? No wonder she reacted so strongly." Xanthe bit her lip, with her eyes misty with tears as she leaned onto Shakira''s shoulder, still trembling.


    "That was way too close. Hadn''t you known how to do CPR on Jaslene in an emergency, I don''t know what could''ve happened. I''m an idiot to get into an argument with an elderly woman; why couldn''t I control my bad temper," said Xanthe.


    <


    18:04 Tue, Dec 10 G GD.


    "It''s all fine now. Jaslene just got a bit emotional, but she''s okay Shakira took Xanthe home and stayed tofort her for a


    she stay overnight.


    while. It wasn''t until Walter called that Shakira could finally leave otherwise, Xanthe might''ve tofort her for a


    Before Shakira left, she came up with an excuse saying she had picked up a bit from Dr. Lonely Bird and gave Xanthe a few acupuncture needles. Once Xanthe was asleep, Shakira said goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan.


    As she stepped out of the yard to hail a taxi, she unexpectedly say a Maybach quietly parked by the roadside, unknown how long it had been waiting. Shakira quickly walked over and got into the car. "What brings you here?" she asked. Walter grabbed her hand. "I''m worried you might actually stay here tonight." Shakira sighed at his unnecessary concern. "I''m not used to sharing a bed with strangers. I won''t stay the night."


    Walter''s eyes grew more serious. "So, you''re only used to sleeping with me?" Shakira was lost for words and thought, "That infuriating man, pretending he doesn''t know.


    Seeing her puff out her cheeks in frustration, Walter chuckled and asked, "I always thought Xanthe wasn''t afraid of anything. What happened today?" Shakira thought for a moment and exined everything from beginning to end. As Walter listened, his teasing smile slowly disappeared, reced by a serious look. Walter''s expression turned extremely grim. "Haha. The Banks family is used to calling the shots and now they''re trying to boss me around." Shakira pressed her lips together. "Xanthe stood up for me and was a bit shaken, so I''ve been staying with her." Walter nodded. "It''s good she was with you. I''m d you weren''t treated badly." Shakira frowned. "Even if Xanthe wasn''t there, Jaslene wouldn''t let anyone mistreat me. I didn''t expect the Banks family to hide this. Maybe they''re afraid to upset her again after her close call." "Well, they brought it on themselves and have no one else to me. You and Xanthe shouldn''t feel guilty about this," Walter said, pulling her into his arms.


    After getting back to the vi, Shakira wheeled Walter upstairs. Just then, there was some noise outside. Fiona burst in, crying and yelling that she had to see Walter.


    "Don''t stop me. Walter, I need to see Walter. Walter,e out. Grandma can''t hold on much longer. She sent me to find you -she has something to tell you, pleasee out," cried Fiona.


    "I''m begging you. Grandma is not well. She wouldn''t see me and asked me to give you this phone. Walter, please-" Her cries were. piercing, shattering the calm of the Easke Valley Estate night.


    Shakira didn''t expect Jaslene to decline so quickly, especially since she seemed fine in the afternoon. She lowered her gaze slightly and found Walter indifferent. She said, "You should go out and take a look." Walter kept a stern face. "I won''t." Shakira didn''t respond, with her clear eyes locking on him. Walter frowned deeply. "Don''te out. Wait for me inside." Shakira replied, "Okay."


    "Walter, I''m begging you, for Grandma''s sake. Come out. Grandma is not doing well, and I haven''t seen her yet. Please, let me see her," cried Fiona.


    Outside the courtyard, Fiona''s voice was hoarse from shouting. Walter appeared at the steps with a serious face, showing noContent ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    emotion.


    With a face full of tears and snot, Fiona, seeing a glimmer of hope, scrambled up and knelt before Walter. Her hands trembled as she held up her phone. "Walter, Grandma is on the phone."


    Walter didn''t move, and Fiona did her best to straighten her arms, holding the phone high in front of him. "Grandma, look, it''s Walter. Can you see him?"


    From the phone''s speaker came Jaslene''s frail, weak voice. "Wal-Walter. The sound of coughinges. Seeing her condition on the screen, Walter''s face showed a hint of emotion, knowing she was on the brink of death. Tue, Dec TV


    18:04


    Chapter 338 53%


    "Mrs. Banks," said Walter. The sound of coughinges again. Wal-Walter, I''ve done so many bad things in my life, and now I''m going to pay the price


    "But what I can''t stop worrying about in my life is Fiona; she means everything to me." On the screen, the pale-faced Jaslene shed tears, with her eyes red. "Walter, in my final days, can I entrist her to you?" 18:04 Tue, Dec 10

 Chapter 339

    Upon hearing these words, Walter''s expression tightened, bingpletely dark and brooding.


    "Grandma." Fiona was both shocked and happy. When she learned Grandma was critically ill, she rushed to the hospital only to be told that Grandmother didn''t want to see her.


    At that moment, Fiona was heartbroken. She was panicked, not understanding why Grandma suddenly couldn''t hold on, nor why she was being stopped from seeing her onest time.


    But now, hearing what Grandma said, it broke her heart as Grandma, who had always been proud, would beg Walter for her sake. Fiona thought, ''Even on her deathbed, Grandma was thinking of and caring about me!


    Fiona was heartbroken and full of guilt and regret. Yet, meanwhile, a small sense of relief sneaked in. In such a crucial moment, Walter, who valued rtionships highly, would definitely not refuse Grandma. Once he made a promise, he would never break it. Jaslene knew her time was limited, and in her almost drifting state, she could no longer make out Walter''s expression. Not hearing his voice, Jaslene enunciated her words clearly and her weak voice was full of earnestness.


    "Walter, I know you value loyalty and honor. When your mother hadplications giving birth to you, it was the top medical team of the Banks family that saved you from disaster.


    "It had been a long time and I don''t want to use it as a demand, but I can''t trust anyone else with my granddaughter, only you," said Jaslene.


    In the end, Jaslene''s consciousness faded away, with her mouth opening and closing, but no sound emerged. Fiona slightly lifted her head, with her tear-streaked eyes fixing intently on Walter.


    She choked back a sob and spoke softly, "Walter, this is Grandma''sst wish before she leaves us. I know it''s asking a lot of you, but it''s her only wish left. Please, can you promise her this so she can pass away peacefully?" Levi and Brian stood nearby, with their expressions heavy with concern. Jaslene''s request was clearly a kind of emotional ckmail. They felt it was unfair to Walter, but they weren''t in a position to voice this.


    Without ncing at Fiona, Walter kept his deep gaze on Jaslene on the screen, and his thin lips were pressed together. After a moment, under everyone''s gaze, Walter finally spoke. "Jaslene, rest in peace." Tears fell from Fiona''s eyes as she instinctively forced a smile.


    "The life-saving grace from years ago has been repaid many times over by my grandfather and father to the Banks family. I''m sorry, but I cannot fulfill your request," said Walter. Walter''s words were firm and powerful, with each one spoken with determination. In an instant, Fiona''s expression froze in a weird, half-smile twist.


    Walter''s answer waspletely unexpected to her. Fiona thought, ''He refused. He went so far as to say no.''


    There was a long silence from Jaslene, and finally, using thest of her strength, she instructed Fiona in a quivering tone. "Where is Ms. Nelson? I want to have a word with her." Fiona broke down, turning the phone towards herself. "Grandma. At a time like this, why don''t you want to see me?"


    "Give it to Ms. Nelson," said Jaslene.


    Shakira came out of the room, having been listening from behind the door. She walked up to Fiona and extended her hand. "Give it to me."


    Fiona lifted her gaze, ring at Shakira with a fiery rage that seemed like it could consume her whole. Though unwilling. she had no choice but to follow Grandma''s instructions, reluctantly cing the phone into Shakira''s hands. "Ms. Nelson, please step aside. I need to tell you this privately," said Jaslene.


    Shakira was a bit puzzled, without understanding Jaslene''s intentions, so she stepped back about three feet. Holding the Shakira was a bit puzzled, without understanding Ja phone to her car, she said, "Go ahead." Shakira listened quietly to Jaslene''s sorrowful whispers, and after about half a minute, she turned back and handed the phone to Fiona.


    Just as Fiona grabbed the phone back and was about to question Shakira, Shakira spoke first in a calm voice, "Jaslene is gone."


    "What did you say?" Fiona felt as if she''d been struck by lightning, stunned and unable to respond. As she frantically checked the phone, the call had already ended.


    "No, Grandma. You haven''t seen me yet and haven''t heard me talk, cried Fiona.


    "It''s impossible. Grandma can''t have just left like that. I don''t believe it," cried Fiona.


    Fiona started rambling like she had lost her mind. She suddenly let out a scream, turned around, and rushed towards her


    sports car.


    Walter furrowed his brows and called out. "Stop her, Brian. Make sure you take her to the hospital yourself."


    "Gotit," replied Brian.


    The shy red sports car sliced through the night, speeding away. Brian drove as fast as he could, getting Fiona to Harborview Medical Center quickly.


    Fiona stumbled into the ward, finding Jaslene fully covered by a white sheet. All the equipment that once showed life signs had been removed. The entire room was steeped in a somber silence.


    Fiona couldn''t control herself anymore and copsed by the bed, crying her heart out. "Grandma, why did it have to end like this? Why didn''t you want to see me onest time?"


    "How could you be so heartless? I haven''t even had a chance to talk to you, and now I''ll never see you again or hear your voice," continued Fiona.


    Brian watched the scene unfold, nodded to the Banks family, and then left the hospital.


    Fiona cried for a long time before suddenly remembering something. She sprang up, turned, and grabbed a nearby nurse, with her eyes red and full of anger.


    "You''re all useless, a bunch of losers," cried Fiona.


    "When I visited her yesterday, Grandma was perfectly fine and smiled at me, asked if anyone had been bullying me, assured me that anyone who treats me poorly would disappear," cried Fiona. and


    "It''s because of you all. You didn''t take care of her and now you''ve harmed her. I want you to pay for it with your lives," cried


    Fiona.


    Her re turned herce, and she suddenly started choking the doctor until he almost passed out. Chaos erupted in the room until someone abruptly pulled Fiona away and harshly pped her, knocking her to the ground. The force of the blow left Fiona stunned, sitting on the floor, unable to collect herself for a long time.


    George''s hand tingled with pain, and he was seething, gritting his teeth in anger. "You ungrateful child. How dare you me


    others."


    Tue, Dec IU


    18:04Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    52%2


    "You want someone to pay for Grandma''s life, right? Fine. I''ll tell you why she left and didn''t see you in her final moments. It''s because she was driven away by you."


    "How did the Banks family end up with a disgrace like you."


    "If you have any conscience left, from now on, live your life honestly and peacefully tofort her spirit in heaven. Stop ming others for everything."


    George''s shouting echoed throughout the ward, intimidating everyone. Mrs. Banks covered her face, crying heart-wrenchingly.


    Fiona was stunned. "No, that''s not true. She loved me the most. How could she possibly be mad at me?" said Fiona.


    Looking at the white mound on the bed, Fiona''s eyes were wide open, unable to blink asrge tears rolled down. "Grandma, Grandma... I don''t have my grandma anymore..." cried Fiona.

 Chapter 340

    Chapter 340 K68%


    Soon after Fiona left, a heavy rain poured down from the clear fight sky. Shakira sat by the window, watching the trees in the yard sway wildly in the storm. She was lost in thought and didn''t even notice when Walter showed up behind her. "Thinking about Mrs. Banks?" asked Walter.


    Shakira lifted her head, with her eyes calm and serene.


    Walter held her shoulders in aforting silence. "Don''t overthink it; it''s not your concern," said Walter.


    "I just find it all a bit sad," replied Shakira.


    Shakira turned her gaze back, staring at the view of the yard. Last year, to make it easier for kittens to climb, Levi had a row of new saplings nted there.


    The wind and rain were strong now, but the sturdy trees stood like a protective wall, shielding the little saplings from the


    storm.


    Shakira mumbled. "Mrs. Banks treated Fiona like her pride and joy, giving her all the love and care she had. She never thought she''d end up in such a predicament because of her."


    Walter looked at her face from the side, and for some reason, felt that this usually carefree woman now seemed sorrowful. His heart was slightly moved.


    He couldn''t help but think of the Nelson family. She was always seen as a burden there and never received any favoritism from her family.


    Meanwhile, Fiona enjoyed all this, turning the easily received affection into a weapon to hurt her family. It was truly sad.


    "Love can make someone confident and strong, but spoiling can lead to blindness and destruction. Mrs. Banks'' way of loving was wrong," Walter said calmly. "Maybe, but I just feel so helpless in the end," said Shakira.


    Shakira thought of something, rested her head on his shoulder, and curiously asked, "Why didn''t you honor herst wish?"


    Walter''s expression darkened a bit, and he asked in annoyance, "Do you want me to agree?"


    "Well, it''s just that the dead deserve respect," replied Shakira.


    "So what?" Walter replied openly, "There''s no way I''m tying myself to Fiona because of some supposedst wish."


    "That would be unfair to you and Fiona. Also, it is unfair to me."


    As he spoke, Walter pressed his thumb on her slender wrist, suggesting a hint of punishment.


    "What, do you want me to agree with her?" asked Walter.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "No way," replied Shakira.


    Shakira broke free and grabbed hisrge hand, imitating his actions to press on his wrist. But due to his size, she couldn''t manage with one hand, so she used both to hold on. "I was listening by the door. If you had agreed with her, I''d have packed up and left right away," said Shakira.


    "You little thing, thinking of running away?" said Walter.


    Walter leisurely raised mr eyebrow and easily trapped both of he hands in his grasp.


    "Hmph, if I wanted to, there''s no way you''d be able to find me." Shakira boasted proudly. Walter''s eyes darkened, and he suddenly lifted her chin and kissed her.


    "No matter where you run off to, I''ll still bring you back," said Walter.


    The sound of the rain hitting the window suddenly woke Xanthe from her sweet slumber.


    Xanthe thought, ''Shakira''s acupuncture skills must be amazing. sleep so soundly!


    Even after being woken up, she didn''t feel sleepy or ufortable; instead, she felt mentally refreshed. If it weren''t for the loud rain, she could have slept soundly until morning. She got up to close the window, climbed back into bed to turn on her bedsidemp, and picked up her phone to browse a bit before sleeping.


    Xanthe finally saw the voice message Eve sent her a few hours ago, sounding soft and gentle. "Xanthe, are you tired from work? Have you been getting enough resttely?"


    Eve added, "Tomorrow is Sunday. If you''re free, I''d like to invite you to see a musical. If you find it boring, you can ask that rascal Sean to go with you."


    Xanthe was lost for words.


    Eve clearly has ulterior motives.


    Remembering she had epted the check, she typed: [Auntie Eve, I''m free tomorrow. I can go out with Sean.]


    After thinking it over, she honestly confessed. [When ites to a musical, I might fall asleep. How about choosing something else?]


    It was not that Xanthecked self-discipline. It was just musicals were so sleep-inducing.


    Back then when Enrique started earning decent money, his first thought was to instill some refined tastes in the family. He took her to all sorts of high-end parties and musicals. The result was either getting drunk on cocktails or falling asleep in the best VIP seats in the theater.


    Enrique knew gics were deeply ingrained and unchangeable, so he gave up the struggle and let her do whatever made her happy.


    Xanthe, being quite bold, was mainly concerned about affecting Eve''s reputation. Eve was so gentle and kind to her and was her financial supporter, so she had great respect for her.


    It was almost midnight and Eve was still awake. She quickly replied with a voice message. Her tone was happy and excited. "Alright. have fun wherever you want to go."


    Xanthe obediently replied: [Thanks, Auntie Eve. It''s gettingte, you should go to bed early. Good night.]


    Eveughed and sent her a "Good night" in return. Xanthe exited the chat, letting out a big sigh of relief.


    Holding her phone, she thought for a moment and suddenly came up with a n.


    She sent Sean a message about meeting up the next day and also messaged Shakira to ask if she wanted to bring Mr. Lopez along for some fun. Chapter 340


    Shakira was surprised and asked, "Are you sure you want to bring Walter?"


    "Don''t worry. I''m not trying to be the odd one out. Sean ising too; we can all hang out together.


    When Shakira saw these words, she was a bit confused. She thought, ''I, Walter, Xanthe, and Sean going out together?


    Just thinking about that group seemed kind of strange.


    She thought about it and asked Walter for his opinion.


    Even the usuallyposed Walter was surprised by the idea.


    Seeing his expression made Shakira chuckle. "Maybe I''ll just say no to Xanthe."


    "Let''s go as well," replied Walter.


    "Huh? Seriously?" asked Shakira.


