《How I Accidentally Married a Billionaire》


 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Chapter 1

    Chapter 1: Chapter 1


    ¡°You¡¯re already married, why are you here to register again!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know the crime of bigamy?¡±


    ¡­


    Keira Olsen walked out of the courthouse in shock, holding the marriage certificate that the staff had just printed for her.


    The man who had accompanied her to register looked at the stunning girl before him and said with pity, ¡°Miss Olsen, you¡¯re already married, why pay me to have a sham marriage with you?¡±


    Leaving behind the words ¡°no refund on the deposit,¡± he hurried away.


    Keira Olsen pursed her lips, still unable to process what had happened.


    She had never even been in a relationship, how could she possibly be already married?!


    She looked down and gazed at the printout in her hands again.


    On the certificate photo, the girl looked somewhat constrained, smiling reluctantly with a teardrop mole at the corner of her eye; it was indeed her. As for the man¡­


    His features were distinctive, nose high and bridge prominent, thin lips curled in a faint, almost imperceptible smile. His deep gaze was fixed on the camera, piercing as if to penetrate the paper.


    Even in a black and white print, his mysterious and commanding presence could not be hidden.


    She looked again at the name: Lewis Horton.


    ¡­ She was sure she didn¡¯t know this man at all!


    What on earth was going on?!


    Keira Olsen took out her phone to snap a photo of the printout and opened WhatsApp, sent it to a contact with a black profile picture: [Help me find out who he is.]


    The reply came instantly: [Received.]


    Only then did Keira Olsen push aside the confusion in her heart, hopped on an old electric bike, and leisurely entered a luxurious villa complex, heading to the Olsen Family home.


    Today was her sister Isla Olsen¡¯s big day, as her fianc¨¦ was coming for the betrothal.


    The house was decorated with lights and festive ornaments, the servants bustled about orderly, and there were a few temporary workers hired as well.


    Keira Olsen parked her bike in a corner, as the voices of the temp workers and servants reached her from behind:


    ¡°Who is she? She¡¯s so pretty!¡±


    ¡°Shh, she is the illegitimate daughter who isn¡¯t acknowledged by the father.¡±


    ¡°Her mother was the other woman, who brazenly showed up heavily pregnant demanding justice while the lady of the house was about to give birth, resulting in both women delivering on the same day. That old woman has such thick skin, she¡¯s found various reasons to stay in the house for years without leaving.¡±


    ¡°Miss Keira knows her place though. She moved out ever since junior high and hasn¡¯t come back in years. I wonder what brings her here today¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen lowered her eyes, pretending not to hear the conversation, and entered the living room.


    Her mother, Poppy Hill, was waiting at the entrance, the still-charming woman anxiously pulled her upstairs the moment she stepped through the door, ¡°First, let¡¯s go find your sister. Oh, did you get your marriage certificate?¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s voice was soft and indifferent, betraying no emotion, ¡°I got it.¡±


    Even though the groom had changed, it still counted, didn¡¯t it?


    ¡°That¡¯s good. Remember your place, Jake Horton is your sister¡¯s fianc¨¦, part of a top-tier wealthy family, and not something an illegitimate daughter like you could aspire to! Only your sister is worthy of him!¡±


    Hearing this, a touch of irony flashed in Keira Olsen¡¯s eyes.


    Jake Horton was the legitimate grandson of the first branch of the Horton Family, Oceanion¡¯s most prestigious family. He¡¯d chased her for four years in college but proposed to Isla Olsen on the day of graduation¡­


    Upon learning this, Poppy Hill had demanded that Keira Olsen immediately find someone to marry her off and completely sever any potential ties with Jake Horton.


    It had always been this way since she was a child¡­


    Whenever there was even the slightest conflict of interest between her and Isla, Poppy Hill would insist on her unconditional retreat.


    Because she was an illegitimate daughter, her existence was seen as the original sin.


    As a child, she had been brainwashed to believe enduring all this was only natural.


    But now she had long since woken up to reality.


    Keira Olsen¡¯s face was solemn as she said with pause between words, ¡°We agreed this is the last time.¡±


    The fault was Poppy Hill¡¯s, she was the one who stayed at the Olsen house just to see her father every day, she was the one who wanted to please Isla Olsen, Keira wouldn¡¯t pay for her life with her own.


    This time, it was an opportunity to repay her for the grace of giving birth, to make a clean break.


    Poppy Hill was impatient, ¡°I know that.¡±


    As they talked, the two arrived at Isla Olsen¡¯s room.


    The pretty girl sat on the sofa in a gorgeous dress like a princess, selecting jewelry with the whole room shimmering with glitz and glamour.


    Keira Olsen, dressed in shabby clothes, had her spine straight as an arrow.


    Isla Olsen saw her and greeted, ¡°Keira, why are you here?¡±


    Before Keira could speak, Poppy Hill interjected, ¡°Isla, Keira got married today.¡±


    Isla Olsen was surprised, ¡°So soon? Who is the man, is he even better than Jake?¡±


    Poppy Hill said with sarcasm, ¡°How is that possible! There¡¯s no one in the whole of Oceanion with a status higher than young Mr. Horton! Isla, what kind of decent family could she possibly find? Nothing but a fallen household, she didn¡¯t dare bring him here, afraid his poverty-stricken appearance would dirty your eyes!¡±


    Isla Olsen¡¯s voice carried a hint of jealousy, ¡°How can that be? Keira is so beautiful, otherwise, Jake wouldn¡¯t have pursued her for four years.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the use of being pretty? A worn shoe fits a tattered sock, with her status she could only marry some lowlife who¡¯d be willing to take her. Young Mr. Horton just saw her as a toy, to play with casually, only someone with Isla¡¯s status is worthy of young Mr. Horton¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen frowned.


    The man in the photo, in terms of looks and temperament, how could he be linked to a fallen house or a lowlife?


    But she was too lazy to argue against these superficial remarks.


    At this moment, Isla Olsen had chosen her jewelry and intended to put on her high heels but found the dress too tight to bend over in.


    Isla Olsen smiled slightly, looking towards Keira Olsen.


    Poppy Hill immediately nudged Keira Olsen, ¡°You useless thing, can¡¯t you see what¡¯s needed? Your sister can¡¯t do it herself, aren¡¯t you going to help her with the shoes?¡±


    Keira Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    It was like this again.


    Did Poppy Hill really think she was still the naive and ignorant little girl who didn¡¯t know how to fight back when bullied?


    Her eyes cold, her voice laced with impatience, ¡°You can put them on for her.¡±


    ¡°Keira Olsen, what kind of attitude is that? Do you think you can be arrogant just because you¡¯re married now? Your husband is just living off a woman; in the future, he will still need to rely on the Olsen family!¡±


    Poppy Hill¡¯s voice rose, ¡°If you don¡¯t establish a good relationship with your sister now, there will come a day when you and your husband will have to beg in front of her! Besides, the Olsen family has raised you, so you should be a servant to the Olsen family!¡±


    At that moment, a towering figure appeared at the door, it was her father Taylor Olsen.


    The man frowned, ¡°We¡¯re expecting an important guest soon, what are you quarreling about here?¡±


    Isla Olsen didn¡¯t speak and acted innocent.


    While Poppy Hill complained, ¡°It¡¯s all because of this cursed girl, she got so high and mighty just because she got married today that she doesn¡¯t respect her own mother¡­¡±


    Taylor Olsen¡¯s gaze fell on Keira Olsen and he frowned, ¡°Married? Why didn¡¯t you let the family find someone for you? Let me see the marriage certificate¡­¡±


    Facing her estranged father¡¯s concern, Keira Olsen hesitated before taking out the printout from her bag.


    The next second, it was snatched away by Poppy Hill, ¡°Let me see, what¡¯s the name of your useless husband!¡±


    Meanwhile, Isla Olsen curiously asked, ¡°Dad, who¡¯s coming that¡¯s got you so worked up?¡±


    Remembering the visitor, Taylor Olsen felt invigorated, as he excitingly mentioned a name:


    ¡°Lewis Horton.¡±


    Keira Olsen was instantly stunned.


    ¡­Who?

 Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Chapter 2

    Chapter 2: Chapter 2


    Isla Olsen was confused and puzzled, ¡°Who is Lewis Horton? Is he formidable?¡±


    Keira Olsen was also curious and listened attentively.


    She had some connections in Oceanion but had never heard of the name Lewis Horton.


    Taylor Olsen explained, ¡°It¡¯s normal that you don¡¯t recognize him; he is quite secretive, and even I haven¡¯t met him. He is Jake Horton¡¯s younger uncle, only 28 years old and has now become the real power holder of the Horton Family!¡±


    Poppy Hill instinctively exclaimed, ¡°Then wouldn¡¯t he be a better match for Isla than Jake?¡±


    Being a power holder is much more powerful than any legitimate grandson of the first branch!


    Taylor Olsen was annoyed, ¡°Nonsense, Mr. Horton is already married!¡±


    Keira Olsen narrowed her eyes.


    Married¡­


    If the person on the marriage certificate is really him, then it seems Lewis Horton would know what¡¯s going on.


    Poppy Hill was slightly disappointed, ¡°Who is his wife? To be even more fortunate than Isla.¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s gaze immediately turned straight to Taylor Olsen, but she heard him say, ¡°I don¡¯t know, they say both he and his wife don¡¯t enjoy socializing.¡±


    Taylor Olsen frowned and pondered, ¡°I don¡¯t know why he would come over on short notice today¡­¡±


    The Horton Family was the top wealthy family in Oceanion, and the power holder had an exceedingly prestigious status.


    The Olsen Family¡¯s standing was only moderately above average; this marriage itself was Isla reaching high above her station for Jake Horton. It would be enough if the power holder just attended the wedding, so why would he personally visit on a betrothal day?


    However, Poppy Hill decisively said, ¡°It must be because Isla is so outstanding that she caught the attention of the Hortons! Isla, this diamond necklace won¡¯t stand out enough. With such an important elder visiting today, you should choose something more elegant to wear!¡±


    She stuffed the printout she hadn¡¯t finished looking at back into Keira Olsen¡¯s hands and anxiously took Isla to re-select jewelry.


    She was even more invested than Mrs. Olsen, Isla¡¯s birth mother.


    Keira Olsen sneered sarcastically.


    ¡°Sir, the Hortons are almost here.¡±


    The butler¡¯s reminder caused Taylor Olsen to turn and go downstairs, passing by Keira Olsen and casually saying, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since you¡¯ve been home, have a cup of joyous wine before you go.¡±


    Keira Olsen took the chance to nod.


    She was going to stay and see who Lewis Horton really was!


    In the room, Poppy Hill had chosen the jewelry for Isla and was helping her put it on herself.


    Looking at the radiant girl in front of her, Poppy Hill¡¯s eyes were filled with uncontrollable joy and satisfaction.


    Over twenty years ago, if it weren¡¯t for the appearance of Mrs. Olsen, Jodie South, she would have been the one to marry Taylor Olsen!


    She despised Jodie South, and so, on purpose, caused trouble to have their babies on the same day and switched the two children at the hospital.


    Now, her daughter was finally going to marry off in glory, and Jodie South will even prepare a generous dowry for her!


    While Keira Olsen could only marry off as an illegitimate daughter, penniless, to a little punk!!


    How the tables have turned, this is what Mrs. Olsen owes her!


    Downstairs.


    Keira Olsen leaned lazily in the dim corner next to the staircase, staring in the direction of the door, quietly waiting for the arrival of the Hortons.


    After some time, Mrs. Olsen appeared, coming down from upstairs with the help of a servant. She wore a purple cheongsam; her figure slightly thin, emanating the profound air of a scholar, and a cool aura.


    The servant said softly, ¡°Madam, you¡¯re not in good health, better not to come down.¡±


    Mrs. Olsen shook her head, ¡°No¡­ cough cough¡­ Isla¡¯s big day¡­ cough cough¡­ I cannot miss it¡­¡±


    They didn¡¯t notice Keira Olsen as they moved toward the door.


    Keira Olsen watched Mrs. Olsen¡¯s retreating figure, her eyes filled with longing.


    It¡¯s ironic, Mrs. Olsen, who should have had every right to hate her, was the only warmth she knew in the Olsen family.


    Poppy Hill was nothing like a mother, often forgetting to feed her when she was a child.


    Young and emaciated, she had barely learned to walk when she started rummaging through the trash can for food.


    After being discovered by Mrs. Olsen one day, she began to leave food for her in the garden at a set time every day.


    It went on like this for twelve years.


    If it weren¡¯t for Mrs. Olsen¡¯s kindness, she would have starved to death long ago.


    Watching Mrs. Olsen¡¯s receding figure, hearing her occasional coughs, Keira Olsen¡¯s brow furrowed with worry.


    Just then, there was a stir at the entrance¡ªthe Hortons had arrived!


    Taylor Olsen and Mrs. Olsen greeted them at the doorway, exchanging pleasantries before stepping aside to let a group of people march in.


    Kiera spotted Lewis Horton at first glance.


    He was wearing a tailored black designer suit, leading the way like the moon surrounded by stars. His face was even more sculpted than in photos, the contours sharp, with a clearly defined jawline.


    The man¡¯s deep eyes seemed unfathomable, his thin lips exuded a coolness, and his every move carried an air of nobility.


    Perhaps sensing her gaze, the man suddenly looked over.


    For a moment, their eyes met.


    His piercing look made Keira¡¯s heart tremble, and just as she tried to discern his emotions, he averted his eyes to somewhere else.


    This left Keira somewhat confused.


    Was he behaving like this because he recognized her, or because he didn¡¯t?


    Mr. Olsen said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Horton, where is your wife? Didn¡¯t she come with you?¡±


    At these words, Kiera felt as though Lewis Horton had glanced at her again before he replied indifferently, ¡°She¡¯s indisposed.¡±


    The group chatted as they made their way to the parlor.


    Jake Horton, who had pursued her for four years, followed behind their elders. Dressed in a suit, he had gained a mature steadiness since college. He didn¡¯t notice Keira and was chatting absentmindedly with Isla Olsen.


    Everyone gathered around Lewis Horton on the main seat, starting to discuss the marriage arrangements.


    It was then that Keira stepped out of the shadows.


    She stood quietly, watching the bustle in the parlor.


    Suddenly, her arm was yanked. Poppy Hill hissed, ¡°Keira Olsen, what are you still doing here? Have you not given up on Jake Horton yet? Let me tell you, he¡¯s your brother-in-law now!¡±


    Keira shook off her grip, scoffing, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not interested in being a homewrecker. It¡¯s Mr. Olsen who told me to stay for a celebration drink.¡±


    From the time she understood the concept, she had always referred to Taylor Olsen as ¡°Mr. Olsen.¡±


    Poppy Hill was so angry that she clenched her teeth, ¡°That was just his being polite, and you took it seriously? Do you really not know your place? Even I can¡¯t afford to disgrace the Olsens at such an event, let alone you, an illegitimate daughter. Do you think you deserve to be at the table? Get out of here right now.¡±


    ¡­ Endless nagging, so annoying!


    Keira frowned impatiently, about to retort, when she caught a glimpse of Lewis Horton rising to his feet out of the corner of her eye. He gestured at his phone and then headed towards the balcony, presumably to take a call.


    Keira¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Fine, I¡¯m going.¡±


    She brushed Poppy Hill off casually and walked out the parlor door but didn¡¯t leave. Instead, she turned in the direction of the balcony.


    The first-floor balcony led to the small garden outside.


    No sooner had Keira approached than the man on the phone hung up, his expression stern as he fixed her with a sharp gaze.


    Keira stopped in her tracks.


    Facing his dangerous look, she suddenly curved her lips and called out tentatively, ¡°Honey?¡±

 Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Chapter 3

    Chapter 3: Chapter 3


    A glass door separated the liveliness of the drawing room.


    Kiera stared intently at Lewis Horton, observing his reaction.


    Yet upon hearing this address, the coldness about the man intensified, his dark eyes brimming with a chilling frost, void of any emotional fluctuation, he turned, intending to return to the drawing room.


    Kiera quickly stepped forward, blocking his path.


    Lewis Horton¡¯s eyebrows furrowed lightly, ¡°Step aside.¡±


    His voice was low and pleasant to the ear, enunciated with a refined melody that sparked an impulse to hear him speak again.


    Kiera sensed something, ¡°You¡­ don¡¯t recognize me?¡±


    Lewis Horton looked down at her from his superior height, ¡°Should I know you?¡±


    Since entering the Olsen Family home, he felt a peculiar gaze closely following him.


    The stare was forthright, unlike the others that were sycophantically nauseating.


    Lewis Horton thus gave her a few more glances.


    The girl was very pretty, with fair skin, her peach blossom eyes and the teardrop mole at the corner of her eye were beautiful but not flirtatious, and despite standing obediently in a corner, an untamable defiance seemed to emanate from her.


    And when she caught his gaze, she didn¡¯t shy away, looking right back at him openly.


    He initially thought she was different from those women who pounced on him at first sight, but unexpectedly, she was bolder than those women, directly calling him ¡®husband¡¯ upon approach¡­


    Lewis Horton grew more impatient, his tone becoming more forceful, ¡°Miss, I am married, please show some self-respect.¡±


    Kiera was a bit stunned.


    This man obviously didn¡¯t recognize her, yet he mentioned being married¡­ could it be the courthouse registered the wrong information?


    She inquired, ¡°May I ask who your wife is?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡±


    Another four ice-cold words.


    Kiera pulled out a photocopy of the marriage certificate and presented it to him, ¡°Mr. Horton, the man listed here should be you, right?¡±


    Lewis Horton glanced at the photocopy, his eyes falling on the female¡¯s name: Kiera Olsen.


    Lifting his gaze, he mocked, ¡°Miss Olsen, an original isn¡¯t expensive, right? If you¡¯re going to forge something, you should at least make it professional!¡±


    With that, Lewis Horton didn¡¯t return to the drawing room but strode through the small garden toward the parking area.


    Kiera chased after him, intending to clarify, but was stopped by two black-suited bodyguards.


    Kiera halted, calling to the man¡¯s retreating figure, ¡°Mr. Horton, this document is real, if you don¡¯t believe it, you can check with the courthouse¡­¡±


    Lewis Horton continued without pausing, driving away immediately after getting into the car.


    His personal assistant stayed back, returning to the living room, where he encountered Isla Olsen right away.


    Just by chance, Isla had seen Kiera hassling Lewis Horton, though she hadn¡¯t heard exactly what they were discussing. Seeing Horton leave and Kiera chasing after him on her electric scooter, she immediately asked, ¡°Why did Mr. Horton leave? Did someone provoke him?¡±


    The personal assistant replied with a smile, ¡°Mr. Horton had something to deal with and left early, please inform the elders in your household for me, Miss Olsen.¡±


    Since the boss didn¡¯t leave a message to reprimand that girl, it meant he wasn¡¯t going to hold it against her.


    Isla immediately nodded, courteously escorting the assistant out.


    After deciding on a wedding date, the rest of the Horton Family finished lunch and took their leave.


    Once they had seen the guests out, Taylor Olsen fretted, ¡°Why did Mr. Horton leave? Was there something unsatisfactory about our hospitality at home?¡±


    Considering how Jake Horton had looked distracted all day, scanning around as though searching for someone, and now thinking of Kiera¡¯s disastrously beautiful face, Isla clenched her fists.


    Her eyes flickered, ¡°Dad, I saw Kiera harassing Mr. Horton, and he seemed very angry when he left; he even left a message¡­¡±


    ¡°What message?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Horton said for you to discipline your daughter well,¡± Isla Olsen bit her lip. ¡°Won¡¯t the Horton Family think our family¡¯s upbringing is poor because of what Kiera did?¡±


    Taylor Olsen¡¯s face turned ashen in an instant.


    ¨C


    Keira Olsen rode her electric bike, and as soon as she left the villa area, she lost her tail.


    While annoyed, her phone rang.


    Upon answering, an unfamiliar male voice came through; it was her subordinate, Samuel Morgan: ¡°Boss, lately many people have been searching for who Dr. South is.¡±


    Keira Olsen raised an eyebrow: ¡°It hasn¡¯t been exposed, has it?¡±


    ¡°Of course not, after all, nobody would think that Dr. South, the one who cracked the issue of Hydrogen Fuel, is actually just a harmless-looking young girl who just graduated from college¡­¡±


    ¡°Anything else?¡± Keira Olsen interrupted his rambling.


    ¡°Oh right, I found some info on Lewis Horton!¡±


    ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°Lewis Horton is the second son of Mr. Horton, known for his violent and ruthless nature; hence, he was sent abroad since he was young. Everyone thought the Horton Group would pass on to the eldest son, that is, Jake Horton¡¯s father, but no one expected Lewis Horton suddenly returned to the country last week. He used some decisive means to force the old man to step down and took control of the Horton Group.¡±


    Samuel Morgan asked curiously: ¡°Didn¡¯t you arrange a controllable sham marriage today? How did the groom suddenly turn into such an icy king of hell? Boss, if your marital status is unstable, it could affect the company¡¯s IPO¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen frowned: ¡°Find his contact details and schedule for me, I need to see him again.¡±


    The reason she agreed to Poppy Hill¡¯s ridiculous request to get married immediately was that being married as the company¡¯s legal representative was more favorable for the IPO application.


    But now, she had somehow got roped into a marriage and didn¡¯t even know what conspiracies were involved.


    Given Lewis Horton¡¯s complex status, the best course of action would be to divorce as quickly as possible to avoid unnecessary disputes.


    After hanging up, Keira Olsen rubbed her temples.


    Things were getting troublesome. With someone like Lewis Horton, who would have bodyguards when he traveled, he wasn¡¯t easy to meet.


    Today, she shouldn¡¯t have impulsively called out ¡°husband¡± and pissed him off¡­


    She sighed, started her rickety bike, and slowly headed home.


    Leaving the bustling city center, she headed for the village in the suburbs.


    When she moved out of the Olsen Family in junior high, she didn¡¯t have much money, so she could only afford to rent an old house here; having grown accustomed to it, she never moved.


    Right when she was about to turn the corner to her house, an elderly lady in her nineties suddenly popped out at the side of the road!


    Keira Olsen quickly braked, narrowly avoiding a collision.


    She looked at the old lady, initially thinking it was a scam, but soon realized something was off.


    The old woman, though gaunt and small, was decently dressed and didn¡¯t look like an ordinary person. She wore a tag around her neck with a contact number and a note at the bottom: ¡°If the elder is lost, please call this number. A substantial reward will be offered.¡±


    ¡­It was definitely Alzheimer¡¯s.


    No telling whose family member had wandered off.


    Keira Olsen immediately took out her phone and dialed the number on the tag.


    However, the dazed old woman suddenly reacted, grabbing Keira Olsen¡¯s wrist firmly. Her cloudy eyes sparkled with recognition: ¡°Daughter-in-law! You¡¯re my daughter-in-law!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Keira Olsen twitched the corner of her mouth.


    Single for 22 years, and suddenly she had acquired a husband.


    Was the courthouse holding a bulk sale today?


    Amused, she casually asked, ¡°Grandma, who is your grandson?¡±


    The old lady furrowed her brows in thought.


    What was her grandson¡¯s name again¡­ Oh, right, Lewis Horton!!

 Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Chapter 4

    Chapter 4: Chapter 4


    Old Mrs. Horton spoke up, ¡°His name is Horton¡­ what was it again?¡±


    The name she had just remembered was forgotten the moment she spoke it.


    The old lady became slightly anxious, her mouth opening and closing, unable to utter those few words.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t remember,¡± Keira Olsen soothed, then dialed the phone.


    At this moment, not far away, on a street.


    Lewis Horton sat in a Bentley, his expression grim, while his subordinate, Tom Davis, hardly dared to breathe, ¡°It¡¯s my fault, I failed to look after old Mrs. Horton.¡±


    The man didn¡¯t speak, the chill emanating from him made Tom Davis tremble with fear.


    Old Mrs. Horton mostly remained dim-witted, who would have thought that today she would suddenly get better, send everyone away, and sneak out.


    It was only after checking the surveillance cameras that they found out old Mrs. Horton had taken a bus to the suburbs on her own.


    This area was rather run-down, many streets weren¡¯t covered by cameras, they had to search the area systematically.


    Just at that moment, a phone suddenly rang.


    Lewis Horton answered immediately, and a faint female voice came from the other end, ¡°Hello, your elderly woman is with me.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The atmosphere in the car instantly tensed up, the air chilling a few degrees.


    Everyone sprung into action, some preparing to call the police, Tom Davis tracking the signal source of the incoming call.


    Lewis Horton¡¯s gaze was sharp, his voice steady, ¡°How much money do you want?¡±


    ¡°¡­.Just kidding.¡± The girl¡¯s voice sounded a bit cheeky, ¡°I just wanted to tell you to take better care of the elderly.¡±


    Then, she reported her location and hung up.


    Tom Davis sighed in relief, patting his chest.


    This good Samaritan was too mischievous!


    Lewis Horton¡¯s eyes slightly lifted.


    Suddenly, he felt that the lazy voice on the phone sounded somewhat¡­ familiar?


    Five minutes later, they reached the location of the elderly woman, but the girl who called had already disappeared; only a police officer was waiting there with the elderly woman.


    Lewis Horton asked, ¡°Grandma, how did you end up here?¡±


    Old Mrs. Horton spoke mysteriously, ¡°I came to look for my daughter-in-law; she lives nearby!¡±


    Lewis Horton paused, then sighed, ¡°Grandma, there is no daughter-in-law¡­¡±


    ¡°Impossible! I met her!¡± Old Mrs. Horton complained, ¡°That heartless girl, she handed me to the police and left. Oh right, give me your phone.¡±


    Lewis Horton handed over his phone, and the old lady noted down the number from his recent incoming calls in her notebook.


    She finally had her daughter-in-law¡¯s contact info!


    ¨C


    Keira Olsen was worried that if the family came looking for her, they would thank her profusely.


    She was not good at handling such situations.


    So, seeing the police on patrol, she simply handed over the elderly woman to them and went straight home.


    The very next morning, she received a call from her university advisor, ¡°Keira Olsen, come to the school immediately!¡±


    Keira Olsen, not knowing why, rode her electric bike swiftly to school, and as soon as she entered Professor Miller¡¯s office, she found Isla Olsen and Poppy Hill were also there.


    Keira Olsen narrowed her amorous eyes.


    She and Isla Olsen both attended Oceanion University, which was the best in the area.


    Isla Olsen had entered with excellent grades.


    She, on the other hand, had started a company and found it inconvenient to manage remotely, and she also could not surpass Isla Olsen, so she deliberately chose the least popular major¡ªEnergy Power.


    But she had not expected that the concept of ¡°new energy¡± would suddenly burst into popularity two years ago.


    Isla Olsen immediately switched her major and became her classmate again.


    Isla Olsen was still reasonably normal here, but why was Poppy Hill here?


    Just as she thought about this, she saw Professor Miller with a serious expression, ¡°Kiera, your qualification for guaranteed further study has been canceled.¡±


    Kiera Olsen looked slightly stunned, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Your mother said you have improper behavior and background, which does not meet the requirements for guaranteed placement,¡± Professor Miller frowned. ¡°Is there a misunderstanding between you and your mother? Apologize to her quickly. You have a promising future, don¡¯t let a moment of anger ruin your prospects!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Isla Olsen sighed first, ¡°Professor Miller, Kiera¡¯s mother is just looking out for her best interests.¡±


    She looked at Kiera Olsen, ¡°You¡¯ve offended Mr. Horton, and Mr. Horton has made it clear he wants you to disappear from Oceanion.¡±


    It took Kiera Olsen a while to realize ¡°Mr. Horton¡± referred to Lewis Horton.


    But she had only exchanged a few words with him, and yesterday when he left, it didn¡¯t seem like he was angry. Was he holding such a grudge over this?


    Isla Olsen, on the other hand, was adept at lying¡­


    As she pondered this, Isla Olsen approached her, ¡°Kiera, this is the plane ticket Dad bought for you. He wants you to go abroad to avoid the storm; otherwise, even the Olsen Family cannot protect you.¡±


    A hint of scorn flashed through Kiera Olsen¡¯s eyes.


    Sounds nice, what ¡®avoid the storm.¡¯ The Olsen Family is just afraid of being implicated by me, that¡¯s all!


    She glanced at the destination on the plane ticket: Argentina.


    It was the country farthest from Crera.


    How afraid were they of her coming back?


    She pushed the plane ticket back and said coldly, ¡°No need.¡±


    Seeing that she did not take it, Isla Olsen then took out a bank card, seeming sincere, ¡°Are you worried about living abroad? Here is 50,000 yuan, from my personal savings for your expenses. I only have this much saved up, use it first; if it¡¯s not enough, I¡¯ll give you more when I get more pocket money¡­¡±


    Miss Olsen only has 50,000 yuan?


    Kiera Olsen found it amusing.


    Poppy Hill snatched the bank card from Isla Olsen¡¯s hand, ¡°Isla, what are you doing? The Olsen Family helping her buy a plane ticket is already more than generous!¡±


    She looked at Kiera Olsen and ordered, ¡°Pack your things and go abroad immediately; I have already processed your withdrawal from the university.¡±


    Kiera Olsen looked at her, ¡°What gives you the right to make decisions for me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m your mother! Besides, with your academic performance, pursuing further studies would just be a waste of time. It¡¯s doubtful you¡¯d even graduate! It¡¯s better to start working and earn money sooner.¡±


    Professor Miller immediately objected, ¡°Kiera¡¯s mother, you are mistaken. Student Kiera Olsen¡¯s courses are very solid during her university period¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, Poppy Hill interrupted sharply, ¡°Professor, you don¡¯t need to speak for her. Don¡¯t I understand what she is like? She only wants to pursue further studies because Isla is doing it. She should take a good look at herself in the mirror and see what she amounts to! What right does she have to compare herself to Isla?¡±


    Her vulgar words left Professor Miller choking, but then, with amazement, he looked at Isla Olsen, ¡°You are pursuing further studies? I remember you didn¡¯t have a guaranteed placement nor did you take the graduate entrance exam.¡±


    Isla Olsen smiled slightly, humbly, ¡°Yes, I am taking a special recruitment path.¡±


    If a tutor especially values a student, they are allowed private recruitment.


    The prerequisite is, they must be a renowned professor.


    Professor Miller understood and immediately asked, ¡°May I know which professor is recruiting you specially?¡±


    Still with a modest demeanor, Isla Olsen replied, ¡°It¡¯s Dr. South; his research on Hydrogen Fuel clean combustion and patent application earned him the title.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Kiera Olsen looked at her in surprise, ¡°Who did you say?¡±

 Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Chapter 5

    Chapter 5: Chapter 5


    Dr. South?


    How did she not know she was specially recruiting Isla Olsen?


    Professor Miller also exclaimed, ¡°You actually know Dr. South?¡±


    Isla Olsen smiled faintly, ¡°It¡¯s also fate. My mom sponsored Dr. South¡¯s education years ago, so when Dr. South accomplished something in his field, he sought out my family, calling my mom his life-saving benefactor. Over the years, he has been providing technical support to our family¡¯s company; he wouldn¡¯t decline any of my requests.¡±


    Keira Olsen raised an eyebrow.


    As a child in the Olsen Family, she was entirely dependent on Mrs. Olsen¡¯s care to grow up.


    Therefore, after she gained capability, she contacted Mrs. Olsen under the pretense of being ¡°Dr. South,¡± to have a reason to repay Mrs. Olsen¡¯s kindness during upbringing, hence she fabricated a ¡°sponsored¡± identity.


    Over the years, she willingly helped with any technical issues in Mrs. Olsen¡¯s company-owned businesses.


    But when had she become at Isla Olsen¡¯s beck and call?


    That really was an exaggeration.


    However, Professor Miller believed it was true, ¡°Where is Dr. South currently employed?¡±


    Isla Olsen replied, ¡°I promised the Dean that I would invite Dr. South to teach at our university.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Professor Miller was overjoyed and turned to Keira Olsen, ¡°Keira, your research field is the same as Dr. South¡¯s. I¡¯ll introduce you to him, and if Dr. South agrees to vouch for you, you might still have a chance for a recommendation!¡±


    Isla Olsen pretended to be worried, ¡°Professor Miller, would that be all right? The Hortons are the wealthiest in Oceanion, and they allocate a lot of research funding to our school every year¡­¡±


    Professor Miller was unconcerned, ¡°Dr. South is currently in high demand. I¡¯ve heard that Heddon University and Oxford University both sent him invitations, and many companies want to invest in him. If Dr. South agrees to intervene, the school will definitely choose Dr. South!¡±


    Isla Olsen feigned a sigh, ¡°But Dr. South considers my mom¡¯s face. If it were me, he would certainly spare no effort to help, but Keira is my dad¡¯s illegitimate daughter and stands opposed to my mom¡­ Keira, shall I go and ask Dr. South for you?¡±


    Keira Olsen: ¡°¡­No need.¡±


    At that moment, Isla Olsen seemed like a court jester.


    She curled her lips and directly said to Professor Miller, ¡°Professor Miller, there¡¯s no need to trouble yourself. You know, I don¡¯t really want to pursue graduate studies.¡±


    Professor Miller looked stunned, his face full of regret.


    It was he who had discovered Keira Olsen¡¯s talent in the field, and, excited by the potential, had forcefully asked her to consider a graduate recommendation, not anticipating it would come to this.


    His eyes slightly reddened, ¡°Then I will write you a job recommendation letter.¡±


    Poppy Hill scoffed, ¡°Don¡¯t bother, offended Mr. Horton and still want to find a job in Oceanion? Dream on!¡±


    Professor Miller became furious, ¡°I refuse to believe that someone can really cover the sky with one hand in Oceanion! If you can¡¯t find a job, come and be my teaching assistant! I need you!¡±


    Keira Olsen felt a warm surge in her heart, she explained, ¡°Professor, there¡¯s just a slight misunderstanding between Mr. Horton and me, it will be cleared up, you don¡¯t have to worry.¡±


    Professor Miller sighed, ¡°If it can be cleared up, then come back and still be my student.¡±


    Keira Olsen looked at her teacher¡¯s eager expression, her voice soft, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll come back.¡±


    Being a mentor at Oceanion University wouldn¡¯t be too bad.


    But Isla Olsen clenched her fingers.


    She couldn¡¯t understand, she was a top student, why did Professor Miller only care about Keira Olsen, whose grades were just ordinary?!


    Had this old man also been charmed by her face?


    In her heart, Isla Olsen was infuriatingly annoyed; she glanced at Poppy Hill and suddenly spoke, ¡°Keira, are you really going to bother Mr. Horton again? He¡¯s already married, this really isn¡¯t right¡­¡±


    Poppy Hill, as expected, was furious.


    ¡°Slap!¡±


    A loud slap resounded in the office.


    Keira Olsen¡¯s cheeks burned with a stinging sensation as she stared incredulously at Poppy Hill, unable to believe she would strike her in front of Professor Miller!


    Without a trace of guilt, Poppy Hill pointed at her nose and scolded, ¡°You lowlife bitch, haven¡¯t seen you for years, and it seems you¡¯ve forgotten the rules of our home! Apologize to your sister right now, and swear you¡¯ll never meet the Hortons again!¡±


    The warmth in Keira¡¯s eyes slowly faded, leaving only a chilling coldness.


    It seemed that her declaration of ¡°the last time¡± the other day hadn¡¯t been taken to heart at all¡ªshe was still treated as that submissive, ignorant girl who revered Isla Olsen.


    Since reason couldn¡¯t get through to them, they couldn¡¯t blame her for not showing any mercy¡­


    Isla stood by, a surge of smugness rising in her heart.


    As a child, Keira would bow and scrape before her, tolerating scolding without retort and beatings without fighting back.


    Later, when she moved away and they met again at university, Keira, despite still looking destitute, straightened her spine in front of her.


    Years without a beating, and she had forgotten her place!


    Today, Poppy Hill was going to teach her a lesson.


    As Isla was about to relish this thought, she saw Keira Olsen slowly approaching her, presumably to apologize.


    Isla¡¯s lips curled up, but the next moment!


    Keira suddenly looked up, and her hands ferociously struck Isla¡¯s face in quick succession!


    ¡°Smack! Smack!¡±


    Isla¡¯s head reeled, momentarily stunned by the blows.


    Poppy Hill then roared as she charged over, ¡°Keira Olsen, how dare you!¡±


    Keira abruptly turned her head!


    Her gaze was malevolent, her entire demeanor like an Asura climbing up from hell, exuding a bloodthirsty aura!


    Poppy Hill was genuinely intimidated by her appearance, frozen in shock, ¡°You, what are you going to do? You ungrateful wretch, I¡¯m your mother; would you actually raise your hand against me? You unfilial bastard!¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re an unkind mother, don¡¯t blame me for being an unfilial child!¡±


    Keira¡¯s voice was very cold, each word pronounced clearly, ¡°Stop interfering in my life, or any action you take against me, I will repay double onto Isla!¡±


    She withdrew her gaze and bowed deeply to Professor Miller, ¡°Thank you for your care over these four years. I will come back.¡±


    With these words, she turned and left without hesitation.


    Only when her figure had disappeared from the room did Poppy Hill come back to her senses. She rushed to Isla, ¡°Isla, are you alright? That bitch dared to lay a hand on you; she¡¯s gone too far!¡±


    Isla, touching her swelling cheeks, trembling with anger but calmly asked, ¡°Where did she get such confidence?¡±


    Poppy Hill was taken aback, ¡°Could Mr. Horton really have taken a liking to her? Impossible, she¡¯s already married, how could Mr. Horton like damaged goods¡­¡±


    Isla thought so too.


    But thinking of her face that could ruin countries and cause disasters, she suddenly felt unsure¡­


    Professor Miller had been stunned by the series of events.


    He looked in disbelief at Poppy Hill, listening to her vile words, and couldn¡¯t help but wonder:


    Is this really Keira Olsen¡¯s mother? Not Isla¡¯s mother?


    He didn¡¯t know if it was psychological, but Professor Miller suddenly felt like the two women in front of him shared a slight resemblance¡­


    *


    Just as Keira Olsen stepped out of the school gates, Samuel Morgan called:


    ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve figured it out! I now understand why Lewis Horton claimed to be married but says he doesn¡¯t know you!¡±

 Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Chapter 6

    Chapter 6: Chapter 6


    The school entrance was bustling with people, and every face brimmed with vibrancy and liveliness.


    Keira Olsen pushed her electric bike, enveloped in solitude.


    She licked her slightly swollen lip with her tongue, her voice a bit hoarse, ¡°Speak.¡±


    ¡°The Horton Family, despite their outward glory, have been fiercely infighting these past years. The old master favors the first branch and intends to pass the family¡¯s reins to them, continually suppressing Lewis Horton as the youngest son.¡±


    ¡°A few years ago, the old master chose several unreliable people for Lewis Horton to potentially marry. It caused a huge uproar until Lewis announced he had already registered his marriage with a wife from an ordinary family, which put an end to the matter.¡±


    ¡°Heh, speaking of his wife, she¡¯s quite an interesting case. She has never shown herself publicly nor attended any Horton Family banquets.


    In conclusion, there¡¯s only one truth! That is¡­¡±


    Samuel Morgan elongated his tone, trying to tease a cliffhanger, but before he could finish, Keira Olsen had already figured it out, ¡°Got it. Have you found his schedule and contact information?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Samuel Morgan choked for a moment, then sheepishly said, ¡°I¡¯ll send you his schedule for the next few days later. I can¡¯t find his private number.¡±


    Keira Olsen said indifferently, ¡°Never mind, I¡¯ll corner him.¡±


    For someone of Lewis Horton¡¯s status, it¡¯s normal that his private number is highly confidential.


    Samuel Morgan immediately gossiped, ¡°He is surrounded by bodyguards, not easy to approach. Do you plan to use force, or?¡±


    ¡°Keep it low-key for now,¡± Keira Olsen¡¯s lips curled into a mischievous smile. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m a woman, I can¡¯t be forceful.¡±


    Samuel Morgan: ¡°¡­¡±


    *


    Horton Group¡¯s headquarters, located in the heart of Oceanion, towered into the clouds as a symbolic skyscraper, showcasing the Horton Family¡¯s tremendous wealth.


    Keira Olsen straightened her courier uniform and, holding a delivery box, walked in. She said to the receptionist, ¡°This is a parcel for Mr. Horton, he needs to sign for it personally.¡±


    The receptionist allowed her upstairs after calling the secretary¡¯s office.


    Keira Olsen entered the private elevator, reaching the 88th floor.


    Stepping out of the elevator, the view in front of her suddenly opened up.


    The entire secretary office, serving Lewis Horton alone, housed over a hundred people.


    Keira Olsen followed the secretary who came to receive her, smoothly arriving at the president¡¯s office.


    She knocked on the door, and a pleasant voice from inside said, ¡°Come in.¡±


    Keira Olsen breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she was about to meet Lewis Horton smoothly, when a tall, slender figure suddenly blocked her way.


    Assistant Tom Davis frowned as he observed her, ¡°Miss Olsen? How is it you?¡±


    Just yesterday, this lady had harassed the boss at the Olsen Family home, and now here she was again, disguised as a courier, unabashedly pursuing her boss?


    Tom Davis¡¯s face clouded over, he gestured for two bodyguards, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Can just any Tom, Dick or Harry now make it to the top floor without checks? Get her out of here immediately!¡±


    Keira Olsen remained unflustered, ¡°What do you mean? Does Horton Group look down on couriers?¡±


    Tom Davis scoffed, ¡°Trying to turn the tables on us, are you? We respect every job, but are you really a courier?¡±


    ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°Do you think I would believe your lies? If you are a courier, do you have your ID?¡±


    No sooner had Tom Davis finished speaking than an ID was thrust in front of him.


    Keira Olsen smirked, ¡°Actually, I do.¡±


    Tom Davis: ?


    His expression stiffened, and he scoffed, thinking of something, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you just registered today?¡±


    The ID in front of him was opened, marked with the registration date.


    Tom Davis was stunned, ¡°¡­Eight years ago?¡±


    She really was a courier?


    ¡°Can¡¯t work-study programs suffice?¡± Keira Olsen said in a languorous tone, addressing the person inside, ¡°Mr. Horton, can you cooperate with my work now?¡±


    A firm voice came from the room, ¡°Let her in.¡±


    Keira Olsen gave Tom Davis a provocative glance, and seeing him on the verge of losing his temper, she bypassed him and entered.


    Lewis Horton¡¯s office was styled in minimalist luxury, the black, white, and gray color scheme made it seem utterly devoid of warmth.


    He sat behind his large desk, the sleeves of his black shirt rolled up, revealing a small portion of his lean and muscular forearm, and his fingers, clearly defined, held a fountain pen.


    After signing the document he was working on, Lewis Horton finally looked up, his dark eyes betraying no emotion.


    Keira Olsen pointed at the courier slip and said, ¡°Mr. Horton, sign here.¡±


    The girl¡¯s fingers were pale and slender, the fingertips slightly calloused, giving off a sense of powerful beauty.


    Just like her, apparently fragile and slender, yet her spine was always straight, exuding pride.


    Lewis Horton¡¯s gaze lingered for a moment on her swollen lips before he took the pen to sign.


    At that moment, Keira Olsen suddenly spoke, her words astonishing, ¡°Mr. Horton, you¡¯re not actually married, are you?¡±


    The man¡¯s pen halted, and he abruptly looked up, his penetrating black eyes fixed on her, an imposing pressure overwhelming the space!


    Keira Olsen knew she had guessed correctly!


    At the courthouse, registration information had to be filled in by hand. There could be no mistake.


    Lewis Horton claimed to be married, yet he didn¡¯t know her at all.


    After Samuel Morgan¡¯s investigation¡­


    The only truth could be that Lewis Horton had invented a wife to fend off his family¡¯s pressure to marry.


    He had never been to the courthouse, so he was unaware of their supposed married status.


    Keira Olsen earnestly said, ¡°Mr. Horton, I know my words might sound bizarre, but we really are married.¡±


    Lewis Horton slowly straightened up, a hint of amusement on his face, ¡°Miss Olsen, don¡¯t waste your efforts. Even if I were unmarried, I wouldn¡¯t marry you just to spite Jake Horton.¡±


    Keira Olsen was momentarily stunned.


    Did he know about her past with Jake Horton and assume she approached him for revenge? Was that why he had never believed her?


    Keira Olsen explained, ¡°I¡¯m not here because of Jake Horton, I¡¯m here to ask you to¡­¡± to divorce.


    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in your emotional entanglements.¡±


    Lewis Horton interrupted her, briskly finished signing, and handed her the courier slip, ¡°Don¡¯t bother me again, or don¡¯t blame me for being rude.¡±


    Keira Olsen was also irritated, ¡°Haven¡¯t you already been rude? You¡¯ve even said I should vanish from Oceanion!¡±


    Lewis Horton frowned, ¡°When did I¡­¡±


    He didn¡¯t finish his sentence as his phone suddenly rang.


    It was the exclusive ringtone for his grandmother.


    He immediately answered, and the voice of the caregiver came from the other side, ¡°Mr. Horton, old Mrs. Horton is missing again!¡±


    Lewis Horton abruptly stood up and rushed out anxiously.


    Keira Olsen wanted to chase after him to clear things up but was stopped by Tom Davis, ¡°Miss Olsen, I advise you to let it go.¡±


    Keira Olsen sighed.


    She was ¡°asked¡± to leave Horton Group and slowly made her way home.


    Just as she reached her doorstep, she suddenly turned around and saw the old woman she had encountered before sneaking up behind her, stealthy as a cat.


    Keira Olsen: ?


    About to speak, the little old lady suddenly grabbed her wrist:


    ¡°My dear daughter-in-law, don¡¯t you think of abandoning me again!¡±

 Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Chapter 7

    Chapter 7: Chapter 7


    Kiera Olsen¡¯s rented house was neatly and cozily decorated by her.


    She looked at the old lady, who had already drunk three glasses of water at the dining table, and said earnestly, ¡°I really am not your granddaughter-in-law.¡±


    ¡°You are.¡±


    The little old lady was very stubborn, hugging her cup and guzzling down another glass.


    Kiera Olsen knew that she would not be able to talk sense into her and took out her phone to dial the number from last time.


    It rang once and was promptly answered: ¡°Hello.¡±


    Kiera Olsen faintly felt that the man¡¯s voice was somewhat familiar; just as she was about to say something, the old lady suddenly snatched away the phone.


    At that moment, Lewis Horton was searching nearby with a group of people.


    He appeared calm on the surface but felt somewhat anxious inside.


    The grandma didn¡¯t just have Alzheimer¡¯s; at eighty-seven years old, her body¡¯s organs had long begun to degenerate, posing a risk to her life at any moment.


    The moment the phone rang, he immediately answered, and then he heard his grandma¡¯s robust voice from inside:


    ¡°Brat, don¡¯t come to pick me up; I¡¯m with my granddaughter-in-law.¡±


    Granddaughter-in-law¡­


    The number was that of the girl from last time; so was grandma with her again?


    Lewis Horton¡¯s face darkened as he asked, ¡°Where are you?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t tell you.¡±


    ¡°You think I can¡¯t find you if you don¡¯t say?¡±


    ¡°¡­You mustn¡¯t come to me or send people to check on me!¡±


    Lewis Horton rubbed his temples and quietly asked his primary care doctor while covering the phone: ¡°Can we forcefully bring old Mrs. Horton back?¡±


    The doctor shook his head and softly replied, ¡°Old Mrs. Horton should not be subjected to any stress right now. It¡¯s best to go along with her wishes. The girl from last time doesn¡¯t seem like a bad person either¡­¡±


    Lewis Horton clenched his jaw and then coaxed into the phone, ¡°Grandma, I still need to bring you your medicine.¡±


    ¡°No need for medicine, I brought it with me; just rest easy, dear, I¡¯ll wait until I can take my granddaughter-in-law back home!¡±


    The little old lady hung up the phone after saying that.


    She handed the phone back to Kiera Olsen, ¡°Granddaughter-in-law, all settled!¡±


    Kiera Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    What kind of unreliable relatives are these, leaving an older person with a stranger?


    Just as she was about to call back, her WhatsApp notification tone chimed once. Someone had sent a friend request using the phone number, with the message: grandson.


    Kiera Olsen accepted his friend request and input the remark: Grandson.


    ¡°Grandson¡± quickly sent a message: [Please take care of my grandma for a while, her health has been bad recently, and she can¡¯t be agitated.]


    Kiera Olsen snorted and typed coolly into her phone, ¡°It¡¯s inconvenient for me; my place isn¡¯t a charity organization¡­¡±


    Before she could finish typing, a noise suddenly came from the kitchen.


    She quickly went to check and found the old lady cooking eggs.


    Kiera Olsen casually asked, ¡°Hungry? Just eating eggs won¡¯t do.¡±


    ¡°Not that.¡± The little old lady turned around, her wrinkled face lit with a kind smile: ¡°Granddaughter-in-law, if you apply egg on your face, it will reduce the swelling.¡±


    Kiera Olsen was stunned.


    Perhaps she hadn¡¯t even realized that after being hit by her own mother today, she seemed outwardly unbothered, but actually, a layer of indifference enveloped her, distancing her from the world.


    At that moment, the old lady¡¯s words melted the coldness surrounding her, and warmth returned to the depths of her eyes¡­


    She pursed her lips and looked at her phone again.


    But saw an orange alert suddenly appear on the interface:


    [You have received a transfer of 300,000 yuan from your grandson.]


    Jake: [This is your living expenses for one week. Let me know if it¡¯s not enough.]


    Keira looked at her input field, deleted the words she had just typed, and composed a new message instead: [Alright then.]


    She couldn¡¯t understand why she suddenly started to meddle¡ªit must have been because the amount of money was too much!


    *


    The Olsen Family.


    Isla Olsen¡¯s cheeks were swollen on both sides, with clear slap marks. Her eyes were red and swollen as she sat on the living room couch, silently weeping.


    Poppy Hill lowered her head: ¡°Isla, that little slut must be jealous you¡¯re getting married into the Horton Family and that¡¯s why she lashed out. Don¡¯t cry. Wait for your dad to come back, and let Lewis teach her a lesson!¡±


    Mrs. Olsen, Jodie South, dragged her ill body down the stairs; her voice was weak, but her tone was firm: ¡°Cough cough, Keira isn¡¯t that kind of person. You must have done something first to anger her¡­¡±


    Isla clenched her fingers and said with a lowered head and a grievance: ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have accepted Jake¡¯s proposal. She likes Jake so much, she must have gotten involved with Mr. Horton because of this¡­¡±


    Mrs. Olsen¡¯s face was pale, sickly: ¡°How could that be? Keira knew manners and morals when she was a child.¡±


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have stubbornly moved out of the house.


    Poppy Hill said with hatred: ¡°She must have been led astray by others over the past few years! Her heart is black. Not only did she hit Isla today, but she even wanted to hit me, her own mother!¡±


    Mrs. Olsen still didn¡¯t believe it.


    Isla¡¯s eyes flickered and suddenly said: ¡°Mom, it¡¯s us who have neglected her over the years¡­¡±


    These words struck Poppy Hill: ¡°It¡¯s also because she never comes home! Mrs. Olsen, you were so good to her before. But she never comes to see you; she¡¯s truly an ungrateful wretch! She doesn¡¯t remember your kindness at all, just a cold-hearted person at her core!¡±


    Mrs. Olsen was stunned.


    She had no prejudice against Keira Olsen, having raised her with her own hands, there were feelings involved.


    When that child left, she did tell her to come back and visit when she could.


    But for so many years, Keira never returned home.


    Had the child really become cold and detached as she grew up?


    Isla was satisfied seeing her hesitation.


    She changed the subject and said coyly: ¡°Mom, could you invite Dr. South to take a teaching position at Oceanion University?¡±


    Mrs. Olsen immediately refused sternly: ¡°Isla, you mustn¡¯t use favors to seek recompense. Besides, Dr. South has done enough for the family¡¯s company over these years!¡±


    Isla wasn¡¯t surprised by her response and smiled saying: ¡°Mom, that¡¯s not what I meant. Oceanion University is the best university around here, and maybe Dr. South wants to go there himself? We could just help him make connections with the school, it would be a way to thank Dr. South for all the help over the years.¡±


    Mrs. Olsen thought there was logic to this, took out her phone, and opened WhatsApp: ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask him.¡±


    Isla sat next to Mrs. Olsen and blinked: ¡°Dr. South has done so much for our family, any debt of gratitude is long repaid. Shouldn¡¯t the family hold a banquet to treat him? Would it not be better to ask him in person then?¡±


    Dr. South always responded to Mrs. Olsen¡¯s requests.


    As long as he came, if she then expressed her desire to become his graduate student, Dr. South would certainly not refuse.


    Mrs. Olsen was persuaded. She messaged Dr. South on WhatsApp: [South, do you have time to come over to the house?]


    When Keira saw the message, her heart immediately leapt.


    Why would Mrs. Olsen suddenly want to meet?


    Could it be that her health was failing?


    Thinking of Mrs. Olsen¡¯s coughing¡­


    Keira got up to leave: [I¡¯m free. Shall I come over now?]

 Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

    Chapter 8: Chapter 8


    Keira Olsen clenched her jaw, feeling extremely anxious.


    She was about to leave the house when Mrs. Olsen¡¯s WhatsApp message came through, ¡°No need to rush now, working overtime on Saturday? I¡¯d like to invite you for a simple meal.¡±


    It was then that Keira realized her concern had clouded her judgment.


    To go to the Olsen house for a meal?


    A bitter smile curled the corners of her lips.


    Ten years ago, when she moved out of the Olsens¡¯ house, she had gone back on the first weekend.


    She had entered the yard and, through the glass window, she saw Mrs. Olsen, Isla Olsen, and Taylor Olsen chatting and laughing together, Mrs. Olsen¡¯s face alight with a radiant smile she had never seen before.


    Poppy Hill had said, ¡°See? Without you, they are the real family of three. If you really care about Mrs. Olsen, don¡¯t disturb her again in the future.¡±


    In the end, Keira had quietly left.


    Each year, she would only leave a small gift at the door on Mrs. Olsen¡¯s birthday¡­


    After so many years, perhaps it was time to meet?


    Keira replied to the message, ¡°Actually, it should be me treating you. Saturday at six in the evening, don¡¯t stand me up.¡±


    She sent a restaurant location.


    Going to the Olsen house would only cause unnecessary arguments, better to meet outside. She could have a quiet talk with Mrs. Olsen and also check up on her health¡­


    Mrs. Olsen: ¡°Alright, don¡¯t stand me up.¡±


    Keira exited the chat with Mrs. Olsen and saw several messages from ¡°grandson¡±:


    ¡°The older old Mrs. Horton gets, the more she resembles a child, with a quick temper, requiring ample patience.¡±


    ¡°Old Mrs. Horton suffers from insomnia, finding it hard to fall asleep at night.¡±


    ¡°Two blue pills a day, one in the morning and one in the evening¡­¡±


    A string of five reminders, the last one being:


    ¡°The above is forwarded from the family doctor¡¯s advice, thank you for your trouble. If grandma has any discomfort, please contact me immediately.¡±


    Keira read this, then silently walked into the guest room and made a short video for ¡°grandson¡±.


    *


    Not far away on the street, two cars were parked unobtrusively.


    Leading was a nanny car, equipped with a full range of features, essentially a small suite.


    Lewis Horton, dressed in a black suit, was sitting on the sofa, working on a computer.


    The family doctor of old Mrs. Horton sat in the corner with a grave expression, ready for any emergency.


    If old Mrs. Horton changed locations suddenly, she would surely have trouble sleeping that night.


    Her frail body meant that insomnia could lead to abnormal heart rates; any lack of attention could be life-threatening.


    The car in the rear was equipped with medical devices, in case of an emergency. Old Mrs. Horton lived nearby, so they could rush to her aid at a moment¡¯s notice.


    While contemplating this, Lewis¡¯s WhatsApp notification sounded.


    He looked at it and, to his ever-unchanging stoic expression, a hint of¡­ surprise appeared?


    The family doctor immediately asked, ¡°Is something wrong with old Mrs. Horton?¡±


    Lewis pressed his lips together and passed the video for him to see.


    There was old Mrs. Horton, sprawled out on a small floral bedsheet, sleeping soundly and even snoring softly!


    It was only nine in the evening!


    Usually, they would thank their lucky stars if old Mrs. Horton managed to fall asleep before one in the morning!


    The family doctor looked astounded, ¡°Old Mrs. Horton truly feels differently about this girl. If she could always stay with old Mrs. Horton, I¡¯m sure it would bring improvements to her health!¡±


    With old age and a weak body, sleep was crucial for old Mrs. Horton.


    Lewis clenched his jaw, his gaze deepening.


    The next day.


    Before leaving the house, Keira instructed the well-rested and rosy-cheeked elderly lady who had had a good night¡¯s sleep, ¡°I¡¯ve asked Samuel Morgan to come and keep you company; he¡¯ll be here soon.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± the little old lady nodded obediently, ¡°Granddaughter-in-law, what are you off to do?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to see someone.¡±


    ¡°Who are you seeing? Is it a must?¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    If she didn¡¯t go to find Lewis Horton, he would find out they were married when he tried to register his marriage in the future.


    But the company was waiting to go public, and Keira Olsen was anxious to get a divorce.


    The old lady grandly gestured, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have my grandson arrange a meeting for you! My grandson¡¯s face is well recognized!¡±


    Keira Olsen smiled, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m afraid your grandson won¡¯t be able to handle it.¡±


    With the Horton Family being the wealthiest in Oceanion, how could the old lady¡¯s family be more influential?


    She rode her electric bike and arrived at the Horton Group.


    Lewis Horton¡¯s personal schedule was actually quite monotonous; the man had no leisure or entertainment, he was either at work or on his way to work.


    Keira Olsen approached the front desk and, before she could speak, the receptionist said, ¡°You again? Mr. Davis informed us that Mr. Horton has no express delivery today, you¡¯re not allowed upstairs!¡±


    Keira Olsen said, ¡°I¡¯m not here to deliver a package, I¡¯m¡­¡±


    The receptionist cut her off impatiently, ¡°Do you have an appointment then? Without an appointment, you can¡¯t go upstairs!¡±


    Just as Keira Olsen was about to say something, the receptionist¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up; the impatient look on her face instantly vanished as she eagerly said to someone behind Keira, ¡°Miss Olsen? You¡¯re here!¡±


    Keira Olsen frowned and turned to see Isla Olsen.


    With a gentle and refined demeanor, Isla Olsen smiled slightly at the receptionist, ¡°I¡¯m here to see Jake.¡±


    Her gaze swept over Keira Olsen and she added, ¡°But I forgot to make an appointment in advance¡­¡±


    ¡°Miss Olsen, you must be joking. With your status, why would you need an appointment? Young Mr. Horton will definitely be delighted to see you!¡±


    The receptionist used a card to help her through the security gate, ¡°Please, come in.¡±


    However, Isla Olsen looked towards Keira Olsen and sighed disapprovingly, ¡°Keira, the Horton Group isn¡¯t a place just anyone can enter whenever they wish. If you want to cling to Mr. Horton, don¡¯t make things difficult for the receptionist here¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen: ?


    When did she give the receptionist a hard time?


    But the receptionist furrowed her brows.


    Mr. Davis just said to not let this girl upstairs but hadn¡¯t specified why.


    Was it because of this?


    The receptionist showed a disdainful look and said with full annoyance, ¡°Some people really don¡¯t know their place, thinking they can become a phoenix by relying on their face? Look around, this isn¡¯t just any place. Miss, please keep your distance and don¡¯t disturb my work, or I¡¯ll have to call security!¡±


    Keira Olsen raised an eyebrow, about to say something, but seeing the receptionist¡¯s high-and-mighty attitude, she smiled and said, ¡°Well, it¡¯s you who won¡¯t let me upstairs.¡±


    Meanwhile, upstairs.


    After Lewis Horton finished processing an urgent document, he took out his phone and saw the pinned contact ¡°Iron-deficient.¡±


    That was the girl¡¯s WhatsApp name, quite a weird one.


    He sent a message, ¡°Hello, how¡¯s grandma today?¡±


    The reply came quickly, ¡°Everything was fine when I left home.¡±


    Lewis Horton frowned, ¡°Did you go out to work?¡±


    ¡°Iron-deficient¡±: ¡°Sort of.¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s expression turned displeased; she had just left his grandmother alone at home?


    But she wasn¡¯t the caregiver he had hired; she had no obligation to stay put and take care of his grandma.


    Right now, he was the one seeking a favor¡­


    Lewis Horton pondered for a moment, ¡°Where are you? I¡¯ll come to you, let¡¯s talk about my grandmother.¡±


    ¡°Iron-deficient¡± didn¡¯t decline, immediately sending an address via WhatsApp.


    After seeing it, Lewis Horton paused.


    Wasn¡¯t that¡­ right outside the Horton Group?


    He got up and headed downstairs.

 Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Chapter 9

    Chapter 9: Chapter 9


    The receptionist personally escorted Isla Olsen into the elevator.


    While waiting for the elevator, Isla Olsen saw that Keira Olsen had not left; instead, she was sitting on the sofa in the Horton Group lobby, obviously with no intention of leaving.


    Truly shameless.


    Isla Olsen looked towards the receptionist, ¡°It¡¯s really not easy on you guys; I¡¯ll mention it to Jake, to give you a raise¡­¡±


    Joy appeared on the receptionist¡¯s face, ¡°Thank you, Miss Olsen! If you need anything, just say the word!¡±


    Isla Olsen sighed, ¡°My sister is so stubborn; don¡¯t let her really wait for Mr. Horton¡­¡±


    Having said that, Isla Olsen entered the elevator.


    As the elevator doors closed, she saw the receptionist approaching Keira Olsen, with a triumphant smile tugging at the corner of her lips.


    Did Keira Olsen think she could gain Mr. Horton¡¯s favor just with her face?


    How foolish.


    In the world of the wealthy, talk less about emotions, more about interests.


    Jake Horton had pursued her for four years, liked her so much, but in the end, he still proposed to her¡­


    All because she had the bargaining chip to form an alliance through marriage with Jake Horton!


    The elevator quickly reached the 68th floor; when Isla Olsen entered the office, her face had already regained its calm and gentle expression.


    Jake Horton was impeccably dressed in a suit, having shed the youthful look he had in school, his eyes and brows now carried a trace of sharpness. His gaze fell on her face and he casually asked, ¡°What happened to your face?¡±


    Isla Olsen looked down, ¡°Keira hit me¡­¡±


    Jake Horton frowned with displeasure and warned, ¡°I¡¯ve told you not to provoke her.¡±


    Isla Olsen paused, ¡°It was my fault.¡±


    She walked over to Jake¡¯s side, ¡°Jake, I heard your new project is on renewable energy?¡±


    Jake Horton looked at her seriously, ¡°Yes, if the Horton Group can¡¯t come up with the latest technology, we will get surpassed in the future.¡±


    Isla Olsen smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve arranged a dinner with Dr. South and mom; how about I get Dr. South to join your R&D team?¡±


    Jake Horton¡¯s expression softened a lot, ¡°Good.¡±


    His attitude shifted, he wrapped an arm around Isla Olsen¡¯s waist and his fingers brushed her cheek, ¡°Keira is indeed too ignorant. Does it still hurt? Let me blow on it¡­¡±


    Isla Olsen kept her eyes demurely lowered, feigning shyness.


    But inwardly, she scoffed coldly.


    With a connection like Dr. South in her hand, what chance did Keira Olsen have to compete with her?


    As for who Jake Horton truly loved¡­


    She didn¡¯t care at all!


    She just wanted to marry into the Horton family and become Mrs. Jake Horton!


    That way, even if her true background couldn¡¯t be concealed in the future, her life of wealth would be secured¡­


    *


    In the lobby downstairs.


    Keira Olsen sent the address to ¡°Grandson¡±.


    The elderly man currently lived with her, and indeed, it was important to clarify responsibilities with his family in advance to avoid any trouble down the line.


    Just as she was about to arrange a meeting time with the other party, her view was suddenly obscured.


    The receptionist, accompanied by two security guards, stood in front of her and haughtily ordered, ¡°You can¡¯t sit here; you¡¯re disrupting my work. Please leave immediately.¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s face darkened.


    The lobby sofas were there for anyone to sit on, and she had been silent. How had she disrupted the receptionist¡¯s work?


    Keira Olsen leaned back lazily, ¡°If your work is so easily disrupted, perhaps you should find a private office?¡±


    The receptionist choked, flustered, and said to the security guards, ¡°Throw her out at once!¡±


    Just as the security guards were about to move forward, the noisy lobby suddenly quieted down.


    The elevator reserved for the president slowly opened, and a composed Lewis Horton, accompanied by Tom Davis, walked out with a low profile.


    The man in a suit and shoes glanced over here once, then redirected his gaze to survey his surroundings as though he was looking for someone.


    Tom Davis noticed the situation and walked over quickly.


    His brows were deeply furrowed as he looked at Keira Olsen, ¡°Why is it you again?¡±


    The receptionist rushed to complain first, ¡°Mr. Davis, she said she wanted to go upstairs to deliver a parcel to Mr. Horton. I didn¡¯t agree, and she¡¯s just been lingering here, refusing to leave.¡±


    Keira Olsen said indifferently, ¡°I told you I¡¯m not here to deliver a parcel.¡±


    The receptionist scoffed, ¡°Mr. Davis, did you hear that? She isn¡¯t even pretending anymore, just straight up says she wants to go upstairs to meet someone. When I wouldn¡¯t let her go, she started making a scene here. I¡¯ll have security throw her out right this instant!¡±


    Keira Olsen replied with a lazy tone, ¡°Which Horton Group policy states I can¡¯t sit on this sofa?¡±


    The receptionist was once again left speechless.


    Tom Davis impatiently said to Keira Olsen, ¡°Then just sit here, since the boss won¡¯t pay you any attention, anyway.¡±


    He then turned to the receptionist, annoyed, ¡°What¡¯s important right now is that the air conditioning on the top floor is broken. The repairman said he¡¯d arrived a while ago. Why is the front desk stopping people from going upstairs?¡±


    The receptionist was startled, ¡°I didn¡¯t see any repairman coming¡­¡±


    Tom Davis furrowed his brow, ¡°Really didn¡¯t see anyone?¡±


    The receptionist nodded at once, ¡°I¡¯ve been right here the whole time, not to mention something as important as the top floor issue, how could I possibly stop anyone?¡±


    Tom Davis took out his phone, ¡°Then I¡¯ll call them to see if they went to the wrong place¡­¡±


    But before he could make the call, a languid voice said, ¡°No wrong place.¡±


    Tom Davis was startled.


    Keira Olsen smiled, ¡°It¡¯s true, the front desk wouldn¡¯t let me go upstairs.¡±


    Tom Davis: ?


    Receptionist: ?


    Both were confused.


    After a moment, Tom Davis finally realized, ¡°You are the repairman? That¡¯s impossible!¡±


    A work badge was presented to him.


    The date on it was nine years ago.


    Tom Davis couldn¡¯t believe it, ¡°Is this another part-time job you found through hard work and thrift?¡±


    Keira Olsen didn¡¯t deny it, her gaze drifting towards Lewis Horton not far away, ¡°Not even allowing me to speak, they wanted to throw me out, even accusing me of making a scene here. Mr. Horton, your receptionist sure has quite the attitude.¡±


    The receptionist looked towards Lewis Horton in a panic, ¡°Mr. Horton, I¡­¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s face was expressionless as he said coldly, ¡°You¡¯re fired.¡±


    The receptionist turned pale instantly but didn¡¯t dare to beg for mercy.


    Only then did Lewis Horton turn his heavy gaze towards Keira Olsen.


    Tom Davis had investigated the girl; she had moved out of the Olsen Family home after junior high and had been supporting herself with various jobs ever since.


    Yesterday a courier, today a repairman, how many jobs had she taken on?


    Despite the apparent poverty of her life, her spine remained ever straight¡­


    How could such a proud woman debase herself and pester him time and time again?


    Thinking this, any flicker of admiration that had risen in Lewis Horton vanished instantly, replaced by utter impatience, ¡°Miss Olsen, are you satisfied now?¡±


    Keira Olsen nodded and stood up, ¡°Mr. Horton, have you gone to the courthouse to check?¡±


    Lewis Horton didn¡¯t respond to her but coldly told Tom Davis, ¡°Take her upstairs to work, and remember, I don¡¯t want to see her again.¡±


    Keira Olsen: ?


    Tom Davis grabbed her arm, ¡°Miss Olsen, let¡¯s go this way. I advise you to give up. Even if you try your hardest and enter the top floor legitimately, our boss won¡¯t spare you a second glance.¡±


    Although the identities of courier and repairman were real, was she really coming to the Horton Group to work? Everyone knew the answer.


    Lewis Horton no longer looked at her, instead taking out his phone and dialing a voice call to ¡°Metal-Deficient¡± on WhatsApp.


    Simultaneously, Keira Olsen¡¯s phone began to ring.

 Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Chapter 10

    Chapter 10: Chapter 10


    When Kiera Olsen¡¯s ringtone sounded, Lewis Horton was slightly taken aback.


    He turned his head to look at Kiera Olsen.


    ¡°Lacks all five elements but iron, is that her?¡±


    Kiera Olsen answered the phone, ¡°Hello.¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s phone remained silent. Looking at his device, he realized that the caller was already on another call and the voice call had not gone through.


    ¡­He was overthinking it.


    Meanwhile, several people in the lobby were making phone calls; it was impossible to discern which one was her¡­


    Just then, ¡°Lacks all five elements but iron¡± sent a message: [Sorry, it¡¯s not convenient to meet now. Let¡¯s reschedule.]


    The rooftop.


    While Kiera Olsen was on the phone with Samuel Morgan, she was also texting her grandson.


    Samuel Morgan took delight in her misfortune, ¡°Boss, can you still pull it off? It¡¯s been many years since you¡¯ve done any repair work, right?¡±


    Kiera Olsen replied coolly, ¡°If you¡¯re that idle, help me check Lewis Horton¡¯s personal phone number, so I don¡¯t have to look for him over and over again.¡±


    If she had his number, she could call him every hour to remind him to check at the courthouse. With such a bombardment, even if he couldn¡¯t believe this ludicrous matter, he would eventually check it out.


    Samuel Morgan immediately exclaimed, ¡°How is that possible? You don¡¯t know, there¡¯s no information about him online. I¡¯ve already put a lot of effort into tracking his personal itinerary¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re not skilled enough.¡±


    Kiera Olsen hung up the phone and saw Tom Davis beside her with a disdainful expression, ¡°Miss Olsen, our boss¡¯s personal number is classified. Ordinary people can¡¯t get it.¡±


    Kiera Olsen teased him on purpose, ¡°Do you believe that not only will I have your boss¡¯s number in the future, but I¡¯ll also have his WhatsApp¡­¡±


    The divorce procedures are a bit complicated. There would definitely be more communication with Lewis Horton in the future.


    Tom Davis scoffed, ¡°Dream on!¡±


    No sooner had he spoken, Kiera Olsen¡¯s phone buzzed. ¡°Grandson¡± had sent a WhatsApp message: [Whenever you¡¯re free, just let me know.]


    *


    Ten minutes later, Kiera Olsen finished repairing the air conditioner.


    She dusted off her hands, ¡°The filter has been used for too long and accumulated dirt, affecting the cooling system. Just replace it after cleaning.¡±


    Seeing her adept movements and how quickly she solved the problem, Tom Davis felt less hostile toward her.


    To prevent her from seeking out his boss again, Tom Davis personally escorted her downstairs.


    At the entrance, he said meaningfully, ¡°Miss Olsen, we won¡¯t have any more direct-signed deliveries on the top floor, nor will there be any more appliance malfunctions.¡±


    Kiera Olsen discerned the implication in his words but simply smiled, ¡°Mm, see you at noon.¡±


    She turned and left.


    Tom Davis: ?


    He didn¡¯t take her words to heart and returned to the rooftop.


    At noon, Lewis Horton had a lunch appointment.


    He didn¡¯t enjoy socializing, but now that he was back in Crera, he still needed to respect the local drinking culture, such occasions were not that frequent.


    Tom Davis accompanied him throughout.


    They arrived at a private restaurant. As Tom Davis took a look at the uniformly dressed waitstaff, he suddenly became more alert.


    Isn¡¯t being a restaurant waiter the most common choice for students to earn while they learn?


    He scrutinized the surroundings, almost checking out every waiter and only when he didn¡¯t find Kiera Olsen did he breathe a sigh of relief.


    But he quickly found his own behavior laughable.


    Kiera Olsen had already been a courier and a repair worker. How could she possibly be working other jobs?


    It was that ¡°see you at noon¡± comment from her that had him on edge!


    Tom Davis relaxed and entered the private room. After the meals were served and the chef came to express his gratitude,


    ¡°Hello everyone, are you satisfied with today¡¯s dishes?¡±


    A familiar female voice rang out, and Tom Davis¡¯s body stiffened!


    He swung his head around as if he saw a ghost and saw Kiera Olsen standing at the door, wearing a chef¡¯s hat. She wore a faint smile, briefly introducing today¡¯s menu, and finally approached Lewis Horton, speaking softly, ¡°Mr. Horton, why don¡¯t you go check at the courthouse.¡±


    Lewis Horton: ¡°¡­¡±


    His jaw tightened, and for the first time, a faint trace of fissures appeared on his usually composed face.


    Tom Davis was even more shocked as he looked at her, ¡°You, you¡¯re the head chef? The certified kind?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Keira Olsen reached into her fanny pack, intending to take out her chef¡¯s certification, but accidentally dropped one, two, three¡­ a total of five different job IDs!


    Tom Davis swallowed hard, ¡°You have five part-time jobs?¡±


    Keira Olsen: ¡°No.¡±


    Tom Davis had just taken a breath of relief when he heard her say indifferently,


    ¡°There are some I didn¡¯t bring with me.¡±


    Tom Davis: !!!


    Keira Olsen smiled slyly at Lewis Horton, ¡°It depends on what Mr. Horton needs; I can do anything. I suppose Mr. Horton wouldn¡¯t want me to keep bothering him, right? Why don¡¯t we check at the courthouse?¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s face was tense.


    The woman, with her amorous eyes like mist over water, always seemed to speak with a hint of tenderness, causing everyone else at the table to look at her involuntarily.


    Lewis Horton¡¯s expression turned grim in an instant, still ignoring Keira Olsen, he only said to Tom Davis, ¡°Go check¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen felt a surge of happiness inside.


    Had this man finally been persuaded by her?


    But then she heard him say coldly, ¡°Who has leaked my schedule.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Tom Davis took a step forward, blocking Keira Olsen¡¯s path again, ¡°Miss Olsen, please leave immediately.¡±


    Keira Olsen was once again chased out of the private room, standing outside and sighing.


    Why couldn¡¯t Lewis Horton just trust her?


    Even with her patience, she was getting annoyed now!


    She didn¡¯t leave but decided to wait outside instead.


    She hadn¡¯t been treated with such indifference in the past two years.


    The more she thought about it, the angrier she became¡­


    Keira Olsen took out her phone, wanting to vent to someone, but as she scrolled through WhatsApp, she found no suitable person and simply posted a status to her circle of friends.


    Inside the private room.


    The guests ate while showering Lewis Horton with compliments.


    He was getting somewhat impatient, taking out his phone and pretending to be busy with something.


    Browsing through his circle of friends list out of boredom, he saw a post from ¡°Lacking Iron¡± from two minutes earlier: [Don¡¯t be mad, you have to be patient with grandkids.]


    Lewis Horton paused for a moment.


    He immediately messaged ¡°Lacking Iron¡±: [How old are you? Already have grandkids?]


    After all, you can¡¯t expect an old person to take care of Granny¡­


    ¡°Lacking Iron¡±: [?]


    ¡°Lacking Iron¡±: [¡­You¡¯re talking about my circle of friends post, right? That¡¯s me cursing someone. There¡¯s someone who just never understands what I say!]


    Lewis Horton: ¡°¡­¡±


    He then realized he¡¯d made a fool of himself.


    So he sent a message to cover up his embarrassment: [The brain is a daily necessity, he must be using it as a decorative item.]


    ¡°Lacking Iron¡±: [I¡¯ll curse you a couple more times.]


    Lewis Horton smiled: [We only scold people, let¡¯s not waste it on him.]


    ¡°Lacking Iron¡±: [Seeing how you talk, I¡¯ll prepare an extra meal for Granny tonight. Does she have any dietary restrictions?]


    Lewis Horton: [The doctor said she should eat less sweets and spicy food, everything else is fine.]


    ¡°Lacking Iron¡±: [Okay.]


    Their chat always made Lewis Horton feel like he was talking to an old friend, very comfortable.


