Confucius Ads Library: Ads

Ads for Sweeps on 2024-12-07

Id	Vlad	Saved	Scrape Time	Status	Scrape Result	Title	Body	Cta Type	Link Url	Page Name	Page Profile Uri	Page Like Count	Enddate	Cta Text	Caption	Display Format	Link Description	Link Url	Creation Time	Page Profile Picture Url	Page Entity Type	Page Is Profile Page	Current Page Name	Startdate	Actions
2,604,846	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2604344}'	No	2024-12-07 18:42	active	1970		🎉 APPLY NOW & WIN! 🎉 Thinking about joining the Cristo Rey OKC family? Here’s your chance to make it even sweeter! Apply by December 12 and you'll be entered to win a $100 gift card! Don’t wait—start your journey today toward a bright future. 💡 Apply Here: https://www.cristoreyokc.org/admissions	CALL_NOW		Cristo Rey Oklahoma City Catholic High School	https://www.facebook.com/CristoReyOklahoma/	3,672	1969-12-31 18:00	Call now		MULTI_IMAGES			1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/469327033_1078738483950077_7915908245049963461_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rdEfMT7NuOoQ7kNvgFaBpcR&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AGLwGx6YYCHE_5xYy7MI-Tb&oh=00_AYCkJz1XpS78DCzbsZXXjqGh6qEniSoOphm_tM8XS-FT1g&oe=675AD344	PERSON_PROFILE	0	Cristo Rey Oklahoma City Catholic High School	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,607,455	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2606548}'	No	2024-12-07 19:36	active	1972	Get Insurance Claim Assistance	Get Insurance Claim Assistance	GET_QUOTE	http://fb.me/	VooltPro Certified Provider	https://www.facebook.com/vooltprocertifiedproviders/	16	1969-12-31 18:00	Get Quote	fb.me	CAROUSEL	Get Insurance Claim Assistance	http://fb.me/	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/468610885_546110668271288_2910885473335543494_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=snoFqRpxouAQ7kNvgFGmLjZ&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=Au7smSL129P6RTJvIUglsOF&oh=00_AYBVWU6NqeKOfMsd2tspx7ZbIZvsfQMt97Xni4fO71UC6g&oe=675ACB3A	PERSON_PROFILE	0	VooltPro Certified Provider	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,603,656	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"is_bh_simple_request":false,"simple_request_ratio":1,"is_bh_selenium":false,"selenium_ratio":1,"ratio_threshold":0.8}'	Yes	2024-12-07 18:42	active	1970	FREE Retro Mixtape Shoulder Bag with matching Mini Clutch! (approx. $90 Value!)	Whether you're a GenXer or just a big fan of 80s retro, this giveaway is for you! Enter to win one of my best-selling Retro Mixtape Bag/Purse AND a matching mini-clutch: https://kingsumo.com/g/199zld1/free-retro-mixtape-shoulder-bag-with-matching-mini-clutch-approx-90-value One LUCKY winner will receive the following items: - One (1) Retro Mixtape Cassette No.1 Purse/Shoulder Bag ($55 value!) - One (1) Retro Mixtape Cassette No.1 Mini Clutch ($35 value!) Plus, everyone who enters will become part of the justTamar VIP Club, where you'll have access to exclusive discounts and notified of upcoming giveaways! Winner will be announced on 12/23/2024. (Will not arrive before Christmas!) Good luck! Tamar ✌🏻💜🙏🏻	SIGN_UP	https://kingsumo.com/g/199zld1/free-retro-mixtape-	JustTamar	https://www.facebook.com/real.justTamar/	109	1969-12-31 18:00	Sign up	kingsumo.com	IMAGE	FREE Retro Mixtape Shoulder Bag with matching Mini Clutch! (approx. $90 Value!) by justTamar. Hosted by KingSumo Giveaways	https://kingsumo.com/g/199zld1/free-retro-mixtape-shoulder-bag-with-matching-mini-clutch-approx-90-value	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/469477967_1282797016398982_5849718176438498317_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=s0-fgeqNcQoQ7kNvgFD00Av&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=ASrU3u_-JXilpKzANSc5BPh&oh=00_AYCoeyMBuSO9mEt3n3ySBnJsSTPByRH-G6lqePCOg6iHBQ&oe=675ABD3E	PERSON_PROFILE	0	JustTamar	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,607,461	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2607463}'	Yes	2024-12-07 19:36	active	1972	Free SOLIDWORKS for Startups	Are you interested in the SOLIDWORKS for Startups program that offers free SOLIDWORKS for one year, and then discounts on licenses for the following two years? If: - Your Startup has less than $1M in aggregate lifetime revenue - You have a physical product that can be designed in CAD - Your Start-Up is less than three years old - You’re currently not a SOLIDWORKS customer There’s a chance you can get free SOLIDWORKS.	CONTACT_US	https://plmgroup.eu/campaign/solidworks-startups/?	PLM Group	https://www.facebook.com/PLMGroupEU/	2,686	1969-12-31 18:00	Contact Us	plmgroup.eu	DCO		https://plmgroup.eu/campaign/solidworks-startups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=SOLIDWORKS+for+Startups	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/466743607_1764458394371390_1763513491321951074_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_vRsiFIGZpwQ7kNvgEh73wG&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=Au7smSL129P6RTJvIUglsOF&oh=00_AYANHpEIbjI4KPq3HFSB9SWBz_UB_4yxh0OFwzcAdsBBKg&oe=675ABC20	PERSON_PROFILE	0	PLM Group	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,606,689	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2606687}'	Yes	2024-12-07 19:36	active	1972	💕 Biglaang Kasalan📖🔥📖👉I-click upang makakita kaagad ng mas kapana-panabik na nilalaman👈	“Papakasalan kita.” Ang narinig ni Xavier. Lumingon siya at nakita niya ang isang magandang babae na may itim na mga mata. Tumingin siya sa kanya at napaisip siya kung bakit iyon gagawin ng babae para sa isang taong hindi niya kilala. “Papakasalan kita,” muling sinabi ni Jessica. ”Ano?” Sabi ni Xavier, binaba niya ang phone mula sa kanyang tainga upang tumingin sa babae. Paano niya naisip na magpakasal sa kanya kung wala siyang kaalam-alam tungkol sa kanya? “Mula ka ba sa marriage service?” Tanong ni Xavier. Nagulat si Jessica sa tanong niya. “Hindi,” sabi niya habang kinakagat ang kanyang mga labi. Sigurado siya na nasira na ang kanyang makeup dahil sa kakaiyak niya. “Kailangan mo ng mapapangasawa, hindi ba?” Tanong ni Jessica habang sumisinghot siya. “Oo, tama ka,” sagot ni Xavier. Naisip niya na posibleng siya na ang sagot sa kanyang problema. “Iniwan ako ng groom ko sa araw ng kasal ko. Hindi ko na ikukwento sayo ang mga detalye pero nakikita ko na kailangan mo ng mapapangasawa. Pwede akong maging asawa mo.” Sabi ni Jessica. Tiningnan siyang maigi ni Xavier. Mukha naman siyang matino maliban sa nasirang makeup sa mukha niya. Ibinalik niya ang phone sa kanyang tainga. "Magpakasal na tayo. Kailangang-kailangan ko ng mapapangasawa”sabi ni Xavier at tumango si Jessica. “Bigyan mo ako ng ilang minuto para linisin ang mukha ko. Magkita na lang tayo sa loob.” Sabi ni Jessica. Mas mabilis siyang natapos. Tiningnan siya ni Xavier mula ulo hanggang paa at naisip niya na at least hindi pangit ang pakakasalan niya. “Walang mga witness?” Nagtanong ang judge habang nakangiti kay Xavier. Agad na nakahalata si Jessica na maimpluwensya si Xavier dahil kilala siya ng judge at kaya niyang magpareserve ng isang private room. “Kung ganun, tatawag ako ng dalawang tao para tumayo bilang mga witness,” dagdag ng judge bago siya tumawag ng dalawang tao. Isang lalaki at isang babae. Ang lalaki ay tatayo bilang witness para kay Xavier at ang babae naman ay para kay Jessica. Mas maikli ang proseso nito kaysa sa iniisip niya at hindi nagtagal ay legal siyang naikasal sa isang lalaking hindi niya kilala. “Simula ngayon, kayong dalawa ay ganap nang mag-asawa.”	LEARN_MORE	https://grounpcorp.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=144	Philip Spicy Reading	https://www.facebook.com/61561349855790/	53,610	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn More	grounpcorp.com	DCO	💑💑Baby,Maligayang pagdating sa mundo ng mga nasa hustong gulang😍💘	https://grounpcorp.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=14487&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&placement={{placement}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/462091810_863528525758479_8285587723655056533_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oM0tvNVuEGMQ7kNvgFjb4EL&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AtUJWfdmgpICz7r0m2InWPh&oh=00_AYCUidTTa1hS647iakHOFXAjNVIcYF0pbyW6-qBK9L9FZA&oe=675AD439	PERSON_PROFILE	0	Philip Spicy Reading	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,603,785	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2604344}'	No	2024-12-07 18:42	active	1970		🎄☃️🚨BALLOON RIDE GIVEAWAY IS HERE! For X-MAS this year we are giving away TWO FREE hot air balloon rides early to be redeemed anytime in 2025! We will also be giving away a dozen swag bags filled with exclusive festival merch, vendor market and food truck vouchers, VIP Balloon Glow & DAY PASSES to the event. Many ways to win! 🎈💜 Enter to Win: Complete all three! 1) Follow- Route 66 Balloon Festival FB PAGE✅ 2) Tag your friends to go with you in the comments below✅ 3) Like & share this post! ✅ Winners will be selected via drawing on Facebook Live on Christmas Day. All winners will receive day passes, 2 each. Balloon flight give away includes two passengers, weather permitting. VIP passes for 6. Please contact us after the drawing if you have been selected. Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EqLVH1r3k/			Route 66 Balloon Festival	https://www.facebook.com/61556098289138/	8,218	1969-12-31 18:00			MULTI_IMAGES			1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/469500530_1172744787579261_1896596647138368173_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aCQurTSPiGEQ7kNvgG00Cmi&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AauP3e6BiyJcwtCnL08uslj&oh=00_AYDEGRLrVL92NWhO4gEhEaWBpFnGp8DwMgbBKCp_5LbhSA&oe=675ACB74	PERSON_PROFILE	0	Route 66 Balloon Festival	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,603,991	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2604261}'	No	2024-12-07 18:42	active	1970	3 TN Couples Needed For A Free Engagement Session	Nashville Brides!! ✨ Our Third Grace is giving away a FREE ENGAGEMENT SESSION with any of our Wedding Photography Collection to 3 ADVENTURE loving couples. ✨ Why do an Engagement Session? Capture your love & your love story on camera to share on social media, your wedding website, or to even play at your rehearsal dinner. We are looking for 3 adventure-loving and newly engaged couples to receive a free engagement photo session and other wedding photo/video prizes. 🏆 1st Prize: FREE Engagement Session with any of our Wedding Photography Collection 🏆 2nd Prize: $500 off any photography wedding collection 🏆 3rd Prize: $350 off any photography wedding collection Click the link below to learn more and Enter To Win! All entries must be received by Feb 3rd.	SIGN_UP	http://fb.me/	Our Third Grace	https://www.facebook.com/ourthirdgrace/	1,691	1969-12-31 18:00	Sign up	fb.me	IMAGE	Wedding Photography Package	http://fb.me/	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/469433826_427715610392762_2582630657356700737_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AlbW1CbtSmAQ7kNvgHU8Amg&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AprWQfWHqRuUDVNYBr5NO-d&oh=00_AYARn49niA1d8ap1-qZ0RCgdVNpw5qLz4Bd0n3kA4YFiew&oe=675AB0EA	PERSON_PROFILE	0	Our Third Grace	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,607,919	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2024-12-07 19:36	active	1972		🎁 Holiday shopping just got easier! 🎁Not sure what size Mighty Hoop or HoopMaster product to gift your favorite embroiderer? Skip the guesswork and give the gift of choice with our brand-new gift cards! 🎉🎄 Shop our gift cards online today, and make this season merry, stress-free, and full of creativity! 🎄📍Gift Cards can only be purchased and redeemed online at www.hoopmaster.com #hoopmastermightyhoop #giftcards #mightyhoopgiftcard #hoopmastergiftcard #embroiderergifts #embroideryhooping #magnetichoops #magneticembroideryframes #mightyhoop #machineembroidery #embroiderysupplies #magneticembroideryhoops #giftsforembroiderers #embroideryhoopingstation #embroiderydesigns	SHOP_NOW	http://www.hoopmaster.com/	Mighty Hoop - Magnetic Embroidery Hoops	https://www.facebook.com/mightyhoop/	6,264	1969-12-31 18:00	Shop now	www.hoopmaster.com	VIDEO		http://www.hoopmaster.com/	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/469321271_920410116853082_8536117881101557608_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=g_0wjrrFAygQ7kNvgHke-Wp&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AEOz2-CPE2EHM_n1uWNSgsz&oh=00_AYBDHW-6n9MMfg4uMLQYxZkeqeSkik_eNLxqihAYeyEJtg&oe=675AD5E8	PERSON_PROFILE	0	Mighty Hoop - Magnetic Embroidery Hoops	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,605,052	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2605022}'	Yes	2024-12-07 18:42	active	1970	$20K Giveaway!	