    Walter tapped her nose and said, "We haven''t tried this kind of date before; it might be fun to try."


    Shakira smiled helplessly. "Alright, alright, should I let Xanthe know?"


    "Yeah."


    Xanthe was overjoyed when she got the approval message. This was a perfect chance to both meet her dating goal and make Sean give up on Shakira. It was only Xanthe who coulde up with such a clever n. Xanthe had already put the afternoon''s events behind her and was happily thinking about how to have fun the next day.


    In the apartment with arge open-n space downtown, Yvette was soaked to the skin and opened the door using her fingerprint.


    She angrily tossed her high heels andined. "What on earth couldn''t you say over the phone and insist Iing in this heavy rain? Do you want me to catch a cold?"


    Jessie quickly grabbed a dry towel. "Oh dear, dry off quickly so that you don''t catch a chill."


    Yvette yanked the towel and flopped onto the couch with a huff, not caring that she soaked the leather. "Out with it already." Lago said mysteriously, "Didn''t you ask me to have someone keep an eye on Shakira? Do you know who she went to meet?"

 Chapter 341

    With her clothes sticking to her damp skin, Yvette had no time to y those money-minded games with Lago. She thought about the huge embarrassinent she faced today-getting into the police station, being scolded by Finn, and then being inexplicably soaked in the rain...


    Yvette was fuming and left in a huff without saying anything. "If you''re not going to tell me, then just forget it," said Yvette.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Hey, don''t leave, my daughter." Jessie was anxious and blurted it, "Mitchell isn''t dead. Shakira went to see Mitchell."


    "What did you say? Mitchell isn''t dead? How can he not be dead, Yvette shivered and spun around, with her eyes wide open.


    "How could Mitchell possibly be alive? How could he still be alive when his sports car fell from such a tall mountain and was smashed into pieces?" she continued.


    Her mind was in chaos, and as she spoke, she started to panic. After all, to this day, Mitchell''s whereabouts were still unknown, neither alive nor dead.


    Seeing Lago''s calm demeanor, she suddenly screamed in both fear and anger. "Lago, what are you doing? Mitchell isn''t dead, so why are you all acting so calm like nothing''s going on?"


    If Mitchell was alive, he might already know everything. Once the Nelson family found out about Mitchell''s whereabouts, she was finished and all that she had painstakingly nned would be destroyed.


    "What''s the rush? Mitchell isn''t dead, but if he could actually do something, he would''ve shown up by now. Could Shakira really have kept him hidden all this time?" said Lago.


    These words slightly calmed Yvette. She narrowed her eyes and asked, "What do you mean?"


    Jessie couldn''t stand seeing her daughter so panicked and quickly chimed in. "Mitchell''s in aa; he hasn''t woken up yet."


    "What? Enough already. Can''t you just exin it all at once?" Yvette was nearly at her wit''s end.


    Lago nced at Jessie. "You asked me to have someone keep an eye on Shakira to catch her having an affair with Yonder Digital''s Sean so that Walter wouldpletely despise her. The private detective I hired followed her to a beauty clinic today. "Halfway through, she went with a man to the top floor, which was an inpatient department. They were in a room for a while before leaving. The detective slipped in while the nurse was dozing off only to see a man on the bed."


    As he spoke, Lago opened the photos sent by the detective and showed them to Yvette.


    Yvette took the photos. The man lying on the bed, looking healthy though his eyes shut, was none other than Mitchell-who else could it be? He had gotten some luck; he survived even that ident. Clutching her phone tightly, Yvette suddenly realized and her eyes were burning with hatred. "So that''s it, Shakira. You im you''re done with the Nelson family and have no more ns.


    "But, secretly you''ve gone to great lengths to hide Mitchell, just waiting for him to wake up to expose my true colors to the family so that they can kick me out and make you the Nelson heiress again." "In your dreams, The Nelson family is mine. Even if you manage to go back, it will only be after I''ve kicked everything out. Then you can babysit those useless fools," said Yvette.


    The phone screen had turned off, and Yvette''s nearly twisted, crazed expression was reflected in the ck mirror.


    "Silly kid, now that we know where Mitchell is, none of Shakira''s ns can seed," said Lago.


    OK 68% 1


    Lago added, "I called you over because I''m afraid you''d be too excited about this news and slip up at the Nelson residence?


    "Yes, yes, it''s a good thing, Yvette. You were clever enough to get Dad''s people to follow her; otherwise, we''d have never found out this," Jessie said with a proud smile. "No wonder you''re my daughter." Yvette tossed the phone back to Lago, fixed her expression, and returned to her usual proud and confident demeanor.


    "Shakira crossed me, so I won''t let her get away with it. Even though I can''t catch her and Sean, this is an unexpected bonus, said Yvette.


    There was a dark glint in Yvette''s eyes. She said, "This time, I''ll handle him myself."


    "You''re going by yourself? What if you get caught? asked Lago.


    "Can''t you figure out a way to make sure they don''t find out?" Yvette said with disdain. "You can''t even handle this. How could you get the Nelson''s money," said Yvette.


    "Sure, I can handle it. There''s no rush. Let me figure something out." Lagoughed, rubbing his hands together.


    "I heard most of the stores outside have been bought up, right? The brand of my daughter will soon hit the market, and it''ll surely be something everyone wants to get their hands on," added Lago.


    Lago paused, showing a greedy look in his eyes. "I''ve got some machines, all meeting your factory''s standards. How about letting me share some of the work," said Lago.


    Yvette saw right through him. "You''re just trying to get a share, aren''t you?"


    "You silly child, my money is yours. I''m just worried that the factory of the Nelson family won''t manage the production demands," Lago said with confidence.


    Yvette thought about it. "Alright, but you''ll have to wait until the second batch. Just to be safe."


    "Okay, okay." Lago grinned widely.


    Jessie watched them, smiling widely, and couldn''t help but say, "It seems like this seal-borrowing method really works. My daughter is not only beautiful but also smart. You can be the boss of a bigpany and handle things with ease." Yvette raised an eyebrow and instinctively touched her face. "Really?"


    Lago gave her a serious look. "You''re definitely more stylish than before, with a strong presence."


    Upon hearing this, Yvette felt smug but also a bit resentful. "Since this seal-borrowing method works, why didn''t we use it earlier? It was such a hassle having to constantly ask Shakira for help. It''s so frustrating." "That''s different," replied Lago.


    Lago exined, "It''s a bncing act. As You live with the Nelson family, when things are good there, you also benefit.


    "If we''d used this method back then, your brothers would just have been a burden and held you back. As the Nelson family is in a tough spot, there''s no choice but to use this."


    Jessie agreed. "Exactly. Borrowing spirit energy is something you can do quietly, but borrowing the seal is a whole different matter. If Cody wasn''t involved, we don''t know if we could even make it happen." Yvette shrugged. "Alright, got it."


    The next morning, Shakira told Levi that she and Walter would be going out with friends in the afternoon.


    Upon hearing this, Levi''s face changed.


    He was so emotional that he almost cried. Shakira thought he was worried something might happen. "Don''t worry, Levi. I''ll make sure Walter is well taken care of."


    "Of course, I trust you''ll look after Mr. Lopez." Levi took a deep breath and smiled with relief. "I never expected to see this day. Mr. Lopez has you and friends and is ready to enjoy life. This is truly wonderful to see." Shakira was speechless.


    Shakira had a hunch that Levi had read too many CEO romance novels too.


    After lunch, Shakira bundled Walter up so thoroughly that only his straight nose was visible.


    Nodding with satisfaction, she led him out the door.

 Chapter 342

    The meeting ce was chosen by Xanthe and it was a famous public market park in the old part of town, a ce filled with childhood memories for many in Crescentville.


    "Shakira, Mr. Lopez, over here," Xanthe shouted excitedly as she spotted them from afar, jumping and waving. Beside her was Sean, dressed in a teal tracksuit, wearing sunsses and with one hand casually in his pocket, looking quite smug. Shakira approached with Walter and beamed. "How long have you been waiting?" "We just got here, they replied.


    Seeing Walter all geared up, Sean, who was still bitter about the incident of sneaky hand-holding under the table, remarked sarcastically, "No need to wrap up so tightly in a small ce like this. No one here would recognize the famous Mr. Lopez." Shakira cast a cautious nce at Sean. "I dressed him up. Do you have a problem with that, Mr. Reynolds?" Sean, who had been acting all confident before, suddenly became timid. "He looks great. It''s all about having this kind of forward-thinking precaution."


    Walter slightly squinted his eyes and gave Sean a profound look Noticing the tension among the three of them, Xanthe quickly stepped in to ease the mood. "The sun is really hot today. Let''s get some drinks to cool off."


    Xanthe had already nned everything and found a famous shaved ice ce nearby in her phone notes. When the four of them arrived at the shop, Xanthe went to ce the order. "I''ll have the red bean shaved ice. What vors do you all want?"


    Sean nced at the menu. "I''ll take the cherry shaved ice." Shakira also chose. "I''ll have the mung bean shaved ice. Walter who had been quiet suddenly said, "You can''t eat mung bean. Choose something else." As Shakira was about to say something, Sean spoke up on her behalf, "She can''t even decide what to eat, huh? Mr. Lopez really calls the shots."


    Shakira frowned and softly said, "Sean." "I''m not wrong. I can''t stand people who act superior," Sean said passionately, full of justice.


    Walter ignored the noisy Sean and typed a few words on his phone, showing them to Shakira. She nced at them and quickly looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Okay, I''ll go with red bean vor."


    Sean''s face turned red with a mix of emotions. "Why are you listening to him? Eat what you want. Is dating about being his puppet?"


    Xanthe was initially puzzled but after observing Shakira''s reaction, she somewhat guessed the reason and didn''t want to watch anymore. "You silly, just talk less." Sean was about to cause a scene, but Xanthe grabbed his ear and twisted it.


    As he grimaced in pain and jumped around, she whispered in his ear, "Mr. Lopez is probably suggesting that Shakira''s period ising, so she shouldn''t consume too much cold stuff. Mung beans are cooling and with the ice she''s eating, she''ll feel ufortableter." After saying that, she tossed Sean aside with a disdainful look. "If I had known you left your brain at home, I wouldn''t have brought you out."


    Sean, holding his ear, finally realized what was going on a bitte. As a single guy, he was not supposed to know about things like this.


    Walter shot Sean a cold nce and said to Xanthe, "I want the mung bean vor." He then turned to Shakira, who looked surprised, and said, "Have a taste, but just one bite."


    Shakira''s eyes widened in disbelief, and then happiness overflowed from her every fiber, including her hair. "Okay."


    Sean, who was still single, clicked his tongue in frustration. What a crafty guy! Shakira was totally under his spell. Eating some ice could make her this happy. 17:32 Wed, Dec


    There were not only show ice smoothies, but also old-school snacks from Crescentville. The four of them strolled down the streets, snacking as they went. Xanthe would buy anything she thought good and handed them all off to Sean when her hands were fill. Naturally, Shakira was eating along with them, but everything she couldn''t finish went straight into Walter''s belly.


    Sean, with his hands too full to be of any use, watched wistfully as Walter casually ate the leftovers Shakira couldn''t finish. He envied Walter''s free hands and inwardly mocked his skillful tactics, turning even a simple outing into a tiny romantic gesture.


    The four walked in pairs, one pair ahead of the other, Although Walter dressed quite subtly, Shakira and the others were so striking that they naturally drew attention and gossip.


    Eventually, people started taking sneaky photos of them from behind and posting them online, amazed at seeing such handsome guys and beautiful girls today.


    "Are they two couples? They''re so attractive. Their genes are so great."


    "The girl pushing the wheelchair has such a small face and looks like a celebrity. She has delicate features. I wonder how handsome her boyfriend is. It is too bad he''s covered up so much."


    "Just by looking at his nose, you can tell he''s really handsome. It''s high and perfectly shaped; I bet he''s good-looking from head to toe. Sadly, he''s in a wheelchair."


    "It''s not just about their looks, check out their clothes. The one in blue is wearing high-end luxury. The girl is dressed as well. Look at the material of that wheelchair. It''s like something out of this world, not cheap." "They must be some rich kids from the citying out to experience regr life. So enviable."


    As more people gathered around, wherever they went, crowds surrounded them like part of the scenery. Though nobody approached them, they blocked half the road, causing several cars to honk their horns. Shakira looked around and said, "How about we sit inside there? Following her gaze, Xanthe looked over and said, "Sands of Time? Looks like a craft store, let''s check it out."


    After the four of them entered the store, Sean immediately took out a ck card and said, "I''ll take the whole store. No one else is allowed in." The shopkeeper Lillian Walker, a young girl, was momentarily confused. Seeing the crowd outside, she quickly understood, hung up a "Closed" sign, and drew the curtains.


    Xanthe was already pulling Shakira around the small shop. Her eyesnded on an adorable te with a bear eating an apple painted on it. "Wow, so cheerful. Did you paint this, Lillian?"


    Lillian shook her head with a smile, "An art school graduate made it as a birthday gift for his girlfriend. Our shop can handcraft any pottery pieces and make them perfect gifts with a personal touch for friends and family." Xanthe''s eyes lit up as she pulled Shakira along. "Should we do it too? Let''s make BFF milkshake cups." Shakira smiled and replied, "Sure."


    Just as she finished speaking, she felt a chill on her neck. Without turning around, she added, "And let''s make some cute couple items too."


    Almost "eye assassinated" by someone, Xanthe quickly gave a thumbs up, saying, "That sounds like a n." Sean wasn''t really into this, but he didn''t want to just watch, so he scratched his head and said, "I''ll join in too, why not." The four of them decided to jump right in and get started. Each chose a craft they wanted to make and then went to the dressing room to put on aprons and wash their hands.


    Shakira bent down and helped Walter put on an apron, wrapping her arms around to tie it at his back. His heavy breathing


    was warm against her car, making Shakira shrink her neck. "It tickles," she said.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


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    Big Devil''s deep voice filled her ear with a touch of jealousy. "The first one you make has to be mine." Shakira covered her ears and couldn''t help butugh. "Why are you even jealous about this?" Walter replied earnestly, "Yeah, I''m jealous."


    Shakira raised an eyebrow, suddenly winking mischievously and giving a cheeky grin. "But the first one might not be so good or look nice. Are you sure you want the first one, and not wait for the second when I''m better at it?"

 Chapter 343

    Upon hearing this, Walter furrowed his brow as if seriously considering the matter. Shakira couldn''t help but smile, finding it amusing that the well-known CEO of Lopez Group was caught up in something so trivial. She was curious about Walter''s final decision, but he seemed to follow his own unpredictable rules.


    Walter moved past her and called out to Xanthe. "Ms. Sullivan, I like to trade something with you." Shakira felt a twitch in her eye, sensing that something might not go well.


    Xanthe was still debating which design to pick and was momentarily confused. "Huh? What does Mr. Lopez want to trade?"


    "Ms. Sullivan, you can choose any ceramic art piece you like, with no price or location restrictions, in exchange for the cup she promised to make you," said Walter.


    With her cheeks puffed out, Shakira eximed, "Walter, how could you do something like this?"


    As soon as Xanthe, the number one fangirl, understood, her grin widened till it almost reached her ears. "Haha. No worries. It looks like I''ve gained something here." Xanthe yfully winked at Shakira. "Thanks." Walter calmly pulled Shakira closer. "Now both the first deal and the attractive one are mine."


    Shakira was speechless and had no words for his cheeky behavior.


    In the end, she decided to make two mugs for Walter. One would be a wide, solid-color coffee other a matching couple''s mug with hers.


    mug


    for office use,


    and the


    Xanthe dropped the BFF milkshake mug idea and opted to make a personalized fruit tter for herself to enjoy while snacking.


    As for Sean, after pondering for some time, he chose a unique path by deciding to make a ceramic spoon.


    When Xanthe heard he was only going to make a spoon, she was visibly puzzled. "Just a spoon? Won''t it look out of ce with the other tableware?"


    Sean just shrugged it off. "It''s just a little keepsake," he said casually. "My mom will celebrate her birthday next month, so the spoon can be a small gift. I''ll get something more formalter. A two-pronged approach will make her happy." "Hmm? Is Mrs. Reynolds'' birthdaying up?" Xanthe''s eyes lit up as she leaned closer to Sean. "What design are you nning? I could make a little cup to match."


    Sean gave her a skeptical look. "Why are you so eager to impress my mom? What''s your n?"


    Xanthe tied her hair up into a bun to make her work easy. She gave Sean a knowing nce. "Well, shouldn''t we make Mrs. Reynolds feel like she''s getting her money''s worth?"


    Sean was lost for words and thought, ''A million dors for a ceramic cup? What a ridiculous idea of value.''


