Chapter 35 Nydia asked worriedly, “Is everything okay with Veronica?” Walter turned around to glance at his sister’s legs, which were held in the air. Based on what Veronica had said, he frowned and concluded, “She probably practiced dancing too hard and ended up hurting herself.” Nydia repeated, “Practiced dancing?” She wondered, ‘Since when did […]
Cade sped off in his car, leaving Nydia behind. Snow splashed around her. Nydia vomited for about three minutes. After that, she started to feel sober again. Her skirt was torn, revealing the thin bottoms underneath, and her teeth chattered with cold. She cursed, “Scum bag! Psycho!” She shouted for a while before she put on her coat and got up from the snow. It was silent around without a car in sight. Nydia had no choice but to open the map and navigate herself home. She tried to call Veronica on her way home, but no one answered. She wondered, ‘What is Veronica doing? We were out for a drink together. Cade caught and abandoned me while Veronica ghosted me. Nydia walked for more than an hour to get home and even got blisters on her feet. She felt so cold that she could not feel her body. Her body was itchy and sore when the hot water poured over her head. Emotions overwhelmed her and drove her to the edge of tears. Nydia seethed with fury as she realized she had more wounds on her body, yet her old ones had not fully healed. That night, she dreamed that she relentlessly punched and kicked Cade until he fell to his knees and begged for mercy. She felt empowered in the dream, so she leaned back and laughed until her throat was dry and sore. A sore throat woke Nydia up. She cried inside, ‘I can’t believe I caught a cold!‘ This was the first time she had been sick this year. The inflamed tonsils gave her a headache and left her entire body sore. Nydia initially intended to take a day off. However, Alison called early in the morning to deliver the message that Cade had scheduled a meeting at 10:30 a.m., and no one was allowed to be absent. Nydia cursed when she received the message. She gritted her teeth and crawled out from under the blanket. She sneezed in a row the moment she left the warmth. Nydia was aware that she could not take medicine on an empty stomach. Therefore, with little appetite, she casually chewed a few mouthfuls of cold bread. Tears welled up in her eyes as she experienced the pain of swallowing the bread. When Nydia fell ill, she became fragile. Tears welled up in her eyes easily, and she missed her family more than ever before. Nydia was the last to arrive at the conference room. Cade, Josephine, and the pillars of the corporations were all already present, looking at her with disdain. She got used to it. The physical pain left her with no energy to care about these people’s thoughts about her. Josephine spoke first with a smile, ‘Ms. Sharp, congratulations! You handled the infringement issue brilliantly, and the company’s stock has doubled a few times.” Nydia did not raise her eyelids when she heard that. Kaden Marshall, an executive at the corporation, grunted, “It is not her credits. You don’t have to congratulate her.” The other executives and stakeholders followed Kaden and started their attack on Nydia. “Agreed. While the incident was well explained, the damage to the company’s reputation was significant, and that’s a loss that money can’t compensate for “Our benefits will fluctuate like a rollercoaster as long as the Sharp Group is still operating.” 1/3 38% 10:44 Chapter 34 When Lance was about to retort, Nydia chuckled and replied, “Why do you always complain at the board meeting? You all make a fortune because of this event, don’t you? Are you dissatisfied with Mr. Jackson or the corporation?” With that, she glanced at Cade. Cade looked at Nydia from the corner of his eye, emotionless. Kaden hurriedly blamed, “We are talking about your mistakes. Don’t involve Mr. Jackson.” Nydia sneered and shot back fearlessly, “What are my mistakes? Oh, right, I did make a mistake. My biggest mistake is working tirelessly for the corporation, which enables everyone here to earn too much money. You have nowhere to spend your countless money and time, so you show up at headquarters every day to cause trouble for me.” She did not want to continue the conversation with these people. Her cold made her feel unwell and drove her to speak more bluntly. going A shareholder shouted, “What did you say?” Some of them were so furious that their eyes turned red as if they were g to eat Nydia. Their yelling caused a sudden pain in Nydia’s ears that she nearly blacked out. Growing irritated, Nydia responded impatiently, “Do you have anything else to say? Wrap it up! I’ve got a busy schedule.” Those words were for Cade. Seeing Cade’s eyes narrow slightly, Josephine quickly interjected, “Ms. Sharp, we completely understand it. Given your busy schedule, I’ll get straight to the point. We need your assistance for a collaboration.” Someone murmured, “How come she is busy? I think she doesn’t work enough for the corporation.” Shareholders and the executives cast a more disdainful look at Nydia. Nydia took over Josephine’s file. She sneered once she opened it, thinking. This is the merger and acquisition in Mewarting City. It’s a project brimming with benefits. I remembered someone else was in charge of it, but Josephine snatched it after she landed a job here. I didn’t expect it would take so long. It seems that this isn’t an easy project. That makes sense. Otherwise, Josephine wouldn’t be keen to pass it on to me. The shareholders and the executives were all aware of what Josephine was up for, so they all showed a face of enjoying the scene. Kaden was afraid Nydia would refuse to take the project, so he added, “Didn’t you say that you work hard for the corporation? Well, here’s your chance to prove it. Take the project. Besides, everyone is watching you after the infringement issue. If you nail this project, I’m confident they’ll never doubt your capability again.” He sounded concerned about Nydia, but all he wanted was to witness Nydia’s failure. Nydia knew it was a plot but could not reject this project. Subconsciously, she glanced at Cade and found him playfully looking at her, just like everyone else. His gaze seemed to taunt, “What? Are you scared?” Nydia’s expression darkened, but soon, she put a smile on her face. She raised from her seat and tapped the file twice with her fingers, announcing. “Thank you for acknowledging my ability and giving me this project. I’ll try my best.” Cade gazed at Nydia’s back, his expression turning stern. He contemplated, I might consider letting Nydia off the hook if she begs or submits to me or simply refuses the project. However, she didn’t give me that chance. She seems increasingly resistant to bowing down to me. 2/3 Chapter 34 Josephine sensed Cade’s emotion changed because of Nydia. She clenched her hands under the table into fists, but she managed to squeeze a smile, asking, “Cade, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” Cade withdrew his gaze from Nydia and said coldly, I’m okay. Meeting dismissed. Nydia could not endure the sickness anymore, so she drove to the hospital at noon. When she made an appointment, she remembered she owed Bentley a meal. She pondered, “I can’t risk having lunch with Bentley. If Cade finds out, I’ll be in trouble again. But perhaps I can find another way to send the commission fee to Bentley.”