We’re giving away $20,000! Join our FREE livestream, and you could be one of five winners taking home $4,000.	SIGN_UP	https://www.ramseysolutions.com/events/take-contro	EveryDollar	https://www.facebook.com/EveryDollar/	128,708	1969-12-31 18:00	Sign Up	ramseysolutions.com/livestream	DCO	Ramsey's Free Livestream	https://www.ramseysolutions.com/events/take-control-of-your-money?utm_medium=paid_social&utm_source=facebook_everydollar&utm_term=everydollar_bu&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/468595292_891418286476874_4048954999134541432_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=pqlcSo9VlyQQ7kNvgFmfeRj&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AbvWXEJr7O1uIiZM9_JkG3R&oh=00_AYAUtfi-2s6Zzl7fs6fKEKiToN0xR_JiNZxicvwd5lx5DA&oe=675AC695	PERSON_PROFILE	0	EveryDollar	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,607,035	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2607032}'	No	2024-12-07 19:36	active	1972	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉	Chapter 1 Liesel Sharp had just unlocked her phone while waiting for her IV drip to be done when she received a message from her best friend, Chelsea Walden. "Jacob's back." She faltered. She and Jacob Ford had barely spoken throughout their month-long cold war, so she had no idea he was back. Soon, she received another message. "He's brought a young woman back with him." A photo had been sent with the message. The young woman in the photo resembled Liesel a little—she was Natalie Sharp, Liesel's younger half-sister. She'd been raised in the countryside. Chelsea continued, "The Sharp family is throwing them a welcome-back party. Do you want to crash it, Lili?" She knew what Liesel was like. Liesel would give Jacob a taste of his own medicine if he dared to do anything to her. There was even a chance she would set the Sharp residence on fire. Liesel checked her IV bag. She'd had a high fever for three days now, and the back of her hand was swollen from the constant IV drips she'd been on. She wasn't in the mood for that nonsense. "No," she replied. Then, she shut her eyes to get some rest. It was close to 10:00 pm when she took a cab back to Viewpoint Residences. The fever had taken its toll on her, so she soon drifted into a restless sleep. Jacob returned at some point, which woke her up. "Did I wake you?" he asked while rolling up the sleeves of his ironed shirt. The dim light made his skin glow, adding a hint of iciness to his already cold demeanor. He looked down at her with an indifferent gaze. His voice was as alluring as always, though. "No." Liesel's voice was a little nasal because she'd just woken up. She explained lazily, "I wasn't sleeping too soundly after taking my meds." He frowned slightly. "Are you sick?" She chuckled softly. She'd been sick for a while now and had mentioned it in her texts to him when admitting defeat. Yet he looked like he'd only just noticed. She poured two glasses of water and handed one to him. "How are things at Norton City? I heard from Brook that there seemed to be some trouble with it. You—" Her throat felt dry and uncomfortable; she wasn't in the mood to chat. Still, someone had to back down—it had been nearly two months since they'd seen each other. However, Jacob cut her off. "Let's divorce." She stared at him and almost lost her grip on her glass. Her throat seemed to hurt more now. He didn't explain himself. All he said was, "You can ask for whatever you want. I won't shortchange you." Liesel's heart clenched, but she soon regained her composure. "We can discuss this if this is because you left to pick Natalie up two months ago." "It's not." He looked at her, his gaze aloof. "This is a loveless marriage, Liesel. There's no point in keeping it going." It was true that the marriage alliance between the Ford and Sharp families had never been the one Jacob had hoped for. Liesel was the eldest daughter of the Sharp family, but he'd never wanted to marry her. Their accidental encounter that night was the only thing that had made him choose to take responsibility for her. Liesel lowered her eyes and said slowly, "Alright. All I want is the house at Northview Garden, and I won't quit my job after the divorce." Her mother, Heather Mallone, had left the house for her. For whatever reason, it had ended up in the Ford family's hands and become one of her wedding gifts. As for her career, she'd worked hard and built a network within Ford Corporation. She couldn't allow the divorce to wipe her efforts away. Jacob didn't object. He looked at her and said, "Okay. Anything else?" "No." Liesel shook her head. "If it bothers you, I can move out tomorrow." He seemed surprised by how accommodating she was. He cautioned her calmly, "Make sure you've thought this through, Liesel. I don't want there to be anything between us after the divorce." "Don't worry about that." She smiled. He seemed to want to say something else, but his phone rang. He answered it and hung up shortly after. Then, he said, "I have something else to do. I'll get a lawyer to talk to you about the divorce." Soon after he left, Liesel saw a trending topic on him and Natalie showing up together somewhere. In hindsight, fate was such a twisted thing. Back then, Heather could not tolerate even the slightest flaw in her marriage. After learning about Natalie's existence, she forced her husband, Jeffrey Sharp, to send Natalie to the countryside so she could grow up there. Less than two years after Heather's death, Jeffrey had remarried, turning Liesel into a joke. Natalie had also been brought back from the countryside. Fate loved playing jokes on everyone—no one would've expected Natalie to be the one who held Jacob's heart. … Liesel only woke up the following noon. Her cold was much better now. A lawyer brought her the divorce agreement, making sure to go through the allocation of assets. Jacob truly hadn't shortchanged her. Aside from the house at Northview Garden, he'd also given her some other real estate. The lawyer said, "Sign here if you don't have any objection to the clauses, Ms. Sharp." Liesel nodded and signed the agreement without hesitation. The divorce would take some more time to finalize, though. Jacob was busy, so Liesel didn't get to see him at all. She reminded the lawyer, "Please tell Mr. Ford to expedite the finalization of the divorce if he's not too busy. Dragging this out won't do any of us favors." After settling the divorce, Liesel moved out of her and Jacob's marital home. Chelsea heard about this and invited her out for coffee. "You know about Natalie, right? She studied hard in the countryside after being banished by your mother and later got into a good university. Jacob ran into her at Alden University when he went there to give a talk." Chelsea snorted. She continued, "I heard Natalie was really in awe of him; it helped that she was so hardworking and optimistic. Your father was desperate to matchmake them, you know. But here's the question—why would someone as wonderful as her not realize what a contemptible move it is to ruin someone's marriage?" Chelsea had always been defensive of people she counted as her own, and she scorned those who knowingly got involved with people who had significant others. The fact that Natalie was an illegitimate child only made Chelsea despise her more. Liesel looked unfazed, though. "It's all in the past now. Jacob and I are already divorced, so she's not really ruining the marriage." She chuckled. She had mixed feelings about the whole thing. "Besides, it's not like Jacob and I ever had feelings for each other." She lowered her gaze and suddenly remembered the first time she and Jacob had met. The year Heather had died, she'd caused one of Jeffrey's business deals to fall through. She'd been overjoyed and had dragged Chelsea out for a celebration. After the celebration, she'd refused to let go of a handsome man she'd latched onto. They'd both had too much to drink and had ended up in bed. It was only later that she'd learned he was Jacob Ford, her fiancé. Rumor had it that he'd never wanted to marry her, but he'd looked at her the following morning and said, "I'm willing to take responsibility for this, Liesel. What about you?" He'd proposed marriage. Liesel had looked at him, and a rare moment of rashness had taken over her. She'd said, "Let's do it." To tell the truth, there wasn't anything bad about Jacob. He didn't love her but had never played the field or slept around with other women. He was also calm and level-headed, considerate and gentle. She didn't even have any complaints about their adventures in bed. But things had changed after he'd run into Natalie at Alden University two months ago. Chelsea looked at Liesel while feeling bitter. The latter hadn't said anything, but Chelsea knew how she felt. Judging from Liesel's personality, there was no way she would've settled for Jacob for so long if she didn't have feelings for him. "Maybe you should go back to Shifter Corporation, Lili. Why continue suffering at Ford Corporation? I feel nauseous at the thought of those two pieces of trash being there." Liesel had always been prideful and stubborn. After Heather's death, she'd used whatever she'd inherited to set up Shifter Corporation, wanting to compete with the Sharp family's company. However, she'd left it in the hands of Heather's friend, Jonathan Shifter. The outside world only knew it as Jonathan's company. "Marriage is marriage, and work is work," Liesel said. "I'm not going to give up on my career over a failed marriage." That was what she thought—it was also what Jacob had promised her. But when she headed to work the next day, she discovered she'd been transferred from her position as his secretary to the project department manager. Chapter 2 Liesel had taken a week of sick leave. She'd only learned about the transfer when returning to work. A colleague gossiped with her, sounding pointed as they said, "I bet you still don't know this, Ms. Sharp. We have a new secretary whose last name is also Sharp. It looks like there's something special about her." Liesel didn't expect to hear that. Had Jacob actually given Natalie a job by his side? Soon, Jacob summoned Liesel to the CEO's office. When she entered and stood before him, he looked at her indifferently. "Since you want to stay at the company, continuing to hold the position of my personal secretary isn't appropriate. "The project department manager was transferred to a branch company, leaving a vacancy there. The timing is just right." Liesel knew very well that Jacob had always been clear-headed. He would never allow her to cause Natalie any discomfort or disappointment. Rather than saying the transfer was his recognition of Liesel's abilities, it would be more accurate to say he merely didn't want Natalie to misunderstand. "Okay," Liesel said. He frowned slightly and said, "Natalie hasn't seen much of the world since she's just graduated. You should give her more guidance." Liesel didn't say no. Setting everything else aside, she did need to hand over the work she had in hand—it was her responsibility as an employee. She headed downstairs, running into Natalie on her way. The latter was a rookie and a greenhorn, so some of the veterans had tricked her into buying them over a dozen cups of coffee. She hurried around with a light sheen of sweat on her forehead, looking obedient yet silly. She faltered when she saw Liesel. "Lie—" She seemed to think of something and stuck out her tongue. "Ms. Liesel." Liesel frowned at her and said, "You're here as Mr. Ford's secretary, not to run errands. Set the coffee aside and come with me." Natalie paled. Still, she did as told and followed Liesel. Everyone else in the department settled down. Liesel had no intention of picking on Natalie. After all, banishing the latter to the countryside again wouldn't bring Heather back to life. Besides, before her death, Heather had already lost interest in being mad at the Sharp family. "These are the most recently saved files. This is a list of things to pay attention to when working with Mr. Ford, and this is his latest schedule," Liesel said. "Avoid wearing too many accessories during work unless necessary for a gathering or business meeting. "As a secretary, what's more important is your ability to think on your feet and react to whatever that's happened." Natalie blinked as a light blush spread across her cheeks. "Is this one not allowed, too? Mr. Ford gave this to me, and I quite like it. Can't I wear