    After deciding on their individual handcrafted art pieces, the four of them sat at the workbench and began crafting. The first step was to form the basic shape and then they refined it and added finer details.


    This was the first time for all four of them to try this kind of craft, and the soft y spun quickly in their hands. A slight change in pressure could make a big difference.


    Walter was the most experienced of the group. He picked it up the fastest, quickly shaped the bottom and walls of the cup


    and then looked over at Shakira.


    Shakira was doing okay; she got the general shape but had trouble with the thickness, making the cup thicker at the top and


    hu, Dec 12


    thinner at the bottom, which looked a bit awkward.


    Even Shakiraughed at her work and said to Walter, "Let''s make this our couple''s cup first. If it doesn''t look good, we can just use it at home."


    Walter shook his head with a smile and encouraged her. "No rush." As he said this, he moved behind her, gently wrapping his arms around her, and his hands slid to her waist.


    Shakira froze for a moment, instinctively ncing at Xanthe and Scan nearby, and then softly said, "Stop it."


    "I''ll guide you," he said in a deep, calming voice, gently holding her hands and leading her in shaping the y.


    Shakira took a deep breath. She followed Walter''s lead, and slowly, the cup started to take on a normal shape.


    At this moment, Walter released his grip at the right time, allowing Shakira to manage the pressure herself. She sessfully shaped the entire cup.


    She shed a big smile. "I did it."


    When Walter stepped back, he turned his head slightly and gave her a quick peck at the corner of her lips.


    Shakira''s face turned bright red. "Walter."


    Big Devil grinned. "Since you suspect I''m up to no good, I might as well do something to meet your expectations."


    Shakira was lost for words and thought, ''He even tries to justify taking advantage of me.


    Watching the two who were closely pressed together, Sean couldn''t wait to stick up.


    Suddenly, Xanthe''s head popped out from the side, startling Sean so much that he nearly fell backward. He managed to keep his bnce, but the spoon in his hand wasn''t so lucky, turning from a stick into an unrecognizable blob. Sean was exasperated. "Xanthe, what are you doing?"


    "There''s a saying: Don''t look if you shouldn''t. Got it?" Xanthe said seriously, "You should watch less, or it might overstimte you, which isn''t good for your health."


    Sean sneered and scoffed disdainfully. "I used to think Walter was different from those guys who are constantly driven by desire, but now it seems he''s not much different after all."


    Shakira being with him was like cing a beautiful rose on the stinkiest pile of manure of the entire Crescentville.


    Upon hearing this, Xanthe rolled her eyes dramatically. "Come on, if a man doesn''t have a little thought about the woman he likes, then there''s a problem, right?"Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "What problem? That''s what a gentleman is," said Sean.


    "Xanthe chuckles. There were plenty of righteous gentlemen in ancient times. If they were really that proper, how would children even be born? How could there be so many people around the world? They just make it sound good." Sean was lost for words and was really frustrated. He couldn''t win an argument against Xanthe, and even the spoon in his hand was so ugly that it irritated him.


    His face turned dark as he was about to curse and quit when Xanthe finished her task and kindly sat down beside him. A fresh fruity scent floated around, and Sean paused for a moment as Xanthe sat close next to him.


    "Look at you, trying to take on tasks you can''t handle. Cups and tes are so simple, yet you insist on making a spoon?" Xanthe teased as she started working, trying to fix the misshaped lump of y.

 Chapter 344

    Once the handmade items were shaped, Lillian put them in the oven to dry. After that, it was time to add color and glue the structures together.


    While waiting. Xanthe chatted with Shakira and suddenly remembered. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. When Norpa Technology hurriedly moved out, didn''t everyone think Berry had somemections?" Shakira raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, so what?"


    "Haha. I heard when the Norpa Technology folks got back to the office, they shut the door and gave Berry a real scolding. Thedy boss almost lost control and nearly tore Berry apart."Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Xanthe recounted enthusiastically. "I heard when Berry escaped, her clothes were all tattered-worse than a street beggar- and her face was swollen. Norpa Technology even sent her back, so her internship credit is zero." Thinking about Berry''s downfall brought Xanthe immense satisfaction.


    Shakira wasn''t too surprised. Berry had been bold at Norpa Technology to keep them wrapped around her finger. She should''ve expected the consequences once everything came to light.


    She cut down the support system Norpa Technology was counting on. If they didn''t take her down, that was already quite forgiving.


    After applying a final coat of gloss, the handmade item waspleted. Lillian brought over a gift box and wrapped it up them, smiling while saying, "Would you be interested in joining our store''s check-in event for Couples Day?


    for


    "Just snap a photo and post it online to enter a raffle. Lucky winners will get a set of personalized hand-painted dinnerware based on their couple image."


    Walter spoke up. "How do we post it?"


    Shakira was surprised. "You want to join?"


    Walter said, "We could try it."


    Shakira said, "We don''t need more dinnerware, do we?"


    Walter was brief. "We do need couple-themed ones."


    "Okay..." Shakira couldn''t refuse him and asked Lillian how to proceed. She took a photo with the couple mugs and posted it on her Instagram and then turned off her phone without further thought. "Alright. We''ll notify you if you win," said Lillian.


    Shakira replied, "Okay, thanks."


    They picked up their things and left the craft store. Xanthe looked up at the sky. "Wow, it''s already thiste without us realizing it."


    Shakira nced at the time. "It''s almost seven. I have to go prepare the presentation for tomorrow''s meeting." As she spoke, she turned to Sean, "Could you take Xanthe home?"


    Sean, who was a bit lost in thought, responded absently. "Sure."


    "We had a great time today. Let''s hang out again sometime." Xanthe waved enthusiastically as she said goodbye to Shakira and Walter.


    Once they were out of sight, she turned to Sean, only to find him staring at her. His intense gaze startled her. Xanthe


    55%


    instinctively took a step back, eyeing him cautiously. "What was with that look?"


    "What the heck? I wasn''t looking at you." Caught off guard, Sean hade up an excuse and quickly headed for the door. ''My car''s outside. I''m leaving."


    Xanthe frowned, sensing something was off, but couldn''t tell what. She jogged a few steps to catch up. "Why are you in such a rush?"


    "You''re the one who''s slow." Though his words sounded critical, Be slowed down his pace a bit.


    Walking beside him, Xanthe swayed her head from side to side. So, how was this afternoon? Did you make any progress?"


    Sean was puzzled. "What do you mean?"


    "Seeing Shakira and Mr. Lopez together, didn''t you feel like a total third wheel, glowing like a bright light?"


    Sean understood and suddenly stopped, with his charming eyes holding a deep and meaningful darkness. "Xanthe, so you dragged me along today just to show me how well they belong together?" Xanthe admitted, "Yes, you saw it too-the way Shakira and Mr. Lopez get along so well and are so close. Even if you don''t want to admit it, Mr. Lopez is just that wonderful and is a great boyfriend. "So no matter how dissatisfied you are or how much you mock, you can''t change anything. Don''t even think about having any unrealistic ideas about Shakira." Xanthe couldn''t finish that thought in time. Sean suddenly yelled in frustration. "Enough."


    "If you want to impress Walter, go butter him up in person and don''t tell me about it," yelled Sean.


    Xanthe didn''t expect him to be so stubborn that he could not listen to advice. Xanthe''s patience wore thin. "Fine, if you don''t want to talk, then don''t."


    She snatched her ceramic mug from his hands and said, "I don''t need your gifts, goodbye." She turned and stomped away, each step heavy, wishing she could squash Sean under her feet and tten him.


    Watching her vanish into the crowd, Sean felt really annoyed. He couldn''t understand why just hearing Xanthe''s words set him off like that. Though Cathy had been bugging him about the same thingstely, it hadn''t bothered him this much. Soon, Sean came up with an excuse. He was closer to Cathy, but not to Xanthe. He was just worried Shakira might be a burden to Walter and kept an eye on her; he never thought it would turn into such a tangled mess. Annoyed, Sean waved his hand, "If you don''t want a ride, that''s fine. I didn''t want to offer anyway." He walked off in the opposite direction, still upset.


    Xanthe kicked a stone as she walked along the street. Feeling irritated, she wanted nothing more than to unleash chaos in her game. After hailing a ride, she couldn''t wait to open her mobile game and start ying as she got into the vehicle. A car slowly pulled up, and without looking, she assumed it was the Uber she called and got in. It was only after sitting down that she realized someone was already in the backseat. "Sorry, I got in the wrong car," said Xanthe.


    The person was obviously taken aback too, but as Xanthe was about to get out, he lunged at her, covering her mouth and nose with a clothced with drugs.


    Before Xanthe lost consciousness, she heard a sinister voice. "First time someone hands herself over to me. Drive."


    *****


    55%


    It was an abandoned building located a bit away from downtown and had been abandoned for a long time, with an eerie silence enveloping it at night. Berry carefully climbed the spiral staircase with no railing, hugging her arms. The higher she climbed, the colder it felt, but she forced herself to face her fears. Suddenly, a hand reached out from the darkness and roughly pulled her away.


    "Ah..." Berry screamed in shock, her voice piercing the silence. The next moment, a hand mped over her mouth, and a pair of wild, chilling eyes appeared right in front of her. Berry''s heart nearly stopped. She sobbed away.


    Xanthis Davis gave a wicked smile, his whole demeanor radiating arrogance. "Tsk tsk, it hasn''t been long since we sawst time. Your face looks even younger," he said, as his fingers wandered over Berry''s check, slowly sliding down toward her neck. Unwilling to be humiliated, Berry pushed him away with all her strength, holding herself tightly but unable to stop shaking.


    "Lunatic. Why did you evene back to the country? What exactly are you trying to do?" asked Berry.


    "My dear darling, I couldn''t stand being out there anymore. Isn''t it better to be back here, living it up and enjoying life?" Xanthisughed loudly.


    Berry looked at him, with her eyes filled with fear and disgust. "How can you live it up here? Your family is bankrupt, and those lenders are itching to track you down. How do you n to survive staying here?"


    He turned slowly and put on a twisted and sinister smile as he moved closer to Berry. "I have you to rely on, don''t I, darling? We were married for three years. You''ve benefited from me, and now you can''t just leave me, can you?"

 Chapter 345

    Seeing Xanthis'' wild and arrogant smile, Berry trembled more violently, unsure if it was out of disgust or fear.


    Just thinking about how she was manipted by this disgusting rk for three years, a wave of nausea rose in her chest. She turned and bent over to retch.


    Watching her reaction, Xanthis'' smile twitched, making him look even more sinister and cruel. "You think me disgusting?Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "Alright. No matter how I tried to reach you, you shun me. If I hadn''t happened to see that video of you being kicked out online, I wouldn''t have even known how to find you."


    "Xanthis." Berry couldn''t hold back her tears. "Let me go. I have no money. I''ve given you all my savings. You know that nobody in my family cares about me, otherwise, I wouldn''t have gone with you in the first ce. Please, let me go."


    "How could I?" Xanthis squatted down, somewhat disgusted by Berry, who had vomited. He lifted her chin with a finger and his eyes gleamed. "You look better off. All your clothes are designer brands, and that bag yesterday must have cost quite a lot." Berry lowered her head in guilt. "I borrowed those from a friend."


    "Wow, you''ve got some really powerful friends now." Xanthis sneered, stating inly. "Since you can get advantages from your friends, you should also be able to help me live well. I''m not asking for much. Covering my expenses is enough." "If you''re out of money, I''ll go find someone from the White family. The new head of the White family is quite well-known; surely he can''t ignore his future son-inw, right?" said Xanthis.


    Berry looked up in disbelief. "Despicable." She felt like a helpless creature trapped by a demon, unable to struggle free and forced to endure the humiliation.


    It was like this three years ago, and now she still couldn''t escape. Berry thought, ''Why? I just want a good life; why is it so hard?''


    Berry feltpletely hopeless as Xanthis busily examined the valuables he had just confiscated from her, figuring out how many days they wouldst him.


    Suddenly, bright lights lit up the entire abandoned building. "Move everything inside. Quick, don''t wake anyone up."


    A series of hurried footsteps echoed as Xanthis pulled Berry to hide behind a pir. About five or six men in ck clothes appeared, each looking tough and muscr.


    The men ced something heavily on the floor upstairs, whispered among themselves, and then came down again. "Neville Potter, since things are going so smoothly, how about grabbing a midnight snack?"


    "Getting cocky, are you? Do you have a death wish?" Neville gave the younger guy a smack on the back of his head.


    "No that. This ce is deserted. With that much dosage, she''ll be out cold for hours. With her mouth gagged and her hands and feet tied, where could she possibly go?"


    "Yeah, Neville. Why don''t we stop along the way to get some overnight gear? This ce is filthy; we should at least set up tents and sleeping bags."


    Neville thought for a moment, looked around the empty building, and said, "Get back in two hours." The "Sure."


    group cheered.


    The gang walked


    away arm in arm, and soon there was the sound of cars driving off. Berry and Xanthis stepped out of the corner, easily guessing what they had been up to.


    19:17 Thu, Dec 12 @GB


    Chapter 343-


    1455%


    Berry felt a chill run down ber spine. "Let''s leave now." Xanthis'' ves gleamed as he looked up at the building. "What''s the rush? This is our chance to make some money."


    Berry was amazed. "What-what are you going to do?" Xanthis didn''t answer with words but with actions.


    Watching Xanthis head upstairs where the men had tossed something without hesitation, Berry was covered in goosebumps. She wanted to scream to stop him and run away, but Xanthis turned back, giving her a piercing look. "Come on." Berry could only follow in a daze. In the middle of the empty floory a person with a covered face. Berry hid behind Xanthis, a tingling sensation running through her scalp.


    But when Xanthis casually removed the mask to show the person''s face, Berry almost let out a scream-Xanthe. Berry thought, "The person they kidnapped is Xanthe


    The initial look of fear on Berry''s face slowly turned into a mischievous grin. "Seems like we''ve got ourselves a rich one," said Xanthis.


    Xanthis looked Xanthe up and down thoroughly, then nced back at Berry''s crazed reaction, finding it amusing. "Do you know her?"


    "More than just know her," said Berry. Xanthe and Shakira were the ones who messed up her life. Karma was truly fair. Now it was Xanthe''s turn to face the consequences.


    Berry stared hard at the unconscious Xanthe and said to Xanthis, "Weren''t you after money? Well, it''s just walked in." Xanthis smirked and startedughing too.


    The next morning, Shakira had just woken up when she got ate-night text from Enrique, asking if Xanthe had stayed over at her ce. Finding it strange, Shakira called Sean right away.


    Sean yawned and said, "Shakira, it''s so early." Shakira immediately questioned him. "Did you make sure Xanthe got home safelyst night?"


    Sean stopped mid-yawn, caught off guard by the tone in Shakira''s voice. Instead of answering, he asked, "Xanthe didn''t make it home?"


    Alright, that meant she wasn''t dropped off. Shakira briefly exined the situation, hung up, and replied to Enrique''s


    message.


    Not knowing what had happened, Shakira first reassured Enrique with a white lie. Then she called Xanthe and also messaged Rachel and Larry, but didn''t get any useful information. Shakira became more convinced something wasn''t right. She opened herptop to trace Xanthe''s phone location.

 Chapter 346

    On the screen, thest known location of Xanthe''s phone quickly appeared-it was on the street where they had parted ways yesterday. Shakira''s expression suddenly darkened. Something ust have happened to Xanthe.. Shakira thought, ''Who could it be? Yvette, Berry, or...?'' She had strong feeling that it was connected to herself, and Xanthe had been drawn into it innocently.


    Suddenly, the phone she was gripping rang, showing an unknown number. Shakira answered without hesitation.


    The voice on the other end immediately started yelling angrily.


    "You heartless snake. You did it on purpose? You drove Yvette into a corner, made her lose face in front of the whole department, and now the entire Lopez Group is mocking her. How is she supposed to go to work?" shouted Mrs. Nelson. Listening to the cruel scolding, the hope that had just risen in Shakira''s heart fell to the bottom. Her face was calm, showing no emotion. "Yvette brought this on herself. Mrs. Nelson, stop trying to pin it on others," said Shakira.


    "You call me a good-for-nothing. What about the person who gave birth to me?" With that, she ended the call without a second thought and blocked the number with a single tap.


    Reba was stunned by Shakira''s retort. Coming back to her senses, she was incredibly angry and filled with rage as she tried to call back, only to find it couldn''t be reached.


    Reba was shaking with anger. "How can there be such a troublesome child in this world."


    "Mom..." As soon as Yvette reached the office, she was bombarded with endless mockery and ridicule.