    He suddenly asked: [Can I come to visit Granny tonight?]


    ¡°Lacking Iron¡±: [Of course, you¡¯re welcome anytime.]


    Then she sent him a specific address with the door number included.

 Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Chapter 11

    Chapter 11: Chapter 11


    Lewis Horton remembered the address and replied, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble you.¡±


    He had to bring the family doctor over to check on his grandmother tonight, he felt uneasy otherwise.


    ¡°Five Elements Lacking Iron¡± didn¡¯t send another message.


    ¡­She seemed not to like such politeness from others.


    Lewis Horton silently took note of her little quirk.


    ¡°Mr. Horton, are you sending a message to Mrs. Horton?¡±


    The person beside him suddenly teased, ¡°You can¡¯t hide the smile on your face.¡±


    The curve of Lewis Horton¡¯s lips stiffened.


    He put away his phone and looked at the speaker.


    As he became the CEO of Horton Group, Mrs. Horton still had not appeared in public, which had led many to doubt the existence of this ¡°Mrs. Horton.¡±


    So he didn¡¯t deny it.


    That person took his silence as an affirmation and flattered him, ¡°Mr. Horton is truly virtuous, loyal and devoted to Mrs. Horton. That head chef was quite attractive, yet Mr. Horton wasn¡¯t swayed at all, truly a role model for our generation!¡±


    Seeing this, the others immediately chimed in, ¡°We are so curious about Mrs. Horton, what kind of person she could be to have captured Mr. Horton¡¯s heart¡­ Old Mrs. Horton must be very pleased with this granddaughter-in-law, right?¡±


    Everyone vaguely knew that Lewis Horton didn¡¯t have a great relationship with the Horton Family, with the only person he truly cared about being Old Mrs. Horton.


    Lewis Horton looked down and said indifferently, ¡°Yes, Grandmother indeed likes her very much.¡±


    Outside.


    Kiera Olsen was idly waiting when suddenly a familiar voice came through:


    ¡°Kiera Olsen!¡±


    She turned her head to face a familiar, handsome visage.


    Jake Horton was wearing a black suit. The face that was always gentle and caring in her memory was now looking at her with a grim expression, ¡°You¡¯re really here.¡±


    Kiera Olsen pursed her lips.


    In college, she was always solitary, like a lone ranger.


    Jake Horton was warm and outgoing, sticking by her side, the only friend she had.


    Only now their statuses were somewhat awkward.


    She hesitated, ¡°¡­Is there something you need?¡±


    Jake Horton snorted coldly, ¡°Isla Olsen told me about your background. Why did you hide it from me? I hate mistresses and illegitimate daughters the most in my life, yet I pursued someone like you for four years like a fool. Is this amusing to you?¡±


    Kiera Olsen felt as if a large hand had abruptly seized her heart¡­


    She had never understood why, when Jake Horton had told her he would give her a surprise at the graduation ceremony and hoped she would not reject him again, he ended up proposing to Isla Olsen.


    So that was it.


    His family was not harmonious at home; it seemed there was an illegitimate sister.


    Just by revealing her identity, Isla Olsen had easily shattered four years of camaraderie.


    Kiera Olsen took a step back, distancing herself from him.


    Jake Horton, however, stepped forward to confront her, ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything to explain to me?¡±


    Explain what?


    Explain why she was an illegitimate daughter? Why she chose to be born from Poppy Hill¡¯s womb?


    Kiera Olsen scoffed, ¡°No.¡±


    She turned to leave.


    If their beliefs were not aligned, it was better not to maintain such a friendship, especially since he looked down on her background.


    Her resolute demeanor irritated Jake Horton inexplicably. Seeing her getting further and further away, he panicked suddenly and, without thinking, grabbed her arm, ¡°You can¡¯t leave!¡±


    Kiera Olsen turned back to look at him, ¡°Is there something else?¡±


    Jake Horton¡¯s face was taut. He found Kiera Olsen¡¯s aloof and indifferent demeanor to be very heartless.


    Anger surged in his chest, accompanied by a sense of inexplicable grievance.


    He was the one who let go first, so why did it seem like he was the one being abandoned?


    He said with a sneer, ¡°You¡¯re still working here, which means you haven¡¯t found a formal job, right? Kiera, how about you come and be my personal assistant?¡±


    Kiera Olsen broke free from his grasp and coldly declined, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I wouldn¡¯t be up to the task.¡±


    Jake Horton persisted, ¡°You won¡¯t need to do much; I have an apartment near the company, you just need to live there and tend to my daily needs. I¡¯ll pay you fifty thousand a month, is that enough?¡±


    Kiera Olsen¡¯s gaze grew colder, her tone like the depth of winter, ¡°Do you want me to be your mistress?¡±


    Jake Horton laughed scornfully, ¡°You would definitely be up to that task, after all, your mother was a mistress. Growing up in such an environment, you must have learned a lot. I¡¯m confident you would be professional¡­¡±


    ¡°Slap!¡±


    Kiera Olsen slapped him across the face and exclaimed, ¡°Jake Horton, enough is enough!¡±


    Jake Horton was slapped but laughed instead of getting angry, his gaze turning crazed and malicious:


    ¡°Kiera Olsen, believe it or not, if I don¡¯t want you, no one in Oceanion would dare take you in! You won¡¯t be able to find a job or husband, and you¡¯ll end up as someone¡¯s plaything. If that¡¯s the case, why not choose me? At least I could be more compassionate towards you, for old times¡¯ sake as classmates¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you time to think it over; come find me anytime you change your mind. You have my number.¡±


    After leaving those words behind, Jake Horton walked away with large strides.


    Kiera Olsen gave a self-mocking smile.


    Turning around, she suddenly saw Lewis Horton standing at the door of the private room.


    ¡­


    Lewis Horton, not fond of socializing, ultimately found an excuse to leave with Tom Davis, but just as he stepped out of the private room, he witnessed the scene that had just unfolded in the corridor.


    His gaze was deep, showing no sign of pleasure or anger.


    Tom Davis clicked his tongue twice at Kiera Olsen: ¡°I was wondering why you didn¡¯t find a stable job after college and kept doing so many part-time jobs. Turns out it¡¯s due to Jake Horton¡¯s incessant pressure, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Kiera Olsen: ?


    Tom Davis sighed again, ¡°So the reason you came to entangle with the boss is because you had no other choice, right? After all, there¡¯s hardly anyone in Oceanion who dares to go against the Horton Family¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Kiera Olsen¡¯s eyes, amorous as they were, narrowed slightly, but she didn¡¯t object.


    For two days, this was their first peaceful conversation!


    Tom Davis said with compassion, ¡°Boss, shall we help her out? She seems rather pitiful.¡±


    Kiera Olsen felt a glimmer of hope.


    Right, right, right¡­help the poor kid, and accompany her to the courthouse for a trivial divorce procedure? Her company is still waiting to go public!


    But just as this thought crossed her mind, she heard Lewis Horton say coldly, ¡°Why should I upset Jake Horton for someone who is insignificant?¡±


    He strode past Kiera Olsen without stopping.


    She¡¯s pitiful?


    Although the girl pretended to be obedient, her eyes couldn¡¯t hide cunning and joy; there wasn¡¯t a trace of pity, she was detestable!


    What¡¯s more, the fact that she got hold of his personal itinerary showed she was cunning and resourceful!


    The corridor quickly fell silent.


    Kiera Olsen stood there, feeling how cold-hearted Lewis Horton was!


    ¡­Forget it, the ¡°grandson¡± was right; she only got angry with people, so she wouldn¡¯t waste it on him.


    Kiera Olsen left, riding her electric bike leisurely home.


    There was an elderly person at home; she really couldn¡¯t stay out for too long. She would continue the search tomorrow.


    That evening.


    Lewis Horton got off work on time and headed to an old residential area in the suburbs.


    Carrying fruit in his hand, he found a residence according to the address on WhatsApp, and knocked on the door.


    Soon, a familiar voice from the grandmother came from inside, ¡°Coming, coming~¡±

 Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Chapter 12

    Chapter 12: Chapter 12


    The door opened.


    Lewis Horton looked toward Old Mrs. Horton and saw her with a rosy complexion, appearing very healthy.


    Only then did he look around the room.


    The room was tidy and clean, a cozy little two-bedroom apartment of sixty square meters, with four dishes of light, nutritious food on the dining table, very suitable for the elderly.


    But from the bathroom, there was the sound of running water. Was ¡°Calming Incense¡± taking a bath?


    The door was made of frosted glass, and through it, he could vaguely see the graceful figure of a young girl¡­


    Lewis Horton retracted his gaze as if electrified, feeling a bit uncomfortable.


    The family doctor, who was following behind him and about to enter, was stopped by him. The man turned sideways to block his view, ¡°Give me the equipment, and wait for me in the car.¡±


    The family doctor nodded and left, considerately closing the door behind him.


    Lewis Horton quickly checked the old lady¡¯s blood pressure, blood sugar, heart rate, and more. Perhaps because she had slept well the night before, all her readings were very healthy.


    Old Mrs. Horton proudly said, ¡°My daughter-in-law has taken great care of me!¡±


    Seeing is believing, Lewis Horton finally felt relieved.


    His gaze glanced toward the bathroom again, and then he began packing up his equipment. ¡°Since you¡¯re fine, I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡±


    The old lady looked stunned, ¡°Aren¡¯t you staying for dinner? My daughter-in-law cooks delicious meals!¡±


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s not very convenient.¡±


    Lewis Horton put down the medical equipment, ¡°Leave this here.¡±


    Old Mrs. Horton¡¯s eyes shifted, ¡°Take it with you, my daughter-in-law won¡¯t use it. And I don¡¯t want Dr. May here, I want you to come check on me every day!¡±


    If her grandson visited daily, wouldn¡¯t that mean he¡¯d see his daughter-in-law? They could foster a relationship and end their separation¡­


    Old Mrs. Horton felt her great-grandson waving at her!


    Lewis Horton was about to say something when the sound of water in the bathroom suddenly stopped.


    He immediately stood up, grabbing his medical kit in a flurry and headed for the door: ¡°Then I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡±


    ¡°Come again tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°¡­Okay.¡±


    Just as he closed the door, the bathroom door opened. It wasn¡¯t the tantalizing scene Lewis Horton had imagined. Keira Olsen was fully dressed, drying her freshly washed hair, ¡°Eh, where¡¯s your grandson?¡±


    ¡°He left, said it wasn¡¯t convenient¡­ He¡¯s always so uptight and likes to frown. Daughter-in-law, is that why you don¡¯t like him? It can all be changed¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not your daughter-in-law¡­¡±


    ¡°You are!¡±


    Keira Olsen felt helpless.


    After two days of interaction, she found the old lady very kind, accommodating her in everything, except she was very stubborn about this matter.


    She dried her hair and joined the old lady for dinner.


    At nine in the evening, Keira Olsen lit the Calming Incense. The old lady obediently lay down in bed and soon fell asleep.


    She did her duty well and sent another video to her ¡°grandson.¡±


    He replied quickly: [Grandma is in good health, thanks.]


    Keira Olsen: [You¡¯re welcome.]


    ¡°Grandson¡±: [How did everything go today? Need any help?]


    Keira Olsen knew he was talking about the incident shared on the social circle, her lips curved slightly:[No need.]


    In the RV, Lewis Horton¡¯s stern face softened a bit upon seeing this reply.


    This girl, unaware of her own identity, had kindly agreed to take in Grandma and took great care of her. In the end, she didn¡¯t ask for anything in return, nor did she ask him for help.


    How different from Keira Olsen, who had no relation to him but tangled with him constantly, wanting to use him to intimidate Jake Horton¡­


    Compared to each other, it was clear who was superior.


    Lewis Horton messaged: [I owe you a favor, just say the word whenever you need anything.]


    Keira Olsen didn¡¯t take that comment to heart.


    Currently, the only help she needed was with her divorce, which could only proceed if Lewis Horton cooperated; the ¡°grandson¡± was of no use in this matter.


    The next day, morning.


    Keira Olson took the old lady to Oceanion¡¯s largest luxury mall for shopping and to buy her some change of clothes.


    The old woman¡¯s grandson was generous, and she was clearly a rich elderly lady; she must not be aggrieved in their store.


    As expected, as soon as they entered the store, the old lady acted very naturally and seemed quite familiar with the place.


    Old Mrs. Horton loved the clothes from this store; the brand manager would send the newest designs to her house every season for her to choose first.


    This was her first time visiting the store, which was quite novel¡­


    Not far away.


    Isla Olsen, hanging on Taylor Olsen¡¯s arm, said affectionately, ¡°Dad, you¡¯re so busy, you really don¡¯t need to come shopping with me¡­¡±


    Taylor Olsen smiled indulgently, ¡°Tonight is your first visit to the Horton family, the gifts for the elders must not be taken lightly, especially old Mrs. Horton¡­¡±


    Isla asked, ¡°That Great Grandmother is said to be eighty-seven, why does the Horton family value her so much?¡±


    Taylor Olsen lowered his voice, ¡°The first branch of the Horton family and Lewis Horton have been covertly competing to regain control of the clan. Old Mrs. Horton holds twenty percent of the shares; if you can win her favor, your position in the Horton family will be secure!¡±


    Isla immediately responded, ¡°Does old Mrs. Horton have any preferences?¡±


    Taylor Olsen recalled the elderly lady he had briefly seen two years ago, and said slowly, ¡°She has Alzheimer¡¯s, and is a bit peculiar, but she really likes Hermes¡¯ clothes. You should cater to her tastes. Even if you can¡¯t win her affection, at least avoid making her dislike you¡­¡±


    Isla nodded immediately.


    The two of them entered Hermes.


    Taylor Olsen sat on the sofa while Isla began to browse.


    She walked towards the fitting room area and suddenly saw Keira Olsen and an old lady.


    The old woman just came out of the fitting room, ¡°Granddaughter-in-law, what do you think of this one?¡±


    Granddaughter-in-law?


    This old lady, is she the grandmother of her wayward husband?


    Isla curled her lips, then saw Keira Olsen shake her head.


    The old lady tried on another piece, and Keira Olsen shook her head again.


    The old lady sighed, ¡°Why don¡¯t any of these clothes look good?¡±


    A flash of disdain crossed Isla¡¯s face.


    What doesn¡¯t look good, merely can¡¯t afford it, right?


    She approached and spoke, ¡°Keira, what a coincidence. Is this your husband¡¯s grandmother?¡±


    Keira¡¯s expression turned cold, but she ignored her.


    Isla then looked at the old lady, ¡°Grandma, you haven¡¯t bought this brand before, have you? The clothes here are very expensive, each piece requires a certain demeanor to pull off, not suitable for just anyone¡­¡±


    The old lady immediately became fuming, clutching her chest, ¡°Who are you calling lacking in demeanor! How can you be so rude?¡±


    Keira hurriedly supported the old lady, fearing she might get seriously upset.


    Isla continued, ¡°Keira, for someone of your grandmother¡¯s status, it¡¯s more suitable to shop at a wholesale market where things are cheap and of good quality¡­¡±


    ¡°Get lost!¡±


    Keira yelled fiercely.


    The commotion caught Taylor Olsen¡¯s attention.


    He strode over, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Isla complained, ¡°Dad, Keira and her husband¡¯s grandmother tried on many outfits but didn¡¯t buy any¡­ so I just made a little suggestion¡­¡±


    Taylor Olsen understood her implication and frowned as he looked at Keira Olsen.


    Then, he finally saw the old lady being supported by Keira Olsen, and he was instantly startled.


    Old Mrs. Horton?

 Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

    Chapter 13: Chapter 13


    The nearly ninety-year-old¡¯s flesh sagged, her youthful features no longer discernible. Her gaunt hands pressed against her chest as if she might breathe her last at any moment.


    Taylor Olsen, however, thought he was overthinking it.


    Old Mrs. Horton, with her status, how could she possibly come to the store in person¡­


    Fearing Isla might be harassed by the old lady, he said to Keira Olsen sternly, ¡°Enough, your sister is only looking out for you. Is such a big reaction necessary? Are you not ashamed to cause a scene here?¡±


    The little old lady immediately looked at Keira, ¡°My granddaughter-in-law, is this your father?¡±


    Keira lowered her eyes.


    The title ¡°Dad¡± was strange to her, her feelings towards him complex.


    As a child in the Olsen Family, Poppy Hill kept her away from Taylor Olsen.


    Little her would hide in the shadows, secretly looking up at him as he smiled at Isla, lifted her up and spun her around, his towering figure like a god of salvation.


    Therefore, during the countless nights of being beaten by Poppy and denied food, she had fantasized whether ¡°Dad¡± would descend from the heavens, embrace her, and take her away from the misery, if only just once.


    But he never did.


    He never cared about her; on the rare occasions they met, he only instructed her to ¡°listen to Mom more¡±¡­


    The Olsen¡¯s way of interaction was strange, as if they all accepted the presence of Poppy Hill, but aside from Mrs. Olsen, nobody was willing to accept a little girl like her¡­


    Keira pursed her lips, not responding to the old lady¡¯s question.


    She looked at the clothes she had just tried on, picked out one that was barely acceptable, and handed it to the salesperson, ready to pay and leave.


    Seeing this, Taylor Olsen said, ¡°I know you don¡¯t have much money. I¡¯ll pay for this piece of clothing; consider it a gift for the mother-in-law.¡±


    Yet Isla suddenly spoke up, ¡°Dad, I just looked around, and I found that this clothing is the most suitable for a gift in the entire store¡­¡±


    The adjacent salesperson immediately smiled and said, ¡°Miss has good taste indeed. This piece is purely handmade embroidery, the only one in Oceanion. Perhaps you¡¯d like to look at something else¡­¡±


    Hearing this, Taylor Olsen¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Then let¡¯s choose this one!¡±


    He turned to Keira, ¡°This piece is for your sister. You can pick another one.¡±


    Keira¡¯s eyes revealed obscure emotions, ¡°Why should I?¡±


    ¡°Your sister is going to visit the Hortons. This is a gift prepared for Old Mrs. Horton!¡±


    ¡°So I should just give it to her?¡±


    Taylor Olsen scolded, ¡°Isn¡¯t your grandmother-in-law just an old lady who can wear anything? Is she more important than Old Mrs. Horton?¡±


    Keira was adamant, ¡°I won¡¯t allow it.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you be reasonable? Why must you compete with your sister?!¡±


    Keira found it amusing, unable to understand how the clothing she liked first suddenly became a competition with Isla.


    Taylor Olsen then proposed, ¡°Alright then, this piece is fifty thousand, I¡¯ll give you two hundred thousand, as a supplement to your wedding dowry.¡±


    Isla feigned concern, ¡°Keira, you haven¡¯t found a job since graduation. Quickly agree to Dad, don¡¯t let anger at me make you miss out on such a big benefit, you¡¯ll regret it later.¡±


    In the end, Taylor Olsen threatened, ¡°Think it over. If you insist on choosing this one, I won¡¯t help you pay for it.¡±


    True to form as a seasoned businessman, he employed threats and financial enticement, all to buy a piece of clothing for Isla.


    What a great father indeed¡­


    Keira, tired of arguing with them, was about to take out her card to pay, when the little old lady who had been silent suddenly grabbed her hand, ¡°My granddaughter-in-law, I don¡¯t want this one, it¡¯s not pretty.¡±


    Keira looked at her, ¡°Grandma, the rest are even less suitable for you.¡±


    The little old lady was stubborn, ¡°Then I don¡¯t want to settle.¡±


    She had already bought all the suitable clothes for this season! All that¡¯s left here are her hand-me-downs, how could there be anything of interest?


    And listening to their conversation, did Kiera¡¯s sister buy these clothes planning to give them to Old Mrs. Horton?


    Old Mrs. Horton, that sounds so familiar¡­


    Who am I again?


    The little old lady was a bit confused.


    Seeing this, Kiera didn¡¯t dare insist further, and went with her wishes, saying, ¡°Then let¡¯s not buy it.¡±


    It was only then that Taylor Olsen was satisfied, ¡°Why couldn¡¯t you be this sensible earlier? Why waste so much talk? If you can¡¯t afford it, don¡¯t just walk into such stores, in case acquaintances see you and you lose face for the Olsen family!¡±


    Isla also snickered.


    Just now she was going along with the old lady, acting as if it was all real.


    It was simply because she didn¡¯t have the money to buy!


    She asked the salesperson to pack the clothes and then turned to Kiera, ¡°Thank you for letting me have them. When I marry into the Horton family, I¡¯ll find a good job for you and your husband.¡±


    Kiera didn¡¯t even bother with her, preparing to leave with old Mrs. Horton.


    ¡°Wait!¡±


    Taylor Olsen stopped her, handing over a check, ¡°Take this 200,000. It was promised as your dowry and can also help support your life.¡±


    Kiera was slightly stunned, ¡°That¡¯s not necessary.¡±


    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s too little? The Olsen company belongs to Isla¡¯s mother, it will only be left to Isla in the future. This is the most I can give you!¡±


    Taylor Olsen said as if bestowing charity, ¡°Take this 200,000, you and your husband can run a small stall and get by. From now on, live your life honestly, don¡¯t aspire for things that aren¡¯t meant for you!¡±


    Kiera had actually thought that Taylor Olsen had some fatherly love for her, but now she only felt ridiculed, ¡°What isn¡¯t meant for me?¡±


    ¡°Like hanging out in this kind of mall, or¡­ trying to seduce Mr. Horton!¡±


    Taylor Olsen warned, ¡°If you¡¯re looking for trouble, don¡¯t drag the Olsen family into it! The staff today didn¡¯t dare to mess with an old woman of this age, that¡¯s the only reason they didn¡¯t argue with you. If you anger Mr. Horton, it won¡¯t just be an old lady playing tough to calm things down!¡±


    Kiera¡¯s hope completely died, ¡°Rest assured, I have long since had nothing to do with your Olsen family!¡±


    She left without looking back.


    After walking a distance, the little old lady held her hand, ¡°My dear daughter-in-law, your father and sister are truly cruel. In the future, let my grandson take care of you; I guarantee no one will dare to look down on you!¡±


    A warmth rose in Kiera¡¯s heart, ¡°Okay.¡±


    The little old lady continued indignantly, ¡°As for that ugly outfit, they can give it to that Old Mrs. Horton they mentioned. I certainly don¡¯t want it!¡±


    At that moment, the old lady¡¯s phone began to ring.


    She answered, and a man¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Mom, why don¡¯t you and Lewis Horton come home tonight? Jake¡¯s fianc¨¦e is visiting for the first time, to get acquainted with the family.¡±


    The little old lady paused. The muddy thoughts in her head that she couldn¡¯t remember seemed to be suddenly pulled away!


    In a flash, she remembered who she was.


    Turns out she was that foolish Old Mrs. Horton!


    Thinking back to the disdain and mockery she¡¯d just endured¡­


    The little old lady immediately gritted her teeth, ¡°I will definitely come home!¡±


    She hung up the call and sent a voice message to Lewis Horton on WhatsApp, ¡°My dear grandson, I¡¯ve been bullied! You must come home tonight and stand up for me!¡±


    After sending the message, the little old lady took hold of Kiera¡¯s hand, whispering mysteriously, ¡°My dear daughter-in-law, I remember what my grandson¡¯s name is!¡±

 Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Chapter 14

    Chapter 14: Chapter 14


    Keira Olsen asked, ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡±


    She was quite curious about who ¡°the grandson¡± was.


    Given the broad scope of her work, it was quite possible they had met before.


    The little granny beckoned to her, and Keira Olsen bent down and leaned in, bringing her ear close to hear the secret, ¡°I¡¯m only telling you, and you mustn¡¯t say a word to anyone else!¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    The granny cleared her throat, ¡°His nickname is Puppy.¡±


    Keira Olsen: ?


    The granny explained, ¡°My grandson was born in the Year of the Dog. When he was born, he weighed only three pounds and two ounces, and the doctors said he wouldn¡¯t grow much, so I gave him this name. Cheap names make it easier to raise them!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s mouth twitched, and she nearly laughed out loud.


    From what the old lady said, it sounded like her grandson was at least the CEO of a company. Did his subordinates know that he¡¯s called Puppy?


    Just as she was about to inquire about his formal name, the old lady spoke up again, ¡°Daughter-in-law, the clothes here aren¡¯t good looking. Why don¡¯t you accompany me home to pick out a couple tonight?¡±


    Keira Olsen had just heard the voice message the granny sent to ¡°the grandson¡± and knew he would be returning as well.


    The two had already planned to meet, so she didn¡¯t refuse, ¡°Okay.¡±


    After finding a clean place to have lunch outside, Keira Olsen intended to send the little granny home to rest while she went to confront Lewis Horton.


    But the little granny said, ¡°I¡¯m not tired at all. I¡¯ll accompany you to work, and we can go back to my place when you finish.¡±


    She seemed to fear that Keira Olsen would go back on her promise to accompany her home for clothes.


    Such a childlike elder¡­


    Keira Olsen agreed, albeit helplessly.


    ¨C


    They arrived at a charity donation event organized by the government.


    Keira Olsen settled the granny into a resting room, and then, with her press ID in hand, she found a place to sit inside the venue.


    Today, Lewis Horton would donate on behalf of the Horton Group.


    She sat right in the center of the front row, a spot from where she could easily be seen by him.


    She even got in touch with the organizers ahead of time, ensuring they would choose her to stand up and ask questions when the time came.


    In front of the whole gathering, she planned to hint to Lewis Horton that he should check his marital status at the courthouse!


    The expression on Lewis Horton¡¯s face would certainly be unsightly¡­


    Keira Olsen indulged in her delightful thoughts.


    The event began, and soon the host mentioned the Horton Group.


    Keira Olsen, full of anticipation, waited for Lewis Horton, but then she saw¡­ Tom Davis taking the stage?


    Tom Davis glanced meaningfully at Keira Olsen, ¡°I apologize, but Mr. Horton had to change his schedule last minute. However, the Horton Group¡¯s donation will still be made as promised¡­¡±


    The smile on Keira Olsen¡¯s face stiffened.


    She took out her phone only to find a message from Samuel Morgan sent five minutes earlier: [Boss, all of Lewis Horton¡¯s recent itineraries have suddenly been changed!]


    ¡­This man is such a dog!


    But it probably wasn¡¯t because of her, after all, in the eyes of Lewis Horton, she was just someone he could easily do without.


    He probably changed things because he realized his schedule was leaked; for safety reasons, he had to make changes at the last minute.


    Tsk, who is he guarding against?


    ¡­


    Keira Olsen continued her interviews, and afterward, she handed over her equipment and interview materials to a colleague from the same newspaper and had them leave first.


    She went to pick up the little old lady from the rest area and then arrived at an automobile manufacturing factory.


    This was a division under the Horton Group.


    All other engagements for Lewis Horton might be canceled, but a visit to the grassroots level factories was something the factory had been well prepared for. He couldn¡¯t change it at the last minute; it would be disrespectful to so many workers.


    Indeed, she and the little old lady waited for a moment inside the coffee shop near the factory, and then saw a low-profile black Bentley drive through the factory gates.


    Keira Olsen asked a coffee shop employee to take care of the old lady, and then she walked over.


    She took out her temporary worker¡¯s ID for the place and handed it to the security guard, who glanced at it and said, ¡°Sorry, Mr. Davis has ordered that during Mr. Horton¡¯s inspection, no delivery personnel, repairmen, interns, or temporary workers are allowed entry.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen knew it would be like this!


    Tom Davis really was trying every possible way to stop her from seeing Lewis Horton¡­


    Keira Olsen gave a smirk, took out another work badge, and passed it over. The guard saw it and instantly stood up straight, looking at her with admiration in his eyes, ¡°Please come in.¡±


    Keira Olsen took back her work badge and confidently entered through the gates.


    She soon found Lewis Horton.


    The man was inspecting the workspaces accompanied by the factory manager. All the workers stayed outside, and the entrance was guarded by bodyguards, rendering it completely inaccessible.


    Keira Olsen could only watch him from a distance through the glass window.


    The man, in his suit and leather shoes, presented a visual feast as his handsome face and noble aura collided with the dim, cold machinery around him.


    He listened intently to the manager¡¯s introduction, occasionally asking questions that left the manager visibly astonished, and after three to five minutes, the manager was wholeheartedly impressed with this new authority figure.


    Suddenly, as if sensing something, the man slowly turned his head, locking eyes with Keira Olsen.


    Keira Olsen waved at him.


    Lewis Horton furrowed his brow and looked away.


    At that moment, Tom Davis approached the window and ¡°swoosh¡±¡ªpulled down all the blinds, cutting off every gaze.


    Keira Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    She was once again ¡°invited¡± out of the factory by the bodyguards. Tom Davis stood at the entrance, chastising the guard: ¡°Didn¡¯t I say interns and temporary workers are not allowed in?¡±


    The guard nodded repeatedly, ¡°But she¡¯s not just any temporary worker, she¡­¡±


    Tom Davis snickered, cutting off the guard¡¯s words, ¡°She¡¯s really quite extraordinary¡­¡±


    After all, how could a normal person hold so many jobs at the same time!


    Tom Davis was extremely annoyed; he said angrily to Keira Olsen, ¡°Miss Olsen, our boss didn¡¯t want to lower himself to deal with you before, but you just don¡¯t know when to stop. You¡¯ve come to bother him again and again. If you dare to show up in front of our boss once more, we will call the police and accuse you of harassment!¡±


    Keira Olsen sighed, ¡°If you don¡¯t want me to keep bothering you, then go check at the courthouse. I am truly Mr. Horton¡¯s wife. Why won¡¯t you believe me?¡±


    Tom Davis snickered, ¡°The marriage registration process requires everything to be complete in our country, and there¡¯s no such thing as getting it done without the parties present. The lie you¡¯re telling is so incredible it¡¯s laughable. Only someone with a broken brain would believe such preposterous claims!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen truly couldn¡¯t talk sense into them.


    She shrugged her shoulders helplessly, ¡°Then I have no choice but to keep bothering you.¡±


    Tom Davis scoffed, ¡°You really think you can see our boss whenever you want? If you get to see the boss again, then that would mean I¡¯m incompetent as an assistant! By then, I¡¯ll live stream myself eating shit!¡±


    Keira Olsen said nothing more and turned to leave.


    It looked like tomorrow she would have to take a more aggressive approach.


    After picking up the little old lady, Keira Olsen sent a WhatsApp message to her ¡°grandson¡±: [The Empress Dowager wants to go home to pick up a few clothes, what¡¯s the address of your place?]


    Her ¡°grandson¡± quickly sent her a location.


    He then messaged her: [I¡¯m about to finish up, where are you? I¡¯ll come to get you.]


    Keira Olsen opened the location and glanced at it, then froze.


    House One Manor¡­ Isn¡¯t that the Horton Family¡¯s place?!

 Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

    Chapter 15: Chapter 15


    House One Manor in Oceanion is legendary.


    It is located on the mid-slope of a hill, covering three thousand acres, with the Horton¡¯s ancestral home occupying over two thousand acres.


    The remaining dozens of small villas are scattered around the Horton¡¯s estate.


    It is the most famous rich neighborhood in Oceanion.


    Keira Olsen thought that the little old lady¡¯s home was one of those small villas; she didn¡¯t dare to think it could be the Horton¡¯s.


    She replied to the message, ¡°No need, we are already in a taxi.¡±


    The little old lady showed signs of weariness and fell asleep as soon as she got into the car.


    The taxi wound its way up the spacious and clean mountain road, entered House One Manor, and dropped them off at the location set by the navigation before leaving.


    Keira Olsen looked up at the ancient and elegant gate adorned with exquisite carvings and hesitantly asked, ¡°Grandma, is this your home?¡±


    The little old lady, still groggy from sleep, looked a bit dazed, ¡°Daughter-in-law, I can¡¯t remember.¡±


    Keira Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    She messaged her ¡°grandson¡±, ¡°I think we took a wrong turn.¡±


    ¡°Grandson¡±: ¡°Wait there, I¡¯ll be there shortly.¡±


    During the drive, Keira Olsen noticed that the nearest house was a five-minute drive away, indeed, it wasn¡¯t suitable to wander around.


    She helped the little old lady sit on a stone bench nearby.


    Suddenly, a BMW X7 stopped in front of them.


    Isla Olsen and Poppy Hill got out of the back seat and rushed over to them.


    Poppy Hill frowned and scolded, ¡°Keira Olsen? It really is you! What are you doing here?¡±


    Today, she accompanied Isla Olsen to the Hortons as a nanny and from a distance, she saw a young girl loitering in front of the Horton family gate, never expecting it was actually her!


    Isla Olsen, looking at the tightly closed gates of the Hortons, asked, ¡°Keira, are you here to pester Mr. Horton again?¡±


    As soon as she said this, Poppy Hill yelled, ¡°Bitch, don¡¯t you know what day it is today? Get lost at once! If you ruin Isla¡¯s reunion, I¡¯ll never let you off the hook!¡±


    Keira Olsen was truly fed up with them.


    But the little old lady was here, and she didn¡¯t want to have a conflict with them, so she suppressed her impatience and explained, ¡°I am here to bring an old lady home, and we lost our way.¡±


    Isla Olsen said subconsciously, ¡°Isn¡¯t that your husband¡¯s grandma? How could she possibly live in this neighborhood!¡±


    Keira Olsen retorted, ¡°Why not? Does this neighborhood belong to your family?¡±


    Isla Olsen was at a loss for words.


    But Poppy Hill cursed, ¡°Stop pretending! Could the grandma of your poor-ass husband even live here?¡±


    She looked directly at the little old lady, ¡°You old thing, then tell me, which villa do you live in?¡±


    Hearing this, Keira Olsen frowned, about to say something when the little old lady suddenly stood up, ¡°I remember now! I live here! Daughter-in-law, follow me home!¡±


    She grabbed Keira Olsen¡¯s hand and walked towards the Horton¡¯s gate.


    There was still a hundred meters to the gate from here.


    But after only a couple of steps, Isla Olsen spoke up, ¡°Keira, after all the excuses, are you still using the old lady as a pretext to go to the Hortons?¡±


    Keira Olsen paused in her steps, looking sharply ahead!


    The Hortons?


    Although she had some suspicions in her heart when she saw the grandeur of the gate¡­


    It was hard for her to associate the polite ¡°grandson¡± on WhatsApp with the cold and ruthless Lewis Horton¡­


    Maybe the little old lady got it wrong?


    Just as she was about to confirm, Poppy Hill suddenly charged over, reaching for the little old lady, ¡°You old hag, coming up with such lies to freeload, shameless! You are not allowed to cause a disturbance at the Horton¡¯s!¡±


    Keira Olsen was startled, she protected the little old lady with one hand and grabbed Poppy Hill with the other, pushing her away fiercely, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    The little old lady was so old, she couldn¡¯t withstand any jostling!


    Poppy Hill stumbled back from the push, and once she regained her footing, she cursed vehemently, ¡°Ungrateful wretch, you even attack your own mother for such an old hag! I¡¯m calling the police, accuse you of being unfilial!¡±


    Keira Olsen ignored her, but the little old lady immediately retorted, ¡°My granddaughter-in-law is not unfilial. You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡±


    Poppy Hill sneered, ¡°You old thing, just how poor have you become to send your granddaughter-in-law into the arms of another man for money? What? Did she share the profits with you? Or is this what your family does? You must have served plenty of men when you were younger, huh? You disgrace!¡±


    ¡°Shut up!!¡±


    Keira Olsen scolded, quickly glancing at the little old lady.


    The little old lady had never been insulted like this before and was indeed shaking all over.


    Her hand pressed against her chest, her body uncontrollably began to tremble, and she slumped to the ground.


    Keira Olsen quickly caught her, ¡°Grandma, what¡¯s wrong with you!¡±


    The little old lady gasped for breath, unable to speak.


    Keira Olsen immediately took the nitroglycerin out of her pocket, but upon opening the bottle, she found it empty!!


    Her pupils constricted.


    The old lady¡¯s health was very poor, and it was not suitable to perform manual CPR unless it was absolutely necessary. The best option was medication.


    She abruptly turned towards the door.


    The Horton family must have medicine!


    Even though the little old lady wasn¡¯t a Horton, she was their neighbor, and they wouldn¡¯t let her die without helping!


    Keira Olsen picked up the old lady, ¡°Grandma, don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯ll take you to find medicine!¡±


    But she was forcefully pulled back by Isla Olsen, ¡°Kiera, don¡¯t do this. It was one thing to take advantage of your age to buy clothes, but how can you stir up trouble at the Horton family? They won¡¯t let you in¡­¡±


    She looked at the little old lady, a dark flash crossing her eyes.


    This old lady¡¯s complexion was very poor; she looked like she might really be dying.


    If she were to die, Keira Olsen¡¯s husband would surely hate her! Then she¡¯d see how Keira dares to seduce other men outside!


    At this moment, Kiera Olsen felt like she was going to explode with anger!


    Rage churned in her peach-blossom eyes, and she raised her foot to kick Isla Olsen.


    ¡°Get lost!¡±


    Her voice was hoarse with fury.


    The next moment, someone tightly hugged her leg.


    Poppy Hill sat on the ground, embracing her without any dignity:


    ¡°You think you¡¯re the only ones who can provoke trouble? Anyone can do that! I¡¯m going to die too, I¡¯m being killed by my own daughter!¡±


    ¡°My chest hurts so much, I can¡¯t take it!¡±


    ¡°Even if I have to die today, I won¡¯t let this wretched old hag stir up trouble at the Hortons¡¯!¡±


    Kiera Olsen trembled with rage, her eyes growing colder.


    She forcefully kicked Poppy Hill away and struck Isla Olsen¡¯s abdomen with her elbow, then strode forward!


    Isla Olsen bent over, forehead breaking out in cold sweat from the pain.


    But Poppy Hill ignored her pain and lunged at her again, clinging to her legs and screaming, ¡°Help! Murder!¡±


    Kiera Olsen, mindful of the little old lady in her arms, couldn¡¯t break free for the moment!


    Just then!


    A black Bentley slowly approached.


    Lewis Horton got out of the car and asked sternly, ¡°What are you doing?!¡±


    Isla Olsen quickly spoke up, ¡°Mr. Horton, it¡¯s Kiera who insisted on bringing a dying old lady to the Hortons to cause trouble. It¡¯s all my fault for not stopping her¡­¡±


    Hearing this, Kiera Olsen slowly turned around.


    Upon seeing the grandmother she was holding, Lewis Horton¡¯s pupils shrank abruptly!


    Volume Two

 Chapter 16 - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

    Chapter 15: Chapter 15


    House One Manor in Oceanion is legendary.


    It is located on the mid-slope of a hill, covering three thousand acres, with the Horton¡¯s ancestral home occupying over two thousand acres.


    The remaining dozens of small villas are scattered around the Horton¡¯s estate.


    It is the most famous rich neighborhood in Oceanion.


    Keira Olsen thought that the little old lady¡¯s home was one of those small villas; she didn¡¯t dare to think it could be the Horton¡¯s.


    She replied to the message, ¡°No need, we are already in a taxi.¡±


    The little old lady showed signs of weariness and fell asleep as soon as she got into the car.


    The taxi wound its way up the spacious and clean mountain road, entered House One Manor, and dropped them off at the location set by the navigation before leaving.


    Keira Olsen looked up at the ancient and elegant gate adorned with exquisite carvings and hesitantly asked, ¡°Grandma, is this your home?¡±


    The little old lady, still groggy from sleep, looked a bit dazed, ¡°Daughter-in-law, I can¡¯t remember.¡±


    Keira Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    She messaged her ¡°grandson¡±, ¡°I think we took a wrong turn.¡±


    ¡°Grandson¡±: ¡°Wait there, I¡¯ll be there shortly.¡±


    During the drive, Keira Olsen noticed that the nearest house was a five-minute drive away, indeed, it wasn¡¯t suitable to wander around.


    She helped the little old lady sit on a stone bench nearby.


    Suddenly, a BMW X7 stopped in front of them.


    Isla Olsen and Poppy Hill got out of the back seat and rushed over to them.


    Poppy Hill frowned and scolded, ¡°Keira Olsen? It really is you! What are you doing here?¡±


    Today, she accompanied Isla Olsen to the Hortons as a nanny and from a distance, she saw a young girl loitering in front of the Horton family gate, never expecting it was actually her!


    Isla Olsen, looking at the tightly closed gates of the Hortons, asked, ¡°Keira, are you here to pester Mr. Horton again?¡±


    As soon as she said this, Poppy Hill yelled, ¡°Bitch, don¡¯t you know what day it is today? Get lost at once! If you ruin Isla¡¯s reunion, I¡¯ll never let you off the hook!¡±


    Keira Olsen was truly fed up with them.


    But the little old lady was here, and she didn¡¯t want to have a conflict with them, so she suppressed her impatience and explained, ¡°I am here to bring an old lady home, and we lost our way.¡±


    Isla Olsen said subconsciously, ¡°Isn¡¯t that your husband¡¯s grandma? How could she possibly live in this neighborhood!¡±


    Keira Olsen retorted, ¡°Why not? Does this neighborhood belong to your family?¡±


    Isla Olsen was at a loss for words.


    But Poppy Hill cursed, ¡°Stop pretending! Could the grandma of your poor-ass husband even live here?¡±


    She looked directly at the little old lady, ¡°You old thing, then tell me, which villa do you live in?¡±


    Hearing this, Keira Olsen frowned, about to say something when the little old lady suddenly stood up, ¡°I remember now! I live here! Daughter-in-law, follow me home!¡±


    She grabbed Keira Olsen¡¯s hand and walked towards the Horton¡¯s gate.


    There was still a hundred meters to the gate from here.


    But after only a couple of steps, Isla Olsen spoke up, ¡°Keira, after all the excuses, are you still using the old lady as a pretext to go to the Hortons?¡±


    Keira Olsen paused in her steps, looking sharply ahead!


    The Hortons?


    Although she had some suspicions in her heart when she saw the grandeur of the gate¡­


    It was hard for her to associate the polite ¡°grandson¡± on WhatsApp with the cold and ruthless Lewis Horton¡­


    Maybe the little old lady got it wrong?


    Just as she was about to confirm, Poppy Hill suddenly charged over, reaching for the little old lady, ¡°You old hag, coming up with such lies to freeload, shameless! You are not allowed to cause a disturbance at the Horton¡¯s!¡±


    Keira Olsen was startled, she protected the little old lady with one hand and grabbed Poppy Hill with the other, pushing her away fiercely, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    The little old lady was so old, she couldn¡¯t withstand any jostling!


    Poppy Hill stumbled back from the push, and once she regained her footing, she cursed vehemently, ¡°Ungrateful wretch, you even attack your own mother for such an old hag! I¡¯m calling the police, accuse you of being unfilial!¡±


    Keira Olsen ignored her, but the little old lady immediately retorted, ¡°My granddaughter-in-law is not unfilial. You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡±


    Poppy Hill sneered, ¡°You old thing, just how poor have you become to send your granddaughter-in-law into the arms of another man for money? What? Did she share the profits with you? Or is this what your family does? You must have served plenty of men when you were younger, huh? You disgrace!¡±


    ¡°Shut up!!¡±


    Keira Olsen scolded, quickly glancing at the little old lady.


    The little old lady had never been insulted like this before and was indeed shaking all over.


    Her hand pressed against her chest, her body uncontrollably began to tremble, and she slumped to the ground.


    Keira Olsen quickly caught her, ¡°Grandma, what¡¯s wrong with you!¡±


    The little old lady gasped for breath, unable to speak.


    Keira Olsen immediately took the nitroglycerin out of her pocket, but upon opening the bottle, she found it empty!!


    Her pupils constricted.


    The old lady¡¯s health was very poor, and it was not suitable to perform manual CPR unless it was absolutely necessary. The best option was medication.


    She abruptly turned towards the door.


    The Horton family must have medicine!


    Even though the little old lady wasn¡¯t a Horton, she was their neighbor, and they wouldn¡¯t let her die without helping!


    Keira Olsen picked up the old lady, ¡°Grandma, don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯ll take you to find medicine!¡±


    But she was forcefully pulled back by Isla Olsen, ¡°Kiera, don¡¯t do this. It was one thing to take advantage of your age to buy clothes, but how can you stir up trouble at the Horton family? They won¡¯t let you in¡­¡±


    She looked at the little old lady, a dark flash crossing her eyes.


    This old lady¡¯s complexion was very poor; she looked like she might really be dying.


    If she were to die, Keira Olsen¡¯s husband would surely hate her! Then she¡¯d see how Keira dares to seduce other men outside!


    At this moment, Kiera Olsen felt like she was going to explode with anger!


    Rage churned in her peach-blossom eyes, and she raised her foot to kick Isla Olsen.


    ¡°Get lost!¡±


    Her voice was hoarse with fury.


    The next moment, someone tightly hugged her leg.


    Poppy Hill sat on the ground, embracing her without any dignity:


    ¡°You think you¡¯re the only ones who can provoke trouble? Anyone can do that! I¡¯m going to die too, I¡¯m being killed by my own daughter!¡±


    ¡°My chest hurts so much, I can¡¯t take it!¡±


    ¡°Even if I have to die today, I won¡¯t let this wretched old hag stir up trouble at the Hortons¡¯!¡±


    Kiera Olsen trembled with rage, her eyes growing colder.


    She forcefully kicked Poppy Hill away and struck Isla Olsen¡¯s abdomen with her elbow, then strode forward!


    Isla Olsen bent over, forehead breaking out in cold sweat from the pain.


    But Poppy Hill ignored her pain and lunged at her again, clinging to her legs and screaming, ¡°Help! Murder!¡±


    Kiera Olsen, mindful of the little old lady in her arms, couldn¡¯t break free for the moment!


    Just then!


    A black Bentley slowly approached.


    Lewis Horton got out of the car and asked sternly, ¡°What are you doing?!¡±


    Isla Olsen quickly spoke up, ¡°Mr. Horton, it¡¯s Kiera who insisted on bringing a dying old lady to the Hortons to cause trouble. It¡¯s all my fault for not stopping her¡­¡±


    Hearing this, Kiera Olsen slowly turned around.


    Upon seeing the grandmother she was holding, Lewis Horton¡¯s pupils shrank abruptly!


    Volume Two

 Chapter 17 - Chapter 16: Chapter 16

    Chapter 16: Chapter 16


    The woman was holding the grandmother who had a ghastly pale complexion, her arms hanging down limply¡­


    Lewis Horton suddenly strode towards them!


    He seemed calm on the outside, but his heart was filled with panic and fear!


    Great Grandmother was the person he was closest to in this world¡­


    In recent years, her health had been deteriorating, and the family doctor had already hinted that old Mrs. Horton might not survive the year¡­


    He couldn¡¯t lose Great Grandmother!


    Keira Olsen saw him approaching and guessed what was happening, but this wasn¡¯t the time to talk about that; she urgently said, ¡°Old Mrs. Horton is having a heart attack, and she just ran out of the nitroglycerin she carries with her; she needs her medication immediately.¡±


    She paused, then added, ¡°There won¡¯t be any problems if she takes the medicine on time.¡±


    Lewis Horton pursed his lips.


    He reached out to take Great Grandmother and without looking back, dashed into the Horton estate.


    Keira didn¡¯t follow them inside; her legs were still being clutched by Poppy Hill.


    Isla Olsen watched Lewis Horton¡¯s retreating back and suddenly felt a wave of intense anxiety, ¡°Could she possibly be Old Mrs. Horton?¡±


    ¡°How could Old Mrs. Horton possibly be with Keira Olsen? She is the grandmother of Keira¡¯s husband!¡±


    Poppy Hill released Keira, stood up, and dusted herself off, ¡°Mr. Horton was so anxious, probably afraid it would turn into a fatal issue, which would make the Horton family appear negligent if word got out¡­ Not a good look¡­¡±


    She glared fiercely at Keira, ¡°Isn¡¯t she just relying on this, bringing the old woman to rush into the Hortons¡¯ place?¡±


    Isla frowned in thought.


    Indeed.


    It¡¯s not possible that Keira¡¯s punk husband could be Lewis Horton, right?


    She was really overthinking it¡­


    At this time, the gates of the Horton estate opened, and Jake Horton walked out.


    Isla¡¯s eyes lit up, and she said with a smile, ¡°Jake, you could have just waited for me in the parking lot, why did you come all the way to the gate?¡±


    Jake Horton had a displeased look on his face.


    Isla had messaged that she was almost there but had a lot of gifts, coquettishly asking him to come out and meet her.


    He had waited in the parking lot for a long time without seeing her and decided to come out to take a look.


    He caught sight of Keira Olsen and paused in his step.


    For a moment, his impatience faded, replaced with a trace of tenderness as he gently told Isla, ¡°Right, it¡¯s your first time here, and I was worried you might get lost.¡±


    Isla ran up to him and, as if to proclaim her territory, shyly latched onto his arm and said, ¡°Jake, you¡¯re so kind~¡±


    She probed, ¡°Is Old Mrs. Horton at home?¡±


    ¡°She is.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s been at home all along? She didn¡¯t go out today?¡±


    ¡°Right, Great Grandmother¡¯s health isn¡¯t good, she¡¯s been resting at home.¡±


    Old Mrs. Horton lived alone in a separate courtyard, not wanting them to disturb her.


    Jake Horton spoke as if this was obvious; Isla believed it implicitly and completely relaxed.


    Jake Horton blatantly stared at Keira Olsen.


    He didn¡¯t miss any subtle expression on the woman¡¯s face, trying to find jealousy, envy or resentment.


    But there was none, not a trace.


    His expression gradually darkened.


    Keira Olsen was preoccupied with thoughts of the old lady and didn¡¯t pay any attention to their display of affection.


    By now, she had pretty much confirmed that ¡°the grandson¡± was indeed Lewis Horton.


    She looked at the door, pondering whether she would be stopped if she entered now?


    Suddenly, the scenery before her darkened.


    Jake Horton stood in front of her and said directly, ¡°Keira Olsen, you came to see me because you¡¯ve come to your senses?¡±


    Keira Olsen: ?


    Jake Horton sneered venomously, ¡°Just give me a call when you figure it out, who gave you permission to come to the Horton¡¯s? Is the Horton family¡¯s front door a place an illegitimate daughter can enter?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen pursed her lips.


    That stubborn look made Jake Horton¡¯s heart suddenly soften, ¡°If you really want to go in and take a look, you can also¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, Isla Olsen interrupted, ¡°Jake, you misunderstood, Keira is waiting for her husband¡¯s grandmother. The old lady just had a heart attack and was carried inside by Mr. Horton to be saved¡­¡±


    Jake Horton was slightly startled, ¡°¡­Husband?¡±


    Isla Olsen smiled, ¡°Right, I haven¡¯t had the chance to tell you yet, Keira is married¡­¡±


    Jake Horton¡¯s eyes turned red all of a sudden, his teeth clenched as he said, ¡°Keira Olsen, who is that man?!¡±


    He looked like he was catching an adulterer.


    Keira Olsen¡¯s eyes were filled with scorn, ¡°Jake Horton, who my husband is has nothing to do with you.¡±


    Jake Horton¡¯s volume suddenly rose, ¡°How does it have nothing to do with me? I want to see who dares to marry you without my consent!¡±


    Isla Olsen quickly answered, ¡°According to what Keira¡¯s mom said, he¡¯s a little punk.¡±


    Jake Horton clenched his fists, speaking without a filter, ¡°So you demean yourself like this? Well, an illegitimate daughter and a little punk are really a perfect match!¡±


    Isla Olsen kept fanning the flames, ¡°Keira must be very unwilling, that¡¯s why she always clings to Mr. Horton¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen sneered coldly, ¡°Isla Olsen, you pride yourself on being a lady from a prestigious family, why is your mind filled with nothing but filthy thoughts? Is that all you have?¡±


    Isla Olsen¡¯s face stiffened, and she clenched her fingers tightly.


    She sighed, ¡°Keira, I know you¡¯re doing this to get back at me and Jake, but Mr. Horton is already married, and you shouldn¡¯t be trying to break up someone else¡¯s marriage¡­¡±


    Jake Horton exploded when he heard this.


    He had been waiting for Keira Olsen¡¯s call all these days, thinking that if she begged for mercy and showed some remorse, he might let her off the hook.


    But it turned out she had already found someone new?!


    He was enraged, ¡°I was wondering why your husband¡¯s grandmother would have an attack right at my door, turns out you were here to find my uncle? Keira Olsen, how shameless can you be!!¡±


    He was burning with anger, his fury reaching the sky.


    Pointing at Keira Olsen, he addressed the security guard, ¡°See clearly? Remember this face, don¡¯t let her step half a foot into the Horton¡¯s!¡±


    Isla Olsen looked down, hiding a triumphant smile at the corner of her lips.


    At the Horton¡¯s main gate, she could still make decisions¡­


    However, the next moment, the housekeeper of the Horton¡¯s came out from inside.


    Her gaze swept over everyone and stopped in front of Keira Olsen, ¡°Miss Keira, the master invites you in.¡±


    Isla Olsen was stunned.


    Jake Horton was dumbfounded.


    Keira Olsen, however, lifted her eyes, her gaze mocking as she looked towards the security guard, ¡°So, can I go in now?¡±


    The security guard carefully glanced at Jake Horton and without hesitation, opened the door.


    Who held the real power in the Horton¡¯s was something he was well aware of¡­


    ¡­


    The Horton¡¯s home was vast.


    Upon entering, a shuttle took Keira Olsen directly to the main house¡¯s front door.


    The housekeeper was respectful, ¡°Old Mrs. Horton is already fine, she and the master are waiting for you in the reception room.¡±


    Keira Olsen was relieved.


    Just as she got out of the car, she saw the Olsen Family¡¯s BMW X7 parked not far away in the parking lot.


    Isla Olsen and Poppy Hill, led by Jake Horton, were storming her way, meeting Keira Olsen at the door.


    Poppy Hill glared at Keira, ¡°Mr. Horton probably wants you to take your grandmother home. After picking her up, leave quickly if you know what¡¯s good for you, you nasty creature, don¡¯t dirty the Horton¡¯s carpet!¡±


    As those words were spoken, everyone entered the living room and immediately saw Old Mrs. Horton seated in the main spot on the sofa.


    The elderly lady glared at them, angrily saying:


    ¡°Wicked woman, whom are you calling a nasty creature?¡±

 Chapter 18 - Chapter 17: Chapter 17

    Chapter 17: Chapter 17


    The old lady had changed into a lavish outfit, but her complexion was still not very good.


    Lewis Horton sat coldly to her left.


    To the right sat a man over sixty years old, Lewis Horton¡¯s father.


    On the sofa to the side sat a couple in their forties, Lewis Horton¡¯s older brother and sister-in-law, who were also Jake Horton¡¯s parents.


    Although no one introduced the old lady¡¯s identity, anyone who could sit in the main seat at the Horton¡¯s must certainly be old Mrs. Horton!


    Poppy Hill stood frozen in place, ¡°You, you¡­¡±


    She stuttered for a long time, unable to form a complete sentence.


    Isla Olsen¡¯s legs went weak, and she almost fell, but Jake Horton steadied her.


    Jake Horton was puzzled, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Isla Olsen¡¯s hands were trembling.


    She was indeed reaching far beyond her station in trying to join the Horton Family, where every elder was someone she had to painstakingly please, yet even before she had entered the door, she had managed to offend old Mrs. Horton!


    She suddenly laughed bitterly, ¡°Kiera, why did you deceive us, telling us that old Mrs. Horton was your husband¡¯s grandmother? You made us disrespectful to the old lady¡­¡±


    Kiera Olsen immediately felt several suspicious gazes turn toward her.


    Poppy Hill also realized and shouted, ¡°Disgraceful girl, knowing full well that the old lady has dementia, you still dared to deceive her! What do you take the Horton Family for? Get down on your knees and apologize to me right now!¡±


    Kiera Olsen¡¯s eyes darkened.


    This was an attempt to shift the blame and pin all the faults on her, allowing Isla Olsen to clear herself.


    Quite the tactic.


    ¡°Smack!¡±


    A teacup was thrown by the old lady, hitting Poppy Hill directly.


    The boiling tea splashed all over her, yet Poppy Hill dared not scream out loud.


    ¡°Rubbish!¡± old Mrs. Horton shouted angrily, ¡°She is indeed my granddaughter-in-law!¡±


    Despite the scalding pain, Poppy Hill yelled, ¡°Old Mrs. Horton, you¡¯ve been deceived by her! I¡¯m sure her husband is just a little punk!¡±


    ¡°No need to argue, why not just ask the person in question?¡±


    Jake Horton¡¯s mother spoke up, ¡°Lewis, is she truly the wife you¡¯ve hidden away and not brought home?¡±


    Kiera Olsen suddenly looked towards Lewis Horton, then she heard the expected answer, ¡°No.¡±


    The man was as cold and heartless as ever.


    ¡­Truly a small-minded man who repays kindness with ingratitude!


    A flicker of indignation passed through Kiera Olsen¡¯s peach-blossom eyes.


    Isla Olsen¡¯s face showed joy, and she breathed a sigh of relief.


    Poppy Hill sneered, ¡°I told you all this trouble was caused by Kiera Olsen!¡±


    Kiera Olsen snorted coldly, about to speak, but then she heard the man¡¯s deep voice rise again:


    ¡°It was Grandma who mistook her, so I asked Miss Olsen to help take care of Grandma for a while.¡±


    Kiera Olsen:¡­


    Alright, she admitted she might have raised her voice too much at ¡°grandson.¡±


    Everyone fell silent, none having expected such a development.


    After a moment, Isla Olsen lowered her head, ¡°So that¡¯s it, Kiera, why didn¡¯t you tell us the truth? If you had told us earlier, this misunderstanding wouldn¡¯t have happened.¡±


    ¡°Miss Isla Olsen¡­¡±


    Lewis Horton leaned back on the sofa, his posture casual but his tone forceful, ¡°Hiding behind others and shirking responsibility when something happens, is this how the Olsen Family raises their daughters?¡±


    Stirred by these words, old Mrs. Horton immediately exclaimed angrily:


    ¡°Right, you think I can¡¯t see through your little schemes just because my mind is ailing?¡±


    ¡°Making mistakes without showing remorse, and trying to deflect the blame onto others, you two really have no shame!¡±


    old Mrs. Horton directly addressed Jake Horton, ¡°Call off the engagement, I don¡¯t recognize this great-granddaughter-in-law!¡±


    Isla Olsen was shocked to her core!


    The marriage she had worked so hard to obtain couldn¡¯t just end like this!


    She looked at Jake Horton, but the man seemed dazed, his eyes fixed on Keira Olsen, obviously still reeling from the shock of her being married.


    Isla clenched her fingers.


    She bowed her head, walked up to Jake Horton, and tears began rolling down her cheeks, ¡°Jake, it¡¯s my fault¡­ Don¡¯t worry, even if the marriage is canceled, I will still introduce the person I promised to you.¡±


    Jake Horton regained his composure.


    Isla still intended to introduce Dr. South to him¡­


    In Crera¡¯s current new energy projects, Dr. South was among the top!


    He hurriedly said to Old Mrs. Horton, ¡°Great Grandmother, Isla didn¡¯t know, so it¡¯s not her fault. Please forgive her. Besides, our families have already exchanged betrothal gifts, it really isn¡¯t good to call off the engagement.¡±


    Old Mrs. Horton gazed at him deeply, ¡°You¡¯ve grown up, I can¡¯t control you anymore, do as you please.¡±


    Old Mrs. Horton knew a principle well.


    Neither deaf nor mute, one should not be the family head.


    Her great-grandson¡¯s affairs should be managed by his parents, she didn¡¯t want to interfere.


    But¡­


    Jake Horton¡¯s mother chuckled, ¡°Grandmother, did you forget to give a meeting gift?¡±


    Old Mrs. Horton¡¯s eyelids drooped, ¡°I will have someone transfer 200,000 to Jake.¡±


    Jake Horton¡¯s mother¡¯s face stiffened, ¡°But didn¡¯t you previously say you would give them two percent of the shares because they might be tight on cash as newlyweds¡­¡±


    If you were to ask who was the wealthiest in the Horton family, it would certainly be Old Mrs. Horton!


    She was born into a wealthy family from Clance, with a substantial dowry, and controlled twenty percent of the Horton Family¡¯s shares¡­


    Jake Horton¡¯s mother had long wanted to secure a hefty sum through the marriage!


    Everything had been agreed upon, but the old lady changed her mind at the last minute!


    Old Mrs. Horton looked at her with a mocking smile, ¡°I¡¯m not satisfied with this great-granddaughter-in-law, I¡¯m not giving it!!¡±


    Isla¡¯s face turned deadly pale, feeling deeply humiliated.


    The Horton family had many servants; these words would surely spread, and soon the whole of Oceanion would know that she was disliked by Old Mrs. Horton!


    Face was most important to a wealthy family heiress, and today Old Mrs. Horton had trampled her dignity underfoot¡­


    The old lady didn¡¯t care about these things; she left those words and directly took Keira Olsen and Lewis Horton to her residence¡¯s courtyard.


    Then, using the excuse of a sudden need to urinate, she asked Lewis Horton to ¡°properly¡± entertain the bride and hurriedly took people away.


    In the blink of an eye, only two people were left in the courtyard.


    The night was as dark as ink.


    Keira Olsen and Lewis Horton stood side by side, and she realized the man was actually a head taller than she was, probably about six-foot-two.


    Didn¡¯t the old lady say he was very small when he was born?


    As she was silently grumbling, Lewis Horton suddenly looked at her, his eyebrows tightly furrowed, disdain apparent, ¡°Lacking iron in your five elements?¡±


    Keira Olsen, not to be outdone, suddenly looked at him seriously, ¡°Puppy?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s face turned steely.


    She had tricked grandmother into even mentioning that!


    Indeed, her intentions were not pure!


    It might have been an accident that grandmother got involved with her, and there were no signs of scheming in that. But this woman took in grandma under the pretense of kindness, possibly because grandmother unwittingly revealed her identity.


    Keira Olsen, having countered him sharply, didn¡¯t forget the main issue, ¡°I remember you said you¡¯d do me a favor, could you go to the courthouse with me to check the marital status?¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s expression darkened, his tone impatient and harsh,


    ¡°Fine, let¡¯s go! If it¡¯s not true, I hope you stop using my grandmother to bother me!¡±

 Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Chapter 19

    Chapter 19: Chapter 19


    Keira Olsen stared dumbfounded at the marriage certificate in her hand.


    She suddenly realized that the old lady had called her granddaughter-in-law the first time they met¡­ she had known all along that they were married!


    Keira felt she had grasped a clue.


    She immediately asked, ¡°Grandma, how did this marriage certificate end up with you?¡±


    The old lady paused, her eyes becoming somewhat confused: ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t remember.¡±


    Keira continued to ask, ¡°Then how did Mr. Horton and I get married?¡±


    The old lady kept shaking her head: ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡±


    Keira was a bit anxious, ¡°Grandma, please think carefully¡­¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡±


    Lewis Horton interjected sternly, his tall figure standing between her and the old lady, his eyes cold, ¡°Miss Olsen, is this certificate real?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Lewis¡¯s eyes darkened, ¡°Then next, are you going to say there¡¯s no need to go to the courthouse?¡±


    So that was her aim!


    First, she used the legitimate excuse of going to the courthouse as a pretext, then tempted the grandmother to produce this fake document, making him believe it was real.


    If it wasn¡¯t for the grandmother¡¯s compliance towards her just now, he would have almost believed it!


    Keira sensed a faint murderous intent in the man¡¯s tone and felt it was absurd: ¡°We don¡¯t have to go today.¡±


    Divorce was not just a matter of visiting the courthouse once.


    In the two years they were legally married, there were many issues of property division involved, which required first signing a divorce agreement.


    ¡°We must.¡±


    After Lewis said this, he scrutinized Keira closely.


    Yet the girl simply blinked and indifferently said, ¡°As you wish.¡±


    Was she acting so well because she wouldn¡¯t back down until she saw her defeat?


    Or was the marriage certificate real?


    Suddenly, Lewis felt uncertain, and he picked up the marriage certificate and headed out first: ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you in the parking lot.¡±


    Keira smiled reassuringly at the old lady and followed him out.


    The man walked briskly, and she almost had to jog to keep up.


    As they reached the parking lot, they saw Poppy Hill, looking distressed, supporting Isla Olsen, who appeared pale, sneezed, and trembled.


    Upon seeing her, Poppy¡¯s eyes brightened: ¡°Kiera!¡±


    She hurried over, cautiously bypassing Lewis, and came up to her, declaring emphatically, ¡°You must help your sister!¡±


    Keira raised her eyebrows.


    She didn¡¯t understand why these two were here so early.


    Had they not left since last night?


    Before she could speak, Poppy rambled on:


    ¡°Kiera, you are an illegitimate daughter, but the Olsen family raised you without considering your background, and even if they didn¡¯t look at their merits, but at their hardships, you should repay the Olsen family¡­


    ¡°Your sister was even better to you, not only letting you go to school with her, but she also shared her clothes with you.


    ¡°Also, when you were just born and too weak to survive, your mom had no milk, and it was your sister¡¯s milk that you took to stay alive¡­


    ¡°Back then, the Olsen family had no intention of taking us in, but they did because you and your sister were born on the same day, Mrs. Olsen and your dad decided to keep us¡­


    ¡°So, you owe your sister, and you have to be good to her for life¡­¡±


    These familiar words, Keira hadn¡¯t heard them for a good ten years already.


    Thinking back to her younger self who believed these absurd tales and slaved away for the Olsen family, enduring Isla¡¯s endless bullying¡­now she just found it laughable!


    The Olsen Family did raise her, but parents are legally obligated to care for their children. If they had neglected her, they would have committed the crime of abandonment!


    Indeed, she attended school with Isla, but she had to carry Isla¡¯s backpack to and from school, and act as her little follower on campus.


    If Isla coughed even once, it was her fault for not taking good care, and Poppy Hill would beat her.


    At school, she could only ever rank last because she couldn¡¯t surpass Isla!


    As for clothes¡­ her parents never prepared any for her, she could only wear what Isla discarded, so her clothes were always a bit too short.


    Mrs. Olsen did buy her a new skirt once, but as soon as she put it on, Poppy Hill took it off her and gave it to Isla, saying she didn¡¯t deserve it. She couldn¡¯t be prettier than Isla!


    As for being physically weak¡­


    Which infant wouldn¡¯t be weak after being starved for four or five days?


    ¡­


    The irony in Keira Olsen¡¯s eyes grew more intense.


    But Poppy Hill didn¡¯t notice her change in demeanor. After finishing her speech, she immediately said, ¡°Now that you¡¯ve grown up, you finally have a chance to repay the Olsen family. Keira, old Mrs. Horton listens to you, doesn¡¯t she? Go ask her to return the two percent of shares to your sister!¡±


    Keira Olsen lowered her eyes and smiled, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±


    Poppy Hill¡¯s face lit up, thinking she had persuaded her, but the next moment, she heard the girl lightly say:


    ¡°I¡¯m just a despicable illegitimate daughter. How could Old Mrs. Horton possibly listen to me?¡±


    Poppy Hill was stunned and wanted to say more, but Keira Olsen had already walked past her and got straight into Lewis Horton¡¯s car: ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Lewis Horton: ¡°¡­¡±


    He looked at the girl sitting in the back seat, wanting to say the driver hadn¡¯t arrived yet.


    Seeing Poppy Hill looked like she was about to chase after them¡­


    Lewis Horton directly got into the driver¡¯s seat, with a ¡°click¡± he closed the door, leisurely fastened his seatbelt, then started the car and drove away!


    The black stretch Bentley drove smoothly on the road.


    Through the rearview mirror, Lewis Horton could see the girl gazing out of the window, her delicate and beautiful face bearing a serene expression.


    He turned his gaze back to the road and continued driving.


    The words he intended to warn her with, in the end, remained unsaid.


    The car soon arrived at the courthouse.


    As he parked, Tom Davis knocked on the driver¡¯s window.


    Lewis Horton rolled down the window, and Tom Davis¡¯s voice came through: ¡°Boss, the driver said you drove off by yourself. I got scared and chased you down using the GPS. What happened?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    Lewis Horton was as sparing with his words as ever.


    Tom Davis then looked towards the courthouse: ¡°Why are you here? Could it really be that Keira Olsen bothered you into confusion? Don¡¯t worry, as I said, she won¡¯t see you again, otherwise I would¡­¡±


    ¡°Live stream eating shit?¡±


    Tom Davis hadn¡¯t finished speaking when he heard a lazy female voice come through.


    He stiffened, slowly looking back at the back seat, and saw Keira Olsen with a slightly mischievous look in her peach blossom eyes: ¡°Which is your live channel?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Tom Davis was flabbergasted!


    The three entered the courthouse and approached the service window.


    Tom Davis asked first, ¡°Hello, I want to know if it¡¯s possible to get a marriage certificate without the person being present?¡±


    Staff member: ¡°Definitely not.¡±


    ¡°Did you hear that?¡± Tom Davis said mockingly, looking at Keira Olsen. After glancing at the marriage certificate in her hand, he scoffed, ¡°You even prepared a fake one? Haha, I¡¯m calling the police right now! I¡¯ll charge you with document forgery and harassment!¡±


    But Lewis Horton handed over his marriage certificate, ¡°Please check if this marriage certificate is genuine.¡±

 Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Chapter 20

    Chapter 20: Chapter 20


    The staff member gave him a strange look, took the marriage certificate, and began entering information into the computer for the inquiry.


    Lewis Horton pursed his lips.


    Suddenly, he found his own actions ridiculous.


    He was certain he had never married, yet he had bizarrely come here¡­


    Even putting off a very important meeting.


    The staff member quickly gave him the answer, ¡°It¡¯s real.¡±


    Lewis Horton was slightly stunned.


    Upon hearing the staff member¡¯s words, Tom Davis exclaimed instinctively, ¡°How is that possible?! Is it possible there¡¯s a mistake in your information registration?¡±


    The staff member glared at him, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? Marriage is a serious matter. Both parties who come to register must carefully check their identities and sign a guarantee!¡±


    A guarantee¡­


    Keira Olsen spoke up, ¡°Can we take a look at our guarantee?¡±


    ¡°Please fetch the guarantee.¡±


    Lewis Horton spoke at the same time.


    The two exchanged glances, then immediately looked away.


    The staff member stood up helplessly, ¡°You two as a couple do have some tacit understanding. Fine, I¡¯ll go find it for you.¡±


    He returned quickly, holding their registration materials. He pulled out the guarantee and handed it to them to see.


    Keira Olsen discovered that the handwriting on it was indeed hers!


    Tom Davis also blustered on the side, ¡°Boss, this is your handwriting!¡±


    After pondering for a moment, Keira Olsen looked around at the surveillance cameras, ¡°Hello, can we take a look at the video from the day we registered?¡±


    The staff member replied, ¡°Sorry, we only keep the recordings for six months.¡±


    ¡­


    The staff member repeatedly assured them that the marriage certificate would only be processed when both were present, and there would absolutely be no mistakes in their work.


    The three of them eventually walked out of the courthouse, helpless.


    Standing at the entrance, Tom Davis said blankly, ¡°Boss, what do we do now?¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s eyes darkened.


    Keira Olsen, on the other hand, lifted her peach-blossom-like eyes.


    ¡°Divorce.¡±


    ¡°Divorce.¡±


    The two again spoke in unison.


    Tom Davis was taken aback and then asked, ¡°So we divorce now? Shouldn¡¯t we discuss the divorce terms?¡±


    ¡°I will have my lawyer contact you.¡±


    ¡°Talk to my lawyer.¡±


    Lewis Horton and Keira Olsen once more spoke simultaneously.


    After saying this, both couldn¡¯t help but look at each other.


    Keira Olsen laughed it off and simply said, ¡°Otherwise, let¡¯s each have our lawyers draft an agreement, look it over first? If there are any issues, then the lawyers can discuss it.¡±


    Tom Davis scoffed, ¡°With the way you are, can you even afford a lawyer?¡±


    Yet Lewis Horton nodded in agreement.


    Ignoring Tom Davis, Keira Olsen took out her phone, ¡°Mr. Horton, shall we add each other on WhatsApp? It¡¯ll make communication easier later on.¡±


    Lewis Horton paused for a moment, held out his phone with a meaningful gesture to open the QR code for WhatsApp, and saw Keira Olsen scan it. Then a chat box appeared on her phone, marked with the note: Grandson.


    His face instantly darkened.


    Keira Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    She had forgotten they had already added each other on WhatsApp!


    Withstanding his surly expression, she coughed and said, ¡°The nickname was randomly set, I¡¯ll change it¡­¡±


    She blocked her phone and deftly changed ¡°Grandson¡± to ¡°Puppy.¡±


    Then leaving a ¡°See you later,¡± she hailed a taxi and left.


    Watching her receding figure, Tom Davis hesitantly looked towards Lewis Horton, ¡°Boss, you two are actually married, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    The two were just too in sync!!


    Lewis Horton glanced at him, ¡°Find the best divorce lawyer, draft an agreement, and protect the ¡®outside¡¯ assets.¡±


    Tom Davis stood straight, ¡°Yes!¡±


    After saying this, Tom Davis suddenly realized something, ¡°I get it, the marriage thing must have been that woman¡¯s doing. Now that she can¡¯t win your heart, she¡¯s decided to take a slice of your wealth! No wonder she has the money to hire a lawyer to fight a divorce lawsuit with you. Even just a bit of what she takes will cover a hefty legal fee!¡±


    Tom Davis was so angry he was grinding his teeth:


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I absolutely won¡¯t let her take a penny from you!¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°I absolutely cannot let him take a penny from me.¡±


    In the taxi, Kiera Olsen was also making a call to Samuel Morgan, ¡°Find the best divorce lawyer.¡±


    ¡°No problem.¡± Samuel Morgan gossiped, ¡°Boss, what¡¯s the deal with your marriage? Neither you nor Lewis Horton remember anything, it can¡¯t be that both of you have amnesia, can it?¡±


    Kiera Olsen said coolly, ¡°Do you think this is a novel?¡±


    Samuel Morgan, ¡°I¡¯m just curious! It¡¯s absurd and thrilling. I wish the courthouse would also send me a wife like that.¡±


    Kiera Olsen sighed silently and after a while said, ¡°There¡¯s someone who must know what¡¯s going on.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Old Mrs. Horton.¡±


    ¡°¡­Isn¡¯t she unable to remember?¡±


    ¡°Is the clinical trial for the Alzheimer¡¯s treatment still in the experimental stage?¡± asked Kiera Olsen with a frown. ¡°Speed it up, otherwise, it¡¯ll be too late.¡±


    ¡°Too late for what?¡±


    Kiera Olsen looked down and didn¡¯t answer.


    She soon returned home.


    After entering the familiar room by opening the door, she suddenly noticed that the sixty-square-meter apartment seemed a bit empty.


    Just then, the little old lady walked in from the hallway with a suitcase, ¡°My dear daughter-in-law, you¡¯re back? I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time! I brought a lot of clothes this time~¡±


    Kiera Olsen paused for a second, then suddenly smiled.


    ¨C


    That day, the most famous divorce attorney¡¯s office in Oceanion received two commissions to draft divorce agreements.


    Both parties were anonymous, and the demands were the same, ¡°Neither side can take a penny of my money.¡±


    The terms were quite harsh.


    An assistant lawyer complained, ¡°I¡¯ve seen many divorces, but never any this heartless. One client is a man, the other a woman¡­ Men and women are equally ruthless when it comes to money!¡±


    The lawyer was used to seeing loving couples turn into enemies and had seen even crueler cases.


    He chuckled, ¡°One contract, earning money twice! Get it ready and send it to our employers!¡±


    ¨C


    Horton Group, top floor.


    Lewis Horton had been busy ever since he returned from the courthouse.


    It was nearly the end of the workday when he received a call from home, saying grandma had gone looking for the ¡°granddaughter-in-law¡± again.


    Grandma needed to be tested every day to ensure all her values were good¡­


    He frowned slightly and subconsciously opened WhatsApp, found ¡°Puppy,¡± thought about saying something, but didn¡¯t know what to say.


    It seemed ever since he knew ¡°Puppy¡± was Kiera Olsen, things had felt awkward.


    He casually scrolled through the chat history.


    Their previous chats had been very casual, like old friends.


    Especially when he helped her insult someone¡­ Wait, the person she insulted at the restaurant that day could possibly be himself?!


    Lewis Horton¡¯s face darkened instantly.


    At that moment, his phone vibrated with a message from ¡°Puppy,¡± a divorce contract:[Mr. Horton, the asset division in the agreement is my bottom line. Have a look, does it suit you?]


    Asset division¡­


    Was this woman really after the money when she married me?