it?" Liesel's gaze flitted past the necklace she wore. It took her aback for a split second. She'd like that particular necklace for some time. Once, Jacob had nonchalantly asked her, "Do all little ladies like accessories like that?" It turned out he was getting it for Natalie. "That's up to you." Liesel lowered her gaze to conceal the emotions in her eyes. Her tone remained calm as she continued, "It's fine as long as it doesn't affect your work." Natalie smiled sweetly without saying anything else. Liesel showed her the ropes and gave her a run-through of the overall workflow. When she was done, Natalie said, "I get the feeling that you don't really like me, Liesel. Is it because of Mr. Ford?" Liesel looked at her. She didn't avert her gaze. Instead, she just smiled and continued, "It's hard to tell who's wrong and right when it comes to matters of the heart—it was the same with my mother and our father. Whatever it is, I still want to be friends with you…" "Natalie." Liesel stopped her there. "Morals and ethics still bind all matters of the heart. You wouldn't have been banished to the countryside if not for that. Do only what you must, and stop thinking everyone around you is a fool." Jeffrey had had an affair, which led to Natalie's birth. Even if Heather was already dead, Liesel didn't think she could shamelessly forgive Natalie's mother on Heather's behalf, let alone allow Natalie to do the forgiving. What right did Natalie have to talk about right or wrong? Liesel turned and left. She returned to her office and texted Jacob. "Do you have time to get the divorce settled today, Mr. Ford? Let's get that divorce certificate." He didn't stand her up. They met at the courthouse at 2:00 pm. Liesel signed whatever papers she needed to and looked at him. "It's all ready. Your turn to sign." She hadn't had time to change her outfit before leaving the office, so she still wore a professional-looking women's suit. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders, which framed her aloof yet delicate face. She looked beautiful. Jacob watched her for a while before looking away. "You seem to be in quite a rush." "Hmm? No, I'm not," Liesel answered after a beat. "We've already signed the papers. There's no point in dragging this out." He didn't say anything else and quickly signed. After they got their divorce certificates and left the courthouse, Jacob looked at her. "All better now?" "Yep." She nodded. She was about to leave when he got in his car and rolled down the window. "I'll drop you back." Liesel hesitated. She was about to turn him down when a wave of nausea washed over her, making her retch. When she returned to her senses, she saw Jacob watching her with narrowed eyes. "Are you conceived?" Her heart sank. It had been a month since they'd last slept. He'd been rather rough that night and hadn't used any protection. But things couldn't be that coincidental, right? Could she have gotten conceived from that one time? She clenched her fists. "I can't be." He was about to say something else when his phone rang. He answered it. When he hung up, his brows were furrowed. "I have work to do." He looked at her pointedly. "We can't have children, Liesel. I hope this is just a coincidence." Liesel's heart clenched, but she didn't say anything. Throughout her and Jacob's three-year marriage, they'd always been careful with preventive measures. That time a month ago was the only time neither of them had done anything. But how could she have conceived so easily? She pushed the thought out of her mind and took a cab back to the company. When she arrived, she noticed the tension in the air. A colleague leaned close to her and whispered in trepidation, "There's been a problem with the products from Hardin Group. That new secretary signed the papers during the handover without checking the stock properly." Liesel frowned. She'd deliberately reminded Natalie to check everything before signing for them. It didn't help that Hardin Group was more cunning than others. This wasn't their first time trying to pull something like this. Shortly after, her assistant came and said, "Mr. Ford wants to see you, Ms. Sharp." Liesel pushed open the door to Jacob's office. Natalie stood inside. Her nose was red, and she was biting her lip. She looked pitiful yet adorable. Her words made Liesel frown, though. "I'm sorry, Jake. I had no idea I needed to check everything when accepting the stock. Ms. Liesel did tell me to check the items but didn't caution me that Hardin Group would be so cunning. It's all my fault…" Jacob looked at Liesel coldly. "Nat's just graduated, so she knows nothing about these things. You know very well what Hardin Group is capable of. Why didn't you give her a heads-up?" Chapter 3 Liesel's heart twinged slightly, but she said calmly, "I reminded Ms. Natalie about the stock handover. The office has surveillance cameras. You can check the footage if you don't believe me, Mr. Ford." Natalie paled. Tears welled in her eyes, and she said pitifully, "I-I probably didn't hear you because my mind wandered. That's why I made such a mistake." Liesel ignored her. "We can't let Hardin Group manipulate us for stocks worth millions. I'll handle this, but the company also has rules to uphold. Natalie will need to be reprimanded accordingly." She turned and left the office to check on the stocks. Now that they'd already been accepted, from a legal perspective, Ford Corporation had no choice but to swallow its woes and live with the situation. Still, there was hope for this. Uriah Hardin, the third son of the Hardin family, managed Hardin Group. However, his brother, Elijah Hardin, was the second son and favored by his family. He also wanted to usurp Uriah's position. If she could turn this matter into a power play, she could turn the tables on Hardin Group. At 8:00 pm, Liesel and Elijah met at a restaurant. His roguish, flippant look landed on her. "Have you invited the wrong man, Ms. Sharp? I'm not the one who calls the shots at Hardin Group, nor am I interested in you." Liesel was beautiful but too boring in his eyes. He liked his women obedient and gentle. They were cuter that way. Liesel ignored his words and placed a document before him. "These are some of the tracks Mr. Uriah has left in the industry over the years, Mr. Elijah. I won't beat around the bush—I don't believe you're uninterested in Hardin Group. Take him down, and this deal with Ford Corporation will be yours." The flippant look in Elijah's eyes faded away. He narrowed his eyes and appraised her with interest. His mother wasn't his father, Richard Hardin's first wife, and Richard favored Uriah over him. But was there anyone in the Hardin family who didn't want to have something to do with the company? After a long silence, he drawled, "What's in it for you if I take him down?" "I need you to switch out the subpar products Hardin Group has just supplied to Ford Corporation. Cooperating with you is also good for us because you don't pull dirty tricks." Liesel didn't mind pulling a few tricks when doing business, but Uriah's methods were too lowbrow. She was scornful of him. Elijah looked at her. Then, he raised his glass and said meaningfully, "I hope things will work out the way you wish, Ms. Sharp." A few tables away, Jacob's assistant, Jesse Lane, noticed Liesel. In a low voice, he told Jacob, "Ms. Sharp is here, too, Mr. Ford." Jacob followed his line of sight and frowned slightly. Elijah had a reputation for being a dandy—what was Liesel doing with him? Liesel didn't notice Jacob. She and Elijah soon ended their discussion; Jesse approached her then. He said, "Mr. Ford is waiting for you, Ms. Sharp." Elijah glanced at him before turning back to Liesel. "You should consider joining Hardin Group if you ever get sick of being at Ford Corporation, Ms. Sharp. We always know a good thing when we see it." A woman with nothing but good looks would quickly become boring, but she would be a valuable resource if she were beautiful and brainy. Liesel didn't respond to Elijah's words. Instead, she politely bid him farewell before following Jesse to Jacob's car. It was 11:00 pm, and the night breeze was rather chilly. Liesel's lips were a little pale as she got into the car. She lowered her eyes, and her wrists were briefly exposed underneath her suit jacket. It made her seem rather weak and pitiful. Jacob frowned. He'd never noticed her being this skinny. "Have you settled the problem with Hardin Group?" She nodded, looking tired. "Yeah. Elijah is harder to deal with than Uriah, but he's already agreed to switch out the subpar products. We'll just need to send someone to handle the handover." Jacob's gaze flitted past her. "Natalie is young and naive. You can't completely blame her for this." Liesel paused before saying softly, "You're Ford Corporation's CEO. It's up to you how you want to handle her." Natalie was young, huh? She'd been even younger than Natalie when joining Ford Corporation, but Jacob had never cut her any slack. "I've yet to tell Grandpa about the divorce," he said, switching the subject. Vincent Ford had been recuperating at home these past years and couldn't be aggravated. Even if Liesel and Jacob had never been the most loving couple, Vincent probably still couldn't handle the news of their divorce. Liesel looked down. "Got it. I'll tell him about this when the time is right." Jacob didn't say anything else. Liesel had had a bit to drink without eating anything. After a while, she curled up in her seat and drifted off. Her face was pale. When Jacob noticed something was wrong with her, he frowned. He was about to instruct Jesse to take them to the hospital when she woke up. "Where are we?" she asked, her voice hoarse. He said, "I'm taking you to the hospital." Liesel's heart skipped a beat as she thought of something. However, she kept her tone nonchalant and said, "There's no need for that. My stomach just feels a little upset. I'll be fine after resting at home." Jacob looked at her. His gaze was deep and sharp. It was as if he could read her thoughts. After a while, he said, "Fine." She relaxed. Back home, she called Chelsea and said a little grimly, "Buy me a test." … The following day, Liesel was supposed to attend a welcome-back party for Alex Stone, one of her and Jacob's mutual friends. Alex had called her before his return to invite her to the party. Perhaps it was because he'd heard about the divorce and wanted to help them reconcile. The party was already in full swing when Liesel arrived. She heard Alex's voice through the door. "Have you and Liesel really divorced? Was it because of Natalie?" Liesel faltered, her hand on the doorknob. After a pause, Jacob said, "It has nothing to do with Natalie. Liesel and I aren't a good match." "Tsk. How are you two not a good match?" Alex asked. "I think Liesel is fantastic. She's pretty, intelligent, and has won many people's recognition at Ford Corporation. Why are you so obsessed with Natalie? Don't forget that Liesel saved you in the past. Sometimes, some things are just too little, too late." He'd met Natalie before and could tell she was nothing but a young woman with a few tricks up her sleeve. She couldn't compare to Liesel. Liesel had managed to save Jacob from the hands of his abductors. How could someone like Natalie compare to her bravery and determination? Jacob would have much to regret if he and Liesel really were to divorce. This time, Jacob remained silent for a longer time. Then he said, "You can't force matters of the heart." Liesel lowered her eyes and slowly clenched her fists. Alex stopped trying to change Jacob's mind. Instead, he said, "You'd better think this through. You may not like her, but plenty of others do." Liesel didn't linger. She texted Alex on WhatsApp and told him she wasn't attending the party because she had to attend to something else. Then, she asked Chelsea out. Chelsea gave her the test and asked hesitantly, "You're not really conceived, are you, Lili?" Chapter 4 Liesel held the test tightly. "I'm not sure yet." Her period had yet to come this month, and the retching from before… She suspected something was up. "What are you going to do if you are?" Chelsea looked at her hesitantly. "Will Jacob accept it?" Liesel dropped her gaze. Jacob would never want a child she'd brought into the world. Besides, they were already divorced—it was bad for them both if she were to keep the child… even if it was one she'd longed for in the past. After a long silence, she said, "No, he won't. There's no point in keeping lingering attachments or forcing someone to do something against their will. If I'm conceived, I'll lose