Chapter 33 The club owner implored, “Mr. Jackson, I’m truly sorry if any of my staff offended you.” His forehead was beaded with a cold sweat. Cade leaned back slothfully and raised his chin to point at Lewis on stage, asking, “Did my wife order him?” His voice was plain, not revealing a hint of his emotion. Veronica’s brow furrowed as she pondered, “What’s Cade talking about? Ordering Lewis? Seriously? Lewis is a popular singer, not a sexual service worker. Cade makes everything so weird.‘ The club owner was stunned, thinking. ‘Well. That makes sense. Celebrities are like consumption goods for the wealthy since their job is to entertain the clients. I suppose Cade sees it the same way.” Thus, he responded, “Mr. Jackson, yes, your wife ordered him. His name is Lewis Harvey, the most sought–after singer at the moment. Mrs. Jackson certainly has a good taste.” Cade snorted, glancing at the club owner, then spat out two words, “Oh, really?” He was smiling, yet his words dripped with Icy sarcasm. The club owner’s legs weakened, and he almost kneeled before Cade. He apologized in a trembling voice, “No, no. I said it wrong. Mr. Jackson, please forgive me.” He thought to himself, ‘I’m not sure what I said wrong, but apologizing to Cade is always the right move. “In that case, Lewis, show me what you got.” Cade maintained his smile and politely said to Lewis on the stage, “Continue.” Lewis was too shocked to say a word. Nydia grinned at Lewis and urged, “Come on. Keep singing.” Cade’s smile stretched wider. “Lewis, it looks like my wife likes you very much. You’ve got something, haven’t you?” The club owner and Lewis began to shiver with fear. They found themselves trapped in a dilemma, frozen on the spot. Cade added, “I’m known for recognizing talent. If you’ve got something, you’d better show it. Listen up, everyone! Feel free to ask Lewis to sing a song for you. It’s on me.” He said “can,” but everyone knew it was a “must.” With that, he slightly tilted his head to glance at Veronica, ordering. “You’ll be the backup dancer.” Excitement buzzed through the crowd. Lewis’s face turned pale, and he felt as if he could already sense the strain on his vocal cords. Veronica seethed with rage and gritted her teeth hard. Observing the club owner’s stunned expression, Cade asked softly, “Any problems?” The club owner immediately pulled himself back from the shock and nodded heavily, replying. “No problem! I’ll get Lewis ready in a minute or so, Paul witnessed the whole scene from upstairs. He screamed out of excitement and rushed down within minutes. Before Paul could reach the front, Cade had finished arranging everything. He carried Nydia and stood up slowly. When he spotted Paul, he said, “You can be the supervisor.” 1/4 J M M M Chapter 33 Nan 18:43 Paul regretted so much, screaming inside, What was I thinking? I should’ve stayed upstairs to enjoy the show. Now I’ve landed myself a job! Damn it!‘ Cade carried Nydia out of the club. The cold wind and snow chilled Nydia’s neck, so she instinctively leaned into Cade’s arms for warmth. Unexpectedly, Cade refused Nydia’s approach and pushed her onto the passenger seat of his ost Nydia muttered, “My knees hurt. My hands hurt.” She frowned as she saw Cade open the door and sit on the driver’s seat, letting in a gust of cold air. Before she could sit well, he stepped on the accelerator and sped off. Nydia was so shocked that she almost threw up. She glared at Cade in annoyance, asking, “Mr. Jackson, could you please slow down?” Cade snorted and retorted, “I thought you liked excitement!” His tone turned chilly as he stepped harder on the accelerator Cade’s rushing scattered the cars on the road. The drivers tried to curse, but their words died in their throats when they saw the license plate number of that galloping car. Nydia grabbed tightly on the armrest above her head and cried, “I don’t like excitement. Stop the cart Her face turned pale. “I want to throw up.” Cade ignored Nydia. Instead, he continued to drive recklessly along the road, seemingly intent on making her sick and expelling the alcohol from her stomach. When Nydia could not take it anymore and was literally on the verge of throwing up, Cade suddenly hit the brake and stopped the car under a streetlight. Inertia drove Nydia forward. She slammed into the glove compartment and nearly fainted out. Cade sneered when he saw Nydia sitting in her seat in pain. He gritted his teeth and asked, “Nydia, you can’t live without a man, can you?” Nydia retorted inside, There it is again. She had a severe headache, and her stomach twitched. Thus, she got mad and replied, “I’m sure I can’t live with you around me.” Cade’s expression darkened. Nydia was inebriated and vented, ignoring Cade’s growing anger. “Every day is a struggle ever since I married you. I’m forced to play the role of Mrs. Jackson and endure your constant threats of kicking me out of the game. People may think I hit the jackpot because I get to marry you, but they have no clue how much I suffer. I never wanted to bear the title of Mrs. Jackson.” Nydia pressed on, her words tinged with desperation. “Mr. Jackson, can’t we just return to how things were? You can be with the woman you love, and I’ll remain an employee at the company. We’ll respect each other’s boundaries and keep out of each other’s lives. Wouldn’t that be better for both of us?” Cade thought, “Does she want us to be strangers? Wonderful! What a remarkable ideat He pressed his tongue against the left side of his mouth, then slowly unfastened his seatbelt. “You are also very painful, right? You’ve lived with someone you don’t love for five years. Nobody understands that feeling 2/4