    Just as Lewis Horton opened the contract, the door was pushed open, and Tom Davis walked in:


    ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve got the results of the investigation into your marriage!¡±

 Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: Chapter 21

    Chapter 21: Chapter 21


    As soon as Tom Davis finished speaking, Lewis Horton had already opened the divorce agreement Kiera had sent over on his computer.


    He quickly skimmed through the agreement, his eyes landing on the property division clause.


    After seeing the contents, he was slightly surprised.


    Seeing this, Tom Davis craned his neck to look at his computer screen and scoffed, ¡°Isn¡¯t that woman being ridiculous? She¡¯s not letting you take any of her property¡­ What can you take from her? Her Ant CreditPay debt?¡±


    Lewis Horton looked down and asked, ¡°What did you find out?¡±


    ¡°Boss, we found out that Kiera realized you were married only a few days ago when she and her boyfriend went to register their marriage. This divorce agreement seems to be for the purpose of getting a divorce as quickly as possible, as if she really had no idea.¡±


    At this point, Tom Davis changed the subject: ¡°But I actually think this is too deliberate. We checked her out, and after she left the Olsen Family, there¡¯s a lot we can¡¯t find! Boss, don¡¯t you find that strange? Why would an ordinary person hide themselves?¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s eyes were half-closed, thoughtful, ¡°So, you think this matter is related to her?¡±


    ¡°Exactly! As for her purpose, it¡¯s unknown.¡±


    Lewis Horton: ¡°Anything else?¡±


    Tom Davis scratched his head: ¡°It¡¯s been two years, and our whereabouts were unpredictable at the time, we really¡­ don¡¯t have any clue, maybe we can only wait for Old Mrs. Horton to remember something one day.¡±


    Lewis Horton cast a glance at him.


    Tom Davis hurriedly lowered his head: ¡°It¡¯s our incompetence, we will continue to investigate.¡±


    Lewis Horton printed two copies of the divorce agreement, stood up, and walked out, ¡°Have you made contact with Researcher Nora?¡±


    It was said that Researcher Nora was close to developing a clinical drug for Alzheimer¡¯s disease.


    Lewis Horton wanted to use the medicine on his grandmother as soon as possible.


    Tom Davis hung his head even lower: ¡°Researcher Nora is elusive, and because of her research, she¡¯s being watched by all the major biotech companies, making her even more cautious¡­¡±


    Feeling the chill emanating from Lewis Horton, his voice got lower and lower: ¡°Boss, rest assured, I will definitely make contact with her!¡±


    ¡­


    Just after Kiera finished dinner with old Mrs. Horton, she received a WhatsApp message from Lewis Horton: ¡°I¡¯m downstairs. Come down.¡±


    She used taking out the trash as an excuse to go downstairs and saw the familiar black stretched Bentley. She got in the car directly.


    Lewis Horton handed her the divorce agreement: ¡°I have no objections. Sign it.¡±


    His dark eyes stared straight at her, thinking she would find an excuse to refuse.


    But he saw the girl sign both copies of the agreement without hesitation and even asked him, ¡°Shall we divorce tomorrow?¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s gaze deepened, ¡°In such a hurry?¡±


    Kiera: ¡°I¡¯m dying of urgency.¡±


    The company was eager to go public!


    Lewis Horton scrutinized her for a moment: ¡°Okay.¡±


    Kiera also reminded him, ¡°Tomorrow morning then. Bring your ID card, household registration book, and marriage certificate. We¡¯ll meet at the courthouse.¡±


    Lewis Horton nodded, but his expression suddenly changed.


    Suddenly, Old Mrs. Horton had come downstairs without them knowing, her face pale as she looked at them.


    She clutched at her chest, her voice trembling, ¡°Are you two getting divorced?¡±


    Then her eyes closed and she collapsed to the ground.


    ¡°Grandma!¡±


    ¡­


    Outside the VIP ward of the First Hospital.


    ¡°The patient is now out of life-threatening danger.¡± The attending doctor said solemnly, ¡°Old Mrs. Horton can¡¯t be subjected to any more emotional shocks. You must not make her angry!¡±


    Hearing this, Kiera thought of the emergency measures that had just been taken on Old Mrs. Horton and still felt a little scared.


    She looked towards Lewis Horton standing beside her.


    The man¡¯s face was expressionless, seemingly very calm.


    But when the doctor said ¡°out of life-threatening danger,¡± he unclenched and relaxed his shirt collar, slowly sitting on the hallway bench, his hands clasped on his knees, trembling uncontrollably.


    At that moment, a nurse¡¯s voice came from the ward: ¡°Old Mrs. Horton, you¡¯re awake!¡±


    Lewis Horton rushed into the ward immediately.


    When Kiera followed in, Old Mrs. Horton had already opened her eyes.


    Looking at Kiera, she spoke in a hoarse voice, ¡°My granddaughter-in-law, I dreamt you and the brat were getting divorced. It¡¯s not true, is it?¡±


    Keira Olsen didn¡¯t speak, but Lewis Horton interjected, ¡°It¡¯s not true.¡±


    ¡°So, no divorce?¡±


    ¡°No divorce.¡±


    ¡°Give me your household registration book and marriage certificate.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Lewis Horton was always responsive to her requests.


    Old Mrs. Horton then looked towards Keira Olsen, ¡°Granddaughter-in-law, the brat isn¡¯t lying, right?¡±


    Keira Olsen thought of the doctor¡¯s advice and fell silent for a moment, ¡°It¡¯s true.¡±


    Only then was old Mrs. Horton satisfied.


    Although she had been overcome with emotion for a while, she would still stay in the hospital for observation tonight.


    Keira Olsen and Lewis Horton stayed to keep her company in the ward.


    Dusk fell.


    Keira Olsen lazily sat on the sofa browsing her phone.


    She was writing a pure English document about clinical drug research on Alzheimer¡¯s disease; she had been struggling with a technical issue in the concluding work.


    She needed to consult some biomedical literature.


    While pondering, a new message suddenly appeared on WhatsApp:


    Puppy: [Miss Olsen, wait until grandma¡¯s condition stabilizes before getting a divorce.]


    This request was inescapable.


    The divorce agreement was already signed, and their assets would have nothing to do with each other after this. Her marital status was still married, which wouldn¡¯t affect the company going public, so it didn¡¯t really matter when the divorce happened.


    Keira Olsen: [Okay.]


    Lewis Horton stared at these two characters on his phone and narrowed his eyes: [Do you have any other conditions?]


    Keira Olsen: [As soon as grandma is well, we can proceed with the divorce quickly.]


    Lewis Horton frowned and suddenly felt this woman was unfathomable.


    Old Mrs. Horton on the sickbed looked at Keira Olsen and then at Lewis Horton.


    The two of them barely exchanged words.


    This wouldn¡¯t do.


    Old Mrs. Horton suddenly said, ¡°Brat, I want to arrange a job for my granddaughter-in-law at Horton Group!¡±


    If they went to work together every day and were constantly seeing each other, wouldn¡¯t their feelings develop?


    Lewis Horton paused slightly: ¡°Okay.¡±


    He was especially agreeable tonight.


    But old Mrs. Horton was worried again: ¡°What job should I arrange?¡±


    Then, an idea struck her: ¡°Granddaughter-in-law, I¡¯ll make the arrangements! You¡¯ll go to work with the brat tomorrow!¡±


    Keira Olsen blinked her amorous eyes and said, ¡°Okay.¡±


    She suddenly remembered that Horton Group¡¯s database was extensive, and it might just have the literature she needed!


    Lewis Horton still had a meeting, so he left the room with Tom Davis.


    Just as they reached the corridor, Tom Davis said, ¡°No wonder that woman signed the divorce agreement so readily¡ªit turns out she summoned old Mrs. Horton downstairs. This marriage is basically unbreakable!¡±


    He then looked at Lewis Horton: ¡°Boss, she¡¯s even coaxed old Mrs. Horton into getting a job at Horton Group, there must be a plot! Why did you agree?¡±


    ¡°How can we expose the fox¡¯s tail if we don¡¯t keep her under our eyes?¡±


    A sharp light flashed through Lewis Horton¡¯s eyes.


    For grandma¡¯s sake, he couldn¡¯t possibly get a divorce now.


    As for whether that woman was innocent¡­ let¡¯s see what her purpose is for going to the company!


    In the hospital room.


    Keira Olsen lay on the sofa, when suddenly she heard old Mrs. Horton¡¯s voice: ¡°Granddaughter-in-law, let me tell you a secret¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen immediately inquired, ¡°What secret?¡±


    Could it be that old Mrs. Horton had remembered something else?

 Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Chapter 22

    Chapter 22: Chapter 22


    Keira Olsen was hoping she¡¯d remember some crucial clue.


    For example, how did the little old lady come to know her?


    Or, how did she and Lewis Horton end up getting married?


    ¡°What secret does grandma actually have?¡±


    Keira Olsen asked expectantly.


    With a mischievous air, the little old lady began, ¡°That brat has an unknown weakness that I¡¯m going to tell you about now. If he ever bullies you, you fight back!¡±


    Keira Olsen: ¡°¡­¡± She wasn¡¯t actually very interested.


    But the little old lady was enthusiastic: ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by his tough and unapproachable demeanor, he¡¯s actually afraid of cats.¡±


    Keira Olsen was momentarily stunned.


    She suddenly remembered a little brother she knew as a child who was also afraid of cats¡­


    But he was just a kid; could Lewis Horton, standing at a towering six feet two inches, really be afraid of cats?


    The little old lady then asked, ¡°Granddaughter-in-law, do you prefer cats or dogs?¡±


    ¡°Dogs.¡±


    She used to like cats too, but since the little brother didn¡¯t like them, she stopped liking them as well.


    Keira Olsen quickly understood why the little old lady had asked that question.


    The next day, on the top floor of Horton Group.


    ¡°Woof! Woof!¡± A cute little Shiba Inu was wagging its tail and circling Keira Olsen.


    Tom Davis was speechless: ¡°The task that old Mrs. Horton has arranged for Miss Olsen, is to take care of this little puppy.¡±


    Lewis Horton: ¡°¡­¡±


    They say elderly people return to a childlike state of mind as they age, acting on a whim.


    But to have the job be petting a dog¡­ that was just absurd!


    He ordered, ¡°Take her¡­ take them to the New Energy Research and Development Department Group for orientation.¡±


    This had been his plan all along.


    The New Energy Research and Development Department wasn¡¯t involved with the core of the group, yet it was crucial for the future development of the group; placing her there to see what slips she might make.


    Tom Davis immediately nodded.


    Keira Olsen didn¡¯t mind these arrangements. She picked up the puppy and followed Tom Davis, asking, ¡°Does it have a name?¡±


    Tom Davis: ¡°No, old Mrs. Horton said you should name it.¡±


    Keira Olsen glanced at Lewis Horton, who was sulking, and suddenly smiled mischievously: ¡°Then let¡¯s call it Kitty.¡±


    ¡°You want to name a dog Kitty?¡±


    ¡°Is that not okay?¡±


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡­


    The New Energy Research and Development Department was on the 38th floor of Horton Group.


    In the elevator.


    Tom Davis said, ¡°Miss Olsen, most of our employees in the research and development department are PhDs, the least being graduate students from prestigious universities, and you¡¯re the first with just a bachelor¡¯s degree! Take this opportunity to learn earnestly from your seniors here; it will benefit your future greatly. This special arrangement is the boss¡¯s way of rewarding you for pampering old Mrs. Horton¡ªno need to feel indebted, of course.¡±


    Keira Olsen: ¡°¡­¡± That really wasn¡¯t necessary.


    ¡°Right, about your relationship with the boss, he doesn¡¯t wish to make it public to avoid any complications should you divorce in the future.¡±


    Keira Olsen gave him a look, saying lazily: ¡°That suits me just fine, as I happen to share that concern.¡±


    Tom Davis: ?


    This woman actually despises the boss?


    He wanted to say something more, but the elevator arrived.


    The New Energy Research and Development Department was divided into two groups, located on the left and right sides of the elevator, with a common resting area in the middle.


    As soon as Kiera Olsen stepped out of the elevator, she heard several male colleagues chatting:


    ¡°I heard we¡¯re getting a young and beautiful intern in our group today!¡±


    ¡°Wow! Our monk temple is finally going to have a beauty! That¡¯s awesome!¡±


    Someone from the second group scoffed: ¡°Our group is about to invite Dr. South for technical support, what¡¯s so special about an undergraduate intern? Is she just a pretty face to act as a vase?¡±


    The first group glared at him, ready to retort, but a scolding voice came: ¡°A bunch of grown men gossiping like women? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be working?¡±


    The man speaking was Jalen Riley, the team leader of the first group, around 26 or 27 years old, tall and handsome, with an impatient look on his face, and an air of arrogance.


    Everyone immediately scattered.


    He frowned as he sized up Kiera Olsen and said discontentedly, ¡°Mr. Davis, an undergraduate with no experience at all, and you dare to just shove her in my team?¡±


    Tom Davis apologized with a smile: ¡°The boss told me to do it.¡±


    Jalen Riley still displeased, looked down on Kiera Olsen arrogantly, ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are, in my team, you follow my rules! Next time don¡¯t bring a dog to work!¡±


    Kiera Olsen didn¡¯t explain much: ¡°Okay.¡±


    Only then did Jalen Riley point to an empty office for her workstation.


    After she went in, he looked at Tom Davis: ¡°Mr. Davis, this is the last time. Of course, if my cousin can manage to hire Dr. South, you can give me a hundred and eighty clients with connections, and I won¡¯t complain!¡±


    Being a distant relative of the Horton family, he joined Horton Group relying on his own abilities!


    That¡¯s why he hated clients with connections the most!


    ¡­


    This was Kiera Olsen¡¯s first day at work, and it was quite novel to her.


    No one had assigned her any tasks, and she enjoyed the freedom.


    She played with ¡°the kitten¡± in the office for a while until the little guy curled up in a corner, basking in the sun and fell asleep.


    Only then did she stand up, gently get up, close the office door, and prepare to head to the Horton Group¡¯s research and development department¡¯s data library.


    Only by creating a specific drug for Alzheimer¡¯s disease and improving old Mrs. Horton¡¯s health could she remember something, then maybe she would understand the ins and outs of her inexplicable marriage to Lewis Horton!


    Kiera Olsen asked a colleague who seemed more gentle and introverted: ¡°I¡¯d like to look up some materials, could you tell me how to get to the data library?¡±


    The male colleague blushed, about to give her directions, when a questioning voice came: ¡°What do you need from the data library?¡±


    Kiera Olsen turned around and saw it was Jalen Riley.


    She answered, ¡°I want to study a bit.¡±


    Jalen Riley immediately scoffed, ¡°You? What right does an undergraduate have to enter the data library? That place is full of technical knowledge on the level of international puzzles, you¡¯d better understand the basic theory of our group before you talk!¡±


    Kiera Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    She took out her phone, intending to go straight to Lewis Horton, as having privileges certainly meant using them!


    But before she could send a message, Jalen Riley spoke up: ¡°It¡¯s no use who you contact, I am not some low-level employee they can easily push around. Once you¡¯re in my team, do your job and don¡¯t go around putting on airs and annoying people!¡±


    The gentle-looking male colleague suddenly spoke up: ¡°Team leader, she graduated from Oceanion University. Her transcript shows she didn¡¯t do badly on her specialized courses¡­¡±


    Jalen Riley immediately retorted: ¡°What¡¯s the use of that knowledge from books? Isn¡¯t every fresh graduate a novice when they start working?¡±


    He casually picked up a stack of materials from the male colleague¡¯s desk and threw it into Kiera Olsen¡¯s hands: ¡°This is the new energy project our team is currently working on; ask her if she understands it. Newcomers need to look the part!¡±


    Kiera Olsen glanced down at the project document and quickly flipped through it¡­


    Jalen Riley couldn¡¯t help but say: ¡°Flipping so fast, do you think you are Dr. South? If you don¡¯t understand, don¡¯t waste everyone¡¯s time and roll back to your office!¡±


    It was said that Dr. South had the ability to read lines with a single glance, reading very quickly.


    Upon hearing this, Kiera Olsen looked up and said coldly, ¡°Who said I don¡¯t understand?¡±

 Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Chapter 23

    Chapter 23: Chapter 23


    Jalen Riley blinked with mild surprise, ¡°You can understand this?¡±


    Just as Keira Olsen was about to speak, the introverted male colleague interjected, ¡°Team leader, she really can understand it.¡±


    Jalen Riley shot him a glare, ¡°You know each other?¡±


    The male colleague smiled shyly, ¡°I was a graduate student of Professor Miller at Oceanion University. Last year when I was still studying, Professor Miller brought her with us to work on a project¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen looked at him seriously, trying to recall, ¡°Luca Barker, senior?¡±


    Luca Barker nodded shyly, explaining to Jalen Riley, ¡°Junior Miss is the only undergraduate student Professor Miller took on for a project. She reads very fast, and she has been exposed to all these fundamental frameworks.¡±


    Jalen Riley still looked at her disapprovingly, ¡°These are just the basics. There¡¯s nothing to be proud of just because you can understand them! If you¡¯re capable, then solve the core technology!¡±


    Luca Barker immediately said, ¡°Team leader, that¡¯s a bit too much to ask.¡±


    Jalen Riley smirked, ¡°If you don¡¯t have the ability, then just nestle nicely in the team, go to the information library and look up the most basic stuff. It¡¯s not shameful at all!¡±


    He left right after saying that.


    Luca Barker sighed and explained to Keira Olsen, ¡°The core technology has always been a stumbling block, and the team leader hasn¡¯t slept well for several days now. He¡¯s in a foul mood. Still, he¡¯s not a bad person, so don¡¯t take his words to heart.¡±


    Keira Olsen didn¡¯t mind at all.


    She didn¡¯t join Horton Group to make enemies, found out the information library¡¯s address, and headed straight there.


    The information library of Horton Group was located on the 60th floor and was in fact an enormous private library that only allowed employees of the Group to enter.


    Books here covered knowledge of various industries, including some scientific research materials that were completely inaccessible outside.


    Keira Olsen felt vaguely excited, her intuition telling her that she could find what she was looking for here.


    ¡­


    At the top floor.


    Lewis Horton was handling some backlogged documents when his phone chirped. It was a WhatsApp message from Old Mrs. Horton with the nickname ¡°Blossoms of Wealth and Honor¡±:


    [Brat, remember to have lunch with your daughter-in-law at noon and send me a photo of you two dining intimately.]


    Lewis Horton frowned.


    Just as he was about to refuse, claiming he had a meeting, the chat box suddenly flashed, and Great Grandmother changed her nickname from ¡°Blossoms of Wealth and Honor¡± to ¡°Fragile Grandmother That Cannot Be Agitated¡±.


    Lewis Horton: ¡°¡­¡±


    He stared at the note for a long time, finally sighing helplessly and pressing the call button on the desk beside him.


    Tom Davis quickly entered, ¡°Boss, what can I do for you?¡±


    ¡°Prepare two lunches to be sent up.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Lewis Horton then messaged ¡°Lacking in Iron¡± to come to the top floor for lunch.


    But by the time the food was laid out on the adjacent dining table, the girl had yet to respond to the message.


    Lewis Horton stood up, ¡°Where is she?¡±


    Tom Davis: ¡°Miss Olsen? She¡¯s in the information library.¡±


    Lewis Horton went down to the 60th floor and began searching slowly behind the rows of bookshelves.


    He quickly spotted her¡­ and Jake Horton, who was staring at her.


    ¡­


    Keira Olsen was so engrossed in searching for books that she didn¡¯t hear her phone vibrating.


    This library boasted the most advanced technological materials of today, which made her utterly absorbed.


    She lingered by the bookshelves, lost to the world, and accidentally bumped into someone when she stepped back.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    When Keira Olsen turned around, she saw a familiar face.


    Jake Horton stared at her with a complex expression, ¡°Kiera Olsen, you¡¯re trying so hard to please Great Grandmother, could it be you¡¯re doing this to get close to your uncle-in-law?¡±


    Kiera Olsen¡¯s face turned cold in an instant, ¡°It has nothing to do with you.¡±


    Yet Jake continued, ¡°The uncle has never been close to women for all these years. Don¡¯t think you can seduce him with that face of yours; he¡¯s not that superficial! Hasn¡¯t he just gotten rid of you by giving you an insignificant job?¡±


    Kiera Olsen sneered, ¡°Are you saying, then, that the reason you chased me for so long was because you¡¯re more superficial?¡±


    Jake Horton was choked up!


    Kiera Olsen looked at the young man before her.


    He had been her only friend in university.


    She had seriously considered him, even when he said he would surprise her at the graduation ceremony, she had pondered whether to accept his pursuit.


    She never thought it would come to this.


    She sighed, ¡°Jake Horton, can¡¯t we just part on good terms?¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    Jake Horton¡¯s eyes suddenly reddened, ¡°I know you hate me for proposing to Isla Olsen, but I had no choice, there are many factors to consider in a marriage of convenience! I tried for you before, my mom even agreed to me being with an ordinary person, but your status¡­ no matter what, I could never marry an illegitimate daughter! How would I face myself in the Horton family after, not to mention becoming the laughingstock of Oceanion?¡±


    Kiera Olsen looked at him.


    As a child, she also felt humiliated by her status.


    But when she left the Olsen family, she understood the importance of self-respect.


    She withdrew her gaze, ¡°Thanks for not marrying me.¡±


    As she tried to leave, Jake Horton blocked her again, ¡°I heard you were having trouble in Research and Development Team One; I can arrange for you to come to Team Two. Team Two is under my supervision, and I¡¯ll find capable people to train you¡­ I know you¡¯re strong-minded. You¡¯re so smart, and you will catch on quickly, be independent before you know it, and won¡¯t have to work odd jobs anymore¡­¡±


    Kiera Olsen cut off his rambling, ¡°What¡¯s the condition?¡±


    ¡°You divorce, and follow me.¡±


    Jake Horton couldn¡¯t allow another man to share her!


    The very thought drove him mad!


    Kiera Olsen said coldly, ¡°You¡¯re not worthy!¡±


    ¡°Why? Do you love your gangster husband that much? You believe if I offer him a sum of money, or have someone intimidate him, he¡¯d leave you! How could he compare to me?¡±


    Jake Horton, burning with rage, grabbed Kiera Olsen¡¯s wrist and pinned her against the bookshelf.


    His eyes rimmed with red, ¡°Or are all you women so cheap, falling for him just because you¡¯ve slept with him? If that¡¯s the case, then you should see who¡¯s better between him and me!¡±


    With that, he harshly bent his head down and fiercely kissed her!


    At the right end of the bookshelf, Lewis Horton stood there, having heard everything.


    Sensing Jake Horton¡¯s misconduct, his face turned iron blue, ready to step in, yet he saw¡ª


    The slender girl suddenly bent her knee and delivered a harsh blow to Jake Horton¡¯s groin!


    He stepped back in pain, and without hesitation, she slapped him!


    ¡°Smack!¡±


    After hitting Jake Horton, Kiera Olsen, still not satisfied, cast a cold glance at him,


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to hurt your pride, but since you insisted on getting to the bottom of it, I¡¯ll tell you that my husband is taller than you, more handsome than you, and his stamina is countless times better than yours. Unlike you, who can only be ineffectively pushed away; you might want to work on that if you have the time!¡±


    After dropping these words, Kiera Olsen turned to leave only to see Lewis Horton standing at the corner ahead.


    Kiera Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    Lewis Horton: ¡°¡­¡±


    At that moment, Jake Horton, bending over in pain, yelled out frantically, ¡°What good is his stamina? I can play with you in the company as I please, and your husband can¡¯t do anything about it!¡±


    At these words, a male voice came through, ¡°Who says he can¡¯t?¡±

 Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: Chapter 24

    Chapter 24: Chapter 24


    Several people turned their heads in unison, looking towards the speaker.


    It was Jalen Riley.


    He had dark circles under his eyes and a look of annoyance on his face.


    Jake Horton was astonished, ¡°You¡¯re her husband?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Jalen Riley curled his lip, ¡°If her husband were any bit of a man and knew you were bullying her here, he would definitely come and fight you! How could he do nothing at all?¡±


    Jake Horton: ¡°¡­¡±


    He suppressed his pain and stood up, staring at Jalen Riley with a sinister gaze, ¡°I want to transfer her to our second group.¡±


    ¡°No way,¡± Jalen Riley stated dominantly, ¡°You don¡¯t get to make decisions about people in my group.¡±


    He still had that arrogant demeanor, but to Keira Olsen, it suddenly seemed much more agreeable.


    Jake Horton, puzzled, asked, ¡°She¡¯s just a nepotism hire, don¡¯t you hate those the most?¡±


    Jalen Riley scoffed, ¡°What right do you have to mock her? At least she¡¯s just a junior employee, but you, a bachelor¡¯s degree holder, are the leader of the second group! You have the nerve to call others nepotism hires?¡±


    Jake Horton was so irritated his teeth hurt, ¡°It¡¯s not the same, I¡¯m the legitimate grandson of the first branch of the Horton family!¡±


    ¡°Oh, the biggest nepotism hire of the Horton Group itself.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Jake Horton took a deep breath and suddenly said, ¡°In a few days, Dr. South will be coming to my research team. Jalen Riley, isn¡¯t he your idol? Just stay out of this matter, and I can introduce you to him.¡±


    Jalen Riley fell silent.


    Who among those researching new energy sources didn¡¯t idolize Dr. South?


    Jalen Riley had read Dr. South¡¯s published papers over and over, growing to admire him more each time.


    He had always been looking for various channels, trying to find a way to meet Dr. South.


    Now Jake Horton was using this to threaten him¡­


    Jalen Riley hesitated for a second out of respect for Dr. South, then said, ¡°No!¡±


    He turned to Keira Olsen, ¡°Stop making a fool of yourself here, let¡¯s go back!¡±


    Keira Olsen looked towards the direction where Lewis Horton had been, only to find that the man had left at some unknown point.


    She silently breathed a sigh of relief.


    Good that he was gone, or else her comment about ¡°good stamina¡± would have been too embarrassing.


    She followed by Jalen Riley¡¯s side, and the two left the archive room.


    Jalen Riley frowned unhappily, ¡°All because of you, I missed the chance to meet Dr. South!¡±


    Keira Olsen, however, laughed, ¡°There will be other opportunities.¡±


    Jalen Riley scolded her again, ¡°As an undergraduate, can¡¯t you just behave and stay in the office? Why come here and demean yourself!¡±


    Keira Olsen didn¡¯t take it to heart.


    Luca Barker was right, despite the grouchy mouth, the leader was actually pretty decent.


    Jake Horton, still standing in the original spot, had a dark look in his eyes.


    He clenched his fists tightly.


    One day, he would make Keira Olsen come begging to him in tears!


    He took a deep breath, and once the pain in his body had subsided a bit, he dialed Isla Olsen¡¯s phone, ¡°Tomorrow afternoon, aren¡¯t you having lunch with Dr. South? Take me with you!¡±


    ¡­


    Keira Olsen and Jalen Riley returned to the first research and development team and saw the messages on WhatsApp.


    She used the excuse of having a meal and went to the top floor, into Lewis Horton¡¯s office.


    The man was dressed in a white shirt and black suit, looking very refined and gentlemanly. Without lifting his head, he pointed towards the side dining table, ¡°You go ahead and eat.¡±


    Keira Olsen felt somewhat guilty.


    By the look of him, he probably hadn¡¯t heard what she had said, right?


    As she was thinking this, she heard the sound of taking a photo from a phone.


    Lewis Horton coolly finished taking the photo and sent it to ¡°Fragile Grandma who can¡¯t stand to be irritated¡± via WhatsApp, then finally came over.


    Knowing the purpose of his photo-taking, Keira Olsen didn¡¯t ask further. Instead, looking at the dining table and grasping at straws for conversation, she said, ¡°Mr. Horton¡¯s lunch is quite lavish.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    The man took off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and sat down across from her, elegantly picking up the chopsticks, ¡°After all, one can only have good physical strength if they keep up with their nutrition.¡±


    Keira Olsen: !!!


    She felt her cheeks heat up as her eyes faintly swept over the exposed half of his strong forearm, and then she packed a serving of the meal.


    ¡°Mr. Horton, I suddenly remembered that I haven¡¯t fed my cat, I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡±


    She picked up the portion of the meal: ¡°Thanks for the lunch.¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s face stiffened for a moment.


    Keira Olsen was greatly pleased.


    ¡­


    Research and Development Department, Team One.


    Jalen Riley ate his takeaway with as much enthusiasm as chewing wax, thinking about the scene he had witnessed that day.


    He had initially thought the undergraduate was all talk and no action, but could it be that she was so driven because she was let down by Jake Horton and wanted to make a big splash to stand out?


    Thinking about the demands Jake had made, they were indeed humiliating.


    No wonder she was so eager to learn more.


    Unfortunately, haste makes waste. Without a solid foundation, even if she saw those profound materials, she wouldn¡¯t be able to understand them.


    He stood up and walked over to Luca Barker, speaking in a low voice, ¡°Find something for that undergraduate to do this afternoon, guide her a bit.¡±


    Luca Barker was startled: ¡°Ah, alright.¡±


    Jalen Riley¡¯s face was a bit embarrassed as he said fiercely, ¡°So that she doesn¡¯t run around causing us trouble!¡±


    Luca Barker: ¡°¡­¡±


    So, when Keira Olsen was about to visit the data library again in the afternoon, she was stopped by Luca Barker: ¡°The team leader said we don¡¯t keep freeloaders here, you need to complete your work before you can study in the data library.¡±


    He arranged for her some basic tasks that had already been completed.


    Without a clear scientific research direction, it was quite troublesome to sort these things out bit by bit.


    However, newcomers could learn a lot from it.


    Luca Barker thought it would take at least a month, if not more, to get a clear understanding of these tasks.


    But to his surprise, Keira Olsen handed in her work after just half an hour.


    Luca Barker: ¡°¡­¡±


    He checked the work content and found that what she had completed was even better than theirs!


    Keira Olsen humbly asked, ¡°Is there any more work? If not, I¡¯ll head to the data library.¡±


    What could Luca Barker arrange on the spot?


    He still had a lot of things he couldn¡¯t figure out.


    He bit the bullet and assigned her the work he had on his hands.


    The module he was responsible for, he had been working on for a week and still hadn¡¯t finished, although it was a bit difficult¡­ But it seemed that the junior¡¯s basics were pretty solid?


    So a foray into something profound would make her realize the reality and she would then obediently follow their lead in learning, right?


    Yet an hour later, Keira Olsen actually came to submit her work again!


    ¡°Finished?¡±


    Luca Barker was stunned, looking at the email on his computer, he found that the technical point he had been stuck on, she had easily resolved!!!


    Luca Barker went to find Jalen Riley.


    Jalen Riley pondered, ¡°The point you were stuck on is because you were fixating on a dead end. The undergraduate must have gotten lucky and found another solution. Continue to assign her more difficult tasks.¡±


    Luca Barker: ¡°¡­ Any more difficult, and it would mean throwing the core technical problems at her to solve!¡±


    This problem had stumped Jalen Riley for a month!


    Jalen Riley: ¡°Give it to her!¡±


    Since it was just to keep her busy so she wouldn¡¯t wander off, let her see what a real scientific research problem was like!


    And so, Luca Barker heartlessly tossed the core technical problem that had been plaguing the whole team over to Keira Olsen¡­

 Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 25

    Chapter 25: Chapter 25


    The technical core of Group One in the R&D department was quite challenging.


    Keira Olsen had spent a full two hours solving the problem.


    She sent an email to Luca Barker before heading out to find him.


    Luca, however, stood up and started packing, looking very pleased, ¡°We¡¯re off work!¡±


    Today was Friday, and the moment of leaving work was the happiest for every worker.


    Finally, the weekend was here.


    With a smile, Luca noticed Keira Olsen, ¡°Junior, how did your work go?¡±


    Keira Olsen began, ¡°I¡­¡±


    ¡°Actually, there¡¯s no rush!¡± Luca excitedly interrupted her, ¡°Just have a good weekend first, we can talk about it on Monday.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Keira Olsen merely swallowed her words.


    Although she didn¡¯t spend much time at work, she understood that discussing work at the end of work on a Friday was annoying.


    Better not to disturb the senior¡¯s weekend now.


    After all, the work she completed was just a small issue for the R&D department.


    Go to ????????????????????.co


    As Luca picked up his backpack and walked past Keira, he paused briefly and still offered some consolation, ¡°Junior, don¡¯t be disheartened. You¡¯re actually quite amazing!¡±


    Keira Olsen was puzzled.


    She wasn¡¯t supposed to work, but she did because Jalen Riley had given her a hand earlier in the day.


    Since she had finished the task, she would come back to work next week and visit the archive.


    With that thought, Keira Olsen picked up her ¡°kitten¡± and also left the office.


    ¡­


    The top floor.


    After finishing his work for the day, Lewis Horton checked the time and stood up to go home.


    Tom Davis casually asked, ¡°Boss, going where?¡±


    Lewis paused, realizing he hadn¡¯t yet asked where his grandmother was.


    He called Old Mrs. Horton, ¡°Where are you¡­ at whose house?¡±


    The response from Old Mrs. Horton was unexpected, ¡°At the hospital.¡±


    Lewis frowned, ¡°Didn¡¯t the doctor say you could be discharged already?¡±


    ¡°But my chest started hurting again this afternoon, so I thought I¡¯d stay a few more days. Brat, are you coming to keep me company tonight?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t come, that¡¯s okay. Here I am, a poor old lady, unloved by her son and grandson, all alone in the hospital. If I wake up at midnight wanting a sip of water, there¡¯ll be no one around, sigh~¡±


    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m on my way.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it. Oh, and I¡¯ve already spoken to your wife, she¡¯ll keep me company too. You should come with her~!¡±


    After hanging up, Lewis pressed his temples.


    He certainly understood his grandmother¡¯s little schemes, whether she went back to the Horton¡¯s or stayed at Keira Olsen¡¯s, the couple would usually be apart at night, but at the hospital, they could keep her company together giving them more time to spend together.


    But she had a boyfriend¡­


    Lewis bit his lip, wanting to keep his distance from her.


    Yet thinking of his grandmother¡¯s health, he still managed to suppress his displeasure and messaged her on WhatsApp: [I will pick you up after work to go to the hospital.]


    The response came back unusually quickly: [Don¡¯t bother, I¡¯m already on my way there by taxi.]


    At least she knew to avoid suspicion.


    It wasn¡¯t that she stuck to it without discretion just because of Grandma¡¯s favoritism¡­


    Lewis Horton should have felt happy, but the displeasure in his heart mysteriously increased a bit.


    ¡­


    Keira Olsen actually hadn¡¯t thought much about it.


    It was just that she didn¡¯t want to be too involved with Lewis Horton before the truth about their marriage came out.


    This inexplicable marriage must have been trouble stirred up by Lewis Horton¡¯s side, after all, who would pay attention to someone as weak, pitiful, and helpless as her?


    She carried the little Shiba Inu and went straight into the hospital, heading towards the VIP ward.


    Not far away.


    Mrs. Olsen, Jodie South, had just finished a follow-up.


    Isla Olsen was supporting her arm, and the two of them stared in the direction Keira Olsen had left.


    Mrs. Olsen hesitated, ¡°Isn¡¯t that Keira? What is she doing at the hospital? Is she sick?¡±


    Isla Olsen felt a wave of annoyance rising within her.


    The fact that Old Mrs. Horton was hospitalized couldn¡¯t be hidden from the Hortons.


    But the old lady was stubborn, refusing every visitor, and even Isla was turned away from the ward today without seeing anyone.


    So Keira Olsen must be here to accompany that old thing!


    Her eyes flickered, ¡°She must be here to visit Old Mrs. Horton¡­ Keira is really filial.¡±


    As soon as she said this, Aunt South, who had accompanied them, was displeased. She frowned, ¡°Filial? I haven¡¯t seen her visit Mrs. Horton before!¡±


    Aunt South was over fifty this year, looking about a decade older than Jodie South and had taken care of Mrs. Olsen her whole life, never having married.


    Mrs. Olsen treated her like a real sister, so Aunt South had a high status in the Olsen Family, to the point that even Isla Olsen was very polite to her.


    Upon hearing this, Mrs. Olsen looked somewhat melancholic, ¡°Keira had a hard time in the Olsen household back then¡­¡±


    Aunt South immediately spoke up, ¡°Madam, you are still speaking up for her. Although I don¡¯t like Poppy Hill¡¯s petty ways either, she¡¯s right about one thing, Miss Keira is an ungrateful wretch! You¡¯ve been frequently thinking about her and worrying about her, but she¡¯s probably forgotten you long ago!¡±


    Isla Olsen then said, ¡°I heard Mr. Horton arranged a job for her at the Horton Group¡­ so she¡¯s repaying Old Mrs. Horton, right?¡±


    Aunt South scoffed, ¡°Madam also raised her! When she was a child and Poppy Hill didn¡¯t care for her, it was Madam who breastfed her, sent her to school, and raised her. The grace of nurturing her is greater than the heavens, yet she doesn¡¯t seem to remember to repay Madam!¡±


    Mrs. Olsen immediately intervened, ¡°Alright, stop talking.¡±


    But Isla Olsen continued, ¡°Mom had good intentions. When she helped others back then, she didn¡¯t ask for anything in return. But there are also people who return a small favor with a great one, like Dr. South. Mom just sponsored him a little money for school, and how much has he helped our family over the years? Three years ago, when the company was on the verge of bankruptcy, Dr. South directly gave us a technical patent, which saved us from crisis¡­¡±


    Aunt South immediately nodded, ¡°Compared to him, Dr. South is much better than Keira Olsen! I don¡¯t know what Dr. South looks like, but since he is a man of character, he must be decent!¡±


    Isla Olsen immediately feigned curiosity, ¡°I¡¯d also like to know what kind of person Dr. South is. Mom, take me with you tomorrow!¡±


    Mrs. Olsen smiled and touched her nose, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take you.¡±


    The group talked as they went downstairs to the parking lot to leave.


    Keira Olsen, who had just entered the VIP ward and was sitting on a sofa beside the bed, witnessed this scene.


    Her gaze followed Mrs. Olsen.


    She could see that Mrs. Olsen¡¯s complexion was unhealthily pale; her figure slim and straight like bamboo, exuding an indescribable charm.


    Isla Olsen was saying something beside her, and Mrs. Olsen could only nod helplessly.


    The mother and daughter¡¯s movements were affectionate.


    It wasn¡¯t until the car left that Keira Olsen reluctantly took her eyes off them.


    As she turned her head, she saw the little old Mrs. Horton standing behind her, ¡°Daughter-in-law, who is that person? She looks so familiar.¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s eyes softened, just about to speak.


    ¡°You look so similar¡­¡± The little old Mrs. Horton suddenly brightened up, ¡°I remember now, she¡¯s your mother!¡±

 Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Chapter 26

    Chapter 26: Chapter 26


    Look alike?


    Kiera Olsen paused briefly.


    In fact, apart from both having oval faces, her and Mrs. Olsen¡¯s features were not alike.


    Mrs. Olsen had phoenix eyes, while hers were amorous eyes.


    If there really was a similarity, it might be the kind of cold aura they both possessed that seemed quite similar at first glance.


    ¡­which was also normal.


    After all, when she had just left the Olsen family, whenever she faced difficulties, she would think about how Mrs. Olsen would handle them.


    She learned from Mrs. Olsen how to behave and secretly absorbed her charms, so it was no surprise that she developed a few of her own.


    Kiera Olsen turned to the old lady, ¡°Grandma, she¡¯s not my mom.¡±


    But the old lady firmly said, ¡°She is! My granddaughter-in-law, how can you not recognize your mom?¡±


    Kiera Olsen was caught between laughter and tears.


    The old lady was having another one of her episodes.


    Fortunately, just then, Lewis Horton appeared at the hospital room door with dinner packed up, diverting her fixation.


    Go to ????????????????????.co


    The dinner Lewis Horton prepared was very sumptuous.


    Apart from some light dishes, there were also fruits for three people.


    Yet, the old lady immediately frowned, ¡°My granddaughter-in-law can¡¯t eat mangoes; she¡¯s allergic!¡±


    Kiera Olsen was slightly startled.


    She looked at the old lady in disbelief, ¡°Grandma, how do you know?¡±


    She used to be indeed allergic to mangoes, but her health improved two years ago, and she overcame the allergy.


    Thus, she had never mentioned this to the old lady!


    The old lady chuckled, ¡°You told me before, remember? You said mangoes would cover your face with little red bumps¡­¡±


    Kiera Olsen¡¯s expression gradually turned serious, ¡°When was before?¡±


    The old lady then became confused again, ¡°It seems like it was before your marriage¡­ Yes, you told me before you got married!¡±


    Yet Kiera Olsen was certain that she had never met the old lady back then!


    She hadn¡¯t lost her memory!


    She hurriedly asked, ¡°Do you remember anything else? Like how Mr. Horton and I registered our marriage?¡±


    The old lady shook her head, ¡°I can¡¯t remember¡­¡±


    It seemed that the old lady needed specific circumstances to occasionally remember something.


    As Kiera Olsen pondered, she suddenly felt a piercing gaze upon her.


    Turning her head, she met Lewis Horton¡¯s deep gaze.


    The man¡¯s expression was icy, clearly having understood the old lady¡¯s words, and he seemed to suspect her motives again!


    She really couldn¡¯t clear herself even if she jumped into the Yellow River.


    Suddenly, Kiera Olsen picked up the Shiba Inu, ¡°Grandma, you guys eat first, I¡¯m going to walk the dog.¡±


    With that, she walked out.


    She didn¡¯t go far, just stopping at the end of the hallway, leaning against the wall with the dog in her arms, her amorous eyes gazing towards the old lady¡¯s hospital room.


    Sure enough, it wasn¡¯t long before a tall figure followed her out.


    Upon seeing her, Lewis Horton slowly approached, his voice low, ¡°Miss Olsen, is there something you want to say?¡±


    Kiera Olsen pressed her lips together, ¡°I thought you might want me to explain something.¡±


    ¡°Does Miss Olsen have something she wants to explain?¡±


    Kiera Olsen earnestly said, ¡°About what grandma mentioned regarding before our marriage, I really don¡¯t know what it¡¯s about.¡±


    She herself found her words unbelievable, considering an allergy to mangoes was private information the old lady couldn¡¯t have possibly made up.


    She expected him to be skeptical, but he merely responded calmly with one word, ¡°Oh.¡±


    Kiera Olsen was baffled by his attitude, ¡°Mr. Horton, do you believe me?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Keira Olsen: ?


    Lewis Horton suddenly stepped closer, the natural height difference made Keira feel as though she was being looked down upon by a man.


    He slowly said, ¡°Miss Olsen, regardless of whether you have any intentions, if you can keep grandma happy, then I promise to protect you completely.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen suddenly understood his thinking.


    This man didn¡¯t care about the truth or whether she was deceiving anyone.


    He was powerful, dominating Oceanion, unafraid of any plot or scheme¡­


    He only cared about the old lady.


    Even if she truly had some schemes, as long as she could make the old lady happy, this man would probably turn a blind eye¡­


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    The man suddenly became imposing again, ¡°If you hurt grandma, I¡¯ll make sure you can¡¯t survive in Oceanion.¡±


    Keira Olsen, who didn¡¯t respond well to threats, scoffed, ¡°Mr. Horton, haven¡¯t you already done that?¡±


    Lewis Horton frowned, about to say something, when a robust voice came through:


    ¡°Keira Olsen?¡±


    Keira Olsen turned around to see Professor Miller.


    He must have caught a cold, as his voice was a bit hoarse. Coming over, he said directly, ¡°I was just about to call you to ask if you found a job yet? Have you and Mr. Horton cleared up the misunderstanding? Mr. Horton is really not acting like a man. Arguing with a girl over something like this, canceling your recommended study position, and even declaring that you should disappear from Oceanion?¡±


    Lewis Horton: ??


    Keira Olsen glanced at Lewis Horton with a half-smile, ¡°Professor, don¡¯t worry, the misunderstanding has been resolved. Mr. Horton is quite nice actually, he arranged a job for me and even promised to protect me~¡±


    This sarcastic tone made Lewis Horton¡¯s face darken.


    Professor Miller breathed a sigh of relief, then noticed Lewis Horton and seeing how close they were standing, thought of the conversation he had overheard between Isla Olsen and Poppy Hill, and instinctively asked, ¡°Is this your¡­ thug husband?¡±


    Lewis Horton: ¡°¡­¡± His face grew even darker.


    Keira Olsen¡¯s smile brightened a bit, ¡°Mm, you could say that.¡±


    Professor Miller looked earnestly at Lewis Horton, ¡°Young man, you¡¯re strong and well-built, and good-looking too. You should really strive to find a decent job!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡­


    At the Olsen Family¡¯s residence.


    The family was having lunch in the dining room.


    Mrs. Olsen looked unwell, appearing to have lost her appetite.


    Taylor Olsen immediately asked with concern, ¡°Shirley, what¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?¡±


    Mrs. Olsen waved her hand.


    Isla Olsen then said, ¡°Dad, we ran into Kiera at the hospital today, I think mom¡¯s a bit worried about her.¡±


    Taylor Olsen frowned, ¡°Worried about her for what?¡±


    Isla Olsen sighed, ¡°She must hate me by now, blaming me for her withdrawal from school and forcing her to go abroad¡­ I¡¯m worried about what she might say in front of Old Mrs. Horton, and Mr. Horton might take it out on me¡­¡±


    Taylor Olsen scoffed, ¡°That¡¯s her problem with Mr. Horton, what does it have to do with you? Even if she¡¯s lucky to have saved Old Mrs. Horton, it¡¯s their affair. Speaking of which, it was Mr. Horton who told us to properly educate our daughter!¡±


    Isla Olsen¡¯s expression stiffened.


    She had deliberately mentioned that Mr. Horton had left a message that time¡­ that should be in the past by now, right?


    She was always clearly aware that her father, Taylor Olsen¡¯s kindness to her primarily stemmed from her being Mrs. Olsen¡¯s daughter!


    If he knew that she had displeased Mr. Horton¡­ the consequences were unthinkable!


    Just then, Taylor Olsen¡¯s phone suddenly rang.


    He answered, ¡°Mr. Davis?! What brings you to call me? Does Mr. Horton have any instructions?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Isla Olsen¡¯s heart sank!!


    It shouldn¡¯t be what she was thinking, right? She panicked!

 Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Chapter 27

    Chapter 27: Chapter 27


    Tom Davis¡¯s voice came through the phone, ¡°The boss asked me to ask Miss Isla Olsen when he said he wanted Miss Keira Olsen to disappear from Oceanion? How come the boss himself doesn¡¯t know?¡±


    Taylor Olsen¡¯s face went blank, disbelievingly looking towards Isla.


    Isla¡¯s face instantly turned pale.


    Taylor Olsen gave Tom Davis many apologetic smiles, and finally, with a remark, ¡°The Olsen Family really should teach their daughter a lesson,¡± he ended the call and then glared at Isla.


    Isla lowered her head and silently cried, ¡°When I saw Keira clinging to Mr. Horton, I was afraid that it would affect my marriage with Jake, and even more afraid that the Hortons would look down on me¡­ Dad, I didn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡±


    Taylor roared, ¡°But that does not justify pretending to act under Mr. Horton¡¯s orders!¡±


    Isla clenched her fists, her eyes flickered, and she sobbed, ¡°Dad, after all, Keira is your daughter too, I feared you wouldn¡¯t bear to scold her¡­¡±


    ¡°Foolish!!¡±


    True to form, Taylor changed the subject, ¡°How many times have I said that in my heart, there is only one daughter, and it¡¯s you! What is Keira Olsen? Can she even compare to you?!¡±


    Mrs. Olsen disagreed, ¡°Taylor, don¡¯t say that, Keira is still your daughter!¡±


    Taylor immediately turned his head, ¡°Shirley, after so many years, do you still not understand me? Being tricked by Poppy Hill was my fault, I owe you and our family, but I will not recognize her or her daughter! In my heart, there are only you and our daughter, who are my true family.¡±


    Standing by as a nanny, Poppy Hill, upon hearing this, immediately clenched her fists in resentment!


    She looked at Taylor with bitter eyes.


    Go to ????????????????????.co


    This was the man she dearly loved, her childhood friend from next door, yet this man¡¯s heart and eyes were fixed only on Jodie South!


    Back then, when she was pregnant, she went to him with the pregnancy test, offering to be his mistress, but he mercilessly sent her away, saying he would not be unfaithful to his wife¡­


    Poppy Hill had no other choice but to find Jodie South, and it was only through threats of death that she managed to stay in the Olsen family.


    Over the years, Taylor had never shown her any affection, and he treated Keira as if she were air¡­


    Fortunately¡­ she had switched the two children!


    Poppy Hill lowered her head, suppressing a smile at the bottom of her eyes.


    Taylor would never know that his beloved daughter whom he had cherished for so many years, Isla, was actually her daughter!


    As for Keira Olsen¡­ she deserved to be ignored and oppressed!


    Yet, Mrs. Olsen stubbornly shook her head, ¡°Taylor, Isla is wrong, and that¡¯s that. She lied first, causing us to misunderstand Keira. We should apologize to Keira.¡±


    Taylor frowned, ¡°Apologize for what? You and my daughter, going to apologize to the daughter of Poppy Hill?¡±


    Poppy Hill also immediately said, ¡°No need, no need, the Olsen family raised her, that is a great favor. Besides, her shameless entanglement with Mr. Horton was indeed wrongful; the Olsen family disciplining her is only right and her good fortune¡­¡±


    Mrs. Olsen looked at them, sighed softly, but did not argue further.


    But after dinner, when Isla was escorting her back to her room, Mrs. Olsen looked at her, ¡°If you have time tomorrow, I¡¯ll take you to see Keira and apologize in person.¡±


    Isla¡¯s face stiffened, surprised that she dodged her father¡¯s punishment but not Mrs. Olsen¡¯s¡­ She said in distress, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Seeing her like this, Mrs. Olsen sighed again, ¡°Aren¡¯t you planning to meet Dr. South with Jake tomorrow? Let¡¯s do it together.¡±


    Isla¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, she clung to Mrs. Olsen¡¯s arm, ¡°Okay, mom, you are always so good to me.¡±


    Because she offended old Mrs. Horton, she lost two percent of the shares in Horton Group.


    She now needed to prove her worth in front of the Hortons, fearing that Jake would call off their engagement.


    Mrs. Olsen helplessly patted her head.


    After Isla left happily, Mrs. Olsen then turned to Aunt South, ¡°Sister South, I have been unwell for years and lacked the energy to discipline Isla, truly neglectful¡­ cough, cough, cough¡­¡±


    But Aunt South said, ¡°Madam, you are overthinking it! I find Miss Isla very good, dutiful and considerate. Even if she lies occasionally, she will change, it¡¯s not such a flaw.¡±


    However, Mrs. Olsen said, ¡°Keira never lies.¡±


    She coughed violently again.


    Aunt South immediately helped her to the bed, ¡°You think too much¡­ that¡¯s why even after so many years, this illness hasn¡¯t healed¡­¡±


    Mrs. Olsen¡¯s eyes and eyebrows showed bitterness.


    ¡­


    The next day.


    From the moment Keira Olsen woke up in the morning, she felt somewhat nervous. It had been ten years since she last met Mrs. Olsen, and she didn¡¯t know whether her mother would be happy or angry to see her.


    At noon, she decided to go home, take a shower, and change her clothes.


    The old lady had Lewis Horton drive her home.


    As they left the hospital room and just went downstairs, they saw Tom Davis coming toward them: ¡°Boss.¡±


    Lewis Horton nodded slightly at him, and Tom Davis then handed a piece of paper to Keira Olsen: ¡°Miss Olsen, you can take a look.¡±


    Keira Olsen, puzzled, took it and discovered that the paper listed a row of well-known domestic universities and famous professors in the field of new energy!


    She looked at Tom Davis with confusion, ¡°What is this?¡±


    Tom Davis lifted his chin slightly: ¡°These are professors who are even more renowned than Professor Miller. You can choose one to continue your studies; it¡¯s the boss¡¯s compensation for cancelling your assured graduate placement, Miss Olsen. Meeting our boss, you could consider this a blessing in disguise.¡±


    Keira Olsen twitched the corner of her mouth: ¡°No need.¡±


    She had heard of most of these professors, all of whom had already sent her emails wanting to consult with her on professional knowledge.


    ¡°So you want to continue with Professor Miller¡¯s graduate studies?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t think highly of these people, then you want to be Dr. South¡¯s graduate student?¡±


    Tom Davis frowned, ¡°That¡¯s a bit difficult. Dr. South is now highly sought-after; I¡¯ve heard that several universities abroad have offered him positions. Miss Olsen, such a genius professor would only recruit genius students. You might not catch his eye. Maybe you shouldn¡¯t set your sights so high and your capabilities so low. Just choose one from these professors for now; after graduate school, you can still try to apply for Dr. South¡¯s PhD program, right?¡±


    ¡­


    Keira Olsen looked at him as if he were a fool and directly told Lewis Horton, ¡°Mr. Horton, you don¡¯t need to drive me. I¡¯ll take a taxi back.¡±


    After saying this, she directly left the hospital and hailed a taxi by the roadside to leave.


    Tom Davis scratched his head, ¡°I heard that Isla Olsen wants to be Dr. South¡¯s graduate student. Does Miss Olsen not want to be outdone by her? Insisting on Dr. South? That¡¯s really overestimating herself.¡±


    However, Lewis Horton stared in the direction she left, his handsome and resolute face expressionless, his deep eyes unfathomable, giving no clue to his thoughts.


    He suddenly said, ¡°Then let¡¯s help her get in touch with Dr. South.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Tom Davis was dumbfounded.


    Why is the boss so good to her!


    Could he be mesmerized by her face?


    ¡­


    Mrs. Olsen, along with Isla Olsen and Jake Horton, arrived at the private dining restaurant ten minutes early.


    After getting out of the car, Jake Horton furrowed his brow and surveyed the surroundings: ¡°Why meet here?¡±


    Isla Olsen didn¡¯t understand: ¡°Jake, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Jake Horton pursed his lips: ¡°Nothing.¡±


    Isla Olsen then looked towards Mrs. Olsen, ¡°Mom, has Dr. South arrived yet?¡±


    Mrs. Olsen: ¡°She is already in the private room.¡±

 Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Chapter 28

    Chapter 28: Chapter 28


    The three of them entered the restaurant.


    Jake Horton looked around but did not see that familiar figure.


    He refocused and turned to Isla Olsen, ¡°Dr. South would deign to work at Horton Group?¡±


    Isla glanced at Mrs. Olsen and whispered, ¡°Jake, why don¡¯t you go in and have a good chat with Dr. South first? As long as the sincerity is there, I believe Dr. South will be tempted.¡±


    She walked towards Mrs. Olsen and said apologetically, ¡°Mom, I think my bra strap has come undone, could you come to the restroom with me to fix it?¡±


    Mrs. Olsen went with her to the restroom.


    Jake Horton then walked to the private room door.


    His first job at Horton Group was in the R&D department. If Dr. South could join his team, it would greatly enhance his credibility at Horton Group.


    He adjusted his clothes and then pushed open the door.


    What caught his eye was the graceful figure of a woman facing away from the door as she poured tea.


    ¡­The famous Dr. South was actually a young woman?


    Jake suppressed the shock in his heart and said respectfully, ¡°Dr. South, hello, I am Jake Horton from Horton Group, pleased to meet you.¡±


    As he finished speaking, the woman slowly turned around.


    Go to ????????????????????.co


    Jake was shocked upon seeing that beautiful face, ¡°Keira Olsen?! You, how are you here!¡±


    Keira Olsen had just read a WhatsApp message from Mrs. Olsen saying she would arrive soon, which is why she was pouring tea for Mrs. Olsen¡¯s spot.


    But she hadn¡¯t expected Jake Horton to burst in.


    A hint of interest appeared on her face, yet her voice was casual, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be asking you that?¡±


    The appointment was clearly with Mrs. Olsen¡­


    Jake Horton¡¯s expression turned cold, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not here for you.¡±


    He looked around, ¡°Where is Dr. South?¡±


    Keira Olsen paused, ¡°Who?¡±


    Jake Horton said impatiently, ¡°The guest in this room. Where is he?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen narrowed her eyes, but said nothing.


    Footsteps then came from the entrance, and Mrs. Olsen walked in with Isla.


    Upon seeing Keira Olsen, both briefly hesitated in their steps.


    Isla¡¯s expression turned sour instantly.


    Mrs. Olsen¡¯s eyes gradually moistened, ¡°You are¡­ Kiera?¡±


    Since Keira Olsen left the Olsen family, Mrs. Olsen had not seen her again.


    Ten years had been enough to transform Keira Olsen from a little girl into a striking young woman.


    Keira Olsen felt somewhat moved inside.


    Seeing her, Mrs. Olsen showed no awkwardness or sadness, only joy.


    Perhaps her decade of evasion was actually unnecessary.


    She suppressed the warmth in her eyes, stepped forward, and smiled, ¡°Mrs. Olsen, how have you been recently?¡±


    ¡°Good¡­ cough cough¡­ I¡¯ve been well, Kiera, and you? I heard from your dad that you got married?¡± Mrs. Olsen sat down at the head seat, holding her hand without letting go.


    Keira Olsen nodded but said nothing more.


    Regret showed on Mrs. Olsen¡¯s face, thinking about how nice it would be to have her bring someone home to meet them, but remembering Taylor Olsen¡¯s attitude from yesterday and how Poppy Hill had ignored and chastised her, she found herself unable to speak.


    A shadow crossed Isla Olsen¡¯s eyes, ¡°Kiera, how are you here?¡±


    Jake scoffed, ¡°She¡¯s always been working here.¡±


    Isla Olsen looked surprised, ¡°Working? Are you working here as a waitress?¡±


    Mrs. Olsen tightened her grip on Kiera Olsen¡¯s hand slightly and asked with concern, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were working at Horton Group? Why are you still working part-time¡­ is it because you¡¯re short on money?¡±


    Kiera Olsen said indifferently, ¡°No, I¡­¡±


    ¡°Mom, let¡¯s catch up another day. Today we have important guests.¡±


    Isla Olsen cut them off and then looked at Kiera Olsen, ¡°Kiera, we should have invited you to join us for the meal, but since you¡¯re working, it might not be convenient, right? In case other guests need your service, don¡¯t let it affect your work¡­ We¡¯ll leave you a bigger tip later to help out with your living expenses.¡±


    ¡°Keep quiet!¡± Mrs. Olsen scolded Isla, then quickly turned to Kiera.


    Both were daughters of Taylor Olsen, yet one was high above the other, just a waitress. Kiera¡¯s heart must be hurt, right?


    But to Mrs. Olsen¡¯s surprise, Kiera¡¯s expression remained very calm, as if she hadn¡¯t noticed the disparity in their statuses.


    Approval flickered in Mrs. Olsen¡¯s eyes.


    She went straight to the point, ¡°Kiera, today I¡¯ve arranged a meeting with Dr. South. You¡¯re also in the new energy field, right? Meeting him will be beneficial for your future!¡±


    Isla clenched her fists.


    Dr. South was her bargaining chip, why should he be introduced to Kiera Olsen?


    What if Dr. South was also seduced by her seductress-like demeanor?


    Thinking this, Isla¡¯s gaze swept the room, finally settling on a teacup on the table.


    The boiling hot tea was steaming¡­


    She picked it up and walked over to Kiera Olsen, ¡°Kiera, mom asked me to apologize to you yesterday. I substitute tea for wine as a toast to you.¡±


    She loosened her grip as she finished speaking, and the boiling tea was about to spill over Kiera¡­


    Kiera had sensed something was wrong all along.


    All her life, Isla had wished to trample her underfoot, so how could she possibly apologize genuinely?


    Seeing Isla¡¯s hand tilt, Kiera scoffed inwardly. She turned around, seemingly accidentally bumping into the teacup meant for her, and the cup immediately bounced onto Isla!


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    The tea wet the front of her dress, scalding her skin painfully.


    Isla exclaimed in surprise and paused for a moment, then bore the pain and said pitifully, ¡°Kiera, I know you hate me, but how could you do this?¡±


    Kiera Olsen looked down, feigning innocence, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t see.¡±


    Tears brimmed in Isla¡¯s eyes as if they would fall any second.


    Jake Horton said angrily upon seeing this, ¡°Kiera Olsen, is this how you work as a waitress? Clumsily injuring a customer! Call your manager right now, I want to make a complaint!¡±


    Mrs. Olsen immediately intervened, ¡°Alright, we¡¯re all family¡­¡±


    Isla¡¯s eyes flickered, ¡°Right, maybe Kiera got overexcited thinking about meeting Dr. South¡­¡±


    If she met Dr. South¡­ she wouldn¡¯t be under her thumb anymore!


    This thought flashed through Jake Horton¡¯s mind, and he immediately spoke up, ¡°Aunt, Isla is my fianc¨¦e, I have to protect her and can¡¯t let her suffer this kind of injustice.¡±


    He looked at Kiera Olsen, ¡°With your behavior, what right do you have to meet Dr. South? Are you leaving on your own, or should I escort you out?¡±


    Mrs. Olsen frowned, wanting to say something, but Isla held onto her arm, ¡°Mom, Jake is angry. Let Kiera leave first to avoid any further conflict.¡±


    Mrs. Olsen could only nod helplessly, and she looked apologetically at Kiera Olsen, ¡°Kiera, come home more often. Next time I have the chance, I¡¯ll take you to meet Dr. South.¡±


    Kiera Olsen wanted to say something, but Isla quickly changed the subject, ¡°Mom, why hasn¡¯t Dr. South arrived yet?¡±


    Mrs. Olsen sighed, ¡°I¡¯ll send her a WhatsApp message and ask.¡±


    ¡°No need.¡±


    Kiera Olsen said with a smirk, ¡°She¡¯s already here.¡±

 Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: Chapter 29

    Chapter 29: Chapter 29


    With a single sentence, three people in the room turned their heads abruptly toward her.


    Isla hesitated, ¡°Where is Dr. South?¡±


    Jake also looked eagerly at her.


    Mrs. Olsen, agitated, suddenly began to cough violently, ¡°Cough cough¡­ where is she¡­ cough cough¡­¡±


    Seeing her cough so severely, Keira quickly handed her a cup of tea.


    Mrs. Olsen reached out with shaking hands and took the cup.


    The next moment, the teacup slipped from her hands.


    Mrs. Olsen collapsed directly onto the dining table.


    ¡°Madam!¡±


    Keira exclaimed in shock and subconsciously moved to support her, but Isla forcefully pushed her away:


    ¡°Get away! What did you do to my mom?! Mom! Wake up¡­Quick, call 120¡­¡±


    The ambulance arrived quickly.


    Keira still wanted to get into the ambulance to follow them to the hospital, but Jake grabbed her in disgust, ¡°Illegitimate daughter, stay away from Mrs. Olsen! If you upset her into a bad state, I¡¯ll never let it go!!¡±


    Go to ????????????????????.co


    He forcefully pushed her away.


    Keira did not entangle further, swiftly hailed a taxi, and closely followed their trail.


    ¡­


    Lewis Horton had dinner with the old lady and then worked outside the suite.


    After looking through documents for a long time, he was inexplicably agitated, and he simply looked out the window into the distance.


    Suddenly, he saw a familiar figure downstairs.


    A group of people surrounded a gurney, rushing towards the hospital wing.


    At the back of the crowd, Keira followed at a distance, looking like a fox that had been abandoned.


    Tsk.


    Lewis raised an eyebrow and suddenly got up and walked outside.


    Upon reaching the first floor, he saw Isla and Jake Horton at the reception handling the hospital admission.


    The doctor said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, all the wards are full now, you can only temporarily stay in the corridor. We will arrange a bed as soon as one becomes available.¡±


    Jake asked, ¡°Are there no VIP wards available either? I¡¯m willing to pay any amount.¡±


    The doctor replied, ¡°There are none left.¡±


    Isla cried pitifully, ¡°Jake, what do we do now?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t panic, I¡¯ll think of something.¡±


    Jake took out his cellphone and stepped aside to start making calls.


    Lewis noticed that although Isla¡¯s face looked anxious, her eyes didn¡¯t seem to be as worried about Mrs. Olsen.


    His gaze then fell on Keira.


    Unlike Isla, although the girl¡¯s expression was calm, her eyes were firmly fixed on the hospital bed where Mrs. Olsen lay, her demeanor cautious as if she was afraid of disturbing the patient¡¯s rest.


    Despite not saying a word, her worry was completely apparent.


    Lewis¡¯s eyes deepened.


    He suddenly said to Tom Davis, who was following behind him, ¡°Arrange a ward for Miss Olsen.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±


    ¡­


    Keira stood beside Mrs. Olsen¡¯s hospital bed and saw Jake making several calls with a grim expression, then she knew relying on him was futile.


    Mrs. Olsen was not in life-threatening danger. She had fainted due to coughing, which was a result of prolonged insomnia. She desperately needed quiet rest now, but this chaotic place was too noisy!


    But she had no connections at this hospital in Oceanion¡­Should she ask that person for help?


    She hesitated, took out her phone, located a contact named ¡°Debtor,¡± and was about to make the call¡­


    The reception desk at the admissions picked up a call and immediately waved to them, ¡°A VIP ward just became available!¡±


    Isla immediately rejoiced, ¡°Jake, you really have a way!¡±


    Jake appeared baffled.


    The few friends he had just asked for help had been noncommittal, suggesting they would just try. Could someone really have come through for them?


    He didn¡¯t think much and simply took credit for it.


    A group of people went upstairs and moved into the hospital room.


    Keira Olsen followed closely behind, the Mrs. Olsen on the hospital bed was even thinner than ten years ago, her face devoid of any color¡­


    She was wheeled into the hospital room.


    Keira Olsen subconsciously followed in, but Isla Olsen blocked her at the door, ¡°Keira Olsen, my mother needs rest. Please don¡¯t disturb her.¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The door closed.


    Keira Olsen stood there stunned.


    Although she was anxious about Mrs. Olsen¡¯s health, she understood that she didn¡¯t have the status or right to open that door.


    ¡­


    Keira Olsen wanted to wait for Mrs. Olsen to wake up before leaving, so she sat down on a bench outside.


    Before long, a rush of hurried footsteps was heard, and Taylor Olsen rushed into the hospital room, his face full of worry and panting.


    After confirming that Mrs. Olsen wasn¡¯t in serious trouble, he pulled Isla out to talk in the corridor.


    Taylor Olsen frowned and asked, ¡°What happened? How could she have fainted all of a sudden?¡±


    Isla glanced at Keira sitting beside them and directly said, ¡°It was Keira who insisted on meeting Dr. South and argued with Jake, which upset mom¡­¡±


    Upon hearing this, Taylor Olsen immediately glared at Keira Olsen, ¡°Ungrateful creature!¡±


    Without another word, he swung his arm and struck down at Keira Olsen!


    Keira Olsen didn¡¯t dodge.


    All she could think about was Mrs. Olsen¡¯s pale face after she had passed out!


    Thinking of what Isla had once said, ¡°My mother¡¯s life became so unhappy because of you!¡±


    ¡­Perhaps she really shouldn¡¯t have appeared before Mrs. Olsen!


    ¡°Smack!¡±


    The anticipated pain did not come; when she opened her eyes, she saw a tall figure standing in front of her.


    Lewis Horton, dressed in a suit and looking like an angel.


    He stood there, as if shielding her under his protection.


    Keira Olsen blinked, pressing down the moisture in her eyes and the bitterness at the heart.


    She heard Taylor Olsen¡¯s panicked voice, ¡°Mr. Horton? What is this¡­?¡±


    Then came the man¡¯s deep, pleasing voice, ¡°Mr. Olsen, it¡¯s your daughter to raise, and I shouldn¡¯t interfere. But grandma likes her now. If she sees injuries on Miss Olsen¡¯s face, she would be upset.¡±


    Taylor Olsen immediately said, ¡°It was my lack of consideration.¡±


    As the group was about to say more, a cough suddenly came from inside the hospital room.


    She was awake!


    Taylor Olsen and Isla Olsen immediately entered the hospital room.


    Keira Olsen stood up, wanting to check on Mrs. Olsen¡¯s condition, but again she hesitated to enter¡­


    She lingered at the door, hesitating for a long time.


    Listening to the weak voice of Mrs. Olsen from inside the room, ¡°¡­I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t worry¡­ I haven¡¯t slept well in a long time, I just fainted and had a good sleep¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s expression relaxed, and she seemed much more alive.


    Lewis Horton shifted his gaze.


    The girl¡¯s bewildered look just now, like a little fox that couldn¡¯t find home, was pitiful.


    He asked, ¡°Not going in?¡±


    Keira Olsen answered, ¡°Not for now.¡±


    Otherwise, it would be another round of fiery arguments, disturbing Mrs. Olsen¡¯s rest.


    As they turned around, they saw the little old lady assisted by the butler walking over, ¡°I heard my granddaughter-in-law¡¯s mother was hospitalized, so I came to see¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen held her arm, ¡°Grandma, Mrs. Olsen is not my mom¡­¡±


    ¡°Could I have mistaken her?¡±


    The little old lady suddenly took out her phone, scrolled through the album, and handed Keira Olsen a photo, ¡°Granddaughter-in-law, this is the photo you sent me before, saying it was you and your mom. Isn¡¯t the person in the hospital room the person in the photo?¡±


    Keira Olsen glanced at it and suddenly froze.


    In the photo, it was she and Mrs. Olsen!!

 Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: Chapter 30

    Chapter 30: Chapter 30


    Kiera Olsen looked at the photo, puzzled.


    In the photo, she was with Mrs. Olsen at the beach.


    Both were wearing white gauze dresses, she in front, Mrs. Olsen behind, both smiling brilliantly, indeed looking like a mother and daughter with a great relationship.


    But she didn¡¯t own a white gauze dress¡­


    She hadn¡¯t seen Mrs. Olsen since she left the Olsen family in junior high, so how could there possibly be a photo of them together?


    She took old Mrs. Horton¡¯s phone and directly zoomed in on the photo.


    Then, she discovered some clues!


    The photo was actually a composite, the workmanship was quite unprofessional, it appeared to be a photo of a mother and daughter found online with her and Mrs. Olsen¡¯s faces swapped in¡­


    She looked at old Mrs. Horton: ¡°When did I send this to you?¡±


    Old Mrs. Horton shook her head: ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡±


    ¡°How did I send it to you? Email? Or text message?¡±


    Old Mrs. Horton continued shaking her head: ¡°I can¡¯t recall.¡±


    Kiera Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    Go to ????????????????????.co


    Old Mrs. Horton occasionally said one or two surprising things, but she could never explain why, which left Kiera feeling helpless.


    But old Mrs. Horton was insistent: ¡°My granddaughter-in-law, she is your mom, you can¡¯t ignore your mother¡­¡±


    If possible, she truly wished Mrs. Olsen was her mother¡­


    Kiera Olsen lowered her gaze, hiding the bitterness within: ¡°¡­I understand.¡±


    She took old Mrs. Horton back to the ward.


    Lewis Horton, however, did not enter the room, standing in the corridor instead.


    Tom Davis quickly came over: ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve found out. Miss Olsen went to work again at that private restaurant and then ran into the Olsen family¡­¡±


    She came home, took a bath, and changed her clothes ¨C I thought she was going on a date with her boyfriend!


    Lewis Horton¡¯s lips curved into an imperceptible smile, his voice cool and deep: ¡°Does the Horton Group pay her too little?¡±


    Otherwise, why would she go out to work elsewhere!


    Tom Davis answered: ¡°Not at all, it was old Mrs. Horton who arranged it for her! Maybe the tasks Jalen Riley gave her are too tough, and she¡¯s worried about being fired?¡±


    Every aspect of Kiera Olsen¡¯s situation at the company was under Tom Davis¡¯s surveillance.


    But Lewis Horton felt it wasn¡¯t that simple: ¡°What are the Olsen family doing at the private restaurant?¡±


    Tom Davis answered: ¡°They had arranged to meet Dr. South, and Young Master Jake went there for that reason too.¡±


    ¡°And Dr. South?¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t show up in the end¡­¡±


    Deep within Lewis Horton¡¯s eyes flared a faint light, a vague idea forming.


    But he found the idea too preposterous.


    ¡­


    After two hours of rest, Mrs. Olsen¡¯s spirits improved a lot, and she began speaking while coughing: ¡°Isla, let Jake go back first.¡±


    On hearing this, Isla Olsen¡¯s expression became slightly embarrassed.


    Jake Horton staying here wasn¡¯t out of concern for Mrs. Olsen, but because of Dr. South!


    She hesitated before speaking: ¡°Mom, about Dr. South¡­¡±


    Mrs. Olsen caught on immediately and said: ¡°Hand me the phone, I need to explain to Dr. South about standing him up today.¡±


    After she sent a message to Dr. South and rescheduled a meeting, only then did Isla Olsen show Jake Horton out.


    Isla Olsen said: ¡°Jake, don¡¯t worry, there definitely won¡¯t be any problem with Dr. South.¡±


    Jake Horton then said: ¡°Isla, there are several tough nuts in the R&D department of Horton Group that just don¡¯t respect me, and Jalen Riley is among them. Only by getting Dr. South to join can I establish merit in the R&D department and secure my position. So Dr. South is very important to me, you must convince him.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    The two of them talked and entered the elevator.


    After they left, Kiera Olsen finally emerged from the corner.


    She didn¡¯t want to confront Isla Olsen in front of Mrs. Olsen again, for fear that Mrs. Olsen would become agitated and her condition would worsen.


    She arrived in front of the hospital room, pushed the door open, and entered.


    Upon seeing her, Taylor Olsen¡¯s face immediately darkened, ¡°What are you doing here? Get out!¡±


    Kiera Olsen¡¯s eyes chilled as the clear, gentle voice of Mrs. Olsen came from inside the room, ¡°Is that Kiera? Let her in quickly.¡±


    Taylor Olsen glared at Kiera Olsen and warned, ¡°Don¡¯t upset Mrs. Olsen again!¡±


    ¡°I told you already, it wasn¡¯t because of Kiera today, it¡¯s just that I haven¡¯t slept well for several days¡­ I was tired,¡± Mrs. Olsen chided in a gentle complaint and took Kiera Olsen¡¯s hand, ¡°Good child, you must have been scared today, right?¡±


    Though Mrs. Olsen was wan and her demeanor was cool, her palm was very warm.


    Kiera Olsen smiled, ¡°Not at all.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good, you should come back home more often.¡±


    Mrs. Olsen, leaning on the hospital bed, said kindly, ¡°And your husband, your mom said he¡¯s a little punk, but I don¡¯t believe her. Kiera has always had good judgment since she was young, and you¡¯ve always been sensible. The person you have chosen must have his merits. Bring him to see me another day.¡±


    Kiera Olsen felt a twinge in her nose, ¡°¡­Okay.¡±


    Since the day she registered her marriage, all she had received from everyone was scolding and ridicule, except for the care she found with Mrs. Olsen.


    Mrs. Olsen wanted to continue speaking, but she started coughing violently again.


    Taylor Olsen said, ¡°Alright, stop talking, you need to rest properly.¡±


    Kiera Olsen stood up, and from her pocket, she took out a white pill in a plastic bottle and placed it in Mrs. Olsen¡¯s hand, ¡°This is a cough suppressant I¡­ asked someone to buy. You can take one when you can¡¯t sleep at night.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Kiera Olsen didn¡¯t want to disturb Mrs. Olsen¡¯s rest any further and took her leave.


    After she had gone, Mrs. Olsen looked at the bottle of medicine and sighed, ¡°Kiera does care about me.¡±


    Taylor Olsen, however, disdainfully said, ¡°Does caring about you mean not visiting you for ten years? How can you be bought by a bottle of medicine from who knows which small clinic?!¡±


    He tossed the bottle into the trash can, ¡°I heard that Nora is developing a cough suppressant that is in the clinical trial phase. I will pull some strings to get it for you!¡±


    But Mrs. Olsen¡¯s eyes grew dimmer, ¡°You believe these rumors too, huh? Chronic neurogenic cough is a rare disease, who would bother to research a medicine for it? The investment in research and development won¡¯t be recouped¡­¡±


    Taylor Olsen took her hand, ¡°We have to try. You coughing all night, unable to sleep, it¡¯s too distressing, and it hurts me to see you like this¡­¡±


    Mrs. Olsen could only nod her head.


    The night grew deeper.


    Suddenly, Mrs. Olsen opened her eyes and started coughing violently again.


    She was utterly exhausted, yet completely unable to sleep.


    Lying on her side, she suppressed the itch in her throat, not wanting to wake Taylor Olsen in the outer room.