the baby." She'd waited for a baby that hadn't come over the past three years. Now, it was long past the time for that. Liesel was in a bad mood, so she didn't do the test on the spot. Instead, she and Chelsea had some drinks. Well, she only had a sip or two of a drink with the lowest possible wine content. She only remembered the test when she arrived at the company the following day. She headed to the bathroom and did the test. Then, she was dumbstruck when she saw the two lines on it. She was conceived… with Jacob's child. Her face turned pale. Just then, someone entered the bathroom. In her panic, she threw the test into the trashcan and clenched her fists. Was she really going to lose her and Jacob's child? A pang of pain swept past her heart. Liesel was in a meeting but she was distracted. When it was over, a colleague leaned close to her, looking excited to share gossip. "Did you hear, Ms. Sharp? Someone from our department is conceived." The competition within Ford Corporation had always been intense, and carrying a baby was something that would easily affect one's career and ascension up the ladder. The colleague couldn't help saying gleefully, "I wonder who it is. They're being hush-hush about this, aren't they?" Liesel's heart skipped a beat. She looked up and happened to meet Jacob's cool, calm gaze. He said, "Come to my office, Ms. Sharp." She clenched her fists. When she entered Jacob's office, he said, "I'll have Jesse take you for an examination in a couple of days." Her heart stuttered, and she blurted out, "It's not me." "This is just to be safe. I'm sure you don't want any trouble to arise from this." Liesel couldn't stop him. She could only suppress her panic and say, "Okay." Natalie came her way when she left the office. The former bit her lip and said uneasily, "What happened last time was a misunderstanding, Ms. Liesel. You won't get mad at me for that, will you? I had no idea Hardin Group would pull such a dirty trick and try to stuff subpar products on us!" "That's none of my business," Liesel said indifferently. "The company has its system for rewards and punishments. You'll have to bear the consequences of your mistakes. It's as simple as that." She had nothing much to say to Natalie. Setting aside their relationship, she'd always drawn a clear line between her professional and private lives. There was no need to drag personal grudges into work. Natalie sighed in relief. "It's Dad's birthday next week, Liesel. He hasn't seen you for so long. How about you come home so we can celebrate as a family?" Jeffrey's birthday was a week after Heather's death anniversary. Liesel looked at Natalie and said, "I'm not in the mood to scheme and play mind games with you, Natalie. "If you're not a complete idiot, you'll understand what I mean when I say your father's birthday isn't a good day for me and my mother." Natalie faltered. Then, her face turned red, and she said, "I know it's only a week after Heather's death anniversary, but you can't revive the dead. We still have to celebrate Dad's birthday since he's alive, right? "I've never blamed Heather for banishing me to the countryside, so why do you have to keep holding a grudge against Dad?" "You know very well why my mother sent you to the countryside," Liesel said icily. "If I were to forgive the person who'd caused her death and even celebrate his birthday, it wouldn't prove that I'm generous enough to bury the hatchet. It would just show that I'm heartless." Natalie blanched. Her eyes turned red as tears welled in them. "I didn't mean anything else by this, Liesel. I just—" "I don't care what you meant," Liesel interrupted. "When at work, we're nothing more than colleagues. You should focus on your work, Ms. Natalie." She turned and left, not wanting to play mind games with Natalie. She took the afternoon off to head to the hospital. It didn't even occur to her what Natalie thought of her words. Unfortunately, it seemed Natalie was more cowardly than she'd expected. The former had been so absent-minded while walking that she'd twisted her ankle. Jacob brought her to the hospital. "Congratulations. You're six weeks conceived." Liesel happened to run into Jacob, who was holding Natalie up, when she was leaving the hospital with her report. The doctor's words reverberated in her mind. "Your body cannot handle the surgery, Ms. Sharp. If you proceed with it, you might not be able to conceive in the future. I'd advise you to think this through." Liesel felt bitter. She was conceived with Jacob's child, which was something to be happy and expectant about. But would he allow her to keep it? Jacob noticed the look on her face while Natalie hesitantly called out to her. "Lie—Ms. Liesel." Jacob's gaze flitted past her. "What are you doing here?" She hid her report behind her and said softly, "I came for a follow-up check because my cold isn't completely gone yet." He narrowed his eyes at her. Natalie seemed to notice something and tugged his sleeve. She looked a little glum. "You should have something to discuss with Ms. Sharp, Mr. Ford. I'll head back first." Jacob frowned but didn't make her stay. "I'll have someone take you back." She nodded obediently. Liesel sighed in relief and stuffed the report into her bag. When she and Jacob were in his car, he glanced at her. "Are you that nervous to be around me? The more you act like this, the more I'll think you're conceived." She subconsciously wanted to deny it but forced herself to smile. She asked, "What will you do if I really am conceived, then?" "Make you lose it," he said without hesitation as he looked her in the eye. She knew it. A pang of pain swept past her heart, and she shook her head as she said bitterly, "It's just a cold." Jacob scrutinized her for a while before saying, "I heard you and Nat got into a small fight today, leading to her twisting her ankle while heading downstairs. "She's young and naive but is kind. She also doesn't get into arguments with others that easily. You should be nicer to her and be more accommodating if anything happens in the future." Liesel's bitterness bubbled up in her. No one in this world could avoid being more favorable to certain people. She said, "She's not a child, Mr. Ford. There's nothing for me to accommodate." Chapter 5 Liesel looked at Jacob. Her tone was calm as she said, "I don't owe Natalie anything, nor do I owe you. Work-wise, I'm only her senior. Regarding my personal life, my mother didn't owe her anything. "Natalie came knocking on our door when her mother chose to marry another. No woman can accept her husband's illegitimate daughter. She might have had Natalie sent to the countryside, but Natalie was also given more than enough money to survive there. "I don't owe her, whether professionally or personally. Why should I be more accommodating and tolerant of her? Why should I back down when facing off against her?" When she finished her speech, silence descended upon the car. Jacob looked at her. She wore a simple dress that clung to her curves, and her delicate features were arranged into her usual mask of aloofness. There was something cold and tenacious about her. She was so brilliant that one could almost neglect her beauty. His gaze flitted over her eyes. After a moment of silence, he said gently, "I'm sorry. I didn't handle this matter appropriately." Liesel didn't say anything. He looked her in the eye and said, "I shouldn't have made you suppress yourself and back down for Natalie's sake. You're a wonderful woman, Liesel. Even though we're divorced now, I still hope you'll live your own life." She clenched her fists and tried to keep her tears at bay. She couldn't deny that she really, really liked Jacob. However, certain things just couldn't be forced. … Liesel headed home. She had someone ask around about the doctor Jacob was going to arrange to examine her. Meanwhile, Chelsea was worried. "Can't you just tell him the truth? He might not be that cruel. You two were together for three years, after all." "I'd rather not." Liesel caressed her belly. She was silent for a while before saying, "Since I can't lose the child, there's no need to let Jacob know about this. We're already divorced, and this child is part of my life now. I'll need your help dealing with the doctor." Whatever it was, she couldn't let Jacob find out about the baby. Chelsea didn't object. She seemed to think of something and said, "Natalie used to intern at Shifter Corporation. Do you think it's just a coincidence, or does she know something?" This came as a surprise to Liesel. Natalie had interned at Shifter Corporation? Did she know it belonged to Liesel, or… It piqued Liesel's suspicions, but she didn't dwell on the matter. "It's probably just a coincidence. She graduated from Alden University, and Shifter Corporation does campus recruitments there, too." Chelsea had only brought it up since it had occurred to her. She smiled and said, "Mr. Shifter and Neal should be back soon, right? I'm sure you'll feel more secure with them around." Neal Shifter was Jonathan's son, and the Shifter family had been managing Shifter Corporation on Liesel's behalf all these years. Since Heather's passing, the Shifters had become like family to Liesel. She smiled, and a rare hint of relief flashed in her eyes. … The following day, news of Uriah's downfall broke out. Elijah looked like a dandy but had surprisingly ruthless methods. He'd gotten someone to leak information on the dirty tricks Uriah had pulled to the paparazzi. Coincidentally, Uriah had recently murdered someone while driving under the influence and had gotten a scapegoat to take the fall. Thanks to everything being lumped together, he was soon arrested. Elijah had proper quality stocks delivered to Ford Corporation in exchange for the subpar stocks. When Liesel went to handle the handover, he watched her with interest. "Don't you trust me, Ms. Sharp?" He raised an eyebrow and eyed the light sheen of sweat at her temples. His gaze turned pointed. She smiled and blinked at him. "I wouldn't put it that way. Better safe than sorry, right?" Her smile and rare moment of slyness made her glow. Her eyes were so bright. Elijah smirked at the sight. It looked like the rumors about her couldn't be trusted at all. She was much more interesting than those naive young women. Jacob and Natalie happened to see this. Natalie approached with a smile and said, "You and Ms. Liesel seem to get along very well, Mr. Hardin. It looks like this matter was a blessing in disguise." Her tone was light-hearted and lively, which carried a hint of a young woman's naivety and cheer. Her words made one's imagination wander, though. It was as if Liesel and Elijah were more involved than they seemed. Jacob's expression darkened when he took in the smile on Liesel's face. Then, he said coolly, "Sorry to have troubled you over this, Mr. Hardin." "Oh, it was no trouble at all." Elijah smiled meaningfully. "Nothing is considered troublesome when I have someone as gorgeous as Ms. Liesel attending to me." "Ms. Liesel has always drawn a clear line between work and pleasure. You might have gotten the wrong idea, Mr. Hardin." Jacob's gaze flitted over Liesel. Elijah's smile widened. "Drawing a clear line between work and pleasure isn't the same as being heartless. One has to be thick-skinned when pursuing a woman, right? Or are you interfering in your employee's personal life, Mr. Ford?" Jacob faltered. Then, he said, "I'll leave you to it, Mr. Hardin." He turned and left with Natalie in tow. Liesel watched them. Her gaze was aloof. However, Elijah saw the glumness deep inside. He said, "Your precious Mr. Ford isn't all that great. Why don't you consider other fish in the sea?" There was a hint of amorosity to his words. Liesel returned to her senses and chuckled. "I remember you saying that I'm not your type, Mr. Hardin. Have you changed your mind?" Elijah looked at her. If he had to be honest, she was too stubborn and inflexible for his tastes. She was indeed not his type. Yet she was pretty and intelligent enough to mask her inflexibility. "Not really." He leaned closer. "But I'll make an exception for you. You should really consider my proposal." Liesel didn't take his words to heart. She was just glad she'd managed to resolve the stock problem and prevent Ford Corporation from suffering any losses. Jacob punished Natalie by docking three months of her pay and bonuses. Then, he paid Liesel double her salary. The colleagues in Liesel's department were pleased when she returned. "I'll admit it—I can't stand those who got in here because of their connections. Anyone else would've been fired ages ago." "I know, right? She's supposed to have graduated from Alden University, yet she made such a huge mistake immediately after taking over as Mr. Ford's secretary. Even if we were to talk about looks alone, it's not like she can compare with Ms. Sharp! I wonder what Mr. Ford sees in her…" Ford Corporation was one of the biggest in the industry, so it was harder for rookies to find their footing there compared to other companies. Their situation would only be worse if they didn't have the skills to back themselves up. It wasn't appropriate for Liesel to comment on the subject, but she knew it wasn't right to pick on Natalie like that. "Stop." She could feel a headache coming on as she stopped the gossip. "She's just a young woman who's new to this. You guys should focus on your work. I'll treat everyone to a nice meal in a couple of days, okay?" Only then did the crowd zip their lips and get back to work. Liesel needed to hand a contract to Jacob now that she was done with the matter with Hardin Corporation. She headed to his office and was about to knock when she heard Natalie's voice. Inside the room, Natalie bit her lip. Her eyes were red as she said, "I'm too useless, aren't I, Jake? Everyone says I can't compare to Ms. Liesel." Jacob frowned, and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes. He wiped her tears and said, "What's the point of comparing yourself to her? You two aren't the same." Liesel faltered outside the door. She only pushed it open after a beat.	