Chapter 32 30% 10:43 However, people from outside could not see things inside the room. Each presidential suite was equipped with a large–screen TV, enabling clients to watch the stage with crystal clarity. Girls turned on the TV and returned to the sofa, excitedly discussing their favorite stars and how many tips those stars. would receive. Veronica wrapped up herself and dragged Nydia to the scene even though Nydia was giddy. With Lewis about to perform, Veronica handed the money to Nydia. She smirked and explained, “I’m a celebrity too. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to be spotted here. Can you give my tips to Lewis later? Let’s help him win.” Just as Veronica finished her words, Lewis stepped onto the stage, looking like a rock star. The music was so loud that Nydia almost vomited. Veronica urged, “Throw the tips. Now!” Nydia followed and threw the money to the stage with her stiff hand. She muttered, “It’s inappropriate. What if someone recognizes me?” Veronica replied, “Oh, please. Who would notice you? Besides, everyone present is from a noble family. Confidentiality is guaranteed here. Everything that happens here stays in here.” With that, she whistled at Lewis. Nydia retorted, “Well then, why are you covering yourself up?” Veronica replied, “You know. I’ve broken many boys‘ hearts. Those three were another set of the victims.” She lifted her chin to gesture toward the boys across from them. “They tried to do everything to win me back. It’s annoying.” Nydia followed Veronica’s gaze and looked over, murmuring inside, ‘What? The three handsome boys look alike. Are they triplets? “Stop looking at them.” Veronica pushed Nydia and urged, “Throw the ey now? Nydia pulled herself back and threw the money to the stage. She was surrounded by Lewis’s fans and heard them screaming., “Lewis! Lewis! Lewis!” Nydia followed the crowd and shouted, “Lewis! Lewis! Lewis!” A girl screamed, “Lewis! Ahhh! I love you! I want to give birth to your baby!” Nydia felt speechless and thought, “Umm, I’m not following that one.” 39% 10:43 Chapter 32 girls are fanatical.” The beauties chuckled and replied, “Understandable. Everyone loves attractive guys.” Paul replied disdainfully. “Tsk. Is that singer more attractive than Mr. Jackson? You girls haven’t seen the world” Everyone in the room seemed to agree with Paul. Liam suddenly cried, “Check that out!” Paul grumbled, “Check what? Why the hell are you making a fuss?” Liam slowly looked back at Cade with a complicated expression. Paul asked, “I’m talking to you. Why are you looking at Cade?” Liam swallowed and said, “I think I saw that woman.” Paul chuckled sarcastically and replied, “Damn it. I thought you saw something incredible. Which woman? The one you slept with yesterday or the day before yesterday?” “It is Nydia Sharp!” Liam spluttered. No one had ever expected that name. It hit them like a brick. Suddenly, the room went silent, as if someone had pressed à mute button. Paul did not believe it and asked, “Are you sure you’re sober enough to recognize her? Where did you spot her?” “It’s the girl by the stage, tossing cash at the singer. The one in the short black skirt with a ponytail.” Liam paused, pointing to the screen to draw Paul’s attention to Nydia. With that, Paul admitted that Liam was correct. He exclaimed inside, ‘It’s Nydiar “Boom!” A sound rose. This sound was not from the fireworks outside but came from the room. comi” A sound Drawn by the sound, Paul and Liam quickly spun around and discovered Cade holding shards of glass. Under those shocked gazes, Cade casually shrugged and deadpanned, ‘Apologies for the interruption. The glass was slippery.” Everyone was dumbfounded. Someone whispered, “I don’t believe it’s because of the slippery glass.” Paul and Liam looked at each other and whispered. Liam asked, “What’s going on? If I understood it correctly, Cade crushed the glass, right?” Paul replied, “What a tough guy.” Liam asked, “It shouldn’t be. Cade isn’t interested in Nydia, is he? Why does he look so angry?” Paul explained, “It has nothing to do with that. Just because Cade doesn’t love his wife doesn’t mean another man can swoop in and take her. No man would tolerate that.”