    Angry and hurt, she rushed back home, with her face streaked with tears. She sobbed softly. "It''s not Shakira''s fault. It''s all on me. If I had been more careful, I wouldn''t have made such a mistake." "Nobody''s perfect; everyone makes mistakes. It''s the jerk who lied to you that''s to me. You''re so innocent in this.


    "Besides, Shakira and Sean have been working together for a while now. Why didn''t ''Warmth'' release a statement sooner? They called for a livepetition just to embarrass you and drag your name through the mud." Reba was so furious that her chest was heaving with anger. Seeing Yvette looking so pitiful and wronged made her heart ache.


    She gritted her teeth in frustration. "I can''t believe the Lopez Group''s employees have such poor character to attack you over this. Apany like that isn''t worth your time."


    "No, Mom. I have to earn those internship credits, or I won''t graduate." Yvette turned away, tears streaming down as she tried to hold them back by tilting her head upward.


    But the sound of her sniffles betrayed her hidden frustration. "Life has its setbacks; it''s no big deal. I''ll take my time to heal," said Yvette.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Reba reached out to hug Yvette, offeringfort. "You''re a Nelson heiress and the CEO of Rippling Heart. Those workers will always look up to you and have no right to belittle you."


    "I''ll find a way. We can''t just let this go," said Reba. Yvette started crying even more. "Mom..."


    In a corner where Reba couldn''t see, Yvette''s eyes were dry, but they shone with a cold light.


    Over here, Shakira blocked Reba and went to the study room to search the street surveince on theputer to find Xanthe.


    Sat, Dec


    About ten minutester, Shakira sessfullycked into the official securitywork of Crescentville and found the street cameras. She saw Xanthe getting into a ck car, which then drove around town.


    The driver was skilled, knowing how to avoid the surveince in the city by taking detours. Identifying the final location of the car via numerous cameras was a time-consuming task.


    Right then, Sean called again. This time, his tone was serious. "Shakira, I found her phone location. It''s on the road where we split up.


    Shakira stared intently. "Yes, I''m already checking the street cameras. The person is clearly experienced and is not easy to find."


    Sean said urgently, "Shakira, let me do it. I''ll personally watch the cameras and bring her back." His final words were spoken with emphasis.


    If it wasn''t for his impulsiveness and if he had safely taken Xanthe home, this wouldn''t have happened.


    Shakira understood Sean''s intention. Meanwhile, messages from Maris and Benton-kept popping up on her phone, asking. when she''d arrive at the office for the meeting.


    I crack it. Let me know of any updates.",


    Walter had an early meeting, so he went to the office early, leaving Shakira to travel by herself. She was deep in thought. "Shakira. Finally, you''re here." Benton was already waiting at the department entrance, stretching his neck. "The audit team is in the conference room. As long as they agree, this deal is secured."


    After thinking for a couple of seconds, Shakira said, "Okay, I''ll send you the lice


    Shakira nodded. "Got it. I''ll just wash my face and head into the meeting room."


    "Alright." Shakira headed to the restroom to ask Sean about the situation.


    Sean quickly replied, "Damn. The driver is definitely a repeat offender. He switched cars halfway. I''ve got the entire IT team searching."


    Shakira''s eyes darkened. "I''m going into the meeting. Inform me if there''s


    any news."


    "I know. You take care of your things first." Shakira set Sean''s messages to send special alerts, then ced her phone on the sink and took a deep breath.


    She leaned over and sshed cold water on her face, hoping it would help clear her mind.


    When she looked up, through the blurry water droplets, Shakira saw a woman quietly appearing behind her.


    Fiona looked exhausted, like a ghost. Even with makeup, she couldn''t hide her worn-out appearance. In her hand was Shakira''s phone, and her eyes in the mirror''s reflection were filled with a chilling madness.


    Without a second thought, Shakira asked, "You''re the one who took Xanthe."


    As soon as she finished speaking, she quickly grabbed Fiona by the neck and pushed her against the wall.


    With a thud, Fiona''s back ached from the impact.


    But Fiona seemed to feel no pain and her expression twisted into a crazed smile. "Haha. So what if it''s me? Come on, if you''ve got the guts, strangle me. Come on."


    Herughter grew even more hysterical, continually provoking Shakira.


    Shakira tightened her grip on her wrist. "Don''t think I won''t do something to you-"


    "Shakira, if you''re brave enough, kill me. Otherwise, your close friend will spend her life as nothing but a man''s toy," said


    Fiona


    Shakira gave Fiona a hard p, wearing a detached smile.


    But deep in her eyes was a chilling coldness that sent shivers down Fiona''s spine. "If you dare to harm her, I''ll make you wish you were dead."

 Chapter 347

    Chapter 347 Fiona


    t out blood, with a thin stream running from her mouth as she smiled cruelly. She taunted. "Come on, do youContent is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    think I''m scared?


    "I''ve got nothing left. If you''re brave enough, kill me. I have Xanthe with me and it will haunt your life with regret. It is worth


    it.*


    Lunatic. The madness in Fiona''s eyes was in to see. Shakira was sure she wasn''t bluffing; she would do exactly what she had said.


    Shakira''s eyes were icy cold and her teeth were gritted with fury She enunciated each word sharply. "Have Xanthe with you? You''re not worthy. Now, tell me, what do you really want?"


    Fiona wiped the blood from her mouth. "Shakira, you should know I hate you the most. If you want to save Xanthe, swap ces with her." She raised an eyebrow, smirking at Shakira, waiting for her decision. Without a second thought, Shakira said, "I''ll trade myself."


    "Wow, you really are quite the loyal friend." Fiona sneered. "Come with me and don''t try any tricks. If you tell anyone, I promise Xanthe''s fate will be worse than you think."


    "I need to inform the team leader that I can''t attend the meeting" said Shakira.


    "Shakira, you don''t have any room to negotiate now." Fiona snapped impatiently.


    Shakira pressed her lips together, staying silent.


    Fiona washed her hands, switched off Shakira''s phone, and threw it into the trash can. Then she turned and said, "You go out first and head straight to the parking garage. I''ll follow right behind you." Shakira did as she was told and stepped out. Following Fiona''s instructions, Shakira reached the parking lot on the third floor underground. It was near the building''s supermarket loading area and was filled with goods and bustling with people. Fiona led her between two shipping containers and gestured for her to put on the ck blindfold. The next moment, Shakira found herself pushed into a car, with her hands and feet tightly bound.


    Shakiray there quietly, without moving. She could constantly feel Fiona''s venomous gaze, like a snake''s tongue, moving


    over her.


    She was keeping track of the time in her head, estimating it was about half an hour before the car finally stopped.


    "Take her down."At Fiona''smand, Shakira only heard the car door open before she was rudely dragged out. Her canvas shoes scraped against the uneven gravel road, causing her to frown in difort. Right after, like a lifeless doll, she was dragged up the stairs by two men. They finally stopped after going up five or six flights and then mmed her to the ground with force.


    ""Shakira." It was Xanthe''s voice.


    Shakira struggled to sit up as the blindfold was removed. Squinting slightly, she finally, saw her surroundings clearly and saw that Xanthe was tied to a chair, with her hair messy and her face bruised. Shakira felt a sharp pang in her chest. "Xanthe."


    Xanthe was both excited and full of despair, with tears streaming down her face. "Oh Shakira, you''re so strong. How did you get caught by that psycho Fiona?"


    17:05 Sat, Dec 14 G GO Chapter 347


    "Haha. It''s because you''re such a great bait" Fionaughed as she slowly walked out from behind the stairs. "Shakira is ignoring everything else just for you." 80%1


    Hearing this, Xanthe''s eyes widened. She thrashed around in her chair, kicking wildly. "You nasty crazy woman. What are you nning? Let Shakira go now, or when Mr. Lopez finds out, you''re in big trouble"


    At the mention of Walter, Fiona''s smile vanished instantly, which was reced by a look of intense jealousy.


    "Shut up." As soon as she finished speaking, two men standing nearby stepped forward, raising their hands to teach Xanthe a


    lesson.


    Just then, Shakira, who was on the ground, suddenly broke free from the ropes binding her hands. In a sh, two silver needles were shot from her hand. The next instant, the men clutched their hands, yelling as they fell to the floor. Shakira quickly moved to grab more silver needles, but before she could react, a syringe flew from afar and stuck firmly in her arm.


    Shakira looked down, unable to react in time, and within seconds, her entire body went limp. She copsed to the ground and was drained of strength.


    It was a tranquilizer dart, but it wasn''t anymon dart. It was one crafted forrge mammals, which was extremely powerful.


    "Shakira cried Xanthe. "Fiona, what did you do to Shakira? I''ll fight you until the end." Xanthe sobbed desperately.


    The two men who had been stabbed with the needles pulled the needles out. They grabbed a rag from the floor and stuffed itin Xanthe''s mouth to silence her. Then they walked over to Shakira and kicked her brutally several times. Shakira grunted a few times and bit her lip to bear the pain.


    Xanthe shut her eyes in agony, letting out muffled cries of "sobbing".


    It seemed that Fiona had anticipated this scene. She walked over with a smug smile to where Shakiray, who was dusty and scruffy on the ground. Looking down at her with disdain, she said, "Shakira, no, I should call you ''Dr. Lonely Bird"." Xanthe halted in disbelief, with her eyes widening in shock.


    Shakira slightly furrowed her brows and had already expected something like this.


    "What a surprise! The legendary healer ''Dr. Lonely Bird'', the famous disciple of Matthew, is in such a state today. I knew you wouldn''t follow orders without a fuss, so I brought that anesthetist from Alboure Wildlife Association just for you," said Fiona. "Now without the needle, you''re at my mercy," added Fiona.


    Shakira looked at her with a nk expression. "We agreed. Ie in exchange for Xanthe."


    Fiona rolled her eyes and then gave a sinister smile. "Oh, I''ve changed my mind now."


    She looked over at Xanthe in the distance with a cold smile. "She mouthed off at me allst night. I''m not the kind to let grudges slide easily. How can I let go of her?"


    Shakira''s eyes darkened. "Fiona, if you''ve got a problem, bring it to me. Xanthe is innocent."


    Fiona''s expression turned fierce instantly. "She''s not innocent at all. Grandma''s death is partly her fault. She was your aplice."


    "If it weren''t for her saying those things to Grandma, she wouldn''t have gotten so upset and had a heart attack. She could have survived," added Fiona.


    17:05 Sat, Dec 14 G GO.


    Fiona''s eyes were filled with a blood-red rage, wishing she could fear them apart. "You''re all responsible for Grandma''s death. I want you to pay for it," added Fiona. In the Lopez Group, Benton was nearly having a breakdown. Just before the meeting, Shakira had vanished into thin air.

 Chapter 348

    Benton was as anxious as ants on a hot skillet, repeatedly calling Shakira. "Shakira, at such an important moment, you can''t just let us down." Maris came rushing in to check the bathroom. I''ve looked throughout. She is not in the restroom." Colleagues searched the entire office but found nothing. They all looked pale. "What do we do now? The auditors are strict. Having something go wrong just before the inceting means passing the audit will be nearly impossible." Benton''s expression changed, "It must be that scumbag, David. He''s envious of us and did something sneaky to hide Shakira. We can''t just take this lying down. I''m going to talk to Mr. Lopez" Benton didn''t waste a moment; he dashed straight to the top floor, shouting and making amotion to see Mr. Lopez. Naturally, the secretaries couldn''t allow him in and kept him outside.


    In a panic, Benton noticed Walter, who had just exited the VIP elevator. He shouted, "Mr. Lopez, Shakira is missing in thepany. Please help her."


    Walter''s brows furrowed. His cold gaze swept over Benton with a chilling intensity. "What did you say?" he asked, moving his wheelchair closer. His handsome face was dark and stormy. "Say it again, what''s going on with Shakira?"


    Benton trembled all over and shrank back like a quail. "Shakira is gone missing," Walter said nothing and took out his phone to dial a number.


    From the phone came a faint automated voice saying the line was turned off. Brian didn''t dare dy. "I''ll start searching right away."


    Benton kept his head low and his heart skipped a beat. He thought, ''Who is Mr. Lopez calling? Is it Shakira? Why would Mr. Lopez have Shakira''s phone number?''


    Shortly, Brian returned. "Ms. Nelson''s phone was found in the trash bin in the restroom of the Marketing Department. She wasst seen in the basement parking area about thirty minutes ago. In her call log, she contacted Mr. Reynolds and Mrs. Nelson this morning." After a pause, Brian said, "Mrs. Nelson used an unfamiliar number to contact Ms. Nelson." Walter''s expression turned extremely sour. He snatched the phone. "To the Nelson residence."


    In the living room of Nelson residence, Reba sat at the head of the table with a confident and proud elder''s demeanor, smiling as she looked at Joe, who was seated next to Yvette. "Joe, how''s work goingtely?"


    Joe politely responded. "Everything''s good. Thank you for your concern, Auntie Reba."


    "You''ve been dating Yvette for a while, and I have long considered you part of the family. You''re a wonderful person, and I believe you feel the same way," said Reba.


    Reba paused, then continued with a smile, "I heard from Yvette that you''re interested in smart technology development. She''s interning at the Lopez Group and is about to start coboration in this field.


    "Since you''re interested and the Ortiz family is strong in this area, why not take this opportunity to work together on the project? This will give you two more time to be together."


    Yvette didn''t say anything but clung to his arm, looking at him with eyes full of silent pleading. Joe hesitated, unsure of what to say.


    Yesterday, Grandma called him into her study to talk about Yvette''s visit along with Lopez Group employees. Now, Reba is calling him back to discuss it again, clearly using her seniority to pressure him into agreeing. Joe thought, ''Isn''t it disrespectful to the Ortiz family to push us like this repeatedly?'' Thinking of Grandma''s sincere reminders that Yvette might not be as simple as he thought, he was now a bit uncertain himself.


    Sat,


    Joe didn''t express his dissatisfaction but replied politely, "Auntie Reba, I do want to spend more time with Yvette, but since I''m in a non-management role at thepany, I''m afraid can''t give you an answer on this


    Reba smiled, but her words carried a clear hint of urgency. "You''re the future heir of the Ortiz family. At your age, Finn, Walter, and Kyle were already managingpanies. You should have a talk with your family about letting the young people take charge." Joe''s face remained expressionless, and he didn''t reply. This made Yvette anxious, and she quickly looked at Reba.


    Reba furrowed her brows and was about to rify further when a loud crash sounded from outside. "Oh no. The front gate''s been smashed."


    Reba''s face changed. "What?" They rushed outside to see their grand ck and gold gate reduced to scrap metal by a tall, rugged SUV


    Reba was so furious that she nearly lost her bnce. Her finger trembled as she pointed at the gate. "Who the hell dared to do such a reckless thing."


    "It''s me." On the other side, the door of a Maybach swung open, and Walter was sitting in the back seat, watching them with a cold expression.


    "Walter?" Reba was stunned. "Are you out of your mind?" As soon as she finished speaking, dozens of men in ck came out from the car behind, rushing into the courtyard and tightly surrounding them.


    The servants at the Nelson residence had never seen anything like this before and ran away in panic. Out of courtesy, Joe stepped forward to protect Reba and Yvette, who were turning pale, behind him. He spoke quietly, "Mr. Lopez, what do you really want?" Walter looked at them expressionlessly. "Give her back to me."


    Joe was shocked and took a moment to catch on. "Who? You mean Shakira?"


    Reba''s expression changed suddenly. "Lunatic. Just for Shakira, you smashed our gate like this?" Walter maintained hismanding aura with those few words. "Give her back to me."


    Reba was about to grind her teeth to dust. "She''s not here at all. I called her this morning and asked her to apologize to Yvette. She just hung up on me."


    Joe spoke up too. "I can vouch that when I came over, I really didn''t see her." Walter remained unfazed as if he didn''t believe Reba''s response.


    At that moment, his phone buzzed with a few messages. Walter opened them and his eyes narrowed slightly.


    It was a message from Sean, stating he had found a rough location for Xanthe. Walter quickly skimmed through their chat history and realized that Xanthe was missing.


    Walter thought, ''Shakira suddenly left thepany because of Xanthe. "Brian, give me the surveince footage from the Marketing Department," said Walter.


    Brian quickly found the part on hisptop when Shakira was entering the restroom and handed it to Walter. Walter watched it several times and then suddenly froze the frame.


    Fiona followed Shakira all the way down to the parking lot and kept a 7-foot distance from her. Waltermanded coldly. "Let''s go."


    With a singlemand, the Maybach, leading a convoy, sped away from the Nelson residence. The intense scene vanished


    in an instant.