    No one knew that she was also feeling despair.


    There was no cure for chronic neurogenic cough¡­


    The illness had been getting worse, and the anxiety caused by the lack of sleep even made her contemplate suicide once.


    If she wasn¡¯t strong-willed, she might have already taken her own life¡­


    But she didn¡¯t know how much longer she could hold on¡­


    Recently, she had increasingly felt the ebbing of life; perhaps she wouldn¡¯t be able to see her daughter get married.


    As Mrs. Olsen pondered these dismal thoughts, her eyes suddenly fell on the bottle of medicine in the trash can.


    As if possessed, she picked up the bottle, opened it, and put one white pill into her mouth¡­

 Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Chapter 31

    Chapter 31: Chapter 31


    The white pill dissolved in her mouth, instantly releasing a burst of coolness.


    Her itchy throat felt as though it was wrapped in a pool of cool water, much more comfortable.


    Mrs. Olsen didn¡¯t drink any water and swallowed the pill directly.


    ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡±


    Suddenly, another bout of coughing erupted.


    She smiled bitterly, just for a moment, she almost thought the pill was effective.


    ¡­wishful thinking.


    Mrs. Olsen lay in bed, closing her eyes.


    She was suffering from psychogenic chronic cough; for over twenty years, she had tried countless medications and consulted numerous experts, but nothing had cured it¡­


    ¡­


    ¡°Shirley? Shirley! Wake up!¡±


    Mrs. Olsen slowly opened her eyes and saw Taylor Olsen standing by the bedside, the entire room as bright as day.


    Were hospital incandescent lights this bright?


    Go to ????????????????????.co


    She was a bit disoriented and asked, ¡°What time is it?¡±


    ¡°Ten in the morning!¡± Taylor expressed his concern, ¡°You should eat something; otherwise, you¡¯ll get hypoglycemia¡­¡±


    Mrs. Olsen was stunned.


    She turned her head in confusion, only to realize that the brightness in the room wasn¡¯t from the lights, but from the sunlight!


    She had actually slept until daylight?


    How could that be!


    It was that bottle of medicine! The one Kiera gave!


    Aunt South, with eyes rimmed red with excitement, exclaimed, ¡°Mrs. Olsen, the sleeping pills the doctor prescribed last night really did work! You actually slept for ten whole hours!¡±


    Mrs. Olsen was taken aback, ¡°What sleeping pills?¡±


    Aunt South looked towards Isla Olsen, ¡°They were provided by Young Master Jake. He heard you couldn¡¯t sleep and specifically got a potent sleeping pill to add to your medication. We didn¡¯t tell you, fearing you¡¯d keep thinking about it and have even more trouble sleeping. Unexpectedly, it really worked!¡±


    Mrs. Olsen paused for a moment.


    Is that so?


    But sleeping pills are only meant to aid sleep, whereas today she woke up feeling her throat was much clearer!


    Her gaze drifted towards the pillow, to the unlabelled plastic bottle.


    Try again tonight¡­


    If she only took the sleeping pill and not this one, she would see the outcome; then she would know which one was actually effective.


    With this in mind, Mrs. Olsen remained silent.


    Taylor then turned to Isla with relief, ¡°This son-in-law is really good. I heard the flu is particularly widespread recently, and the hospital wards are full. Yesterday there was absolutely no chance to get a room, but Jake pulled a lot of strings to arrange this room. We really owe it to him this time!¡±


    Only then did Mrs. Olsen realize the ward had also been arranged by Jake Horton, ¡°He really is a good kid.¡±


    Isla saw the opportunity, ¡°Mom, with Jake being so filial towards you, could you help him out?¡±


    Mrs. Olsen asked, ¡°How can I help?¡±


    Taylor thought of something, ¡°Is it that Jake is having trouble at work?¡±


    Isla nodded and sighed, ¡°The family wants Jake to manage the research department, but those researchers there are too set in their ways and don¡¯t really listen to Jake. If we could invite Dr. South over, or even just to provide external technical support, Jake would be able to establish his position.¡±


    After Isla finished, she looked towards Mrs. Olsen.


    As expected, she saw struggle and hesitation on her face.


    Mrs. Olsen had principles when it came to life and work; she did not like to call in favors to repay gratitude, but she was even more afraid of being indebted to someone.


    Mrs. Olsen hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask Dr. South, but if he disagrees, let¡¯s drop it.¡±


    Isla Olsen¡¯s face was all smiles: ¡°Good.¡±


    Based on her experience, whenever Mrs. Olsen spoke up, Dr. South had never refused.


    Mrs. Olsen took out her phone, found Dr. South¡¯s WhatsApp, pondered her wording, and sent a message: [South, do you have a moment? I need a favor.]


    Keira Olsen received the message just as she had come back from taking old Mrs. Horton downstairs for a walk.


    Upon seeing the message, she furrowed her brows.


    Why was Mrs. Olsen suddenly reaching out to her?


    Could there have been a problem with yesterday¡¯s medicine? Or an adverse rejection reaction?


    That medication was actually still in clinical trials; she had originally planned to wait until the trials were over before offering it to Mrs. Olsen. Yet seeing the severity of Mrs. Olsen¡¯s illness, she had decided to make an exception and provide it early.


    She became somewhat anxious, instructed the nurse to take old Mrs. Horton back to her ward, and hurried towards Mrs. Olsen¡¯s location.


    Lewis Horton, who was working in the outer office, saw his grandmother enter and subconsciously glanced back, but didn¡¯t see that slim figure following.


    His gaze deepened: ¡°Where is Miss Olsen?¡±


    The old lady upon hearing this said, ¡°She went to her mother¡¯s place.¡±


    Lewis Horton raised an eyebrow: ¡°Is something wrong with Mrs. Olsen?¡±


    The old lady immediately tensed up: ¡°My daughter-in-law indeed just rushed over there. Oh my, brat, you better go check on her!¡±


    Lewis Horton pressed his lips together.


    After a moment of contemplation, he finally stood up and walked out.


    Tom Davis hurriedly followed behind him.


    ¡­


    Keira Olsen rushed into Mrs. Olsen¡¯s hospital room, only to find that the room was filled with many people.


    Not only was Jake Horton there, but Poppy Hill was also present.


    Someone said something and everyone laughed, but the room¡¯s jovial atmosphere came to an abrupt halt the moment she walked in.


    Keira Olsen stood at the door, feeling superfluous.


    Mrs. Olsen seemed fine.


    She lowered her gaze, looked down, and was about to leave.


    Mrs. Olsen wanted to call her back, but a glance over the room full of people told her that it was indeed more suitable for her to leave now. When there was time, she could meet Keira alone¡­


    However, Poppy Hill spoke up: ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t that Miss Olsen? What¡¯s the matter? Now that you¡¯ve climbed up Old Mrs. Horton¡¯s high branch, are we all beneath your notice?¡±


    Keira Olsen didn¡¯t respond and turned to leave, but Poppy Hill grabbed her:


    ¡°I heard that you¡¯re set on ingratiating yourself with Old Mrs. Horton, slavishly attending to her bedside night after night. Do you really think they¡¯ll value you as their own granddaughter? What a daydream! You are nothing but a plaything to them!¡±


    Isla Olsen quickly interjected: ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Old Mrs. Horton really values Keira¡­¡±


    Poppy Hill¡¯s voice immediately rose: ¡°And how is that value shown? Young Master Jake¡¯s respect for you, Isla, that is the real deal¡­¡±


    Poppy Hill looked to Jake Horton, pleasingly: ¡°Yesterday, they could barely free up a hospital room, and several families with good backgrounds had to wait in line for admission, but it was all thanks to Young Master Jake¡¯s help that Mrs. Olsen got into the VIP ward!¡±


    Jake Horton looked at Keira Olsen and humbly smiled: ¡°My uncle probably wasn¡¯t aware of this, otherwise he would have helped too. I merely did what little I could.¡±


    ¡°Your little contribution has been a huge help to our family!¡±


    Poppy Hill then scorned Keira Olsen: ¡°Even if Mr. Horton knew, he wouldn¡¯t have you in mind. No matter how much you try to please, they only treat you as a plaything, like any Tom, Dick, or Harry¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen clenched her fists, but didn¡¯t want to argue there, to avoid disturbing Mrs. Olsen¡¯s rest.


    Lewis Horton, who had just reached the doorway, overheard all these words.


    His expression turned cold, and he glanced at Tom Davis.


    Tom Davis understood his boss¡¯s intention instantly and coughed before entering the room: ¡°Mrs. Olsen, I¡¯ve come to convey Mr. Horton¡¯s regards on his behalf. Are you comfortable in this ward?¡±

 Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 32

    Chapter 32: Chapter 32


    The room suddenly fell silent.


    Everyone turned to look at Tom Davis, then at Jake Horton.


    Jake Horton looked utterly astonished.


    Could it be¡­ this hospital room was arranged by my uncle?


    Poppy Hill was also stunned, but quickly recovered and smiled, ¡°Young Master Jake, so this hospital room was arranged by Mr. Horton at your request¡­¡±


    Jake Horton¡¯s expression stiffened.


    But Tom Davis laughed, ¡°It was Miss Olsen who asked the boss to arrange it. Young Master Jake, did you also ask the boss?¡±


    Jake Horton wished he could find a hole to crawl into!


    He explained incoherently, ¡°I made a lot of phone calls, asked several people, they said they would help¡­ I misunderstood.¡±


    Isla Olsen felt embarrassed!


    She clenched her fists tightly, for the first time feeling that Jake Horton was not so unapproachable¡­


    The awkward atmosphere was finally broken by Mrs. Olsen, who coughed a few times and said to Tom Davis, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Horton, we are very comfortable here. When I¡¯m feeling better, I will visit Old Mrs. Horton.¡±


    However, Tom Davis said, ¡°You¡¯re comfortable, Miss Olsen isn¡¯t worried, and that makes our old lady happy.¡±


    Go to ????????????????????.co


    Being in business, who couldn¡¯t hear that this remark was in praise of Keira Olsen?


    A slight heaviness was felt in the hearts of a few in the room.


    It was unexpected that Old Mrs. Horton held Keira Olsen in such high regard.


    Only Mrs. Olsen truly felt happy.


    Keira being alone outside always worried her, but with their delicate statuses, she felt it improper to appear too close¡­ Now that Old Mrs. Horton genuinely cared for her, she could rest easy!


    Keira Olsen was slightly surprised.


    She hadn¡¯t expected that Lewis Horton was the one who had helped.


    She looked at Poppy Hill, a slight smirk forming at her lips.


    The taunting was clear to see!


    Poppy Hill was infuriated by her attitude, ¡°You little brat, what¡¯s there to be proud of? Don¡¯t think you¡¯re something special just because you have someone backing you up!¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Taylor Olsen barked, ¡°My wife is ill and needs to rest, what are you barking about here? Go home!¡±


    Poppy Hill choked up, showing a look of grievance, ¡°Taylor, I¡­ ¡±


    ¡°Go!¡±


    Poppy Hill¡¯s face turned red with anger, she glared fiercely at Keira Olsen, then turned and ran out.


    After she had left, Keira Olsen then turned to Mrs. Olsen, ¡°Madam, how did you sleep last night?¡±


    Mrs. Olsen, upon hearing this, unconsciously gripped the small medicine bottle hidden under the blanket and slowly said, ¡°I slept very well, it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve slept so well.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±


    Keira Olsen didn¡¯t elaborate further, only nodding to her, ¡°I¡¯ll be going now.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    When Keira Olsen and Tom Davis left the room, they saw Lewis Horton standing in the hallway.


    The man was dressed in a suit and trousers, outlining his long, straight legs, looking both genteel and restrained.


    He leaned against the wall, looking down at his phone, his black broken hair hiding his sharp eyes and brows, his side profile sharp and cold in the light.


    Seeming to hear the noise, the man turned his head, his eyes narrow and deep like ice, his thin red lips slightly parting, ¡°Great Grandmother was worried and insisted I come and see for myself.¡±


    Though his words were distant, his deep, pleasant voice warmed Keira Olsen¡¯s heart.


    She smiled sincerely, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    The girl¡¯s amorous eyes were clear and pure, with an unintentional charm.


    The smile at the corner of her lips was even more enchanting, momentarily dazzling Lewis Horton.


    Then, a voice came from the room:


    ¡°Aunt, since you¡¯re alright, I¡¯ll be going now.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Isla, see him out.¡±


    The hospital room door opened, and Jake Horton and Isla Olsen came out.


    They caught sight of Lewis Horton and Keira Olsen at first glance.


    Isla Olsen instantly felt as if she were facing a great enemy, her gaze darting between the two, trying to guess the nature of their relationship.


    Jake Horton¡¯s expression also darkened, and he asked subconsciously, ¡°Uncle, what are you doing here?¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s face showed a trace of interest, ¡°I don¡¯t seem to need to report my whereabouts to you.¡±


    His casual words seemed to carry an invisible pressure that assaulted the senses.


    Jake Horton¡¯s palms began to sweat immediately, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡±


    He took a deep breath and looked towards Keira Olsen.


    The girl¡¯s face had a kind of reckless beauty.


    Lewis Horton also had a fine appearance.


    Standing together, they seemed like a match made in heaven!


    A strong sense of jealousy surged in Jake Horton¡¯s heart, and he couldn¡¯t help but speak again, ¡°Miss Olsen, you have been taking care of Great Grandmother in the hospital, doesn¡¯t your husband mind?¡±


    Keira Olsen: ?


    She glanced at Lewis Horton, her smile carrying a hint of sarcasm, ¡°He probably doesn¡¯t mind.¡±


    Jake Horton¡¯s face changed dramatically.


    Before he could say anything else, Lewis Horton suddenly spoke, ¡°Heading back to the room? Grandmother is waiting for you.¡±


    Back¡­


    Keira Olsen paused slightly.


    It had been a long time since she heard that word.


    Because she had no home.


    Looking down, she smiled lightly, ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡±


    They turned and left.


    Jake Horton¡¯s gaze was sinister, staring intently at Keira Olsen¡¯s receding figure.


    For a moment, he felt an impulsive desire to snatch her back at all costs!!


    But his arm was caught by Isla Olsen, ¡°Jake, I will definitely help you get Dr. South on your side¡­¡±


    Jake Horton, as if his rationality finally returned, responded, ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll escort you downstairs.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    After seeing her off, Isla Olsen felt a deep sense of crisis.


    When she returned to the room, she saw Mrs. Olsen getting up to move about, her eyes flickering.


    She approached the bed and pretended to arrange the bedding, then exclaimed, ¡°Mom, why is there a bottle of medicine on your bed?¡±


    Taylor Olsen frowned, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the non-warranty medicine Keira gave? Shirley, why did you pick it up again!¡±


    Mrs. Olsen explained, ¡°I took one last night. It seemed like the medicine actually worked¡­¡±


    ¡°How is that possible? It was clearly the sleeping pills that worked!¡±


    Taylor Olsen snatched the medicine bottle away, disdainfully saying, ¡°Who knows where she got those medicines from, you can¡¯t just eat them randomly! Aren¡¯t you afraid of ruining your health?¡±


    Mrs. Olsen hurriedly said, ¡°Don¡¯t throw it away. I won¡¯t take it tonight, let¡¯s see which medicine actually works!¡±


    Taylor Olsen helplessly agreed, ¡°¡­Alright.¡±


    Soon it was evening.


    Aunt South, holding the sleeping pills in her hands, carefully as if she held a miracle cure, watched Mrs. Olsen swallow them before turning off the light and tiptoeing out the door.


    The room grew quiet.


    Half an hour later, there was still no sound inside.


    Aunt South excitedly said, ¡°Young Master Jake, this medicine has literally saved the lady¡¯s life! She hasn¡¯t slept through the night in over twenty years¡­¡±


    Isla Olsen feigned embarrassment, ¡°Stop saying that, it wasn¡¯t Jake who arranged the room, and today was a big embarrassment¡­¡±


    Taylor Olsen responded, ¡°Compared to the room, this medicine is the most important! Otherwise, even if Shirley lived in the Presidential Palace, she still wouldn¡¯t sleep. Besides, Jake had helped us a lot, and yet he didn¡¯t flaunt it like Keira Olsen did when she specially brought Tom Davis over to show off, expecting us to be grateful.¡±


    After speaking, he looked disdainfully at the medicine bottle Keira Olsen had given, ¡°Sister South, quickly dispose of this messy medicine, lest Shirley takes it again!¡±


    Almost as soon as he finished speaking, a long-suppressed bout of violent coughing erupted from the room!

 Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Chapter 33

    Chapter 33: Chapter 33


    Taylor Olsen was slightly startled.


    He exchanged a glance with Aunt South and immediately rushed into the ward.


    One characteristic of a psychogenic cough is that it would get worse at night.


    Aunt South turned on the light.


    Everyone saw Mrs. Olsen sitting up, covering her mouth with her hand, her face flushed red from coughing.


    She clutched at her chest, her slender frame trembling violently with each cough, a sight that struck fear into the hearts of those watching.


    Taylor Olsen steadied her by the shoulders, ¡°Shirley, what¡¯s wrong? How are you feeling?¡±


    But Mrs. Olsen said, ¡°The medicine¡­ cough cough cough!¡±


    Taylor Olsen was confused.


    However, Aunt South understood immediately, and dashed out to fetch Keira Olsen¡¯s bottle of medicine, ¡°Madam, here¡¯s your medicine!¡±


    Mrs. Olsen nodded, and as Aunt South nervously opened the bottle and was about to hand her a pill, Isla Olsen grabbed her hand.


    Isla Olsen frowned and said, ¡°Could the sudden worsening of mother¡¯s cough be caused by this medicine? We should not take medicine with unknown origins¡­¡±


    Her intuition told her that this medicine might really work!


    Go to ????????????????????.co


    So she couldn¡¯t let Mrs. Olsen take it!


    She looked at Taylor Olsen.


    When someone is biased against another person, everything that person does is wrong.


    Keira Olsen was Finley Hill¡¯s daughter, which was the greatest bias Taylor Olsen had against her!


    As expected, Taylor Olsen angrily said, ¡°This Keira Olsen, more trouble than she¡¯s worth! I¡¯ve always said she was unreliable. Shirley, you¡¯re so good to her, yet she brings you medicine that harms you!¡±


    Isla Olsen felt a surge of triumph inside.


    However, Mrs. Olsen, seizing a moment between coughs, looked toward Aunt South, ¡°Give me the medicine! Cough cough cough¡­¡±


    Aunt South, ever loyal to her, immediately handed the pill to Mrs. Olsen, who promptly popped it into her mouth¡­


    ¡°Shirley!¡±


    Taylor Olsen cried out in alarm, wanting to intervene, but he found¡­ Mrs. Olsen had stopped coughing!


    After she managed to suppress the bout of coughing and took a deep breath, she looked at them with furrowed brows and confidently said, ¡°It¡¯s certain, the medicine from Kiera worked.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Once Mrs. Olsen¡¯s cough had subsided and she had truly fallen asleep, the group once again gathered outside.


    Isla Olsen¡¯s face was pale as she bit her lip, ¡°Dad, Kiera is so amazing, to have actually bought a miracle drug?¡±


    ¡°What can she possibly do on her own, it must have been Mr. Horton who helped her buy it,¡± said Taylor Olsen, his brows deeply furrowed. ¡°It seems Old Mrs. Horton really values her¡­¡±


    Isla Olsen immediately clenched her fingers.


    ¡­


    In the VIP ward.


    ¡°What did we have for lunch today?¡±


    Old Mrs. Horton racked her brains, ¡°Oatmeal? It doesn¡¯t seem right¡­ It was pasta! Brat, am I right?¡±


    Lewis Horton smiled and nodded, ¡°Right.¡±


    Old Mrs. Horton spoke proudly, ¡°I knew my memory was fine, my brain works just fine!¡±


    Lewis Horton didn¡¯t speak.


    If one looked carefully, they would realize that his smile didn¡¯t reach his eyes.


    Actually, they had rice for lunch, and grandma had forgotten again.


    Her condition seemed to be worsening, her memory starting to deteriorate¡­


    At that moment, Keira Olsen lazily spoke up, ¡°Grandma, what color was Mr. Horton¡¯s tie yesterday?¡±


    Old Mrs. Horton immediately said, ¡°Purple! That brat is so stylish, he even wore diamond cufflinks.¡±


    ¡°And the day before?¡±


    ¡°Blue! That blue tie, I bought it for him myself~¡±


    Keira Olsen smiled lightly, looking at Lewis Horton with an implied meaning, ¡°Grandma remembers the things she cares about very clearly.¡±


    Lewis Horton looked at her.


    The girl sat on a beanbag chair, sinking deep into it.


    She lounged idly, her head bowed as she fiddled with her phone, her waterfall-like black hair casually spilling down her back, setting off her increasingly fair skin, making her seem as if she was bathed in a soft glow.


    What she had just said was meant to comfort him.


    His anxious heart gradually soothed¡­


    The little old lady suddenly laughed, ¡°My granddaughter-in-law, everything I just said was right, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    Keira Olsen: ¡°Yes.¡±


    The little old lady then looked at Lewis Horton, ¡°You brat, did you see that? Your wife even remembers so clearly what you wear every day! You¡¯re in her heart!¡±


    Keira Olsen: !!


    She simply had a photographic memory, she really hadn¡¯t tried to remember these things on purpose!


    She wanted to explain something but saw that Lewis Horton was looking at the computer in front of him, not paying any attention to them.


    He hadn¡¯t taken the little old lady¡¯s words to heart, had he?


    Then she wouldn¡¯t explain, to avoid looking suspicious without cause.


    Keira Olsen didn¡¯t notice that the man¡¯s ears were faintly red; she turned her attention back to her phone and to her work, the final wrap-up for Alzheimer¡¯s research, which was utterly perplexing.


    She simply stood up, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a walk.¡±


    As she was walking downstairs with the Shiba Inu named ¡°Kitty,¡± someone patted her on the shoulder.


    Turning around, she saw a sleazy-looking middle-aged man standing behind her, grinning at her, ¡°Hey, my great-niece, long time no see!¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s expression cooled.


    This person was Poppy Hill¡¯s brother, her uncle Finley Hill.


    He was unemployed and a gambling addict.


    As he spoke, his mouth emitted a foul stench, and his yellow teeth were enough to make anyone feel sick.


    Keira Olsen stepped back, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Finley Hill rubbed his hands together, his voice sleazy, ¡°Hey, I heard my great-niece has got in with the Horton family, huh? Your uncle is a little short on cash lately, can you lend me some money?¡±


    Keira Olsen scoffed.


    Poppy Hill was notoriously overindulgent with her brother, squatting in the Olsen family home and transferring all living expenses given by the Olsens to this brother.


    After leaving the Olsen family, Finley Hill shamelessly approached her for money multiple times.


    Eventually, probably seeing that she was ¡°really broke,¡± he finally backed off.


    She hadn¡¯t expected him to come around again¡­


    Keira Olsen said bluntly, ¡°I don¡¯t have money.¡±


    Finley Hill didn¡¯t believe her, ¡°You¡¯ve been tending to that old lady so well, she hasn¡¯t given you any money?¡±


    Keira Olsen narrowed her eyes, ¡°Not yet, but maybe she will in the future?¡±


    Finley Hill instantly smiled, ¡°Then you must lend it to your uncle. If you give more, I could tell you a secret!¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    Finley Hill didn¡¯t dare to cause a scene here; after all, this VIP ward housed the wealthy and noble, and there were security guards patrolling nearby. He left with a heh heh laugh.


    Keira Olsen snorted in derision.


    At that moment, her phone rang. Picking it up, she saw it was Mrs. Olsen.


    She immediately answered.


    ¡­


    Isla Olsen paced anxiously around the room.


    She wanted to secure her place in the Horton family through Dr. South!


    Yet the entire day today, Dr. South hadn¡¯t replied to Mrs. Olsen¡¯s messages!


    Jake Horton had sent several WhatsApp messages, persistently inquiring about Dr. South¡¯s matters; she couldn¡¯t delay any longer¡­


    Isla Olsen suddenly stopped, tiptoed into the sickroom.


    She took the phone from beside the sleeping Mrs. Olsen, then stepped out and headed to the corridor.


    She took a deep breath, unlocked the phone, found ¡°South¡± in the contacts, and dialed directly!


    The phone rang three times before it was answered.


    The voice on the other end was cool and clear, ¡°Hello, Mrs. Olsen, what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Upon hearing this voice, Isla Olsen froze, that voice¡­


    ¡°Keira Olsen?!¡±

 Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Chapter 34

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 Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Chapter 35

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 Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Chapter 36

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 Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: Chapter 37

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 Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 38

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 Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: Chapter 39

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 Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: Chapter 40

    Chapter 40: Chapter 40


    Keira Olsen suddenly appeared, startling Isla Olsen!


    She immediately looked at Finley Hill, her eyes revealing panic.


    Finley Hill gave a slight smile, just about to speak¡­


    Isla Olsen took the initiative and scolded, ¡°Keira Olsen, why are you eavesdropping on our conversation?¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s gaze swept over her and Finley Hill, ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject here.¡±


    She looked at Finley Hill, ¡°What truth?¡±


    Her intuition told her that this truth was related to her.


    She added, ¡°I can give you money.¡±


    Finley Hill¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°How much can you give?¡±


    Keira Olsen looked at Isla Olsen, who was tightly clutching her sleeves, her whole demeanor tense and chaotic.


    She indifferently said, ¡°Name your price, I can ask the Horton family for it.¡±


    Finley Hill¡¯s shifty eyes finally settled, and he smiled at Isla Olsen, ¡°I think you¡¯re still not as rich as Isla Olsen, right?¡±


    Isla immediately sighed in relief and said to Finley Hill, ¡°I will figure out a way to give you the money you want, you can go now.¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï


    Finley Hill chuckled, ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll leave first.¡±


    As he passed by Keira Olsen, he paused, ¡°Niece, this secret will always be valid for you, as long as you pay the right price, I will definitely sell it to you!¡±


    With those words, he left cheerfully.


    Keira Olsen watched his back, squinting her eyes.


    She took out her phone and sent a WhatsApp message to Samuel Morgan, ¡°Check on Finley Hill.¡±


    Samuel Morgan quickly replied, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Then he sent another message, ¡°Boss, there¡¯s an industry gathering tomorrow, the invitation has been sent to your email, are you going?¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s response was brief, ¡°Not going.¡±


    After sending the message and looking up, she saw Isla Olsen walking past her, head bowed.


    Keira Olsen said indifferently, ¡°If you don¡¯t want others to know, don¡¯t do it yourself. Did you think I wouldn¡¯t find out about you and Finley Hill?¡±


    Isla Olsen¡¯s body stiffened, and she looked up, smiling, ¡°Kiera, what are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand¡­¡±


    ¡°No wonder, being Miss Olsen and yet so strapped for cash, you¡¯re paying him every month. What big leverage does he have on you?¡±


    Isla immediately retorted, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? What leverage could he possibly have on me!¡±


    A fierce look crossed her eyes, ¡°Keira Olsen, I would advise you to concern yourself with your own problems instead of wasting time on me!¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s expression cooled.


    Seeing Isla about to leave, she asked, ¡°Where is Poppy Hill?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Isla exploded, ¡°She¡¯s your mother, why do you ask me? How would I know?!¡±


    Since learning the truth from Finley Hill, Isla had been keeping it from Poppy Hill, pretending she didn¡¯t know¡­


    That woman was too foolish! She feared that by recognizing Poppy Hill, it would cause her to slip up¡­


    Therefore, Poppy Hill was totally unaware that she already knew the truth about her identity.


    Leaving those words behind, Isla walked away.


    Keira Olsen followed her, and they both arrived in front of Mrs. Olsen¡¯s hospital room.


    Through the glass window in the door, it was clear that Poppy Hill was not in the room.


    She didn¡¯t enter to disturb Mrs. Olsen, and left the building.


    She called Poppy Hill, ¡°Where are you?¡±


    Poppy Hill¡¯s frantic voice came through, ¡°Keira Olsen, what are you up to?¡±


    ¡°I want you to come back and apologize to Mr. Horton.¡±


    Poppy Hill¡¯s voice became sharp immediately, ¡°I won¡¯t! Mr. Horton won¡¯t let me off the hook! You apologize for me, you¡¯re my daughter, let the daughter pay for the mother¡¯s debts!¡±


    Keira Olsen scoffed, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then don¡¯t blame me for calling the police.¡±


    Poppy Hill shouted angrily, ¡°Why did you call the police? I¡¯m your mother! It¡¯s only natural for a mother to hit her child, isn¡¯t it!¡±


    Keira Olsen responded indifferently, ¡°But this time, you hurt Mr. Horton, and people must pay for their mistakes.¡±


    ¡°You ungrateful daughter! Had I known you would treat me this way, I should have drowned you when you were born! Thrown you into a cesspit! Sold you to a brothel! Little slut! ¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen didn¡¯t listen to her anymore and hung up the phone.


    Previously, any grievance between the two would have been deemed a family dispute when reported to the authorities.


    But this time was different.


    Poppy Hill accidentally injured Lewis Horton, and was ultimately sentenced to 48 hours in custody, plus a fine and medical fees.


    However, that amount of money meant nothing to the Horton Family.


    After handling these matters, Keira Olsen returned to the old lady¡¯s hospital room.


    Lewis Horton was not in the room.


    The old lady explained, ¡°He said there was an important meeting to attend, so he¡¯s gone down to the RV.¡±


    Keira Olsen nodded, she was silent for a moment and then spoke, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    But the old lady waved her hand, ¡°My granddaughter-in-law, we¡¯re all family, why say such things? Besides, seeing that brat stand up for you, I couldn¡¯t be happier!¡±


    Keira Olsen was slightly stunned.


    Family ¡­


    In this tumultuous world, with people coming and going, she had always known she had no family.


    But now, it seemed like she truly felt what it was like to have a family.


    ¡­


    Isla Olsen sold a bag in the second-hand market, managed to gather fifty thousand yuan, and transferred it to Finley Hill.


    And she sent him a message: ¡°Keep your mouth shut! Otherwise, neither of us will end well!¡±


    Finley Hill¡¯s response came quickly: ¡°My dear niece, don¡¯t worry, even if I can¡¯t tell who among you and Keira Olsen is richer, I still know the difference.¡±


    Isla Olsen still felt uneasy.


    She must marry Jake Horton as soon as possible, so that even if her identity is exposed in the future, she will still be Mrs. Horton!


    At nine o¡¯clock in the evening, Jake Horton suddenly came to see her.


    Isla Olsen was surprised, ¡°Jake, why are you here?¡±


    Jake Horton asked sternly, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ve sorted things out with Dr. South?¡±


    The words Keira Olsen said today had made Jake Horton anxious.


    Isla Olsen¡¯s eyes flickered, ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Then arrange a meeting with Dr. South for me.¡±


    Isla Olsen nervously fidgeted with her fingers, ¡°Dr. South has gone abroad. I¡¯ll arrange it as soon as he returns. Jake, is there a problem you need to solve? I can contact him for you.¡±


    Jake Horton looked at Isla Olsen suspiciously, ¡°I¡¯ve sent you the problem in an email, forward it to Dr. South, and ask him to help solve it.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll forward it to him right now.¡±


    To prove her words, Isla Olsen operated her phone and immediately sent the email: ¡°Dr. South usually responds to my messages instantly, Jake, just wait a moment.¡±


    In the VIP hospital room, Keira Olsen¡¯s phone vibrated.


    She took it out and saw that it was an email from Mrs. Olsen:


    ¡°South, can you help solve this problem?¡±


    Keira Olsen guessed what it was, she opened the attachment, and sure enough, it was a technical issue from Horton Group!!


    This Isla Olsen¡­ had actually asked for her help using Mrs. Olsen¡¯s name!!


    Keira Olsen scoffed and replied to the message.


    ¡°Ding¡±


    The email notification sounded, and Isla Olsen breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°See, Dr. South responds to me very quickly, he has replied!¡±


    Then, Isla Olsen opened the email ¡­

 Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Chapter 41

    Chapter 41: Chapter 41


    After graduating from college, Isla Olsen had always worked at the Olsen Family company.


    She knew Mrs. Olsen¡¯s email password by heart and had even studied the email content between Mrs. Olsen and Dr. South.


    She discovered that Dr. South always replied to Mrs. Olsen¡¯s emails instantly and never asked unnecessary questions, always solving problems directly.


    It was evident he took Mrs. Olsen very seriously.


    Only then did she dare to lie, saying that Dr. South agreed to the invitation from Horton Group.


    With a smile on her face, Isla Olsen opened the email and saw the reply:


    [I am only responsible for the Olsen Family; Horton Group¡¯s issues are not my concern.]


    Isla Olsen¡¯s smile froze!


    Jake Horton noticed her odd expression and furrowed his brows in concern, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Regaining her composure, Isla Olsen smiled and said, ¡°Dr. South said, this issue will take a few days to resolve¡­ ¡±


    Relieved, Jake Horton said, ¡°That¡¯s normal, this issue is indeed tricky, but Keira and I¡­ and a group of people made a bet that we will have a solution by Friday; that¡¯s not a problem, right?¡±


    With conviction, Isla Olsen said, ¡°No problem.¡±


    Yet her eyes were flickering.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï


    He just clearly said he made a bet with Keira!


    ¡­


    Jake Horton quickly returned to the Horton Family home.


    Thinking of Keira Olsen, he felt somewhat restless.


    However, his father, Oliver Horton, unusually showed him a smile, patted him on the shoulder, and praised, ¡°As expected of my good son, you managed to invite Dr. South, and you¡¯ve quickly secured a foothold in the R&D department!¡±


    Jake Horton was pleasantly surprised, ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry, I will work even harder to take back the position as head of the family for you!¡±


    ¡°Good!¡± Oliver Horton entered the master bedroom and did not seem to intend to go out again.


    ¡°Jake, is your dad staying in tonight and not going out to that seductress?¡±


    Melissa Knight cried with joy, ¡°You must outdo that illegitimate daughter out there! Only then will your father return to his senses!¡±


    She wiped her tears and said, ¡°Although Isla Olsen has irritated the old Mrs. Horton, this time she did a splendid job! Alright, I won¡¯t say anymore, I am going to attend to your father as he rests.¡±


    Watching his mother enter the room happily, Jake Horton clenched his fists.


    Proposing to Isla Olsen and bringing in Dr. South as a supporting force was the right first step he had taken.


    Having made the choice, he would not regret it.


    As for Keira Olsen¡­ she could only be his!


    ¡°Achoo!¡±


    Keira Olsen sneezed.


    She rubbed her nose, her gaze not leaving the computer screen, casually picked up the cup next to her wanting to moisten her throat, only to find that it was empty.


    She put the cup down and continued to immerse herself in work.


    Suddenly, the room dimmed.


    When she looked up, she saw Lewis Horton bringing her a cup of water, which he placed on the small coffee table.


    Keira Olsen was slightly startled, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Not at all, it was on the way,¡± Lewis Horton responded naturally, returning to his own place.


    The old Mrs. Horton watched the two of them, her mouth agape with joy.


    She felt as if her great-grandchild was waving at her!


    What should she call the child of the brat and her granddaughter-in-law?


    The old Mrs. Horton donned her reading glasses, picked up the dictionary and the Book of Songs, and began flipping through them¡­


    As night deepened, the Shiba Inu ¡°Kitty¡± boredly ran from the old lady to Keira Olsen wagging its tail and eventually curled up and fell asleep beside Lewis Horton¡¯s feet.


    The next day, Lewis Horton dressed in a black suit, showed no sign of his injuries in his mannerisms.


    Burns are actually the most painful, but he hadn¡¯t made a peep about it since he got hurt.


    Kiera couldn¡¯t help but admire his ability to endure.


    They both went to work, and Kiera didn¡¯t put on any more airs. She just got straight into Lewis Horton¡¯s car.


    Tom Davis sat in the passenger seat and glanced at them through the rearview mirror.


    The boss and Miss Olsen were still each occupied with their own things, with no exchange or conversation between them, but he always felt that something had subtly changed.


    The car quickly arrived at the company, and Kiera greeted Lewis Horton before getting out of the car.


    As soon as she reached the R&D department, she was stopped by Jake Horton.


    He was in the rest area outside the elevator, holding a coffee and said, ¡°There¡¯s an industry networking event about new energy tonight, and those who can attend are all big names in the field. It¡¯s said that Dr. South might also be there.¡±


    Kiera didn¡¯t stop walking, ¡°And then?¡±


    ¡°The Horton Group R&D department has an invitation, and I can take you there to get a feel for it. Networking with some of these people can be of great help to your future career development.¡±


    ¡°No need, thank you.¡±


    Kiera entered an office block without even turning her head back.


    Jake Horton stood in place, his face becoming extremely ugly.


    Jalen Riley, yawning and wearing slippers, strolled past him and laughed scornfully, ¡°An invitation card, and you think you can buy her over? Keira Olsen is not so short-sighted!¡±


    Jake Horton sneered, ¡°Jalen Riley, if you really care about her well-being, you should let her come work with me. You should understand that I can bring better resources to her! Do you think just anyone can attend those kind of gatherings?¡±


    Jalen Riley looked at him, ¡°At least I can take her there.¡±


    Jalen Riley had always been a core member of the R&D department. It wasn¡¯t surprising that he could get an invitation.


    But Jake Horton¡¯s gaze sank.


    ¡­


    Kiera was busy all day.


    When it was time to leave work, Jalen Riley called her, ¡°There¡¯s a job tonight, come with me.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Kiera didn¡¯t think too much about it. She just sent Lewis Horton a message to say she would be working late and got into Jalen Riley¡¯s car.


    They soon arrived at a business cocktail party.


    Jalen Riley instructed her, ¡°Later, you just stick with me, and I¡¯ll introduce you to some people from the industry. But Dr. South rarely attends these kinds of gatherings; I doubt he¡¯ll be here, so don¡¯t get your hopes up too much.¡±


    Kiera understood what he meant and couldn¡¯t help but feel a mixture of amusement and resignation.


    She was genuinely uninterested in this kind of networking event, but since she was already there, she might as well go in and see for herself. It seemed like she hadn¡¯t seen Samuel Morgan in a long time.


    When they got to the entrance, Jalen Riley presented the invitation card and was about to take her in when a staff member stopped them:


    ¡°Sorry, Mr. Sims, the people from Horton Group who were supposed to come today have already informed us, and your name is not on the list.¡±


    Jalen Riley frowned, ¡°How is that possible?!¡±


    His skills were known in the industry, and usually, it was him choosing not to attend these events, never an issue of not being allowed in!


    Jake Horton, holding a glass of champagne, came out and squinted, ¡°Team Leader Riley, Group One¡¯s R&D tasks are heavy, so I assumed you wouldn¡¯t come. That¡¯s why I declined on your behalf when preparing the confirmation. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s too late to add you now. You might as well go back.¡±


    Jalen Riley was seething with anger, ¡°Jake Horton, you¡¯ve gone too far! Who are you to decline for me?¡±


    Jake Horton scoffed, ¡°Jalen Riley, you need to understand that your status in the industry is given to you by Horton Group, and they invited Horton Group¡¯s Jalen Riley. As the deputy head of R&D, of course, I can make decisions for you!¡±


    Jalen Riley was so angry he was about to explode.


    A man of his true talent would be respected and treated well in any company. If he left Horton Group, there would be plenty of other companies eager to hire him!


    So even the head of the R&D department didn¡¯t dare to treat him poorly, yet here was Jake Horton using his deputy head position to suppress him?!


    ¡°I suggest you don¡¯t cause a scene here. Everyone present is respectable, and I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t want to be escorted out by security, would you?¡±


    After Jake Horton said that, he finally turned to look at Kiera, ¡°Kiera Olsen, do you see now? Without my approval, you can¡¯t go through these doors at all!¡±


    Kiera looked up calmly, ¡°Is that so?¡±


    She took out her phone, opened the email with the invitation that Samuel Morgan had sent her, and handed it to the staff member.

 Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: Chapter 42

    Chapter 42: Chapter 42


    Keira Olsen handed the invitation to the waiter, ¡°Can I go in now?¡±


    The waiter only glanced at it before he stepped aside respectfully, ¡°Please come in.¡±


    Jake Horton frowned upon hearing this, ¡°How did you get an invitation?¡±


    He stepped forward and looked directly at Keira Olsen¡¯s phone, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you took someone else¡¯s invitation. This event requires real-name registration!¡±


    Then, after seeing the name on the invitation, he was stunned.


    At industry gatherings like this, invitations usually include the company and position of the guest.


    The invitation for Jalen Riley wasn¡¯t issued out of courtesy for Horton Group, but rather for his own influence.


    It only listed his workplace because he was part of Horton Group.


    But there were some people with complex identities, or those prominent enough, who had no such titles listed.


    The invitation in Keira Olsen¡¯s hand simply stated the three words, ¡°Keira Olsen.¡±


    Jake Horton asked in shock, ¡°Under what identity did you get this invitation?¡±


    ¡°None of your business.¡±


    Keira Olsen calmly turned off her phone screen and looked toward Jalen Riley, ¡°Shall we go?¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã?


    Jalen Riley had thought that he was surely taking a loss today and lamented not being able to bring Keira Olsen in; could it be that the situation had suddenly reversed?


    Following Keira Olsen into the banquet hall, he asked, ¡°Where did you get the invitation from?¡±


    Just as Keira Olsen was about to speak, Jalen Riley jumped in, ¡°It must be your cousin who sorted it out, right? Without a company name, you won¡¯t be beholden to anyone!¡±


    His eyes darkened, ¡°Jake Horton has gone too far this time. I absolutely won¡¯t let this slide. When I get back to the company, I must go and¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen thought he was going to say that he would look for the head of the R&D department, or make a fuss to the board of directors, but instead, he said, ¡°¡­find my cousin to stand up for me!¡±


    Keira Olsen: ? ?


    Whatever happened to hating nepotism?


    Maybe sensing her confusion, Jalen Riley touched his nose awkwardly, ¡°It¡¯s not that I hate relatives in the company, it¡¯s those without capability who still cling to their positions¡­ You don¡¯t know how many of those exist within Horton Group idling away¡­ Anyway, why am I telling you this?¡±


    He picked up a glass of champagne from the side, ¡°Let me introduce you to a few people.¡±


    Before Keira Olsen could refuse, Jalen Riley had already called out, ¡°Mr. King!¡±


    Keira Olsen had no choice but to follow.


    The man known as Mr. King was a senior figure in the industry, already surrounded by a circle of people exchanging pleasantries.


    He showed great respect for Jalen Riley, ¡°General Sims, you rarely attend these events. What is it, finally got some time to mingle and compare notes with us old-timers?¡±


    Jalen Riley smiled, ¡°I¡¯m just a junior, how could I possibly compare notes with you? Today, I¡¯m here to listen, bringing someone with me.¡±


    He pushed Keira Olsen to the forefront, ¡°This is the new talent in our company, who solved a major problem that had plagued me for a month. It¡¯s only today that we have time to get out!¡±


    A problem that could trouble Jalen Riley certainly wasn¡¯t an easy one.


    By saying this, Jalen Riley intended to boost Keira Olsen up by stepping back himself.


    Mr. King and the others indeed started showing interest in Keira Olsen, smiling at her, ¡°Impressive, isn¡¯t it? Why don¡¯t you introduce her to us quickly.¡±


    Just as Jalen Riley was about to make the introduction, a female voice suddenly cut in, ¡°Mr. King, long time no see.¡±


    The group turned their heads to see Isla Olsen in a blue dress, holding onto Jake Horton¡¯s arm, standing by their side.


    As soon as she spoke, Mr. King and others immediately gathered around, ¡°Miss Olsen, truly, it¡¯s been a long time! Are you here today? Does that mean Dr. South will be coming?¡±


    Isla Olsen smiled, ¡°I have no idea. I¡¯m here today accompanying my fianc¨¦, who is also in the new energy field.¡±


    Jake Horton extended his hand to Mr. King, ¡°Horton Group, Jake Horton.¡±


    Mr. King suddenly realized, ¡°Ah, the young Mr. Horton! Delighted to meet you!¡±


    ¡°Miss Olsen, you and young Mr. Horton truly make a handsome couple¡­¡±


    ¡°Miss Olsen, I¡¯ve heard Dr. South has been serving as a technology consultant for your Olsen Family. When will he finally show up and let us all seek his advice?¡±


    ¡°Miss Olsen, what kind of difficult problems has Dr. South solved for your family?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Everyone gathered around Isla Olsen.


    Kiera and Jalen Riley were squeezed to the edge.


    ¡°They¡¯re doing it on purpose!¡±


    Jalen¡¯s face darkened even more, he continued, ¡°But all those people put together aren¡¯t worth one Dr. South. Later, Samuel Morgan will be here. You should drink a few more glasses with him.¡±


    Kiera: ¡°¡­¡±


    Jalen continued, ¡°Don¡¯t be shy. You need to have a thicker skin. There are too many people who want to get to know Samuel. I haven¡¯t even managed to become familiar with his face¡­¡±


    Kiera twitched the corner of her mouth, ¡°Then I¡¯ll introduce you later.¡±


    But Jalen was indifferent, ¡°You first get to know him better.¡±


    At that moment, there was a sudden commotion at the door. Kiera looked over and saw Samuel Morgan had arrived!


    He wore a light grey suit, one hand in his pocket, the other swinging casually, his expression indifferent, nothing like the lively and talkative way he was in front of her.


    Upon seeing him, the crowd immediately surged forward:


    ¡°Mr. Morgan, long time no see!¡±


    ¡°What projects have you been busy with lately? Which direction?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Isla Olsen and Jake Horton did not follow the crowd immediately but walked over.


    Isla¡¯s face sported a smile, ¡°Kiera, do you need me to introduce you to Mr. Morgan?¡±


    Jake had a sinister look in his eye, ¡°She managed to get an invitation; she must have a wide network. She surely knows Mr. Morgan already, why would she need your introduction?¡±


    Isla said, ¡°Is that so? Mr. Morgan is always so aloof. It¡¯s not like just anyone can approach him to talk. I was thinking¡­ Never mind, I won¡¯t show off my meager skills.¡±


    Jalen ignored the sarcasm from both and picked up a glass of champagne from the side and handed it to Kiera, giving her a push, ¡°Go and toast Mr. Morgan.¡±


    Jake scoffed, ¡°Our Horton Group certainly doesn¡¯t serve with seduction! Besides, do you think Samuel is the kind of man who is easily swayed by beauty? So many women have tried to seduce him to get information about Dr. South, and he¡¯s been completely unmoved! Do you really think you¡¯re so enchanting that you can win over anyone?¡±


    Isla nudged him, ¡°Jake, let¡¯s go meet Mr. Morgan.¡±


    Jake nodded, and they walked towards Samuel. Isla called out, ¡°Mr. Morgan!¡±


    Samuel hadn¡¯t been looking in their direction, but he glanced over upon hearing the call, and upon seeing Isla, he smirked and was about to look away but then suddenly saw the person behind Isla!!


    Samuel was startled, then quickly and cheerfully walked over to Kiera!


    Seeing Samuel¡¯s expression, Isla was immediately pleased.


    She had dealt with Samuel a few times after starting to work at the Olsen company, but unfortunately, Samuel was always arrogant and indifferent to her.


    She hadn¡¯t expected that in front of others, he would give her this much face.


    Jake also straightened up, seeing Samuel¡¯s attitude; Dr. South must really respect Isla!


    Both wearing smiles, they met up with Samuel.


    Isla began to introduce Jake, ¡°Mr. Morgan, this is¡­¡±


    But before she could finish, Samuel breezed past them and went straight to the person behind them.


    They turned around in shock, only to see Samuel standing in front of Kiera, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

 Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Chapter 43

    Chapter 43: Chapter 43


    Everyone was stunned.


    At gatherings like this, Samuel Morgan was always reserved. When had anyone seen him so enthusiastic?


    And¡­ ¡°you¡±?


    What was the deal with this girl in her twenties?


    Isla Olsen clenched her fingers tightly, feeling a burning sensation on her face¡­


    Jake Horton furrowed his brows, his gaze shifting back and forth between Samuel Morgan and Kiera Olsen: ¡°Do you know each other?¡±


    Samuel Morgan looked at Kiera Olsen and hesitated to speak for a moment.


    Who knew if the boss wanted her identity exposed?


    Sure enough, the next second, Kiera Olsen lifted her champagne glass towards Samuel Morgan, a warning flickering in her amorous eyes: ¡°Mr. Morgan, hello. I¡¯m too young to be addressed so formally.¡±


    Samuel Morgan got the message from the boss and coughed before saying, ¡°Miss Olsen, I didn¡¯t expect to encounter you here, so I got a little too excited.¡±


    The way he said it¡­ everyone glanced at Kiera Olsen¡¯s stunning face and seemed to understand something, chuckling amongst themselves.


    Mr. King approached, teasing, ¡°Mr. Morgan, you really have high standards! She truly is an exceptionally beautiful woman!¡±


    Samuel Morgan immediately replied, ¡°Not only is Miss Olsen beautiful, but her capabilities are also impressive.¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï


    Mr. King was taken aback.


    Jalen Riley had also praised Kiera Olsen just now¡­


    Only then did he take her seriously: ¡°Miss Olsen, this is my business card. I hope we can collaborate in the future.¡±


    With Mr. King taking the initiative, others quickly gathered around:


    ¡°If Miss Olsen is praised by Mr. Morgan, she definitely has something extraordinary.¡±


    ¡°Such achievements at a young age¡­¡±


    Kiera Olsen didn¡¯t like such occasions and just offered a faint smile in response.


    Jalen Riley stepped forward, smiling and exchanging pleasantries with them.


    Jake Horton stood in the crowd, watching Kiera Olsen shine like a rising star, feeling uneasy. He scoffed coldly: ¡°No matter how skilled, can she be better than Dr. South?¡±


    As soon as he said it, everyone fell silent.


    Samuel Morgan raised his eyebrows, revealing a significant smile, but said nothing.


    Kiera Olsen calmly held her champagne glass, also not bothering to speak.


    In the end, it was Mr. King who broke the awkward silence, ¡°In terms of the highest level in the industry, we must look to Dr. South! But Miss Olsen is so young, her future is boundless! I just heard General Sims say she also holds a position at Horton Group? Young Mr. Horton, only your company could secure such talent!¡±


    Kiera Olsen couldn¡¯t help but internally praise him for the comment, as it offended no one, elevated Jake Horton, and he indeed said no more.


    The lively atmosphere returned, and everyone resumed their jovial conversations.


    Samuel Morgan didn¡¯t dare to steer the topic back to Kiera Olsen, and the crowd¡¯s attention quickly returned to him, following up with him about Dr. South¡¯s whereabouts.


    Kiera Olsen took the opportunity to slip away from the crowd.


    The lobby was brightly lit, everyone in suits and dresses, toasting and mingling.


    Surrounded by people, Kiera Olsen couldn¡¯t feel the buzz.


    Instead, she found more comfort in the hospital, quietly going about her work in a room with the old lady and Lewis Horton.


    She walked to the balcony, picked up her phone, and saw a message from Lewis Horton: ¡°I happen to be at Royal Hotel discussing business too, we can head back together when it¡¯s over.¡±


    Kiera Olsen¡¯s amorous eyes curved, and suddenly she wanted to leave.


    At such events, leaving early was permissible.


    Jalen Riley also followed her: ¡°No wonder you said you¡¯d introduce me to Samuel Morgan, you¡¯re so familiar with him!¡±


    Kiera Olsen didn¡¯t deny it, simply smiling lightly.


    Jalen Riley thought about how at the banquet, although Samuel Morgan was mingling with others, his eyes kept darting towards her¡­ Surely Samuel Morgan was interested in Kiera Olsen!


    They were all adults, and with Samuel Morgan being handsome and capable, he seemed like a great choice.


    He asked, ¡°What do you think of Samuel Morgan as a person?¡±


    Kiera Olsen thought carefully for a moment then responded, ¡°He¡¯s down-to-earth, hard-working, and reliable.¡±


    This subordinate is very useful! Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have entrusted him with full control over the company.


    Jalen Riley¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°So, you have a good impression of him too?¡±


    If Keira Olsen really could be with Samuel Morgan, he would definitely introduce Dr. South to her.


    Keira Olsen: ???


    Only then did she understand what Jalen Riley meant and couldn¡¯t help but laugh. She was just about to speak when suddenly a deep cough came from the side!


    Both of them turned their heads in unison and saw Lewis Horton standing on the balcony of the adjacent banquet hall.


    The tall figure of the man towered over Jalen Riley by half a head, yet in that moment, his expression was dark, his deep black eyes coldly fixed on them.


    Lewis Horton hadn¡¯t expected to run into them so coincidentally.


    He had come over just in time to overhear their conversation.


    The few words of praise Keira Olsen had for Samuel Morgan¡­ inexplicably made him a bit uncomfortable.


    He scolded Jalen Riley harshly, ¡°Miss Olsen is already married, what nonsense are you spouting here? Utterly absurd!¡±


    Jalen Riley felt somewhat wronged.


    He didn¡¯t know that Keira Olsen was married; why was his cousin all of a sudden scolding him? But¡­


    He hurriedly looked towards Keira Olsen, ¡°You¡¯re married? Does Samuel Morgan know?¡±


    He hoped it wasn¡¯t a case of unrequited love turning to hatred, with Samuel Morgan taking it out on her¡­


    Keira Olsen nodded, ¡°He knows.¡±


    Only then did Jalen Riley breathe a sigh of relief, but curious, he asked, ¡°You¡¯re so young, why marry so early? Who is it that has you so devoted¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen glanced at Lewis Horton and said nothing.


    Lewis Horton replied indifferently, ¡°You talk too much.¡±


    Jalen Riley: ¡°¡­¡±


    He felt that his cousin was a bit odd today!


    Lewis Horton narrowed his eyes and suddenly turned to Keira Olsen, ¡°I¡¯m ready to head back, shall we go together?¡±


    Keira Olsen immediately nodded, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s meet at the entrance.¡±


    Jalen Riley quickly followed behind her, ¡°Wait for me, I¡¯ll come too!¡±


    In the middle of the banquet hall.


    Isla Olsen noticed Jake Horton¡¯s grim expression and felt a twinge of concern.


    Keira Olsen also knew Samuel Morgan, could she also know Dr. South?


    Lost in thought, Jake Horton had already approached Samuel Morgan, ¡°Mr. Morgan, does Keira Olsen know Dr. South as well?¡±


    The surrounding people immediately looked at him with eagerness.


    Samuel Morgan could imagine, if he admitted ¡°Yes,¡± the crowd would certainly rush to Keira Olsen and pressure her to reveal how she knew Dr. South¡­


    He coughed, ¡°How could she.¡±


    Isla Olsen and Jake Horton both heaved a huge sigh of relief!


    Seeing Keira Olsen heading towards the entrance, Samuel Morgan quickly said, ¡°I have some things to take care of and need to leave now, you guys continue.¡±


    As the crowd saw him chasing after Keira Olsen, they all smiled knowingly.


    Jake Horton¡¯s face darkened even more.


    At the entrance, Keira Olsen was caught up to by Samuel Morgan, who straightforwardly said, ¡°I need to go abroad tomorrow for a partnership meeting, and I need to take the company seal and the patent documentation with me, just letting you know.¡±


    Keira Olsen nodded.


    Only after Samuel Morgan left did Keira Olsen suddenly sense Jalen Riley¡¯s peculiar gaze.


    The man stared at her, ¡°Something¡¯s off. If Mr. Morgan is going abroad, why is he reporting to you? Could it be¡­¡±


    His eyes widened in shock.


    Keira Olsen fell silent for a moment, then sighed, ¡°Alright, I admit it, I am Dr. South.¡±

 Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Chapter 44

    Chapter 44: Chapter 44


    Keira Olsen¡¯s identity wasn¡¯t really a secret.


    She didn¡¯t intend to hide it from Group A.


    As long as it wasn¡¯t widely publicized, it could avoid unnecessary trouble.


    Therefore, when Jalen Riley sensed something was amiss, she straightforwardly admitted it.


    After she said this, Jalen Riley was stunned.


    He looked at Keira Olsen dumbfounded.


    Suddenly, he burst into laughter, ¡°You¡¯re quite funny.¡±


    Keira Olsen: ?


    Jalen Riley said, ¡°I may not have met Dr. South, but I know that an academic talent like Dr. South must be at least in their forties. Don¡¯t think you can fool me.¡±


    Keira Olsen twitched the corner of her mouth, ¡°I really am.¡±


    ¡°Heh, you think saying that can cover up my guess?¡± Jalen Riley examined her from head to toe, frowning, ¡°You couldn¡¯t possibly be¡­ having an affair with Samuel Morgan, could you?¡±


    Keira Olsen: ¡°¡­Your imagination is really rich!¡±


    What on earth is all this!


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    Jalen Riley frowned and advised her, ¡°Don¡¯t get involved in such things, okay? If it gets out, it¡¯s embarrassing for everyone, and it¡¯s not right. I look down on cheaters¡­ If you¡¯re a decent person and you truly don¡¯t love your husband, then divorce him before remarrying¡­¡±


    As he was speaking, he suddenly felt a shiver down his spine, as if there was a murderous aura!


    He turned around and saw Lewis Horton stride out, his profound gaze as cold as millennia-old ice, making him feel chilled to the bone.


    Jalen Riley was even more baffled, ¡°Cousin, did business not go well for you today?¡±


    Lewis Horton withdrew his gaze, ¡°So noisy.¡±


    Jalen Riley: ¡°¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen realized that Jalen Riley, this fearless playboy, was most fearful of his cousin.


    At that moment, a flashy yellow sports car pulled up in front of them. Samuel Morgan whistled at her, ¡°Old¡­ Miss Olsen, I just picked up the car. Want a ride?¡±


    He couldn¡¯t wait to show off to the boss!


    Thinking about the boss¡¯s driving speed¡­ he wanted to make the boss scream!


    Keira Olsen understood the meaning in his eyes and was about to refuse when Lewis Horton suddenly spoke up, his voice deep, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be on your way.¡±


    Samuel Morgan laughed, ¡°Wherever she goes, I¡¯m on the way!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen was somewhat speechless and instinctively looked towards Jalen Riley¡ªsure enough, the suspicion in his eyes had grown.


    She didn¡¯t notice that Lewis Horton¡¯s face had turned even darker.


    The man looked at her, his sharp brow and eyes slightly furrowed, and he advised softly, ¡°Don¡¯t get into a stranger¡¯s car after drinking.¡±


    Keira Olsen raised an eyebrow and looked at Samuel Morgan, ¡°I¡¯ll ride with Mr. Horton instead.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    Samuel Morgan hung his head, seemingly having lost interest, ¡°Then I¡¯m off first.¡±


    ¡°Vroom¡­¡± The sports car revved and quickly disappeared in front of the building.


    Only then did Lewis Horton¡¯s black Bentley slowly approach.


    The extended version of the Bentley looked solid, much safer than the frail sports car.


    Tom Davis rushed over to open the car door.


    Lewis Horton gestured for Keira Olsen to get in first, then he followed suit.


    When Jalen Riley was about to get in, he was stopped, ¡°Don¡¯t you have a car?¡±


    Jalen Riley, ¡°I drank today.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Lewis Horton replied indifferently, ¡°Then you can call a designated driver.¡±


    Jalen Riley: ??


    What happened to not getting into random cars after drinking!


    The car door closed, and the Bentley mercilessly drove off, leaving Jalen Riley behind.


    The car smoothly made its way down the road.


    Outside the car window, the mottled neon lights streamed into the vehicle, and Lewis Horton¡¯s gaze swept past the girl beside him.


    The streetlights cast a hazy glow on her delicate features.


    For a moment, Lewis Horton lost his focus and suddenly spoke up, ¡°Miss Olsen, could you help me change my bandages?¡±


    Keira Olsen was startled by his words. She slowly lifted her eyelids, turned her head to look at him, and asked with a hint of surprise, ¡°¡­Now?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lewis Horton nodded. ¡°If we wait to change them at the hospital, grandmother will feel distressed.¡±


    So that was why.


    Keira Olsen breathed a quiet sigh of relief, ¡°Okay.¡±


    The man took off his clothes and turned his back to her.


    Keira Olsen turned on the overhead light in the car and looked at him.


    This was the second time she saw his bare upper body; unexpectedly, the guy looked slim in clothes, but his physique was so good without them¡ªhis proportionate muscles exuded a vigorous sense of power¡­


    She focused her attention on the wound. No new blisters had formed. The metabolism of a young man¡¯s body was indeed fast.


    She sighed, took out gauze and ointment from the medical kit, helped him change the medication, and then held the gauze, ready to wrap it around his wound.


    Kneeling in the back seat, she reached around Lewis Horton¡¯s body, and as she was about to retract her hand¡­


    ¡°Whoa!¡±


    The sudden lane change made Keira Olsen fall onto Lewis Horton, her face brushing against the man¡¯s shoulder.


    Lewis Horton braced his arm slightly, steadying their bodies.


    But then he felt the girl behind him embrace him, her soft hands instinctively grabbing onto his chest, which caused his body to tense up immediately.


    Next, he felt soft lips lightly pressing against his shoulder¡­


    The man¡¯s breath hitched, feeling that patch of skin become sensitive, as if a thousand ants had been born there, crawling densely to his limbs¡­


    Lewis Horton¡¯s body stiffened, his brain blank for a moment.


    Keira Olsen noticed his odd reaction, thinking she might have pressed on his wound. As soon as she steadied her body, she immediately pushed away from him and asked anxiously, ¡°Mr. Horton, does your wound hurt?¡±


    Her words finally brought back his voice. His tone was hoarse as he said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    Keira Olsen then relaxed and continued to wrap the gauze properly around him.


    Lewis Horton quickly put his clothes back on, sitting there expressionlessly. He only felt the car was claustrophobic, the oxygen somewhat insufficient, and the heat oppressive.


    Thinking of those two hands and the residual touch on his shoulder¡­ he loosened his tie.


    When the car arrived at the hospital and had just stopped, he suddenly opened the car door, rushed out, and headed upstairs without looking back.


    Keira Olsen leisurely climbed out, watched as he left with a dark expression, and couldn¡¯t help but turn to Tom Davis, ¡°How badly did he lose out during the negotiations tonight that he¡¯s so upset?¡±


    Tom Davis felt like rolling his eyes.


    The acquisition deal tonight cost a billion less than the budget; the boss was happy, okay?


    But he didn¡¯t say much, just jogged to catch up with Lewis Horton.


    Keira Olsen shook her head slightly, ready to head upstairs when a shifty shadow suddenly sprang up in front of her, leering, ¡°My dear niece!¡±


    It was Uncle Finley Hill.


    He looked at the Bentley luxury car behind her and then back at the departing Lewis Horton, his eyes rolling around, ¡°Mr. Horton really values you. Did he give you any money?¡±


    Keira Olsen squinted her eyes, then suddenly smiled, ¡°Of course, not only Mr. Horton, but Old Mrs. Horton also gave me some.¡±


    Finley Hill¡¯s eyes instantly lit up.


    Keira Olsen slowly said, ¡°Oh, and about the truth you mentioned last time, name your price.¡±


    Finley Hill was taken aback.


    He earnestly said, ¡°I can only make money from you on this truth, so you need to pay up before I give it to you.¡±


    Keira Olsen started using her phone.


    In a short while, Finley Hill¡¯s phone rang with a bank notification of a deposit of two hundred thousand.


    Finley Hill was overjoyed.


    Keira Olsen said, ¡°That¡¯s a down payment. I have another two million here. Once you tell me, it¡¯s all yours. Of course, I have to judge first whether your truth is worth this money.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s worth it, definitely worth it! This matter concerns you!¡± Finley Hill, afraid of losing his windfall, hurriedly said, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you right now!¡±

 Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Chapter 45

    Chapter 45: Chapter 45


    Keira Olsen narrowed her eyes, ¡°Speak.¡±


    Finley Hill stepped forward and lowered his voice, ¡°This truth, even if I sell it to you for two million, it¡¯s a bargain, considering how rich the Olsen Family is¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s related to the Olsen Family?¡±


    Keira Olsen tensed her jaw.


    ¡°Right.¡±


    Finley Hill chuckled, ¡°Actually, you are¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, a stern shout came, ¡°Finley Hill, Keira Olsen, what are you doing?!¡±


    Keira Olsen turned her head and saw Isla Olsen running over in a panic, holding the dress she had worn to the banquet.


    Finley Hill smiled, ¡°I¡¯m doing business with my great niece here!¡±


    Isla Olsen clenched her fists, ¡°I¡¯ve already given you the money!¡±


    Finley Hill spread his hands, ¡°But now I¡¯m short on money again~¡±


    ¡°¡­How much do you need?¡±


    Isla Olsen took a deep breath, ¡°I¡¯ll give it to you!¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã?


    Finley Hill laughed, ¡°Your great niece just agreed to give me two million!¡±


    Isla Olsen tightly clenched her fists.


    Finley Hill sighed, ¡°I guess I¡¯ll transact with the great niece instead.¡±


    ¡°I have it!¡±


    Isla Olsen said through gritted teeth, ¡°Go back first, and I¡¯ll give you the money tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Alright then.¡±


    Finley Hill turned and ran, telling Keira Olsen, ¡°Great niece, consider that two hundred thousand as a loan from me¡­¡±


    He ran off swiftly, afraid that Keira Olsen would ask for it back.


    ¡­What a scoundrel!


    Keira Olsen was not in a hurry.


    If she wanted the money back, she had plenty of ways to get it.


    She turned and walked toward the inpatient building.


    Behind her, Isla Olsen¡¯s phone rang. She answered, ¡°Jake~¡±


    Jake Horton asked, ¡°Isla, I remember Mrs. Olsen is from Clance, can you ask her if she knows the Allen Family?¡±


    ¡°The Allen Family?¡±


    ¡°Right, their head of the house is Frankie Allen. I just heard that my uncle wants to facilitate a collaboration between Horton Group and the Allen Family, but there¡¯s still no connection.¡±


    Isla Olsen immediately understood.


    Jake Horton wanted to use the Allen Family to boost his status in the Horton Group.


    She said, ¡°I¡¯ll ask my mom later.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Isla Olsen calmed her emotions.


    As long as she could marry into the Horton Family, what was two million, after all?


    She needed to think of a way to connect with the Allen Family!


    Mrs. Olsen was staying in the second-level VIP ward, Old Mrs. Horton was on the third floor, and Keira Olsen and Isla Olsen were walking up the stairs together.


    As they turned onto the second floor, they suddenly saw a mother and son having a conversation ahead.


    The mother said joyfully, ¡°Your aunt just called, she has introduced you to someone wealthy¡­ Go home now for the matchmaking!¡±


    The son complained, ¡°Mom, as long as my wife has surgery, she can be cured. Why should I go matchmaking?¡±


    The mother said anxiously, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear the nurse? The surgery costs five hundred thousand, and there will definitely be a lot of money needed for aftercare. Where would our family get that much money!¡±


    After a moment of thought, the son said, ¡°Let¡¯s sell the house, she bought it with her dowry.¡±


    The mother scolded with frustration, ¡°We can¡¯t sell the house. If she dies, you can still find someone better with a house. If there¡¯s no house, then you¡¯ll have nothing! You¡¯ve been together for two years, consider this house as compensation for your youth!¡±


    The son was taken aback, ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit much? She fell out with her family because of me.¡±


    The mother sneered, ¡°That¡¯s exactly why no one cares whether she lives or dies since she hasn¡¯t had any contact with her family for the past two years, and has no one to support her in the future.¡±


    She lowered her voice, ¡°We¡¯ll just say we¡¯re broke, take her back, and if she doesn¡¯t survive three days, once she¡¯s buried, you can marry the girl you met on the matchmaking date¡­ The one now has wide hips, good for bearing children! She won¡¯t end up like this one, a lady in health but a servant in fate!¡±


    The son narrowed his eyes, his interest piqued, ¡°Then let¡¯s not treat her!¡±


    Though they spoke in hushed tones, the silence and echoes in the corridor meant Keira Olsen heard everything loud and clear.


    She stopped in her tracks.


    She felt the mother-in-law was too malicious and the husband repugnant.


    She didn¡¯t know who the unfortunate girl was that had encountered such a despicable pair.


    Just as this thought crossed her mind, she sensed something, looked down the corridor and saw a pale, frail girl in a hospital gown standing at the door.


    The mother and son saw her too, their expressions changing drastically.


    The son blurted out, ¡°Rebecca¡­¡±


    The girl named Rebecca said, ¡°Call my dad, he will pay for my medical bills¡­¡±


    The mother sneered, ¡°We¡¯ve called already, but the moment they saw it was my son¡¯s number, they hung up and wouldn¡¯t pick up again. You cut ties with them, what do you want with them now?¡±


    Leaning against the wall, Rebecca could barely stand, shaking uncontrollably, seemingly lacking the strength to speak, she said to the son, ¡°Then give me the cell phone, I will call my brother¡­¡±


    The son¡¯s gaze flickered, ¡°Stop making a fuss, you¡¯re so sick, the doctor said you can¡¯t play with the phone.¡±


    Decisively he said, ¡°Mom, go handle the discharge procedure, I¡¯ll take her home.¡±


    Rebecca tried to run, but she was too weak and collapsed to the floor. With the last bit of her strength, she grabbed onto Isla Olsen¡¯s leg, her voice as faint as a mosquito¡¯s, pleading for help, ¡°Please call my brother, I¡¯m begging you¡­¡±


    Isla Olsen was heading to the second floor, which made her closer to the corridor than Keira. Grabbed by her, instead of feeling any sympathy, Isla immediately pulled back her leg!


    She rolled her eyes in disgust, ¡°What are you doing? For a man, you broke off relations with your family. Love makes you foolish and there are consequences. You¡¯ve brought this on yourself!¡±


    The mother and son, seeing that she wasn¡¯t interfering, breathed a sigh of relief.


    The son picked up Rebecca, ¡°Rebecca Allen, your parents don¡¯t want you anymore, I¡¯m your only legal guardian now, you can only listen to me!¡±


    Rebecca Allen despaired¡­


    She knew that going home with mother and son meant death¡­


    But she didn¡¯t want to die; she knew she was wrong, she wanted to see her brother, wanted her parents¡­


    Regretful tears rolled down her cheeks as Rebecca Allen closed her eyes.


    Just when she thought her life was about to freeze in place, a low and indifferent voice said, ¡°Wait a minute.¡±


    Rebecca Allen opened her eyes only to see that beautiful figure walking out of the shadowy staircase.


    The beautiful woman¡¯s expressionless face came right up to her, ¡°The phone number.¡±


    Tears poured down Rebecca Allen¡¯s face!


    The mother yelled, ¡°What are you doing? I¡¯m warning you, don¡¯t meddle in other people¡¯s business!¡±


    The son chimed in, ¡°Even if you call, it¡¯s no use, nobody will pick up.¡±


    Keira Olsen, however, only looked at Rebecca Allen, ¡°The number.¡±


    In a weak voice, Rebecca Allen rattled off a string of digits.


    Keira Olsen took out her cell phone and made the call.


    The call was quickly answered, and a cool, young man¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Hello, this is Frankie Allen.¡±


    Without hesitation, Keira Olsen stated, ¡°Rebecca Allen is critically ill and requires immediate surgery.¡±


    The voice on the other end immediately turned panicked and anxious, and she heard the sound of the man running as he urgently asked, ¡°Where is she?¡±


    Keira Olsen gave the name of the hospital.


    The man said, ¡°I¡¯m in Oceanion on a business trip, I can be there in half an hour!¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    After hanging up, Keira Olsen faced the mother and son, her tone firm, ¡°No one is taking her anywhere until her brother arrives.¡±


    Once she finished, Isla Olsen scoffed, ¡°Really sticking your nose where it doesn¡¯t belong, be careful her family comes and they pin the blame on you!¡±

 Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Chapter 46

    Chapter 46: Chapter 46


    Rebecca Allen¡¯s eyes were red-rimmed as she asked, ¡°My brother, he¡­¡±


    ¡°He said he would be here in half an hour, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Rebecca only felt a sour taste filling her chest.


    She met and fell in love with her husband in college; after graduation, her parents and brother disagreed with their marriage, but ultimately, under her husband¡¯s passionate vows, she disregarded her parents¡¯ objections and followed him to Oceanion.


    Over the past two years, her brother and parents had called her countless times, urging her to come home.


    She said she wanted to show them how happy she could be in Oceanion.


    Her parents fell silent, but her brother had only one condition: she should not reveal her family background to her husband, to test their relationship for two years.


    She was the pearl in the palm of the Allen Family, coddled and pampered by her parents, never having lifted a finger at home.


    After moving to Oceanion, under the guidance of her mother-in-law, she strove to be a good wife and mother.


    Every time she called her mother, declaring that she had learned to cook, clean, and scrub the floors spotless, her mother would cry out, saying that she wasn¡¯t raised in luxury to do such things.


    But she didn¡¯t care.


    As long as she could get through two years, she could bring her husband back home for a family reunion.


    Yet she never expected that she could nearly die here!


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï


    All over a mere half a million¡­


    At this moment, she finally understood what her parents meant.


    It was she, their daughter, who felt unworthy!


    Rebecca tried to look at Keira Olsen again.


    She wanted to remember this face, the face of her benefactor!!


    Just then, she heard her husband¡¯s voice, ¡°Do you think by helping her, her brother will bring you benefits? Dream on, her family has no money either. Even if he does come, knowing the cost, he will probably give up! As for you, they would still find you a meddlesome nuisance!¡±


    Rebecca felt a darkness before her eyes from anger as she desperately pleaded, ¡°My brother won¡¯t ignore me¡­ Honey, my family has money¡­ For the sake of all our years together, please hand me over to my brother, I don¡¯t need the house anymore, it¡¯s yours¡­¡±


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®your house¡¯?¡± Her husband said with a cruel tone, ¡°That¡¯s our marital property, we bought it after getting married! Besides, you were so eager to elope with me right after college graduation, probably because your own family didn¡¯t love you, leaving you love-starved, right? In these two years, I¡¯ve never once seen you in touch with your family. How could your brother possibly care about you?¡±


    Eager to elope?


    Rebecca felt a surge of rage strike her heart, unable to catch her breath, she fainted!


    Seeing her as if she had stopped breathing, Keira Olsen stepped forward, ¡°She needs to be resuscitated!¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t need any resuscitation!¡± her husband abruptly stepped back, shouting, ¡°My wife once said she didn¡¯t want to die in an ugly way. If she ever got seriously ill, she would choose to die naturally, without any life-saving measures! Don¡¯t interfere with our family affairs!¡±


    Hearing this, Keira clenched her fists tight.


    This man was truly vicious!


    Then the mother-in-law rushed forward, standing between Keira and the man, ¡°What are you doing? Everyone, come quickly and judge this matter. My daughter-in-law is on her last breath, and her only wish is to die at home, but this person won¡¯t let us leave!¡±


    Her voice was loud, and her shouting immediately attracted the surrounding patients and nurses.


    Seeing this, the mother-in-law cried even harder, ¡°Oh my daughter-in-law, why is your life so hard! If it wasn¡¯t for this meddler dragging things out, wasting time, you wouldn¡¯t have breathed your last here in the hospital!¡±


    Keira Olsen frowned, knowing that arguing with them now was just wasting time.


    She rushed to her husband and reached out to grab Rebecca Allen who was no longer breathing!


    The husband wanted to step back, but Keira Olsen swiftly dislocated his arm.


    Rebecca Allen slipped from his embrace, was caught by Keira Olsen, laid flat on the ground, and she immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation!


    The head nurse, hearing the commotion, rushed over: ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±


    The grandmother began to cry out, her voice deafening: ¡°Head nurse, please help us! My son and daughter-in-law gave up on resuscitation, and this stranger insists on stopping us¡­¡±


    With a dislocated arm and drenched in cold sweat from pain, the husband also urgently shouted, ¡°The guardian of my wife is me. Before she died, she said that being sick was too painful, she did not want to be resuscitated, and she wanted to die with dignity. But look at what this woman is doing? Doesn¡¯t my wife even have the right to refuse treatment?¡±


    The head nurse furrowed her brows and walked over to Keira Olsen: ¡°Madam, you¡­¡±


    While performing CPR, Keira Olsen said, ¡°This woman does not want to die. I¡¯ve called her brother, and he will be here soon.¡±


    The head nurse, also anxious to save a life, immediately said, ¡°Her brother is also her relative and counts as a guardian. If her brother does not give up on resuscitation, then resuscitation can continue!¡±


    This statement made the husband and the grandmother pause.