Chapter 31 Dan 18:42 Veronica wondered, ‘The Wiley family primarily invests in international education, with ninety percent of their business operated abroad, while the Jackson family doesn’t engage in that field. What makes these two families competitors? Nydia did not believe Veronica and retorted, “The Jackson Group in like an empire in the business world. I don’t think we can know every detail about its business.” Veronica sighed and agreed, “Tsk. That makes sense. You are Mr. Jackson, yet you have no access to those top secrets, not to mention an outsider like me! Everyone in the wealthy social circle knew how much Cade loved Josephine. Veronica shook her head and murmured to herself, “Well, it looks like I’m out of my mind! Observing Nydia’s distressed expression, she nudged Nydia in the ribs and asked, “So, what’s your plan?” Veronica was not worried about Nydia getting hurt by Josephine and Cade’s relationship. She understood that Nydia and Cade had remained in their marriage for five years solely for the benefits. What concerned her more were the next steps for Nydia, as she knew the Sharp Group meant everything to Nydia, Nydia replied plainly, “I guess I’ll just play it by car.” Veronica pondered, This topic is too heavy. Delving further will only bring Nydia down.” With that in mind, she said, “Forget about that man.” She grabbed Nydia’s shoulders and shook Nydia, trying to pull Nydia back from those distracted thoughts. Then, she smirked and added, “Don’t waste our precious youth. I’ll show you what deserves your time later.” As Veronica finished her words, a group of men entered the room. Nydia glanced over and noticed they were all young. attractive guys from the entertainment industry. They exuded an aura of youth that matched Nydia’s outfit perfectly. Veronica exclaimed, “Come over here to meet this beauty. She rested her hand on Nydia’s shoulder and gestured toward the boys as if she were a parvenu inviting them over for her exclusive enjoyment. The scene amused Nydia. The lights were dim in the room, and Nydia dressed casually, so those boys did not recognize Nydia as the famous Mrs. Jackson. One boy walked over and asked, smiling, “Veronica, may I have the beauty’s name?” Veronica tugged the boy over and made him sit beside Nydia, replying, “Her first name is Beauty, and her last name is Fairy. Just call her whatever puts a smile on her face.” Nydia felt uncomfortable with a male stranger beside her, so she whispered to Veronica, “I don’t think this is appropriate.” “What are you scared of? Having fun doesn’t hurt the Jackson family’s business. With that, Veronica gestured for the other boys to join them, saying, “Your only job tonight is to have a blast. I’ve got you covered if anything goes sideways.” Nydia felt awkward being around a group of attractive boys. Even though she was usually comfortable chatting with male colleagues at work, she suddenly felt shy in this situation. The boys realized Nydia tensed up and took turns to toast her. Nydia felt a wave of dizziness after indulging in glasses of 1/3 Chapter 31 wine and gradually relaxed. One boy suddenly said, “Beauty, remember, my name is Lewis Harvey. I’m going to perform later. Please show up support me if you have time.” Nydia, feeling groggy, nodded heavily and assured, “Sure. I’ll get you whatever you need.” to 39% A party unfolded in the presidential suite 3021. Over ten men and women swayed to the loud music on the dance floor. The grand crystal chandelier cast its glow, illuminating every corner of the room. Every detall exuded opulence and luxury. Those males were all from wealthy families in Creekheim. A man was flanked by girls, with a cigar in his mouth. He leaned toward the beautiful girl on his left lap and whispered urgently, “Listen to me. Play this one.” The girl grinned shyly and replied, “Mr. Glen, I can’t play this one. Mr. Milton is waiting for it. He’ll win if I give it to him.” Liam Glen raised his hand and squeezed the girl’s waist. He smirked and teased her with a dirty joke, “What about it if you give it to him? He’s better than me.” The girl in Liam’s arms got shy and blushed. Paul Milton crossed his legs and grinned, retorting. “You’ve never tasted mine. How do you know I’m good? I’d wager everyone here teaming up couldn’t beat Mr. Jackson, Am I right?” With that, Paul glanced ahead. Cade was dressed in a dark green suit and lounged casually on the U–shaped sofa. Two buttons of his shirt unfastened, offering a peek at his toned muscles. He rested with his eyes closed. His long eyelashes cast shadows on his face under the light. His chiseled face was partially concealed in the darkness, adding to his mystique. Hearing people talk about him, Cade slowly opened his eyes and looked over. Cade’s glance made the girl’s heart beat faster. She cried inside, “That man is unbelievably handsome! It’s no wonder every woman in this city adores him. It’s not an exaggerated rumor. It’s the truth! Sadly, he appears aloof, which pushes people away from him.” Cade seemed in a good mood today, so Paul and Liam felt confident making jokes around him without worrying too much. Paul poured a glass of wine, walked over with a smile, and placed it before Cade, asking, “Why did you join the party alone tonight? Where’s Josephine?” Josephine was the only woman Cade introduced to his friends, which revealed the importance of Josephine in his heart. People were convinced that Josephine was the only woman Cade loved. Josephine lived up to people’s expectations and became a friend of Cade’s friends. As a result, Paul, Liam, and the rest recognized her as Cade’s sole romantic interest. This was not just beneficial for Josephine. It also brought advantages to the entire Brooks family. With the support of these affluent young men, the Brooks family stood to prosper even more. On the contrary, they barely talked to Nydia and knew nothing about her even though she was Cade’s legal wife. Such 2/3 JMM M Chapter 31