    Reba, looking at her destroyed gate, angrily swore. "That scoundrel. I''m calling the police. I''m pressing charges." Yvette quietly guessed. "Mom, maybe something happened to Shakira, so Mr. Lopez..."


    3.20%2


    Feelingpletely humiliated, Reba had lost all sense of reason. "No matter what happens to her, she brought it on herself. She deserves it. Why keep a troublemaker like her around?"


    Hearing this, Joe''s expression turned serious. "Mom... It''s okay, its okay. Don''t be upset. Yvette tried to calm Reba down. She kept her head lowered, with her eyes showing a glint that went unnoticed. Inside an abandoned building, Shakira curled up on the ground like a pile of mud and was being beaten by a group of men. Her body was covered in dirt and her once wless skin was now bruised and purple. "Alright. Don''t kill her," Fiona finally spokezily, and only then did the men stop their actions.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    With her whole body injured, Shakira forced her eyes shut, sweating heavily as she breathed silently. Looking at Shakira who gritted her teeth without saying a word, Fiona smiled cruelly. "Not bad, you can really endure. No wonder you''re Matthew''s prized student." "Especially your hands, they''re really skillful." Fiona chuckled lightly, taking a small knife from a man''s hand as she moved closer to Shakira.


    0

 Chapter 349

    "Sobbing." With snot and tears all over her face, Xanthe looked a Fiona, who was holding a small knife and moving closer to Shakira. She struggled desperately and if she could have made a sound, she would have yelled herself hoarse. "No rush. I''ll deal with her first and then get to you. Fiona shot Xanthe a nce and stood next to Shakira, who was curled up and gasping for air.


    The knife in Fiona''s hand waved carelessly, ready to slip and cul deeply into Shakira if she let her guard down.


    Yet, Shakira maintained a calm expression as if she was not afraid of Fiona''s silent threat. Fiona sneered with malice, crouched down, and let the cold de trace Shakira''s pretty face


    "If you lose this pretty face of yours, will Walter even nce at you?" Shakira''s clear eyes showed no emotion. She kept her gaze steady on Fiona and said quietly, "Fiona, you haven''t crossed the line yet; there''s still a chance to turn back." Fiona seemed provoked, with her face tense as she shouted angrily. "Turn back? Grandma''s gone. My parents have abandoned me. Where on earth could I go back to?"


    Her face twisted with anger, with tears in her eyes. "They wouldn''t even let me attend Grandma''s funeral. Shakira, you messed everything up for me. Why did you have to appear? Why aren''t you the one who''s dead?"


    While speaking, Fiona lost her mind, iling her arms in anger. Shakira, weakened by a strong sedative, couldn''t resist and ended up with several deep and shallow cuts on her body, bleeding heavily. "Ugh..." Shakira bit her lip, letting out a soft groan. Fiona seemed to find something more amusing, pulling Shakira''s hair. "Come on, scream, beg me for mercy, bow down. Maybe I''ll let you keep your body intact."


    As Shakira felt her consciousness slipping away bit by bit, she deeply frowned. "Fiona, do you want Jaslene to die uneasy." "Shut up." Fiona screamed hysterically, tossing Shakira aside. "You have no right to talk about Grandma." Seeing the still proud and arrogant look on Shakira''s facepletely set her off. "I''m going to kill you. I''m going to kill you." She raised her hand and was ready to stab the small knife into Shakira''s chest-


    "Ms. Banks, Mr. Banks is calling." An elderly woman appeared looking worried. Fiona''s face was full of anger. "Why is he calling me?Haven''t they already kicked me out."


    "Ms. Banks, Mr. and Mrs. Banks spoke harshly yesterday maybe because they were angry. Perhaps they''ve thought about it and want to apologize now?" Fiona''s defiant expression was mixed with sourness and grievance. "Really?"


    "Yes, please answer the phone. Maybe they''re waiting for you toe home to properly bid farewell to Jaslene," said the elderly woman. "Okay," said Fiona while she stood up and gave Shakira a fierce re. "I''ll deal with you when I get back." Fiona followed the elder woman off the floor, and the men in ck, clearly unwilling to stay with two dirty women, left arm in arm as well. On the empty floor, Xanthe''s sobs echoed, and a faint metallic smell of blood lingered in the air.


    Shakira opened her eyes and could smell the blood on herself, but the pain wasn''t overwhelming. Yet the injuries felt like countless ants crawling and biting her, making it quite ufortable. Fortunately, Fiona had carefully arranged the anesthetic shots.. Suddenly, she turned over, struggling to push herself up with her elbows and knees, wobbly and unsteady. Unable to stand, she used all her strength to crawl toward Xanthe. Xanthe''s groans grew even louder. Shakira couldn''t help but chuckle lightly, speaking in a low voice. "Do you want them toe over?" Xanthe immediately fell silent, with her wide eyes filling with tears that flowed like a faucet.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    The floor was smeared with blood from where Shakira had dragged herself. She took off what looked like an ordinary steel-


    banded quartz watch.


    A sharp de popped out from the back of it. Xanthe fell right into Shakira''s arms when the ropes were cut through. Both of them copsed to the ground.


    In a panic, Xanthe quickly scrambled up and pulled out the gag from her mouth. Shakira''s cold hand covered her mouth when Xanthe was about to speak. "Don''t speak. Just listen to me Shakira shoved the watch into Xanthe''s hand. "Find a safe ce to hide. There''s a fox button on the back. Press it five times, and someone will find


    you soon."


    After giving these instructions, Shakira was exhausted, leaning weakly against a pir and gasping for air Seeing her covered in blood, Xanthe started sobbing uncontrobly and struggling to catch her breath. "No, I''m not leaving, I want to take you out of here." "I can''t move, Xanthe. You need to get out safely to save me. Got it?" Shakira managed a smile at her. "I''m not in pain. The anesthesia willst for several hours. You need to go now."


    Xanthe took a deep, sobbing breath and gripped the watch tightly. "Shakira, you have to hold on. I''ll find someone toe and save you soon."


    She gave her onest, deep look, fought the urge to stay, and turned to leave towards the other side of the floor.


    Shakira watched Xanthe''s figure run away and softly whispered to herself, "If you found out I identally lost the ne you gave me, would you be upset?" She chuckled gently. "Maybe even more upset since I kept it a secret from you all along." The feeling of weakness hit again as her vision blurred. Shakira slowly closed her eyes.


    The floor was spacious, and Xanthe felt dizzy but finally found the emergency exit on the other side. After being tied up all day, her arms and legs felt weak, but she didn''t dare stop and hurried down with her head lowered.


    Atst, she made it down to the ground floor, and from a distance, she spotted several cars parked at the front entrance. She turned and ran toward the abandoned wooded area behind the wall in the opposite direction.


    Just as she barely started running, a sharp pain struck the back of her head, and Xanthe''s vision went dark as her body crumbled to the ground. Berry was startled and quickly checked Xanthe''s breathing, giving Xanthis a stern look. "Why did you hit her so hard? What if you killed her?" Xanthis sneered dismissively. "If she dies, it''s just her bad luck," Berry said nothing and pried the tightly clutched watch from Xanthe''s palm.


    Noticing the fox pattern on the back of the watch, Berry''s eyes glinted with scheming thoughts. Xanthis nced upstairs. "Are we just going to leave the girl be?" Berry smirked. "It''s better if she''s dead. At least she won''t be a problem for me anymore." Xanthis gave Berry a significant look. "Wow, my darling is bing more ruthless. You''ll do anything to seed." Berry threw him a sarcastic smile and quickly dragged him away from the rundown ce.


    "They never really wanted me back; I don''t believe their lies." Fiona returned furiously, grumbling as she stomped back upstairs.


    Seeing the ce covered in blood and Xanthe nowhere to be seen, she was momentarily stunned, turned around, fiercely kicked the man in ck who had followed her, and looked back angrily at Shakira''s lifeless body on the floor, trembling with rage. "Bitch-" "Since you''re so worried about Xanthe, I''ll fulfill your wish," said Fiona. "You worthless idiots, strip her and humiliate her savagely. I want the whole world to see her downfall," she added.


    14.41 Sun, Dec 15 HO


    The men exchanged inreasy nces. Sure, die was attractive, Infovered in blood like this-it''s disgusting. They couldn''t force themselves to do it


    Fiona''s eyes were red with fury. "Tll pay 100 thousand dors each time. The more you humiliate her, the more fil pay" The men''s eyes lit up immediately. "No problem"


    "Deal 100 thousand dors each time. I guarantee she''ll be over the moon. Hahaha, we gotta give her onest thrill before she''s gone for good."


    They were all excited, reaching out their sinister hands towards Shakira when a sound of boom rumbled.


    The abandoned building started to shake violently for almost ten seconds, with dust and small stones falling everywhere -"What an earthquake?" "Fiona, there''s an armored SUV that just crashed into a support column."

 Chapter 350

    ""What the"


    They all looked down together and saw the building was quietly surrounded by a circle ofrge, menacing SUVs, from which numerous well-trained bodyguards in ck suits emerged.


    From the back seat of a Maybach, Walter stepped out. His blue eyes coldly scanned upwards. Even from a distance of over ten meters, the icy chill in his gaze sent a shiver down their spines.


    Fiona started trembling all over, with her eyes showing a mix of fear and a wild, uncontroble frenzy. Walter, you still came


    after all.


    "Fiona." Walter''s eyes darkened as he growled in a low voice, "Give me the person, and maybe I won''t pursue it further"


    Fiona smiled. She looked down at Walter, a man that she had admired for over ten years, and who never cared for her butvished all his kindness and love on a worthless woman. Her lips curled into a cold, mocking smile. She said, "Walter, I know you better than anyone. Right now, you want nothing more than to tear me to pieces. There''s no way you''ll let me go."


    Walter clenched his fist, with urgency in his voice. "What do you really want?"


    Fiona looked at him in a daze, murmuring like she was in a trance, "Walter, I gave you a chance. You''re the one who wouldn''t ept me, and who didn''t want me."


    "You refused Grandma''s dying wish. She couldn''t rest in peace, and I want you all to pay for it."


    As she spoke, Fiona turned and grabbed Shakira, whose eyes were red, and dragged her to the edge of the balcony. The abandoned building had no railing, and one more step could be fatal.


    Shakira, as limp as an old doll, was pushed halfway over the wall. Her body was covered in blood, and there wasn''t a single part of her that was unharmed.


    Walter felt as if his heart was being crushed by invisible hands at the sight, filled with both anger and pain. "Shakira."


    Shakira''s eyelids fluttered slightly as she looked at him silently.


    "Everyone, move outside, and stay back." Fiona yelled at the bodyguards attempting to make their way upstairs. "If anyone dares to step forward, I''ll throw Shakira down."


    With just a nce from Walter, the bodyguards backed away to outside the building, leaving only Walter downstairs.


    His eyes were slightly wet and filled with a fierce redness as he looked at her. "Fiona, if you hurt her, I''ll make you pay back a thousand times over."


    Every syble was filled with intense hatred.


    Fiona felt a chill in her heart, with tears streaming down her cheeks.


    She cried, "Why? Walter, why are you defending her so much? Just because she gave you acupuncture and helped treat you. You think she truly likes you and genuinely cares about you? The truth is, she''s been lying to you all along." She wished she could wake up the confused Walter.


    "We tried everything to find Dr. Lonely Bird to heal you, but what did Shakira do? She''s Dr. Lonely Bird herself. Yet, she hid it, watching you suffer and watching us get fooled, while she got close to you with hidden motives from the beginning."


    Walter felt his heart tremble,slightly.


    So, Shakira was Dr. Lonely Bird.


    This news was incredibly shocking, but as he connected all the dots, everything seemed so logical.


    Yes, her medical skills were so advanced, plus the special treatment she got from people like Matthew...


    Walter pressed his lips together slightly. "This is a matter between her and me. We''ll sort it out."


    He implied there was no need for an outsider like Fiona to interfere.


    Fiona was incredulous. "You''re not upset with her? She treated you like a fool and manipted you. You hate being deceived, and yet somehow you''re not angry with her?" Suddenly, an intense wave of jealousy and hatred appeared on her face.


    "What about me? I gathered the best medical team worldwide for you, put in efforts and even sacrificed my dignity. Why don''t you notice me? Why don''t you care about me?"


    J


    Her piercing, usatory voice echoed throughout the abandoned building.


    "You... have no right to morally ckmail Walter."


    At this moment, Shakira let out a softugh between breaths. "You call that putting in efforts, but actually, you added addictive anesthetics to the medicine, ensuring that over time, he wouldn''t be able to live without your so-called miracle drugs." Shakira''s words were light but full of sarcasm. "You say you did it to help him, but it was really all for yourself."


    "No, it wasn''t. You''re making that up." Fiona strongly denied it, but the mix of embarrassment and anger on her face showed she was furious. "You wicked person, you''re the one doing things behind my back and ruining my ns."


    No wonder Walter no longer needed her or her medicine. Shakira had known all along, and she was the one who messed up her ns.


    "You wicked person, it was you, it was you all along." Fiona, overwhelmed with emotions and furious with her red eyes, screamed and pushed Shakira with all her might as if she wanted to finish her off right there.


    Seeing half of her body already hanging dangerously over the edge, Walter felt a jolt in his heart. His legs, as if having a mind of their own, left the wheelchair, and he stood up, trying to take a step forward. This scene left everyone therepletely shocked.


    "Mr. Lopez, you can stand?" Brian was thrilled, and even Fiona was so shocked that she momentarily forgot what she was doing.


    But just as everyone was stunned, Walter didn''t even have the chance to take a step before his knees suddenly buckled, and he fell hard to the ground, causing dust to rise.


    "Mr. Lopez," Brian cried.


    Shakira turned to the side, with her hair tousled by the wind. She missed the moment Walter stood up, but saw him fall awkwardly to the ground.


    That fall seemed to hit the most tender and painful spot in her heart. "Walter, don''t... Walter, don''t..."


    Fiona said, "Haha, oh wow. I can''t believe it. I can''t believe you''d go this far for her. You''re so afraid I''ll throw her over. You even gave up your pride, knowing you can''t stand but still wanting to save her."


    72%


    For Shakira, he was willing to risk everything, but he never showed her any kindness.


    Fiona sneered with a mocking smile, but couldn''t stop her tears as she cried out in usation, "Walter, how can you be so heartless."


    Walter pressed his hands on the ground, with anger boiling inside him. He clenched his fists tightly as veins bulged.


    Mr. and Mrs. Banks rushed in and almost fainted when they saw the scene upstairs.


    Mr. Banks was furious. "Fiona. How many more wicked things will you do before you stop? Get down here now?


    Seeing them, Fionaughed loudly, with her eyes empty and filled with despair.


    She knew why Walter was able to find her.


    She cried, "I knew it. You guys kicked me out and would never let me return. It''s all lies. You''re all helping Walter and supporting that witch Shakira."


    "Fiona. Your father and I are trying to help you." Mrs. Banks covered her mouth, with tears running down her cheeks. "Silly child, just let them go, and we''ll take you home."


    Fiona''s face twisted in a frenzy. "Help me? If you really want to help me, let me get rid of that witch. She''s the reason Grandma couldn''t rest in peace, and it''s Walter''s cold heart that stopped Grandma''sst wishes from being fulfilled." "Fiona, how much longer are you going to keep fooling yourself Shakira''s eyes were deep. "Jaslene told me something on the phone before she passed away. I recorded it. Listen to it, and you''ll find out who really let her down." Fiona''s eyes widened as she quickly grabbed her phone and opened the recordings.


    The most recent one was an empty recording, captured in Grandma''s final moments.


    Fiona couldn''t wait to press y, and the familiar, loving voice echoed from her phone. "Ms. Nelson, no, I should call you Dr. Lonely Bird."


    "I''m sorry for all the trouble Fiona has brought you. I''ve spoiled her too much, which is why she has be so headstrong. This is my fate, my own doing, and I don''t me anyone else."


    "I''m nearing the end of my life, but I can''t stop worrying. Fiona is so remarkable, but she''s so stubborn, always chasing after Walter. I don''t want her to be stuck on a man who doesn''t love her and keep making the same mistakes."


    "I know Walter won''t agree, but I hope she''ll wake up and see how heartless that guy of the Lopez family is, and let go of her feelingspletely. May she live freely in the open expanses of her future life, just being herself." "As for all her previous mistakes, let me bear the burden for her in hell. Dr. Lonely Bird, I beg you to forgive her, alright?"


    "Grandma." Before she knew it, Fiona was sobbing uncontrobly.


    go It turned out Grandma''s final wish was for her to let


    of Walter


    The things she said to Walter were meant to totally sever her lingering feelings.


    She was wrong,pletely and utterly wrong.