LEARN_MORE	https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=14615&ut	Indulge in story	https://www.facebook.com/61552702618591/	865	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn More	beokn.com	DCO		https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=14615&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/462258138_523943137164426_369908901029657521_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sGDJ1W4-2qUQ7kNvgE7-Caf&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AqIEdU9Qaz-ls9GvVtUCrHC&oh=00_AYC5nSxlIGCkRl5Z_vOZ8yoMtdBP4mUFH34Vk4299cp_Mg&oe=675AA7BD	PERSON_PROFILE	0	Indulge in story	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,606,997	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2606977}'	No	2024-12-07 19:36	active	1972	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉	After three years of dating Nathan Foster, I thought I knew where we were headed. But he never proposed. Instead, he fell in love at first sight with my stepsister. His pursuit of her was bold and relentless, leaving no room for doubt. This time, I didn’t break down or wait around, hoping he’d return like before. I made a clean break. I threw away every gift he had given me, shredded the wedding dress I once secretly bought, and on his birthday, I left Riverdale behind. Just as I was about to board my flight, Nathan messaged me: “Where are you? Everyone’s waiting for you.” I smiled, didn’t bother replying, and blocked him on every channel. He had no idea that, two weeks earlier, I had accepted the proposal of my college senior, Eustace Cooper. When the plane landed in my new city, Eustace and I were ready to begin a new chapter of our lives together—as husband and wife. … "Eustace, I’ve made up my mind," I said, standing in front of the mirror, staring at the pale and fragile reflection of myself. So, making an important decision in life wasn’t as difficult as I once thought. "Roxanne... will you accept my proposal?" Eustace’s deep voice came from the other end of the phone. A faint ache rose in my chest. As tears welled up in my eyes, I nodded lightly. "I will." "Roxanne, did you know? I’ve been waiting for this day since college." Somehow, the reflection in the mirror now carried a soft smile at the corners of its lips. "Give me half a month. I’ll settle everything here." "Alright, Roxanne. I’ll be waiting." Just as the call ended, my bedroom door was suddenly pushed open from the outside with force. "Roxanne," my father began, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Your sister hasn’t been feeling well lately. Since your room gets more sunlight, why don’t you let her stay there for a few days?" I didn’t respond, letting my gaze settle on my stepmother and stepsister, Sophia Williams, standing behind him. My stepmother quickly chimed in, "Oh, Charles, there’s no need to trouble Roxanne over this." Sophia looked pitiful as she added, "It’s fine, Dad. I don’t mind at all. I don’t want to upset my sister because of me." "What’s the trouble? You’re my daughter too," my father said, then turned to me with a stern expression. "Roxanne, you’re her older sister. You should be more understanding." I stared blankly at my father. I thought I’d feel heartbroken, that I’d cry over how my own father seemed to care more for a stepdaughter who wasn’t even his own flesh and blood than for me. But not a single tear fell. Instead, I smiled and nodded at them. "Sure, I’ll switch rooms with her." In just half a month, I would be leaving this place forever. So, it didn’t matter anymore which room I stayed in. Chapter 2 My father looked pleased with how understanding I was, while my stepmother wore a satisfied smile. After they left, Sophia stayed behind. "Roxanne, let me help you pack," she said sweetly, standing in front of me with an obedient demeanor. Yet, as her gaze swept around the room, a hint of undisguised triumph flickered in her eyes. "I didn’t think Dad would actually agree to us switching rooms," she added. "Roxanne, are you mad at me?" She paused for effect, then continued with a sly smile. "After all, I just took Nathan, and now I’ve taken the room you’ve lived in for ten years." I didn’t respond. Turning away, I went to grab my suitcase. Suddenly, Sophia let out a dramatic "Ouch!" and collapsed onto the floor, clutching her arm. "Roxanne..." she whimpered. Her arm had struck the corner of the desk, leaving a dark bruise spreading across her pale skin. "Roxanne, what are you doing?" Nathan Foster had appeared at some point, now standing at the doorway. He stepped inside with a stern expression, just in time to see Sophia on the floor. He rushed over with a frown and carefully scooped her into his arms. "I’m fine, Nathan," Sophia said tearfully, forcing a fragile smile even as her tears kept falling. "Roxanne didn’t mean to do it." "You’re already bruised, and you still say it doesn’t hurt," Nathan said, his gaze fixed on the dark mark marring her arm. His eyes were filled with worry. But when Nathan turned to look at me, his gaze turned icy cold, like frost sweeping through the room. "Roxanne Evans, if you’ve got an issue, take it out on me," he snapped, his voice sharp and cold. "Leave Sophia alone. She’s been through enough already." "Unlike you," he continued, his words dripping with disdain, "born into wealth and privilege, never knowing a day of hardship." I thought my emotions wouldn’t be swayed by him anymore. I thought I’d never shed another tear for Nathan. But in the end, I was just an ordinary girl. I wasn’t made of steel, and my heart wasn’t unbreakable. This was the boy I grew up with, my childhood friend. The man I’d been in love with for three years. And in just a few days, he’d fallen for someone younger, someone gentler, and now he looked at me like I was some venomous monster. I didn’t want to cry. I even wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all. But the ache in my chest spread to my tear glands, and they burned with the threat of tears. "Nathan Foster," I said, my voice steady but strained, "we’ve known each other for so many years. Do you really not know the kind of person I am?" Nathan frowned slightly, his expression shifting. His gaze lingered on my face, and for a moment, something in his cold demeanor seemed to soften.	LEARN_MORE	https://www.actdz.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=1612	Happyday	https://www.facebook.com/61558228850235/	1,433	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	www.actdz.com	VIDEO		https://www.actdz.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=16123&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&placement={{placement}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/468948372_960033369301761_8472255636643499740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O3WmcOH5yHkQ7kNvgESGeOQ&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AqIEdU9Qaz-ls9GvVtUCrHC&oh=00_AYDcJrYQXcELXLu6pZtUo08y_iWu70ZzjJ0ByGfmnusdQg&oe=675AB8DD	PERSON_PROFILE	0	Happyday	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,606,295	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2606296}'	No	2024-12-07 19:00	active	1971	Discover Feets FlowFiber Compression Socks	Indulge in Feets FlowFiber Compression Socks 🧦 You haven't known compression socks that can be worn all day until you've tried these. Providing all-day circulation support to help maintain a healthy lifestyle, Feet's compression socks were designed to provide support for your legs - swelling, circulation, inflammation, and more. With a cloudy and soft comfort, your feet will love them. Step into a new sock with Feets! 🧦	SHOP_NOW	https://feetsbrand.com/collections/socks	FEETS	https://www.facebook.com/feetsbrand/	399	1969-12-31 18:00	Shop Now	feetsbrand.com	DCO	Up to 40% Off!	https://feetsbrand.com/collections/socks	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/469365539_930331975287204_6554651255266874380_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Gw14USMKXaoQ7kNvgFRp1-y&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=ALGki0aPNgSGc5JP-QZzEqK&oh=00_AYDBKdvsknh0FF46G1B4SJ2Lzj6cRlaKuzDfN9oFyWg9aw&oe=675ADB72	PERSON_PROFILE	0	FEETS	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,606,953	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2606954}'	No	2024-12-07 19:36	active	1972	🔞Attention! Do not read in public！👉		LEARN_MORE	https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=13831&	Random Reading	https://www.facebook.com/61559743679549/	323	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn More	https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=13831&...	CAROUSEL		https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=13831&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&placement={{placement}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/465015191_524417157157150_6126132211507196535_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1EbA0EWxFS4Q7kNvgHEYEL0&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AqIEdU9Qaz-ls9GvVtUCrHC&oh=00_AYDpOELpidfOHm7q-ClcWp7IIKi7MOolmXV0pJyaiGTODw&oe=675AAA0D	PERSON_PROFILE	0	Random Reading	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,607,083	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2607049}'	Yes	2024-12-07 19:36	active	1972	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉	His hands gripped my hi-ps, pulling me closer, deeper. His pace quickened, his movements becoming more frantic. Whenever he travels and comes back, he is frantic. ----------- Rune and I have been having an illicit relationship for three years now though we have been hiding it from everyone including father and mother. It started when he found out I wasn’t his biological sister and he wanted to sleep with me. It is forbidden. Rune is someone I have always known to be my brother my entire life. After I was told I wasn't his biological sister five years ago, Rune's attitude towards me changed drastically. He started touching my body secretly at every given opportunity. Until the night of my eighteenth birthday, when he broke into my room and took my first time. I had fought back fiercely, did everything I could at that time but nothing happened. I even reported to the principal of the College. When they didn’t do anything. I should have known. Rune is the Alpha of the pack. Nothing could be done against him. All my efforts were effortlessly silenced. Even my ‘parents’ sent me to the psychiatrist. Since then, I knew nothing was ever going to work for me here. Today I woke up feeling a little nauseous and I retched a bit before I went downstairs to make breakfast. I think this has to do with what Rune made me do yesterday night. While I was making pancakes for family, I suddenly remembered something that made me want to throw up again. I haven’t had my period in two months! My heart skipped a beat in fear and terror ...Rune never used comdoms because I was barren. We went to the doctor the first time I felt symptoms and I found out that I won’t be able to carry a baby which is why my wolf is also weak. No Way! I rushed to my room and and leaned against the door, trying to steady my racing heart. I glanced at the small, white box in my hand—a pragnancy test. I was anxious as I followed the instructions, waiting for the result. Every second felt like an eternity. Finally, two pink lines stared back at me, stark and undeniable. The reality of my situation settled heavily on my shoulders. It was over.	