Chapter 30 Nydia thought this debate would last at least for hours. Unexpectedly, Alison rushed in ten minutes later, and she seemed full of joy. Alison chimed in. “We’ve had an update about the intellectual property infringement issue. It’s a false alarm. The plaintiff company has issued a formal apology and assured us they will be responsible for all the consequences.” With that, she added excitedly, “Now our stock price soars up and hits the daily limit!” The conference room immediately fell into silence. However, Nydia looked like the good news failed to cheer her up. She murmured inside, ‘This is a remarkable turnaround for the Jackson Group. Its reputation was enhanced, and its popularity sustained, especially after becoming a trending topic online. I assume the company stands to recoup more than its previous losses. ‘But for me? I lost two valuable subordinates. Things are becoming increasingly challenging. The reason for the unfavorable outcome is that I disregarded Cade’s warning and engaged in conversation twice with another man whom I barely knew. It’s absurd. Bentley and I exchanged less than ten sentences. Yet, because of that, I faced a harsh punishment. What is waiting for me next time?” A sense of powerlessness and depression engulfed Nydia. She did not know how she left the conference room and returned to her office. She even did not notice Cade standing right in front of her. Nydia walked into her office and slammed the door. Cade’s expression darkened. Alison touched her nose to cover the embarrassment and said, “Mr. Jackson, do you have anything to ask Ms. Sharp? I’d be happy to relay it to her.” Cade questioned coldly, “Didn’t she see the result?” Alison was stunned. She composed herself swiftly and responded hurriedly, “Yes, she saw it. I released the news to Ms. Sharp and the shareholders in the conference room.” Cade frowned and wondered, ‘Could it be the shareholders‘ harsh criticisms? But they’ve been saying the same things for years. Nydia usually takes it in stride. What’s different this time? With a hint of disdain, he sneered and thought, ‘Attempting to revive the Sharp Group with such feeble resilience and mindset? It’s nothing more or less than a foolish fantasy! Nydia remained in her office until around 5 p.m. She didn’t feel hungry even though she had not eaten all day. Veronica had been out of touch for over a month. However, she called Nydia that day and provided Nydia with an address and room number. Nydia felt upset, thinking, ‘Well, maybe I’ll feel better after talking with Veronica. With that in mind, she headed home to freshen up. She removed her makeup, changed into a casual and classic skirt set, and tied her seaweed–like hair with a 1/4 Chapter 30 pinkish–grey ribbon. After that, she looked like a sweet and pure girl, emitting a youthful glow. Nydia looked at herself in the mirror and felt strange. After all, she had been Mrs. Jackson for five years, and the Jackson family’s emphasis on gracefulness had become ingrained in her psyche. She believed she had grown accustomed to conducting herself with decorum. However, at this moment, she realized she preferred to be herself. She enjoyed the freedom to dress and go wherever her heart desired. The night descended dark, and the lights flickered to life, illuminating the surroundings. The lights from one location cascaded like streams, casting their glow throughout over 100 feet. Men and women dressed in their finest attire stepped out of their fancy cars and flocked to the origin of the illumination – the Imperiacy Club. Nydia arrived at the club first and went to the preserved room. As usual, she ordered some wine and waited for Veronica. Ten minutes later, Veronica pushed the door open and entered. She covered herself with a peaked cap, sunglasses, a mask, and a turtle neck overcoat. Nydia commented inside, ‘Of course, being a celebrity, Veronica has to keep her presence here a secret. “Holy crap! What happened to your hands?” Before sitting down, Veronica spotted Nydia’s wounds. She rushed to Nydia and checked Nydia’s wounds worriedly. Nydia grinned and replied, “It’s okay. Just scratches.” Veronica did not buy it. She asked, “What can scratch your hands like that? Those are deep cuts.” “Don’t worry. They’ll heal in just a few days.” Nydia pulled Veronica to the sofa and changed the topic. “I thought your job was shooting a commercial. What ended up keeping you so occupied, for this long?” vour last Veronica sighed in frustration and complained, “Our boss must be out of his mind. He was adamant about filming in a desolate location. He said only shooting in a dry place could capture the essence of enjoying a beer.” Nydia poured a glass of wine and handed it to Veronica, asking, “Was there dry like a desert?” Veronica replied, “It was as humid as a rainforest there. Especially after continuous rainstorms for a week!” Her words amused Nydia so much that Nydia almost spilled the wine in her glass. Veronica raised her head and gulped down the wine, saying, “I’ve experienced abstinence for a month. I’m sick of that life and need a crazy party tonight.” Nydia chuckled and poured another glass for Veronica, teasingly asking, “Your fans affectionately call you the ‘sweet girl” and ‘romantic soldier. Do you ever feel like you’re betraying their expectations?” Veronica removed her coat, raised her glass, and downed the wine in one gulp. Then, she responded, “Not at all. They’re telling the truth.” Nydia said, “What a thick skin. Impressive.” With that, she sat back on the sofa. Veronica stared at Nydia for seconds and said, “Tsk, tsk. Look at your slim waist. By the way, your boobs seem larger than before. Cade does have something, huh?” Nydia’s happiness faded when she heard that name. 2/4 Chapter 30 Veronica sensed something was wrong. Thus, she put down her glass, reached out to hold Nydia’s shoulder, and asked, “What’s wrong? You texted me saying you and Cade finally slept together I thought things were heating up between you two” Nydia shook her head and briefly told everything about Josephine. Veronica was irritated and screamed, “Damn it! Josephine works at the Jackson Group now? And she attended Orion’s party? I heard nothing about those until now!” san Nydia shrugged and replied, “Orson is an action person. If he catches wind of any hint of scandal