    Grandma didn''t avoid seeing her. She loved her dearly, thinking of her until the very end. But what had she done?


    Grandma was willing to suffer in hell and take the me for her, but what about her?


    She stubbornly kept making the same mistakes.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    ''Grandma is gone, so why aru I still causing trouble like an ungrateful granddaughter? Fiona thought.


    "Grandma, I''m sorry. Grandma, boohoo-" Fiona cried so hard that she lost her voice, gradually loosening her grip on Shakira. Everyone watching silently breathed a sigh of relief.


    At that moment, Shakira, unable to resist the effects of the anesthetic, became limp and unexpectedly rolled backward.


    "Shakira." Walter, kneeling on the ground, was rmed. He gathered all his strength to stand up again and reached out to catch her-

 Chapter 351

    Shakira opened her eyes to a sea of white, with the strong smell of alcohol in the air.


    "Shakira." Walter was right beside the bed. When he saw her awake, his blue, obsidian eyes were fixed on her, filled with clear delight. Shakira blinked and looked at him intently. Walter''s heart tightened. "Are you feeling ufortable? Should I call a doctor-"


    Suddenly, Shakira reached out and grabbed him. She felt like she was dreaming, dreaming that... Walter stood up, fearlessly throwing himself at her, and they rolled around together. There was still a trace of confusion in Shakira''s eyes as if she couldn''t quite believe it.


    "Walter, your legs. You can stand, and they''re healed, right?" She woke up and the first thing she cared about was this... Well, of course, she always cared so much about it and was so persistent. Walter stopped for a moment and then nodded firmly. "Yes."


    "A while ago, I actually started regaining feeling in my legs. I could feel some pressure, especially when you were doing acupuncture on me."


    Shakira was surprised. "You never mentioned it."


    Regret shed through Walter''s eyes. "I didn''t say anything because I didn''t want to."


    He took a deep breath, leaned over, and kissed the corner of Shakira''s eye. Then he buried his face in her shoulder, hiding his unclear expression from her. "During that time, I often dreamed."


    "It was the memory of myst mission before I got injured. My bros died because of my mistakes. I was lucky to fall into the open sea and survive, but they..." Walter spoke each word with such intensity, and every syble was pronounced with force. "I only lost my legs, but they could nevere back."


    As she listened to his murmured words, Shakira deeply felt his pain, despite his attempts to suppress his emotions.


    At that time, she was on the ship too. She witnessed the scenes he didn''t want to talk about.


    It wasn''t Walter''s fault. Thoserades sacrificed their lives for peace.


    Yet he took all the me on himself.


    No wonder, no wonder she and her master were helpless. It wasn''t his legs that were hard to treat, it was the wound in his heart.


    Shakira didn''t know what to say, so she just held him quietly, offering silentfort.


    After a while, Walter gently pushed her away, and his deep-set, blue eyes intensely focused on her.


    "There was a time I thought it wouldn''t be so bad to live like this for a lifetime. Even without my legs, I could still protect you."


    "But when I saw you hanging off that rail and couldn''t rush over like a normal person to catch you, I regretted it."


    His eyes unknowingly turned red as he let out a sigh. "I was close to regretting it for a lifetime because of my foolish


    <


    thoughts."


    Shakira reached out, cing her palm against his cheek with her eyes slightly moist. "But you did catch me, didn''t you? Walter, you''ve already done everything for me." Walter held her hand and kissed it tenderly.


    Only he knew how wildly his heart was racing the moment he held her in his arms.


    He said, "It''s all thanks to you sticking with the acupuncture and herbal baths that I''ve recovered this much."


    Shakira blinked and carefully observed his expression. "You''re not upset that I kept the Dr. Lonely Bird secret from you?"


    Walter was calm now. He picked up the bottle of warm water from the bedside table and offered the straw to her lips.


    He raised an amused eyebrow at her words and asked, "Why don''t you tell me you are Dr. Lonely Bird?"


    Shakira looked a bit embarrassed. "If I had said it from the start, wouldn''t that have been embarrassing?" Walter''s mouth twitched, "Embarrassing?"


    "Yeah, I learned medicine from my master, but I''d never used it as a doctor. The very first time, because of you, I did... If word got out, wouldn''t everyone think they had to bribe me with charm to get treated?" As Shakira spoke and thought about the scene, her expression became indescribable.


    It wouldn''t have been a big deal if she hadn''t mentioned it, but as soon as she did, Walter''s face turned terrifyingly dark.


    "Who dared? I''d make him regret it." He gritted his teeth, with his eyes full of threat. "So if it were a normal person, you wouldn''t keep it secret?"Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    Shakira drank several sips of warm water before looking at him speechlessly. "If it were someone else, I''d just pay them off and leave and would never to see them again."


    This response barely managed to calm Walter''s almost explosive mood.


    Walter wiped her mouth casually and said, "You were lucky you didn''t do that, otherwise you wouldn''t even leave the Nelson residence alive, let alonee to Easke Valley to make a deal with me." Shakira was lost for words. Thest words made her feel a dyed sense of fear.


    To be honest, being stingy was a good habit, as it saved her life.


    Walter couldn''t help but chuckle at her slow reaction.


    He leaned forward again and gave a gentle, lingering kiss between her pretty brows, softly and affectionately.


    He said, "No matter what happens in the future, make sure I''m the first to know."


    She replied, "Hmm... Fiona was watching me the whole time, so I couldn''t send a message out. Sorry for making you worry."


    He said, "It was my fault that you got hurt. No need to apologize to me."


    His kisses moved from her cheeks to her nose and finallynded on her lips. His breathing became noticeably heavier as if he were cherishing a dearly recovered treasure. Shakira slightly tilted her face toward him, feeling a warmth spreading from her chest.


    Benji thought, ''It''s been quiet for so long. Is there something wrong inside-


    Sun, De


    14:42


    C


    Benji suddenly pushed the door open, and a group of people flooded in behind him. Seeing the two of them cuddling on the bed, they all awkwardly turned their backs at once. "Uh-oh, we''ve interrupted Mr. Lopez''s good time. Now we''re in trouble." Gavin joked with a smile.


    Walter, breathing a bit heavier, pulled the nket up to cover Shakira''s face, which had turned as red as a lobster, and red at the unwee crowd in the ward. "Don''t you knock before entering?" he asked coldly.


    Benji raised his hands in defense. "Walter, I knocked several times. You and Shakira were just too focused to hear."


    Earlier, they were lost in a heartfelt moment, only hearing each other''s breathing and heartbeat. How could they possibly notice a knock on the door?


    Walter, without changing his expression, calmly said, "The room''s big. You should knock louder."


    Calton chuckled and said, "Alright, I''ll have the hospital install a doorbell for your room, okay?" Walter was lost for words.


    So was Shakira.


    The doctor came to change Shakira''s bandages. She had lost a lot of blood, but luckily, they were mostly minor injuries. However, her leg was badly scraped and would need a few more days to heal.


    Walter didn''t let Benji and the others stay for long. He told them to leave the get-well-soon gifts and then sent them away Shakira had a bit of liquid food, still feeling the strong anesthetics. Soon, she was drifting off to sleep in Walter''s arms. Late at night, a young woman in a nurse''s uniform pushed a medical cart into the ward.


    On the hospital bedy a man with exceptionally handsome features. His face was flushed, and he was connected to advanced life support equipment. His eyes were tightly closed, his frame was thin, and hey there quietly, almost like the living dead. Yvette looked at the steady rhythm of the heartbeat on the monitor. She shuffled closer, with her body trembling uncontrobly.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 352

    Seeing it in pictures was one thing.


    Seeing Mitchell, the man she had plotted against, whom she thought should have been eaten by wild animals after falling off a mountain cliff, lying alive in front of her, made Yvette''s heart race as if it was about to jump out of her chest. "Mitchell..." She breathed deeply as she stood by the bedside, with her voice filled with mixed emotions. "You''re really hard to kill, aren''t you?".


    "You''re so protective of Shakira, risking everything to uncover the truth from back then. If you wake up and find out it was Shakira who picked you up and saved your life, would you be moved, thinking she''s willing to ept and forgive you?" Her eyes, the only part of her face exposed from under the mask were filled with uncontroble turmoil and a deeply ingrained hatred.


    "Ha." Yvette sneered as she stared fixedly at the motionless Mitchell. "Too bad. Shakira put in so much effort to hide you, but I still find you." Her voice was low and full of rage that seemed ready to burst out.


    "You wanna ruin me and take away everything I have... No way." vette reached out, removed the oxygen mask, and picked up a pillow leaning over Mitchell''s sleeping face. The intense murderous intent surged in her bloodshot eyes. "Didn''t you say you''d die for me?" As she spoke, Yvette pressed the pillow down firmly.


    #


    "Now, you can die." Yvette poured all her strength into her hands. This time, she was determined to make sure Mitchell was "Now, you can die." Yvette poured all her stre really dead, with no chance ofing back to life.


    Yvette''s face twisted with madness, but unexpectedly, the equipment next to them detected fluctuations in Mitchell''s vital signs and suddenly sounded an rm.


    Beep. "Damn it, what''s happening?"


    Yvette never expected something like this to happen, and she was scared out of her mind. Without a second thought, she quickly dropped the pillow and red at Mitchell, who looked pale with fear. Reluctant but with no other option, she quickly left. Shakira was sure her injuries weren''t serious, but Walter was making a fuss, insisting she stay in the hospital for a few more days.


    At first, Shakira refused, but Walter held her hand and said in his deep, raspy voice, "Do you really want me to be distracted from my important exams, worrying about what might happen to you at home?"


    Shakira hesitated. "What could possibly happen to me at home? Levi and the others will take care of me."


    Walter didn''t say anything. He just quietly watched her.


    Sure enough, a man showing vulnerability was the ultimate way to make a woman soften.


    Facing those pitiful eyes that seemed like the world had abandoned him, Shakira couldn''t hold her ground..."Alright, alright. I''ll stay a few more days, just to keep youpany."


    Walter smiled with satisfaction and leaned in for a passionate kiss. "You''re so good to me, and here''s your reward."


    Shakira''s mouth curled into a smile against her will.


    Her heart fluttered, and she couldn''t resist cupping his face, kissing him deeply. As Walter''s eyes darkened, he wrapped his arms around her waist, ready to take charge. Just then, Benji barged in once again. "Shakira,'' your friends are here..." 1/3


    The words to see your barely made it out of his mouth before Donji felt Walter''s icy gaze pierce through him from head to toc.


    Once again walking right into trouble, Benji was almost in tears Bro, have you really never thought of just installing a doorbelle


    "Get out, Walter said.


    Shakira coughed a couple of times and then looked up at the timid Xanthe, who was frozen at the door.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Shakira''s eyes softened. "Xanthe,e on in."


    Upon hearing Shakira call her name, Xanthe couldn''t hold back her pent-up anxiety and guilt any longer. She burst into tears, rushing to the bedside. "Shakira, I''m such a mess. I''m so sorry, boohoo."


    She was sobbing uncontrobly. "It''s all because of my fault that you''re hurt like this."


    Shakira found her reaction both amusing and touching, while also feeling a twinge of guilt herself.


    Turning her head, she saw Walter, who understood her thoughts had already handed over a box of tissues.


    Shakira gave him an exasperated look and took a tissue to wipe Xanthe''s tears.


    She said, "Stop crying. I''m really okay. You''re the one who got dragged into this because of me."


    "No it''s not like that." Xanthe insisted with a flushed face. "If it weren''t for me, you wouldn''t have fallen into Fiona''s dirty -tricks. I''m the one holding you back."


    Sean, who came in behind Xanthe, had a sheepish expression. "Alright, alright. It''s my fault this time. If I had taken you home, none of this would have happened."


    In a quiet voice, Shakira said, "Fiona is so stubborn. Even if it wasn''t this time, she would have found another opportunity."


    Xanthe listened, with her anger rising as she lifted her head.


    "She''s so terrible-she even had the anesthetist ready and a bunch of thugs prepared. She didn''t n to let us go.


    "And now she''s just been taken away by the police. The Banks family is big and influential, and they''ll definitely protect her. They''ll keep her locked up for a while, but then she''lle out and cause trouble again."


    The more Xanthe talked, the more scared she became. "What if she gets out and holds a grudge against Shakira?"


    "She won''t get that chance." Walter said calmly.


    "The Banks coupl¨¦ has already signed their assets away, and soon their influence in Crescentville will vanish. As for Fiona, with charges like hiring thugs, attempted harm, and using illegal drugs, ourwyers at the Lopez Group will make sure she gets the punishment." ncing at Walter, Sean added, "And those aplices, apart from an old servant who tipped off the Banks family, the others won''t see the outside world ever again."


    Shakira thought of the heartfelt apology from Jaslene before she passed away, and her expression had a touch of helplessness. "Jaslene had the best intentions, but unfortunately, Fiona realized it toote."


    Walter had some matters to handle at thepany, so he took Benji out of the ward to deal with them.


    Xanthe sat by the bed, diligently peeling an apple for Shakira.


    But as soon as she made the first cut, she identally sliced off a third of the apple. Awkwardly, Xanthe ate it herself. "I''ll eat


    The word to see your barely made it out of his mouth before enji felt Walter''s icy gaze pierce through him from head to Te


    Once again walking right into trouble, Benji was almost in tears Bro, have you really never thought of just installing a doorbell Get out. Walter said,


    Shakira coughed a couple of times and then looked up at the timid Xanthe, who was frozen at the door.


    Shakira''s eyes softened. "Xanthe,e on in."


    Upon hearing Shakira call her name, Xanthe couldn''t hold back her pent-up anxiety and guilt any longer. She burst into tears, rushing to the bedside. "Shakira, I''m such a mess. I''m so sorry, boohoo." She was sobbing uncontrobly. "It''s all because of my fault that you''re hurt like this."


    Shakira found her reaction both amusing and touching, while also feeling a twinge of guilt herself.


    Turning her head, she saw Walter, who understood her thoughts, had already handed over a box of tissues.


    Shakira gave him an exasperated look and took a tissue to wipe Xanthe''s tears.


    She said. "Stop crying. I''m really okay. You''re the one who got dragged into this because of me."


    "No it''s not like that." Xanthe insisted with a flushed face. "If it weren''t for me, you wouldn''t have fallen into Fiona''s dirty tricks. I''m the one holding you back."


    Sean, who came in behind Xanthe, had a sheepish expression. "Alright, alright. It''s my fault this time. If I had taken you home, none of this would have happened."


    In a quiet voice, Shakira said, "Fiona is so stubborn. Even if it wasn''t this time, she would have found another opportunity."


    Xanthe listened, with her anger rising as she lifted her head.


    "She''s so terrible-she even had the anesthetist ready and a bunch of thugs prepared. She didn''t n to let us go.


    "And now she''s just been taken away by the police. The Banks family is big and influential, and they''ll definitely protect her. They''ll keep her locked up for a while, but then she''lle out and cause trouble again."


    The more Xanthe talked, the more scared she became. "What if she gets out and holds a grudge against Shakira?"


    "She won''t get that chance." Walter said calmly.


    "The Banks couple has already signed their assets away, and soon their influence in Crescentville will vanish. As for Fiona, with charges like hiring thugs, attempted harm, and using illegal drugs, ourwyers at the Lopez Group will make sure she gets the punishment." ncing at Walter, Sean added, "And those aplices, apart from an old servant who tipped off the Banks family, the others won''t see the outside world ever again."


    Shakira thought of the heartfelt apology from Jaslene before she passed away, and her expression had a touch of helplessness. "Jaslene had the best intentions, but unfortunately, Fiona realized it toote."


    Walter had some matters to handle at thepany, so he took Benji out of the ward to deal with them.


    Xanthe sat by the bed, diligently peeling an apple for Shakira.


    But as soon as she made the first cut, she identally sliced off a third of the apple. Awkwardly, Xanthe ate it herself. "I''ll eat


    this one. Let me peel another,


    Sean couldn''t bear it anymore and took the apple. "Let me do it


    Xanthe red and angrily bit into the apple. Shakira chuckled and shook her head, and then nced at the bandage on Xanthe''s forehead with a sh of cold in her eyes. "Did they find you and hurt you?" Walter rushed over, but those people never showed up. Shakira knew Xanthe didn''t escape safely.


    Xanthe shook her head. "I have no idea. I just remembering out of the building, and trying to leave from the back. Then there was sudden pain, and when I woke up, I was already in the hospital..." Suddenly, Xanthe remembered something. "I''m sorry, Shakira. lost your watch."


    Shakiraforted her. "H''s just a watch. The important thing is that you''re okay."