    Isla Olsen watched from the side and slowly spoke, ¡°Kiera, don¡¯t force others against their will here. Even if she is saved, the surgery alone will cost 500,000, and who knows how much money will be required for rehabilitation afterwards. The family of the deceased and the husband have already given up. Why did you have to call her brother? Even if he comes, what then? Every family has their struggles; you can¡¯t morally kidnap others here¡­¡±


    The husband suddenly understood something and immediately began to wail, ¡°We don¡¯t have money, and the brother-in-law¡¯s family hasn¡¯t either! Just the surgery is 500,000, and each month¡¯s treatment costs add up to 60,000¡­ My wife didn¡¯t want to burden us or her family¡­ I am so useless, I can only watch my wife die! Wuu wuu wuu!¡±


    The crying of a grown man was even more moving.


    Every year in the hospital, countless patients choose to give up treatment. They have the right to choose death, and the people around immediately began to accuse:


    ¡°This young girl is clearly a recent graduate, not yet hardened by society, oblivious to life¡¯s hardships¡­¡±


    ¡°Too naive, her fervor is just delaying the funeral¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­Isn¡¯t this considered desecration of a corpse?¡±


    The grandmother continued to shout: ¡°Everyone, come and help pull her off¡­ Security! Come quick, there¡¯s someone violating a corpse here!¡±


    When security came and was about to pull Keira Olsen away, she suddenly turned her head, her fierce gaze sweeping over everyone present: ¡°You are plotting for money and causing death!!¡±


    The security guard hesitated.


    But the grandmother took the chance to rush over, grabbed a handful of Keira Olsen¡¯s hair, and started dragging her to the side: ¡°Let go of my daughter-in-law, don¡¯t touch her body!¡±


    She absolutely could not let Rebecca Allen be revived!


    Keira Olsen¡¯s scalp was torn fiercely, but the CPR was at a critical moment. She dared not let go, regardless of everything else she continued to resuscitate Rebecca Allen.


    She was pinched several times by the grandmother but paid no attention to these¡­


    Isla Olsen snorted.


    Keira Olsen was truly foolish; a well-intentioned act gone awry. These two, mother and son, were clearly not to be trifilled with. She had embroiled herself in big trouble!


    At this moment, several luxury cars swiftly drove into the hospital grounds below.


    Before the cars had even stopped, a tall man jumped out.


    Frankie Allen¡¯s expression was fierce as he, accompanied by seven or eight black-suited bodyguards, quickly rushed up the stairs!

 Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Chapter 47

    Chapter 47: Chapter 47


    Frankie Allen sprinted to the second floor, and at first glance, he saw his sister lying flat on the ground, receiving CPR!


    Rebecca Allen¡¯s complexion was pale, her body powerless, the sight of which made his entire heart leap.


    This is a hospital, why use the most primitive methods to save a patient?


    Where are the machines?


    Why aren¡¯t they using machines?


    A myriad of questions flashed through Frankie¡¯s mind, followed by the sight of a middle-aged woman beating the woman performing CPR on his sister¡­


    While yanking her hair, the woman roared, ¡°Get away from her, my daughter-in-law doesn¡¯t need resuscitation! Wouldn¡¯t it be better to let her go just like that? Our family can¡¯t afford her medical bills, are you trying to push us to our deaths?¡±


    Rebecca¡¯s husband also stood by, saying, ¡°The admission fee is 500,000, and then it¡¯s 60,000 a month for treatment. I¡¯m a useless husband. Even if you manage to revive my wife, our family will still face these difficulties¡­ My brother-in-law doesn¡¯t have money either, otherwise why would my wife opt to give up¡­¡±


    Frankie¡¯s face turned dark in an instant.


    A deadly intent wrapped around his entire being!!


    The man in charge of the Allen Family grasped the message from just those two sentences.


    His sister, who had grown up pampered and lived in luxury, with jewelry in her room each worth no less than 500,000, was now being driven to her death by her husband and mother-in-law over 500,000?!


    With this thought, he didn¡¯t stop his steps and rushed to Rebecca Allen¡¯s side.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï


    Seeing that Keira Olsen steadfastly remained in place, and the fingers of Rebecca Allen on the floor moved slightly, obviously revived, her mother-in-law, enraged, reached out her hand to claw at Keira¡¯s face!


    Her nails were long, clearly intending to scar the woman¡¯s face!


    Keira, noting that Rebecca¡¯s heart had resumed beating and also the old woman¡¯s intentions, had a sharp look in her eyes and quickly turned her head. She caught the woman¡¯s wrist, about to strike back, when¡­


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    A stranger suddenly extended a foot and viciously kicked the old woman in the chest!


    The mother-in-law was kicked so hard she flew backwards, then crashed to the ground. She clutched her chest, unable to speak for a moment.


    The husband, seeing this, pointed at Frankie and cursed, ¡°Who are you? How dare you! Not only are you tormenting my wife¡¯s body here, but now you even attack my mother! I¡¯m calling the police, I¡¯ll report you!¡±


    Body¡­


    Furious, Frankie delivered a kick that sent the husband flying, then he turned to the bodyguards following him and snarled, ¡°Give them a good lesson, then call the police and say this mother and son duo were after the money and killed her!!¡±


    Leaving that command, he took three steps to reach Rebecca¡¯s side, crouched down, and said, ¡°Rebecca, big brother is here, wake up¡­¡±


    Recognizing the man¡¯s identity, Keira Olsen slowly said, ¡°Her heart has restarted, but she needs immediate surgery.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Frankie, having already contacted the doctor on the way, said this and picked Rebecca up, striding away rapidly.


    After the police arrived, they quickly confirmed that the mother-in-law and husband were indeed plotting for the inheritance and arrested them both. The onlooking crowd, now aware of the truth, gave Keira Olsen thumbs up one after another.


    Keira remained there to facilitate giving her statement to the police.


    After signing her name on the statement, she turned to leave, only to see Isla Olsen still standing behind her.


    Isla¡¯s brows were furrowed.


    That ¡°brother¡± who just arrived seemed extraordinary. If she had known, she would have made the call for her love-struck friend.


    It was all Keira¡¯s fault for stealing her moment!


    But then again¡­


    A mocking glint appeared in her eyes as she said, ¡°Keira, I never thought you were so eager to climb up in life. Seeing that love-brained man comes from a remarkable background, you must have put in all this effort to save him, right? Too bad, the ¡®brother¡¯ didn¡¯t even spare you a proper glance!¡±


    After her taunt, she finally headed towards Mrs. Olsen¡¯s ward.


    Keira watched her retreating figure, thinking of how she had twisted truths and lies here, and now spoke only of personal advantage, considering the woman to be venomous at heart.


    Not to mention that just before, Rebecca¡¯s life had been hanging by a thread, and her brother surely would have taken her straight to surgery. Keira¡¯s act of saving her wasn¡¯t for any repayment.


    She touched her scalp¡­ and sharply inhaled a breath of cold air.


    Her hair had been pulled so painfully by that old woman just now.


    She pressed down on her hair, which was as messy as a bird¡¯s nest at the moment, and silently sighed. She took out her phone, sent a message to Lewis Horton, and decided to go downstairs and return home.


    In the VIP ward on the third floor.


    Lewis Horton thought about the scene in the car and still felt his heart rate accelerating.


    He frowned and suppressed the palpitations in his chest.


    His gaze turned towards the door, but the girl was taking her time to come in¡­


    Was she¡­ feeling shy too?


    As the thought crossed his mind, he frowned slightly.


    Too?


    It was well over half an hour before he received a WhatsApp message from Kiera Olsen: [Mr. Horton, something came up, and I¡¯m going home to stay for the night.]


    Seeing this message, Lewis Horton felt an inexplicable sense of relief.


    But his brows knitted together involuntarily.


    What could she possibly be up to?


    ¡­


    Kiera Olsen took a cab home, took a shower, and used a lot of conditioner in her hair until she finally managed to comb it smooth.


    Looking at the hair that had fallen on the floor, her heart ached a little.


    Hair contains iron too, you know?


    For dinner, she had a plate of stir-fried liver, nourishing herself thoroughly, before she took out her laptop to continue with the unfinished work from the company.


    The night passed without incident.


    The next day, Kiera Olsen arrived at the company early.


    She ran into Jalen Riley at the entrance. He had gone home to catch some sleep, his dark circles had dissipated significantly, and he was not as irritable. Seeing her alight from the taxi, he let out a sigh of relief:


    ¡°I went home last night and the more I thought about it, the more something seemed off. If your cousin drove you home, could it be that you two are living together? Thank goodness you didn¡¯t come to work with your cousin this morning.¡±


    Kiera Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    In fact, she usually did come to work with him.


    But she didn¡¯t explain.


    Jalen Riley walked up beside her, glanced at her, and said with feigned indifference, ¡°I know why my cousin looked so terrible yesterday. I heard he¡¯s going to cooperate with the Allen Family, but the head of the Allen Family, Frankie Allen, doesn¡¯t seem to get along with my cousin. He¡¯s coming to the company to discuss business today, so my cousin must be quite stressed out!¡±


    Kiera Olsen paused slightly.


    Frankie Allen? What was the name of Rebecca Allen¡¯s brother who she saved yesterday?


    She hadn¡¯t noticed that outside the entrance, Frankie Allen had entered the Horton Group with his secretary in tow.


    His sister¡¯s surgery was very successful, and she woke up this morning. Seeing her parents, who had rushed over during the night, they all wept together in each other¡¯s arms.


    Afterward, his sister asked him where her savior was¡­


    A night had passed, and that savior had long returned home.


    Seeing his sister anxious, Frankie promised that he would find this benefactor and offer a heartfelt thanks!


    He had witnessed firsthand how fiercely that young lady had fought to save his sister, so to say that the Allen Family owed that young lady a debt of a human life was no exaggeration.


    He just didn¡¯t know what the lady did for a living or where she worked?


    As he pondered this, he suddenly caught sight of Kiera Olsen waiting for the elevator!

 Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Chapter 48

    Chapter 48: Chapter 48


    Frankie Allen slightly startled.


    The benefactor he met at the hospital yesterday had her hair messed up by Rebecca¡¯s mother-in-law, making it hard for him to see her face clearly.


    But this girl in front of him looked so much like her!


    Frankie Allen hurriedly took a few steps forward, wanting to get closer to confirm.


    Just then, the elevator arrived, and Keira Olsen and Jalen Riley entered.


    By the time he got there, he only saw the elevator doors slowly closing.


    ¡­It really was unfortunate.


    Frankie Allen didn¡¯t hurry because the benefactor had called him last night and left her phone number.


    After he finished the negotiations with Horton Group, he could call the benefactor and discuss with his family how to thank her.


    ¡­


    Keira Olsen didn¡¯t see Frankie Allen, and entered Research and Development Team One with Jalen Riley.


    As soon as she entered the office, she saw her colleagues, one after another, looking sullen and frantically typing at their computers:


    ¡°Tomorrow is Friday already, asking us to submit the proposal, Vice President Horton is really making it tough on people!¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.??


    ¡°I think we could just give up and accept mockery; it¡¯s simply an impossible task for anyone.¡±


    ¡°Did the team leader go home to sleep last night, does that mean she has given up?¡±


    ¡°Ah~ I wonder how Mr. Olsen is doing? Can he bring us a surprise?¡±


    Luca Barker immediately said, ¡°Don¡¯t say that, it¡¯s too much pressure on the junior, as impressive as she is, she can¡¯t compare to Dr. South, age is just a number¡­¡±


    Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.


    Then seeing Keira Olsen and Jalen Riley enter, the group immediately started gossiping excitedly: ¡°Team leader, did you attend the gathering yesterday, did you meet Dr. South?¡±


    Jalen Riley rolled his eyes: ¡°Dr. South attending that kind of gathering? If he dared show up, a group of people would surely eat him alive!¡±


    ¡°Did you meet Mr. Morgan? Did he mention what area Dr. South is currently researching?¡±


    ¡°That didn¡¯t happen.¡± Jalen Riley suddenly looked towards Keira Olsen, ¡°But we can ask privately, Keira Olsen has a good relationship with him.¡±


    ¡°What?! Mr. Olsen, you actually know Samuel Morgan! Ahh, does that round up to knowing Dr. South?¡±


    Several people looked at Keira Olsen in unison: ¡°Mr. Olsen, if you have a chance, could you introduce us to Dr. South?¡±


    Keira Olsen swept her gaze over the group, each of their faces brimming with joy and anticipation.


    She slightly curled her lips: ¡°Sure, perhaps we could even work together.¡±


    With that, everyone immediately laughed:


    ¡°Let¡¯s not even think about that, it¡¯s too daring to imagine!¡±


    ¡°Just to admire Dr. South¡¯s style would be satisfying!¡±


    ¡°If we could get his guidance, it would also be extremely beneficial!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Everyone chatted and laughed, but finally began to work under Jalen Riley¡¯s roar.


    Keira Olsen carried her laptop to her own separate office. Just as she was about to enter the room, Jalen Riley suddenly called her back: ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it, the intensity of this project is far beyond our team¡¯s capabilities, and the leaders have seen it, they won¡¯t let Jake Horton truly discourage an entire group of people.¡±


    Listening to his reassurance, Keira Olsen smiled: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, trust me.¡±


    Jake Horton stood outside the office, staring fixedly at Keira Olsen.


    The girl¡¯s features were excessively beautiful, and her confident, bold smile was reminiscent of her college days, as if any hardship could be lightly overcome in her presence.


    But where did her confidence come from?


    Such a challenging task, aside from Dr. South, no one could complete it so quickly!


    He turned around, walked to the break area, and took out his phone to call Isla Olsen: ¡°Can Dr. South really send me the solution before tomorrow?¡±


    Keira Olsen nervously thought of delaying time, ¡°Jake, Dr. South has been very busy lately and has been overseas¡­¡±


    Jake Horton sounded agitated, ¡°If we delay further, Keira Olsen and her team will have solved the problem!¡±


    Keira¡¯s voice was laced with panic, ¡°I¡¯ll urge him again.¡±


    Jake Horton suddenly narrowed his eyes, ¡°Keira, you aren¡¯t deceiving me, are you?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll go and urge Dr. South right now.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Keira was frantically pacing.


    For the past few days, she had been using Mrs. Olsen¡¯s email to message Dr. South, but his replies were heartless, outright stating that he was on a business trip and not to disturb him!


    Tomorrow she definitely wouldn¡¯t have a solution, and then, when Jake Horton saw her as no longer of any use, he might call off the engagement¡­


    No!


    She would never allow that to happen.


    Her eyes suddenly filled with determination, she entered the hospital room and looked at Mrs. Olsen, ¡°Mom, do you know anyone from the Allen Family in Clance? Jake wants to connect with them.¡±


    Mrs. Olsen¡¯s condition had been very stable these past few days, and she was due to be discharged tomorrow.


    She was initially reading a book on her hospital bed. At Keira¡¯s words, her fingers tightened slightly, but then she lifted her head and said indifferently, ¡°I don¡¯t know them.¡±


    A flicker passed through Keira¡¯s eyes.


    Mrs. Olsen¡¯s reaction was clearly one of recognition, yet she didn¡¯t want to introduce her!


    This selfish woman didn¡¯t deserve to be a mother.


    She was nothing like Poppy Hill, who had been utterly compliant with her from a young age!


    Now that Mrs. Olsen refused to help her, what was she supposed to do?


    Keira was genuinely panicking.


    ¡­


    Keira Olsen hadn¡¯t taken full control of the whole project, as colleagues from her team had helped a lot.


    By the time they were leaving work, the entire solution was almost finalized and just needed to be fine-tuned.


    Keira Olsen, carrying her laptop, headed to the underground parking lot and got into Lewis Horton¡¯s Bentley, but didn¡¯t see him there.


    The driver explained, ¡°Mr. Horton has business to attend to tonight, he asked me to take Miss Olsen home first.¡±


    Keira didn¡¯t think much of it, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Only that night, Lewis Horton didn¡¯t come back.


    The next day.


    Keira Olsen went to work in high spirits, carrying the solution she had finalized the night before.


    Just as she arrived at the R&D department, she saw Jake Horton with a coffee in the break area, clearly waiting for her, ¡°Keira Olsen, just a friendly reminder, today is the last day. If you haven¡¯t submitted the solution by the end of work, then you¡¯ll have to stand by your words as I¡¯ll have won our bet!¡±


    Keira Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    Does this man seriously have nothing better to do?


    She rolled her eyes and walked to her office, but Jake Horton followed, ¡°Stick with me, and you won¡¯t be at a loss. At least, I could introduce you to Dr. South¡­¡±


    Keira scoffed, ¡°Really unnecessary.¡±


    Jake Horton snapped angrily, ¡°I know you¡¯ve climbed up the ranks with Samuel Morgan, and think you no longer need my connections. But do you think Samuel Morgan will introduce you to Dr. South? He just sees you as an object! If he had any genuine feelings for you, he would help solve your problems!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need help.¡±


    Jake Horton chuckled, ¡°Don¡¯t need it? Just because a few people call you a genius, do you really consider yourself on par with Dr. South, thinking you can come up with the solution?¡±


    ¡°My solution is already complete.¡±


    Keira Olsen stopped in her tracks, her tone mocking and borderline amused, ¡°On the other hand, Vice President Horton, have you received Dr. South¡¯s solution yet?¡±

 Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: Chapter 49

    Chapter 49: Chapter 49


    Jake Horton exclaimed in astonishment, ¡°You¡¯ve completed it? How is that possible?¡±


    He had graduated with a degree in energy studies and understood the complexity involved!


    That¡¯s why, when Isla Olsen said Dr. South needed time and had not yet sent the solution to him until now, he didn¡¯t think there was anything amiss.


    How could Kiera Olsen have completed it so quickly?


    Kiera Olsen narrowed her eyes and said, ¡°I¡¯ll organize it and send it to you in a bit, then you¡¯ll know. Jake Horton, don¡¯t forget what you promised me!¡±


    With those words, she entered a set of offices.


    As soon as she walked in, she was surrounded by team members.


    Luca Barker looked at Jake Horton warily, ¡°Junior, did he belittle you again using Dr. South?¡±


    The others immediately said:


    ¡°Mr. Olsen, don¡¯t stoop to his level!¡±


    ¡°Exactly, to have this ability at our age is already top-notch! No comparing with Dr. South~¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re really amazing! So young and yet better than all of us here!¡±


    Jalen Riley came out of the office.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï


    Judging by his appearance, it seemed that he hadn¡¯t gone home last night and had slept in the office.


    With his brow furrowed, he also looked towards Kiera Olsen, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I didn¡¯t sleep all night yesterday. I¡¯ve roughly figured out how to solve the problem. If I work overtime today, even if I can¡¯t provide a complete solution, I can provide an idea¡­ something to show for our efforts¡­¡±


    He had also sent a message on WhatsApp to his cousin explaining the situation within the R&D department.


    His cousin would take care of the difficulties Group One was facing imposed by Vice President Horton!


    Kiera Olsen felt reassured by their concerned words.


    She smiled and said, ¡°No need, I¡¯ve already completed it.¡±


    Jalen Riley waved his hands, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this, I¡¯ll communicate with¡­ What?¡±


    Suddenly, his eyes widened, ¡°You¡¯ve completed it?¡±


    The rest of the employees were also incredulous, looking at her, ¡°Mr. Olsen, what did you just say? Did I hear wrong? Or am I just hallucinating from exhaustion?¡±


    Luca Barker also said with a wry smile, ¡°Junior, you¡¯re joking with us, right?¡±


    Kiera Olsen laughed, ¡°I¡¯ll send an email immediately, which will be copied to everyone.¡±


    She took her laptop into the office.


    Group One¡¯s members and Jalen Riley still stood there, exchanging looks of disbelief.


    It wasn¡¯t until the sound of an email notification came from someone¡¯s computer that they returned to their desks and opened their inboxes!


    And indeed, Kiera Olsen had sent an email.


    Everyone immediately downloaded the attachment and quickly opened it, and upon seeing the content, they were astounded.


    For a time, Group One was silent, not a sound to be heard.


    Seeing everyone focused on the solution, Kiera Olsen quietly stepped out and headed to the top floor.


    Her work done, she wanted to find Lewis Horton and take back the neurology book to read.


    She hadn¡¯t forgotten about creating medicine for Old Mrs. Horton.


    On the top floor, inside the office.


    Lewis Horton was reviewing documents when Tom Davis suddenly entered, ¡°Boss, Miss Olsen is here to see you.¡±


    His hand paused, and his pen scratched across the paper.


    At a certain spot on his back, he once again felt a soft touch that started to grow warmer.


    He pressed his lips together, his voice low, ¡°Enter.¡±


    Kiera Olsen walked in to see Lewis Horton sitting there quietly. The man didn¡¯t look up, speaking gently, ¡°I¡¯m aware of the Research and Development department¡¯s situation. It¡¯s alright if you can¡¯t come up with a solution. The company has a full set of regulations and will protect your legal rights.¡±


    Kiera Olsen laughed, ¡°I didn¡¯t come here because of the R&D department, I came because I missed you¡­¡±


    She paused mid-sentence as a tickle suddenly caught in her throat, forcing her to pause.


    Lewis Horton¡¯s hand twitched, and a freshly printed document was signed wrongly.


    A tightness grew in his throat as he lifted his gaze slowly, but saw Kiera Olsen clearing her throat and continuing, ¡°¡­ missed the opportunity for you to lend me the book you borrowed from the library.¡±


    Lewis Horton: ¡°¡­¡±


    He silently exhaled a sigh of relief but felt a vague sense of regret deep down.


    He casually picked up the book from his desk and handed it to Kiera Olsen. As she took it, he spoke faintly, ¡°Try not to gasp when you talk next time.¡±


    Kiera Olsen, overjoyed, received the book, oblivious to the man¡¯s odd behavior, and casually said, ¡°Oh, thank you.¡±


    She turned and walked out.


    It was only after she left the room that Lewis Horton finally lowered his gaze.


    He let out a low chuckle.


    The girl clearly hadn¡¯t taken the kiss in the car to heart, while he had been awkward about it for two days, which was really¡­ self-conscious.


    Moreover, he had almost forgotten that Kiera Olsen had a boyfriend.


    Lewis Horton¡¯s expression turned cold, regaining his usual composure and calm.


    ¡­


    Now that the R&D department¡¯s work was complete, Kiera Olsen completely let go and spent the entire day studying Alzheimer¡¯s disease.


    Near the end of the workday, the quiet Group One office finally saw some movement.


    The R&D department¡¯s general manager and a scowling Jake Horton walked in.


    Just as Jalen Riley had verified Kiera Olsen¡¯s solution completely and found no issues with it, he excitedly said to the general manager, ¡°Our group has struck gold this time. Kiera Olsen¡¯s solution is surely no worse than Dr. South¡¯s!¡±


    The general manager frowned while Jake Horton sneered, ¡°Yeah, her submitted solution is no worse than Dr. South¡¯s, after all, it¡¯s identical!¡±


    Jalen Riley was initially caught off guard, ¡°Haha, she is as impressive as Dr. South¡­¡±


    As he spoke, he suddenly froze, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°It means she stole Dr. South¡¯s solution!!¡±


    After Jake Horton spat out these words, he sneered at Kiera Olsen, ¡°I received Dr. South¡¯s solution in the afternoon, and it¡¯s nearly identical to yours! I was wondering how you seemed so confident; it turns out you had this planned all along! Do you think that just because you emailed it earlier, the solution becomes yours? Kiera Olsen, you really are foolish if you thought changing a few details would prevent us from noticing, huh? Dared to steal from Dr. South?¡±


    Jalen Riley furrowed his brow, ¡°There must be some misunderstanding here. Kiera Olsen has been working with us in the company these past few days; part of the content was even completed by us¡­¡±


    Even though, this part only accounted for twenty percent of the entire solution.


    As soon as he spoke, Jake Horton quickly retorted, ¡°What misunderstanding? If both solutions are identical, is it not Kiera Olsen who stole from Dr. South, or is it Dr. South who stole from Kiera Olsen?! Do you think that¡¯s possible?¡±


    One is a respected doctor, and the other a recent bachelor¡¯s graduate ¨C it goes without saying who is more trustworthy.


    Jalen Riley was left speechless.


    Kiera Olsen listened to their conversation with a furrowed brow.


    Dr. South would not have sent Jake Horton an email, so the only possibility was¡­


    Someone had forged her solution to appear as if it were Dr. South¡¯s!


    Was Jake Horton trying to use this to suppress her and Group One?


    Absurd.


    Kiera Olsen said indifferently, ¡°Isn¡¯t there a third possibility?¡±

 Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Chapter 50

    Chapter 50: Chapter 50


    The General Manager paused slightly, ¡°What¡¯s the third possibility?¡±


    Yet Jake Horton¡¯s voice was harsh, ¡°Kiera Olsen, stop quibbling here. I advise you to just admit your mistake. The company might consider your first offense and go easy on your punishment!¡±


    Jalen Riley immediately looked at her, ¡°Kiera Olsen, if you have any explanation, make it quick. What exactly happened?¡±


    Kiera Olsen slowly said, ¡°There¡¯s another possibility, that Jake Horton never received Dr. South¡¯s proposal. He¡¯s framing me.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    At these words, Jalen Riley glared at Jake Horton.


    But Jake Horton, as if he hadn¡¯t expected her to say this, replied with a chuckle, ¡°When we were at school, I never noticed how thick-skinned you were. Of course, I have gathered enough evidence to accuse you!¡±


    Jalen Riley asked, ¡°What evidence?¡±


    Jake Horton took out his smartphone, opened a screenshot, and handed it to Jalen Riley, ¡°This is the proposal that Dr. South sent to Isla Olsen last night. Isla Olsen was delayed and only forwarded it to me in the afternoon. From the timestamp, Dr. South¡¯s submission was earlier than Kiera Olsen¡¯s! If that¡¯s not enough to clarify things, I have eyewitness testimony!¡±


    Kiera Olsen narrowed her eyes.


    So it wasn¡¯t Jake Horton playing tricks, but Isla Olsen!


    She thought carefully, and remembered that after work yesterday, as she passed by the second floor of the in-patient department, Mrs. Olsen had gone for a check-up, and Isla Olsen, unfortunately, had a stomach ache and she had accompanied her¡­


    At that time, her laptop had been left in the ward.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.?¦Ï


    But her computer was password protected, how did Isla Olsen know it?


    Kiera Olsen¡¯s fingers tightened slightly.


    ¡°Nothing to say now, eh?¡±


    Jake Horton sneered and turned to the General Manager, ¡°This act is too despicable, the company must take a serious stand against Kiera Olsen! If necessary, we can call the police! After all, if she dares to steal Dr. South¡¯s work, if Dr. South knows about this, he may never cooperate with the Horton Group again!¡±


    The General Manager quickly said, ¡°Such a scandal would be bad for the company too, let¡¯s hold off on calling the police. The Administrative Department has already closed for the day. How about this, let¡¯s go to the Administrative Department next Monday and hand over the evidence, and then we will see what actions to take!¡±


    Jake Horton didn¡¯t oppose, but he looked meaningfully at Kiera Olsen, ¡°Then take these next few days to think about it, if you realize your mistake, you can come to me. If you admit your fault sincerely, I might consider not going public with this and just treating it as a minor misunderstanding¡­ of course, if you refuse to repent, then don¡¯t blame me for not caring about our school ties!¡±


    Leaving behind this insinuation, he and the General Manager left with brisk steps.


    After they left, the development team members gathered around Kiera Olsen, ¡°There must be some misunderstanding, Mr. Olsen, didn¡¯t you ask Samuel Morgan for help?¡±


    Kiera Olsen felt a warmth in her heart as she saw that no one was blaming her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will prove my innocence.¡±


    She wanted to reveal her identity and tell everyone the truth, and all this misunderstanding would be cleared up.


    But considering how Jalen Riley had not believed her at all when she had told him before¡­


    And the patent certificate required to prove her identity, along with the company seal, had been taken by Samuel Morgan abroad for a partnership discussion.


    He was supposed to be back next Monday.


    At this thought, her eyes curved slightly as she looked at her colleagues around her.


    By then, the expressions on everyone¡¯s faces were sure to be amusing¡­


    After work, Kiera Olsen headed to the underground parking lot.


    She got into the Bentley with practiced ease, and yet didn¡¯t see Lewis Horton.


    Tom Davis was in the passenger seat, ¡°The boss has a meeting, and once that¡¯s over, we¡¯ll go back.¡±


    Keira Olsen immediately said, ¡°Then I can take a taxi.¡±


    ¡°No need, the boss asked to drop you off first.¡± Tom Davis instructed the driver to start the car, then gave her a glance and said dissatisfiedly, ¡°Miss Olsen, don¡¯t rush things. Dr. South isn¡¯t someone you can meddle with at will. The commotion you caused in the R&D Department was really too much.¡±


    Keira Olsen raised her eyebrows but said nothing.


    Tom Davis continued, ¡°Don¡¯t think that because old Mrs. Horton and Mr. Horton protect you, you can do whatever you want. In the scientific community, theft and plagiarism are absolutely intolerable!¡±


    Keira Olsen took out her earphones, inserted them into her ears, and blocked out his voice.


    Tom Davis: ¡°¡­¡±


    The car quickly arrived at the hospital.


    Keira Olsen walked up the stairs, not expecting to be stopped on the second floor by Taylor Olsen, ¡°Shirley wants to see you.¡±


    She followed Taylor Olsen into Mrs. Olsen¡¯s hospital room.


    Mrs. Olsen seemed to be about to be discharged, and Aunt South had already packed the luggage, but she hadn¡¯t left, obviously waiting for her.


    When she walked in, Mrs. Olsen immediately asked anxiously, ¡°Kiera, what¡¯s this I hear about you stealing Dr. South¡¯s plans? I don¡¯t believe this is something you would do!¡±


    Taylor Olsen scornfully said, ¡°The evidence is all there. Young Master Jake, out of consideration for her being part of the Olsen family, only gave her a warning. What else is there to doubt? Shirley, you trust her too much! I¡¯ve said it before, she has Poppy Hill¡¯s blood in her¡ªhow could she be any good?!¡±


    Mrs. Olsen snapped, ¡°Shut your mouth, Kiera, speak up, what is this about?¡±


    Mrs. Olsen¡¯s expression was frantic, making Keira Olsen¡¯s eyes feel slightly warm.


    She knew Mrs. Olsen truly cared about her.


    She was about to speak when Isla Olsen put on an act, ¡°Kiera, how could you be so foolish! I know you want to achieve something in the Horton Group so that old Mrs. Horton and Mr. Horton will value you more, but you can¡¯t just take without asking! If you wanted Dr. South¡¯s plans, you could have told me, I would have given them to you! How could you steal from my computer?¡±


    Steal?


    Keira Olsen scoffed.


    So the root of the problem was Isla Olsen!


    She took a step forward, ¡°Who exactly is taking without asking?¡±


    Isla Olsen played the victim, ¡°What do you mean? Are you trying to get me to cover for you? Or to say it¡¯s a coincidence your plans are the same as Dr. South¡¯s?¡±


    Keira Olsen said indifferently, ¡°Of course it¡¯s not a coincidence¡ªit¡¯s clear you stole my plans!¡±


    ¡°Nonsense!!¡± Taylor Olsen, enraged, grabbed a broom from the floor and swung it at her, ¡°You messed up and now you¡¯re throwing dirt on your sister? I think you¡¯re asking for a beating!¡±


    Mrs. Olsen immediately intervened, ¡°Taylor, don¡¯t be rash!¡±


    Taylor Olsen furiously retorted, ¡°Shirley, did you hear that? She¡¯s far too arrogant! A mere undergraduate claiming that Dr. South¡¯s complex plans are hers?! It¡¯s laughable and nothing but a fantasy! Such a calamitous daughter is not worth your concern! The evil she¡¯s done, she must face the consequences herself!¡±


    But Mrs. Olsen said, ¡°But if the Horton Group calls the police, this could lead to prison time!¡±


    Upon saying this, she took out her phone, ¡°This matter is actually very simple to handle. As long as Dr. South doesn¡¯t pursue it, there¡¯s no issue. I¡¯ll call South right now.¡±


    After finishing her sentence, she dialed Dr. South¡¯s WhatsApp voice call.

 Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Chapter 51

    Chapter 51: Chapter 51


    Kiera subconsciously took out her phone.


    She actually hadn¡¯t wanted to make a scene in front of Mrs. Olsen with Isla¡­


    Even if they cleared things up on Monday and it reached Mrs. Olsen¡¯s ears through someone else, it would be stronger than having a face-to-face argument like this.


    It was mainly because she was afraid that Mrs. Olsen would get too excited and it would affect her health.


    But since Mrs. Olsen had made the call, there was no need for her to keep covering for Isla¡­


    Yet, just before the call came through, Isla rushed to Mrs. Olsen¡¯s side and hung up the phone, ¡°Mom, no!¡±


    Mrs. Olsen was startled and looked at her with furrowed brows, ¡°Why not?¡±


    Isla bit her lip and said, ¡°I just finished talking with Jake, and his opinion is that we shouldn¡¯t blow this out of proportion and just handle it internally within the company. If Dr. South finds out, even if Dr. South doesn¡¯t take it out on Kiera, Horton Group will still have to punish those involved to express our apology to Dr. South, and then it would be harder to be lenient.¡±


    Mrs. Olsen paused slightly, ¡°Is that so?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Isla looked again at Kiera, a gleam flashing in her eyes, ¡°Kiera, the evidence for this matter is solid, and you have directly confronted Dr. South, it¡¯s best if you admit your mistake quickly and submit a sincere letter of apology to the company. Then I won¡¯t pursue your responsibility, and with Mr. Horton smoothing things over at Horton Group, they will certainly deal with you leniently.¡±


    Hearing this, Taylor Olsen immediately advised, ¡°Shirley, did you hear that? There won¡¯t be any serious consequences for Kiera, you always worry too much¡­¡±


    Kiera cast her eyes down.


    She looked at her phone.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï


    She could call back now and expose the truth, but could Mrs. Olsen accept that outcome?


    What a clear and lofty person she was, whose only requirement of her children was to be healthy and upright, and not to venture down the wrong path.


    Could she accept that her daughter was actually a sly villain?


    Kiera remained silent for a while, but eventually, she looked at Mrs. Olsen and decided to prepare her, ¡°Mrs. Olsen, I¡¯m not that foolish. Not being able to complete a project is a normal capability for a person, I have no reason to steal Dr. South¡¯s plan just for some pride. Also, think about it, did Dr. South promise you he would provide technical support to Horton Group?¡±


    At those words, Mrs. Olsen pursed her lips.


    Isla then spoke, ¡°I have already explained this to mom, it was me who used mom¡¯s phone to call Dr. South without her permission, and he has agreed.¡±


    Kiera wanted to speak further, but Taylor Olsen angrily said, ¡°Kiera, you really don¡¯t know how to repent! All the care Shirley has shown you has been in vain! Isla has even decided not to pursue your responsibility, yet you¡¯re still here accusing your sister?!¡±


    He pointed towards the door, ¡°Get out!¡±


    Kiera took a deep look at Mrs. Olsen, saw her slightly furrowed brows, clearly not believing any of this, sighed softly, and turned to leave.


    Her words should give Mrs. Olsen more to think about, at least she had laid the groundwork. When the truth came out on Monday, she hoped Mrs. Olsen wouldn¡¯t be too upset¡­


    As she left the room, she heard movement behind her and turned to see Isla following her.


    Isla¡¯s gaze was flickering, ¡°Kiera, Horton Group also doesn¡¯t want to make a big deal out of this, I suggest you resign on your own, and just let this whole thing pass.¡±


    Kiera chuckled sarcastically.


    Isla had stolen her plan and now obviously wanted to quell the issue as quickly as possible.


    She spoke indifferently, ¡°We both know very well who stole whose plan, there¡¯s no need to pretend here.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Isla raised her chin proudly, ¡°Of course you stole mine, we have both human and material evidence, you can¡¯t deny it.¡±


    Kiera saw that she didn¡¯t look the least bit guilty, ¡°There¡¯s always a trace left by the wild goose that flies, do you really think you¡¯ve left no cracks?¡±


    Isla¡¯s gaze turned cold, ¡°Are you talking about Dr. South? Do you want Dr. South to confront this personally? Kiera, you¡¯re too naive. Such a trivial matter will not trouble Dr. South!¡±


    Her implication was that Dr. South knew nothing about this and no one would bring it up to Dr. South. This blame was pinned on Kiera for sure!


    If she weren¡¯t Dr. South herself, she would indeed be in a passive position.


    Kiera¡¯s lips curled into a smile, ¡°Isla, walk the night long enough and you¡¯re bound to meet a ghost.¡±


    Leaving these words behind, she walked away directly.


    The smile on Isla Olsen¡¯s face slowly faded until only fierceness remained.


    ¡­


    Lewis Horton was indeed in a meeting.


    The meeting ended at eight in the evening, and as he stepped out of the conference room, he caught a glimpse of a furtive figure standing not far away, Jalen Riley.


    Hearing the conference room door open, he immediately came over, ¡°Cousin, there¡¯s something I need to ask for your help with.¡±


    Lewis Horton continued walking towards the elevator without stopping, ¡°Speak.¡±


    Jalen Riley looked back to see the senior executives from the meeting consciously keeping a distance before briefly explaining the situation in the R&D department and then pleading, ¡°The young girl just graduated and wanted to achieve something great, she might have taken the wrong path, but in the end, she didn¡¯t cause any damage to the company, could you consider leniency?¡±


    Lewis Horton entered the elevator and pressed the button for the sub-basement parking garage.


    Seeing he did not respond, Jalen Riley continued, ¡°Cousin, I¡¯ve never asked you for anything, and Keira Olsen is indeed an exceptional talent, I really don¡¯t want to see her career end like this¡­¡±


    Lewis Horton gave him a cold glance, his deep eyes void of any warmth, ¡°Do you think she stole it?¡±


    Jalen Riley was momentarily stunned in place.


    ¡°Ding.¡±


    The elevator arrived.


    Lewis Horton strode out and headed straight to his car.


    Tom Davis stole glances at him through the rearview mirror, cautiously inquiring, ¡°Boss, do you think Keira Olsen didn¡¯t steal it? But if that¡¯s the case, did Dr. South steal hers?¡±


    Lewis Horton lifted his eyelids and glanced at him, remaining silent.


    Tom Davis muttered softly, ¡°You seem to trust her quite a bit.¡±


    Lewis Horton leaned back in his seat, his gaze deepening.


    It wasn¡¯t so much that he trusted her, but there was an innate pride about her that made him quite certain she wouldn¡¯t steal, nor did she need to.


    As for why her solution was identical to Dr. South¡¯s, perhaps it was because of¡­ Samuel Morgan?


    He remembered that Keira Olsen had a boyfriend and they were anxious to get married¡­


    That boyfriend, was it Samuel Morgan?


    The car soon arrived at the hospital.


    Lewis Horton walked briskly up the stairs and happened to see Keira Olsen approaching from the opposite direction.


    The light in the hallway was dim, and most of the people around were wearing striped hospital gowns, looking weary.


    Only the girl had a fair complexion, and even her languid walk carried a vibrancy, as if she was the only scenery in the hospital.


    Lewis Horton¡¯s expression unconsciously softened.


    The two met at Old Mrs. Horton¡¯s hospital room door, but Lewis Horton didn¡¯t enter the room, instead asking indifferently, ¡°Do you need help?¡±


    Keira Olsen paused briefly, smiling as she answered, ¡°No need.¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s voice suddenly turned cold, ¡°You don¡¯t need my help, are you looking for Samuel Morgan? Indeed, I¡¯ve overstepped.¡±


    Keira Olsen nodded, ¡°I do indeed need his help, he can better prove my identity.¡±


    At her words, Lewis Horton was taken aback, ¡°Your identity?¡±

 Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Chapter 52

    Chapter 52: Chapter 52


    Lewis Horton narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°What identity?¡±


    The identity of Samuel Morgan¡¯s girlfriend?


    In that instant, he pieced the whole matter together in his mind.


    This woman wouldn¡¯t steal the plan, and since the solution was too complex, Jalen Riley said that no one in the industry except Dr. South would be able to complete it in such a short time, so¡­


    The plan that Keira Olsen had must have been given by Samuel Morgan! But Samuel Morgan didn¡¯t inform Dr. South; otherwise, Dr. South wouldn¡¯t have sent it to Jake Horton again, leading to this misunderstanding.


    Business matters are complicated. Why would Samuel Morgan take Dr. South¡¯s plan without him knowing? And would he really clarify things for Keira Olsen?


    Lewis Horton asked uncertainly, ¡°Are you sure he will come?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°You trust him that much?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    When has Samuel Morgan ever dared to disobey Keira Olsen¡¯s orders?


    Her self-assured demeanor made Lewis Horton suddenly feel a bit irritable, feeling like the girl in front of him was love-struck.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï


    He suddenly said, ¡°Miss Olsen, don¡¯t forget that legally, we are still husband and wife. I don¡¯t want to hear any scandalous rumors.¡±


    Keira Olsen: ?


    She looked at the man in slight astonishment, not understanding why he would suddenly say that.


    Seeing her reaction, Lewis Horton felt even more irritated.


    He loosened his tie and said gravely, ¡°During the duration of our marriage, I hope you will remain chaste.¡±


    Leaving those words behind, he strode into the hospital room.


    Keira Olsen: ???


    Did that man have an unsuccessful meeting today? Why the sudden mood swings, saying things that are simply nonsensical.


    Without overthinking it, she followed him into the hospital room to accompany Old Mrs. Horton.


    Outside the suite.


    Lewis Horton looked at Tom Davis, ¡°Check on Samuel Morgan.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Tom Davis was very efficient with his tasks, and within half an hour, he had gathered all of Samuel Morgan¡¯s information, ¡°Boss, I sent it to your phone.¡±


    Lewis Horton opened the file on his phone and saw the basic information about Samuel Morgan.


    He was 27 this year, a graduate of high merit from Cambridge University, and became Dr. South¡¯s agent three years ago, managing the company for him. He had been diligent and cautious in his work over the past three years, and now the company was preparing to go public.


    Lewis Horton continued to scroll down, only to find that there was nothing more.


    He frowned slightly, ¡°Is this it?¡±


    Tom Davis looked blank; he had even dug out Samuel Morgan¡¯s university transcripts ¨C did the boss still think it wasn¡¯t enough?


    He asked in confusion, ¡°What are you looking for?¡±


    Lewis Horton said indifferently, ¡°His personal conduct.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Tom Davis¡¯s mouth fell open in surprise, but he quickly composed himself and said, ¡°I¡¯ll look into it right away.¡±


    Another half hour later, Tom Davis¡¯s information came through to Lewis Horton¡¯s phone again.


    He was generous, changing girlfriends every three months, with ex-girlfriends all praising him to no end.


    Currently, he was also vaguely involved with multiple women, far from being a qualified boyfriend.


    Thinking of Keira Olsen¡¯s trust in him, Lewis Horton sneered, taking out his phone as he stood up to walk into the hospital room, ready to show her the evidence!


    But to his surprise, just as he entered, he saw his grandmother wearing reading glasses and flipping through a dictionary while the woman was squatting on the ground playing with a dog.


    The small Shiba Inu looked up at her, wagging its tail vigorously.


    And the woman wore a full-faced smile.


    She looked stunningly beautiful. Her smile had a breathtaking quality to it, resembling the world¡¯s most pure and pristine landscape¡ªone that people wouldn¡¯t want to disrupt.


    His footsteps faltered slightly, and he gripped his phone a bit tighter.


    Should he tell her this cruel truth?


    Lewis Horton found himself in a dilemma for a moment.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Old Mrs. Horton suddenly spoke up, looking at him with a puzzled expression.


    Lewis Horton pursed his lips and turned off his phone screen, ¡°Nothing.¡±


    But Old Mrs. Horton didn¡¯t buy it, ¡°You¡¯ve been staring at your grandson¡¯s wife for so long, how can it be nothing? Do you have something you want to say to her?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Keira Olsen looked up with a piercing gaze toward him.


    Lewis Horton: ?


    He felt a flush of heat rush to his face and quickly averted his gaze, coughing, ¡°¡­Grandma, you look very spirited. Maybe you can be discharged from the hospital.¡±


    No sooner had he spoken, than the spirited Old Mrs. Horton immediately clutched at her chest, feigning weakness, ¡°Brat, I still feel a pain in my chest.¡±


    If she were to be discharged from the hospital, how could she keep her grandson and his wife living together?


    Then she would be like a child with divorced parents, having to choose sides.


    Not like it is now¡­


    She had transformed the ward on the second day of her hospital stay.


    There were two comfortable beds in the ward, one for her and the other for her grandson¡¯s wife; and one in the outer living room for the brat to sleep.


    It might be a bit cramped, and life might be a bit rougher, but it meant they could see each other day in and day out¡­


    Once they developed feelings for each other, she would take her grandson¡¯s wife back to the Horton Family!


    Thinking about this, Old Mrs. Horton chuckled gleefully. Where was any sign of chest pain now?


    Lewis Horton: ¡°¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    There were no words exchanged that night.


    The next morning, Keira Olsen was reading a neurology book when she suddenly received a call from her senior, Luca Barker, ¡°Junior, you need to come to school quickly! Something has happened to Professor Miller!¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s brow furrowed, and she immediately responded, ¡°Alright.¡±


    She stood up with a grave expression and strode out.


    She prepared to hail a cab as she went downstairs.


    Tom Davis¡¯s voice came from behind her, ¡°Miss Olsen, the boss told me to take you.¡±


    Keira Olsen paused for a moment, without any pretense, ¡°Oceanion University, thank you.¡±


    ¡­


    The car had just stopped in front of the teaching building when Keira Olsen jumped out and dashed toward Professor Miller¡¯s office.


    The door to Professor Miller¡¯s office was wide open, surrounded by a circle of students eager to see what was going on.


    As Keira Olsen burst in, she saw Professor Miller standing there with a red face, glaring angrily at the dean of the Energy School. He said sternly, ¡°A student¡¯s academic status affects their entire life. What gives you the right to expel her on a whim?! Last time, you claimed she had a bad character and dubious origins, and you went over my head to cancel her recommended admission quota. If you don¡¯t provide a reasonable explanation today, you won¡¯t be leaving this building!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Keira Olsen was taken aback.


    She had thought something had happened to Professor Miller, but it turned out he was standing up for her?


    But¡­ expelled from school?


    She turned to look at the dean and saw the potbellied dean speaking gravely, ¡°I just got the news that she has stolen Dr. South¡¯s solution and claimed it as her own. A student like that brings disgrace upon our university¡¯s reputation and must face the consequences!¡±


    Professor Miller exclaimed, ¡°Impossible, Keira Olsen is not that kind of person!¡±


    The dean sneered, ¡°This is the internal information I just received; it can¡¯t be mistaken! Our university is about to invite Dr. South to become a mentor. If we don¡¯t punish her, how will we gain Dr. South¡¯s approval? Do you know how many schools are vying for talent?¡±


    Professor Miller immediately understood, ¡°So it all comes down to Dr. South! But I am her mentor; without my signature, you can¡¯t expel her. I absolutely won¡¯t sign it today!¡±


    The dean became angry, ¡°Miller, how can you be so oblivious to the times! Forget Keira Olsen; even you are no match for Dr. South!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Keira Olsen stepped forward, ¡°Without the teacher, there would be no Dr. South!¡±

 Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 53

    Chapter 53: Chapter 53


    Keira Olsen¡¯s words were not false.


    As a freshman, she found the major quite unpopular and uninteresting, until she took a class with Professor Miller, which set her on this path.


    It could be said that Professor Miller was her guiding light.


    Her emphatic words silenced the entire office.


    Professor Miller and the dean turned their gaze towards her in unison.


    The dean frowned and angrily said, ¡°What are you babbling about?!¡±


    Keira Olsen was about to reveal her identity when Luca Barker, standing beside her, hurriedly stepped in front of her: ¡°My junior is right! Without such pioneers as our teacher, where would Dr. South come from?!¡±


    He roared, ¡°New energy has only developed in the last few years, but my teacher has been studying this field for over twenty years! Without his and other teachers¡¯ groundwork, how could we possibly have today¡¯s boom? Dean, the words you just said were truly biased. Even if Dr. South were here, he should still call our teacher a predecessor!¡±


    The dean was taken aback and looked towards the students at the door.


    Many of them were Professor Miller¡¯s graduate students, and at that moment, they all looked at him with righteous indignation.


    The dean then coughed, ¡°What I said just now indeed went too far. However, Dr. South¡¯s status in the industry is unshakable, which you should be well aware of. Dr. South alone can lead an entire research team and make a significant leap forward in new energy. So, Keira Olsen, how could you steal his proposal?! It¡¯s preposterous!¡±


    Keira Olsen directly replied, ¡°I did not.¡±


    The dean sneered, ¡°There are testimonies and evidence from Horton Group. Even if you still don¡¯t admit your guilt, you can¡¯t escape! Keira Olsen, you coming here is good timing, saving me the need to notify you. You have been expelled from the university. I am going to issue a public announcement shortly! To prevent the reputation of our school from being tarnished by you!¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï


    Professor Miller angrily said, ¡°Dean, Keira Olsen has said she didn¡¯t steal anything, and the investigation isn¡¯t over yet. You have no sufficient reason to expel her!¡±


    The dean glanced at him, ¡°This matter definitely cannot be blown out of proportion, or else those who don¡¯t know any better might think Dr. South can¡¯t tolerate even a student. Of course, the reason for expelling her is¡­ misconduct. Keira Olsen, I have found out that you have a history of frequent tardiness, leaving early, and skipping classes. Your assignment scores are all zeros, therefore the university decided to expel you!¡±


    At these words, Keira Olsen was truly stunned.


    As the saying goes, a college without skipping classes or leaving early is not perfect¡ªwhat college student doesn¡¯t skip a few classes?


    It was true that she skipped a lot of classes; the professors¡¯ lectures in her major were too simple, so she simply stopped attending them.


    But when the teachers found out she got perfect scores in exams, and her regular grades were zeros, they realized this didn¡¯t affect the overall results, so they didn¡¯t pursue it further.


    She never thought that it would now become leverage for the dean¡­


    Keira Olsen¡¯s gaze turned cold.


    Professor Miller, too, was trembling with rage: ¡°You¡¯re shameless! I¡¯ll say it again, I won¡¯t sign this paper! Keira Olsen is my student, and without my signature as her advisor, you can¡¯t expel her!¡±


    The dean¡¯s face grew cold, ¡°Professor Miller, you really are stubborn. Since you¡¯re not cooperating with the school¡¯s procedures, I¡¯m forced to suspend you from duty.¡±


    Professor Miller was furious, ¡°Suspend me then! Do you think I¡¯d be afraid of you?¡±


    No sooner had he spoken than the dean smiled, ¡°Professor Miller, if you¡¯re suspended, who will look after your graduate students provisionally? Without anyone to supervise them, how will you handle their thesis defenses? Let me think, you have six graduate students, right? Surely you¡¯re not planning to let all six of them delay their graduation, are you?!¡±


    If graduate students fail their thesis defense, graduation can be delayed by a year.


    Many unscrupulous advisors, in order to have their graduate students do more work for them, will deliberately hold them back, causing them to extend their studies for one year after another¡­ In such cases, students are completely at a disadvantage!


    With these words, Professor Miller was instantly stunned: ¡°You¡­ You¡¯re despicable!!¡±


    The dean was actually using his own graduate students as leverage to pressure him to sign¡­


    A lifetime spent in scientific research left him not adept at cursing others; he could only stamp his foot in anger at this moment.


    Professor Miller¡¯s graduate students suddenly turned pale, each of them looking at him with nervous eyes.


    However, the dean laughed, ¡°Professor Miller, who is more important, one student or six students? You make the choice.¡±


    He took out the expulsion procedure form and handed it to Professor Miller, ¡°Will you sign this?¡±


    Professor Miller clenched his fists.


    He turned to look back at his graduate students¡­


    Among them, some had already secured jobs, just waiting to get their diplomas before starting work.


    Others had planned their weddings, intending to hold them after graduation¡­


    But he couldn¡¯t sign it.


    Wrong is wrong, right is right.


    As he was unsure how to face his graduate students, Keira Olsen stepped up to his side and asked, ¡°Are the university leaders here today?¡±


    Professor Miller gave a wry smile and shook his head, ¡°There¡¯s a conference in Clance, the chancellor and vice-chancellor have both gone to attend¡­¡±


    Meaning, those who could punish the dean were not present.


    Keira Olsen lowered her gaze, then suddenly smiled, ¡°Professor, why don¡¯t you go home and rest for a few days? We can talk about it once they return¡­¡±


    Exposing her identity now would merely result in the dean claiming it was a ¡°misunderstanding¡±, and the matter would be over.


    After all, no real harm had been done.


    But if the dean forced the old professor into suspension and took action against his graduate students¡­ and then the truth was revealed, the dean¡¯s career would be over!!


    Upon hearing this, Professor Miller let out a deep sigh, looked at his graduate students, and slowly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if I¡¯m suspended, I will wait for the chancellor and vice-chancellor to return, then appeal to them, so you won¡¯t have to delay your graduation.¡±


    Keira Olsen then spoke, ¡°Teacher, just think of it as taking a couple of days off. On Monday, I¡¯ll give you an answer.¡±


    The graduate students turned ashen when they heard this.


    Everyone understood the professor¡¯s choice, as he had always been a fair and selfless person.


    But being unjustly implicated and hearing the perpetrator speak in such a nonchalant tone about ¡°taking a couple of days off¡± left them all feeling a bit uncomfortable.


    Luca Barker immediately stepped forward, tugging at Keira Olsen, ¡°Junior, if you can¡¯t speak properly, then say less.¡±


    Keira Olsen: ?


    She personally escorted Professor Miller home, and on the way, Professor Miller said with concern, ¡°Kiera, what are you going to do about Horton Group? With just Dr. South¡¯s reputation, he can crush you, who would believe you? Sigh! Why would such a revered professor want to claim your proposal as his own?¡±


    In Professor Miller¡¯s eyes, a conflict had arisen between his genius student and Dr. South. Surely it must be that Dr. South, not respecting his elder status, had stolen Keira Olsen¡¯s research findings.


    But unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Keira Olsen smiled, ¡°Professor, Dr. South didn¡¯t claim my proposal as his own.¡±


    Professor Miller was taken aback, ¡°Then whose work is this proposal?¡±


    ¡°Mine.¡±


    Keira Olsen said calmly, ¡°Or you could say it¡¯s Dr. South¡¯s.¡±

 Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Chapter 54

    Chapter 54: Chapter 54


    Keira Olsen took Professor Miller home, then returned to the hospital.


    Most of the time in the hospital, she was in the ward with Old Mrs. Horton.


    Lewis Horton was working in the outer room.


    Tom Davis stood by his side, speaking in a low voice about the happenings at the school, then whispered, ¡°Miss Olsen is acting too indifferent, now on the school¡¯s internal network, the name-calling has already started.¡±


    After he finished speaking, he passed the phone to Lewis Horton.


    On the internal network of Oceanion University, this matter had become a hot topic, with everyone discussing:


    ¡ª¡ªI don¡¯t understand why Professor Miller insists on defending such social scum!


    ¡ª¡ªStealing Dr. South¡¯s design plan, why keep such a person if not to expel them, what¡¯s the point?


    ¡ª¡ªPeople like that are simply shit-stirrers!


    ¡ª¡ªHey above, why are you insulting yourself as shit?


    ¡­


    Some people are cursing over this matter, while others are criticizing her for other things:


    ¡ª¡ªThe theft is after all not yet adjudicated; Professor Miller¡¯s defense of her is not to be criticized, I was there at the time, and I admire what Professor Miller did. But that doesn¡¯t stop me from disliking a certain student; Professor Miller made sacrifices for her, she didn¡¯t show any gratitude, even said it¡¯s like taking a few days off. She¡¯s just cold-blooded and heartless, as if Professor Miller¡¯s efforts are expected.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï


    ¡ª¡ªAlso at the scene, it felt like this person has a really thick face. Professor Miller¡¯s postgraduates are really unlucky, how did they end up with such a junior?


    ¡­


    The darker Lewis Horton¡¯s face got as he read, until it was finally gloomy as water, he tossed the phone back to Tom Davis, ¡°It just occurred to me something Carlo Colodi once wrote, ¡®When the village dog barks, the rest will follow, yet they do not know why they bark.''¡±


    Tom Davis: ¡°¡­¡±


    So your boss is quite the poisonous tongue.


    With that one sentence, he had called all those clear-headed university students dogs.


    He subconsciously said, ¡°If Miss Olsen sees these comments, she¡¯ll probably be very hurt, right?¡±


    As soon as the words came out, Lewis Horton paused for a moment, then asked hesitantly, ¡°Do you think she would waste her time browsing the internal network?¡±


    Tom Davis twitched the corner of his mouth: ¡°Boss, Miss Olsen has just graduated. When she was in school, who didn¡¯t read gossip on the internal network?¡±


    Lewis Horton said indifferently, ¡°I don¡¯t.¡±


    Tom Davis: ¡°¡­¡± That¡¯s because you have an old-guard style, immune to the internet!


    He coughed once, ¡°Modern young people all like to go online.¡±


    Lewis Horton, hearing this, lifted his eyelids, and looked through the glass pane in the door towards the ward.


    As the weather gradually cooled, the girl was wearing a camel-colored knitted sweater, casually leaning on the sofa as she read a book, her focus and seriousness evident.


    The sunlight streamed in through the window behind her, falling at her feet where a small Shiba Inu curled up, squatting there in deep sleep.


    This scene conveyed a sense of peacefulness and tranquility.


    After some time passed, Keira seemed a little tired; she put down her book, stretched, and reached for her phone beside her¡­


    Lewis Horton suddenly stood up and strode to the door, opening it.


    Both people inside turned their attention to him.


    Old Mrs. Horton, one hand holding her reading glasses, struggled to look at him and asked with confusion, ¡°What is it, brat?¡±


    Lewis Horton pursed his lips, looking towards Keira Olsen, ¡°Miss Olsen, the weather is nice today, how about taking grandma out for some sunshine?¡±


    Keira glanced outside and nodded her head.


    She gently nudged the Shiba Inu, waking the dog up, and then helped Old Mrs. Horton out the door.


    Walking two at once saves time.


    The three of them, along with the dog, quickly arrived at the hospital park and found a chair to help old Mrs. Horton sit down.


    Keira Olsen just stared blankly at the distant lake.


    Her mind was digesting the knowledge about neurology she had just read¡­


    Suddenly, a deep voice reached her ears, ¡°Miss Olsen, do you like browsing the internet in your free time?¡±


    Keira Olsen looked at Lewis Horton, confused.


    The man was dressed in a black shirt and black trousers, his fitted haute couture clothes accentuating his cold nobility and sense of abstinence.


    He wasn¡¯t looking at her, and his expression was indifferent, as if the question was nothing more than small talk.


    Keira Olsen casually answered, ¡°Not really.¡±


    Lewis Horton nodded.


    Keira Olsen then turned her gaze to old Mrs. Horton.


    After spending a few days together, she had gained some understanding of Lewis Horton. The man was not very talkative, and after that perfunctory question, he likely wouldn¡¯t say much more¡­


    No sooner had she thought this than she heard the man speak slowly again, ¡°Nowadays, people are often irritable. Under the anonymity of the internet, they tend to vent their violence and dissatisfaction online. The web is like a lawless place that magnifies the evil in people¡¯s hearts. Thus, you shouldn¡¯t take what is said on the internet to heart.¡±


    Keira Olsen: ?


    As she wondered why the man suddenly said these things, her phone vibrated.


    Glancing at it, she saw a message from her senior, Luca Barker, on WhatsApp: ¡°Junior, stay off the campus network for a while. A bunch of students are echoing each other, and they¡¯re saying some pretty nasty stuff!¡±


    Keira Olsen was slightly stunned.


    She seemed to understand why Lewis Horton had said those things.


    Putting down her phone, her face broke into a radiant smile, ¡°Mr. Horton, don¡¯t worry. Those words on the internet can¡¯t hurt me.¡±


    Lewis Horton paused, and a hint of discomfort flashed across his face before he quickly returned to calm, ¡°Hmm, I was worried it would affect grandma¡¯s mood.¡±


    Keira Olsen chuckled softly.


    Her laugh made Lewis Horton feel quite uneasy. He stood up, his expression still indifferent, ¡°I have work to do, so I¡¯ll leave grandma in your hands.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Back in the ward, Lewis Horton spoke up, ¡°Cancel the meeting on Monday morning.¡±


    Tom Davis was surprised, ¡°But that¡¯s our international meeting¡­ Okay, I¡¯ll cancel it right away.¡±


    He hesitated as he glanced at Lewis Horton.


    The boss couldn¡¯t be planning to blatantly go to the Administrative Department on Monday to protect Keira Olsen, could he?


    He tensed up.


    Since the boss took over Horton Group, a lot of people were dissatisfied, and if he were to act unjustly or unlawfully¡­


    Tom Davis suddenly felt angry.


    Keira Olsen had only been at the company for a few days, and she had already caused such a big problem for the boss!


    Jake Horton had secured his position in the R&D Department with the support of Dr. South.


    And then she turned around and offended Dr. South¡­


    She really was causing trouble for the boss!


    If the boss was indeed planning to defend her on Monday, then even if it meant upsetting the boss, he would have to stop him! He couldn¡¯t let the boss make a mistake!


    After accompanying the old lady on a walk, Keira Olsen returned to find Tom Davis looking at her somewhat oddly.


    But she didn¡¯t mind it.


    Time quickly arrived at Monday!


    After having breakfast, Keira Olsen was preparing to go to Horton Group when her phone vibrated. It was a message from Samuel Morgan on WhatsApp: ¡°Boss, the plane has landed on time! I¡¯m heading to Horton Group right away!¡±

 Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Chapter 55

    Chapter 55: Chapter 55


    Kiera Olsen and Lewis Horton rode in a Bentley to Horton Group.


    As they got out of the car, Lewis Horton suddenly asked, ¡°Can Samuel Morgan make it on time?¡±


    Kiera Olsen said, ¡°He should.¡±


    Lewis Horton pursed his lips and spoke again, ¡°I actually have some information about Samuel here, I¡¯ll tell you after today¡¯s events are over.¡±


    He planned to tell her about Samuel¡¯s philandering ways.


    After all, a short pain is better than a long one.


    Kiera Olsen gave him a surprised glance, ¡°Okay.¡±


    She got off the car and walked toward the elevator.


    Just as she approached the elevator entrance, she heard some colleagues whispering in front:


    ¡°Have you heard? There was a case of stealing someone else¡¯s project in the R&D department!¡±


    ¡°Who? So unscrupulous? That¡¯s quite audacious!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s said to be a new intern, there must be some backing in the company for them to dare do such things.¡±


    ¡°What backing?¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0


    Someone gestured upward, ¡°I heard it¡¯s related to that person, so they are arranged in Jalen Riley¡¯s team¡­¡±


    ¡°That person is domineering and assertive, the executives have been on edge this month, he wouldn¡¯t blatantly protect this intern, right? Isn¡¯t he afraid of being accused of mixing public with private matters?¡±


    ¡°I heard, he was spoiled by old Mrs. Horton back home, was a little tyrant in Oceanion as a child, and after so many years, protecting an intern is nothing for him, right?¡±


    ¡°The company has its rules and regulations. If that person messes up like this, wouldn¡¯t he be afraid of causing public outrage?¡±


    ¡°Young, doesn¡¯t care about these¡­¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Jake Horton even younger as Vice President? But look at the people he¡¯s arranged in the company, Dr. South, who is top in the new energy industry! Compare that to his intern, and you can see that Jake Horton is more reliable¡­¡±


    ¡°Definitely, like father like son, his father, Senior Mr. Horton, has always been strict with himself and lenient towards others. Speaking of which, our Senior Mr. Horton was down-to-earth, climbed up from the grassroots¡­¡±


    ¡°That position, how come it¡¯s not Senior Mr. Horton¡¯s, but was taken by that person?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Kiera Olsen originally did not intend to pay attention to these people, as she was now in the midst of it and it was impossible not to be talked about behind her back.


    However, she never expected that the group¡¯s topic would suddenly shift to Lewis Horton.


    She narrowed her eyes.


    Having been mingling in society since middle school, she was no real newcomer to the workplace, so she immediately deduced that someone was behind this, intending to drag Lewis Horton down!


    She looked towards the person who started the topic¡­ indeed, she knew him.


    This person was Arian O¡¯neil, a developer from Team 2 and indeed one of Jake Horton¡¯s lackeys.


    Kiera Olsen recalled the information Samuel Morgan had helped her investigate¡­


    The first branch of the Horton family wanted to snatch back the authority.


    During her last visit to the Horton family, she could feel the direct confrontation between the first branch and Lewis Horton.


    Jake was trying to use this incident to create public opinion. Even if it couldn¡¯t actually harm Lewis Horton, it could lessen his reputation in the company.


    Kiera Olsen scoffed.


    She took a step forward and spoke indifferently, ¡°Talking about my gossip is one thing, but perhaps you should check for surveillance before discussing the boss¡¯s gossip?¡±


    At these words, the group immediately looked around in fright.


    Seeing there were no surveillance cameras, they sighed in relief, then realized they had been played.


    Everyone then turned towards Kiera Olsen, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Keira Olsen hadn¡¯t spoken yet when Arian O¡¯neil began, ¡°Let me introduce everyone, this is the new intern in our R&D team.¡±


    Arian O¡¯neil said with a smirk, ¡°Miss Olsen truly is Mr. Horton¡¯s connection. With such a serious issue as stealing schemes, and now that we have all the evidence, you still come to work and manage to keep a straight face¡­¡±


    As soon as these words were out, everyone looked at her, each frowning.


    All were office workers, and if one day, someone else stole the fruit of their hard labor, they would definitely be furious.


    Yet Keira Olsen wasn¡¯t the least bit intimidated by those looks and simply furrowed her brow, ¡°Mr. Horton¡¯s connection?¡±


    Arian O¡¯neil immediately responded, ¡°You aren¡¯t planning to deny it, are you? It was Mr. Morgan himself who personally escorted you to the R&D department, and our second group saw it all very clearly¡­¡±


    He sighed and continued in a seemingly consoling tone, ¡°But even if Mr. Horton backs you, you shouldn¡¯t steal Dr. South¡¯s scheme. Do you understand the significance of Dr. South to the company¡¯s R&D department? It took a lot of connections and favors for Vice President Jake Horton to bring him in. He¡¯s made remarkable contributions to the R&D department. If you scare him away, even Mr. Horton might not be able to handle the anger of everyone in the R&D department, could he?¡±


    The surrounding people immediately nodded in agreement.


    But Keira Olsen suddenly laughed, ¡°You¡¯re wrong, I¡¯m just a connection of Mr. Horton. Mr. Horton always keeps a low profile. When he hired me for the company, he didn¡¯t make a fuss about it¡­¡±


    Jalen Riley was taken aback, ¡°Where did I go wrong¡­¡±


    Just then, the elevator arrived, and a crowd stepped in.


    Nobody noticed that Lewis Horton, accompanied by Tom Davis, just happened to walk by and accidentally overheard this conversation.


    Lewis Horton showed no change in expression, but Tom Davis¡¯s face immediately darkened!


    Someone indeed was manipulating the situation involving Keira Olsen to scheme against the boss!


    Yet there was Keira Olsen, not knowing to avoid suspicions, dare to implicate the boss!


    It was totally outrageous!


    Unable to hold back his anger, Tom Davis blurted out, ¡°Boss, did you hear that? Now everyone knows she¡¯s your connection! What good does this do her! It¡¯s truly foolish!¡±


    Then he advised, ¡°Boss, I think you really should not get involved in this matter anymore. Now that everyone knows about her relationship with you, if you still choose to protect her, in everyone¡¯s eyes, you would truly become a ruler who does not distinguish between right and wrong, public and private!¡±


    Lewis Horton narrowed his eyes.


    The man¡¯s stern face remained unchanged, his piercing eyes gazing forward, he said indifferently, ¡°Only the weak are swayed by rumors.¡±


    Leaving that remark behind, he adjusted his clothes and strode into the CEO¡¯s exclusive elevator.


    Tom Davis followed him inside, only to hear him decisively say, ¡°Go to the Administrative Department.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    He knew the boss¡¯s decision was unchangeable!


    Reluctantly, he pressed the floor for the Administrative Department, and then sighed quietly.


    No wonder everyone made comparisons.


    The R&D department was the core of the company, watched by many.


    Over the past month, two people had joined the R&D department.


    One was Dr. South, a connection of Vice President Jake Horton.


    The other was Keira Olsen, a connection of the boss.


    Compared with each other, the difference was too great!


    He took a deep breath!


    If only Dr. South had been a connection of the boss, then in this battle, the boss would definitely win beautifully!!


    ¡°Ding¡±


    The elevator arrived.


    The lawsuit over the theft of the scheme officially began!

 Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: Chapter 56

    Chapter 56: Chapter 56


    Keira Olsen stepped out of the elevator, ready to head in one direction.


    But after just two steps, the voice of Arian O¡¯neil came from behind her, ¡°Miss Olsen, I don¡¯t know what your relationship with Mr. Horton is, but you should have noticed that Mr. Horton¡¯s reputation within the company isn¡¯t very good. This position of power, whose it will be in the future is still uncertain! Thus, I advise you not to offend Vice President Horton.¡±


    As Jake Horton¡¯s confidant, through these few interactions, he had certainly noticed Jake Horton¡¯s feelings towards Keira Olsen.


    He whispered, ¡°If you follow Vice President Horton, your days will get better than they are now. At least regarding the situation you¡¯re about to face, Vice President Horton has a way to sort it out for you.¡±


    Keira Olsen gave him an indifferent glance with her peach blossom eyes, did not speak, and went directly into group one.


    Today was Monday, and after a pleasant weekend, many people tended to be late for work on this particular day, as they often cut it close.


    Yet today, everyone in group one had already arrived, and they were all sitting in the rest area, surrounding Jalen Riley and Luca Barker, revealing faces filled with worry.


    Jalen Riley had a tense expression, his face gloomy.


    Upon seeing Keira Olsen enter, everyone suddenly stood up, all hesitating to speak.


    Luca Barker walked over quickly, ¡°Kiera, the school that side¡­¡±


    Before he finished speaking, the general manager of the R&D department and vice-general manager Jake Horton had already appeared at the door, ¡°Jalen Riley, Keira Olsen, let¡¯s go, the Administrative Department is waiting for us.¡±


    Jalen Riley frowned and stood up, looking at Keira Olsen, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The group made their way towards the elevator.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    On the way, Jake Horton suddenly spoke up, ¡°I thought you would call me these past two days.¡±


    Assured of his victory, he didn¡¯t shy away from the general manager and Jalen Riley.


    Keira Olsen narrowed her eyes but didn¡¯t comment.


    Jake Horton continued, ¡°Right, besides the people from the Administrative Department, two guests will come today, the president and dean of the School of Energy at Oceanion University. The dean, having heard about your theft of Dr. South¡¯s proposal, wants to expel you. You¡¯re aware of this, right?¡±


    At these words, Jalen Riley scoffed, ¡°Jake Horton, if I recall, you all graduated from university already, right? Why do you still have to run to your teachers when something happens? Can¡¯t you wean off?¡±


    Jake Horton sneered in response, ¡°I am also a graduate of Oceanion University, of course, I can¡¯t stand to watch the reputation of Oceanion University being tainted by such a person! The president and the dean are here today to confirm the details, and if they turn out to be true, they won¡¯t show mercy! Keira Olsen, up until now, are you still unwilling to admit your mistake?¡±


    Keira Olsen spoke slowly, ¡°I¡¯ve done nothing wrong, what is there to admit?¡±


    ¡°You¡­!! Truly won¡¯t shed a tear until you see the coffin!¡±


    The four of them arrived at the Administrative Department soon after.


    Jake Horton and the general manager of the R&D department entered the meeting room first, and just as Keira Olsen was about to follow, Jalen Riley suddenly patted her shoulder, ¡°I¡¯m your leader, if you¡¯ve made any mistakes, they are my responsibility. Even if Jake Horton has invited Dr. South to confront you face to face, I¡¯ll stand in front of you!¡±


    Leaving those words behind, Jalen Riley entered the room as if he were marching off to the gallows!


    Keira Olsen, ¡°¡­,¡± There really was no need for this.


    She tugged at the corner of her mouth and followed in, only then noticing that the meeting room was quite spacious, already seated with a dozen or so people inside.


    The folks from the Administrative Department all looked severe, emanating a sense of strictness.


    The president and the dean were invited to sit in places at either side.


    What surprised Keira Olsen was that Lewis Horton was also sitting in the position of an observer.


    The man was in a suit, with every button of his shirt fastened to the top, wearing a tie of the same color scheme, exuding an air of formality and nobility.


    Upon hearing footsteps, he looked up, his deep gaze lingering on Keira Olsen for but a moment before immediately shifting away, as if his presence there had nothing to do with her.


    Tom Davis standing behind him had a face as green as iron and gave Keira Olsen a glare.


    Keira Olsen, however, didn¡¯t mind and simply gave them a mild smile.


    Of course, she understood that the busy Lewis Horton had suddenly come here out of concern for her¡­


    No, he came to keep his grandmother from being upset, that¡¯s why he¡¯s showing concern.


    She could imagine how the man would explain it.


    Her lips curved slightly, as she entered the room with a composed stride.


    The Administrative Department has procedures that must be followed.


    The head of the Administrative Department spoke first, ¡°Vice President Horton, where are the witnesses and evidence you were talking about?¡±


    Kiera Olsen also looked at him curiously.


    She really didn¡¯t know what evidence Jake Horton kept talking about¡­


    Jake Horton glanced at his phone, ¡°They just arrived.¡±


    Following his words, there was a knock at the door.


    Arian O¡¯neil led two people into the room.


    These two people¡­ one was Isla Olsen, and the other was Poppy Hill!


    Kiera Olsen frowned slightly.


    Isla Olsen walked up to Jake Horton with a calm demeanor and greeted him cheerfully, ¡°Jake.¡±


    Poppy Hill seemed unused to such a scene and appeared timid.


    She looked around and then flashed a flattering smile.


    Jake Horton pointed at her and said, ¡°She is my witness and evidence! Let me introduce her to everyone, she is Kiera Olsen¡¯s mother.¡±


    Everyone was slightly stunned and instinctively looked at Kiera Olsen.


    Jalen Riley nudged her, ¡°Is that true?¡±


    Kiera Olsen kept her chin up and said nothing.


    But Poppy Hill rushed to her side, ¡°Kiera, the matter of your mom helping you steal the plans has been exposed! I never thought there would be surveillance in the hospital room, and it was all caught on camera, now it¡¯s their evidence!¡±


    Along with her words, Isla Olsen took out a USB drive and plugged it into a computer.


    The screen displayed footage from Mrs. Olsen¡¯s hospital room: Poppy Hill sneaking in, then stealthily opening Isla Olsen¡¯s laptop, followed by plugging in a USB drive and doing something¡­


    Isla Olsen sighed, ¡°I only installed the camera to record the times the doctor administered medication to my mom, I didn¡¯t expect it to catch these things, Kiera, how could you let your mom steal things for you¡­¡±


    Poppy Hill immediately lowered her head and apologized, ¡°It¡¯s my fault, Kiera doesn¡¯t know about this. I saw her working so hard, so I decided to do this, it has nothing to do with her¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my child just graduated and wants to prove herself, I couldn¡¯t bear to see her work so hard.¡±


    She looked around and suddenly ¡°bang,¡± she knelt on the ground, ¡°I¡¯m begging you, don¡¯t punish Kiera. If you want to punish someone, punish me, and please don¡¯t call the police¡­ Give Kiera another chance!¡±


    The head of the Administrative Department hurried over to help her up, ¡°Please get up first¡­¡±


    Poppy Hill, however, cried out, ¡°If the company doesn¡¯t forgive Kiera, I won¡¯t get up¡­¡±


    People around could not help but sigh, ¡°Ah, the poor heart of parents everywhere¡­¡±


    Jake Horton said scornfully, ¡°Kiera Olsen, with the evidence all here, what have you got to say?¡±


    Isla Olsen watched the drama from the sidelines.


    She knew that the moment Poppy Hill appeared, this imperfect evidence suddenly became perfect.


    After all, how could there be a mother who would malign her own daughter in this world?


    If Kiera Olsen denied it, people would only look down on her more, thinking she was pushing her mother out to take the blame.


    The Horton Group would never tolerate such an employee.


    It was a checkmate situation.


    Everyone¡¯s gaze was on Kiera Olsen.


    Yet she remained composed, standing with her eyes downcast, and even took out her phone to look at it¡ªit seemed she had received a WhatsApp message.