LEARN_MORE	https://getokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=14773&u	Indulge in story	https://www.facebook.com/61552702618591/	865	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn More	getokn.com	DCO		https://getokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=14773&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&placement={{placement}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/463667100_916041916519433_8134508445626418156_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_v_mmBqMBQsQ7kNvgH9NhU1&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=A-d-zXE3-tFa-3c5J6d8sKC&oh=00_AYBEcaXD0kdSC_BhBt0VSlxsUlpD1a5h1jJocrwnSUJIHA&oe=675AB5DA	PERSON_PROFILE	0	Indulge in story	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,606,243	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	No	2024-12-07 19:00	active	1971		Pick your favorite seasonal colors, customize your gifts, and create the perfect outfit to celebrate the holidays in style! 🎁 Our color selection for you: Black Dark Grey Heather Dark Grey Heather Athletic Heather Forest Green Heather Grass Green Kelly Green Army Heather Maroon Maroon Red Mustard Yellow White Find the link in our bio and visit our Etsy shop! 🛍️ #CustomTees #HolidayStyle #SeasonalColors #giftideas #christmastime #outfitinspiration	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	http://instagram.com/kolorsyshop	kolorsyshop	https://www.instagram.com/_u/kolorsyshop	0	1969-12-31 18:00	Visit Instagram profile	instagram.com	VIDEO		http://instagram.com/kolorsyshop	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/384333835_222485137230979_4589047057039283493_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s206x206_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=525117&_nc_ohc=PMj8zVvDiAEQ7kNvgEpQZ4U&_nc_zt=24&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AYCXIIReqf7s62A0yv1JUkkugUU0naVO-v6zCDP8SxiQeg&oe=675AD0FF	IG_ADS_IDENTITY	1	kolorsyshop	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,603,779	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"is_bh_simple_request":true,"simple_request_ratio":0.5212121212121212,"is_bh_selenium":null,"selenium_ratio":null,"ratio_threshold":0.8}'	Yes	2024-12-07 18:42	active	1970		GIVEAWAY ALERT WIN A FREE OPTICAL FRAME COMPLETE WITH CUSTOMIZED PRESCRIPTION LENSES + A SPECIAL GIFT TO ALL PARTICIPANTS. Three lucky winners will be selected to get a complete new prescription glasses. All participants will get an exclusive discount code of 50% off optical frames + prescription and $10 off for non-prescription glasses. To enter: -Follow us on IG @dillydollaroptical -Comment your favorite pair of Optical Frames on our website: dillydollaroptical.com -Tag a friend in the same comment *Bonus entry if you repost this on your story! Dilly Dollar Optical just launched a new collection of Optical Frames + Prescription Lenses. Your next prescription glasses is not only going to be a necessity but a stylish accessory to elevate whatever look you’re rocking! 🤎 Giveaway ends on 12/13/24 11:59 EST. #dillydollarified #sunnies #sunglasses #eyewear #eyeglasses #giveawaytime #giveaway #giveawayalert #freesunglasses #freeeyeglasses #entertowin #blackfriday #prgift #ugcgift #pr #ugc #opticalframes #prescriptionglasses #newyork #newyorker #explore #reels #fyp #fypシ #fypage #fypp	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	https://www.instagram.com/_u/dillydollaroptical	Dilly Dollar Optical	https://www.facebook.com/61563538924455/	2	1969-12-31 18:00	Visit Instagram profile	instagram.com	IMAGE		https://www.instagram.com/_u/dillydollaroptical	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/469702706_1351087459210991_7171734809404303282_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6Em41YSpkAQQ7kNvgF_7kUR&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AauP3e6BiyJcwtCnL08uslj&oh=00_AYAUoYKfSjTRr_dgO9pmJFVk6T8_63bxAZM_VOszwG2l2g&oe=675AAC82	PERSON_PROFILE	0	Dilly Dollar Optical	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,606,765	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	No	2024-12-07 19:36	active	1972	Read next chapter	Emerging from the confines of marriage, she blossomed from a mundane housewife to a renowned painter with a legion of admirers. When her ex-husband sought reconciliation at her doorstep, he witnessed her in the arms of a prominent man. "Meet your new sister-in-law!" ===== In the dimly lit, opulent private cinema, the most exclusive jewelry auction was being broadcast live. "One million, going once, going twice--" The rich cadence of the auctioneer's voice echoed through the room, the man tightened his grip around Alicia Bennett's waist... With the intensity between them only grew fiercer as time passed... The auctioneer's gavel fell. "Sold for ten million! Let's give a round of applause to Mr. Joshua Yates!" The name struck Alicia like a lightning bolt. Her body instantly went rigid, something that the man couldn't help but notice, flicked lazily toward the screen. The camera zoomed in on Joshua Yates's face, every detail of his familiar features displayed in perfect clarity. "Joshua Yates, the second son of the Yates family... an acquaintance perhaps?" he drawled, the corners of his mouth tugging into a sly smile. Alicia's frown deepened. The last thing she wanted was to discuss it, she didn't respond. The man, upon seeing the situation, chuckled lightly before his movements grew even more relentless... ...... When it was over, Alicia took advantage of the man's time in the shower and quietly made her escape. When Caden Ward finally emerged from the bathroom, not catching sight of the woman's figure, he curled his lips slightly. Moments later, his assistant, Hank Ford, burst into the room, clearly on edge, "Er, apologies, Mr. Ward. I let my guard down. Give me a moment, and I'll have her brought back immediately." They had just returned to the country, taking every precaution. And yet, a woman had managed to slip through the cracks of their security. Caden's features calm, almost indifferent. "No need. I was... a willing participant." Hank's eyes widened in shock. In all the time he'd known Caden, the man had never slept with a woman,even physical contact. There were even rumors that Caden might suffer from some secret ailment. Yet now, those whispers seemed to evaporate in the face of this unexpected turn of events. Before Hank could make sense of it, Caden's deep voice pulled him back to reality. "I want you to look into Joshua's personal life. Have the report on my desk in half an hour." Tonight, Alicia had stumbled into his room, feverish and desperate. It was obvious she'd been framed. And then came the revelation--Alicia was still a pureness. Two years of marriage to Joshua... Yet she was still untouched? Caden's lips curled into a satisfied smile. But as he reflected, one thing became abundantly clear--Alicia had no idea who she'd been with due to the dug's effects. ... By the time Alicia returned home, the first light of dawn filtered through the windows. Only then did she realize how long she had been out. But before she could dwell any further, her phone rang. It was her bestie, Monica Flynn, calling. "Alicia!" Monica practically screeched from the other end of the line, her voice high-pitched with worry. "How are you now?" Alicia exhaled deeply, kicking off her shoes carelessly. "I've been better," she murmured. Monica's anger bubbled over, her words sharp and unrelenting. "Joshua's beyond disgusting! If he doesn't want to stay married, he should just grow a spine and divorce you already! What kind of sick man would scheme against his own wife?" The sharp pain of betrayal shot through Alicia's chest. Yesterday was their second anniversary. Joshua had texted her, suggesting they celebrate. Daring to hope he had changed, she had dressed up to the nine's, only to be met with disappointment and a dug-laced drink that sent her spiraling into a night of confusion and chaos. Was Joshua really the mastermind behind this? Swallowing the bitterness that tried clawing its way to the surface, Alicia forced herself to climb the stairs, her movements slow and weary. "It's fine, Monica. I'll handle it." Monica, ever protective, wasn't convinced. "'Handle it'? What do you mean you'll handle it? Just say the word, and I'll be over in a heartbeat." Alicia couldn't help the small, tired smile that tugged at her lips, hanging up the phone. But her heart still felt heavy, just as she lost focus, the door to her bedroom creaked open. She lifted her gaze, and almost instantly, her stomach dropped. There, fresh from a shower, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist, stood Joshua. He stared down at her. Chapter 2 Divorce Alicia snapped out of her daze as soon as she met the icy gaze of Joshua, her so-called husband. His expression remained unchanged, cold and indifferent as ever, as though he was looking at a stranger. The only thing out of place was the scars on his lips. A wave of disgust washed over her, she pushed him away and was about to enter. Joshua frowned, his hand shooting out to grab her wrist. "Alicia, what's with the attitude?" He seemed quite unhappy with her this time, which was a rare thing, considering how little he bothered to come home. Normally, Alicia would have welcomed him back with open arms, a flicker of joy lighting up her tired features, but today she looked drained, almost hollow. She didn't resist his grip, meeting his gaze with a calmness that unnerved him. "Haven't I always been like this? Obedient, sensible, making sure the house is in order, ensuring you're comfortable, ready to give your best at work." A small, bitter smile tugged at her lips. "Isn't that what you like most about me? It makes things easier for you, doesn't it? Frees up time for your other... 'special someone'." Joshua's eyes darkened at the veiled accusation. Denial hovered on his lips, but he didn't bother. Why should he? He dropped her hand and said gruffly, "Actually, that's why I'm here. We need to talk." Alicia vigorously rubbed her wrist, as though she was trying to erase his touch. "So, are you planning to finally go public with her?" Joshua's expression twisted instantly, his calm facade cracking. "What do you know? Did you have me stalked by a private investigator or something?" Alicia let out a soft, humorless laugh. "Is that necessary? Last night, you spared no expense to make her happy. Even a blind person could tell you're mad about her." He stared at her, unsettled by her icy tone. It was still her voice, still Alicia, but there was something different about her... For some reason, he felt inexplicably hurt, like a thorn pricking his heart. Perhaps it was the way she looked at him now--her eyes, once warm and filled with love for him, were now completely empty. There was no anger, no pain, just... nothing. It was a stark contrast to the woman who used to look at him as if he were her entire world. For reasons he couldn't explain, the sight of her like this stirred something in him, an unfamiliar dissatisfaction. Annoyed by his own reaction, Joshua decided to hit back, his voice harder now. "She's pregnant. It's a delicate pregnancy, so I bought her a little something to lift her spirits." Alicia's fists clenched before she could stop them. Pgnant? So, the nights she had stayed up waiting for him to come home, he'd been with another woman, working diligently to start a new family? Seeing Alicia wince a little, Joshua felt a flicker of satisfaction. "It's not that I don't want to touch you," he said, voice dripping with condescension. "You're just about as thrilling as watching paint dry. No man would want that." His cruel words pierced through Alicia, yet she managed to remain composed on the surface. It wasn't that she avoided intimacy; she just wasn't the one to initiate it. Did that make her so undesirable? Was it a sin? Taking a slow, steady breath, Alicia willed herself to stay calm. "Fine," she replied quietly. "Let's get a divorce then. You can give her the title she wants." The word "divorce" made Joshua's eyelid twitch involuntarily. He scoffed, eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Is this another one of your games?" Convinced he was right, his voice grew colder, more biting. "Alicia, for two years, you've pulled every childish stunt, begging