Chapter 29 Cade muttered to himself, That man must have touched Nydia’s hands.‘ He let out a sinisterly sweet chuckle. Cade’s laughter gave Nydia a chill, yet she managed to keep calm because she considered herself doing the job as “Mrs. Jackson” well. Thus, she said patiently, “Mr. Jackson, please say it outright.” “Come over here.” Cade sent an order, leaving Nydia no choice but to comply. Nydia naturally sensed Cade’s anger, thinking, ‘I must have come here at the worst timing. Asking for his help seems utterly Impossible now! She silently made her way to Cade, her eyes fixed on her shoes. Cade suddenly reached out his hand to grab Nydia’s hand and gripped it. Nydia subconsciously wanted to retrieve her hand, but she was not an equivalent to Cade in terms of strength. Cade pulled Nydia toward him and brought her into his arms. Within a second, Nydia found she was sitting on Cade’s lap. Nydia’s brain went blank for seconds. This intimate behavior seemed inappropriate for two people who hated each other. Leaning against Cade’s firm chest, Nydia’s gaze coincidentally fixated on his prominent Adam’s apple. Nydia’s breath gradually became faster, and she lost her composure. Cade swallowed, but there was still no emotion in his eyes. Nydia felt uncomfortable and struggled to get rid of this situation. Cade warned, “If you move a bit more, I’ll do you here.” Nydia was shocked, glaring at Cade, and could not say a word, but she did follow Cade’s words and stopped struggling. Cade raised Nydia’s hand and stared at it as if he appreciated a piece of art. Suddenly, he asked, “How are his skills?” Nydia was confused and did not understand who and what Cade was talking about. “What? Ahh!” Before she could finish her words, Cade pressed hard on her wounds. Pain immediately came from her palm, nearly bringing tears to her eyes. Driven by anger, she screamed, “Cade, what are you doing?” Cade chuckled and asked, “Were you this distracted when Bentley was tending to your wounds?” His icy gaze was as sharp as a knife, capable of piercing through Nydia. Nydia shivered and broke out a cold sweat on her back. Until then, she finally realized what Josephine tried to imply just now. She reflected, ‘Cade must have seen it when Bentley took me to a treatment room. Cade warned me not to be too close to Bentley, but I didn’t listen. Is this why…” Nydia suddenly seemed to realize something. She looked at Cade in disbelief and questioned, “Did you set up a trap and fire those two executives?” Cade answered honestly, “Yep.” 1/3 ₫ MM M Chapter 29 Nydia felt Cade acted like a lunatic and cried, “Do you know how much losses your boring game has caused the company?” “Well. It is you who is responsible for covering those losses.” Cade replied plainly as if he were chatting with Nydia. Nydia was too furious to speak, thinking, That’s an astronomical number. I couldn’t afford it even if I skipped meals and worked for hundreds of years. She wished she could slap Cade, but fear held her back. All she could do was glare at him. Cade enjoyed the moment Nydia burned with the desire to harm him but remained restrained. It gave him a sense of control and fun. Nydia trembled when she saw the sinister sneer on Cade’s face, thinking, “He must have a great plan in his mind.” Nydia asked carefully, “Then what are you going to do?” Cade pretended not to hear Nydia’s question. Instead, his gaze fell upon Nydia’s hand. Swiftly, he removed the gauze and tossed it into the trash bin while Nydia watched timidly. Nydia’s wounds were exposed in the air. Cade murmured inside. They look better than yesterday! Before Nydia could say something, Cade suddenly pushed her away. Nydia lost her balance and accidentally slammed her hand into the desk, causing her to cry out in pain. She cursed inside, ‘What a scum bag! As Nydia attempted to shoot a glare at Cade, a soft cloth suddenly covered her head. “Boom!” It sounded like Cade threw something heavy on the desk. She removed the cloth and found it was a piece of gauze. Glancing around, she also spotted a first–aid kit sitting on the desk. Cade said in an icy tone, “Don’t ruin the Jackson Group’s impression with your injured hands. Go back to your office and tend to your wounds there. I won’t tolerate it here. It’s disgusting.” Nydia gritted her teeth to suppress her anger, reminding herself, ‘Stay calm. Don’t make things worse. It shall pass. It shall pass. She lowered her head to check the time on her watch. Only ten minutes were left before the meeting. Nydia breathed in and out and repeated. After that, she respectfully looked at the devil and said, “Mr. Jackson, this is all my fault. Please don’t involve innocent people.” She cried inside, “Please don’t fire more experienced employees at the Sharp Group because of me.” Cade replied, “Certainly. I’ll email you the details of the loss later. Also, you are responsible for the consequences of your actions. So, you’ll have to manage the board meeting on your own. Don’t worry. You’ve got a thick skin for it.” Seeing Nydia not say a word, Cade asked, “Anything else?” He slothfully leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs casually, calmly looking at her. Nydia could hear the sound of gritting her teeth. 2/3
Chapter 28 Nydia rushed to the company and found Lance waiting by her office door. When he spotted her, he reported, “Ms. Sharp, two of our executives were fired.” Nydia gasped when she heard the update. There were only a few Sharp Group employees staying at the Jackson Group. The loss of two experienced employees was a significant strike to the Sharp Group. Nydia asked, “Is there any reason for that?” Lance’s expression turned serious as he reported. “The company is facing accusations of infringement regarding the newly invented drone. We’ve dispatched a team of lawyers to negotiate with the plaintiff. The two employees were in charge of that project. Therefore, they are accountable for the consequences.” He thought, This event is far more complicated than it looks. Those two have worked at the Sharp Group for years. They are like the main pillars of the company. I don’t think they could make such mistakes.