    Xanthe replied, "Yeah, once I''m better, I''ll get you an identical one


    Sean couldn''t help but mutter from the side, "How could you possibly find an identical one... Xanthe heard this, and her eyes shot daggers. "What? Are you looking down on me or something?" Sean said, "How am I looking down on you? You don''t even know, that watch is... Ah, forget it."


    In Xanthe''s eyes, Sean''s half-spoken words came off as cryptic and sarcastic.


    She grabbed her apple and knife back, waving her hand. She was so angry that she was almost sputtering, "Get lost, I don''t need your fake kindness."


    Sean was speechless.


    Wait, why was he getting scolded for telling the truth? He felt quite speechless, rubbing his nose, and then remembered what Jasmin had mentioned to him before, making his expression turn serious.


    "Hey... Shakira. Jasmin asked me to say hi, and by the way, that person upstairs had some troublest night."


    Shakira''s expression remained unchanged as she calmly asked, "Did he die?"

 Chapter 353

    Sean''s next as still nearby, happily slicing apples without a care. He lowered his voice.


    "It happenedte at night. Jasmin couldn''t get there right away. Since you were recovering, the nurse just called 911 to rush him to ER. Now he''s lying in a room downstairs. It''s easy to take someone there, but bringing him back isn''t so simple. Shakira was surprised. "He''s at Harborview Medical Center too?


    Sean replied, "Yeah, Jasmin knew he couldn''t hide this, so he told the hospital it was an injured person he found outside. Now we just have to wait for those people from the Nelson family to show up."


    "Good," Shakira agreed. "Even if the Nelson familyes knockingter, Jasmin has a valid excuse to clear himself. Please thank Jasmin for me. When I''m better, I''ll visit him personally to express my gratitude." She didn''t want Jasmin to get dragged into her problems. "It''s no big deal, and you don''t have to be so formal." Sean waved his hand.


    "But Jasmin and I checked the ward. Back then, the oxygen mask had been removed, and there was a big change in heart rate. Unfortunately, the nurse didn''t have much experience and couldn''t remember the details. She didn''t even know if the mask was on... Upon hearing this, Shakira''s eyes darkened a bit. "What about the security cameras?"


    Sean replied, "The main issue is with the security cameras. There was a power outage in that areast night, so the cameras were down."


    "What a coincidence." Shakira raised an eyebrow, and the curve of her lips suggested more than she said.


    "Right? You think it''s such a coincidence too. Do you think this could be rted to..." Sean instinctively leaned in closer as he spoke.


    Just as he was about to blurt it out, Xanthe, who had identally nced over, jumped three feet in surprise like a startled cat and rushed over with intense force, putting herself between the two.


    "If you''re going to talk, just talk. Why do you need to get so close? Are you trying to let Shakira smell your bad breath?"


    Sean was lost for words. He was so angry, shouting, "Who has bad breath?" Xanthe immediately covered her nose and said, "Ew." Sean spun in circles, scratching his head in frustration.


    Watching them bicker made Shakira grin from ear to ear. Although Sean didn''t finish his words, Shakira understood his implication. "Harborview Medical Center never loses power. If something''s really off, the one behind it should be worried." Sean rubbed the back of his head, thinking that actually made a lot of sense.


    Xanthe looked puzzled. "What are you talking about? Why can''t I understand it? Did I miss some gossip or something?"


    "Oh, speaking of gossip, Shakira, do you remember when we went shopping and that beauty store was being renovated because someone bought it?" Xanthe said excitedly. "It''s about to reopen. Guess what kind of store it''s going to be." Shakira wasn''t really interested in beauty products, but seeing Xanthe''s excitement, she had a guess. "Yvette''s brand is moving offline."


    Xanthe looked shocked. "Yo-you knew it all along?"


    Shakira''s eyes sparkled with a smile. "Your expression gave it away."


    <


    Xanthe said. "This makes me so mad. How can Yvette have the nerve to take over a store that''s be Does she really think she can achieve something big with her brand?"


    run for so many years?


    Sean crossed his arms. "It''s hard to say. The Nelson family is pulling out all the stops to support Yvette''s beautypany. From research to marketing, the whole family is working together. It''s going to be tough not to seed." Xanthe clicked her tongue. "The Nelson family must be desperate. They''re so starved that they treat a rotten carrot like it''s ginseng."


    Sean nodded seriously. "They''re desperately hungry."


    Xanthe gave a side-eye. "You can''t stand Yvette either?"


    Sean replied, "Of course, just thinking about her face makes me want to puke."


    Xanthe said, "Nice, just because of that, I might consider you a decent person."


    "Why would I need you to think I''m a decent person? I''m really Sean was full ofints.


    to remind them to keep quiet for the patient''s rest.


    The two argued for a while until a nurse came by to remind them to keep quiet for the patient''s rest.


    Xanthe, as if following a royal order, quickly shoved an apple into Shakira''s hand and carefully instructed. "Make sure to rest well, Shakira. Don''t stress about anything. Your health is the most important. I''lle back to see you tomorrow." Shakira took a bite, enjoying the crisp sweetness, and said, "Sure!


    Xanthe said goodbye and casually pulled Sean along. Sean wasn''t too happy about it, but considering that Xanthe was injured, he went with her despite her slight pull and they left the room.


    Once they were back in Xanthe''s ward, she turned to see Sean''s expression ofplete resignation and gave him a look of deep annoyance. "Why did youe back with me?"


    Sean''s eyes almost bulged out when he was preemptively used. "Would I havee over if you hadn''t dragged me?" "Oh, I forgot to let go," Xanthe said, flicking her hand aside and then wiping her fingertips with two wet wipes. Sean took a deep breath and exhaled heavily. If it weren''t for the fact that she was injured, he probably would have argued with her endlessly.


    Xanthe said, "Okay, you''ve seen Shakira. Now hurry up and leave


    Sean frowned. "What about you?" He looked around. "Didn''t you hire a nurse?"


    "Why would I need a nurse? I can already leave the hospital," Xanthe said, opening the small cab to pack her things.


    But she ignored the scar on her wrist, and as it identally brushed against her clothes, she winced in pain.


    Sean frowned deeply. "Where do you think you''re going like this Just stay put." He said as he held her shoulders and gently pushed her back onto the hospital bed, making her rest.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    Xanthe was about to scold him for meddling when her phone rang. Her expression changed, and she quickly signaled Sean to keep quiet.


    She said, "Hey, old man."


    "Girl, it''s been two days. You haven''t answered your phone. You''re worrying your mom and me sick." Enrique''s angry voice came through from the other end of the line.


    Xanthe rubbed her ear, "Oh, my phone ran out of battery. I just turned it on."


    16.40 Mon, Dec 16 G


    Chapter 353.


    56%


    Enrique asked worriedly. Where did you go? You disappeared without letting us know. If we couldn''t contact you, we were about to call the cops.


    "No need for that. I went out that day and bumped into an old ssmate. She invited me to go hiking, and we ended up in the mountains with no signal or power, so I couldn''t let you know in time.


    Xanthe made up a quick lie. "I''m really okay, Dad. You and Mom can be totally sure of that."


    "Seriously, why do you go hiking out of nowhere? Anyway... when are youing back? Which mountain are you at where the signal''s so bad? I might as welle and get you."


    "No." Xanthe was sweating nervously. "We''re out of state, and it''s way too far. It''s not convenient. I''ll be back in a couple of days."


    There was a pause from Enrique, and then he blurted out, "You''re not my daughter."


    Xanthe was baffled. "Huh?"


    Enrique insisted confidently. "There''s no way my daughter would be this considerate. She usually wants me to drop her off and pick her up from school. Who are you, really? Where is my daughter? Did you take her away? Is she still alive?" His voice trembled as he finished.


    Xanthe''s lips twitched, feeling embarrassed. ''Dad, your imagination is really wild,'' she thought.


    Xanthe felt like crying but couldn''t. "It is me, old man. Can''t you even recognize my voice?"


    Enrique said, "Hmph, you think you can fool me with just your voice? Even if you video called me, I wouldn''t believe it-you might use Al and deepfake tech."


    Xanthe thought, ''Seriously, don''t doubt it. I don''t even dare to start a video call.'' She was really worried because Enrique was/ already quietly telling her mom to call the police.


    While she was at her wit''s end, some fool suddenly snatched the phone from her hand.


    At this moment, Sean''s voice was cool and calm. "Mr. Sullivan, it''s me."


    0


    COMME


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 354

    Enrique was clearly startled when he heard Sean''s voice. "Are you... Mr. Reynolds?" Sean put the call on speaker, giving Xanthe, who was trying to grab the phone back, a look that said Don''t move," "Yes, it''s me."


    Enrique went quiet for a few seconds. He mumbled something to his wife, but his voice was too low for them to hear. Afterwards, Enrique asked again. "Mr. Reynolds, are you with my daughter?" "Yeah, we just bumped into each other. "Wow, what a coincidence,"


    Enrique chuckled a couple of times and suddenly shouted from the other end of the line with full force. "You scammer, who do you think you''re fooling? No way my kid would just happen to bump into Mr. Reynolds while hiking. I don''t buy it." Sean''s ears were ringing from the shouting. Xanthe was holding her stomach, almost doubled over withughter. Seeing that shy fool so upset, she thought her dad''s outburst hit the mark perfectly.


    Rubbing his cars hard, Sean kept a calm tone. "Mr. Sullivan, do you rememberst week when I had my secretary deliver the documents from Harmony Realty to you?"


    Enrique was still over there feeling proud for seeing through the con artist''s tricks. "Of course, I remember. Those are encrypted files. Mr. Reynolds told us not to let a third person know, so I..." Right, this was confidential, and no third person knew. So, who else could it be but Mr. Reynolds himself talking? Enrique''s voice faded, and even became a bit shaky. "Are you really Mr. Reynolds?"


    Sean continued, "Next month''s fifth resolution meeting on the Southville development..." "Mr. Reynolds, you are Mr. Reynolds." Enrique was nearly in tears, frightened. "Mr. Reynolds, please don''t be-mad, I-I-I thought it was a scammer..."


    Sean rubbed his temples that had been pounding for a while. "Mr. Sullivan, I''m with Xanthe, so you can rx." "Yes, I''m totally at ease. That mischievous child of mine didn''t give you any trouble, did she?"


    That mischievous kid, Xanthe? Sean said casually, "Just some minor issues." "Even minor issues can be a hassle for you, Mr. Reynolds. Since you''re with Xanthe, I feel relieved."


    Sean acknowledged and handed the phone back to Xanthe. Xanthe red at him, feeling frustrated, andined to her father who had quickly changed his mind. "Am I your daughter or is Sean?"


    Enrique spoke seriously, "Kid, you had your mom and me so worried. Do you want to act up now? Behave yourself with Mr. Reynolds and don''t cause him any trouble, okay?"


    "Alright. My phone''s dying," Xanthe quickly wrapped up the conversation, afraid she''d identally reveal too much. "Okay, do you still have money in your ount? Don''t be too frugal while you''re out there, I''ll transfer some more to you," Enrique said. "Got it," she replied.


    After hanging up the call, Xanthe pursed her lips. "Thanks for dealing with my dad for me." Sean found her awkward manner quite amusing. "Can you rx and stay in the hospital now?" he asked.


    "No way. Now I can finally get discharged and rx at a hotel. Isn''t that much better? Out there, people are always noisy, plus the constant need to sanitize everything and the lousy food-it''s really annoying."All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Sean frowned. "Your injuries aren''t healed yet. If something happens at the hotel, who''s going to take care of you?" Xanthe was getting annoyed. "Well, I''m not asking you to."


    Sean held back his frustration, equally annoyed. "This time, I''m going to be involved whether you like it or not." Xanthe looked at him as if he were crazy. "Sean, have you lost your mind? Are you actually concerned about me or something?"


    After saying this, she couldn''t help but shudder. Sean was irked by her reaction. Did she really dislike his concern that much?


    He clenched his fist and blurted out, "Who cares about you? If it weren''t for Shakira and my mom, I wouldn''t even bother."


    Oh, I get it, Xanthe sate with a knowing nod. "I knew it. How could you care about me? It turns out you''re just worried Shakira might me you


    60%


    Indeed, the other day, when parting ways, Shakira had asked hit to take Xanthe home, but he didn''t do it, leading to the mess with Fiona.


    If something happened to her again, Sean would definitely be embarrassed in front of Shakira. Man, this guy was head over heels. Xanthe thought, ''Even after seeing Mr. Lopez and Shakira being so in love, he still imagined he had a shot? And then there was Eve. If she found out that it was Sean''s mistake that led to all this, he was definitely going to get a lecture. Xanthe folded her arms. "Well, I''m not too happy about staying in the hospital anyway."


    Sean was out of ideas. "You can leave the hospital, but no hotels. You stay at my ce, and I''ll keep an eye on you, okay?" "You?" Xanthe eyed him skeptically.


    Sean retorted. "I''m not going to do anything to you. I''m just worried you might get into trouble. Otherwise, I wouldn''t bother bringing you back."


    Xanthe''s eyes darted around as she reluctantly agreed. "Fine." Her head bandages would probably need at least ten days to two weeks to heal, and with Sean around, she had a good excuse to keep the grumpy old men away. Thinking of this, Xanthe nodded and plopped down in a chair. "Alright then, pack up my stuff and take care of the discharge papers." Sean was amazed. "You want me to pack?"


    Facing Xanthe''s expectant gaze, Sean sighed. "Okay." He would pack her stuff. After all, a real man wouldn''t argue with a


    woman.


    Xanthe didn''t have much luggage, just a few sets of clothes in the wardrobe. Sean opened the bag and started tossing the clothes in, one piece at a time. Being a spoiled rich kid, he certainly didn''t bother folding them neatly. Suddenly, he felt a slippery, thin, and see-through piece of fabric inside. Curious, he pulled it out to take a look.


    When he realized what he was holding, it was like a crash in his head. His face turned red from his neck to the back of his


    ears.


    Within seconds, he was as red as a cooked lobster inside and out. "Sean, what are you doing? Hurry up." Xanthe urged, not even lifting her head from her phone as she yed Candy Crush


    Sean snapped out of it and quickly shoved the flimsy fabric deep into the bag, acting as if nothing happened while he kept packing. But it was hard to ignore his racing heartbeat.


    Dang it. Why was he freaking out? It was not like he''d never had this before. Sean was really good for nothing.


    In a coffee shop downtown, Yvette was all smiles, "Thanks so much, Aaron. I was really about to go crazy without your help."

 Chapter 355

    COMMENT


    0


    Yvette''s sweet call almost made Aaron melt inside. Scratching his head awkwardly, he felt a bit shy.


    Aaron replied, "Oh, Yvette, there''s no need to be so polite. It was just a small favor from a friend, nothing major. But you, on the other hand, have such a kind heart.


    "That beauty salon was shady, trying to steal your brand''s secret form, and yet you didn''t call the police. You used their own tricks against them to get it back," Aaron said, feeling quite indignant. "If it were me, I''d make those sneaky thieves pay.


    Yvette forced a smile, with her helplessness obvious. "The manager of that salon is an old acquaintance of Shakira, and I didn''t want to make things too awkward. Shakira is caught in the middle, and it would be really difficult for her.


    Hearing how Yvette was willing to put herself in Shakira''s position, Aaron''s anger only increased. "Why do you bother with all this, Yvette? Shakira is the type who holds grudges and is really ruthless. Besides, she has nothing to do with the Nelson family anymore." "But no matter what, she''s still my brothers'' sister and my parents'' daughter. Even if she treats me badly, I don''t want everyone to feel sad." Saying this, Yvette lifted her face, with her pure features still radiant and beautiful.


    Like a resilient bindweed, she remained dignified and true to herself, despite facing many setbacks.


    Aaron looked at her and heaved a sigh. "Well, you really have the same temperament as Jayden. Even without being blood-rted, you''re more like his sister than Shakira. Even if Shakira was reborn, she couldn''tpare to you, the true princess of the Nelson family." Yvette''s eyes curved into a smile as she yfully said, "Aaron, please keep this a secret for me. I don''t want my family to worry."


    Aaron waved his hand spiritedly. "It''s no big deal."


    Yvette''s smile grew even brighter. "Thank you, brother."


    Aaron took a call and quietly paid the bill. After saying goodbye to Yvette, he left the caf¨¦. Watching his departure, Yvette let her fake smile fall into a frown.


    Just then, her phone rang. She nced at it and her expression soured further. Picking up, she heard Lago''s nervous voice. "How did it go, daughter? Is everything sorted out?"


    Yvette clenched her fists. "I asked you to handle it, but you didn''t do anything. If I hadn''t arranged the power cut beforehand, I would have been in big trouble."