for my attention. Aren't you tired yet? Because I sure as hell am." He paused, letting his disdain sink in. "You claim to love me so much. Could you really walk away from me?" Alicia couldn't help the bitter laugh that escaped her. Love him? Did he even understand what that meant? When Joshua's business had crumbled, leaving him with nothing but debt and shattered dreams, it had been Alicia who emptied her savings to pull him from the wreckage. Out of gratitude--or maybe obligation--he had married her. For two long years, she had been the dutiful wife, supporting him as he clawed his way to success. And what had Alicia gotten in return? She had been cast aside like a useless relic, while another woman carried his child. Her love, her loyalty, had been ground into the dirt beneath his feet. To care for this man any longer would be masochism. Her voice steady, Alicia said, "Draft the divorce agreement. I'll agree to whatever terms you want." And with that, she turned and disappeared through the door, leaving Joshua standing alone in the hallway. For a moment, he stared after her angrily, but then a cold, mocking smile tugged at his lips. Fine, she can play the martyr. He doubted she could keep it up for long. Storming out of the house, Joshua headed straight to the apartment where his lover, Lilliana Green, awaited him. "Well, that was fast," she teased upon hearing Joshua was getting a divorce, raising a brow. "Seems she wasn't as tough to deal with as you claimed." "She's cunning," Joshua muttered, the edge of suspicion creeping into his voice. "I don't know if she's actually agreeing to the divorce or just playing me." Lilliana's arms draping lazily around his neck, "Relax, Joshua, even if she changes her mind, it's too late." Joshua's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?" Chapter 3 Letting Go Lilliana's eyes flickered with shadowy intent. She wasn't foolish enough to show her cards now, so she waved it off with an effortless excuse. "During your two-year marriage, she has lived quietly in the shadows as a mere housewife, disconnected from your world. When you're assertive, would she dare to say a word?" Joshua pursed his lips into a hard line. During the past two years, Alicia had indeed done everything for him--given him support and solace. She had loved him fiercely, but at the end of it all, what value did love truly hold? Against all odds, he had clawed his way to the top, and he'd finally grasped the power he craved. That success, however, hadn't come easy, and it wasn't love that secured his position--it was alliances with the powerful. The prestige of the Green family daughter, that title alone, was worth far more than Alicia's devoted love. As these thoughts plagued his mind, Lilliana said happily, "Joshua, congratulations on escaping the grind. Shall we celebrate?" For a moment, Joshua's gaze flickered down to her, but Alicia's indifferent face suddenly flashed before his eyes. Since leaving the house earlier, Alicia hadn't once called him to ask for his whereabouts. Before, if he had been upset with her, she would've called him in a panic. A sharp, inexplicable irritation surged within him. Without thinking, he pushed Lilliana back, "You're only a few weeks' pregnant. Be careful." Lilliana, sharp as ever, sensed he was distracted. "Joshua, what's wrong?" she asked gently. "Don't you want to get divorced?" Joshua's response was instant. "Of course I want to divorce her." Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. "Then why don't you seem very happy?" Joshua offered a quick excuse, his voice steady but distant. "My father's condition has worsened. He doesn't have much time left, and Caden returned last night. He's likely here to claim his inheritance. I need to figure out how to handle him." Lilliana blinked, momentarily thrown. "Caden? Your brother from your father's first marriage? He doesn't even carry the Yates name anymore. What right does he have to fight you for the inheritance?" Joshua's expression darkened. It was true--but at the end of the day, he was still the son of a home-wrecker. All these years of relentless effort had not only been to carve out a name for himself in the Yates family, but to push Caden into the shadows where he belonged. One way or another, Joshua was hell-bent on winning. Meanwhile, Alicia stirred from her sleep. Darkness had already fallen, yet she felt even more drained than before. It was because her dreams revolved around that stranger. when her phone buzzed with a call from Monica did she snap out of her daze. "Alicia, I got your bld test results. I passed them to a friend of mine with some serious connections. He's digging around to see who bought the stuff." Alicia sat up a little straighter, her mind sharpening. "Thanks, Monica. Appreciate it." "If you really want to thank me, do me a favor: stop obsessing over that j*k. And after the divorce, focus on your career. You owe me that much." Alicia's chest warmed, her head lowering in quiet gratitude. "I know, I know." Now that she thought about it, she had come to the realization that her feelings for Joshua had never been pure love--they were born out of a debt, a sense of obligation. Her family's expectations had always weighed heavily on her, and in that lonely, stifled childhood, it was Joshua who had been there. His companionship had nurtured a vague affection she'd confused for love. "Lucky for me, love's never been something I've held onto tightly," Alicia murmured. "These last two years... I'll just see it as repaying his kindness." Monica paused, her usual boldness tempered with thoughtfulness. She knew better than anyone how, once upon a time, Joshua had indeed loved Alicia. But, it turned out love could be a fleeting thing. "Alicia, I really hope you've let go for good," Monica said with a convicted sigh. A sharp pang hit Alicia's chest, her eyes stinging as she fought back the urge to cry. Quickly, she pressed her hand to her eyelids, refusing to let the tears fall. It was only then she noticed something startling. Stunned, she stared at her hand. The wedding ring--something she had once held onto so tightly--was gone. Gone for a whole day and night, and she hadn't even noticed. Suddenly, her heart felt lighter, the weight of everything she'd been carrying beginning to lift. She whispered, more to herself than anyone, "Yes, I've truly let go." ... It didn't take long for Joshua to notice. He had returned to grab something quickly when his eyes fell on her hand. His brow furrowed as he asked, without thinking, "Where's your wedding ring?" Chapter 4 Her Nemesis Alicia's only concern now was leaving Joshua, so she ignored his question and asked flatly, "Are the divorce papers ready yet?" That word again--"divorce". Irritation flickered across Joshua's eyes. "What's the rush?" he snapped, his voice cold and sharp. "My father's finalizing his will, and if word gets out about my divorce, it'll ruin my standing. Now, pack your things--we're having dinner at the Yates Mansion this afternoon." With Caden's return, the family was throwing a welcome-home dinner for him. They also hoped that by doing so, it'd lift the spirits of Jerald Yates, Joshua's father. However, maintaining the charade of a happy marriage was the last thing on Alicia's mind. "I'm not going," she announced curtly. "Just get the divorce finalized and stop wasting my time." Joshua laughed, a sound that held no warmth. "Oh, come on, Alicia. Stop pretending. You hid the ring because you don't actually want to leave me, right? You can't stand the thought of being without me." He leaned in, smirking, and added, "You've worked hard these past two years. Even if we divorce, I'll still take care of you--as long as you keep me happy." Alicia's eyes widened, disbelief turning into anger. Hid the ring? Couldn't bear to be without him? His arrogant words sounded like nails on a chalkboard to Alicia's ears. With a sharp sneer, she shot back, "Oh, Mr. Yates, how could I possibly make you happy? Don't worry, I'll return the ring--wouldn't want this plain Jane to irk you, right? Once you have it, we're finalizing the divorce immediately." But Joshua wasn't fazed by her venom. He thought he knew her too well, convinced this was just another ploy to get his attention. Without thinking too much, he tossed a bag at her. "We've got guests today. Dress appropriately, and don't make me look bad." Alicia looked down at the bag, her mind flashing back to the countless times she had visited the mansion dressed in modest, unassuming clothes-- doing everything to blend in, to please him and his family. But now, with their divorce looming on the horizon, Alicia no longer cared to play the part of a dutiful wife. After slipping into the outfit, she carefully applied a touch of makeup, just enough to bring out the vibrance in her already flawless complexion. The subtle enhancements accentuated her smooth skin and delicate features, lending her a certain glow. When Joshua saw her descending the staircase, he froze for a brief moment, eyes lingering. Perhaps it was the way the dress hugged Alicia's graceful curves, making her seem more alluring than usual. At the entrance of the Yates Mansion, they both slipped into their familiar roles, masking the tension between them with practiced ease. Alicia casually looped her arm through Joshua's, their movements synchronized as they walked into the courtyard. Though Jerald was too ill to receive anyone, the grand hall bustled with life, relatives filling the space with chatter. The noise hummed around her, but for some reason, as soon as Alicia crossed the threshold, a sharp chill pricked at her skin. She instinctively looked up, her gaze immediately drawn to the figure lounging casually at the far end of the room. Legs crossed, dark shirt unbuttoned just enough to reveal a sliver of his collarbone, the man oozed arrogance, his presence commanding. When Alicia's eyes finally met his-- a familiar, authoritative stare that pinned her in place-- her mind raced as emotions began to surge uncontrollably. Joshua noticed the shift in her demeanor, his brows furrowing as he asked, "What's going on with you?" Alicia's breath caught in her throat. One word escaped her lips, barely audible. "Caden?" Just the mention of his name sent a chill down her spine. To her, Caden was the embodiment of her nightmares. Due to their families' friendship, their paths first crossed at the tender age of ten. Caden, having taken a year off, transferred to her school, and from that moment, Alicia's perfect world began to unravel. She could no longer claim the top spot. No matter how relentless her efforts, no matter how late she stayed up studying, Caden was always a step ahead. He would outscore her by the smallest of margins--a point, maybe two--leaving her perpetually stranded in second place. Anyone else might have accepted defeat, settled into the role of runner-up. But not Alicia. Born into the once prestigious Bennett family, she was raised under the suffocating weight of living up to her family name. Excellence wasn't just a goal--it was the currency by which she could earn her parents' affection. Failure was not an option, yet Caden had the audacity to snatch away everything she'd worked for with what seemed like effortless ease. It was as if he'd set his sights on her from the very beginning, and Alicia, stubborn to a fault, refused to back down. Their rivalry spanned over a decade, a relentless battle fought both openly and in the shadows, and their final showdown took place in college, just before their graduation, at the national competition. Alicia poured her heart and soul into that moment, her focus razor-sharp as she aimed for nothing less than perfection. And she achieved it, having garnered a perfect score. But Caden, ever the serpent, had bribed the judges, twisting the results in his favor. Alicia was forced, once again, into second place. The sting of injustice was deep, but the harshest blow came from her father, Phil Bennett. Over the phone, his voice dripped with disappointment in her ranking. Alicia, having grown accustomed to his tirades, said nothing. She waited for his anger to ebb, then asked quietly, "I'm graduating soon. Will you come back?" Her mother, Donna, had always been her softer solace. She comforted Alicia that day, promising they'd be there for her graduation. But life had other plans. Phil and Donna, rushing back from Itrubisite to attend the graduation, perished in a tragic plane crash. Overnight, Alicia's world crumbled, left an orphan in this cruel world. Since that day, she had never challenged Caden again. Afterward, Caden left