‘ Nydia replied, “We need to gather evidence, but our immediate priority is to appease the upset shareholders.” She thought, ‘The stock price must sharply decline as the brand reputation gets hurt. The Jackson Group is a large corporation. This incident could lead to losses in the tens of billions of dollars. The shareholders won’t let us go easily.” Those thoughts gave Nydia a severe headache. She raised her hand to rub her forehead and found her hands were wrapped. Thus, she annoyingly tore the gauzes off and threw them on the desk. It was at that moment that Lance noticed Nydia’s injuries. He asked solicitously, “Ms. Sharp, what happened to your hands?” Nydia did not reply. She sat on the chair and closed her eyes, trying hard to figure out a solution. Lance stood aside and suggested, “Ms. Sharp, how about asking Cade for help? This accident is a disaster for us, but for him, I believe that he can solve it with one sentence. The urgent task right now is to calm down the Jackson Group’s shareholders. We can collect the evidence ourselves.” Nydia remained silent, reflecting. I’ve never asked Cade for a favor at work in the five years since I married him. I’ve always known he wouldn’t give me a hand even if I pleaded. He told me he was generous enough to acquire the struggling Sharp Group and permit its executives to remain. I’ve always been grateful and refrained from asking him for anything. But this time… Thinking of that, Nydia opened her eyes and seemed to retrieve her composure. She ordered, “Back up all the information about that product, including designs, materials, models, samples, test records, franchises, and distribution channels. Remember, every dot on the designs needs to be collected.” “Noted.” With that, Lance left for work. Seconds later, Alison walked in. She reported, “Ms. Sharp, half of the corporation’s key shareholders have arrived. A meeting will be held in the conference room in an hour.” Nydia rubbed her eyebrows again, complaining inside, ‘Dealing with those old guys is the worst. They’re all conniving and 1/3 Chapter 28 skilled at pointing fingers. They used to stir up trouble over the smallest things. This PR crisis must have them livid. I suppose Cade is the only one who can calm them down. Well, it looks like I’ll have to swallow my pride and ask Cade for a favor.” However, Nydia did not immediately act on her thoughts. She stayed in her office for about forty minutes before she tidied herself up and knocked on the CEO’s office door. Stuart opened the door. Seeing it was Nydia, he exchanged a look with her. Nydia immediately received Stuart’s message. She slightly leaned over and noticed Josephine was in the office. Stuart explained, “Hello, Ms. Sharp. Ms. Brooks is updating her work progress. She arrived just a couple of minutes ago.” He particularly informed Nydia why and when Josephine was in the room because he realized Cade would get mad if Nydia misunderstood anything and fought with him. He thought, If Cade gets upset, I’ll be the one to deal with the fallout. Nydia nodded and walked in. Stuart left the office and closed the door. Three of them staying in the same room created an awkward atmosphere. Nydia could not bear to stay there for one second. She reminded herself, ‘Emergent situation. I must endure that since I need to ask Cade for help.” Josephine took the initiative and greeted, “Hey, Nydia.” Nydia smiled back and said, “Hi, Josephine. It doesn’t look like the perfect timing for me to show up here.” Cade raised his head to glance at Nydia coldly and looked away quickly. Nydia wondered, “Why do I feel that Cade is being mad at me? Right. What a severe PR crisis. As the CEO, he has the right to be angry.” Josephine glanced at Nydia’s hands, feigning shock, and exclaimed, “Nydia, are your hands injured? I saw someone like you! at the hospital this morning. Now, I’m certain it was you.” Cade lowered his gaze, his cold stare briefly landing on Nydia’s hands wrapped in gauze. Nydia was stunned and did not care about it too much. After all, seeking Cade’s help was her urgent task. She tucked her hair behind her ear and flashed a smile, saying, “Josephine, I totally understand how you two love each other. Can I borrow Mr. Jackson for a few minutes? I promise it won’t take more than fifteen minutes. After that, you can do whatever you want for the rest of the day. I won’t disturb you.” Nydia’s words made it seem like Cade was just an object that could be borrowed and returned casually. As a result, Cade’s expression darkened. The atmosphere grew frosty as if the office temperature had plummeted suddenly. Josephine sensed the disrespect from Nydia’s words. When she was going to retort, Cade ordered in an icy tone, “Get out.” Josephine thought Cade got mad by Nydia’s words and asked Nydia to get out. Thus, she crossed her arms and raised her chin, saying, “Did you hear that? Cade…” Cade interrupted before Josephine could finish her words, “Josephine, you get out!”
Chapter 27 Cade controlled himself and replied, “Today’s schedule must have exhausted you. Get some rest. Your wounds still need time to heal.” In the past, he would immediately say yes. However, this time, he dodged her question and changed the topic. Josephine experienced heartbreak, yet she put on the mask. She nodded and smiled gently, “All right.” Cade watched her get into the bed and tucked her up. Josephine asked, “I’ve appointed a follow–up appointment tomorrow. Can you go to the hospital with me?” Cade replied, “Sure.” Soon, Josephine fell asleep, her breathing gradually slowing down. Cade looked at Josephine coldly for a few seconds and left the room. When the door closed, Josephine felt a sudden fall in temperature. Tears filled her eyes, running down her cheeks. She bit down on her lip hard until it bled.. Later, she opened her red bulging eyes and swore fiercely, “Nydia, you made me do this!” Cade took a shower in the guest bedroom. After reviewing the files for a while, he lay in the bed and closed his eyes, thinking. ‘Nydia sounds too quiet next door. Her wounds look pretty deep. I wonder if she has taken care of them. I don’t want my sheet to be stained with her blood.’ Thinking of that, Cade furrowed his brow. He rose from the bed, grabbed an antibiotic ointment, and walked to Nydia’s bedroom. He tried to push the door open, but sadly, it was locked. Thus, he cursed inside, Well, I hope she is lucky enough. not to get inflammation!” Cade dropped the ointment at the door with a darkened expression. With that, he returned to the guest bedroom and slammed the door. The birthday party exhausted Nydia, so she fell asleep after she treated her wounds. She slept deeply and did not wake up until 9 a.m. the following day. Nydia cried inside, ‘God. My hands hurt badly. I think my wounds become inflamed. She quickly cleaned herself up and drove to the hospital. Nydia requested emergency treatment and squeezed into the elevator, holding her appointment sheet. Several young doctors were chatting there. A male doctor asked, “Bentley, have you decided to settle down upon your return to the country?” “Yeah. I’ve decided to settle down here.” A gentle voice rose. 1/4 Nydia “It’s you!” Bentley was shocked as well. He smiled gently and asked, “I didn’t expect to see you here. Have you got your appointment?” Nydia nodded and replied, “Yes, I’ve had it.” She looked at After with shining eyes and asked, “Are you a doctor now? Their conversation soon drew the other doctors‘ attention. They did not recognize Nydia because she was wearing a mask. However, Nydia’s elegant attire, sparkling eyes, and perfect figure hinted to them that she was a beauty. A doctor smiled meaningfully and asked, “Bentley, do you know her?” His gaze shifted back and forth between Bentley and Nydia. Bentley answered while staring at Nydia, “She’s a friend of mine.” “What kind of friend? Like girlfriend?” The other male doctors joined the gossip group. Bentley did not want them to make fun of Nydia and him. Therefore, when the elevator door opened, Bentley was the first to step out and said to Nydia, “Follow me.” Bentley was 6,2 feet tall, with broad shoulders and a slim waistline. He looked like he worked out a lot. With his gentle face, he looked graceful in the white coat. Nydia noticed that all the female doctors and nurses winked at Bentley when they passed him, so she could not help but chuckle, murmuring inside, ‘Of course. Who wouldn’t like a handsome guy like Bentley?‘ Bentley captured Nydia’s smile and asked in a gentle voice, “What’s so funny?” Nydia honestly replied, smiling. “Bentley, do you have a fan club I don’t know about? I noticed that many girls winked at you. Hearing that, Bentley shook his head frustratedly. His eyes revealed his fondness for Nydia. He asked, “So, what brings you to the emergency room?” Nydia raised her hands before Bentley and replied, “Check my hands.” Bentley reached out and gently grasped Nydia’s hands. Glancing at her wounds, he frowned and asked, “How did you get those deep cuts?” Nydia answered plainly, “Accidentally.” Bentley raised his head and looked into Nydia’s eyes, saying, “Come with me. I’m going to apply some ointment on your wounds.” Then, he took over Nydia’s handbag and added, “Let’s go.” Nydia was stunned. Bentley looked at Nydia’s hand and explained with a smile, “Your hands are injured. It’s okay for me to hold the bag for you. Doctors always help their patients, right?” Nydia felt relieved after hearing Bentley’s explanation. She murmured to herself, “It is inconvenient for me to hold my handbag with these hands. I guess it would be fine for Bentley to hold it for me for a while. Thinking of that, she said, 2/4 Chapter 27
Chapter 26 Nydia saw the desire in Cade’s eyes, so she quickly jumped onto the bed and wrapped herself up with a blanket. She frowned and ordered, “Get another room yourself!” Cade sneered and taunted, “That is a sanctimonious act. You dress like that to seduce me, don’t you? Well, what agreement did you reach with my grandpa?” The truth was the same as what Cade assumed, but Nydia felt ashamed when confronting Cade’s bluntness. Nydia thought, ‘I can’t show him I’m panicking.’ Thus, she looked into Cade’s eyes, raised her chin, and replied, “Mr. Jackson, I’m impressed. You saw everything with those eyes. Yes, I did have a new agreement with Orson. He suggests I tie you down by having your kid, and I’m down for it. Mr. Jackson, are you willing to give it a try?” Cade did not expect Nydia to admit her plots. He pondered, ‘Right. Nydia never hides her purpose of marrying me. She did it for benefits. Cade snorted and replied, “You wish.” Nydia continued to tease and disgust Cade. She asked, “Well, Mr. Jackson, can you give it to me?” Nydia thought, ‘Josephine accepted Maren’s invitation to stay, so she is in the doom downstairs. I don’t believe Cade dares to release his urges under such a circumstance. Moreover, Josephine once threatened Cade by killing herself. So, I think Cade should leave in minutes.‘ Time went by. Unexpectedly, Cade did not leave. Instead, he stood still like a ghost and stared at Nydia, which gave her a chill to the bone. A while later, Cade walked toward Nydia and sneered, saying, “Well. Let’s see what you can do.” Nydia was shocked and could not say a word, shouting inside, ‘Cade plays wild cards again.” She kept moving back until she hit the wall. She had nowhere to go, so she crossed her hands before her breasts and stared at Cade. Cade rested his legs on the bed and knelt before Nydia. Then, he grabbed the blanket with his hand. Nydia observed Cade’s every move and asked, “Cade, you love Josephine, don’t you? She’s downstairs. You should be with her.” Cade replied, “This is my house. I can be with anyone I want.” With that, he pulled off the blanket. 4 Nydia clutched the blanket and refused to let it go. As Cade yanked it, she was pulled forward and kissed on Cade’s lips. She was shocked by the cold and dry sensation and widened her eyes. She screamed inside, ‘Oh my god! I kissed Cade!‘ “Huh.” Cade chuckled and mocked, “Well. You can’t wait, can you?” Nydia was too awkward to retort. She cried inside, ‘It’s not what he thinks! Can someone please come and help me!” Nydia wanted to escape, but Cade did not give her the opportunity. He reached out and wrapped his arm around her, gently pulling her downwards. “I hope you didn’t brag about your abilities,” he murmured. With that, Cade pushed Nydia down and 1/4 A Chapter 26 pressed his body against hers. “Cade, calm down.” Nydia put her hands on Cade’s chest, trying to stop him. “Do you want to watch Josephine destroy herself over you again?” Cade’s desires instantly disappeared, and his expression darkened. Nydia seemed to have touched Cade’s nerve by bringing up that event. She thought, ‘I didn’t see that coming. His reactions annoy me. Does he care for Josephine that much? Is his love for her that strong?‘ Nydia’s rationality vanished in a sudden rush of emotion. She impulsively reached for Cade’s neck, pulled him close, and kissed him without considering the consequences. She even bit his lips. Cade was stunned for seconds. Then, he