    They didn¡¯t see that Kiera Olsen¡¯s WhatsApp message was from Samuel Morgan: ¡°Boss, I¡¯m almost there!¡±

 Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57

    Chapter 57: Chapter 57


    Keira Olsen set down her phone, and only then did she lift her head to look at everyone.


    Her own mother had set such a trap against her, she was supposed to feel a bit upset.


    But at this moment, there was only a chill in her heart.


    Because she was used to it.


    She believed that for the sake of Isla Olsen, there was nothing Poppy Hill wouldn¡¯t stoop to.


    Her gaze passed indifferently over Poppy Hill and settled on Isla Olsen.


    Keira was actually very curious, just how many benefits had Isla Olsen given Poppy Hill for her to be so utterly devoted to her!


    She didn¡¯t speak because she understood that until Samuel Morgan came to prove her identity, whatever she said was futile, these people wouldn¡¯t believe her.


    However, she didn¡¯t speak, yet someone spoke for her.


    Jalen Riley¡¯s tone was arrogantly like a villain, ¡°What kind of direct evidence is this? From the video, we can only see that it¡¯s Keira Olsen¡¯s mother who copied something from Isla Olsen¡¯s computer. As for exactly what was copied, who knows?¡±


    Jake Horton snorted with laughter, ¡°Isla Olsen is the person in charge of handing the solution over to Dr. South. Keira Olsen¡¯s mother copied something from her, and then Keira Olsen turned in a solution identical to Dr. South¡¯s. Doesn¡¯t that explain everything? Jalen Riley, even if you want to protect Keira Olsen, there¡¯s a limit!¡±


    Jalen Riley straightened his neck, ¡°What protection? I¡¯m just stating my doubts! This evidence can¡¯t directly indicate that it was Keira Olsen who instructed her mother to steal the material!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Poppy Hill, who was kneeling there, immediately cried out, ¡°Yes, yes, it wasn¡¯t Keira who told me to steal; it was me wanting to steal on my own! It has nothing to do with Keira, It was all my own doing as a mother¡­¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã?


    She grabbed the arm of the manager of the Administrative Department, ¡°I beg you, don¡¯t drag Keira into this! My daughter, who finally graduated from university, she can¡¯t lose her job over this¡­¡±


    The manager of the Administrative Department sighed upon hearing this, ¡°What did you steal?¡±


    Poppy Hill immediately replied, ¡°The solution for Hydrogen Fuel regarding the new energy source.¡±


    The manager of the Administrative Department nodded, ¡°Do you know what Hydrogen Fuel is?¡±


    Poppy Hill was stunned and shook her head.


    The manager of the Administrative Department continued, ¡°Yes, see, I¡¯m not in R&D, even I don¡¯t know what that is. If your daughter didn¡¯t tell you what to steal, how could you have stolen it for her?¡±


    Poppy Hill seemed to choke up.


    She stuttered, unable to speak, but eventually, she bowed her head fiercely, ¡°I don¡¯t care, I did it, and it has nothing to do with my daughter! Call the police, take me away, it¡¯s my fault¡­¡±


    The manager of the Administrative Department let out a deep sigh, his gaze upon Poppy Hill filled with both exasperation and sympathy.


    Jake Horton watched Poppy Hill.


    He was supposed to dislike this mistress very much, but seeing her go to such lengths for her daughter, he couldn¡¯t bear it.


    Jake Horton suddenly roared, ¡°Keira Olsen, say something! You¡¯re not really planning to push all this onto your mom, are you? Don¡¯t you understand the most basic filial piety as a human being? Do you even have a heart?!¡±


    The manager of the Administrative Department also said coldly, ¡°Vice President Horton, don¡¯t be agitated. We in the administrative department will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly. Horton Group won¡¯t wrong any mother, nor will we retain an unfilial employee!¡±


    Keira Olsen knew it would be like this.


    The consequence of speaking out in denial was nothing more than the skepticism of these people.


    She gave a low chuckle, knowing the matter was certainly not over yet.


    As expected, Isla Olsen sighed and took a step forward with feigned sincerity, approaching Poppy Hill, ¡°Aunt Hill, even if you want to shoulder this by yourself, it¡¯s impossible. Everyone is not a fool; they know full well what¡¯s really going on. The best course of action now is to admit your mistakes and seek the Horton Group¡¯s forgiveness. Otherwise, Kiera might still be expelled from her academic program¡­¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡±


    Poppy Hill looked to the head of the Administrative Department for help.


    The head of the Administrative Department nodded, ¡°Yes, we have our judgment. You¡¯re covering for your daughter, and we can all see that¡­¡±


    Poppy Hill collapsed to the ground, as if she had lost all support.


    But suddenly, she seemed to come to a realization, crawled a few steps and rushed to Kiera Olsen, grabbing her leg, ¡°Kiera, there¡¯s no other way, admit your mistake! If you admit it sooner, the Horton Group might give you a chance. Even if you do get expelled, you will still have your education and can find another job. But if you don¡¯t confess and the school expels you, your future will be truly ruined!¡±


    She appeared to be in great pain, even squeezing out a few tears, yet unbeknownst to others, her eyes turned fierce.


    Kiera Olsen looked down at her mother kneeling before her and still found it ludicrous.


    In the past, Poppy Hill was direct with her, always forcefully demanding Kiera to give in to Isla.


    And now she had even learned to play the victim?


    It must have been taught by Isla, right?


    Poppy Hill continued to wail, ¡°I¡¯ll apologize on Kiera¡¯s behalf, I¡¯m her mom, I¡¯ll apologize to everyone for her! I hope everyone can give her another chance, and I hope the school doesn¡¯t expel her from her academic program¡­¡±


    She ¡°bang bang bang¡± truly knocked her head on the floor a few times.


    The heavy thuds made everyone feel a touch of heartache.


    ¡­What a wonderful mother indeed!


    The head of the Administrative Department rushed over, trying to help her up, but couldn¡¯t pull her to her feet. She hurriedly shouted at Kiera Olsen, ¡°What are you standing there for? Your mother is so sincere and honest, how did she give birth to an unfilial daughter like you?!¡±


    The Vice-Chancellor of Oceanion University also displayed a look of pity from the stands.


    The Dean directly spoke up, ¡°Kiera Olsen, are you still not admitting your mistake? Are you trying to drive your mother to her death? How could our university have a student like you? Mr. Chancellor, do you see this? This is the person Professor Miller insisted on vouching for, and I don¡¯t know how she confused his mind. He¡¯s been so foolish that I had to suspend him from his position!¡±


    The Vice-Chancellor frowned, feeling the words were unpleasant, ¡°You should say less.¡±


    He had come with the Dean today because Professor Miller had called him, mentioning the situation about the Dean wanting to expel a student.


    The status of a student¡¯s academic program is like their calling card; expulsion is a very serious matter, and the Dean had even suspended a professor¡¯s position!


    The Vice-Chancellor thought it was indeed going too far.


    That¡¯s why he had come at Professor Miller¡¯s request.


    But now, it seemed that perhaps what the Dean did wasn¡¯t wrong?


    He couldn¡¯t help but look at Kiera Olsen, ¡°Student, you should apologize quickly! If this goes on, even Professor Miller won¡¯t be able to protect you!¡±


    Poppy Hill immediately stopped knocking her head and looked at her daughter, ¡°Kiera, did you hear that? Everyone wants you to apologize quickly, they will give you another chance¡­¡±


    Just then, there was a knock at the door, and someone outside called out, ¡°Mr. Samuel Morgan has arrived.¡±

 Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Chapter 58

    Chapter 58: Chapter 58


    The meeting room fell silent.


    Isla Olsen¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively looked towards Jake Horton, lowering her voice, ¡°Jake, it was obvious during the last gathering that Samuel Morgan and Keira Olsen have an unusual relationship. Did he come here to say a few good words for Keira Olsen, hoping Horton Group would go easy on her?¡±


    Jake Horton immediately tensed his jaw and said to the people outside, ¡°Please take Mr. Morgan to the research and development department¡¯s meeting room, and I¡¯ll meet him after we¡¯ve dealt with the matters here.¡±


    The person outside replied, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Just as they were about to leave, a deep voice suddenly rang out, ¡°Let him in.¡±


    Everyone turned in unison, only to see that it was Lewis Horton, seated at the observer¡¯s position, who had spoken.


    Jake Horton hurriedly said, ¡°Uncle, Samuel Morgan is Dr. South¡¯s assistant. I don¡¯t want to make this public and have Dr. South think our company is disrespecting him¡­ so it¡¯s better not to let Samuel Morgan in.¡±


    Keira Olsen raised an eyebrow.


    She had indeed overlooked this.


    She hadn¡¯t expected Samuel Morgan to be blocked from entering this meeting room.


    But she wasn¡¯t worried. As long as she revealed her identity, these people would have to call Samuel Morgan in to confront her.


    After all, only Samuel Morgan had seen Dr. South in person.


    As she was pondering this, Lewis Horton spoke again, ¡°Samuel Morgan was invited by me.¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï


    Keira Olsen: ?


    She turned in surprise, but saw the man¡¯s expression was unchanged, his demeanor casual when he spoke, those black eyes deep like valleys, inscrutable, belying his internal thoughts.


    If she didn¡¯t know the truth, she would have thought that Samuel Morgan was indeed invited by him!


    As Lewis Horton finished speaking, he glanced at Tom Davis.


    Tom Davis instantly understood his intent and immediately headed out.


    He couldn¡¯t help but glare at Keira Olsen again.


    Femme fatale indeed!


    The boss had actually started to cover for this woman.


    He just hoped that Samuel Morgan was strong enough to deter these people and not let the boss really get confused, earning a bad reputation for favoritism.


    Soon, Samuel Morgan followed Tom Davis into the room.


    He looked travel-worn, with a suitcase in hand, clearly having rushed here straight from the plane. Upon entering, his gaze first fell on Keira Olsen before he coughed and said, ¡°Uh, there was some traffic on the road, so I¡¯m a bit late.¡±


    Keira Olsen nodded slightly.


    Seeing them still exchanging pleasantries, Tom Davis, anxious, could not help but directly say, ¡°Mr. Morgan, did you come here to tell everyone that Dr. South¡¯s proposal was handed to Miss Keira by you?¡±


    As long as Samuel Morgan admitted it, this matter could be put to rest.


    After all, the evidence from Poppy Hill wasn¡¯t direct evidence.


    If the boss put on a strong front, he could save the person involved.


    There was also a legitimate reason.


    Tom Davis was still thinking this when he heard Samuel Morgan express his surprise, ¡°No! Why would I hand over Dr. South¡¯s design proposal to someone else?¡±


    Tom Davis: ???


    He was instantly full of question marks, looking at Samuel Morgan in astonishment, and cursed internally: This scumbag! Did he purposely come here to distance himself from Keira Olsen?!


    He was so angry that his whole body was shaking.


    Indeed, this fickle man was unreliable.


    The rest of the room collectively sighed in relief.


    The moment Samuel Morgan walked in, Isla Olsen had clenched her fists with nervousness, but now she suddenly relaxed.


    Jake Horton even said, ¡°Mr. Morgan, did you come here today because you heard about Dr. South¡¯s plan being stolen, so you came to listen to the hearing on purpose? Don¡¯t worry, Horton Group will definitely give Dr. South an explanation!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Samuel Morgan¡¯s expression suddenly became somewhat amused. He laughed and said, ¡°Yes, yes, you must definitely clear my boss¡¯s name!¡±


    After saying this, he swaggered over to the hearing seats and plopped down next to the vice-chancellor of Oceanion University, and while no one was paying attention, he winked at Keira Olsen.


    Keira Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    The vice-chancellor greeted Samuel Morgan: ¡°Mr. Morgan, I¡¯ve heard of your great reputation for a long time. Our university has always wanted to invite Dr. South to be a tutor. I wonder if Mr. Morgan could convey our school¡¯s sincerity?¡±


    Samuel Morgan sighed, ¡°That depends on how this matter is handled today¡­¡±


    The vice-chancellor paused.


    The dean immediately said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we will definitely not cover up the students who stole Dr. South¡¯s plan. We will surely expel her!¡±


    The vice-chancellor¡¯s jaw tightened, feeling increasingly displeased.


    Putting aside that Horton Group hadn¡¯t yet determined Keira Olsen¡¯s guilt, even if they had determined the theft of the plan, whether to expel the student or not would still need to be discussed by the school. How could they just make promises to others? It made it seem like they were ingratiating themselves!


    Completely lacking backbone.


    Samuel Morgan¡¯s eyes cooled as he spoke with obvious sarcasm, ¡°Expelling her? As an educational institution, shouldn¡¯t you protect your students as much as possible? How come you¡¯re disassociating yourselves the moment there¡¯s trouble?¡±


    The dean felt that there was something off about his words, like he was being accused, ¡°It¡¯s Keira Olsen who has made a big mistake¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh? What mistake did she make?¡±


    ¡°She stole Dr. South¡¯s plan¡­¡±


    Samuel Morgan countered, ¡°Is there any evidence?¡±


    The dean pointed to Poppy Hill, ¡°This is her mother. She confessed in her own words, and there¡¯s also surveillance footage of her mother stealing the plan from Miss Isla¡¯s computer¡­¡±


    ¡°Is that so? Is that what Miss Isla said?¡±


    Isla Olsen had been trying to downplay her role in this whole affair, but now that Samuel Morgan had called on her, she had to step forward, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±


    Isla Olsen also looked towards Poppy Hill, ¡°Aunt Hill, this lady is Dr. South¡¯s assistant. If Dr. South doesn¡¯t pursue this matter, I think Horton Group will not pursue it either¡­¡±


    Poppy Hill immediately understood the implication, rushing over to Samuel Morgan and kneeling to kowtow, ¡°Mr. Morgan, please forgive Keira Olsen, she didn¡¯t do it on purpose¡­¡±


    Jake Horton quickly stepped in front of her, ¡°Please don¡¯t do this¡­¡±


    But Poppy Hill sobbed, ¡°As long as it helps Keira, kneeling is nothing, I¡¯ll do anything! Keira, please admit your mistake, Mom is begging you!¡±


    ¡°Do anything?¡±


    Keira Olsen finally spoke up, her voice calm and steady, ¡°All I ask is that you don¡¯t slander me, and I¡¯ll be grateful for that.¡±


    Poppy Hill choked, then cried even harder, ¡°Keira, Mom isn¡¯t slandering you, it¡¯s just that I can¡¯t hide it anymore!¡±


    Jake Horton also angrily said, ¡°Keira Olsen, why are you so obstinate?¡±


    The dean of Oceanion University also fanned the flames, ¡°Miss Keira, what are you saying? How could there be a mother in this world who slanders her own daughter? You¡¯re really talking nonsense!¡±


    After he finished speaking, he looked towards Samuel Morgan as if to affirm his previous statement was correct, ¡°Mr. Morgan, you see? This girl speaks nothing but lies, and this isn¡¯t the first time. She often skips classes, leaves early, and I¡¯ve heard she frequently doesn¡¯t return at night. It¡¯s only right that we expel her from the university!¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡±


    Samuel Morgan¡¯s smile carried a hint of mockery, ¡°But as far as I know, Dr. South never gave Miss Isla the plan in the first place! How, then, did this kind and innocent mother manage to steal it?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±

 Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: Chapter 59

    Chapter 59: Chapter 59


    As the sentence fell, the room went silent in an instant.


    Everyone looked from Samuel Morgan to Isla Olsen, all bewildered.


    Jake Horton was also puzzled as he looked towards Isla Olsen, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±


    Isla Olsen bit her lip and said directly to Samuel Morgan, ¡°Dr. South¡¯s solutions for our Olsen Family company were all sent individually, unrelated to your company. You¡¯re just his assistant; you don¡¯t know about this.¡±


    Jake Horton breathed a sigh of relief.


    Isla Olsen then continued, ¡°Mr. Morgan, are you trying to say that this matter should end here? If that¡¯s what you mean, there¡¯s no need to beat around the bush¡­¡±


    She looked at Jake Horton, ¡°Jake, the Horton Group didn¡¯t actually suffer any losses. I won¡¯t pursue this matter any further, alright?¡±


    Jake Horton was indeed agitated as he angrily said, ¡°Mr. Morgan, this is an internal private matter of the Horton Group, and it¡¯s not an outsider¡¯s place to point fingers!¡±


    He was willing to give Samuel Morgan face because Samuel Morgan was Dr. South¡¯s assistant!


    It¡¯s not that he was really afraid of Samuel Morgan.


    The Horton Group¡¯s position in Oceanion is that of the top family; really, there are few people he would consider significant.


    Yet Samuel Morgan said, ¡°I¡¯m well aware of the situation. Indeed, Dr. South did not send any email to Isla Olsen!¡±


    Jake Horton sneered, ¡°If Dr. South didn¡¯t send it, then how did Isla Olsen get the solution?¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.??


    Samuel Morgan shrugged, ¡°Yeah, how did she get it?¡±


    Jake Horton was taken aback, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s quite obvious,¡± Samuel Morgan pointed at Poppy Hill, ¡°This woman gave it to her! Didn¡¯t we capture it on camera, her copying files onto Isla Olsen¡¯s computer with a USB drive?¡±


    All: ???


    Could it be interpreted like that?!


    Everyone was taken aback for a moment.


    Jake Horton was almost laughing with anger, ¡°Mr. Morgan, you mean to tell me that Keira Olsen¡¯s mother stole Keira¡¯s solution and gave it to Isla Olsen? Don¡¯t you find your own words laughable?!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s funny about that.¡±


    Suddenly, Samuel Morgan shifted his target, ¡°Mr. Horton, do you think that I¡¯m right?¡±


    With these words, everyone subconsciously looked towards Lewis Horton.


    Although the man was quietly sitting there, not speaking much, his presence was strong.


    The man paused slightly, his thin lips slightly opening, his deep and pleasant voice echoing in the conference room, ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s one way to interpret it.¡±


    With these words, the facial expressions of several people in the room changed.


    Jake Horton didn¡¯t dare confront Lewis Horton, and angrily said to Samuel Morgan, ¡°You mean to say that the solution is Keira Olsen¡¯s, not Dr. South¡¯s?¡±


    Samuel Morgan smiled, provokingly saying, ¡°It¡¯s also Dr. South¡¯s!¡±


    Jake Horton: ?


    Isla Olsen then spoke, ¡°Mr. Morgan, are you suggesting that Keira¡¯s solution and Dr. South¡¯s just happened to be identical?¡±


    Jake Horton was truly furious now, ¡°So that¡¯s your game! You want to clear yourself of suspicion and also claim the credit, playing a very clever game!¡±


    He then looked towards Lewis Horton, ¡°Uncle, do you think so too?¡±


    Lewis Horton pursed his lips.


    His eyes were deep, feeling something was amiss¡­ the confidence displayed by Samuel Morgan, and the woman¡¯s stature, straight since the moment she entered¡ª their relationship was not what he had thought!


    The idea he had suppressed surged again in his mind.


    He suddenly looked towards Keira Olsen, his pupils constricting.


    Could it be¡­


    Seeing that he did not speak, seemingly giving tacit agreement, Jake Horton immediately spoke righteously, ¡°I disagree! Uncle, I know Keira Olsen is here because of your connections, and Keira has a close relationship with Samuel Morgan, but Dr. South is my contact. I must ensure justice for Dr. South! I absolutely disagree with this situation; to do so would be to defile the character of a research scientist!!¡±


    His words resonated with the others.


    Everyone looked at Lewis Horton with condemning eyes.


    It was too much¡­


    The culprit who stole others¡¯ achievements was not only unpunished but was also trying to claim the credit?!


    If word of this got out, it was enough to cause public outrage within the company!


    Tom Davis was also fuming.


    What were Samuel Morgan and Keira Olsen plotting! It was bad enough that they could escape punishment, but now they also wanted more?


    They were truly insatiable!


    This time, they had really put the boss on the hot seat!


    But without the boss speaking up, he, as an assistant, didn¡¯t dare say much and could only seethe silently.


    At that moment, his phone buzzed. Opening it, he found someone from the Secretary¡¯s Office had sent him a link.


    It was the company intranet, and an anonymous poster had been live-texting the contents of this meeting room.


    Now, under that post, a bunch of people were commenting:


    ¡ªJust because the intern is pretty, Mr. Horton really protects her like this? It¡¯s truly disheartening!


    ¡ªI stand with Vice President Jake Horton; he speaks for the researchers!


    ¡ªInitially, I thought the company¡¯s atmosphere improved after Mr. Horton took office, but now I am also disappointed¡­


    ¡ªWould an intern¡¯s mother help outsiders bully her own daughter? This mother being so wronged is indeed tragic.


    ¡ªI¡¯m a fan of Dr. South, and my idol¡¯s work was stolen; I¡¯m the first to object!!


    ¡ªTo be honest, I¡¯m really grateful that Vice President Jake Horton could invite Dr. South to provide technical support. Working with Dr. South is the greatest honor of my life. Then I look at Mr. Horton, who exactly is he bringing into the company? A pretty intern, I can¡¯t help but laugh¡­


    ¡ªIf Dr. South feels wronged and resigns because of this intern, I¡¯m going to be furious!


    ¡­


    ¡­


    The company¡¯s public opinion had taken shape, dealing a huge blow to the boss.


    In shock, Tom Davis hurriedly handed the phone to Lewis Horton, hoping he would change his mind about defending Keira Olsen.


    But unexpectedly, Lewis Horton didn¡¯t even glance at the phone, his gaze firmly fixated on Keira Olsen, his eyes filled with a complicated undercurrent¡­


    Tom Davis: ?


    Mr. Horton, at this critical moment, can you not be seduced by her beauty?


    As Tom Davis grew anxious, the head of the Administrative Department stood up, ¡°Mr. Horton, I cannot agree with this, it goes against my principles as a person.¡±


    The rest of the Administrative Department also stood up:


    ¡°Me neither.¡±


    ¡°Dr. South is praiseworthy, and should not be treated this way.¡±


    The Dean of Oceanion University also frowned deeply, not daring to scold Lewis Horton, he could only rage at Keira Olsen, ¡°Ms. Olsen, you have truly disappointed your teachers! Dr. South is respected by all of us, how could you do this?¡±


    The Vice Dean also shook his head.


    Poppy Hill took the opportunity to cry out, ¡°Keira, we can¡¯t keep making mistakes¡­¡±


    Isla Olsen lowered her head, a triumphant smile appearing on her lips: Keira Olsen had become a rat crossing the street, everyone shouting to beat her!


    Jake Horton¡¯s confidence surged, looking straight at Samuel Morgan, ¡°As Dr. South¡¯s assistant, when faced with an issue, you don¡¯t protect Dr. South¡¯s interests, and now you¡¯re here plotting against her, do you think you deserve Dr. South?¡±


    Faced with such a question, Samuel Morgan, far from being angry, smiled, ¡°Why don¡¯t we ask her then?¡±


    After saying this, amidst the surprised looks of everyone, he walked confidently to Keira Olsen and asked respectfully, ¡°Dr. South, how do you think I¡¯ve done as your assistant?¡±

 Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Chapter 60

    Chapter 60: Chapter 60


    The meeting room was completely silent, not a sound to be heard.


    All around, everyone looked at Samuel Morgan in shock, their eyes incredulously sliding back and forth between Keira Olsen and Samuel Morgan, feeling as if their brains had frozen.


    Why did Samuel Morgan call Keira Olsen Dr. South?


    Could it be¡­ Keira Olsen is Dr. South?


    Jake Horton cried out in surprise, ¡°Samuel Morgan, what nonsense are you spouting? One cannot casually claim to be Dr. South!¡±


    Samuel Morgan smiled. ¡°I knew you would question this.¡±


    He pulled out a patent certification from the bag he was carrying and held it up, turning it around for everyone to see.


    It was the identity proof of Dr. South, and the name written on it was indeed Keira Olsen! An official seal from a legitimate institution, it could not be falsified.


    Jake Horton¡¯s pupils contracted, and he stood there dumbfounded as if he had been struck by lightning.


    He stared blankly at Keira Olsen, suddenly feeling like he was a laughingstock!


    Initially, he had chosen Isla Olsen over her, not just because of her status as an illegitimate daughter but also because Isla could bring him the connection to Dr. South, making it easy for him to establish himself in the Horton Group¡¯s research and development department¡­


    But now, the situation made him feel like a clown!


    He abruptly looked at Isla Olsen, his face morphing into fury, ¡°What on earth is going on?!¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    Isla Olsen¡¯s entire body trembled uncontrollably.


    She had originally hinted to Poppy Hill to steal Keira Olsen¡¯s plan, claiming it was from Dr. South, a risky move, yet events unfolded precisely as she had designed¡­


    Everyone was convinced that it was Keira Olsen who had stolen it, and to avoid upsetting Dr. South, they would definitely not bring it up to Dr. South.


    Even if Samuel Morgan appeared and testified for Keira Olsen, not many would believe him!


    But she had never imagined that Keira Olsen was Dr. South!


    She bit her lip hard, wanting to say something to quell Jake Horton¡¯s fury, but at the moment she didn¡¯t know what to say¡­


    Seeing this, Poppy Hill suddenly got up from the ground, stretched out her hand, and slapped toward Keira Olsen, ¡°Wretched girl! How can you be Dr. South? You were not good at studying from childhood, you almost didn¡¯t get into university, barely making it in¡ªthis can¡¯t be possible! It must be Samuel Morgan lying for you! Tell everyone that you¡¯re a fake, that you stole the plan from your sister!¡±


    This behavior, where was the deep motherly affection from before?


    Keira Olsen took a step back to dodge her attack, and said coldly, ¡°Have you forgotten why I wasn¡¯t good at studying?¡±


    Poppy Hill paused.


    ¡°When school first started, on my first exam, I ranked first in my class. Who was it that punished me by making me kneel all night, not allowing me to overshadow Isla Olsen? Who made me turn in blank exams every time and forbid me from studying properly? Who told me that if I dared to do well in school, she would sell me to human traffickers?¡±


    Keira Olsen looked down, her tone soft, ¡°I had to try harder than others, after all, controlling scores in college entrance exams is tough.¡±


    She rarely spoke of the past, but today, with Poppy Hill here creating the image of a perfect mother, she had no choice but to speak these words in order to explain the slander against her.


    Everyone was stunned, all eyes fixed on Poppy Hill.


    Incredulous that there could be such a mother in this world!


    The head of the Administrative Department stood frozen in place.


    He had thought he was empathizing with a pitiful mother, but the truth turned out to be this?


    Lewis Horton, who had been seated in the audience, stood up, his lips tightly shut, his gaze deeply fixed on Keira Olsen.


    The girl¡¯s words were all light and airy, as if she were telling someone else¡¯s story¡­ but he understood that every word she uttered was tearing at old wounds, exposing a bloody truth for everyone to see!!


    He thought of the investigations he had asked Tom Davis to conduct¡­


    She left the Olsen Family in middle school, working and studying part-time, and barely made it into Oceanion University.


    Oceanion University¡¯s tuition wasn¡¯t low, yet she had never applied for financial aid and had worked countless jobs outside¡­


    When he saw Tom Davis¡¯s investigation, he hadn¡¯t felt much pity.


    But now, as she shed all her pride and casually revealed those unbearable facts, he felt a tightness in his chest, an intense suffocation.


    Poppy Hill heard this without a trace of remorse, jumping up and saying, ¡°Numerical control? Fine, you¡¯re playing that game! Kiera Olsen, so young yet so scheming, daring to deceive me! You¡¯re really no good! I shouldn¡¯t have sent you to school, you trash, bastard, hiding and plotting secretly, even setting up this trap, deliberately framing Isla!¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡±


    Lewis Horton couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, and after shouting loudly, he turned directly to Isla Olsen, ¡°Miss Isla Olsen, what do you have to say?!¡±


    Poppy Hill is Kiera Olsen¡¯s mother¡­ in this matter, it¡¯s clear that she¡¯s just a pawn being used, and Lewis Horton didn¡¯t want to deal with her, instead he looked directly at the main culprit.


    Isla Olsen immediately clenched her fists, looking subconsciously towards Jake Horton.


    Jake Horton was staring at her with a dark face, ¡°You better give me an explanation!¡±


    Tears welled up in Isla Olsen¡¯s eyes as she cried out, ¡°I, I didn¡¯t know¡­ Jake, you have to believe me, Dr. South really did send me an email¡­ Aunt Hill, what is going on?!¡±


    Poppy Hill scoffed directly, ¡°I did all of this, it has nothing to do with Isla!¡±


    She looked at Kiera Olsen, ¡°A few days ago, you called the police and had them throw me in jail for two days. Ever since I got out, I¡¯ve been thinking about getting back at you! I happened to hear Isla mention that your department was in a competition, so I thought of this plan! Hahaha, that day, when you went to Mrs. Olsen¡¯s hospital room, I stole your laptop and took the plans! The video you just saw, I indeed wasn¡¯t going to Isla¡¯s computer to steal anything, I was bringing her something! It was to use Dr. South to suppress you, you unfilial daughter!¡±


    She no longer exhibited any trace of weakness or pity from before, now only appearing like a spiteful, market woman, hands on her hips, staring at Kiera Olsen and saying, ¡°I¡¯m your mother, what can you do to me?! Besides, I¡¯m not an employee of the Horton Group, you can¡¯t punish me!¡±


    Kiera Olsen found her ignorant and laughable.


    Just as she was about to speak, Lewis Horton¡¯s voice came again, ¡°Jalen Riley, you take Dr. South back first. I¡¯ll handle the situation here.¡±


    Kiera Olsen was momentarily stunned.


    She understood that Lewis Horton was worried that her presence would make it difficult for her if the Horton Group pursued Poppy Hill¡¯s responsibility, so he specially sent her out.


    She was silent for a moment, then accepted his kindness.


    She, Jalen Riley, and Samuel Morgan left the conference room first, then took the elevator to the Administrative Department.


    Jalen Riley looked stunned, still staring at Kiera Olsen as if he were dazed¡­


    Even upon entering the office, he hadn¡¯t come back to his senses.


    Just as they had returned to the office, the Administrative Department¡¯s team surged in:


    ¡°What happened? How did it end?¡±


    ¡°Team leader, why that look? Don¡¯t tell me Mr. Olsen¡¯s punishment is very severe?¡±


    Everyone was anxiously worried, and Luca Barker was especially frantic, ¡°Junior, what do we do now? I heard Dr. South¡¯s assistant also came, let¡¯s all go to him and ask Dr. South to let you off¡­¡±


    ¡°Right, as long as Dr. South speaks for you, it¡¯s all over!¡±


    Kiera Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    While everyone was speaking, Jalen Riley finally snapped out of it, pointing at Kiera Olsen and stuttering, ¡°You, you really are¡­ Dr. South?! ¡±

 Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Chapter 61

    Chapter 61: Chapter 61


    The people from Group One in the R&D Department were baffled when they heard Jalen Riley¡¯s statement:


    ¡°Team leader, what are you talking about? Are you confused?¡±


    ¡°Is Dr. South here? Where is he? Can we meet him?¡±


    ¡°Who is Dr. South? Team leader, are you saying that Mr. Olsen is Dr. South?¡±


    ¡°What are you joking about, Mr. Olsen is so young¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    While everyone thought Jalen Riley was joking, Keira Olsen looked at him with a serious expression and extended her hand towards him, ¡°Let¡¯s get to know each other again, I am Dr. South.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The whole group went completely silent in an instant.


    Luca Barker was the first to let out a shrill cry: ¡°Junior Sister?! What did you say? Who are you?!¡±


    The rest were stunned.


    Keira Olsen¡¯s gaze swept over the group.


    During these days here, she had received unprecedented protection; although they might have misunderstood her at first, they quickly cleared up the misunderstanding.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.?¦Ï


    Their subsequent actions had moved her even more.


    The corners of her lips curved slightly upward: ¡°Thank you for taking care of me during this time; feel free to message me if you have any technical questions in the future.¡±


    Now that her identity was revealed, she couldn¡¯t possibly continue working here, so coming over with Jalen Riley was just to¡­ say goodbye.


    She had also already obtained the medical materials, so now she could conveniently leave.


    While the people in Group One were still in a state of bewilderment, she quietly stepped back and walked out with Samuel Morgan.


    Jalen Riley watched her retreating figure and unconsciously took a step to follow but abruptly stopped himself.


    All of a sudden, he started to feel regret.


    After finding out she was Dr. South, his reaction was really poor! Did he give her a bad impression?


    These thoughts crossed Jalen Riley¡¯s mind, but when he turned around, he saw that everyone else still had their mouths gaping or their eyes bulging, each wearing an expression unfit for public.


    It wasn¡¯t until Keira Olsen got on the elevator that the group snapped back to reality:


    ¡°Ahhhh, Mr. Olsen turned out to be Dr. South!¡±


    ¡°Oh my god, I actually worked on the same project as Dr. South!¡±


    ¡°She just said we could contact her in the future with problems, I actually became friends with Dr. South!¡±


    Then the group, as if suddenly struck by a thought, rushed to where Keira Olsen had been working and cleaned her desk of any remaining papers and pens:


    ¡°This is a pen used by Dr. South!¡±


    ¡°These are draft papers from Dr. South!!¡±


    ¡°This is the paper cup Dr. South used for drinking water¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The atmosphere within Group One started to become abnormal.


    Jalen Riley watched them, and for once, did not scold them; his heart suddenly became calm.


    In comparison with them, he was much more normal!


    ¡­


    Inside the Administrative Department meeting room.


    After Keira Olsen left, Lewis Horton immediately looked at the head of the Administrative Department: ¡°Call the police.¡±


    As soon as he said this, Poppy Hill, who was still arrogant just moments ago, was suddenly scared stiff, she had just been released two days ago!


    The head of the Administrative Department pondered for a moment and hesitantly spoke, ¡°Mr. Horton, calling the police would make the issue bigger and is not good for the company¡¯s image; in fact, we were not prepared to call the police today.¡±


    Even if Kiera Olsen was proven guilty, the issue would be resolved within the Horton Group and would not become public knowledge.


    Lewis Horton glanced at her indifferently.


    The heart of the Administrative Department director skipped a beat, and he immediately lowered his head, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Poppy Hill hurriedly shouted, ¡°Mr. Horton, I just wanted to teach my daughter a lesson. Stealing from one¡¯s own child isn¡¯t against the law, right? If the victim, Kiera Olsen, isn¡¯t speaking up, why involve the police?¡±


    Lewis Horton looked at her coldly, his gaze penetrating, making Poppy Hill feel as if she were in an icehouse. Then she heard the man¡¯s deep voice, ¡°What you stole is at the core of Horton Group¡¯s technology, constituting a suspected theft of company secrets. She may not pursue it, but the company cannot let it go.¡±


    Poppy Hill was stunned, she swallowed hard, ¡°What, what secrets? Is it punishable by imprisonment?¡±


    Lewis Horton said gravely, ¡°According to Article 219 of the Criminal Law of the People¡¯s Republic of China, those who commit serious offenses by infringing on trade secrets may be sentenced to three to ten years of fixed-term imprisonment.¡±


    Poppy Hill was bewildered, ¡°Is, is it that serious?¡±


    The Administrative Department director looked at Mr. Horton with a strange expression in his eyes.


    This incident today was not serious and hadn¡¯t caused any significant damage to the company, so why was Mr. Horton scaring her?


    As these thoughts crossed his mind, Lewis Horton said indifferently again, ¡°Of course, if you were instructed or deceived, the sentence may be reduced accordingly. So, were you enticed into stealing these items?¡±


    As soon as he said this, everyone turned to look at Isla Olsen.


    Everyone had brains and could think for themselves.


    How would a person almost fifty years old, disconnected from society, know of a concept like new energy?


    It was clearly Isla Olsen who had instigated and lured her!


    The Administrative Department director understood.


    Any normal person would, at this point, blame Isla Olsen to exonerate themselves¡­


    But just as this thought emerged, Poppy Hill shouted, ¡°No, Isla Olsen really didn¡¯t know anything about this. I did it all by myself, and it has nothing to do with her!¡±


    Isla Olsen stood by with reddened eyes. Looking at Poppy Hill, she asked, ¡°Aunt Hill, even if you hate Kiera and want revenge, you shouldn¡¯t implicate me, should you?¡±


    She lowered her head to wipe away non-existent tears, and despite her aggrieved expression, a fierce glint flashed in her eyes.


    She was not foolish.


    Such a simple frame-up could easily be exposed, so from the beginning to the end, all she gave to Poppy Hill were suggestive remarks.


    After all, in Poppy Hill¡¯s eyes, she didn¡¯t know her own background¡­


    She just went to personally pick Poppy Hill up from prison, displayed panic on the way, and recounted in ¡°detail¡± the matter of Kiera¡¯s bet with Jake Horton, finally saying apologetically, ¡°Aunt Hill, why am I even telling you this? I¡¯ve just been really troubled lately, Dr. South isn¡¯t responding, Kiera seems to have come up with the solution¡­ Oh, Jake has called off our engagement, what should I do? Never mind, everyone has their destiny.¡±


    Poppy Hill, as her biological mother, immediately ¡°took it upon herself¡± to steal Kiera Olsen¡¯s proposal and found a way to transfer it to her own computer.


    From start to finish, she was not involved in anything!


    Even if the police came, as long as Poppy Hill didn¡¯t blame her, she would be without fault!


    Indeed, the police arrived quickly and after questioning the details, they took only Poppy Hill away.


    Isla Olsen didn¡¯t breathe a sigh of relief, because what she truly feared wasn¡¯t Poppy Hill but Jake Horton!


    As expected, Jake Horton¡¯s expression darkened.


    Even though Isla Olsen wasn¡¯t taken away, everyone knew what had happened.


    Especially since the Administrative Department director had just given him a look, that look of suspicion seemed to say that he and Isla Olsen were in cahoots¡­


    He was utterly unable to explain himself!


    Enraged, Jake Horton didn¡¯t even glance at Isla Olsen as he strode out of the room.


    Isla Olsen hurried to follow, ¡°Jake, listen to my explanation¡­¡±


    After the two left the conference room, Lewis Horton remained still, his gaze deep as he watched them go.


    Why was Poppy Hill so protective of Isla Olsen?


    He suddenly turned to Tom Davis and said, ¡°I think Isla Olsen looks more like Poppy Hill¡¯s daughter.¡±

 Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chapter 62

    Chapter 62: Chapter 62


    Tom Davis still looked somewhat bewildered, his mind reeling from the shock.


    He didn¡¯t understand research, but he did recognize Dr. South¡¯s significance to the development team.


    He was holding his cellphone, looking at a post that had just gone up on the company¡¯s intranet.


    Indeed, the tide had turned!


    Those who had been criticizing Lewis Horton for favoring the beautiful intern were now changing their tune:


    ¡ª¡ªShock! Dr. South is actually the beautiful intern?


    ¡ª¡ªSo, it was Mr. Horton who invited Dr. South to the company, not Vice President Jake Horton at all?


    ¡ª¡ªStill talking about the Vice President? Isn¡¯t he embarrassed? It seems like his promotion to Vice President was because he recommended Dr. South for technical support in the company, right?


    ¡ª¡ªHe could only get technical support, but Mr. Horton has already invited the person to the company! Compare the two¡­ Suddenly, I find Mr. Horton so mysterious and impressive!


    ¡ª¡ªAh, just went to ask Group One in R&D, Dr. South has already left, sob sob sob, why did Vice President Horton do that? If he hadn¡¯t slandered the beautiful intern, maybe Dr. South would have continued to help the company anonymously, right?


    ¡­


    Tom Davis was very pleased, and wished he could offer Keira Olsen his knees in gratitude!


    It wasn¡¯t until he heard Lewis Horton¡¯s voice that Tom Davis hurriedly put down his phone and respectfully asked, ¡°Boss, you¡¯re making sense. After all, which mother would treat her own child so poorly? To throw someone out and neglect them starting from junior high¡­¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã?


    Before he could finish, Lewis Horton¡¯s expression darkened, and his voice became as cold as frost, ¡°It¡¯s not unheard of.¡±


    Tom Davis: !!


    He suddenly realized he had said the wrong thing!


    Because the boss¡¯s mother was exactly like that¡­


    He quickly changed the subject: ¡°Boss, you also have a meeting arranged with Mr. Allen about a project.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    Lewis Horton didn¡¯t continue the previous topic and prepared to take Tom Davis to the top floor.


    At the elevator entrance, Isla Olsen was desperately clinging to Jake Horton¡¯s arm, pleading, ¡°Jake, I really don¡¯t understand what happened, Keira Olsen must have deliberately hidden her identity to play me¡­¡±


    Jake Horton pushed away her grasp, saying with disgust, ¡°Isla, she¡¯s not that kind of person. We were classmates for four years, I understand her. I guess Dr. South never agreed to become a technical advisor for Horton Group, did she?¡±


    Isla Olsen was taken aback.


    Jake Horton said angrily, ¡°Proposing to you in the first place was a mistake¡­¡±


    Isla Olsen called out in panic, ¡°Jake!¡±


    But Jake Horton continued, ¡°Tomorrow, I will come to your house to call off the engagement.¡±


    Isla Olsen clenched her fists tightly.


    At that moment, the elevator door chimed open, and Frankie Allen walked out briskly with his secretary.


    Seeing him, Jake Horton¡¯s expression changed, ¡°Mr. Allen?¡±


    The refined and gentle Frankie Allen paused in his step.


    Jake Horton smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m Jake Horton. I heard from my uncle that our families are going to collaborate.¡±


    Frankie Allen nodded slightly, his demeanor polite but distant, ¡°So you¡¯re young Mr. Horton, I¡¯m here to see Mr. Horton for business.¡±


    The words made Jake Horton awkwardly step aside, ¡°Then please¡­¡±


    Suddenly, a voice of surprise rang out:


    ¡°You¡­ are Frankie Allen?¡±


    Both men turned to see Isla Olsen looking astonished.


    She hadn¡¯t expected that the brother of the girl from the hospital would be Frankie Allen?!


    Frankie Allen had little recollection of her, asking politely, ¡°Who might you be?¡±


    His demeanor seemed approachable, yet his words maintained a certain distance.


    Isla Olsen¡¯s gaze flickered, and she smiled, ¡°Mr. Allen, have you forgotten me? Oceanion First Hospital, your sister, the telephone¡­¡±


    Frankie Allen froze, ¡°You¡¯re the person who called¡­ my savior?¡±


    Isla Olsen smiled, hooking her arm through Jake Horton¡¯s and said by way of introduction, ¡°Mr. Allen, this is my fianc¨¦.¡±


    Frankie Allen then looked again at Jake Horton with a serious gaze, ¡°Young Mr. Horton, what a coincidence.¡±


    After a glance at Isla Olsen, he suddenly said, ¡°I have business with Mr. Horton. Would young Mr. Horton care to join?¡±


    Frankie Allen, of course, knew the situation of the first branch of the Horton family, and initially had no intention of getting entangled with them.


    However, if Jake Horton was the fianc¨¦ of his sister¡¯s savior, he couldn¡¯t ignore the obligation to help.


    After all, the Allen Family owed the savior a life!


    Jake Horton was surprised and delighted.


    Without Dr. South¡¯s connections, his position in the R&D department had been very awkward.


    But the Allen Family was a famous and powerful clan in the capital, and with Frankie Allen personally inviting him to partake in the cooperation between the two groups, his status in the company was about to soar!


    He glanced at Isla Olsen and, with a meaningful pat on her hand, said, ¡°Isla, I¡¯ve got to get busy now, but I¡¯ll accompany you to buy the engagement ring tomorrow.¡±


    Isla Olsen let out a sigh of relief, ¡°Okay.¡±


    She was determined to marry Jake Horton!


    After Frankie Allen walked away, he suddenly took out his cell phone, found the number of his rescuer saved earlier, and sent her a message: ¡°Miss Olsen, when are you free? My sister and I would like to invite you and your fianc¨¦ for a simple meal.¡±


    ¡­


    When Kiera Olsen¡¯s phone rang, she was being stopped for a chat by the vice-chancellor and the dean of Oceanion University in the lobby downstairs.


    She picked it up and glanced at it, recognizing the number that had sent the message.


    With her keen memory for numbers, she quickly remembered that this was the brother of ¡°Rebecca.¡±


    Kiera Olsen also wanted to know the follow-up to that day¡¯s event, so she replied: ¡°Weekend is good.¡±


    After sending the message, she realized something was wrong. Where did she get a fianc¨¦ from?


    ¡°Dr. South, you¡¯re also a graduate of Oceanion University, so you should understand our teaching philosophy. We sincerely invite you to return to teach¡­¡±


    The vice-chancellor of Oceanion University was very sincere: ¡°I hope you will consider it.¡±


    Kiera Olsen looked up, tired of pretending, and said bluntly, ¡°I was actually planning to accept your invitation, seeing as I was nurtured by Professor Miller, but now that he has been suspended and I¡¯ve heard his graduate students are being treated unjustly.¡±


    The dean¡¯s expression stiffened: ¡°Dr. South, this is all a misunderstanding¡­ I had no idea you were Dr. South¡­¡±


    The vice-chancellor immediately cut him off: ¡°Shut up! Even if she were an ordinary student, she shouldn¡¯t have been expelled without being found guilty! Dr. South, we will definitely deal with the relevant parties strictly. As for Professor Miller¡­ He has been with the university for many years and has cultivated so much talent for us. I think he is very suitable for the position of Dean of the New Energy Science Institute. What do you think?¡±


    Kiera Olsen was very pleased!


    She quickly reached an agreement with the vice-chancellor.


    When Isla Olsen arrived downstairs, she saw just such a scene of amiable conversation.


    She clenched her fists tightly.


    Seeing how respectfully the vice-chancellor treated Dr. South, a deep jealousy surged within her!!


    After the conversation, the vice-chancellor and the dean left.


    Samuel Morgan had gone to get the car, and Kiera Olsen waited at the entrance.


    Isla Olsen quickly walked over, unable to hide the spite and disgust on her face: ¡°Kiera Olsen, do you know why I hate you?¡±


    Kiera Olsen didn¡¯t bother with her.


    But Isla Olsen continued: ¡°Aunt Hill told me your computer password is my mom¡¯s birthday?¡±


    Kiera Olsen¡¯s gaze slowly fell.


    So Poppy Hill knew her so well that she could easily hack into her computer.


    Isla Olsen stepped forward, her voice accusatory and venomous: ¡°Don¡¯t you have a mother of your own? Why use my mom¡¯s birthday for your password? You think I don¡¯t see through your little scheme for my mom? Coveting someone else¡¯s mother, how disgusting can you get?¡±


    She spat out each word: ¡°And do you fantasize about taking my place? Ridiculous! My mom will always be mine, nothing to do with you! Get over your delusions!!¡±


    Kiera Olsen stood dazed, a rush of panic unexpectedly overwhelming her.


    The dark thoughts hidden within her were exposed, and for a moment, she felt utterly humiliated.


    ¡­


    Kiera Olsen sat in Samuel Morgan¡¯s sports car, the cold wind tousling her hair, but unable to disperse her thoughts.


    She had always envied Isla Olsen for having such a gentle and kind mother.


    As a child, she had dreamed countless times of being Isla Olsen, with Mrs. Olsen brushing her hair, telling her stories, cuddling in Mrs. Olsen¡¯s embrace, longing for her tenderness¡­


    She carefully restrained, suppressed her fondness for Mrs. Olsen, never meeting her again after leaving the Olsen Family, but like a creep, she set up these passwords.


    As the roadside scenery gradually receded, she gave a bitter smile, picked up her phone, opened the password change settings, and typed in a new password: 1234.


    When the screen showed that the change was successful, she felt an empty space in her heart.


    She shouldn¡¯t aspire to Mrs. Olsen¡¯s motherly love, much less disturb her life¡­


    Her eyes felt a bit sore.


    Kiera Olsen slightly tilted her head back, hiding the dampness at the corners of her eyes.


    At that moment, Samuel Morgan¡¯s cell phone rang.


    He answered it, and a voice came from the other side: ¡°Samuel, I¡¯ve found the secret about her uncle, Finley Hill, that the boss asked us to investigate!¡±

 Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 63

    Chapter 63: Chapter 63


    Samuel Morgan glanced at Keira Olsen cautiously when he heard this.


    As soon as his boss got into the car, he adopted a keep-out demeanor that made driving a nerve-wracking experience for him.


    He coughed and said, ¡°The boss is right beside me, go ahead.¡±


    The voice on the other end became much more respectful, ¡°Boss, we found that Finley Hill has been gambling all these years. He used to lose hundreds of thousands every month, but a few days ago, he was set up and lost two million. When the people at the gambling den were about to break his legs, he shouted something, and they let him go. Guess what he shouted?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°He said, ¡®My niece is Miss Olsen!''¡±


    Keira Olsen paused briefly, but didn¡¯t pay much attention to it, as Finley Hill always used to say things like ¡°You are also Miss Olsen, ask your dad for money¡± when he asked her for money.


    ¡°Boss, did he come to ask you for money afterwards?¡±


    Keira Olsen indifferently responded, ¡°Isla Olsen must have given it to him.¡±


    ¡°She did. I checked his bank transactions, and the money was transferred two days ago. Moreover, I found that from ten years ago, Isla Olsen has been transferring two hundred thousand to him every month. Over the years, Isla has given him almost twenty million. It must be a huge leverage for it to be worth so much money!¡±


    Keira Olsen coolly said, ¡°Isn¡¯t that what I asked you to investigate?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, don¡¯t get mad, boss¡­ let me continue!¡± The other person said in a playful tone, ¡°I¡¯ve checked everyone around Finley Hill and found that he keeps his mouth pretty tight. No one knows anything, but now I have a chance to pry it open ¡ª I just need you to cooperate a bit, boss.¡±


    ¡°How do I cooperate?¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï


    ¡°Finley Hill was conned again at the gambling den yesterday and lost five million¡­ he is really desperate now, and five million isn¡¯t a small amount. Isla Olsen won¡¯t be able to come up with that money anytime soon. When that happens, Finley Hill will have no choice but to come to you, and then we can extract the secret, right?¡±


    Keira Olsen narrowed her eyes, ¡°Was this your doing?¡±


    ¡°Cough, I just used a little scheme. Boss, you can rest assured, I always remember your instructions to stay away from drugs, gambling, and vice, and to be a law-abiding good citizen!¡±


    ¡°¡­Understood.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Keira Olsen looked ahead.


    She needed to uncover the secret between Isla Olsen and Finley Hill, to prevent them from eventually harming Mrs. Olsen.


    Just as she thought this, her phone vibrated. It was a message from Mrs. Olsen to Dr. South: [South, are you busy? I¡¯ve been thinking, and there¡¯s something I need your help with¡­]


    Keira Olsen replied, [I¡¯m not busy, go ahead.]


    Mrs. Olsen quickly sent a voice message, ¡°Dr. South, this is the situation. The design plans you submitted to Horton Group were stolen by a young lady named Keira Olsen. I¡¯d like you to tell Horton Group not to pursue her responsibility.¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s gaze sharpened, staring at the voice message for a long while.


    She hadn¡¯t expected Mrs. Olsen to contact her about this issue.


    Seeing that she hadn¡¯t replied, Mrs. Olsen sent another voice message, ¡°I know this puts you in a difficult position, but Keira is almost like a daughter to me. I¡¯ve watched her grow up since she was a child, and she¡¯s not that kind of person. There might be some misunderstanding here. Are you free now? Otherwise, we could meet in person.¡±


    Almost like a daughter¡­


    Keira Olsen¡¯s eyes suddenly welled up with tears!


    She pursed her lips and texted back, [I¡¯m on my way to your house now.]


    After sending the message, she said to Samuel Morgan, ¡°Go to the Olsen¡¯s.¡±


    The Olsen¡¯s.


    Mrs. Olsen took a deep breath after sending her message, her whole body tense, ¡°Dr. South said she¡¯s coming over now¡­¡±


    At the side, Aunt South couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Mrs., you yourself don¡¯t like socializing, and over the years you¡¯ve hardly met any outsiders. Now, for her sake, you¡¯ve taken the initiative to meet with Dr. South, you really are¡­ meddling too much!¡±


    Mrs. Olsen was frail and low in energy, and Aunt South felt very sorry for her, ¡°Why do you have to be so concerned about that woman¡¯s child?¡±


    Mrs. Olsen lowered her head.


    Isla and Taylor Olsen were not at home, so the two could speak some heart-to-heart words.


    She suddenly spoke, ¡°Sister South, actually, I don¡¯t know either.¡±


    Aunt South was startled.


    Jodie South¡¯s gaze was lost as she looked ahead, ¡°You know me, I¡¯ve never been a saintly type, but strangely, the first time I saw her as a child, I found her adorable and inexplicably liked her, unable to stop myself from caring for her. It was as if she was my daughter too¡­¡±


    Aunt South also thought back to Kiera Olsen¡¯s childhood, remembered her in tattered clothes, being insulted and beaten by Poppy Hill, and sighed, ¡°She was indeed pitiable as a child, stuck with such an unreliable mother, truly pitiful.¡±


    But her tone suddenly changed, ¡°But Mrs., she is, after all, an outsider, and moreover, her mother being so wicked. Since she left, she has never come back to see you, nothing but an ungrateful wretch¡­¡±


    Mrs. Olsen, however, said, ¡°There must be some misunderstanding, don¡¯t forget, it was Kiera who asked Mr. Horton to help find the hospital room and the medicine.¡±


    Aunt South pursed her lips, saddened for her, ¡°If she wouldn¡¯t even help with that little thing, that person¡¯s heart would be thoroughly cold! Mrs., can you not be bought over by such small favors? Remember, you were also once¡­¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, Mrs. Olsen suddenly looked at her.


    Aunt South immediately stopped talking, ¡°¡­anyway, you are someone who¡¯s seen the big picture, you should understand, all that is just material possession, companionship is what¡¯s most important. Think about Dr. South, how considerate he has been towards you all these years, spending so much thought on you? Every year he sends gifts for your birthday, never misses any holiday, a biological daughter couldn¡¯t do better. If Dr. South doesn¡¯t want to let Kiera Olsen go, please don¡¯t make it difficult for him, after all, in this matter, Dr. South is the victim¡­¡±


    Upon hearing this, Mrs. Olsen silently sighed, ¡°I know.¡±


    On one side was Kiera Olsen, whom she had watched grow up, and on the other was Dr. South, who had given her so much. Mrs. Olsen didn¡¯t want to upset Dr. South either.


    After a long while, noises came from the doorway.


    Isla Olsen had come home.


    Mrs. Olsen hurriedly got up and went over to ask, ¡°Isla, how did the Horton Group handle Kiera?¡±


    Upon seeing Mrs. Olsen like this, Isla suddenly clenched her fists, ¡°You¡­ didn¡¯t go to ask her yourself?¡±


    ¡°No, I was afraid that asking her would pressure her, and she would be upset.¡±


    Isla¡¯s expression grew even uglier, ¡°She¡¯s fine, Jake didn¡¯t pursue her responsibilities.¡±


    Mrs. Olsen breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°That¡¯s great, Isla, invite Jake over for dinner some day, I¡¯d like to thank him properly.¡±


    Isla¡¯s expression tightened, ¡°Okay.¡±


    The Horton Group had issued an order, not to disclose Dr. South¡¯s identity publicly.


    Within the company, only the R&D department knew that the beautiful intern was Dr. South, but not her name.


    Just as Isla came to this realization, the doorbell rang.


    The nanny opened the door, and Kiera Olsen walked in.


    Mrs. Olsen was overjoyed upon seeing her, ¡°Kiera, what brings you here?¡±


    Kiera Olsen smiled, ¡°Didn¡¯t you call me over?¡±


    Mrs. Olsen: ??


    As she puzzled over this, Kiera Olsen opened Dr. South¡¯s WhatsApp and handed it to Mrs. Olsen.

 Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 64

    Chapter 64: Chapter 64


    Mrs. Olsen¡¯s apricot eyes widened slightly in shock when she saw the chat messages on the WhatsApp interface!


    Aunt South, not understanding the situation, hurriedly came forward, her brows knitted in concern, and said, ¡°Madam, isn¡¯t Dr. South coming? Miss Keira and Dr. South had a bit of a disagreement, wouldn¡¯t it be inappropriate for them to meet?¡±


    The implication was clear: Keira Olsen should leave immediately.


    Aunt South was wholeheartedly devoted to Mrs. Olsen; after watching Mrs. Olsen yearn for her for so many years and yet she never returned home, she felt that Keira Olsen was somewhat cold-hearted and did not deserve Mrs. Olsen¡¯s kindness.


    Hence, her tone was quite unfriendly.


    But just as she said this, Mrs. Olsen gripped her wrist, ¡°Sister South, Keira is Dr. South!¡±


    Aunt South paused, slightly stunned, ¡°What?¡±


    Her surprise glance towards Keira Olsen was instantly replaced with shock and all her previous opinions and dislike evaporated in an instant!


    Isla Olsen glared at Keira Olsen venomously, feeling that she was there to show off today!


    Fearing that Mrs. Olsen would probe further, she turned and ran up the stairs.


    Mrs. Olsen noticed this behavior and frowned slightly, then gently patted Keira Olsen on the shoulder and complained, ¡°You child¡­ You¡¯ve helped the family so much behind my back, really¡­ Why did you keep it a secret from me?¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s face was smiling, but the tip of her nose felt sour, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°What are you sorry for? You have been clever since you were young, but I didn¡¯t expect you to achieve so much in your field,¡± Mrs. Olsen said, taking her hand and walking towards the sofa. She asked seriously, ¡°Keira, tell me, what exactly is going on with this theft scheme? Did Isla frame you?¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã?


    Keira Olsen helped her sit on the sofa and looked down, ¡°It¡¯s just a misunderstanding.¡±


    Mrs. Olsen had not been in good health and had spent the past years focusing on her recovery, not managing the company or the household. She was upright and generous, and had always taught them to do things with a clear conscience.


    If she knew her own daughter had framed someone else, she would definitely be heartbroken and upset, ultimately harming her health.


    Keira Olsen didn¡¯t want to trouble her and casually changed the subject, ¡°I came today, actually, to ask for your help with something.¡±


    Mrs. Olsen immediately asked, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Keira Olsen hesitated for a moment, ¡°I¡­ have a friend who has received some information that a stock is going to rise soon. She wants me to invest, but my company is about to go public, and I don¡¯t have enough liquid funds to make the investment¡­¡±


    Mrs. Olsen understood and interrupted her directly, ¡°How much do you need?¡±


    Keira Olsen had always kept an eye on the Olsen family and knew very well how much cash the company and household had. She carefully stated a figure: ¡°Fifteen million.¡±


    She was scheming against Isla Olsen, planning to borrow most of the Olsens¡¯ money, making it impossible for Isla to raise five million for Finley Hill.


    Mrs. Olsen pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Between the household and the company, there¡¯s a total of seventeen million three hundred thousand. Here¡¯s what I¡¯ll do, I¡¯ll give you seventeen million. Is that enough?¡±


    A warmth touched Keira¡¯s heart, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡±


    She hoped that the secret between Isla Olsen and Finley Hill wouldn¡¯t affect Mrs. Olsen.


    That way, out of respect for Mrs. Olsen, she might consider helping to cover up for Isla.


    But if Isla hurt Mrs. Olsen, she wouldn¡¯t be blamed for meddling and being ruthless!


    ¡­


    After leaving the Olsen residence, Samuel Morgan drove her back to the hospital.


    At that moment, a luxury car had just parked in the car park.


    Lewis Horton stepped out of the Bentley, his black suit accentuating his lean figure, adding a sense of abstinence to his otherwise expressionless and handsome face.


    Tom Davis turned his head and saw Keira Olsen, hurriedly greeted her, his words carrying a hint of respect he himself didn¡¯t notice, ¡°Miss Olsen, you¡¯re back too!¡±


    Lewis Horton followed his gaze, only to see the normally proud girl now looking down in thought, with a melancholy expression.


    Upon hearing Tom Davis¡¯s voice, she turned her head to look, stopped her steps, and seemed to wait for them.


    Lewis Horton unconsciously quickened his pace, reaching her side in a few steps, and they walked forward side by side.


    He glanced at the girl and noticed her expression unchanged as if she were troubled by something, and took the initiative to ask, ¡°Miss Olsen, are you upset about your mother¡¯s issue?¡±


    Keira Olsen looked at him, ¡°Ah?¡±


    Lewis Horton stared ahead, his voice low and slow, ¡°Actually, some family bonds need not be forced, some people simply don¡¯t deserve to be mothers, and it¡¯s best to just treat them like strangers.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Keira Olsen opened her mouth as if she wanted to say that wasn¡¯t what she was dwelling on, but seeing the usually reticent man looking serious, she paused slightly.


    From the parking lot to the inpatient department, they had to pass a shaded path. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting mottled shadows on the man¡¯s face, adding a touch of melancholy to his handsome features.


    He just said ¡°them¡±¡­


    And remembering that the old Mrs. Horton was talkative but had never once mentioned Lewis Horton¡¯s mother¡­ did that mean she and he were in the same boat?


    Keira Olsen suddenly gave him a big grin, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±


    The girl¡¯s smile was unrestrained and infectious, as if all troubles had dissipated with that laugh, lifting Lewis Horton¡¯s spirits considerably.


    He awkwardly shifted his gaze away, changing the subject, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already instructed the R&D department not to disclose your identity.¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s eyes lit up slightly, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    She did not want to reveal her identity yet, to avoid being harassed by many in the industry.


    Lewis Horton replied in a mild tone, ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡±


    Keira Olsen suddenly remembered something, ¡°By the way, when we were at work today, you said you had some news about Samuel Morgan to tell me, what is it?¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s expression tensed slightly upon hearing that.


    Tom Davis, following behind them, couldn¡¯t help but stop in his tracks, feeling awkward.


    He had thought Samuel Morgan was Keira Olsen¡¯s boyfriend, so the boss wanted to warn her that Samuel Morgan was a player, but it turned out Samuel Morgan was Miss Olsen¡¯s subordinate! How to say that now?


    As he was pondering, he heard his boss say indifferently, ¡°Yeah, I wanted to say that Samuel Morgan is indeed reliable and hardworking, a good subordinate to have.¡±


    Tom Davis twitched the corners of his mouth.


    Keira Olsen¡¯s mind was marked with a question mark: ?


    This sounded strangely familiar.


    She wanted to ask more, but Lewis Horton¡¯s phone rang, and he breathed a sigh of relief, quickly walking a couple of steps ahead to create some distance and answer the call. Whatever was said on the other end made his complexion darken.


    Seeing this, Tom Davis couldn¡¯t help but murmur, ¡°It¡¯s probably about that collaboration with the Allen Family again. I don¡¯t know what got into Frankie Allen, suddenly dragging Jake Horton into the project, and even specifying that Jake should handle the details of future collaborations¡­¡±


    He went on to say, ¡°Originally, today¡¯s incident made Jake Horton lose face, but now he¡¯s perked up again, even more arrogant than before, and I don¡¯t know how he got involved with the Allen Family¡­¡±


    While talking, the three of them turned into the inpatient department.


    Keira Olsen was just about to head to the third floor when she suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure.


    Rebecca Allen and a middle-aged couple were sitting in the lobby, seemingly waiting for someone, and stood up when they saw her, brightly exclaiming, ¡°My savior!¡±

 Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Chapter 65

    Chapter 65: Chapter 65


    Lewis Horton had long legs and walked quickly, having already gone upstairs.


    Kiera Olsen walked over to Rebecca Allen.


    Dressed in a patient¡¯s gown and sitting in a wheelchair, Rebecca stood up in excitement, prompting a middle-aged woman by her side to hurry and support her, ¡°You should sit down first.¡±


    After taking a seat, Rebecca pointed to the two people beside her and explained to Kiera Olsen, ¡°My benefactor, these are my parents.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, Rebecca¡¯s mother, Madam Allen, firmly grasped Kiera Olsen¡¯s hand, her eyes reddening as she spoke anxiously, ¡°Good child, thank you for saving our Rebecca. I¡¯ve asked the nurses all about what happened, if it wasn¡¯t for you, Rebecca would be gone!¡±


    Kiera Olsen didn¡¯t know how to face this situation and could only say, ¡°It was nothing.¡±


    Noticing her discomfort, Rebecca¡¯s father, Mr. Allen, quickly said, ¡°Miss Olsen, our Allen Family owes you a life debt, if there¡¯s ever anything we can assist with in the future, please feel free to ask.¡±


    Kiera Olsen declined, ¡°Mr. Allen, you¡¯re too kind, it was just a simple effort on my part.¡±


    She looked at Rebecca Allen, ¡°Have you finished your surgery?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I will need rehabilitation training for a while to come. Benefactor, I¡¯m staying over in the rehabilitation building now, could you come visit me when you have the time?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Seeing as Rebecca Allen wasn¡¯t fit for staying out long, they added each other on WhatsApp and then parted ways.


    Madam Allen pushed Rebecca back to the ward, saying as they walked, ¡°That Miss Olsen has such a clear and honest look, quite pleasing to the eye¡­ Old Allen, I am speaking to you, what are you thinking about?¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã?


    Mr. Allen snapped back to attention, ¡°Ah, I was just thinking that Miss Olsen looks somewhat familiar¡­¡±


    ¡°Who looks familiar?¡±


    Suddenly, Frankie Allen¡¯s voice echoed in the ward, and only then did the three of them notice Frankie Allen sitting on the sofa with a strange man.


    The stranger stood up immediately to greet them, ¡°Mr. Allen, Madam Allen, Miss Allen.¡±


    Mr. Allen¡¯s expression showed a bit of displeasure, feeling that his son had brought someone to disturb his daughter.


    Rebecca Allen had no wish to meet strangers either.


    Just as everyone showed some aversion, Frankie Allen spoke up, ¡°This is Miss Olsen¡¯s fianc¨¦, Mr. Jake Horton; he came to visit Rebecca.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the displeasure on everyone¡¯s faces disappeared immediately.


    Rebecca Allen looked at Jake Horton with curiosity.


    Mr. and Madam Allen exchanged a few pleasantries with him.


    After Jake Horton had left, Mr. and Madam Allen looked at each other and said with subtlety, ¡°Miss Olsen seemed so pure and refined, but her fianc¨¦ is so¡­ never mind, we shouldn¡¯t judge others¡¯ choices.¡±


    ¡°Pure and refined?¡± Frankie Allen thought of Isla Olsen¡¯s mercenary appearance and furrowed his brow, ¡°Mom, Dad, even you can be mistaken in judging others. Miss Olsen wants more than you all imagine!¡±


    Mr. Allen was startled, ¡°She didn¡¯t make any demands of us, though!¡±


    Frankie Allen scoffed, ¡°By introducing her fianc¨¦ to me, she made it clear she wants me to help him. If our cooperation with Horton Group succeeds, it will become an asset to the first branch of the Horton family. Lewis Horton is not to be messed with, and by involving our Allen Family in this conflict, isn¡¯t what she wants great enough? At least she¡¯s self-aware enough not to make further demands.¡±


    Mr. Allen furrowed his brow, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Miss Olsen to be that kind of person, sigh!¡±


    Madam Allen also sighed, ¡°She saved Rebecca, and for that kindness, we should help as much as we can, but it¡¯s a pity. I thought Rebecca could really gain a true friend.¡±


    Unpleased by these words, Frankie Allen looked at Rebecca Allen, ¡°You should avoid associating with Miss Olsen from now on, she and her fianc¨¦ are not good people. It¡¯s a good thing we can repay their kindness with money.¡±


    Rebecca Allen¡¯s complexion changed, ¡°Miss Olsen is not that kind of person!¡±


    Frankie Allen sighed, ¡°Rebecca, haven¡¯t you learned your lesson? You can¡¯t judge a person solely by their appearance.¡±


    But Rebecca Allen¡¯s expression remained resolute.


    Miss Olsen was the person who gave her hope in her last moments; she refused to believe that Miss Olsen was that sort of person¡­


    ¡­


    Although Old Mrs. Horton had said that no other members of the Horton Family were allowed to visit her, Jake Horton still headed to her room upon his arrival at the hospital.


    As he approached the door to the room, he could see through the glass window that Lewis Horton and Keira Olsen were seated on the sofa, both busy on their laptops. Despite the silence between them, the harmonious scene still stung his eyes.


    He pushed the door open, greeted Old Mrs. Horton, and then walked out.


    As he passed Lewis, he suddenly stopped.


    What he had always feared most was his younger uncle. But given that Keira had ignored him throughout today, never once giving him a glance¡­ it felt as if she were high above, untouchable.


    A surge of anger welled up inside him, boosting his courage as he said directly, ¡°Uncle, Mr. Allen values me highly and said that I should be in charge of this project. But I am only the Vice President of R&D, which seems a bit below the level required, doesn¡¯t it? Perhaps you should give me the position of the project department¡¯s General Manager?¡±


    With those words, the atmosphere in the entire room suddenly became awkward.


    Keira didn¡¯t speak, merely turning to look at Lewis.


    Demanding power and a position directly, was Jake Horton challenging Lewis Horton with the support of the Allen Family? It was unclear whether he would compromise¡­


    Lewis raised his eyes indifferently, his dark gaze sweeping over Jake with a single glance before he said coolly, ¡°Is the position of project department General Manager enough for you?¡±


    What could that mean¡­


    Jake¡¯s heart leapt with joy; the Allen Family had obviously put pressure on his uncle!


    But just as that thought crossed his mind, he heard the man¡¯s deep voice continue slowly, ¡°How about I give you my position instead?¡±


    Jake¡¯s breathing hitched, feeling an invisible pressure bearing down on him.


    Of course, he wanted the position of the person in charge!


    But despite his uncle¡¯s casual demeanor, there was a thunderous rage hidden in his voice, especially in those pitch-black, icy eyes¡­ Jake felt as though he was peering into an abyss, his heart trembling.


    He swallowed hard, eventually lowering his head to say, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡±


    Even without looking up, he could still feel the piercing gaze, almost tangible, sending a chill down his back. After what felt like an eternity, he finally heard that faint voice say, ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to come here anymore if it¡¯s not urgent.¡±


    Jake left as if a heavy burden had been lifted, hurrying away.


    Once out of the room, he was filled with annoyance and regret, feeling as if he had lost face in front of Keira!


    Inside the room.


    Tom Davis saw Jake Horton storm out angrily and couldn¡¯t help but sneer, ¡°He¡¯s demanding a promotion before the project even starts; I¡¯ve never seen such arrogance. But boss, by not giving him face like that, could it affect our cooperation with the Allen Family?¡±


    Lewis didn¡¯t say anything.


    So Tom sighed quietly.


    Keira, noticing this, slowly asked, ¡°Is there anything I can help with?¡±


    Tom immediately spoke up, ¡°The cooperative project with the Allen Family is in new energy, beyond your assistance. Moreover, you don¡¯t know the Allens¡­¡±


    Upon hearing this, Keira said no more.


    The night passed without further conversation.


    The next morning, Tom brought the latest news: ¡°It turns out Mr. Allen¡¯s sister is staying in this hospital. Boss, both emotionally and logically, you should pay her a visit, right? It might also help to ease the relationship with Mr. Allen.¡±


    Lewis frowned, ¡°It¡¯s not appropriate.¡±


    After thinking for a moment, Tom said, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s not appropriate, it involves a woman¡­¡±


    He suddenly looked towards Keira, ¡°Miss Olsen, since you are Mr. Horton¡¯s wife in name, why don¡¯t you accompany Mr. Horton for this visit?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Lewis, who was in the middle of tying his tie, paused slightly but did not refuse.


    Seeing this, Keira nodded, ¡°Okay.¡±

 Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 66

    Chapter 66: Chapter 66


    Old Mrs. Horton, hearing the conversation of a few people, curiously asked, ¡°Which Allen Family?¡±


    Tom Davis instinctively glanced at Lewis Horton and dared not speak.


    Lewis Horton then said, ¡°The Clance Allen Family.¡±


    Upon hearing these four words, Old Mrs. Horton¡¯s expression faltered slightly.


    Keira Olsen sensitively noticed that the atmosphere in the room seemed to have grown tenser.


    She briefly swept her gaze over Lewis Horton, trying to gauge Tom Davis¡¯s reaction.


    Tom Davis signaled her with his eyes, indicating not to speak carelessly.


    At that moment, the caregiver brought in breakfast and set it on the table, and Keira Olsen helped Old Mrs. Horton walk over to sit down.


    The three of them sat around the dining table, where there was usually no talking during meals.


    However, today, after Old Mrs. Horton had drunk half a bowl of porridge, she put down her chopsticks, ¡°Brat, perhaps we shouldn¡¯t cooperate with the Allen Family anymore, eh?¡±


    Keira Olsen glanced at Lewis Horton.


    The man¡¯s eyes were downcast, his long lashes concealing the emotions at the bottom of his eyes, making him hard to read.


    Seeing this, Tom Davis immediately said, ¡°Miss Olsen, shall we go and ask the doctor about Old Madam¡¯s health?¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.?¦Ï


    Keira Olsen understood that Tom Davis was clearing the room, guessing the next part of the conversation might not be suitable for them to hear.


    She picked up her half-eaten sandwich, stood up, and was about to leave with Tom Davis when Old Mrs. Horton grabbed her arm, ¡°My grand-daughter-in-law, you don¡¯t need to leave. You¡¯re not an outsider, and you¡¯re bound to know these broken matters of the family sooner or later!¡±


    Tom Davis instinctively looked towards Lewis Horton.


    The man furrowed his brows, his expression seemed somewhat displeased. He looked up at Old Mrs. Horton, his mouth opened but ultimately, he said nothing.


    Tom Davis then quietly left, considerately closing the door behind him, guarding outside to let no one in and also to prevent eavesdropping.


    Seeing this situation, Keira Olsen realized that she might hear some of the Horton Family¡¯s private issues, feeling awkward about whether it was appropriate to stay or leave.


    After all, she was not legitimately Lewis Horton¡¯s wife or lover ¡ª was it really appropriate for her to listen to their conversation?


    In her dilemma, Old Mrs. Horton spoke up, ¡°My grand-daughter-in-law, I¡¯ve never mentioned to you about the brat¡¯s mother, have I?¡±


    Keira Olsen cautiously glanced at Lewis Horton and saw that the man was leisurely eating his bread, showing no intention of interrupting their conversation. Thus, she asked, ¡°Does Mr. Horton¡¯s mother have something to do with the Allen Family?¡±


    Old Mrs. Horton didn¡¯t notice the small interactions between them and let out a soft sigh, ¡°It¡¯s not related to the Allen Family but rather to Madam Allen ¡ª the brat¡¯s mother was Madam Allen¡¯s sister.¡±


    She began recounting some past events, ¡°Years ago, Horton Family wanted to form an alliance through marriage with the Clance Davis Family. My disappointing son had been divorced once when he was young, and at just over forty, for his second marriage, he married a woman in her twenties from the Davis Family. It was only after she got pregnant that we discovered, his ex-wife had secretly given birth to his son and raised him outside until he was a teenager ¡ª that would be the brat¡¯s older brother.¡±


    Keira Olsen made sense of the relations.


    This Miss Davis must be Lewis Horton¡¯s mother.


    Lewis Horton¡¯s father, Nathan Horton, had a child from his previous wife, who was Lewis¡¯s older brother Oliver Horton, and also Jake Horton¡¯s father.


    Oliver Horton and Lewis Horton were half-brothers, which explains why their relationship was poor.


    Old Mrs. Horton continued, ¡°The Miss Davis, marrying a man over a decade older than herself, was already very unwilling as it was a business alliance. Upon discovering the deceit, she was furious. A fiery woman, she chose to have a cesarean at seven months pregnant, gave birth to the brat, and decisively divorced to return home, cutting off all ties with the Horton Family ¡ª thus, the Davis Family bore a grudge against the Horton Family, breaking off all contact.¡±


    Old Mrs. Horton¡¯s expression turned somewhat unsightly as she spoke.


    Keira Olsen pursed her lips and looked towards Lewis Horton.


    Back then, whether Nathan Horton¡¯s father knew about the son he had outside or actually deceived his mother was impossible to verify, and, regardless, her mother¡¯s decision to divorce was not undue.


    But how could she heartlessly have the child cut out and abandoned at the Horton Family home when she was seven months pregnant?


    Even if she wanted a divorce, couldn¡¯t she have waited just two more months and given birth to him?


    At that time, he was already seven months in development, a living being!


    Old Mrs. Horton had once said that when Lewis Horton was first born, he weighed only three pounds and two ounces, stayed in the NICU for three months, his body covered in tubes, suffered several life-threatening complications, and almost didn¡¯t survive, which was why they gave him the mean nickname Puppy¡­ So that was it!