Warrington to build his career overseas. ... "He's back for the inheritance," Joshua muttered, his voice barely audible. Alicia cast him a sidelong glance as he continued, "With a family empire as big as ours, an eldest son like him wouldn't give up so easily." Her brow furrowed slightly. It was true--the Yates empire was massive, a legacy most would kill for. But Caden had accumulated his own fortune, surpassing even the family's vast wealth. Did he really care about the inheritance? Then again, this was Caden. Competing was in his blood. Even if he didn't care about the fortune itself, he'd fight tooth and nail just to win, to toy with everyone else. The man had a knack for stirring chaos purely for his own amusement. Alicia had been his rival for as long as she could remember, and even now, the thought of giving him so much as a glance felt like a waste of energy. She turned to walk away. But Joshua caught her wrist, his grip firm yet tense. "I know you two don't get along," he said. "But he's still my elder brother. We need to maintain appearances." Her body stiffened at the touch, and she immediately tried to pull her hand free. Joshua's frown deepened. "Alicia, behave," he hissed. Irritation flared in her chest. "I'm not refusing to go in. Just let go of me first. I don't want your filthy hands touching me." A flicker of something dark passed over Joshua's face, and instead of releasing her, he intertwined their fingers, squeezing them tight. Alicia bit her tongue, silently fuming. As they neared, Caden's gaze slowly lifted, his eyes narrowing in a lazy, almost bored assessment of them. "Caden," Joshua greeted, his tone strained, meeting his brother's gaze with forced cordiality. Caden's eyes flicked to their entwined hands, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Your girlfriend?" he asked indifferently, as though he didn't recognize Alicia. Chapter 5 We Meet Again So Soon Alicia's nerves coiled tight like a spring. That voice... Her messy thoughts blurred into chaos, but one thing broke through the haze--Joshua's calm declaration. "Alicia and I have been married for two years now. She cares about me, so we kept it low-key. Just went straight for the registration; no ceremony. You were busy abroad at the time, so we didn't bother you." Caden arched a brow, his voice laced with venomous mockery. "Oh, so she's my sister-in-law." The way he spat the words "sister-in-law" felt more like a sap than a title, leaving no doubt about his contempt for her. Alicia could feel the man's sneer underneath every syllable. And all this was thanks to her so-called husband, Joshua. Her hand trembled as she snatched a tissue, vigorously wiping her hand. "Looks like Alicia's a bit of a germophobe," Caden observed, his tone a casual jab at her disgust. Joshua's expression darkened, the tension between them thickening. He hadn't expected her to humiliate him like this. "It seems I've spoiled her too much," he muttered, his voice low and tight with irritation. Caden's eyes gleamed with a dangerous glint. "If it's a serious condition, she should get treated. It could impact her role as a mother. You know how badly our father has wanted a grandchild." At this, something flickered across Joshua's eyes. Even though Alicia, his wife, was right beside him, he went ahead and lied through his teeth. "Thanks for the concern, Caden, but I already have good news for Dad. I just haven't gotten around to telling him yet." Caden's smirk deepened, his gaze flicking toward Alicia, who was about done with the bullshit of a charade. She quietly excused herself and strode off. "How far along is she?" he asked meaningfully. "Doesn't seem like she's pregnant." Joshua didn't miss a beat. "Just a month." The answer was as much a threat as it was an announcement. Now, the inheritance stakes had just been raised, and Jerald, ever focused on continuing the family line, would certainly take his unborn grandchild into consideration. Caden's smile hardened, and Joshua delivered the final blow with a smug undertone. "You'd better catch up, Caden. I can't always be one step ahead." Caden, unfazed, waved his hand lazily. "No rush." ... Alicia stepped onto the terrace, the cool night breeze washing over her skin. She drank in the fresh air hungrily to steady her nerves. Pulling out her phone, she quickly dialed the manager of the private cinema again. "Have you found the ring?" she asked anxiously. The manager hesitated, sounding troubled. "Ms. Bennett, we've searched thoroughly and questioned all the staff, but... we really couldn't find any ring." "Then..." Alicia clenched her fist, her mind racing. "Do you have the contact details of the guest who booked the room that day?" "I'm sorry, but due to our privacy policy, we can't disclose any information on our clients." Her heart sank. "I see," she sighed with resignation. "Please tell me immediately if anything turns up, okay?" In a perfect world, she could've just bought an identical ring and pass it off for the original. Unfortunately, Joshua had that ring custom-made, and it wasn't easy to replicate. After dinner, it started to rain. The relatives began to trickle out one by one. Joshua stood by her side as they made their way to the car, his eyes trailing down to her bare wrist. "If you liked that bracelet at the auction, then I can buy you something like it," he said coolly. Alicia had to resist the urge to roll her eyes sardonically. She didn't believe for a second that Joshua had a change of heart towards her. "Trying to buy my silence, huh?" Her words were sharp, slicing right through Joshua's tender facade. "No need. I have no desire to be tangled up in your affairs." Joshua hadn't intended to sound like that, but her mocking tone struck a nerve. His jaw clenched, and a bitter smile crossed his lips. "Fine. Don't take it. The money I spend on you is a waste anyway." Alicia bit the inside of her cheek before adding firmly, "Joshua, I already told you. I'm willing to leave this marriage empty-handed. Let's sign the divorce papers tomorrow morning and end this once and for all." His smile twisted into something dark, something dangerous. "What about the ring?" "I lost it." Joshua's eyes narrowed, his tone unrelenting. "I don't care about anything else. I want the ring." She could barely contain her frustration, her breath hitching as he delivered his final blow. "If you can't find it," he said coldly, "I'll assume you're holding onto it because you still care about me." Just then, Joshua's phone rang; it was Lilliana calling. "Joshua." She mewled his name pitifully. "The thunder is so loud. I'm scared to sleep alone... Can you come over?" The car wasn't heading anywhere near Lilliana's and Joshua was furious with Alicia, so without a second thought, he kicked her out into the rain and sped off. He didn't even leave her an umbrella. Alicia stood frozen by the roadside, the downpour quickly soaking through her clothes. The cold rain seeped into her bones, chilling her to the core. Gritting her chattering teeth, she swallowed the bitter taste in her mouth and began trudging along the drenched pavement. Behind her, the soft hum of an engine crept closer. A sleek, low-profile Maybach rolled up beside her, its headlights cutting through the rain. "Mr. Ward," the driver said, glancing back, "I believe that's Ms. Bennett." The car slowed to a stop. Caden glanced out the window, his sharp eyes narrowing on Alicia's lonesome figure. She had just paused, her fingers gathering the fabric of her soaked dress, tying it up to ease her stride. Caden's lips curled into a faint. "Invite her inside," he drawled. The car came to a halt next to Alicia. The driver stepped out, holding a large umbrella over her head, his voice polite. "Ms. Bennett, it's hard to find a cab at this hour. May I offer you a ride home?" Alicia's eyes flicked up, recognizing the man as the Yates family's driver. She hesitated for a moment before nodding, her voice soft but steady. "Thank you. Sorry for the inconvenience." However, as soon as she slipped into the backseat of the car, she locked eyes with its other passenger--Caden. "We meet again so soon, sister-in-law?" His voice, smooth as velvet, carried a hint of mischief. ...... What happens next? Available chapters here are limited, click the button below to install the App and enjoy more exciting chapters (Automatically jump to this novel when you open the app) &9&	LEARN_MORE	https://fbweb.moboreader.net/63310322-fb_contact-e	Love Story Now	https://www.facebook.com/100083950326074/	25,613	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	fbweb.moboreader.net	IMAGE		https://fbweb.moboreader.net/63310322-fb_contact-ena265_2-1025-core2.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=295122&accid=3744269492476246&rawadid=120215701890950531	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/468834286_509822952101723_8254877029753726674_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UQSM-tDdozIQ7kNvgFOyOo_&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AC7SADiKBguTS9SqTBg_0eX&oh=00_AYDHU8Zem2PqQUyFfOZa5e1ZEKMGu6GxpJM6bGJUEGpGGA&oe=675AD592	PERSON_PROFILE	0	Love Story Now	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,604,696	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2604695}'	Yes	2024-12-07 18:42	active	1970			VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	http://instagram.com/cypherpickleball	Cypher Pickleball	https://www.facebook.com/100090165582920/	568	1969-12-31 18:00	Visit Instagram Profile	instagram.com	CAROUSEL		http://instagram.com/cypherpickleball	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/469451997_8026461067457600_8585989612891141135_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tAG894ZDdzYQ7kNvgG7SUiS&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AUhVsxu5sip7S4Ro_6U9ilm&oh=00_AYDldNRHLtGwhEI1u0KVYxmTj4o-JNn4hb5Yt9G12wldFA&oe=675AB1D5	PERSON_PROFILE	0	Cypher Pickleball	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,604,815	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2604824}'	Yes	2024-12-07 18:42	active	1970	Grand Opening December 20 - 22		GET_OFFER	https://mainelyprovisions.com/westbrook-grand-open	Mainely Provisions Westbrook	https://www.facebook.com/61564554107325/	460	1969-12-31 18:00	Get Offer	mainelyprovisions.com	CAROUSEL		https://mainelyprovisions.com/westbrook-grand-opening/	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/469454662_1275735590258281_4766477549092452242_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k232um5F-jUQ7kNvgG-3Mqq&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AT6jkSSnGy9DqUJfPcoWvt2&oh=00_AYBf0n4iyLTdWxFAa75dXK4x7fM19gJxQj8jMMIDY7h9Lg&oe=675AC65B	PERSON_PROFILE	0	Mainely Provisions Westbrook	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,607,117	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2606977}'	No	2024-12-07 19:36	active	1972	🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉	After three years of dating Nathan Foster, I thought I knew where we were headed. But he never proposed. Instead, he fell in love at first sight with my stepsister. His pursuit of her was bold and relentless, leaving no room for doubt. This time, I didn’t break down or wait around, hoping he’d return like before. I made a clean break. I threw away every gift he had given me, shredded the wedding dress I once secretly bought, and on his birthday, I left Riverdale behind. Just as I was about to board my flight, Nathan messaged me: “Where are you? Everyone’s waiting for you.” I smiled, didn’t bother replying, and blocked him on every channel. He had no idea that, two weeks earlier, I had accepted the proposal of my college senior, Eustace Cooper. When the plane landed in my new city, Eustace and I were ready to begin a new chapter of our lives together—as husband and wife.	LEARN_MORE	https://www.actdz.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=1612	Happyday	https://www.facebook.com/61558228850235/	1,433	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	www.actdz.com	VIDEO		https://www.actdz.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=16123&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&placement={{placement}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/468873375_1503417763675550_2150465474083943792_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zeSutg6uVBoQ7kNvgGLkutm&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=A-d-zXE3-tFa-3c5J6d8sKC&oh=00_AYBJT1D5ZVOhkcDVcSfInXBt_Cvl_8VBMAOieOYc7Kw4LQ&oe=675AB5A6	PERSON_PROFILE	0	Happyday	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete

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