    On the other end, Lago hesitated, not daring to argue. He tried to appease Yvette. "Sweetheart, calm down. Daddy''s old now, not as capable as you. I admit, you''re the one who nned everything so well." "Ha, what else can you say besides that? Stop ttering me. The most urgent thing now is to deal with Mitchell."


    Lago was just as worried. "He was taken to Harborview Medical Center. Your mom and I have tried everything, but we honestly don''t know what else to do. Sweetheart, could you think of something else?" Yvette really wanted to tell her dad off. How did she end up with such useless parents?


    Yvette was panting slightly. "What else can we think of? Jasmin''s people are guarding, and with the hospital''s surveince, there''s just no way."


    On the other end of the line, Jessie began sobbing anxiously after hearing Yvette''s answer. "No way? We''re finished. If Mitchell wakes up, won''t all our family''s efforts over the years be for nothing?"


    QU


    Jessie felt like her world was falling apart, crying out in despair. Listening to it all was making Yvette extremely irritated, and thinking about the possibility Jessie mentioned only added to her frustration Now that she hade this far, Yvette hadpletely defeated Shakira. She wasn''t going to let Mitchell take everything away from her.


    Yvette''s eyes were filled with dark greed. "No way, I won''t let Mitchell ruin me."


    Shakira knew she wouldn''t be able to return to work at thepany soon, so she handed the project over to Maris to follow up. After finishing the handover, she stayed in the ward and started taking it easy. Walter went to the room next door to do some work, while Xanthe visited her every day for a couple of hours. The rest of the time, Shakira would get bored and y games on her phone If her phone died, she''d just use Walter''s.


    Today, without noticing, she drained Walter''s phone battery too Shakira turned off the screen and plugged it in to charge. Feeling a bit curious, she decided to go next door and see what Walter was doing.


    To her surprise, when she lightly pushed the door open, the room waspletely empty. ''What happened?'' she wondered.


    Feeling puzzled, Shakira asked a nurse and learned that Walter was in the rehab room. Her curiosity got the better of her, and before she knew it, she had made her way there.


    Looking through the small ss window on the door, she saw Walter inside, using a support tool to take each step forward. Suddenly, his left knee seemed to give way, and his tall frame nearly fell to the floor.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Just as Shakira was about to push the door open, she saw Walter hooking his elbow around the side rail, barely keeping himself from falling. After a few seconds, he steadied himself and continued moving forward.


    She didn''t know how long he''d been practicing inside, but his back was drenched in sweat, and he looked visibly strained. Watching him like this, Shakira felt indescribable emotions bubbling up inside her. Her heart felt tight, and little bursts of emotion surfaced. Brian couldn''t stand to watch inside and tried persuading Walter to rest a few times, but was eventually told off. He came out looking numb and bumped into Shakira, whose eyes had unknowingly turned red. "Ms. Nelson?" He realized his own eyes were wet and quickly turned


    away.


    Shakira took a deep breath. "He says he''s working every day, but he actuallyes here, doesn''t he?"


    Brian stood still for a moment before nodding firmly. "Mr. Lopez doesn''t want you to worry."


    With his head down, Brian said, choking up, "Mr. Lopez has always regretted not starting his rehab earlier. Maybe he could walk easily by now. He''s trying to make up for lost time."


    "Why is he as stubborn as a mule?" Shakira wondered, wanting to smile, but her face showed deep concern instead. How could she not understand his thoughts?


    Brian asked, "Ms. Nelson, aren''t you going in to see him?"


    "If I go in now, it''ll just make him feel worse." Shakira shook her head gently. "I''ll stay here."


    Brian seemed like wanted to say something more, but seeing Shakira''s unwavering gaze fixed on Walter inside, he kept his thoughts to himself


    Walter practiced for as long as Shakira stood at the door.


    Finally, when she saw Walter put down the equipment and sit back in his wheelchair, Shakira decided to move. Instinctively, she turned to head back to her room, realizing she almost lost her bnce from standing so long. 13160%


    20:10


    She leaned on the doorframe to steady her legs, which felt a bitingly, and hurried back just before Walter came out. Walter pushed the door open and entered the ward. Shakira looked up from the couch with a bright smile. "All done?"

 Chapter 356

    Walter casitally walked over to her and gently tucked the hair behind her car. "So, were you bored waiting? I''m free for the rest of the day, so I can spend it with you."


    Shakira raised an eyebrow. "Really? It''s still early. Are you sure you don''t have more work to do?"


    She thought for a moment. "After you finish work, do you want to go to rehab?" Walter replied calmly, "Not today, I''ll go


    tomorrow."


    "Oh. When you go to rehab tomorrow, call me along, and I''ll apany you," Shakira suggested with a cheerful smile.


    Walter instinctively frowned, about to refuse, but Shakira tugged on his arm yfully. "Come on, let me go with you. Otherwise, I''ll be just ying video games all day, and I''m getting really bored."


    She rarely acted so cute and yful with him, so how could Walter refuse? He agreed, "Alright, but you can only watch, no helping me out." Shakira made an "ok" gesture. "No problem, I promise not to disturb Mr. Lopez''s big rehab mission." Walter pinched her nose, with a smile spreading on his face. He couldn''t contain his little secret anymore and said, "Rehab''s been going great these past few days. I can slowly let go of the support and walk a bit on my own now."


    "Really? Isn''t that a little too fast? You just started recovering, and you don''t need to hurry..." Walter interrupted her, "The doctor says my progress is fine. If you don''t believe me, take a look."


    As if to prove his point, he moved his wheelchair to the space at the foot of the bed, holding onto the chair to slowly stand up. Shakira instinctively held her breath, watching him take steps toward her-


    His eyes werepletely focused on her, with each step slow but steady and determined. Shakira''s heart pounded fiercely.


    Walter''s face beamed with satisfaction. "So, do you believe me now?" This time, Shakira didn''t wait for him to approach and dashed towards him without hesitation.


    This was the first time they were in such a position. He was a head taller than her, and she could just barely wrap her arms around his waist, holding tightly.


    She buried her face in his chest, saying softly, "Yes, I believe you. Walter, I trust you." Walter looked down at her, and seeing how deeply she relied on him stirred something indescribable in his heart.


    He lifted his arm to embrace her shoulder, and they hugged tightly, wishing they could merge into each other''s bones and blood.


    Bang-the sudden sound of something heavy hitting the floor startled them, making them realize someone else had entered the ward.


    Walter''s face darkened, and his eyes were icy as he looked at the person who interrupted their moment. Shakira was the first to gasp, "Benton?"


    Benton stood awkwardly bent at the door, wearing a smile that looked more like a grimace. His heart was like a piece of fruit that had fallen and rolled on the ground, outwardly intact but secretly decayed inside. Benton thought, ''It was over-my future was doomed... What exactly had I seen?''


    Seeing Mr. Lopez and Shakira hugging was shocking enough, but the real revtion was Mr. Lopez standing on his own. Had he uncovered a massive family secret?


    Damn it, he was in real trouble. Walter red at him coldly, with his eyes intense enough to rip him apart. "How did you even get in here?"


    Benton swallowed with difficulty. "Mr. Lopez, I swear, I knocked first. I really did. Both Walter and Shakira were speechless.


    It was absolutely necessary to install a doorbell. Shakira said, "Maybe the knock was too soft, and we didn''t hear it... Ahem. Benton, what brings you here unexpectedly?" Benton quickly crouched down to pick up the fruits. "I''m just here to check on Shakira. I heard you got injured, and as a leader, I definitely had toe by to see how you''re doing."


    As Benton spoke, he felt like crying inside. He hadn''t thought that a simple visit to check on someone could almost cost him


    his life.


    Shakira helped Walter back into his wheelchair and crouched down to help pick up the fruits. "Thank you for your concern, Benton. It''s just a minor injury, and I''ll be fine after a few days of rest." "A few days won''t be enough, Shakira. Don''t worry, Maris has told me about the project. You were the main contributor, and


    need." the team will handle the follow-ups. Just rx and take as much time off as you


    Walter chuckled without any emotion. "I didn''t expect you to be such a considerate leader." Benton stiffened. "You''re too kind, Mr. Lopez. I learn from you."


    Walter nced at him sideways and sneered. "You learn from me? What are you hoping to learn?" Benton swallowed hard, feeling like he was about to pass out from fear.


    "I-I-I... I learn from you, Mr. Lopez, how to care for our team members. Shakira is a key contributor in our team for the intelligence project, and such a dedicated colleague deserves extra attention."


    Walter made a nomittal sound and said nothing further. Shakira nced at him. "You should say less sometimes."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    She saw how Benton was trembling quietly and feared he''d be too frightened.


    "Don''t worry, Benton. I''ve already talked to Yonder Digital about the project, and the colleagues handling the follow-up have also contributed. When ites to credit and rewards, just divide it based on each person''s contribution. There is no need to give me special treatment."


    ''Oh my, Shakira, you really are... Well, I thank you on behalf of Maris and the others. They''re really lucky to have you,'' Benton thought to himself, quietly impressed.


    After all, with such a big project, it was great not to fight for it fiercely. Someone like Shakira, who willingly stepped aside, was rare in the whole department.


    Being Mr. Lopez''s girlfriend, her perspective was truly something. Shakira smiled. "We''re all coworkers, working for the department and thepany. There''s really nothing to fuss over."


    "Haha, true. You''ve got such forward-thinking ideas," Benton praised. But as heughed, he felt he might be celebrating too early.


    After closing his mouth quietly, Benton cleared his throat. "Since you''re alright, Shakira, just take a good rest. I won''t disturb you... and Mr. Lopez. I''ll be going now. Don''t bother to see me out."


    With that, Benton quickly slipped to the door. Suddenly, he remembered something and turned back to whisper, "I didn''t see anything when I came in, Mr. Lopez. Don''t worry, I swear I won''t say a word." After showing his loyalty, Benton ran off without looking back, as if fearing Walter might change his mind.


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Heiress’s Return 357

    Shakira''s lips twitched. It seemed that the terrifying reputation of Big Devil was ingrained in everyone''s mind. George was so scared. She turned back and saw Big Devil frowning. He looked displeased. Shakira thought he was worried that George would slip it out. Shakira picked up the game console on the table, turned on the TV to connect it, and said casually, "Don''t worry. George will keep his mouth shut."


    Hearing this, Walter raised his head, stared at her, and said, "Do you think I''m worried that George may slip it out?"


    Shakira sat down on the couch next to him. She heard his words and asked, "With that expression, aren''t you worried?"


    Walter said frankly, It''s true I''m unhappy. When did I ask him to keep it a secret? How can he be in this position and still be so insensitive?" Walter''s cold voice was full of disdain.


    Shakira was surprised. George was famous in the department for being good at sucking up. Big Devil disliked him just because George got it wrong.


    Shakira pulled a wry face and said, "Didn''t you agree not to make our rtionship public?"


    Walter frowned, looked at her, and said, "It''s different now. I don''t want it to happen again."


    Shakira said resignedly, "It won''t. I''ll be more careful. Besides, Fiona knew about our rtionship from the beginning, didn''t she? Whether we go public or not doesn''t change anything." Shakira shook his hand gently and said, "Don''t think too much about it, okay? Would you like to y a game


    Walter pinched her nose and said, "OK."


    with me?"


    Shakira giggled and kept fiddling with the TV remote. The first channel shended on was a live news broadcast. A familiar face filled the screen. Outside the detention center, Fiona was handcuffed and being transferred to the city''s judicial department for trial. Once the admired youngdy of the Banks family, Fiona, now became a disgraced criminal. She dragged her entire family into scandal and public criticism. Facing the packed media, Fiona, with a pale face, slowly raised her head towards the


    cameras.


    Fiona said, "I''ll take responsibility for my mistakes. It''s all my fault. It has nothing to do with my parents." She paused and added in a trembling voice, "Shakira, I''m sorry."


    After saying this, Fiona was escorted into the police car. The media couldn''t get any further answers.


    Shakira stared at the screen in shock, suddenly remembered something, looked up at Walter with wide eyes, and said, "Oh


    no!"


    Walter was puzzled and said, "What''s the matter?"


    Shakira said, "Is this news being broadcast live? Does that mean my mentors will see it too but


    Right after Shakira said so, her phone buzzed with a message from Sean: [Mr. Goodman and the others are on their Shakira, good luck!]


    The simple message sent shivers down Shakira''s spine!


    way.


    Outside the hospital''s inpatient department, the car of the Nelson family slowly pulled up to the front entrance. Yvette


    III


    casually nced at her rtion in the mirror.


    <<3


    When she was ready to step out, Reba, who sat next to Yvette noticed something and stopped Yvette, "Yvette, wait a *moment." Yvette said, "What''s wrong, Mom?"


    Reba said, "Yvette, did you invite the media for publicity?"


    Yvette was confused and said, "No, I didn''t." How could she get those media outlets toe here?This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Reba pointed to the cars not far away and said, "Aren''t they all official reporters from the TV stations?"


    Yvette looked in that direction and it was true!


    61%


    Reba mumbled, "Why are they all at the inpatient department? If you didn''t call them, did something happen inside?"


    Yvette thought about it and smiled, "Mom, maybe they''re here to interview me."


    Yvette felt pleased and said, "Maybe they have found out that our Rippling Heart will donate the full treatment cost to the cancer-fighting inte celebrities, and they''re waiting here for an interview!"


    Hearing Yvette''s words, Reba thought about it and agreed with her. Reba said, "That''s it! Everything is fine. Nothing will go wrong at the hospital. They realize that Rippling Heart''s publicity will be huge, so they jump on the bandwagon. "Besides, this year''s "Touching the Heart of Clusia'' is about to air, Yvette, your sponsorship story is the positive energy case they need most. I didn''t expect them to be so good at finding this kind of news."


    Her precious daughter was about to appear on the national TV station and be praised by people all Reba felt incredibly proud.


    She gave Yvette a thorough look from head to toe and said, "You''re dressed too inly today. to give you a proper makeover. We''re going on a big program. You can''t be too low-key."


    over the country.


    get


    Yvette''s eyes lit up. She said, "You''re right, Mom. It''s so thoughtful of you. I''ll go find someone right away."


    Yvette made some calls to contact those celebrity styling teams. It was too sudden. They were reluctant refused by several teams and ran out of patience.


    -5


    a


    team over here


    doree.


    Yvette was


    Yvette said, "This is for the "Touching the Heart of Clusia'' shooting. Getting your team on such opportunity for you!"


    2


    Yvette replied without hesitation, "Of course!"


    The person was surprised and said, "Ms. Nelson, do you mean that you want our team toe over "Touching the Heart of Clusia''s'' shooting?"


    big program is


    a great


    to help you prepare


    for


    The person said, "Ms. Nelson, we''re sorry for the misunderstanding. We didn''t realize you were going to be on such an important national program. Working with you is our privilege!


    Even though they were a well-known styling team in the entertainment industry, being part national attention was a whole different level.


    The person changed his attitude and said, "Ms. Nelson, send us the address. Our best team members will be there shortly. Oh, we know some famous entertainment reporters. Would it be alright if they join us for an interview with you?" In the entertainment industry, it was rare for a celebrity to bring such prestige. It would create significant buzz. They must be part of it!


    Yvette snorted with pride, "Do whatever you like. They''re waiting for me. Hurry up."


    The person said, "Alright, we''ll be there right away!"


    In less than twenty minutes, the styling team arrived promptly. Yvette got out of the car and got into their RV.


    <3


    A group of top stylists in the entertainment industry worked together to style her. Yvette sat in front of the mirror and


    watched herself being transformed into the image of a sophisticated professional woman.


    61%


    She saw out of the RV window. Several entertainment reporters gathered outside with theirrge cameras and were ready to capture the moment, Yvette smiled with satisfaction at her reflection in the mirror and stood up.


    Reba said, "Yvette."


    Reba got into the RV and carefully ced the emerald ne and earrings she had brought onto Yvette.


    Yvette felt a sudden chill on her neck, felt surprised, and said, "Mom, what''s this?"


    Reba looked at Yvette with delight and said excitedly, "This is the dowry I had when I got married. It''s valuable. Yvette, wear it. You make me proud!"


    Yvette said, "Okay."


    Yvette smiled confidently, held her head high like a graceful swan, and elegantly stepped out of the RV. With a cheerful grin, she walked towards the press cars and said, "Sorry to keep you all waiting..."


    Before Yvette could finish speaking, a group of reporters shouted excitedly, "They''reing!"


    The reporters were all shouting and scrambling for the best spot and rushing forward like a swarm of bees. Yvette didn''t have time to react. She was pushed aside as they stormed ahead. They just disregarded her, and her carefully styled look was. in chaos!


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!