    Thinking back to yesterday when Lewis Horton comforted her by saying, ¡°Some people simply aren¡¯t fit to be mothers; you might as well treat them as strangers,¡± Keira Olsen took a deep breath, feeling a tightness in her chest.


    It turned out Lewis Horton and she were alike, both abandoned by their birth mothers.


    She looked at the man, seeing him still sipping milk with his gaze lowered, his handsome features cold and firm like iron, as if he were listening to someone else¡¯s story, his aloof demeanor accompanied by a sense of brokenness.


    Keira¡¯s heart clenched, and she suddenly wanted to hug him¡­


    Old Mrs. Horton frowned and sighed, ¡°I heard that Mrs. Allen and that brat¡¯s birth mother were close sisters, resulting in the Allen Family holding grudges against the Horton Family for so many years¡­ Everyone is justified from their own standpoint. You and that fellow from the Allen Family have been at odds over these, so why force yourself? Is this collaboration absolutely necessary?¡±


    Lewis Horton set down his milk glass, elegantly wiped his mouth with a napkin, and then raised his cool eyes, ¡°We are all adults here, and in the business world, we only talk about interests, without bringing up past grievances.¡±


    He stood up, ¡°Grandma, don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let myself be at a disadvantage.¡±


    ¡­


    Keira Olsen followed behind Lewis Horton, walking from the hospital ward toward the rehabilitation center.


    But at the entrance of the rehabilitation center, they were stopped.


    Frankie Allen¡¯s secretary apologetically said, ¡°Mr. Horton, Miss Allen is not in good condition, and it is presently inconvenient for you both to visit her upstairs.¡±


    At this, Tom Davis immediately became angry, ¡°Our Mr. Horton coming to visit is giving face to your Allen Family, do you really think we are afraid of you? How dare you kick us out?¡±


    The secretary hurriedly explained, ¡°Not at all, it¡¯s just really not a good time¡­¡±


    Tom Davis wanted to say more but was stopped by Lewis Horton, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The three of them turned back the way they came.


    On the way, Tom Davis was very upset, ¡°This is too much! Do they really think we are scared? We just don¡¯t want to cause more trouble!¡±


    Yesterday Jake Horton visited the patient, and today they were stopped; wouldn¡¯t this make people look down on their boss?


    Lewis Horton, however, said unhurriedly, ¡°Frankie Allen isn¡¯t a big talker; I guess his sister really isn¡¯t well.¡±


    Tom Davis finally shut his mouth.


    Lewis Horton had to go to the office, so he and Tom Davis left from the parking lot.


    Keira Olsen sighed quietly, preparing to return to the old lady¡¯s room.


    Just then, her phone buzzed.


    She picked it up and saw a message from Rebecca Allen¡¯s brother: ¡°Miss Olsen, could you please come to the hospital? Rebecca¡¯s condition isn¡¯t good, and she insists on seeing you.¡±


    Keira Olsen was slightly stunned.


    Rebecca Allen¡¯s brother¡­ wasn¡¯t his name Frankie Allen?

 Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 67

    Chapter 67: Chapter 67


    Keira Olsen stared at the text message and smiled faintly.


    She always had a good memory. The day she called Rebecca Allen¡¯s brother, he introduced himself first, and it was indeed Frankie Allen!


    She didn¡¯t pay much attention at the time, but now, putting all the coincidences together, she could confirm that the sister of Mr. Allen, who partnered with Horton Group, was Rebecca Allen!


    ¡­What a coincidence.


    She replied to the message: [Okay, heading there now.]


    ¡­


    In Rebecca Allen¡¯s hospital room, a tense situation unfolded.


    Frankie Allen was holding his phone, and upon seeing the message reply, he turned to look at Rebecca Allen on the hospital bed.


    Her little face was pale, and she curled up motionless on the bed.


    Mrs. and Mr. Allen were anxiously pacing nearby, ¡°Rebecca, how can you get better if you don¡¯t cooperate with the therapy? Please, be obedient, will you?¡±


    Rebecca Allen, however, was stubborn: ¡°If you won¡¯t let me meet Miss Olsen, I won¡¯t get treated!¡±


    Frankie Allen¡¯s brow furrowed tightly.


    He knew that his sister had always been well-protected since childhood, which led to her being quite willful.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have eloped with her boyfriend back in the day.


    For someone as simple-minded as his sister, if all her friends were good people, she would live a peaceful life. But if there were bad people around, like her husband¡­ no, now her ex-husband, then the consequences would be unimaginable.


    That¡¯s why Frankie Allen was so overbearing in intervening in her social life, refusing to let her see that ¡°Miss Olsen¡± again, no matter what.


    Mr. Allen, being a doting father, immediately looked at Frankie Allen: ¡°Did you call Miss Olsen over?¡±


    Frankie Allen had just reluctantly sent the text message, his brows creased deeply. Hearing the question, he replied: ¡°I did.¡±


    Mr. Allen quickly asked, ¡°Will she come?¡±


    Rebecca Allen also looked at him with expectation.


    Frankie Allen took a deep breath, ¡°With an opportunity to sell a favor like this, how could she not come? She said she¡¯d be right over!¡±


    Rebecca Allen¡¯s eyes brightened.


    Mr. Allen also breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing his son looking upset, he was the first to scold his daughter: ¡°Rebecca, you are really too willful this time! Your brother is good at judging people. Would your own family harm you again?¡±


    Mrs. Allen also chimed in: ¡°Rebecca, you really have gone too far. Our family¡¯s relationship with the Horton family is complicated. If it weren¡¯t necessary to work on the project only with Horton Group, I wouldn¡¯t want to get involved with them at all. The Horton family humiliated your aunt so much back then, our families are very complicated, especially that first branch of the family, which is in conflict with Lewis Horton¡­¡±


    She took a deep breath: ¡°Even if our relationship is bad, Lewis Horton is after all your aunt¡¯s biological son. And now we¡¯re repaying this kindness by helping the first branch of the Horton family; it¡¯s just not justifiable. Don¡¯t blame your brother for being heartless; he did call Miss Olsen to accompany you, and he will be the one owing all these favors!¡±


    Rebecca Allen, however, looked at them: ¡°Miss Olsen is not that kind of person! According to my brother, she just introduced her fianc¨¦ to him. Maybe she meant nothing else?¡±


    Her parents and brother didn¡¯t understand the feeling of someone coming out of nowhere to save her when she was on the brink of death, like a savior!


    She had been betrayed by her husband and was currently in a state of confusion, panic, and fear. Although her parents could be with her, they were of an older generation, and there was a generation gap in their thinking.


    Moreover, Rebecca Allen had her own pride.


    She didn¡¯t want her parents to see her weakness because it reminded her of how incredibly wrong her past choices were¡­


    She also needed someone to confide in, someone she felt she could trust, to talk about the pain deep in her heart.


    The person she trusted the most at the moment was only her benefactor¡­


    Frankie Allen, hearing her na?ve words, frowned and said: ¡°In the business world, people don¡¯t speak too directly. Having met many people, I can still clearly distinguish her intentions. That low-level, calculating face, utterly venal!¡±


    At that time, Isla Olsen¡¯s thoughts were practically written on her face.


    Rebecca Allen became agitated: ¡°You must have seen it wrong; my benefactor is not that kind of person! Brother, why are you so hateful! I don¡¯t want to listen to you speak ill of my benefactor anymore!¡±


    Mr. Allen said hastily, ¡°Alright, your brother was just reminding you a bit, isn¡¯t the person here now?¡±


    Mrs. Allen couldn¡¯t say much either, after all, her daughter¡¯s health was the most important.


    Frankie Allen sent the text only because his parents forced him, and at that moment, he felt nothing but anger as he turned to leave.


    Mrs. Allen called out, ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°To work.¡±


    Frankie left the house directly. Staying there any longer, he feared he would be angered to death by his disappointing sister!


    Besides, having just stopped Lewis Horton from visiting, he felt he should go and give an explanation in person.


    This was not someone to be trifled with.


    The cooperation with Horton Group was beneficial for both parties, and Frankie had only suggested that Jake Horton be responsible for the communication on this project, which wasn¡¯t a high demand; that¡¯s why Lewis had gone along with him.


    But Frankie knew better than to push things too far, and Lewis wouldn¡¯t allow it either.


    Although the two were at odds over their elders¡¯ issues, they also had their own tacit understanding when it came to project collaboration.


    Frankie¡¯s face was gloomy as he walked briskly towards the elevator.


    ¡°Ding¡±


    The elevator doors opened, and a beautiful woman stepped out.


    Even in a bad mood, Frankie couldn¡¯t help but take a few glances at her.


    Upon looking, he was slightly taken aback.


    The girl seemed familiar? The night Rebecca Allen was saved, the benefactor¡¯s hair was a disheveled mess, mostly covering her face, so he hadn¡¯t gotten a clear look at her. His mind only held a vague impression.


    But after Isla had falsely claimed it was her, he unconsciously merged the image in his mind with that of Isla.


    So when he saw Kiera Olsen again, aside from feeling a sense of familiarity, he thought nothing more of it.


    He brushed past Kiera and entered the elevator, heading straight downstairs.


    Kiera glanced at him but didn¡¯t speak.


    Remembering that it was he who had helped Jake Horton establish a foothold within Horton Group, she felt somewhat displeased.


    Kiera walked into the hospital room.


    Rebecca¡¯s mood lifted upon seeing her, and after chatting for a while, she agreed to go for rehabilitation training.


    Mr. and Mrs. Allen observed her from the side, whispering to each other:


    ¡°Miss Olsen¡¯s eyes are clear, she doesn¡¯t seem like those flattering and ingratiating types at all!¡±


    ¡°I think so too, does Frankie have a problem with his judgment?¡±


    ¡°Not likely, our son hasn¡¯t been wrong in years. Maybe she¡¯s just good at hiding it¡­¡±


    At that moment, Kiera received a phone call. The person on the other end said they were from the police station. Since Rebecca Allen¡¯s husband and mother-in-law were implicated in a murder case, they needed to confirm her testimony again, asking her to come to the police station to assist with the investigation and record her statement.


    Kiera replied, ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll come over now.¡±


    Meanwhile.


    Frankie, who had just left the hospital, also received a call from the police station: ¡°Mr. Allen, regarding your sister¡¯s case, we need your cooperation for some procedures. When are you available to come by?¡±


    Frankie¡¯s gaze was icy, ¡°I¡¯ll come over now.¡±

 Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 68

    Chapter 68: Chapter 68


    Isla Olsen also received a call from the police station.


    As a witness to the entire incident, she had cooperated with the police by providing a statement and testimony the day they discovered Rebecca Allen¡¯s brother was no common man, and she dared not lie anymore.


    Of course, she was happy to cooperate and cheerfully agreed to do so.


    Going to testify for Rebecca, she could also have Frankie Allen owe her a favor¡­


    Just as she was feeling proud, her phone suddenly rang again. She glanced at the caller ID, and her face darkened¡ªit was Finley Hill!


    Though she really wanted to hang up, she dared not and reluctantly answered, ¡°What is it now?¡±


    ¡°Dear niece, you have to save me, if I can¡¯t pay this money, I¡¯ll be beaten to death!¡± Finley Hill¡¯s voice made Isla furrow her brow in annoyance.


    She clenched her fists. ¡°How much?¡±


    ¡°Five million.¡±


    ¡°How much?!¡± Isla¡¯s voice suddenly rose, sure she must have heard wrong.


    Although the Olsen family was wealthy, giving her a monthly allowance of 150,000 since middle school, the family¡¯s checking account only held a few million, and together with the company¡¯s liquid assets, it amounted to less than twenty million.


    She had thought that the last two million would be enough for Finley Hill for a while, but now, just a few days later, he was asking for five million?!


    But Finley Hill was not at all threatened as he said, ¡°Dear niece, can you manage it? If you can¡¯t, they will beat me to death, and I¡¯ll have to go to Kiera Olsen then!¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.??


    Isla¡¯s pupils contracted.


    ¡°I¡¯m giving you two days. If the money isn¡¯t in my account by then, don¡¯t blame me for revealing your and Kiera Olsen¡¯s origins! After all, saving my life is more important, right, dear niece?¡±


    Finley Hill left her with those words and hung up, leaving Isla so angry that she threw her phone hard on the ground!


    She took a deep breath where she stood.


    For such a large sum of five million, she could only ask her family for it.


    Thinking this, Isla began to hesitate.


    Although Kiera had not exposed the fact that she stole Dr. South¡¯s emails, Mrs. Olsen obviously suspected something, and had been giving her cold looks since yesterday.


    Isla furrowed her brows and walked toward Mrs. Olsen¡¯s room.


    As she approached, she heard Mrs. Olsen asking, ¡°Where¡¯s Poppy Hill? Seems like I haven¡¯t seen her for a few days.¡±


    Taylor Olsen replied: ¡°Who cares? Maybe she went back to her brother¡¯s place. It¡¯s better if that woman never comes back. She annoys me just by being around.¡±


    Isla¡¯s eyes flickered outside the door.


    She composed her emotions and with tears in her eyes, sobbingly called out, ¡°Mom, Dad.¡±


    Seeing her like this, Mrs. Olsen stood up, wanting to comfort her, but paused and sat down on the sofa instead.


    Taylor Olsen frowned and asked, ¡°Isla, did you make your mother angry?¡±


    Isla bowed her head and started crying, ¡°Mom, I was wrong, I shouldn¡¯t have framed Kiera, I was just jealous because you care so much about her.¡±


    Her tears seemed genuine, ¡°Mom, Kiera is so capable now, being a doctor, able to arrange hospital rooms for you, but I¡¯m not as good as her. I¡¯m a bit scared, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll love her more than me¡­ When we were kids and went to school together, classmates would tease me, saying dad and mom are going to divorce, you buy clothes and send food for her, they all said you didn¡¯t want me, that you wanted her as your daughter¡­ so I¡¯ve always been bothered by her¡­¡±


    Mrs. Olsen¡¯s expression softened a lot, she walked over to Isla and sighed, ¡°How can you be so petty? Besides, Kiera has been away from home all these years precisely because she was mindful of this; she doesn¡¯t intend to take anything from me, and I would not love her more than I love you! Don¡¯t overthink things from now on!¡±


    Isla sobbed and asked, ¡°Really?¡±


    Mrs. Olsen chuckled, ¡°You¡¯re all grown up now, how could I still deceive you?¡±


    Isla burst into laughter through her tears, ¡°Then you say, Mom loves me the most.¡±


    Mrs. Olsen said helplessly, ¡°Alright, Mom loves you the most.¡±


    Isla¡¯s smile became more genuine, but then she heard Mrs. Olsen mention again, ¡°In the future, don¡¯t always treat Kiera as an imaginary enemy!¡±


    Her smile froze, and a shadow passed through her eyes.


    Isla bowed her head, ¡°I won¡¯t anymore, I truly realize my mistake.¡±


    After mollifying Mrs. Olsen, Isla then spoke, ¡°Mom, today Jake said he would take me to buy a wedding ring, and I thought I¡¯d also buy him a gift.¡±


    Mrs. Olsen nodded, ¡°Good, it¡¯s right for you to think that way, we shouldn¡¯t take advantage of others.¡±


    After Isla started working, her monthly living expenses increased to three hundred thousand.


    She lived at home and hardly spent any money.


    Mrs. Olsen thought she must have millions in personal savings, so she didn¡¯t catch the implication of her words.


    Isla¡¯s face stiffened, and she bit her lip, simply saying, ¡°After being with Jake, the expenses have been a bit high, and I¡¯m a bit strapped for cash now¡­¡±


    Only then did Mrs. Olsen understand, ¡°I have over three hundred thousand here, I¡¯ll transfer it to you in a moment.¡±


    Isla choked, ¡°Only over three hundred thousand?¡±


    Mrs. Olsen sighed, ¡°Yes, I transferred money to Kiera, she¡¯s going to buy stocks¡­¡±


    Before Isla could express her displeasure, Taylor Olsen preemptively spoke up, ¡°Buying stocks? The stock market is so bad now, who would join at this time? It¡¯s utter nonsense! What if the money is lost?¡±


    However, Mrs. Olsen waved a hand dismissively, ¡°She said a friend tipped her off, it won¡¯t be lost. Besides, even if it really is lost, consider the money a gift to her. Over the years, she¡¯s brought hundreds of millions in profit to the company; giving her over ten million is actually less than she deserves.¡±


    Taylor frowned deeply, clearly very dissatisfied.


    Yet Isla felt only a sense of panic, knowing that she definitely couldn¡¯t come up with five million anytime soon¡­


    She went downstairs, lost in thought, and got into Jake Horton¡¯s car.


    Jake Horton was spirited, ¡°Isla, my father was very pleased when he learned that you saved Mr. Allen¡¯s sister. He transferred some money to me this morning, told me to take you to buy some fine jewelry, considering it a gift from him as your father-in-law!¡±


    Isla¡¯s eyes flickered guiltily, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the police station first, Mr. Allen¡¯s sister¡¯s case needs me to make a statement.¡±


    Jake Horton smiled, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll take you there.¡±


    When they arrived, they coincidentally met Frankie Allen in the parking lot.


    Seeing Isla, Frankie understood why she was there, and thinking that she had come specifically to testify, his resentment towards her diminished somewhat, ¡°Miss Olsen, thank you for making this trip.¡±


    Isla smiled, ¡°It¡¯s only right.¡±


    The three greeted each other and headed towards the police station when, by chance, they ran into Keira Olsen coming out of the station.


    Keira Olsen was the first to arrive at the police station.


    She had recounted the events of that day from start to finish once again, confirmed her statement was accurate, signed it, and then walked toward the exit.


    The police officer personally escorted her out, and was speaking to her, ¡°Comrade Olsen, you made a quick and decisive move to save someone at the moment it was needed. Our police station has decided to formally commend you, preparing an announcement.¡±

 Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 69

    Chapter 69: Chapter 69


    Upon hearing about the announcement, Keira Olsen hurriedly said, ¡°Maybe the announcement isn¡¯t necessary¡­ ¡±


    ¡°It is necessary,¡± the officer smiled. ¡°We need to promote such good deeds so more people will do them. It¡¯s also a task from our publicity department.¡±


    Keira Olsen reluctantly agreed, ¡°Alright then.¡±


    As they reached the entrance, they ran into Frankie Allen and Isla Olsen.


    They were registering and had just explained their business when the reception officer saw the people with Keira Olsen and called out, ¡°Officer Cohen, these two are also here for the Rebecca Allen murder case. You can take them in.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Frankie Allen and Isla Olsen instinctively turned back.


    Seeing Keira Olsen, Isla Olsen¡¯s pupils constricted.


    Frankie Allen caught something and furrowed his brow in thought: Also?


    This woman, she also came because of his sister¡¯s case?


    Keira Olsen merely glanced at them before diverting her gaze, uninterested in any dispute with these people, and walked outside.


    Officer Cohen then said, ¡°Please wait a moment, I¡¯ll escort this colleague to the door and then I¡¯ll come and take you in.¡±


    Frankie Allen nodded, then his gaze deepened as he looked to Isla Olsen and asked, ¡°Was this Miss present when the incident with my sister happened?¡±


    Jake Horton also looked directly at Isla Olsen.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.??


    He knew how Isla Olsen and Frankie Allen had met, but if Keira Olsen had also saved Rebecca Allen, how could he then draw Frankie Allen to his side?


    Isla Olsen¡¯s gaze grew colder, and she suddenly let out a bitter laugh. ¡°Mr. Allen, that¡¯s my sister. Indeed she was with me at the time¡­ Miss Allen initially sought her help, but my sister is quite cold; she didn¡¯t mean to refuse Miss Allen intentionally; Jake, you know how she is.¡±


    Jake Horton frowned. ¡°She is indeed cold-hearted and dislikes socializing.¡±


    Isla Olsen sighed. ¡°She even stopped me from calling you, saying lovers should all go die¡­ ¡±


    Realizing what she just said, she hurriedly covered her mouth, ¡°Mr. Allen, please don¡¯t be angry, I think Miss Allen didn¡¯t take it to heart¡­ ¡±


    But Frankie Allen¡¯s expression had already turned dark as water.


    He remembered that after he had rescued Rebecca and she had come to after the surgery, her first words upon seeing him were, ¡°Brother, should somebody as foolish as I am not deserve to live?¡±


    He had thought then that his sister was troubled by romantic woes, but it turned out she was upset because someone else had insulted her?!


    Jake Horton couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brow. ¡°She is certainly rational, with so many pursuing her in university, she never agreed; such a person might never be moved by someone else in their entire life! In her eyes, maybe love is just a synonym for foolishness!¡±


    He clenched his fists.


    So, did she see him in the same way?


    Jake Horton felt a tightness in his chest and suddenly turned to Isla Olsen, ¡°You go ahead and give your statements, I won¡¯t go in. I¡¯ll wait outside for you.¡±


    Leaving these words, he chased after the door.


    Frankie Allen¡¯s gaze lingered on his retreating figure, thoughtful.


    Isla Olsen casually asked as if it were an afterthought: ¡°Mr. Allen, when do you plan to return to Clance? How is your sister doing? The hospitals in Clance should be better than the ones in Oceanion, right?¡±


    Frankie Allen withdrew his gaze, responding indifferently, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll be signing the contract today and in the next couple of days I will take Rebecca to Clance for recuperation, so we won¡¯t trouble Miss Olsen here in Oceanion anymore.¡±


    Miss Olsen had a strong motive, and Frankie Allen wished Rebecca could be as far from her as possible.


    Isla Olsen silently sighed with relief.


    She just feared that if Frankie Allen stayed in Oceanion too long and learned the truth, it would be best if he left soon.


    Outside the police station.


    Keira Olsen stood by the roadside, waiting for a rideshare car.


    The light dimmed suddenly beside her, and Jake Horton¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Keira, I didn¡¯t expect you to be Dr. South, but do you think starting a business is easy without a solid backing? In business, connections matter more than abilities, which come second.¡±


    Keira Olsen gave him a cold glance, but said nothing.


    Jake felt a stifling pressure in his chest.


    In college, she had always been indifferent to others, except to him. He never thought that one day, her coldness would be directed towards him.


    He became angry out of embarrassment, ¡°Keira Olsen, you are too cold-hearted, always so indifferent to others, no wonder you missed such a great opportunity!¡±


    Keira was baffled by his words¡ªwhat opportunity had she missed?


    At that moment, the car arrived.


    She ignored Jake¡¯s entanglement and got into the car and left.


    Jake watched her leave, knowing he had completely lost her!


    But he had no regrets!


    Even after knowing she was Dr. South, he had no regrets because he couldn¡¯t possibly marry an illegitimate daughter!


    After hypnotizing himself for a long time, Jake finally calmed down.


    Isla Olsen and Frankie Allen just finished giving their statements at the police station and Jake immediately went to meet them.


    Frankie¡¯s voice was bland, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for delaying Miss Olsen and Mr. Horton¡¯s date.¡±


    Isla laughed, ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, it¡¯s all part of what I should do. Where are you heading now, Mr. Allen?¡±


    Frankie looked at the time, ¡°I have a meeting scheduled with Mr. Horton to sign some documents today, and once the contract is signed, our collaboration will be official.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Jake instantly said, ¡°It¡¯s a pity I¡¯m not yet in a higher position, otherwise, it would have been me signing the contract with Mr. Allen today!¡±


    Frankie¡¯s gaze darkened momentarily, then Isla chuckled, ¡°Hasn¡¯t Jake been promoted yet? Being a vice-president and negotiating with Mr. Allen must be quite inconvenient.¡±


    Jake said, ¡°My uncle mentioned promoting me after the contract is signed, but he has a lot on his plate. I¡¯m worried he might forget.¡±


    Isla turned to Frankie, ¡°Mr. Allen, could you please remind Mr. Horton about this during the signing?¡±


    Frankie pursed his lips.


    They were both old foxes in the business world, how could he not understand the underlying message?


    In this collaboration, Jake actually hadn¡¯t done anything. He forcefully involved Jake in this project, knowing that gradually, the position of a department head was inevitable for him.


    But Jake couldn¡¯t wait and even wanted to climb higher at his expense!


    Frankie took a deep breath and looked at Isla deeply, ¡°Alright.¡±


    After parting ways with them, Frankie headed to Horton Group.


    The collaboration was a major event for the group, thus the contract signing was very formal.


    In a large conference room, they sat across from each other at the table.


    Lewis Horton signed the document in front of him and handed it to Frankie, then noticed that Frankie¡¯s copy was yet unsigned.


    Lewis narrowed his eyes, his presence turning cold, ¡°Does Mr. Allen have any concerns about the contract?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no issue with the contract,¡± Frankie spoke calmly, ¡°but it was agreed that young Mr. Horton would handle this project, yet his position is still just a vice-president?¡±


    Lewis¡¯s expression became icy, ¡°Is Mr. Allen trying to interfere with Horton Group¡¯s appointments?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare, but I get along well with young Mr. Horton and I hope Mr. Horton would grant me this favor.¡±


    Frankie posed as if he wouldn¡¯t sign the contract unless he agreed.

 Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 70

    Chapter 70: Chapter 70


    Tom Davis was on the brink of blowing up!


    How did Jake Horton get promoted to General Manager without lifting a finger? By what right?!


    But he understood that at a critical moment of cooperation between both parties, such a demand was nothing but a trifle for the Horton Group!


    With so many executives present, there was no way the boss could refuse such a minor position adjustment!


    It was so frustrating!


    What was Frankie Allen thinking?! Even if the Davis Family held a grudge against the Horton Family from years past, shouldn¡¯t it be the first branch of the family they resented? Why was he opposing the boss at every turn!


    Lewis Horton¡¯s expression remained composed. He always kept his emotions in check, his piercing gaze fixed on Frankie Allen as he spoke slowly, ¡°If I don¡¯t agree, does that mean Mr. Allen won¡¯t sign the contract?¡±


    The question hung in the air, instantly silencing the room.


    Lewis Horton looked indifferent.


    There were many people from the Horton Group in the meeting room, putting pressure on Lewis Horton.


    But there were also quite a few people from the Allen Family!


    If the collaboration were called off due to Frankie Allen¡¯s unreasonable demands, he would face pressure from his own company as well.


    So now, it was a test of patience for both sides.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.??


    Whoever couldn¡¯t hold out would lose.


    After what seemed like forever, Lewis Horton remained calm, forcing Frankie Allen to speak up gently, ¡°Of course not, Mr. Horton, you¡¯ve misunderstood. This is merely a personal suggestion of mine.¡±


    The cold aura around Lewis Horton lightened somewhat, ¡°Let¡¯s sign the contract first, and I¡¯ll have Jake Horton take charge of the collaboration afterward.¡±


    Once Jake Horton had accomplished a real task, there would be a reason to promote him to General Manager; this was an oral commitment from Lewis Horton to Frankie Allen.


    Both parties were major groups. Frankie Allen took a step back, and Lewis Horton was not going to press him too hard.


    Frankie Allen nodded, signed the two contracts, and stamped them. The collaboration was officially in effect.


    Frankie Allen stood up and extended his hand to Lewis Horton, ¡°Mr. Horton, I look forward to a pleasant partnership.¡±


    Lewis Horton looked at him impassively and did not speak, making it clear that he was still dissatisfied about the scene Frankie had just caused.


    Seeing this, Frankie Allen waved for all the assistants in the meeting room to leave. Once there were only the two of them left, he looked at Lewis Horton again and explained, ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, my action wasn¡¯t instigated by my aunt. I simply owed a favor to Keira Olsen and needed to advocate some benefits for Jake Horton, that¡¯s all.¡±


    On hearing this, Lewis Horton stood up, ¡°There¡¯s no need to explain. I¡¯m not interested in her.¡±


    Frankie Allen frowned, ¡°My sister was humiliated in the hospital, nearly lost her life, and it was Keira Olsen who protected her. She also called me. A life-saving grace cannot be ignored.¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s expression grew colder as he left without a word.


    Tom Davis followed him, ¡°Boss, I just finished discussing with the people from the Allen Family. There will be a celebration banquet tomorrow night. I¡¯ve asked around, and Frankie Allen will attend. I¡¯ve heard his parents have also arrived in Oceanion and will be at the event as well.¡±


    On hearing this, Lewis Horton¡¯s gaze grew sharper, ¡°I understand.¡±


    Frankie Allen¡¯s mother¡­ was the sister of that woman, his own aunt by blood relation.


    Tom Davis continued, ¡°There¡¯s just one problem. As for your female companion, should we just pick someone from the secretarial office, or should we invite Miss Olsen?¡±


    Lewis Horton indifferently replied, ¡°She probably doesn¡¯t like these kinds of occasions, forget it.¡±


    That meant he didn¡¯t need a female companion.


    Tom Davis nodded in understanding.


    But then he was taken aback.


    If it were the past, the boss would have scolded him for mentioning Miss Olsen¡¯s name, but now, he was actually saying she wouldn¡¯t like it?


    It seems like, the boss¡¯s attitude toward Miss Olsen has changed?


    Keira Olsen didn¡¯t feel any difference.


    After all, when Lewis Horton came back from work, he still had a gloomy face, looking like someone owed him eight million dollars.


    Even the Shiba Inu ¡°Kitty¡± looked up with its tail wagging to greet him, but the man didn¡¯t spare it a glance.


    Keira Olsen pretended not to notice and continued to busy herself with the final stages of her drug research and development.


    These past few days, she had thoroughly digested the neurology materials she borrowed from Horton Group. She had a breakthrough with the problems she¡¯d encountered before and was about to finalize the clinical drug for Alzheimer¡¯s disease.


    Old Mrs. Horton was anxious because she stopped going to work, constantly worrying about fostering a relationship between the two. She had intended to talk to Lewis Horton after work, to ask him to take some time to take his granddaughter-in-law out for a concert or a meal¡­


    But seeing his complexion, she couldn¡¯t help complaining, ¡°It must be work that¡¯s not going smoothly.¡±


    She looked at Tom Davis and inquired, ¡°Did he run into some trouble?¡±


    Taking advantage of the moment Lewis Horton went to the bathroom to wash his hands, Tom Davis couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°It¡¯s that Frankie Allen. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but he¡¯s been opposing the boss and raising young Mr. Horton¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen raised her eyebrows.


    Had Tom Davis forgotten that Old Mrs. Horton was also Jake Horton¡¯s great-grandmother?


    To speak like this in front of the old lady¡­


    Unexpectedly, Old Mrs. Horton just curled her lips, ¡°How come I don¡¯t know about any connection between the Allen Family and Jake? How did that come together? And Jake, doesn¡¯t he know about the animosity between the Allen Family and his uncle?! That¡¯s not right, logically, shouldn¡¯t the Allen Family hate the first branch of the family more?¡±


    Her demeanor made it very clear that she was unequivocally siding with Lewis Horton.


    Tom Davis snorted, ¡°Who knows what¡¯s going on. The Allen Family, instead of bonding with their rightful relatives, are getting chummy with the first branch, hmph!¡±


    Old Mrs. Horton then pursed her lips, ¡°Didn¡¯t we go to visit that little sister from the Allen Family today? Didn¡¯t that help warm relations? When Madam Allen saw her own nephew, didn¡¯t she show any reaction?¡±


    Tom Davis sighed, ¡°Didn¡¯t see anyone, they said the patient wasn¡¯t doing well.¡±


    Old Mrs. Horton was very dissatisfied, ¡°Logically, she¡¯s still a cousin, if she¡¯s not well, shouldn¡¯t they have let us see her? All things considered, we¡¯re still not close, there has been no interaction! Actually, some relatives, once you break the ice, it gets easier to get along.¡±


    The elderly lady¡¯s thoughts were clear.


    After all, it was her son who had wronged Lewis Horton¡¯s mother, so the Davis Family¡¯s hatred towards them was justifiable.


    She used to resent them, thinking that Lewis Horton¡¯s mother was too cruel for having a cesarean section in July which led to several critical health crises, but now¡­


    The Hortons didn¡¯t care for their grandson, and her own health was failing. If the Davis Family could show some goodwill and fill the void in her grandson¡¯s heart for family affection¡­


    So actually, she was hoping this cooperation could bring Lewis Horton and the Allen Family closer!


    But who would have thought it turned out like this?!


    Old Mrs. Horton was filled with worry, ¡°What¡¯s going on with the Allen Family?¡±


    When Keira Olsen saw her continuously muttering, she suddenly spoke up, ¡°Grandma, how about I introduce the two families to each other?¡±


    After all, she was Rebecca Allen¡¯s benefactor, and after meeting them, she felt that Mrs. and Mr. Allen were good people, too. Once the ice was broken, they should be able to get along gradually¡­


    Just as Lewis Horton had finished washing his hands and came out of the bathroom, he heard her words.


    His eyes flashed coldly, then he asked with curiosity, ¡°You know the Allen Family?¡±


    Keira Olsen nodded, ¡°Yes, I helped them out a little before.¡±


    A little help¡­


    All of a sudden, Lewis Horton realized something, ¡°So it was you who saved his sister?¡±


    Keira Olsen was surprised, ¡°How did you know?¡±

 Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Chapter 71

    Chapter 71: Chapter 71


    Old Mrs. Horton, upon hearing the conversation between the two, also realized something, ¡°My granddaughter-in-law, the person you mentioned visiting today, is that the sister from the Allen Family?¡±


    After returning from the police station, Kiera Olsen paid another visit to Rebecca Allen to see her after her recovery training session, and only then did she come back.


    She briefly explained to Old Mrs. Horton who surprisingly remembered the details.


    Kiera looked at her and felt that, indeed, her illness hadn¡¯t worsened recently; instead, there were signs of improvement.


    The medication needed to be urgently researched, preferably to help Old Mrs. Horton remember the truth about her marriage to Lewis Horton.


    Lewis Horton, who had been listening to their conversation, had the corners of his lips slightly raised, a trace of mockery flashing in his eyes.


    So it turned out that Frankie Allen had mistaken someone else for another.


    He suddenly spoke up, ¡°Miss Olsen, there¡¯s a celebration banquet between the Horton Group and the Allen Family the day after tomorrow night, and I happen to need a female companion. Are you interested?¡±


    Kiera Olsen didn¡¯t even look up, ¡°Not interested.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Lewis Horton was taken aback, his profound eyes shimmering, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say, Miss Olsen, that you wanted to introduce both families to each other?¡±


    Only then did Kiera turn to look at him, her amorous eyes gleaming reluctantly, ¡°Fine, I will.¡±


    Old Mrs. Horton looked surprised, ¡°You brat, you¡¯re willing to reconcile with the Allen Family?¡±


    Lewis Horton hummed indifferently, changing the subject, ¡°What did you have for lunch today?¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï


    ¡°I had rice, chicken soup, and celery¡­¡±


    Tom Davis, who was nearby, couldn¡¯t help but glance at his boss.


    The boss had never shown any interest in reconciling with that mother he had never met.


    That¡¯s why the news of his clash with Frankie Allen was publicized as mere business. In fact, in this cooperation, Frankie had shown goodwill numerous times, which the boss had ignored, clearly indicating he wanted no interaction with them beyond business.


    So that comment just now was simply to charm Miss Olsen into being his companion?


    Tom Davis wore a contemplative expression.


    After dinner, Kiera Olsen was going to walk the dog.


    She attached the leash to the Shiba Inu named Kitten and stepped out with it.


    Tom Davis seemed to be heading downstairs to retrieve some documents and ended up descending the stairs with her.


    Walking side by side, Tom Davis suddenly asked with a smile, ¡°Miss Olsen, what kind of man do you like?¡±


    Even though Miss Olsen had a boyfriend eager to marry her, as long as she was unmarried, the boss had a chance!


    He had to get the information for the boss to facilitate stealing her from that boyfriend!


    Upon hearing this, Kiera Olsen was momentarily stunned.


    To be honest, having seen how love-struck Poppy Hill had insisted on staying at the Olsen Family home from a young age, she had developed an aversion to love and marriage, thus rejecting the pursuits of many men.


    Fearing that she would lose herself once she fell in love.


    And she¡¯d never given much thought to what her future partner would be like¡­


    But when Tom Davis posed that question, the first thing that flashed across her mind was the handsome face of Lewis Horton.


    She spoke without thinking, ¡°Handsome appearance, one meter eighty-five in height, seventy-five kilograms in weight, deep and pleasant voice when speaking, meticulous in thought, exceptionally good at scolding people¡­¡±


    Tom Davis¡¯s eyes brightened as he listened, You might as well just say the boss¡¯s name!


    So Miss Olsen and the boss were mutually attracted?


    Kiera Olsen, noticing the expression on his face, instantly realized what she had said and quickly changed the subject, with ¡°seldom speaks, cold¡± on her lips turning into, ¡°¡­kind and warm, good at telling jokes, a real warm-hearted man!¡±


    Tom Davis: ???


    A warm-hearted man, isn¡¯t that too far-fetched from the boss?


    He¡¯s notorious for his chilling demeanor!


    Kiera Olsen, seeing his reaction change, breathed a sigh of relief. Feeling her cheeks warm up, she found the Shiba Inu walking too slowly and picked up the dog, hurrying down the stairs.


    Tom Davis sighed, feeling the boss was out of luck.


    He turned to head back to the hospital room, but he froze as he turned around.


    But Lewis Horton was already standing behind him, unnoticed until that moment!


    The dim lights of the hallway cast half-bright, half-shadowed upon the man¡¯s cheeks, lending him a somewhat lonely air.


    Clearly, he had overheard the entire conversation with Miss Olsen!


    He coughed and awkwardly scratched his head, ¡°Well, Mr. Horton, you could actually try smiling more at Miss Olsen¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ You talk too much.¡±


    Lewis Horton reprimanded him with that remark, walking past and swiftly descending the stairs.


    Night had fallen, and under a streetlamp, a girl knelt, petting a dog.


    With her head bowed, watching the small Shiba Inu, her usual sharp demeanor was replaced with a rare tenderness.


    Lewis Horton walked slowly towards her, stopping in front of her.


    As she became aware of his shadow, she looked up.


    The moment her gaze met his, the corners of Lewis Horton¡¯s lips moved slightly, attempting what he thought was a gentle smile.


    However, when Kiera Olsen stood up and glanced at him tentatively, she asked, ¡°Mr. Horton, is your mouth twitching?¡±


    Lewis Horton: ¡°¡­¡±


    He slowly let his smile fade, and as he saw the girl visibly relax, a few lines of frustration appeared on his forehead. He took a deep breath and said, ¡°Old Mrs. Horton asked me to accompany you in walking the dog.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    The clumsy little Shiba Inu ran ahead towards the park, with both of them closely following behind.


    A sudden cold breeze blew, making Kiera Olsen shiver.


    The temperature had dropped sharply today, and she was unprepared for it.


    As she rubbed her arms and thought about heading back inside, a large coat exuding warmth was suddenly draped over her shoulders.


    Kiera Olsen stiffened for a moment, then turned her head slowly to see Lewis Horton standing there in his shirt, his gaze diverted and looking a bit uneasy.


    Kiera Olsen¡¯s eyes curved into a smile, ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± said Lewis Horton in a neutral tone. ¡°Mainly, I didn¡¯t want you catching a cold and then passing it on to grandma.¡±


    Kiera Olsen could not help but laugh quietly to herself.


    She thought this man was the most stubborn with his words.


    Amid the awkwardness, suddenly, a voice came, ¡°Mr. Horton?¡±


    Kiera Olsen turned and saw Frankie Allen standing in the park, his face dark with displeasure upon seeing her.


    Kiera Olsen: ?


    Lewis Horton frowned and stepped in front of Kiera Olsen, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Can I have a word with you?¡±


    Frankie Allen cast another deep look at Kiera Olsen, then walked to the side.


    He looked upset.


    When he returned to the hospital room earlier, he heard on the side that his sister had indeed been greatly affected by the comment of being a ¡°love-struck fool¡± from a bystander during her first call for help.


    Even during the surgery, his sister had almost lost her will to live because of these words!


    So, he was furious!


    When Lewis Horton approached, Frankie Allen asked with a frown, ¡°What is your relationship with Miss Olsen?¡±


    Lewis Horton responded coldly, ¡°Mr. Allen, that¡¯s none of your business.¡±


    Frankie Allen took a deep breath, ¡°Regardless, you are my aunt¡¯s son, and since you seem unusually close to her, I thought I¡¯d remind you out of concern for you. You better open your eyes; this woman is no good!¡±


    ¡°Our families have nothing to do with each other, Mr. Allen, so there¡¯s no need for you to worry about me.¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s voice grew colder, emphatically stating, ¡°Besides, I think the person who needs to open his eyes is you, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Frankie Allen was taken aback, ¡°What do you mean?¡±

 Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Chapter 72

    Chapter 72: Chapter 72


    Lewis Horton, however, did not say more and turned to leave.


    Frankie frowned and said, ¡°Lewis Horton, how can you be so ungrateful, you¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, Lewis Horton suddenly halted and turned back sharply.


    The look in the man¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of sinister anger and fury, his brows and eyes darkened, his entire face terrifying like a Shura emerging from hell, causing Frankie¡¯s following words to get stuck in his throat.


    Lewis Horton stared at him, his voice deep, which emitted a terrifying air in the night, ¡°Mr. Allen, our relationship is purely business, you¡¯ve crossed the line.¡±


    Leaving those words behind, he walked away.


    Frankie stood there, stunned, his face tense.


    In this cooperation, despite Lewis Horton¡¯s cold demeanor, he had always behaved like a refined gentleman, which almost made Frankie forget that this man was notoriously sinister and tyrannically violent!


    Frankie had thought those were just rumors, but the fierce expression just now made him realize Lewis Horton was never an easy opponent.


    Frankie watched him, seeing the man¡¯s overwhelming rage slowly dissipate as he approached Kiera Olsen.


    By the time he returned to her side, the man was again just a somewhat cold normal person.


    ¡­


    Cloaked in the man¡¯s jacket, Kiera Olsen felt no hint of coldness.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    The black suit was finely designed, its lining carried the man¡¯s warmth, enveloping her completely, with a faint scent of vanilla masculinity emanating from it.


    Her heart softened.


    Seeing the man now only in a black shirt, she picked up the small poodle, ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    The next morning.


    Lewis Horton went to work, and Kiera Olsen, sitting on the sofa bathing in the warm sunlight, finally finished the conclusive work on the Alzheimer¡¯s research and sent the email to the overseas biomedical base. She stood up and stretched lazily.


    She then picked up her phone, only to discover a WhatsApp message from Rebecca Allen: [Miss Olsen, do you have time tomorrow evening? Could you come accompany me?]


    Kiera Olsen replied: [Tomorrow evening I have to attend a celebration banquet with the Horton and Allen families.]


    Right after sending the message, a call came through, it was Samuel Morgan: ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve run into a bit of trouble.¡±


    Kiera Olsen replied indifferently, ¡°What happened?¡±


    Samuel Morgan said angrily, ¡°We have always bought our hydrogen energy materials from the Allen family. I was going to buy another batch today, but they suddenly refused to sell to us! New energy research is booming, and raw materials are in high demand, it will take time to buy from someone else¡­ The problem is, we have production contracts and delivery dates with our clients, this disruption means we¡¯ll breach our contracts!¡±


    Kiera Olsen frowned, ¡°The Allen family in Clance?¡±


    She had always entrusted the management of her company to Samuel Morgan, only handling technical issues, so she hadn¡¯t realized her company also had dealings with the Allen family.


    Samuel Morgan confirmed, ¡°Yes, them. I¡¯ve always bought from them. I tried to get information from their sales manager, they haven¡¯t found a new buyer yet, but someone higher up specifically ordered not to sell to us!¡±


    Kiera Olsen lowered her gaze, ¡°Got it, I¡¯ll ask around.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, she stood up and headed out, directly toward the rehabilitation department.


    She was friends with Rebecca Allen and got along well with Mrs. and Mr. Allen, so she planned to directly inquire and see if someone was causing trouble.


    Just as she reached the hospital department, she coincidentally ran into Frankie Allen.


    He seemed to have just returned and was about to head upstairs.


    Kiera Olsen hurried her steps and called out, ¡°Mr. Allen, hello.¡±


    Frankie Allen stopped, turned his head to look, and although his expression was initially mild, it turned much colder upon seeing her.


    Keira Olsen asked in confusion, ¡°I am Dr. South, and my company has always purchased hydrogen energy materials from your company, but this month your company suddenly said you wouldn¡¯t sell to us anymore. Is there some misunderstanding?¡±


    ¡°There is no misunderstanding.¡±


    Frankie Allen¡¯s expression was cold, his eyes carried a hint of disgust, ¡°It was my order not to sell to you anymore.¡±


    Stunned by his words, Keira Olsen asked, ¡°Why?¡±


    Frankie Allen frowned, ¡°Miss Olsen, have you so quickly forgotten what you carelessly said?¡±


    Keira Olsen was full of question marks.


    Had she accidentally said something wrong while accompanying Rebecca Allen?


    But she truly had no recollection, and every time she finished chatting with Rebecca Allen, she was happy, she had even just been messaging her¡­


    Unable to remember, Keira Olsen simply said directly, ¡°Even if I did say something wrong, Rebecca probably didn¡¯t take it to heart. If it¡¯s because of that, Mr. Allen, shouldn¡¯t you consider the small favor I did for Rebecca and show some leniency?¡±


    Small favor¡­


    These words made Frankie Allen mistakenly think she was referring to helping at the police station by giving testimony, after all, making that call was a lifesaving grace.


    Frankie Allen reproached, ¡°You dare mention Rebecca? Wasn¡¯t it your duty to testify for Rebecca? It¡¯s every citizen¡¯s duty!¡±


    Feeling displeased, Keira Olsen¡¯s voice carried a chill, ¡°Mr. Allen, nothing is supposed to be done.¡±


    Even angrier, Frankie Allen responded, ¡°Ms. Olsen is right, so the Allen family is also not supposed to sell hydrogen energy materials to you.¡±


    Keira Olsen took a deep breath.


    During their first meeting at the hospital, she thought Rebecca¡¯s brother was quite decent, but she hadn¡¯t expected him to be so merciless.


    Before she could say anything else, Frankie Allen had already strode into the rehabilitation department. His assistant barred the door, ¡°Miss, please do not make noise in the hospital and disturb the patients¡¯ rest.¡±


    Keira Olsen: !!!


    Feeling utterly furious, she turned around and left.


    Forget it, she would speak to Mrs. and Mr. Allen at the banquet tomorrow evening!


    Time quickly moved to the next evening!


    The Horton Group and the Allen Family¡¯s new project involved a multi-billion deal, so it was well worth celebrating.


    A large celebration banquet was held at the Imperial Hotel.


    Quite a few employees from the Horton Group attended, and people from the Allen family even flew in specifically from Clance.


    In the hospital.


    Rebecca Allen donned a formal gown and was lifted onto a wheelchair by Frankie Allen.


    Mr. Allen chuckled, ¡°Don¡¯t you dislike these kinds of events the most? Why insist on going today?¡±


    Mrs. Allen also said, ¡°Maybe you shouldn¡¯t go. If you don¡¯t want to be alone, I¡¯ll stay with you.¡±


    With her eyebrows entwined and a listless expression, Rebecca Allen looked at her phone and spoke, ¡°Since yesterday, my benefactor¡¯s tone with me has grown cold. I asked her to accompany me and she made excuses to decline, so I have to find her at the banquet! Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Frankie Allen, pushing her out the door, arrived at the parking lot.


    Just as he was about to lift her into the car, a stretch Bentley drove past them.


    The Allen family members turned their heads and saw Keira Olsen and Lewis Horton sitting in the back of the Bentley luxury car.


    Rebecca Allen¡¯s eyes brightened, and she hurriedly called out, ¡°Benefactor!¡±

 Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 73

    Chapter 73: Chapter 73


    Following Rebecca Allen¡¯s words, Mr. Allen and Mrs. Allen also looked carefully and faintly thought they saw Kiera Olsen¡¯s pretty face.


    They wanted to greet her, but the Bentley luxury car didn¡¯t stop at all and drove straight past.


    Mr. Allen looked puzzled, ¡°It really seemed to be Miss Olsen?¡±


    Mrs. Allen also said, ¡°I think I saw her too.¡±


    Frankie Allen furrowed his brows.


    The one sitting in Lewis Horton¡¯s car must be Kiera Olsen, not Isla Olsen.


    He looked at Isla Olsen, ¡°Did you say that was your benefactor?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the benefactor!¡± Rebecca Allen said excitedly, ¡°Oh, hurry up and follow! I want to go to the banquet with my benefactor!¡±


    Frankie Allen clenched his jaw.


    Could the person in the car really be Isla Olsen?


    The family got into the car, and as they chased after it, the Bentley was already out of sight. Rebecca Allen then instructed the driver, ¡°Let¡¯s drive faster, maybe we¡¯ll run into my benefactor before entering the banquet!¡±


    The driver sped up, and indeed, right before entering the Imperial Hotel, they spotted the Bentley again.


    Unfortunately, the Bentley directly went into the staff parking lot, while their car was stopped outside.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï


    Frankie Allen consoled, ¡°Let¡¯s meet at the banquet.¡±


    Rebecca Allen was very disappointed, ¡°That¡¯s the only choice now.¡±


    ¡­


    The Imperial Hotel also belonged to the Horton Group, so Lewis Horton¡¯s car parked directly in the staff area.


    After Kiera Olsen got out of the car, she followed Lewis Horton, but suddenly realized something was amiss.


    This wasn¡¯t the way to the banquet. It seemed more like they were heading to¡­ a hotel suite?


    She hesitated briefly.


    Lewis Horton seemed to sense it and turned to look at her with a hint of confusion in his eyes, as if asking what was wrong.


    Kiera Olsen hesitated to ask, ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    ¡°To a suite,¡± Lewis Horton answered indifferently.


    Kiera Olsen¡¯s heartbeat sped up, ¡°What for?¡±


    Before Lewis Horton could speak, Tom Davis, who was following them, instinctively spoke out, ¡°Of course, to do makeup and change into an evening gown! It¡¯s inconvenient at the hospital, so we rented a suite!¡±


    Kiera Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    Only then did she realize she had overthought it.


    She coughed lightly to cover her embarrassment, ¡°Oh.¡±


    After speaking, she saw Lewis Horton¡¯s deep eyes glance at her, that look seemed to see through her thoughts, and his lips curved into a hint of a mocking smile.


    Kiera Olsen felt a rush of heat surge through her, her cheeks slightly reddening.


    She quickly diverted her gaze.


    Feeling she was fantasizing unnecessarily.


    The two had agreed they were eventually getting a divorce, what was she daydreaming about just now?


    Tom Davis was still questioning, ¡°Miss Olsen, what did you think we were going to do?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Kiera Olsen lowered her gaze, her cheeks reddening further, feeling embarrassed.


    As she struggled to feign composure, Lewis Horton had already changed the subject, ¡°Has the makeup artist arrived? How is the preparation of the gown going?¡±


    Tom Davis hurriedly answered, ¡°They arrived a while ago, and since we didn¡¯t know what Miss Olsen likes, we prepared dozens of gowns for her to choose from¡­¡±


    Kiera Olsen breathed a sigh of relief internally.


    The three soon arrived at the presidential suite on the top floor.


    The makeup artist respectfully asked, ¡°Miss Olsen, which dress do you prefer?¡±


    Kiera Olsen slightly furrowed her brow, before her lay a row of luxurious dresses, available in every color and style imaginable, making her head spin.


    Previously, when she was with the Olsen family, she was never allowed to attend social gatherings. After moving out, she focused solely on working and earning money, so she truly lacked experience in this area.


    But she wasn¡¯t panicked at all and slowly asked the makeup artist, ¡°Do you have any suggestions?¡±


    The makeup artist pulled out a simple, form-fitting silk dress, ¡°Miss Olsen could try this one, you may look slim, but you have a great figure, this dress will definitely make you outshine everyone.¡±


    Kiera Olsen nodded, ¡°Then this one.¡±


    She followed the makeup artist into the bedroom of the suite to change clothes and came out quickly.


    Lewis Horton sat quietly on the sofa, waiting, and at the sound of the door opening, he instinctively looked over¡­


    At just a glance, a flash of awe crossed his eyes.


    When the makeup artist mentioned her good figure, he hadn¡¯t thought much of it, as this woman usually wore casual and comfortable clothing, which didn¡¯t reveal much.


    But now, the full drape of the green silk dress clung gently to her body, outlining her graceful and slender form. Her back was thin yet straight, the delicate collarbone extremely sexy, followed by her full breasts¡­


    The waist that could be encircled with a single hand was delicate yet exuded a sense of strength.


    Her skin was fair, her long black hair casually fell behind her, swaying with the dress as she moved. An ordinary person might look flirtatious in this outfit, but she brought out a hint of wildness, stirring a man¡¯s primal desire to conquer¡­


    Lewis Horton¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, knowing he should politely avert his gaze, but his eyes seemed fixed as if glued in place, unable to be withdrawn.


    Kiera Olsen felt his burning gaze, her cheeks warming slightly.


    This was the first time she wore such a beautiful dress, originally feeling somewhat hesitant, his reaction instead made her more confident, ¡°Mr. Horton, what do you think?¡±


    ¡°Not bad.¡±


    Lewis Horton picked up the water cup next to him and took a sip, trying to cool the heat in his chest.


    Kiera Olsen took a couple of steps forward, intending to check herself in the dressing mirror.


    However, unaccustomed to wearing high heels, she lost her balance as soon as she lifted her foot and toppled to the right!


    ¡°Careful.¡±


    Lewis Horton abruptly stood up, instinctively wrapping his arms around her waist!


    Once Kiera Olsen steadied herself, she felt his large hand at her waist, the heat from his palm seeping through the thin silk to her skin, making her feel as if she had been burned, instinctively pushing him away and taking a few steps back.


    The temperature in the room seemed to rise a few degrees, becoming a bit stifling and lacking air.


    Kiera Olsen¡¯s heart was in slight turmoil, she took a deep breath, decisively kicked off her high heels and said, ¡°These high heels are a bit tricky to manage, I¡¯d better wear flats.¡±


    After all, there was no rule that dresses had to be worn with high heels.


    ¡°Miss Olsen is tall and has a good posture, flats will be fine.¡±


    The makeup artist smiled, ¡°Besides, I hadn¡¯t thought much about it before, but now I realize, the color of your dress matches Mr. Horton very well, you look like a couple made in heaven.¡±


    Kiera Olsen didn¡¯t respond.


    She thought Lewis Horton would object, but he didn¡¯t explain until they left.


    Kiera Olsen felt a slight stir in her heart, something flashed in her eyes.


    Although she had never been in a relationship, she wasn¡¯t so insensitive as to not notice the change in a man¡¯s attitude towards her.


    If it was before, she would have kept her distance.


    But this time, she felt a hint of sweetness in her heart.


    Kiera Olsen didn¡¯t want to delve into why, she decided to let things take their natural course.


    The two arrived at the banquet hall, entering through the main door.


    Rebecca Allen, who had been at the banquet earlier, sat in a wheelchair, continually snacking in the corner.


    Frankie Allen stood next to her with a glass of champagne.


    Rebecca Allen looked around, ¡°Where is my benefactor, why hasn¡¯t he arrived yet?¡±


    As she spoke, there was a commotion at the entrance.

 Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 74

    Chapter 74: Chapter 74


    Oceanion was the main venue for the Horton Group.


    Therefore, as soon as Lewis Horton walked in, the executives immediately flocked to him.


    Lewis Horton exchanged greetings with them, his gaze flickering towards Kiera Olsen, who had quietly slipped away to distance herself from him the moment she walked in.


    The woman slipped through the crowd like an eel, hiding in the snack area nearby before standing up straight and starting to eat something.


    She thought she had hidden herself in the corner, unaware that she had already attracted the attention of many in the room.


    Lewis Horton¡¯s eyes darkened slightly, as if the smooth and soft touch of her waist still lingered in the palm of his hand that hung by his side¡­


    He loosened his tie when he heard the person in front of him say, ¡°Mr. Horton, didn¡¯t Mrs. Horton come with you? You¡¯ve kept her hidden so well, we should at least get to meet the lady of the house.¡±


    The person beside immediately tugged at the speaker.


    Usually, the boss didn¡¯t like people talking too much about the lady of the house. This person had just been transferred back from another place and still didn¡¯t know Mr. Horton¡¯s preferences. Now Mr. Horton was going to show his displeasure, right?


    But unexpectedly, Lewis Horton replied lightly, ¡°Perhaps there¡¯ll be a chance.¡±


    Everyone: ??


    Mr. Horton¡¯s attitude has changed!


    ¡­


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï


    Rebecca Allen looked at the newcomer, Lewis Horton, and felt slightly disappointed not to see Kiera Olsen.


    She continued to look around the room.


    Seeing this, Frankie Allen began to speak, ¡°Let me tell you some good news.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Do you remember, you told me about the Miss Olsen who, when you first called for help, not only did not assist you by making a phone call but also scolded you?¡±


    Rebecca Allen¡¯s pupils contracted and she lowered her head, sounding a bit sad, ¡°I remember.¡±


    In fact, the scolding and accusation from a stranger could make someone¡¯s mentality collapse when facing difficulties.


    She really felt despair when she was scolded at that time.


    Frankie Allen said slowly, ¡°I¡¯ve taken revenge for you.¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡±


    ¡°Her company needed to purchase a raw material from our family and I¡¯ve cut off her supply source. She won¡¯t be able to buy it in the short term,¡± Frankie Allen¡¯s voice carried a sinister tone.


    Businesspeople are ruthless.


    Rebecca Allen bit her lip, ¡°Maybe that¡¯s too much? She might have just had a slip of the tongue at that moment.¡±


    ¡°Even if she was just being nasty with her words, she shouldn¡¯t have insulted others like that.¡±


    Jake Horton suddenly appeared from the side, indignant, ¡°Excuse me, Mr. Allen, I was just passing by and overheard your conversation. I couldn¡¯t help but say something.¡±


    He looked at Rebecca Allen, ¡°Everyone must pay the price for their actions. Even if she was inherently cold-hearted and didn¡¯t want to help, she should not have said such things to someone in a serious predicament. I think Mr. Allen is too kind; this punishment is letting her off too easily!¡±


    Frankie Allen also patted her head, ¡°We also have to thank young Mr. Horton for this; he was the one who told me our families had a deal, otherwise I wouldn¡¯t have known about this small project.¡±


    Jake Horton smiled, ¡°It was the least I could do.¡±


    Rebecca Allen nodded her head.


    She asked directly, ¡°Where is my benefactor?¡±


    Jake Horton smiled, ¡°She went to the restroom to touch up her make-up.¡±


    Rebecca Allen¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Mother, let¡¯s go find my savior.¡±


    Now, feeling uneasy among strangers, Rebecca Allen was accompanied by her mother, who didn¡¯t refuse and pushed her towards the restroom.


    The two arrived at the restroom just as Isla Olsen had finished touching up her makeup and was walking out.


    In the instant they brushed past each other, Rebecca Allen sharply turned her head to look at her.


    Mrs. Allen asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Rebecca clenched her fists tightly.


    She had just felt that her brother¡¯s actions were too much, and thought she didn¡¯t hate this person, but in that moment she realized just how deeply Isla Olsen had hurt her.


    It almost made her psychological defenses collapse.


    That phrase, ¡°Love-struck fools should all die,¡± made her feel like there was no hope for the rest of her life, as if there was no need to go on living.


    She clenched her fists tight and took out her phone to send Frankie Allen a WhatsApp message, ¡°Bro, that woman is here, can you get rid of her? I don¡¯t want to see her.¡±


    Frankie Allen saw the message just as Isla Olsen was walking up.


    She affectionately linked her arm through Jake Horton¡¯s and was just about to greet Frankie when she saw him look up, a sharp light flashing in his eyes, ¡°The other Miss Olsen is here as well?¡±


    Jake Horton and Isla Olsen both furrowed their brows.


    The three of them looked around, searching for Kiera Olsen¡¯s figure, but the banquet hall was large and bustling with people, so they did not spot her right away.


    Isla asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Frankie¡¯s face darkened with anger, ¡°I hear she¡¯s also at the banquet. What¡¯s this supposed to mean, young Mr. Horton, is Horton Group trying to slap the Allen Family in the face?¡±


    Jake spoke up, ¡°I will deal with it immediately.¡±


    ¡­


    Kiera Olsen was still relatively at ease in a corner.


    Even though she attracted a lot of attention, her cool aura and the chill in her gaze made people back off, with not many daring to approach her.


    The few who did were quickly sent packing by her few pointed words.


    After some time had passed, Jalen Riley sauntered over, a gleam in his eyes that clearly showed he was pleased to see her, yet he said aloofly, ¡°Why are you alone here? Who did you come with?¡±


    That last question had an accusatory tone, obviously thinking that whoever had invited her had neglected her.


    Kiera smiled, ¡°Being alone is nice, I¡¯m not disturbed.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± he said.


    Jalen seemed to have something more to say but was interrupted as a group of people approached. They surrounded Jake Horton, complimenting him, ¡°Young Mr. Horton, we will need your guidance on the project team matters in the future!¡±


    Jake Horton maintained a light smile, ¡°I dare not presume too much, I¡¯m merely an R&D Vice President.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be modest, I¡¯ve received insider information that the group is already preparing to promote you to project manager!¡±


    Upon hearing this, the crowd immediately began to congratulate him:


    ¡°Young Mr. Horton, so young and yet you¡¯ve done so much for the company!¡±


    ¡°Mr. Horton and Mr. Allen aren¡¯t on the best of terms. I heard this collaboration almost fell through, but thanks to young Mr. Horton¡¯s efforts, he and Mr. Allen seemed to be getting along splendidly!¡±


    Jake Horton enjoyed the atmosphere and raised his champagne glass, ¡°Don¡¯t say that, after all, the project was initiated by my uncle.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Horton is clearly capable, but he can be a bit unsociable. If only he were as approachable as you, young Mr. Horton, negotiations would proceed much smoother¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, our group has always struggled to connect with enterprises in Clance. If Mr. Allen could help introduce us, the group¡¯s development scope could expand significantly!¡±


    ¡­


    Listening to their conversation, Jalen Riley sneered, ¡°This Jake Horton, I don¡¯t know what he did to get into Mr. Allen¡¯s good graces, but these past few days he¡¯s been acting all high and mighty in the company!¡±


    He then added with a frustrated tone, ¡°My cousin is all talk, no action! He¡¯s the one with some connection to the Allen Family, yet he refuses to speak properly¡­ If I could just get to know someone from the Allen family, that¡¯d be great. He doesn¡¯t want to network, so I¡¯ll do it for him. That way, Jake Horton won¡¯t be able to talk behind his back!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Kiera Olsen glanced around and saw Mr. Allen talking with Frankie Allen. She said directly, ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll introduce you to the Allen Family.¡±

 Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 75

    Chapter 75: Chapter 75


    Keira Olsen¡¯s purpose for coming to this banquet was to try to make Lewis Horton and the Allen Family reconcile.


    Yet just now, after some serious consideration, she realized the likelihood of that was slim.


    Lewis, looking cold and gentlemanly on the surface, was in fact very attentive and tender.


    In their interactions, whether in the hospital or just now while changing clothes, he had always managed to make her feel comfortable with subtle details.


    Such a person, if he wanted to reconcile with the Allen Family, would win their favor without them noticing.


    So it wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t reconcile with the Allen Family; he simply wouldn¡¯t reconcile with his biological mother.


    Although she didn¡¯t understand why this man had tricked her into coming to the banquet, if Lewis wasn¡¯t willing to let go, then helping Jalen Riley and the Allen Family to connect would at least make her less passive in the company.


    Of course, Lewis might not care about any of these things at all.


    Upon hearing her words, Jalen Riley paused, ¡°Do you know the Allen Family?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve helped them with a small favor.¡±


    As Kiera spoke, she prepared to walk toward the corner of the banquet hall where the Allen Family stood, but suddenly, music filled the room!


    A classic event of the celebration banquet, the dance had begun!


    The crowd surrounding the center of the hall consciously dispersed to the sides, leaving the dance floor open.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã?


    Kiera stopped in her tracks, deciding to wait until the dance was over.


    The attendees began to look for dance partners.


    Someone approached her, ¡°Miss, may I invite you for a dance?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Not far away, Lewis Horton was sitting on a couch, chatting with several company executives.


    Someone ventured, ¡°Mr. Horton, the dance has started. Aren¡¯t you going for a dance?¡±


    Lewis casually declined, ¡°It¡¯s not convenient.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Horton is truly chaste for Mrs. Horton¡¯s sake¡ªsuch strict family discipline! Truly a role model for us all!¡± they teased good-naturedly.


    As they mentioned Mrs. Horton, Lewis¡¯s gaze drifted once again to the corner where Kiera was, and his expression abruptly stiffened.


    He saw that several men had surrounded her, issuing invitations to dance.


    And there were others eyeing her hungrily.


    Most of these men were eligible, promising employees from Horton Group!


    Lewis suddenly stood up, excused himself with a ¡°please excuse me,¡± and strode towards Kiera.


    As he approached, he heard the woman once again rejecting someone¡¯s invitation, ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t dance.¡±


    The man who was rejected left wisely, while others were shameless, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I can teach you.¡±


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m not interested.¡±


    ¡°Are you not interested in dancing, or are you not interested in me? There are so many of us; you have to save face and choose one, right? Otherwise, people will keep inviting you.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Kiera, harassed to the point of annoyance, bluntly stated, ¡°I have a dance partner.¡±


    Yet the man persisted, ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Me.¡±


    A deep, magnetic voice suddenly sounded from behind, making everyone turn around; Lewis Horton was standing there.


    The few men were shocked, ¡°Mr. Horton.¡±


    Lewis ignored them and walked straight to Kiera, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was held up by something. Sorry to have kept you waiting.¡±


    The men who had been surrounding Kiera Olsen now understood and promptly left, finally bringing peace to this corner of the room.


    Just then, a wave of cheering erupted from the center of the venue.


    Kiera turned her head and saw Jake Horton leading Isla Olsen onto the stage.


    After all, Jake had just graduated, brimming with youthful vigor.


    Isla, clad in a pink dress, wore a shy and blushing face.


    After they stepped on stage, instead of dancing to the music, Jake took a step back, took out a microphone, and said, ¡°Isla, with so many people here as witnesses today, there is something I want to say to you.¡±


    Isla¡¯s eyes were warm and her smile was sweet.


    Jake then slowly said, ¡°To be honest, in college, I was blinded by the many temptations and never noticed you, but after spending some time together recently, I¡¯ve found that you¡¯re kind, adorable, and handle relationships with warmth and measure. It was you who tirelessly worked to bridge the gap between Mr. Allen and me, leading to our pleasant cooperation.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the people around quickly realized:


    ¡°I was wondering how young Mr. Horton and Mr. Allen became so close, and it turns out Miss Olsen was the one making connections!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s how business should be done. Think big, there¡¯s no need to cling to the petty grudges of the past generation.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard Mrs. Olsen is from Clance, maybe Miss Olsen can help us not only connect with Mr. Allen but also find future cooperation with the Clance Davis Family!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The chorus of compliments all reached Isla¡¯s ears, filling her with surprise and delight.


    She knew that by doing this, Jake was giving her honor! After all, the Olsen family¡¯s background wasn¡¯t strong, and her marrying Jake was seen as reaching above her station, but now she felt empowered!


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t that Jake loved her that much, but rather that having his wife honored reflected well on him too¡ªthe gentry families valued the unity of husband and wife!


    Isla, smiling, said, ¡°Jake, I was only doing what I should.¡±


    Jake then pulled a small, exquisite box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a three-carat diamond ring!


    He knelt on one knee, holding up the ring, ¡°Isla, marry me!¡±


    Isla instinctively covered her mouth, eyes brimming with tears.


    ¡°Marry him! Marry him!¡±


    ¡°Miss Olsen and young Mr. Horton are truly a match made in heaven! A blessed union!¡±


    ¡°They are absolutely made for each other!¡±


    Urged on by the crowd, Isla, her heart filled with joy, extended her hand. The three-carat ring slid onto her finger, satisfying her completely!


    After the ring was on, the two embraced and began the first dance of the evening.


    Although others joined in the dancing afterwards, the highlight of the banquet had already been stolen by Jake Horton and Isla Olsen!


    Kiera Olsen raised an eyebrow at Lewis Horton and said, ¡°Let¡¯s not dance.¡±


    To avoid appearing as if Lewis was begrudging his nephew¡¯s time in the limelight.


    Jalen Riley, who had been standing nearby, said discontentedly, ¡°That Jake Horton really knows how to choose his moments. With this spectacle, who¡¯s going to remember it was you, cousin, who negotiated the deal with the Allen Family? They¡¯ll all think it was his and his fianc¨¦e¡¯s doing!¡±


    Lewis Horton didn¡¯t care about any of that. He took out his vibrating phone and said to Kiera, ¡°I need to take a call.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    After he left, Jalen Riley, watching his back, said to Kiera, ¡°Your cousin is acting very strangely towards you!¡±


    Kiera raised an eyebrow, ¡°How so?¡±


    Jalen said, ¡°Why did he have to tell you he was taking a call?¡±


    Since when did cousin report his whereabouts!


    Kiera wasn¡¯t bothered by it; she checked her phone, which had vibrated, and saw a message from Rebecca Allen:[Benefactor, I¡¯ve also arrived at the banquet. Couldn¡¯t find you in the restroom, where are you now? I¡¯ll come to you~]


    Kiera replied:[I¡¯m over at the northeast corner.]


    Rebecca:[Okay, I¡¯ll be right there.]

 Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 76

    Chapter 76: Chapter 76


    When Kiera Olsen put down her phone, she noticed that the first dance had ended.


    Jake Horton and Isla Olsen had moved from the dance floor to her side and were once again surrounded by a crowd offering their congratulations.


    Just then, someone approached her; it was Jake Horton¡¯s lackey, Arian O¡¯neil, who wore a smug look on his face. He said to Kiera Olsen, ¡°I know you¡¯re Dr. South, but even so, what of it? A mere researcher¡ªif that¡¯s all you are, how could you compare to young Mr. Horton¡¯s fianc¨¦e? She has connections with Clance! In this circle, it¡¯s the connections that matter the most!¡±


    Kiera Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    She ignored Arian O¡¯neil and looked into the distance, where she saw Mrs. Allen pushing Rebecca Allen out, who met with Frankie Allen and Mr. Allen. The four of them appeared to be discussing something, and Rebecca seemed quite agitated.


    Feeling somewhat concerned, she prepared to go over and see what was happening.


    But she hadn¡¯t expected that the moment she took a step, she would be stopped by Isla Olsen, who had just come down from the stage: ¡°Kiera, are you looking for Mr. Allen?¡±


    Isla had seen her just now and, seeing that Kiera Olsen intended to approach Frankie Allen, stood in front of her somewhat nervously.


    She didn¡¯t yet know that Rebecca Allen had also arrived at the banquet. All she knew was that she couldn¡¯t let Kiera Olsen speak alone with Frankie Allen. If something slipped and Frankie made a phone call, the truth would be revealed immediately!


    Fortunately, Frankie had just mentioned wanting to send someone away, giving her an excuse.


    If only she could get through today without incident, once the Allen Family left, no one would expose her!


    As soon as she spoke, Jake Horton turned his head and saw Kiera Olsen, too. He was dazzled by her appearance and stood there, stunned.


    Isla had planned to have him speak up and send people away, but seeing the infatuated look in Jake Horton¡¯s eyes, she clenched her fists in anger, upset that he remained silent.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    Taking a deep breath, Isla spoke again, ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s appropriate¡ªMr. Allen doesn¡¯t seem to want to see you.¡±


    Kiera Olsen gave her a cold glance and said, ¡°Who do you think you are to make decisions for Mr. Allen?¡±


    Isla looked down with an expression of grievance.


    She couldn¡¯t break her innocent flower image at this point; she particularly missed Poppy Hill, who was so handy and efficient!


    Luckily, Jake Horton finally snapped back to reality. He stepped forward, shielding Isla behind him, and said angrily, ¡°Kiera Olsen, what kind of way is that to talk? Isla is my fianc¨¦e. Who do you think you are to speak about her like that?¡±


    The surrounding people also immediately said:


    ¡°Exactly, Miss Olsen is like a hostess here. Among all the women present today, she holds the highest status!¡±


    ¡°Who is this person, speaking to Miss Olsen in such a manner? Doesn¡¯t she understand the principle of guests following the host¡¯s lead?¡±


    ¡°I think I just saw Mr. Horton talking to her; she couldn¡¯t be a companion brought by Mr. Horton, could she?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s just a companion, not Mrs. Horton. How could she possibly hold a higher status than Miss Isla Olsen!¡±


    Kiera Olsen frowned, not bothering to listen to these people anymore, and made to leave around them.


    But Isla Olsen stepped forward and grabbed her hand, ¡°Kiera, today is a celebration banquet, and there seems to be a bit of a misunderstanding between you and Mr. Allen. Don¡¯t go disturb Mr. Allen now; it could mess up the Horton Group¡¯s cooperation with the Allen Family.¡±


    Kiera Olsen shook off her hand, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡±


    She had not exerted much force, but Isla¡¯s eyes flickered as she took a step back and fell to the ground!


    Jake Horton immediately glared at Kiera Olsen, ¡°Kiera Olsen, how can you resort to hitting someone? Apologize to Isla right now!¡±


    Isla was his fianc¨¦e, and in such a setting, it was also his face that was being lost.


    Kiera Olsen looked at Isla with amusement, lightly saying, ¡°I didn¡¯t hit her¡­¡±


    ¡°I saw it all, still trying to deny it when everybody¡¯s watching?¡± Jake Horton took a deep breath, ¡°Kiera Olsen, do you think just because your uncle and grandmother dote on you, you can do whatever you want? This is the Horton Group, not your home! It¡¯s no place for your reckless behavior! Today, you must apologize to Isla and leave immediately, don¡¯t stay here and trouble Mr. Allen¡¯s eyes any longer!¡±


    The implications behind those words were numerous.


    Arian O¡¯neil deliberately inquired, ¡°Young Mr. Horton, what¡¯s going on here? Does Mr. Allen dislike her that much? Why?¡±


    Keira Olsen also wanted to know why, so she didn¡¯t argue and looked directly at Jake Horton.


    Jake Horton sneered, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s because of what she did at the hospital¡­¡±


    He hadn¡¯t finished his sentence when Isla Olsen grabbed his arm.


    When Jake Horton looked over, Isla Olsen shook her head slightly and sighed, ¡°It was Kiera who was thoughtless and offended Mr. Allen. The specifics involve personal privacy, so let¡¯s not talk about it.¡±


    Jake Horton thought Isla Olsen was referring to Rebecca Allen¡¯s matter, after all, she had married into a non-human family and had nearly been driven to death by her husband and mother-in-law. Indeed, it was not a glorious affair and was not suitable for public discussion.


    Isla Olsen continued, ¡°Jake, it was just that Kiera pushed me with more force than necessary, but it wasn¡¯t intentional, and I don¡¯t need her to apologize.¡±


    Jake Horton furrowed his brows, ¡°Isla, you¡¯re just too kind-hearted!¡±


    He looked at Keira Olsen and scolded, ¡°Isla is not holding it against you, so you should just get lost now, or I¡¯ll call security!¡±


    Isla Olsen quickly said, ¡°Kiera, Mr. Allen just spoke up. He doesn¡¯t want to see you here! For the good of Horton Group, you should leave first.¡±


    The words of the two made those around them speak up:


    ¡°After all, the Allen Family is the guest of honor today. We certainly need to prioritize his preferences, this lady should hurry up and leave!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, just leave quickly and stop making a scene here!¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s quite pretty, how can she be so shameless!¡±


    Jalen Riley, hearing these remarks, stood in front of Keira Olsen and yelled, ¡°Ke¡­ Miss Olsen is Mr. Horton¡¯s guest, I¡¯d like to see who dares to drive her away!¡±


    At these words, the group fell silent.


    ¡°I dare.¡±


    Jake Horton took a step forward, standing in front of Jalen Riley, ¡°I¡¯m determined to send this person away today, even if my uncle reprimands me for it, I will have her leave! So as not to affect our cooperation with the Allen Family!¡±


    On hearing this, those around immediately chimed in:


    ¡°Young Mr. Horton is decisive!¡±


    ¡°A femme fatale indeed. It¡¯s one thing for Mr. Horton and Mr. Allen to not get along, but how can the women around him not know how to dissuade him and instead add fuel to the fire?¡±


    ¡°A wise man chooses a wise wife! Look at her, and then look at Miss Olsen, educated and sensible, aware of the bigger picture, and most importantly, able to facilitate a good relationship between Young Mr. Horton and the Allen Family¡ªa truly virtuous partner.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The noise of the dispute grew louder, attracting the attention of the entire banquet hall.


    Rebecca Allen, who had just met Frankie Allen and Mr. Allen, had been told by Frankie Allen not to interact too closely with Keira Olsen and was feeling unhappy when she noticed the commotion on this side.


    She didn¡¯t want to join in the fuss at first, but then she noticed a problem, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the northeast corner?¡±


    Mr. Allen responded, ¡°Right.¡±


    Rebecca Allen panicked, ¡°Let¡¯s go have a look, maybe it¡¯s our savior in trouble!¡±


    Mr. Allen instinctively glanced at Frankie Allen¡¯s expression.


    Frankie Allen took a deep breath, saw the urgency in Rebecca Allen¡¯s face, and ultimately nodded. Thus, the family of four walked over in this direction.

 Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 77

    Chapter 77: Chapter 77


    Frankie Allen personally pushed Rebecca Allen¡¯s wheelchair, as the family of four arrived on the outskirts of the crowd.


    They didn¡¯t get too close, fearing that someone might accidentally bump into Rebecca, so they stopped at a short distance where they could faintly hear the conversation inside.


    Keira Olsen was surrounded by several people from the Horton Group, with fleeting shadows all around; the men were in suits and the women in evening dresses, which made it difficult to see exactly where she was at first.


    Only through the conversations of the people around them did they vaguely understand the details.


    Frankie said, ¡°It seems Miss Olsen is helping to drive that woman away, Rebecca, you should stay out of sight for now.¡±


    That woman¡­


    Rebecca nodded but refused to move further away; she wanted to stay and listen to their conversation, pushing Frankie, ¡°Brother, go and see what¡¯s happening. That woman is very fierce, don¡¯t let our benefactor suffer any loss. I¡¯ll wait for you here.¡±


    Frankie then had Mr. and Mrs. Allen look after Rebecca, while he himself pushed through the crowd to where Jake Horton and Keira Olsen stood.


    The people around, upon seeing him, respectfully called out, ¡°Mr. Allen.¡±


    Jake, seeing him, immediately said, ¡°Mr. Allen, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll send the person away right now to avoid any annoyance for you.¡±


    Without any more courtesy, he turned to Arian O¡¯neil and ordered, ¡°Go call security.¡±


    Frankie, remembering his sister¡¯s advice, first looked at Isla Olsen, who was holding her wrist, and frowned, ¡°Miss Olsen, are you hurt?¡±


    If his sister saw it, she would definitely be distressed!


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï


    Isla, pleased with his concern yet still gently said, ¡°It¡¯s just a minor injury, Keira didn¡¯t mean it¡­¡±


    But Frankie¡¯s brows were furrowed tightly.


    That woman dared to physically assault someone?!


    He looked at Keira with disgust and said sternly, ¡°You want to buy raw materials from the Allen Family, right? I can sell them to you¡­ on the condition that you immediately kneel down and apologize to Miss Olsen and kowtow three times.¡±


    Frankie didn¡¯t like Isla and certainly wouldn¡¯t stand up for her over something so trivial.


    He didn¡¯t want his sister¡¯s affairs to create a storm in the city, so he couldn¡¯t pursue the woman for her previous insults to his sister.


    Now, having caught an opportunity, he wanted to use it as a pretext to severely punish her on behalf of his sister.


    Make her pay for the vile words she once spoke!


    Keira Olsen¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously.


    This Frankie Allen is too bullying!


    Jalen Riley also angrily said, ¡°Mr. Allen, what great grudge compels you to such humiliation of others?¡±


    Even Jake felt it was too much and couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°Mr. Allen, Isla has let it go, and after all, they are sisters¡­¡±


    But Frankie was relentless, ¡°I am quite particular and narrow-minded, not as magnanimous as Miss Olsen.¡±


    He stared directly at Keira, expressionless, ¡°Believe it or not, if you can¡¯t satisfy me, I can make sure you won¡¯t be able to buy any raw materials in this country! Your small company can just wait for bankruptcy!¡±


    Initially, he only wanted to delay things, causing them to miss deliveries and pay some damages.


    Now, he intended to take it to the extreme!


    For a large conglomerate like the Allen Family, with generations of accumulation, crushing Keira Olsen¡¯s small company was a matter of moments, far too easy!


    Keira stared at him.


    This man was very gentle and polite to her back in the hospital.


    She really couldn¡¯t understand why his attitude had suddenly changed so drastically.


    Did he think she could only purchase raw materials domestically?


    Kiera Olsen clenched her jaw, a cold smile on her lips, just about to speak when Lewis Horton¡¯s icy voice rang out, ¡°Mr. Allen doesn¡¯t have that capability yet, does he?¡±


    The man who had gone out to make a call finally returned. The moment he entered, he saw Frankie Allen and Kiera Olsen facing off. He strode over to Kiera, positioning himself between her and Frankie.


    Frankie Allen glared at him, ¡°Mr. Horton, please don¡¯t interfere with the matters between her and me.¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s expression remained cool, ¡°What if I insist on intervening?¡±


    Frankie Allen was not a pushover either. On hearing this, his face turned colder, ¡°Then I might have to reconsider the cooperation between the Allen and Horton families!¡±


    At these words, everyone from Horton Group became anxious.


    Jake Horton said, ¡°Uncle, you can¡¯t neglect the company¡¯s interests for the sake of one woman!¡±


    Arian O¡¯neil took the opportunity to add, ¡°Yeah, Mr. Horton, young Mr. Horton and his fianc¨¦e have finally managed to maintain a good relationship with the Allen family. You may not wish to smooth things over, but why hinder it further?¡±


    These words resonated with the rest of the senior management of Horton Group, though no one dared to speak up.


    Seeing their reaction, Frankie Allen slowly explained, ¡°This man made my sister suffer greatly with just a few words. I must teach her a lesson. Is Mr. Horton sure he wants to make an enemy of our Allen family?¡±


    Frankie Allen had always been reluctant to oppose Lewis Horton. Even for the sake of Isla Olsen, he had given Jake some face, carefully treading within Lewis Horton¡¯s limits.


    But for his sister, he was willing to pay any price!


    Even if it meant being scolded by his aunt when he returned to Clance, he was willing to bear it!


    The executives present couldn¡¯t help but start to speak up:


    ¡°Mr. Horton, since it was this lady who hurt Miss Allen first, it¡¯s only fair for Mr. Allen to want some retribution¡­¡±


    ¡°Right, after all, they are our guests.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Horton, could you please consider the group¡¯s interests more¡­¡±


    Tom Davis, who had followed Lewis Horton, was also getting a bit anxious at this point and said in a low voice, ¡°Boss, everyone is siding with Jake now. If you continue to be forceful, I¡¯m afraid it may provoke general outrage.¡±


    Kiera Olsen, who had been standing behind Lewis Horton and listening to their conversation: ???


    She stepped forward and said directly, ¡°Mr. Allen, I really don¡¯t understand, what exactly did I do to hurt Rebecca? Why not call her over? If there¡¯s anything to discuss, we can talk it out face to face!¡±


    Isla Olsen immediately said, ¡°Kiera, Miss Allen is unwell and it¡¯s inconvenient for her to travel. How can you call her here? Aren¡¯t you making things difficult for Mr. Allen?¡±


    However, Lewis Horton spoke calmly, ¡°Indeed, we should invite Miss Allen here to clarify things.¡±


    Frankie Allen frowned, ¡°She¡¯s not in a position to¡­¡±


    His sister did not want to face the woman who had bullied her.


    But no sooner had these words left his mouth than Mr. Allen¡¯s voice traveled from the back of the crowd, ¡°Frankie, let your sister clarify things. It will prevent Mr. Horton from thinking that our Allen family is bullying others.¡±


    With that statement, he pushed Rebecca Allen¡¯s wheelchair out from the crowd.


    Feeling the eyes of so many on her, Rebecca Allen tilted her head, hesitating to look up.


    Seeing his sister like this, Frankie Allen¡¯s heart ached tremendously. He glared at Lewis Horton, ¡°Mr. Horton, once my sister has made things clear, I hope you will open your eyes. From then on, stop blindly protecting some of the scum of society without any bottom line!¡±


    He crouched down, pointing at Kiera Olsen, ¡°Rebecca, don¡¯t be scared. Look at her. Tell everyone what exactly this woman has done to you!¡±

 Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 78

    Chapter 78: Chapter 78


    Isla Olsen was completely confused, frozen in shock.


    Miss Allen¡­ how could she be here?!


    Her fingers clenched in panic, at this moment she just wanted to escape!


    Rebecca Allen was somewhat afraid, the betrayal of her husband and mother-in-law made her extremely unconfident.


    But under the gentle guidance of her brother¡¯s voice, she looked up following Frankie Allen¡¯s direction, expecting to see that despicable woman, yet unexpectedly she met the cold face of her benefactor!!


    Rebecca Allen was momentarily stunned.


    Keira Olsen looked at her, ¡°Rebecca, where did I offend you, or what did I say wrong to make you hate me so much?¡±


    Rebecca Allen: ??


    She waved her hands helplessly, ¡°No, I, I¡­¡±


    Frankie Allen comforted her, ¡°Rebecca, don¡¯t be afraid, you can speak boldly.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Mr. Allen slapped him on the head, ¡°Frankie, did you point out the wrong person? This is Miss Olsen, our benefactor!¡±


    Rebecca Allen immediately nodded.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï


    Frankie Allen was slightly stunned, looking towards Keira Olsen, only to see her face cold and mixed with anger, her eyes coldly watching them.


    He then looked towards Isla, indeed seeing her eyes flicker, her whole body trembling¡­


    Frankie Allen suddenly understood something!


    He pointed at Isla and asked Rebecca Allen, ¡°Rebecca, tell me, who is she?¡±


    Rebecca Allen looked over, then immediately withdrew her gaze and waved her hand, ¡°Brother, please get her away from me quickly, I don¡¯t want to see her!¡±


    This attitude¡­ clearly gave the answer!


    Frankie Allen¡¯s face changed drastically, suddenly saying, ¡°So, Keira Olsen was the one who saved you, and Isla was that malicious woman who saw you in peril but didn¡¯t help, even kicked you when you were down?!¡±


    Rebecca Allen immediately nodded.


    The conversation between the two was clearly heard by all the onlookers around.


    Everyone understood what was going on, and they shockingly looked towards Isla and Jake Horton.


    At that moment, Jake Horton also widened his eyes, his face in disbelief, slowly turning his head towards Isla, only to see her pale, bloodless complexion.


    The whole scene fell silent for a time, those executives who had just accused Keira Olsen and Lewis Horton, now quiet as mice.


    A cold and low voice suddenly rose, ¡°Mr. Allen, just who is the one who can¡¯t recognize people?¡±


    Lewis Horton responded lightly with sarcasm, ¡°You should visit a hospital for an eye examination.¡±


    Frankie Allen moved his mouth nervously, not daring to speak.


    Jalen Riley spoke sarcastically, ¡°Maybe you shouldn¡¯t bother saving people in the future, lest you get the wrong idea and someone cuts off your raw materials¡­ Oh right, Mr. Allen just said he was going to make it so Miss Olsen couldn¡¯t buy materials anywhere in the country, is that how the Allen family treats their benefactors?¡±


    Frankie Allen immediately looked at Keira Olsen, his face filled with profound apology.


    During this time, he had been dissatisfied with Isla because she had made various demands on him, but the real benefactor had never taken advantage of her kindness!


    He said directly, ¡°Miss Olsen, I was blind, and I will make sure your materials are delivered in full!¡±


    ¡°¡­Oh, okay.¡±


    The annoyance on Keira Olsen¡¯s face had disappeared, and upon realizing the truth, she even felt somewhat amused.


    She had not expected Isla to stoop so low as to take credit for her actions!


    She didn¡¯t get angry randomly. Frankie Allen had been deceived by her¡­ but this person¡¯s brain and sight were not so good, perhaps it¡¯s best to cooperate less in the future.


    After Frankie Allen apologized, it was only then that he thought of the culprit, and he fiercely turned towards the area where Isla Olsen had been standing, intending to settle scores with her. But when he looked, he found¡­ Isla Olsen was gone?


    He frowned, his tone dark as he said, ¡°Where is Isla Olsen?¡±


    ¡°She just ran off¡­¡±


    Frankie Allen could only glare fiercely at Jake Horton, ¡°Young Mr. Horton, you owe me an explanation for this!¡±


    Taking the opportunity, Jalen Riley said, ¡°Young Mr. Horton, you¡¯re too impatient. It hasn¡¯t been long since you graduated, yet you¡¯re eager to establish yourself in the Horton Group. But shouldn¡¯t we rely on true skill and genuine knowledge? Why always use these underhanded tactics?¡±


    As soon as these words were out, the surrounding crowd began to buzz:


    ¡°It was the same with Dr. South¡¯s incident. He got promoted to vice president thanks to Dr. South, but it turned out, Dr. South actually had connections with Mr. Horton¡­¡±


    ¡°I see it clear now, this time he planned to get promoted to general manager by banking on a life-saving favor!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just shameless.¡±


    ¡°So it turns out Isla Olsen has always been stealing others¡¯ credit, while Miss Olsen, without any conflict or aggression, has actually been helping us so much¡­¡±


    ¡°Mr. Allen now can¡¯t lift his head in front of Mr. Horton. When Mr. Horton mentioned he wanted to check on the ophthalmology department, he didn¡¯t dare to say a word. The cooperation hereafter would likely be much smoother!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    With the eyes and whispers of the crowd piercing his back, Jake Horton explained, ¡°I didn¡¯t know it was like this. This was all Isla Olsen¡¯s doing, it has nothing to do with me. I was also deceived by her!¡±


    Unfortunately, no one would believe him.


    After all, as a couple, they had just announced their engagement with great fanfare!


    Frankie Allen took a deep breath and turned to Lewis Horton, ¡°Mr. Horton, I retract the suggestion I made during the signing, and I demand that our project collaboration between the Allen Family and Horton Family be carried out without young Mr. Horton¡¯s involvement!¡±


    Lewis Horton responded indifferently, ¡°Okay.¡±


    He glanced around, then firmly said, ¡°The proposal to promote Jake Horton to the head of the project department is cancelled, and he is also removed from his position as the vice director of the R&D department. Does anyone object?¡±


    The people shook their heads.


    And Jake Horton felt like he had just been slapped hard across the face!


    He clenched his fists tightly, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into, and eventually left in humiliation.


    ¡°Benefactor!¡±


    Rebecca Allen called out softly and then approached Kiera Olsen, almost crying, ¡°My brother is really foolish. He mistook you guys and even thought he was avenging me. Did he do anything excessive to you?¡±


    Kiera Olsen glanced at Frankie Allen who, although trying to appear calm, was so nervous he didn¡¯t know where to put his hands, betraying his anxiety.


    She smiled slightly and said lightly, ¡°No.¡±


    Rebecca Allen immediately relaxed, ¡°That¡¯s a relief then.¡±


    Frankie Allen paused slightly, his look towards Kiera Olsen filled with somewhat grateful sentiments.


    Suddenly, his eyes flashed darkly again.


    He looked at Lewis Horton, ¡°Mr. Horton, where does Isla Olsen live? When someone makes a mistake, they must pay the price!¡±


    Lewis Horton narrowed his eyes and nodded towards Tom Davis behind him, ¡°Go help Mr. Allen.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Meanwhile, Kiera Olsen lowered her head, quietly conversing with Rebecca Allen.


    Mr. Allen stared relentlessly at Kiera Olsen.


    Mrs. Allen nudged him, ¡°Old Allen, what are you doing?¡±


    Mr. Allen¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°I remember now, no wonder I found Miss Olsen so familiar! I know whose daughter she is now!¡±


    With that, he walked directly towards Kiera Olsen, ¡°Miss Olsen, is your mother¡¯s surname South?¡±

 Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Chapter 79

    Chapter 79: Chapter 79


    Kiera Olsen was taken aback, she shook her head, ¡°No, what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Mrs. Olsen¡¯s surname is South.


    Mr. Allen, however, was startled, ¡°Not? Are you sure you didn¡¯t get it wrong?¡±


    Her eyebrows and eyes, even her face, were exactly like those of the person he knew! She looked just like her when she was young!


    Kiera Olsen paused, ¡°No.¡±


    Mr. Allen frowned, a look of disappointment on his face, ¡°Oh, then perhaps I¡¯ve overthought it.¡±


    Kiera Olsen didn¡¯t mind.


    However, Mrs. Allen couldn¡¯t help but pinch Mr. Allen, whispering, ¡°Who does Miss Olsen resemble? Looking at you, could she be your ¡®old flame¡¯?¡±


    Mr. Allen immediately begged for mercy and replied in a low voice, ¡°Ouch, be gentle, don¡¯t talk nonsense, she¡¯s an elder! Her surname is South, and her daughter¡¯s surname is South, too. This resemblance made me think she was her grandmother¡­¡±


    Mrs. Allen then realized she had misspoken and quickly said, ¡°It¡¯s your disappointed look that made me overthink!¡±


    Mr. Allen couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry, ¡°That elder, I met her when I was young. Her elegance is unforgettable, if you ever saw her, you¡¯d feel the same as me¡­¡±


    Mrs. Allen asked curiously, ¡°Who? In Clance?¡±


    ¡°She only settled in Clance back then; now I don¡¯t know where she is,¡± Mr. Allen waved his hand, ¡°I haven¡¯t heard any news about her in the past few years.¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï


    Frankie Allen, after getting news about the Olsen Family from Tom Davis, approached and said, ¡°Dad, I¡¯ll go to the Olsen Household in a bit. Their daughter has deceived and played me like a fool, I must demand an explanation from them!¡±


    Mr. Allen mocked him, ¡°Our Mr. Allen, who has seen countless people, has also been deceived.¡±


    He looked towards Kiera Olsen and inquired, ¡°I wonder, Miss Olsen, what kind of person do you think you are in your eyes? And should we allow Rebecca to keep in touch with her?¡±


    Frankie¡¯s face turned red, and he said nothing.


    Mrs. Allen, on the other hand, was looking at Lewis Horton in the distance and sighed silently without saying a word.


    The banquet soon came to an end, and everyone started to leave one after another.


    Lewis Horton personally saw Mr. Allen and his family of four out.


    Frankie Allen¡¯s mood had already returned to a pleasant one, and with strong mental fortitude, he chuckled and made small talk with Lewis Horton before the group said their goodbyes in the parking lot.


    Kiera Olsen also came to see Rebecca Allen off.


    The girl in the wheelchair, even though she had married and divorced, clung to her hand like a child, reluctant to let go, ¡°I¡¯ll be back in the hospital, you must come and see me, I¡¯m leaving tomorrow.¡±


    Mrs. Allen laughed and cried, ¡°After you return to Clance, cooperate with the treatment. Once you¡¯re well, you can come to visit Miss Olsen. Nowadays, transportation is so convenient, don¡¯t act like it¡¯s a life or death parting.¡±


    Rebecca Allen became somewhat shy at these words.


    Kiera Olsen also smiled warmly.


    In fact, she quite liked Rebecca, the girl who was well cared for at home, pure and kind-hearted, clearly brought up with love ¨C a fortunate child.


    It was the life she envied the most.


    Kiera Olsen said softly, ¡°I¡¯ll come to see you off tomorrow.¡±


    Rebecca was finally satisfied and was lifted into the car by Frankie.


    Mr. Allen told Mrs. Allen, ¡°You take Rebecca back, I¡¯ll go to the Olsens with Frankie.¡±


    Kiera Olsen¡¯s brows furrowed instantly.


    The Allen Family, having been deceived by Isla Olsen, wouldn¡¯t rest until they settled the matter; their seeking the family was understandable.


    After some thought, she still spoke up, ¡°Uncle Allen, I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t heading there to prevent the Allen family from giving Isla Olsen trouble ¨C after all, she too was a victim and was no saint.


    It was just that she couldn¡¯t rest easy about Mrs. Olsen¡¯s health.


    Mr. Allen, of course, agreed, ¡°Alright.¡±


    Lewis Horton heard this and stepped forward to Kiera Olsen, ¡°I¡¯ll drive you.¡±


    ¡°`


    But just as he finished speaking, Tom Davis weakly reminded, ¡°Boss, you still have an international conference later¡­¡±


    Lewis Horton pursed his lips, seemingly still wanting to insist.


    Kiera Olsen hurriedly said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to see me off¡­¡±


    Frankie Allen also spoke up, ¡°Just take our car, it¡¯s on the way back to the hospital.¡±


    He glanced at Kiera Olsen and then immediately averted his gaze.


    Lewis Horton¡¯s eyes darkened, his gaze falling on Kiera Olsen. She really was excessively beautiful today¡­


    He sneered, ¡°Forget it, Mr. Allen has poor vision, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t see the road clearly when driving.¡±


    Frankie Allen: ??


    Even though he was usually gentle, he had a temper. His face grew cold, ¡°The Allen family certainly isn¡¯t so poor that we can¡¯t afford a driver, Mr. Horton is jesting.¡±


    Lewis Horton wanted to retort with more biting remarks, but Jalen Riley jumped in, ¡°I¡¯ll take Miss Olsen. It happens to be on my way.¡±


    My cousin had just begun to mend his relationship with the Allen family, let¡¯s not cause another scene now!


    So many executives from the Horton Group were watching!


    Lewis Horton nodded, reluctantly agreeing.


    Kiera Olsen then followed Jalen Riley and got into the back seat of his car.


    As the car started, Jalen Riley looked at Lewis Horton in the outside rearview mirror, then at Kiera Olsen in the inside rearview mirror. He coughed and suddenly asked, ¡°What exactly is your relationship with my cousin?¡±


    Kiera Olsen raised an eyebrow.


    Jalen Riley continued, ¡°I¡¯m reminding you, my cousin is married, and although I haven¡¯t met that cousin-in-law of mine, the two have been married for two years and have a very good relationship. Don¡¯t accidentally become the other woman.¡±


    Kiera Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    She touched her chin and said with a smile that was not quite a smile, ¡°Do you know who his legal wife is?¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    Kiera Olsen blinked, ¡°Me.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Jalen Riley let out a strange laugh, ¡°Dr. South, don¡¯t joke with me. My cousin¡¯s wife is studying abroad, how could it possibly be you!¡±


    Kiera Olsen fell silent.


    Together with the Allen family¡¯s car, they arrived at the Olsen¡¯s.


    After getting out of the car, Kiera Olsen took the lead to enter the house, wanting to greet Mrs. Olsen first to prevent the Allen family from storming in without giving her a psychological preparation.


    Hurrying her steps, just as she entered the living room, she never expected to be met with a resounding slap!


    ¡°SMACK!¡±


    Kiera Olsen turned her head to the side, feeling a burning pain on her cheek, her mouth filled with a strong taste of iron. A trickle of blood flowed from the corner of her mouth.


    Taylor Olsen stood infuriated in front of her, ¡°Ungrateful creature, why did you steal your sister¡¯s credit?! You¡¯re just jealous of her and want her engagement with the Horton family to be broken off!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The surprise in Kiera Olsen¡¯s eyes slowly faded. She licked the corner of her lips, swallowing all the blood in her mouth, feeling a chill in her heart.


    She saw Isla Olsen sitting on the couch behind Taylor Olsen, crying her eyes out red.


    The kind and gentle Mrs. Olsen came over, also with a look of shock, ¡°Taylor, what are you doing! How can you just listen to Isla¡¯s one-sided story and attack Kiera?!¡±


    Taylor Olsen retorted, ¡°Shirley, no matter what the truth is, I only know that Isla is our daughter! She¡¯s an illegitimate daughter who has been raised by the Olsen family, she should maintain Isla¡¯s dignity outside!¡±


    At that moment, the Allen family father and son walked in with bodyguards, looking imposing.


    Seeing them, Taylor Olsen instinctively protected Mrs. Olsen behind him, ¡°Who are you people? How can you trespass on private property!¡±


    Frankie Allen had a stern expression, about to speak when Mr. Allen caught sight of Mrs. Olsen and exclaimed in surprise, ¡°¡­Jodie? You¡¯re Jodie South?¡±


    ¡°`

 Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Chapter 80

    Chapter 80: Chapter 80


    ¡°`


    Frankie Allen came today to discipline Isla Olsen, so he brought many bodyguards, all of whom had fierce expressions. As they entered, they blocked the way, looking very menacing.


    Isla Olsen, sitting on the sofa, was terrified. Her little face was pale, and not even daring to cry, her tears hung in her eyes, threatening to fall.


    Taylor Olsen had never seen such a display and was tightly protecting Mrs. Olsen, his face showing a few hints of panic.


    However, the very Mrs. Olsen he was protecting, who usually appeared the most delicate and was also in ill health, was the most composed at that moment. She furrowed her brows at the people in front of her, not revealing a trace of panic from beginning to end.


    And after Mr. Allen called out her name, Mrs. Olsen looked toward Mr. Allen with a slight stun, hesitating for a while before speaking, ¡°Mr. Allen?¡±


    Mr. Allen nodded, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me.¡±


    He furrowed his brows as he sized up his surroundings. The Olsen Family¡¯s background was nowhere near worthy of his attention, so after a moment¡¯s hesitation, he said, ¡°Back in the day, when you and your sisters shone brightly in Clance, suitors were countless. How could you end up marrying into¡­¡±


    The words ¡°such a family¡± were left unsaid, but his expression made them clear.


    Taylor Olsen¡¯s face changed slightly, showing a trace of anger.


    But Jodie South, lowering her head and coughing twice, shifted the topic, ¡°Mr. Allen, have you come to our home for?¡±


    Frankie Allen said in anger, ¡°It¡¯s to demand an explanation from Miss Isla!¡±


    Mr. Allen immediately reminded him, ¡°Frankie, Miss South is also considered one of your elders. Speak with respect.¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    Frankie Allen choked and could only calmly relay the events.


    When Jodie South heard that Isla had not only failed to offer a helping hand to a girl in distress but had also spoken maliciously and kicked her when she was down, her expression darkened, and her gentle eyes instantly turned sharp.


    Furthermore, upon hearing that she had disguised herself as Keira Olsen and taken credit for achievements she didn¡¯t deserve, she clenched her fists tightly, shaking slightly with anger. Her coughing, which had been suppressed by medication, became uncontrollable.


    She covered her chest and began to cough violently.


    Taylor Olsen hurriedly supported her shoulders and patted her back, ¡°Shirley, don¡¯t worry, don¡¯t get angry¡­¡±


    Seeing this, Frankie Allen could not continue to say more.


    Mr. Allen also hastily said, ¡°Miss South, don¡¯t worry. Since Isla is your child, let¡¯s forget this matter; we won¡¯t pursue it.¡±


    Frankie Allen frowned, ¡°Dad.¡±


    Mr. Allen glared at him.


    Frankie Allen had to close his mouth and say no more.


    Jodie South, with one hand on her chest, looked up at him, ¡°Mr. Allen¡­ cough, cough, cough¡­ about this matter¡­ cough, cough¡­ I will certainly¡­ discipline her properly¡­ and give you an explanation¡­¡±


    Seeing her condition, Mr. Allen waved his hands more earnestly, ¡°No need, no need. You just focus on getting some rest. My son and I will take our leave now.¡±


    Having said that, he pulled the reluctant Frankie Allen out the door.


    Before leaving, Frankie Allen glanced at Keira Olsen, noticing her swollen cheeks and gaze fixed on Mrs. Olsen. Frankie had to leave without moving his feet further.


    Once they got into the car, he coldly said, ¡°Dad, what is your relationship with that Miss South? Why are you helping her so much? You haven¡¯t done anything to dishonor my mom, have you?¡±


    Mr. Allen smacked him on the head, ¡°What nonsense are you talking? Our Allen Family owes her a debt of gratitude from the past!¡±


    Frankie Allen then relaxed.


    However, Mr. Allen¡¯s brow furrowed, ¡°I feel like I¡¯m forgetting something¡­ Never mind, I don¡¯t want to think about it anymore.¡±


    He then sighed for Jodie South, ¡°Such a distinguished person back in the day¡­ how did she come to fall to such a state¡­¡±


    The few people in the room were unaware of their conversation.


    At that moment, the living room was filled with Jodie South¡¯s coughing. Taylor Olsen, flustered and clueless, his eyes red with distress, said, ¡°Shirley, what¡¯s wrong with you? How to stop this cough? Let¡¯s go to the hospital!¡±


    Keira Olsen stepped forward, bringing a glass of water to Jodie South and took the medication she was taking from the table and handed it to her.


    About two minutes later, Jodie South finally stopped coughing.


    Her complexion unnaturally red, she looked at Isla, ¡°Kneel down!¡±


    Isla¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, ¡°Mom?¡±


    ¡°I told you to kneel down!¡±


    Jodie South was emotionally agitated and coughed again.


    Taylor Olsen couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Shirley, don¡¯t be angry, this isn¡¯t such a big deal.¡±


    ¡°`


    Jodie South said angrily, ¡°The most important thing about a person is their character, and to think she would do such a thing. She previously used Dr. South¡¯s name, and now she¡¯s stolen Kiera¡¯s credit, how could I not be angry!¡±


    Seeing her so worked up that she was about to start coughing again, Keira Olsen hurriedly said, ¡°Mrs. Olsen, getting angry is bad for your health.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, Taylor Olsen looked directly at her and scolded angrily, ¡°You know Jodie¡¯s health is poor, so why did you bring them here?! Do you want to anger Jodie to death to be satisfied?¡±


    Keira Olsen clenched her fists and said, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who brought them here.¡±


    She was explaining to Mrs. Olsen, as for everyone else, she didn¡¯t care at all.


    Jodie South nodded, ¡°I know; you came in ahead of them on purpose to tip us off, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Keira Olsen lowered her head, feeling a warmth around her eyes.


    Mrs. Olsen understood her.


    She had never been one to give unilaterally.


    But Taylor Olsen laughed coldly, ¡°Jodie, don¡¯t be fooled by her! If she really cared about you, she would have said that the phone call was made by her and her sister together! Then the Allen family would surely not have pursued the matter any further!¡±


    Jodie South suddenly looked at him, ¡°How can you be so unprincipled in what you do? It¡¯s because we spoiled her too much that she has become like this!!¡±


    Taylor Olsen was at a loss for words.


    But Isla Olsen stood up from the couch abruptly, ¡°Became what exactly?!¡±


    She glared fiercely and shouted at Jodie South, ¡°I¡¯ve become what I am today because you forced me to! Go and see, which family regards an illegitimate daughter so highly! In your heart, will I never measure up to her?¡±


    Her tears rolled down, ¡°From childhood, I have always had to outdo Keira Olsen because I was afraid you would like her and not like me! As an adult, it was even more so; why do you think I went to such lengths to marry Jake? It was to gain your attention! To let you know that your daughter is the best!¡±


    ¡°Keira Olsen, are you very pleased with yourself? Your mom wrecked my parents¡¯ marriage, and you took away my mom! What right do you have to act so wronged here? Even after you left the Olsen family, didn¡¯t you still cling to your mom using Dr. South¡¯s identity?¡±


    ¡°I worked so hard in college, but she outperformed me¡­ If I hadn¡¯t stolen her identity this time, Jake would have broken off our engagement!¡±


    ¡°Everything I¡¯ve done, I did to make you, mom, look at me highly!¡±


    After screaming these words, she ran upstairs, burst into the bedroom, and slammed the door shut with a ¡°bang.¡±


    Leaving Jodie South standing there stunned.


    She looked upstairs in shock, ¡°Am I really like that?¡±


    She felt something was wrong, but couldn¡¯t find the words to refute it.


    After all, deep down in her heart, she did indeed prefer Keira Olsen, even though she knew she shouldn¡¯t, she just couldn¡¯t help it¡­


    Taylor Olsen sighed, ¡°Jodie, Isla is our biological daughter, Keira Olsen is an outsider, you really are¡­¡±


    He did not finish his sentence.


    Then he glared at Keira Olsen, ¡°You troublemaker, during the years you weren¡¯t here, we were always peaceful. As soon as you showed up, the house immediately lost its peace. From now on, you¡¯re not allowed to set foot in the Olsens¡¯ house again!¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s jaw tightened.


    Mrs. Olsen wanted to say something, but Taylor Olsen grabbed her by the arm, ¡°Jodie, there should be distinctions between those close to us and those who are not¡­ don¡¯t be confused anymore!¡±


    Mrs. Olsen was stunned for a moment, guilt rising in her heart.


    Guilt toward Isla, and toward Keira Olsen.


    Keira Olsen felt as if a huge stone was pressing on her chest. She knew what she had to do, as she had long been accustomed to it.


    She lowered her gaze and took a step back, ¡°Mrs. Olsen, take good care of yourself; don¡¯t worry about me.¡±


    Then, she turned and left with determined steps.


    Her steps were firm, her spine straight.


    But at the moment she walked out the door, a single tear rolled down from the corner of her eye.


    She had never had the right to stand by Mrs. Olsen¡¯s side.


    She reached up, gently wiped the corner of her eye, and erased the tear marks.


    At that moment, her phone rang. It was a call from her Uncle Finley Hill. His voice was weary and panicked, ¡°Niece, I¡¯m selling that secret for five million dollars. Do you want it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡±

 Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 81

    Chapter 81: Chapter 81


    Keira Olsen didn¡¯t care about that five million.


    After all, the money owed by Finley Hill was brought about by her own subordinates¡¯ mischief, and in the end, the money would circle back to her hands.


    Finley Hill lowered his voice, ¡°Then transfer the money now.¡±


    Keira Olsen narrowed her eyes, ¡°Tell me the secret first.¡±


    ¡°No, pay me first!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen knew her uncle¡¯s nature all too well.


    If he dared to ask Isla Olsen for five million for a secret, then the secret itself was obviously worth way more than that. She still remembered the deposit of two hundred thousand from last time. So, if she transferred the money, Finley Hill would be even less likely to tell the truth.


    Keira Olsen snorted, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to sell it, forget it.¡±


    Having said that, she silently waited.


    Sure enough, Finley Hill became anxious, ¡°I¡¯ll sell! I¡¯ll sell! Keira, please come and save me! I owe them money, and they are going to kill me! I am now hiding in the suburbs and don¡¯t dare to show my face!¡±


    Keira Olsen cast her eyes down, ¡°Didn¡¯t you go to Isla Olsen?¡±


    ¡°How did I not?!¡± Finley Hill said with anger in his voice, ¡°But she said she couldn¡¯t come up with so much money. The Olsen family is worth billions. How is it possible they can¡¯t even come up with five million? She¡¯s just climbed up the high branch and doesn¡¯t need the Olsen family anymore, so she¡¯s acting recklessly, not afraid I¡¯ll divulge the truth, that¡¯s why she refuses to help me!¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.??


    Finley Hill¡¯s voice was full of pleading, ¡°Great-niece, come save me, I guarantee it will be worth your while! My secret, even if I asked for ten million from you, it would be worth it!¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s voice remained indifferent as if she wasn¡¯t interested, ¡°Just because you say it¡¯s worth ten million doesn¡¯t make it so. I have to weigh whether your secret is truly worth that much or not.¡±


    The less she seemed to care, the more Finley Hill feared she wouldn¡¯t come through, and the more information he leaked.


    Keira Olsen was playing a psychological game with him.


    After being chased and beaten these past two days, Finley Hill¡¯s nerves were shot, and his mental state had reached its breaking point. Hearing her words, he indeed exclaimed, ¡°It¡¯s worth it, absolutely worth it! This matter concerns you and the Olsen family!¡±


    ¡°What about me and the Olsen family? I have no relationship whatsoever with the Olsen family!¡±


    Keira Olsen continued to fish for information.


    But Finley Hill said, ¡°I can¡¯t say any more unless you give me the money!¡±


    Keira Olsen understood that Finley Hill was no fool; with his street-smart cunning, it was unlikely she would be able to coax out anything more from him. She asked, ¡°Where are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll send you my location on WhatsApp in a moment; come over with the money.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Finley Hill sent her a location via WhatsApp.


    Keira Olsen had already left the villa area and was standing by the road.


    She touched her swollen cheek, about to hail a car online, when a familiar black Bentley suddenly stopped in front of her.


    Keira Olsen was slightly taken aback to see the rear car door slowly open and Lewis Horton seated inside, looking at his laptop, engaged in an international conference call.


    The man was speaking in French, his deep voice especially pleasant to hear.


    He glanced at Keira Olsen, his gaze suddenly returning to her cheek.


    The man¡¯s words came to a halt, his voice growing cold, then he began again, ¡°J¡¯ai quelque chose, continuez.¡± (I have something, continue.)


    He took off his headset, closed his laptop, and gestured her to get in, pointing at the seat.


    Then, opening the car refrigerator, he took out an ice pack wrapped in a towel and handed it to her, ¡°Put this on first.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen looked at him in shock, ¡°Why would you have these things in the car?¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s gaze was distant as he said indifferently, ¡°Hmm, Tom Davis often gets injured, so I keep them ready at hand.¡±


    Tom Davis, who was responsible for driving: ??


    As the boss¡¯s personal assistant, how come he was unaware that he often got injured! Clearly, it was after Miss Olsen arrived that the boss felt uneasy, followed her, and while in the meeting was looking outside. Upon running into Frankie Allen, who mentioned that Miss Olsen had been struck, he immediately dispatched him to buy these items from a supermarket.


    But he didn¡¯t dare to puncture that bubble.


    Kiera Olsen suddenly realized, ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡±


    She got into the car, took the towel, and pressed it against her face, the scalding sensation indeed eased, clearing her head somewhat.


    Yet her gaze fell upon a supermarket receipt, and although it was just a fleeting glance, she saw that it had just been bought.


    For some reason, the grievances she had just suppressed suddenly surged to her heart again, making the tip of her nose feel sour.


    Kiera Olsen remembered when she was a child, a classmate was injured at school and was very brave when teachers and classmates asked about it, but when he saw his mother at the school gate after classes, although the wound was no longer hurting, he cried his eyes out.


    She could never understand why.


    But at this moment, she suddenly understood the feeling somewhat.


    ¡­How pathetic, reverting with age.


    Kiera Olsen turned her head away, pressing the towel against her cheek, but her eyes felt an intense stinging.


    She tried to control herself, but the grievances deeply buried in her heart had fermented over so many years. In an instant, such thick emotions surged, and she couldn¡¯t suppress them no matter how hard she tried.


    She took a deep breath and suddenly said, ¡°Mr. Horton, could I borrow your shoulder for a moment?¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s body stiffened, his face suddenly turning ashen.


    Only then did Kiera Olsen realize she had acted presumptuously and was about to say something to make amends, but she saw the man cough lightly, move closer to her, and pat his shoulder, ¡°You can borrow it for five minutes.¡±


    ¡°¡­Alright.¡±


    Kiera Olsen buried her head in his shoulder, and finally, the tears that she had been holding back flowed freely.


    She never knew a person could shed so many tears.


    After all, since she understood things, she had never cried so intensely.


    Because she knew, when others cried someone would feel sorry for them, but she had no one.


    Five minutes later, seeing the large, damp patch on the man¡¯s suit, Kiera Olsen felt a bit embarrassed. Just as she was wondering how to apologize, Lewis Horton handed her an anti-inflammatory ointment and Eronase capsules to take.


    Kiera Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    Such a minor injury, really unnecessary.


    She didn¡¯t voice this mood-spoiling remark, simply took them silently, and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡±


    Silence returned to the car.


    Kiera Olsen also sat up straight.


    Having cried, a lot of the emotional pressure had been released, and her mood finally began to settle down. That was when she noticed the car was heading towards the hospital.


    Kiera Olsen remembered the urgent matter and quickly took out her phone, ¡°Could we stop by here?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    The car changed direction and soon arrived in the suburbs.


    It was an abandoned hospital.


    The darkness of the night, combined with the dim light of the street lamps, made the dilapidation here seem desolate.


    Kiera Olsen took out her phone and sent a WhatsApp message to Finley Hill: [I¡¯ve arrived, where are you?]


    Finley Hill replied quickly: [Room 303, hurry up.]


    Kiera Olsen rushed to the third floor.


    Lewis Horton clenched his jaw, following closely behind her, not at ease.


    The two quickly arrived at room 303.


    Kiera Olsen knocked on the door, ¡°Uncle, it¡¯s me.¡±


    Finley Hill¡¯s voice came from inside, ¡°Come in.¡±

 Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Chapter 82

    Chapter 82: Chapter 82


    Lewis Horton took a step forward, intending to enter first.


    But Kiera Olsen didn¡¯t wait for him to speak; she had already quietly pushed the door open.


    She didn¡¯t trust her uncle very much, fearing he had set some kind of trap to threaten or tempt her, so she was very cautious at this moment.


    The room was pitch dark; the lights were off.


    Kiera Olsen slowly walked in and, just as she entered, saw a shadow charging straight at her: ¡°My dear niece, if you don¡¯t give me money today, don¡¯t think about leaving!¡±


    This threatening tone¡­


    Kiera Olsen narrowed her eyes, let out a cold laugh, and kicked the person fiercely, sending them flying.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The figure fell to the ground.


    Hearing the noise, Lewis Horton quickly pushed the door open and anxiously asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± due to the darkness and not knowing what had happened.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    As these words fell, Tom Davis, following behind them, took out a powerful flashlight and shone it towards Kiera Olsen¡¯s direction, illuminating half the room as if it were daylight.


    While Kiera Olsen remained alert for any more movements from Finley Hill behind her, she glanced at Lewis Horton and noticed his pupils shrink, his jaw tense as he stared intently behind her!!


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï


    Kiera Olsen frowned, puzzled, and turned around.


    Lewis Horton instinctively took a step forward, trying to block her line of sight.


    But Kiera Olsen shook her head slightly, avoiding his protection, and looked fixedly¡­


    The next moment, she froze on the spot!


    Finley Hill was lying on the ground, face up, his eyes wide open, body twitching slightly. A rusty steel bar had pierced straight through his chest from behind!


    His clothes were stained with blood, looking extremely horrifying!


    Kiera Olsen¡¯s heart sank slightly, and she hurried forward to check.


    Just then, an impatient voice came from outside the door, ¡°Dad, I¡¯m here.¡±


    Subsequently, a man in his twenties who looked somewhat like Finley Hill rushed in.


    Kiera Olsen knew him; he was Finley Hill¡¯s son, Connor Hill!


    He was a year younger than Isla Olsen and Kiera Olsen, currently studying at Oceanion University.


    Finley Hill had once asked Kiera Olsen for tuition fees boasting about his son getting into university, but she hadn¡¯t given him anything.


    Because she knew, even if she gave it, it would just go to his gambling.


    Having such a father made Connor Hill quite gloomy and not very sociable. He didn¡¯t get along well with his family.


    Now, he was full of anger: ¡°I borrowed twenty thousand from a classmate, I don¡¯t have any more. If you push me further, I¡¯ll go abroad and never take care of you¡­ Dad?!¡±


    He saw Finley Hill and was shocked, dropping the bag he was holding. The twenty thousand spilled out¡­


    He rushed to Finley Hill¡¯s side, his fingers trembling as he touched his nostril¡­


    The next moment, he jerked back, crouching on the ground. Then, he turned to look at Kiera Olsen, panicked: ¡°You¡­ did you kill him?!¡±


    He fumbled on the ground for his phone, his hands shaking as he dialed 110: ¡°Hello, I need to report a murder; my dad¡¯s been killed!¡±¡­


    The police arrived quickly, and they found the power switch for the abandoned building, turning it on and illuminating the entire building.


    Kiera Olsen and the other three were now under police interrogation.


    Connor Hill¡¯s eyes were slightly red, but he did not cry, his expression seemed to carry a sense of relief, ¡°My dad sent me a message, asking me to gather five million for him, otherwise, he was going to be beaten to death. But I haven¡¯t started working yet, where could I borrow that kind of money for him?¡±


    ¡°I managed to gather twenty thousand from classmates, thinking to help him out in an emergency¡­¡±


    ¡°But when I got there, I found my dad already dead! So I called the police.¡±


    Tom Davis was also making a statement, ¡°I came with the boss to drop off Miss Olsen, she had arranged to meet this person here, and since the building was dark inside, we came over. Miss Olsen entered first, then the boss and I heard sounds of a scuffle inside. Fearing Miss Olsen might be at a disadvantage, we entered¡­ I turned on a flashlight and saw him lying there¡­¡±


    The police asked, ¡°Before you entered the room, was he alive or dead?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Tom Davis involuntarily looked at Keira Olsen with a guilty conscience.


    The police officer spoke sternly, ¡°Giving false testimony is a crime.¡±


    Tom Davis still did not speak.


    Lewis Horton, however, spoke up, ¡°Before entering the door, Miss Olsen knocked, and a man¡¯s voice came from inside, saying to come in.¡±


    The police asked, ¡°Was it the voice of the deceased?¡±


    Lewis Horton replied realistically, ¡°I don¡¯t know him.¡±


    Finally, the police turned to Keira Olsen, ¡°Miss Olsen, was the voice you heard that of the deceased? What exactly happened!¡±


    ¡°It was his voice.¡± Keira Olsen¡¯s gaze lingered contemplatively on Finley Hill¡¯s corpse. She slowly said, ¡°After I entered, I heard him threatening me and lunging at me. Instinctively, I kicked him away, and then it turned out like this.¡±


    Before the police could speak, Connor Hill clenched his fists immediately, ¡°So, you didn¡¯t do it on purpose? Was it manslaughter in self-defense?¡±


    Keira Olsen replied calmly, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    The police were puzzled, ¡°What don¡¯t you know?¡±


    Before Keira Olsen could respond, Lewis Horton said, ¡°The room was very dark, and Miss Olsen merely kicked the person away. How he actually died is not clear.¡±


    Lewis Horton looked at her, ¡°Miss Olsen, please think back carefully, did you hear the sound of a weapon entering a body, a blade penetrating? Did you hear his screams?¡±


    During the time the police were there, Keira Olsen had been repeatedly recalling every detail of what had just happened.


    So upon hearing his question, she shook her head directly, ¡°No.¡±


    Connor Hill was stunned, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    Keira Olsen looked at the police, her tone resolute, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who killed him.¡±


    The police officer was slightly taken aback.


    Ordinary girls witnessing a murder scene would have been scared sick by now, but this woman not only maintained a stoic face, she could also speak so logically about it, which was impressive.


    He said directly, ¡°We have recorded all the evidence at the scene, and everything you just said. Miss Olsen, you¡¯re currently the prime suspect for murder. Please stay here until the medical examiner arrives, examines the corpse, and unless new evidence emerges, only then will you be allowed to leave.¡±


    Keira Olsen nodded, ¡°Okay.¡±


    She and Lewis Horton also started searching for clues around them.


    Inside the dilapidated factory building, there was dust everywhere. Since Finley Hill had been hiding there for a day, he had touched many things, and traces of his movements were everywhere, making it difficult to discern anything at first glance.


    Just then, a forensic officer said, ¡°His phone, it¡¯s unlocked!¡±


    Keira Olsen immediately looked over, but saw the police officer walk over, took the cell phone, and began scrolling through the chat history and call logs.


    He seemed to have tapped randomly, entering a voice memo.


    Then, his eyes lit up, ¡°Just an hour ago, he stored a voice message!¡±


    After saying this, the officer played the voice note, and Finley Hill¡¯s voice came from the phone, ¡°My dear niece, that secret¡­¡±

 Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: Chapter 83

    Chapter 83: Chapter 83


    ¡°`


    Keira Olsen¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly approached the policeman, wanting to listen closely to what he had said.


    But in the next moment, a hand reached out next to the officer, pressing the pause button in haste, and a crisp rebuke filled the air, ¡°The case is unsolved, and no evidence should be revealed in front of the suspect! Did you learn nothing at the police academy?!¡±


    The policeman immediately coughed and pleaded with a pained expression, ¡°Dr. Sims, I know I¡¯m wrong.¡±


    The speaker was a female forensic doctor with a cool demeanor, her eyes brimming with righteousness, and her face exuded a sense of public security. She said coldly, ¡°Let this not happen again.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡±.


    Only then did the forensic doctor look towards Keira Olsen, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, but she said nothing and simply put on her gloves and walked towards the body with her toolkit in hand.


    Keira Olsen blinked in surprise; she hadn¡¯t expected it to be her.


    The person in front of her was her middle school classmate and the first female friend in her life, Holly Sims.


    The Sims family had been forensic doctors for generations, and during middle school, Holly had a clear life plan, as she was determined to uphold justice in this world.


    Those juvenile declarations became the goals she fought for all her life.


    She went directly to a vocational school after high school and had become a forensic doctor whom everyone respected, even at a young age.


    But¡­


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    Keira Olsen cast her gaze downwards.


    There were some misunderstandings between them, and it seemed from her attitude just now that their past issues hadn¡¯t been resolved yet.


    Keira Olsen sighed silently to herself.


    A few minutes later, Dr. Sims finished examining the body, stood up, and declared her findings, ¡°The victim died from a penetrating wound, a fatal blow. There are signs of being struck on the chest, and the time of death should be around¡­¡±


    She looked down at the time, ¡°thirty to thirty-five minutes ago.¡±


    The officer immediately said, ¡°It¡¯s been exactly thirty minutes since we received the call, so the victim died right when Miss Olsen entered the room!¡±


    He turned to Keira Olsen, ¡°All evidence currently points to you, Miss Olsen. As for the sounds you mentioned, perhaps the victim¡¯s heavy fall masked the scream, and you simply didn¡¯t hear it. Moreover, there is a witness who confirmed that the deceased spoke before you entered the room, so you are now the murder suspect! Please come with us to the station for further questioning!¡±


    Keira Olsen glanced at Holly Sims and did not resist, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Seeing her compliance, the officer walked over to her, ready to escort her downstairs.


    But just then, Holly Sims let out a cold laugh, ¡°Doesn¡¯t the murder suspect need to be handcuffed to prevent escape? What happened to the basic protocol for police?¡±


    The officer paused and then gave a wry smile.


    This lady was cooperating with their investigation, and even if she were the real perpetrator, it would have been self-defense, not intentional violence, so handcuffing her wasn¡¯t strictly necessary.


    But he didn¡¯t argue, realizing Dr. Sims was purposely finding fault with this girl because of her dissatisfaction with her.


    He coughed and looked apologetically at Keira Olsen.


    Immediately, Lewis Horton stepped forward, about to speak, but Keira Olsen shook her head slightly at him and then cooperatively extended her hands.


    After the cold handcuffs were secured, she was led downstairs by the officer.


    Lewis Horton¡¯s brow furrowed as he swiftly followed behind, ¡°I¡¯ll immediately hire a lawyer for you. Until the lawyer arrives, you have the right to remain silent.¡±


    Keira Olsen nodded and instructed him, ¡°For grandma, just say I¡¯m staying at home for a couple of days.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    When they reached the ground floor, Keira Olsen got into the police car, and suddenly felt a weight beside her. She turned her head and saw it wasn¡¯t the policeman from before but Holly Sims.


    As the car started moving, Keira Olsen kept a calm fa?ade and suddenly asked, ¡°How have you been these past few years?¡±


    Holly Sims looked at her, her gaze clear and deep, ¡°I¡¯ve been doing very well, to your disappointment.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Keira Olsen was at a loss for words for a moment, then said in a low voice, ¡°Back then, I¡­¡±


    ¡°`


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Holly Sims snapped angrily, ¡°You liar, I won¡¯t believe anything you say!¡±


    Keira Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    She sighed silently to herself.


    But Holly Sims asked, ¡°Was that man just now your boyfriend?¡±


    Keira Olsen didn¡¯t want to lie: ¡°He¡¯s my legal husband.¡±


    Holly Sims¡¯s body stiffened: ¡°You¡¯re married?¡±


    Keira Olsen felt like a betrayer, she said slowly, ¡°There¡¯s something special between us, we¡­¡±


    But Holly Sims turned her head away, ¡°You did the right thing. Even if you had sent me an invitation, I wouldn¡¯t have gone!¡±


    Keira Olsen: ¡­


    Only then did she understand that this was the reason for Holly Sims¡¯s anger.


    Did she think she had got married without telling her?


    Keira Olsen was both amused and troubled, just about to say something when Holly Sims¡¯s voice rose again, ¡°Is he that ¡®big brother¡¯ you said you¡¯d marry back in the day?¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s expression became distant for a moment.


    After a while, she spoke softly, ¡°¡­No.¡±


    Holly Sims scoffed, ¡°So you really are fickle, discarding even that ¡®big brother¡¯, how could you possibly care about other friends?¡±


    Keira Olsen continued to explain, ¡°Actually, back then¡­¡±


    ¡°I told you to shut up!¡± Holly Sims¡¯s pretty face was filled with anger, ¡°Don¡¯t think by bringing up our past relationship, I will help you! I¡¯ve seen your true nature long ago: a complete and utter fraud!¡±


    Keira Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    She didn¡¯t speak again.


    Yet Holly Sims looked at her again, ¡°Stop thinking about all that nonsense, and focus on your case! Your case is very complicated, all the evidence currently points to you, and the marks on the body point to you as well. I won¡¯t help you conceal anything¡­Why don¡¯t you look at all worried?¡±


    Keira Olsen smiled, her voice confident, ¡°Because you are here, you will definitely prove my innocence. You¡¯ve said you want to uphold justice in this world, not letting anyone suffer injustice at your hands, nor letting any criminal escape from you.¡±


    Holly Sims was slightly taken aback, not sure if it was the trust she was shown or recalling those adolescent statements, her ears tinged red.


    But she immediately said in a fierce whisper, ¡°Don¡¯t spout those sweet nothings here, I won¡¯t believe a word you say. Keira Olsen, if you are the murderer, I will definitely see that justice is served!¡±


    They soon returned to the police station.


    Keira Olsen was suspected of murder and was temporarily detained.


    Dr. Sims personally escorted her to the detention center, placing her in a solitary cell.


    Standing outside the cell, she looked firmly at Keira Olsen, ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t kill the person?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Holly Sims then frowned, ¡°Then what was with the sound of his voice?¡±


    Keira Olsen said, ¡°Could it be a phone recording? Wasn¡¯t his phone found? Could you please help me check it out?¡±


    Holly Sims scoffed, ¡°The phone is in the police station; it won¡¯t be lost. It¡¯s crucial evidence.¡±


    After saying this, she looked intently at Keira Olsen, ¡°You brought up that phone, do you really want to know what message he left for you?¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Will you tell me?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Dr. Sims¡¯s tone was calm.

 Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Chapter 84

    Chapter 84: Chapter 84


    Holly Sims slowly said, ¡°That was a voice message left for you, you have the right to be informed.¡±


    Keira Olsen asked, ¡°What did he say?¡±


    Holly Sims replied methodically, ¡°The department rules state that a suspect cannot have access to evidence. But rest assured, once the trial results are out, whether you¡¯re the murderer or not, I will naturally tell you.¡±


    Keira Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    Little Miss Uptight, Holly Sims, has now also learned how to tease someone.


    She stepped back helplessly and sighed.


    Holly Sims warned again, ¡°Stay here and behave, and trust us, we won¡¯t wrong a good person.¡±


    Leaving these words, she turned and left.


    It was already after hours, but Holly Sims didn¡¯t leave. Instead, she went directly to the morgue of the forensic department.


    When the on-duty staff saw her, they immediately asked, ¡°Dr. Sims, you¡¯re still here so late, isn¡¯t that case not urgent? Why not perform the autopsy tomorrow during the day?¡±


    But Holly Sims said, ¡°The sooner we clarify the cause of death, the sooner we can clear the suspect¡¯s name.¡±


    The staff member immediately said, ¡°You mean, that suspect didn¡¯t kill anyone?¡±


    When in front of Keira Olsen, Holly Sims always looked fierce, but now she said, ¡°She¡¯s not that kind of person.¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï


    With that, she went straight into the morgue.


    The detention center was after all too spartan and uncomfortable to live in; clearing her name sooner would also mean releasing her sooner.


    She yawned, glanced at the body on the autopsy table, then opened a drawer to take out a small bread, giving it a couple of bites before starting her work.


    She hadn¡¯t had the chance to eat dinner yet.


    ¡­


    Keira Olsen sat in the single cell of the detention center, quietly contemplating the day¡¯s events.


    The death of Finley Hill was indeed unexpected and caught her off guard.


    It couldn¡¯t have been her subordinates; they wouldn¡¯t smear her reputation like that.


    So who was it?


    Keira Olsen furrowed her brows, then suddenly thought of someone¡ª Isla Olsen.


    To keep Finley Hill¡¯s secret, Isla Olsen could spend 150,000 a month to shut his mouth; now that she couldn¡¯t come up with that five million, had she killed in desperation?


    What kind of leverage was it that made her so ruthlessly decisive?


    No, that¡¯s not right.


    When she left the Olsen Family, Isla Olsen had already run to the room upstairs and had not left the house.


    ¡­So she must have an accomplice!


    Keira Olsen¡¯s thoughts were clear, but currently imprisoned here without her phone, she couldn¡¯t reach the outside world and could only hope for Holly Sims.


    She didn¡¯t know how much time had passed when suddenly a flurry of footsteps approached.


    Soon, several police officers stood outside her cell.


    The young officer who had arrested her reported to another officer, ¡°Captain Lincoln, this is Keira Olsen, today¡¯s murder suspect.¡±


    Captain Lincoln was a man in his thirties with sharp eyes that scanned her from top to bottom, and he snapped at the young officer, ¡°The case is already very clear, what are you doing delaying the interrogation of the suspect?! Bring her to the interrogation room immediately.¡±


    The young officer quickly opened the cell door and motioned for Keira Olsen to step out.


    As she walked out, Captain Lincoln pushed her and said, ¡°Dilly-dallying, you think you can escape the law like this?¡±


    Keira Olsen stumbled a bit, furrowed her brows slightly, then coldly looked at Captain Lincoln.


    ¡°What are you looking at? Hurry up and move!¡±


    Keira Olsen clenched her jaw, not going to let it slide, and hurried to the interrogation room.


    Captain Lincoln grabbed her arm and pressed her into the interrogation chair, then with a ¡°click,¡± he fastened the safety buckle on her, treating her completely as if she were a violent criminal.


    Keira Olsen clenched her fists.


    Captain Lincoln sat opposite her and asked in a strictly official tone, ¡°Name.¡±


    ¡°¡­Keira Olsen.¡±


    ¡°Age.¡±


    ¡°22 years old.¡±


    ¡°Sex.¡±


    Keira Olsen took a deep breath, knowing this Captain Lincoln was humiliating her. She wanted to explode in anger but still managed to hold it back, ¡°Female.¡±


    Captain Lincoln glanced at her, then continued his interrogation, ¡°What is your relationship with the deceased?¡±


    Keira Olsen: ¡°He was my uncle.¡±


    Captain Lincoln flipped through the documents in his hand, ¡°The deceased had been demanding five million from you to pay off his gambling debts? So, you harbored resentment against him and, therefore, when he came close to you, you kicked him away with force?¡±


    Keira Olsen took a deep breath, feeling the other party¡¯s malice clearly and unmistakably.


    She looked at Captain Lincoln and spoke slowly, ¡°Is this what you call leading a witness?¡±


    Captain Lincoln immediately looked at her, ¡°I am simply stating the facts. You only need to say yes or no!¡±


    Keira Olsen looked down, ¡°I have the right to remain silent until my lawyer arrives.¡±


    ¡°Rights be damned!¡± Captain Lincoln angrily slammed his notebook on the table, scolded her, ¡°This is Crera, every citizen has the duty to cooperate with our investigation! Especially suspects like you! Now, immediately, answer my questions!¡±


    Captain Lincoln stood up, ¡°Now we have both eyewitnesses and physical evidence, and no other fingerprints were collected at the scene apart from yours! Finley Hill was impaled through the back with a steel bar and died; if you still don¡¯t admit to manslaughter by accident, we will have to suspect your motive, whether it was premeditated murder!¡±


    He came up to Keira Olsen, ¡°So tell me now, do you harbor any resentment towards the deceased?!¡±


    Keira Olsen tensed her jaw, looked up at Captain Lincoln and slowly began, ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense!¡± Captain Lincoln said sharply, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t resentment, when he lunged at you, the subconscious reaction of most people would be to dodge. Why did you kick instead?!¡±


    Keira Olsen clenched her fists.


    Because she had moved out since middle school, she lacked a sense of security and knew that no one would stand in front of her to protect her, so her instinctive reaction to an attack was not to evade, but to counterattack!


    But she knew that whatever she said now would be useless, so she simply kept her mouth shut.


    Seeing her like this, Captain Lincoln sneered, ¡°Fine, you think by not talking you can get away with it?¡±


    He walked over to the side and suddenly turned on a bright light, shining it directly at Keira Olsen!


    The light was so intense, it made one instinctively want to put up a hand to shield themselves, but Keira Olsen¡¯s hands were restrained in the interrogation chair, completely unable to block her eyes.


    She angled her head slightly, still unable to escape the glaring light.


    Even with her eyes closed, her vision was filled with a bright red.


    Not even five minutes had passed, and her eyes were already dry and irritated, tears flowing involuntarily.


    Captain Lincoln¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Talk. Do you admit to killing him accidentally?¡±


    Keira Olsen took a deep breath, ¡°I didn¡¯t kill anyone.¡±


    Captain Lincoln sneered, ¡°Still playing tough, huh? Then let¡¯s start with two hours under the light! If you still refuse to confess after that, you¡¯ll be spending the night here!¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s eyes grew increasingly sore, and tears fell uncontrollably, making her want to reach up and rub them.


    Only after a few minutes, and it was already like this.


    If it really went on all night, her eyes might be ruined!


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, outside the police station.


    Lewis Horton arrived quickly with a lawyer.

 Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Chapter 85

    Chapter 85: Chapter 85


    An hour after Holly Sims finished the autopsy, she found that the victim indeed died from the object passing through the body, and there were no changes to the estimated time of death.


    This was problematic.


    All the evidence did indeed point to Keira Olsen.


    She took a bite of a small bread roll, pondering the evidence, when it suddenly occurred to her¡ªhad Keira not eaten dinner tonight?


    She quickly submitted the autopsy report and then took a few bread rolls and went downstairs.


    But just as she reached the ground floor, she saw that someone was in the interrogation room.


    She glanced casually, and through the monitor, she saw¡­ Keira Olsen!


    Holly Sims hurried over and saw that Keira¡¯s amorous eyes were both red and swollen. She immediately panicked and burst into the interrogation room, turning off the light!!


    The room darkened, but Keira¡¯s eyes still stung somewhat.


    She looked ahead in a daze, facing a white haze and unable to see clearly, only hearing Holly Sims¡¯s angry interrogation, ¡°What are you doing? Who gave you permission to interrogate her?!¡±


    Captain Lincoln stood up, ¡°It was me!¡±


    Holly Sims glared at him, ¡°Captain Lincoln, using torture is illegal!¡±


    Captain Lincoln threw his cigarette onto the ground and crushed it with his leather shoe, ¡°I was just shining a light; who¡¯s fault is it that she won¡¯t confess?¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    Holly Sims¡¯s face turned ashen, ¡°Is there really a need to rush this, to interrogate her overnight?!¡±


    Captain Lincoln scoffed, ¡°If not an overnight interrogation, should we wait until they think of a way to collude on their story? I¡¯ve received information that the person in there is a rich second-generation, and I bet that by now, a lawyer to arrange her bail is already here!¡±


    Holly Sims frowned, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she doesn¡¯t meet the conditions for bail!¡±


    Captain Lincoln said, ¡°How does she not? These rich people love to contract all sorts of bizarre illnesses, don¡¯t they? Just get a medical certificate from any hospital, and isn¡¯t that enough? Haven¡¯t you seen enough cases like this? What if she flees abroad? Who will be responsible for the victim then?!¡±


    Holly Sims said forcefully, ¡°Me!¡±


    Captain Lincoln sneered, ¡°You, responsible? How will you take responsibility?¡±


    Holly Sims pointedly gestured to her uniform, ¡°I¡¯ll take responsibility with this uniform! Is that good enough?¡±


    Captain Lincoln didn¡¯t expect her to respond like that and fell silent for a moment. Suddenly, his phone rang. He looked at it and then, with a sneer, said, ¡°Dr. Sims, you¡¯re too young¡­ Come with me!¡±


    Holly Sims frowned and followed Captain Lincoln. Once they were out of the interrogation room, she spoke up, ¡°Captain Lincoln, I know about the previous case you dealt with, where the rich second-generation claimed a heart condition to get bail and then fled abroad, leaving the case unresolved to this day. But you can¡¯t generalize from one case. I don¡¯t know about others, but Keira Olsen is definitely not that kind of person¡­¡±


    Captain Lincoln turned back to look at her, ¡°Is that so? But her lawyer is already in the lobby, I just got the news; they are arranging for bail on medical grounds¡­¡±


    ¡­


    In the lobby, the lawyer was filling out the paperwork to apply for bail.


    Samuel Morgan was anxiously following behind Lewis Horton, his mind racing: ¡°Why did it have to be these couple of days! The boss has an illness each month that needs timely treatment!¡±


    Lewis Horton furrowed his brows, ¡°What kind of illness does she have exactly?¡±


    Samuel Morgan sighed, ¡°The boss has a severe case of iron-deficiency anemia!¡±


    Iron-deficiency?


    Lewis Horton suddenly remembered Keira Olsen¡¯s WhatsApp name was ¡°Lacking Iron in the Five Elements¡±¡ªwas this the reason?


    Samuel Morgan said anxiously, ¡°Do you think that iron-deficiency anemia is a minor illness that can be managed with regular supplements? The boss is different! Her condition is bizarre!¡±


    Samuel Morgan sighed, ¡°The boss¡¯s anemia, medically, they haven¡¯t found any cause yet. It¡¯s just that her body is strange¡ªit doesn¡¯t absorb any iron at all. Therefore, she must receive iron infusions each month to forcibly get it into her system. Tomorrow is the usual day for her infusion¡­¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s brow tightened, ¡°What if she can¡¯t get the infusion in time?¡±


    Samuel Morgan felt his jaw tense, ¡°At the least, I¡¯ll be shaking all over, my face will turn pale, I won¡¯t have any strength, and I¡¯ll feel dizzy and lightheaded. If it gets serious, I could even go into shock!¡±


    If one goes into shock and doesn¡¯t receive timely treatment, it could be life-threatening!


    Mr. Horton¡¯s expression turned grave.


    He looked at the lawyer, ¡°Get it done as soon as possible.¡±


    But the lawyer¡¯s face was filled with difficulty, ¡°Mr. Horton, the procedures for bail pending trial are somewhat troublesome, and it¡¯s the middle of the night now; the normal departments are off work. I¡¯m afraid it can¡¯t be done today, only tomorrow.¡±


    Mr. Horton looked at Samuel Morgan.


    Samuel nodded, ¡°Tomorrow is fine. The boss always starts the IV two days in advance; the latest it should be done is the day after tomorrow.¡±


    Mr. Horton breathed a sigh of relief.


    The lawyer then made a request to see Keira Olsen, but was similarly refused on the grounds that visits were not allowed in the middle of the night, telling him to come back tomorrow.


    Worried as they were, the group could only leave for the time being.


    After they left, Holly Sims came over, her face stern, accompanied by Captain Lincoln.


    Captain Lincoln said, ¡°Show Dr. Sims the bail application for Keira Olsen.¡±


    Holly Sims got the form and her eyes fell on the reason stated clearly above: due to severe iron-deficiency anemia, requiring timely intake of iron to sustain life, applying for bail pending trial.


    Holly¡¯s fists clenched tight.


    Captain Lincoln glanced at it and scoffed, ¡°Do you see? The friend you trusted didn¡¯t even bother to make up a reason like heart disease, but rather used anemia as such a laughable excuse. Dr. Sims, you¡¯re far too naive! These second-generation rich kids, they have no bottom line!¡±


    Holly Sims felt her body trembling slightly, feeling deceived once again!


    The little swindler had said that she trusted her, but then turned around to apply for bail on such a laughable pretext of anemia, completely playing her for a fool!


    She took a deep breath and whirled around, striding towards the interrogation room.


    Captain Lincoln followed her, ¡°These rich second-generation kids all value their own lives; they commit all sorts of crimes and then look for every excuse. I have carefully looked into the case files, and it¡¯s clear as day that she just didn¡¯t want to be extorted for money by that uncle; that¡¯s why she struck out at someone. Of course, it indeed was manslaughter; after all, who anticipates a steel bar jutting out from the ground!


    My overnight interrogation was conducted entirely by the book. It¡¯s only with overnight interrogation that the perpetrator doesn¡¯t get time to think of ways to absolve themselves. And since she is your classmate, you gave her the Green Channel. Dr. Sims, both you and I know that the person who truly broke the rules is you! I know you have a soft heart and haven¡¯t been in this line of work long. Don¡¯t let her deceive you; otherwise, you might not even be able to keep wearing this uniform!¡±


    Holly Sims tightened her jaw and quickened her steps, entering the interrogation room directly.


    Keira Olsen¡¯s eyes had already improved a lot by then; her hands were unbound, and someone had poured her a glass of water.


    She had just taken a sip, moistening her chapped lips, when she saw Holly come in with a grimace on her face.


    Her pretty face was taut, ¡°Keira Olsen, you never truly trusted me from beginning to end, did you?¡±


    Keira was taken aback, ¡°Not at all.¡±


    ¡°Not at all?¡± Holly clenched her fists, ¡°Then what is this bail pending trial that you¡¯re processing? And lying about anemia¡ªa thing that can be easily verified!¡±


    It was then that Keira realized it was time for her IV and iron supplementation.


    This matter had always been handled by Samuel, and she had nearly forgotten about it.


    She looked down, ¡°I really do have anemia.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still lying!¡± Holly was almost driven to madness. Suddenly, she grabbed Keira¡¯s hand, took out a lancet, pricked it, and collected some capillary blood.


    Having completed this, she didn¡¯t forget to use an alcohol swab to disinfect the site, then harshly dropped Keira¡¯s hand.


    She straightened up, ¡°I¡¯m going to check this right now. I hope you haven¡¯t lied to me!!¡±

 Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: Chapter 86

    Chapter 86: Chapter 86


    Keira Olsen hurriedly said, ¡°I¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, Holly Sims had already turned and left.


    Keira could only hear her speaking outside the door to Captain Lincoln, ¡°Her condition is very poor. Even if you interrogate her overnight, don¡¯t turn on that bright light.¡±


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do it for Dr. Sims¡¯ sake.¡±


    Keira silently sighed.


    Just now, Holly Sims had vouched for her not to be released on bail, and Samuel Morgan immediately contradicted her, no wonder she was so angry.


    Forget it.


    Her body should be able to hold up for two more days. If Holly can find evidence to clear her name within two days, it¡¯s better not to arrange for bail.


    ¡­


    Upstairs.


    Holly entered the equipment room and placed the blood drawn from Keira Olsen¡¯s finger into the device.


    Next, she waited for the device to analyze the contents of various elements in the blood, a process that would take twenty minutes.


    At that moment, her phone suddenly rang.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã?


    It was a call from the detention center. She answered, and a voice came through, ¡°Dr. Sims, I heard you were at the station, so I called you. There¡¯s a patient here who¡¯s feeling a bit ill; could you come and take a look?¡±


    Holly immediately stood up, ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡±


    Although a forensic doctor and a physician are not the same, she was still capable of handling minor ailments.


    She put on her coat and left the room.


    She quickly arrived at the detention center¡¯s cell area.


    This area housed suspects who had yet to be tried by the court, and some convicts serving sentences of less than three months.


    Keira Olsen had just been detained in one of these solitary cells.


    She walked a few steps forward to the cell door number mentioned by the guard who had called. She then put on a mask and gloves before entering the cell, asking in a cold tone, ¡°Who¡¯s feeling unwell?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    A voice both strange and familiar made Holly frown slightly, and she turned to see a middle-aged woman in prison clothes, sitting there clutching her stomach and grimacing, ¡°Little doctor, my stomach is killing me, can you take me out for a look¡­¡±


    Holly was slightly startled.


    This person¡­ wasn¡¯t she Poppy Hill, Keira Olsen¡¯s mother?


    Back in middle school, she had attended a parent-teacher conference for Keira!


    She immediately approached, asking with concern, ¡°Auntie, where are you uncomfortable?¡±


    Poppy Hill was suspected of perjury, but because the circumstances were not severe, she had been sentenced to fifteen days of detention.


    She grabbed Holly¡¯s hand, ¡°My stomach is killing me¡­¡±


    Holly immediately pressed on her stomach, not underestimating, ¡°Here? I¡¯ll take you to the hospital!¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t touch! It hurts to death¡­¡± Poppy Hill looked around, her face full of misery, ¡°No need for the hospital, I just caught a chill. Little officer, take me to a single cell, I moan and groan here, disturbing others from resting¡­¡±


    Holly immediately nodded, ¡°Alright.¡±


    As she helped Poppy Hill up, preparing to lead her out, someone else in the room suddenly shouted, ¡°Ouch, my stomach is killing me too, officer, take me to a single cell too!¡±


    The other prisoners immediately sneered:


    ¡°My stomach hurts too¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m different, I have a headache. Can I go sleep in a single sickroom?¡±


    Holly: ?


    She frowned and was about to speak when someone looked at Poppy Hill, ¡°We all eat the same thing, how come only you caught a chill? You¡¯ve been here for five days now, and you¡¯ve been unwell for four of those days. What, are you a reincarnation of Sister Lin?¡±


    ¡°How come in our room, you¡¯re in unbearable pain, but once you go to a single cell, you¡¯re pain-free and can even snore?¡±


    Holly¡¯s frown deepened, as if she understood something and immediately looked at Poppy Hill.


    She saw her expression stiffen, then she began to cry miserably, ¡°I really am uncomfortable¡­¡±


    Holly clenched her jaw, ¡°Then I¡¯ll take you to the hospital. If the examination shows there¡¯s nothing wrong and it was all an act, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to stay a few more days¡­¡±


    At this, Poppy Hill¡¯s expression immediately tensed up.


    She didn¡¯t want to be detained any longer.


    In here, every night these people either fart or pick their feet, and their sleeping postures varied wildly. On her first night, the noise kept her from sleeping at all.


    So she thought of this plan.


    Going to the hospital would just blow her cover, wouldn¡¯t it?


    Poppy Hill smiled ingratiatingly, ¡°No need, no need, it¡¯s just a minor illness, I¡¯ll endure it, I¡¯ll endure it¡­¡±


    Holly Sims realized, ¡°Auntie, were you faking it?¡±


    Poppy Hill trotted over to her own bed, lifted the blanket, and crawled inside: ¡°Hey, how can you, a cop, speak like that? How was I faking? I really had a stomach ache just now, and now it¡¯s gone; what, you won¡¯t let me get better¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    A few black lines crossed Holly Sims¡¯ forehead!


    The female convict nearby cursed angrily: ¡°You really have some nerve, you old rascal, deceiving people like that!¡±


    However, Poppy Hill retorted: ¡°What am I compared to my daughter? I¡¯m nothing! She deceived me so badly! That little slut, she won¡¯t have a good end!¡±


    Poppy Hill thought of her, and it made her teeth itch with hatred.


    Who would have thought that the one faking the alimony was Dr. South?!


    The words fell on Holly Sims¡¯ ears, sounding grating.


    She clenched her jaw, closed the prison door, and quickly went upstairs.


    Soon, she obtained the recent blood test report, and upon seeing the data, her face darkened like water!


    The iron level was normal!


    She wasn¡¯t anemic at all!


    Fraud!


    In that instant, Holly Sims was so angry that her whole body trembled. She went straight to the interrogation room downstairs and threw the blood report fiercely in front of Keira Olsen: ¡°Keira Olsen, is it fun deceiving me repeatedly?!¡±


    Keira Olsen didn¡¯t look at the report but merely sighed, ¡°I¡¯m not anemic now, but it will happen in a couple of days.¡±


    She had intended to say just that, but Holly Sims didn¡¯t listen to her at all and left.


    Keira Olsen¡¯s anemia was strange.


    Every time her menstrual period came, a significant amount of iron was lost, so it had to be replenished every month in advance.


    Other times, as long as there was no bleeding, the iron levels were normal.


    She had visited many hospitals for her condition, finally diagnosed with a rare genetic disease in the world.


    Holly Sims obviously hadn¡¯t heard of such things and found it laughable: ¡°Do you think I¡¯d believe these ghost stories? Keira Olsen, even if you are deceiving me, couldn¡¯t you come up with a better excuse?!¡±


    Keira Olsen weakly explained: ¡°¡­I¡¯m not deceiving you.¡±


    ¡°Not deceiving me? I¡¯ve studied medicine for many years, and I¡¯ve never heard of your condition!¡±


    Keira Olsen pressed her lips together and fell silent.


    Her condition was indeed strange; it was normal for Holly Sims not to believe.


    Further discussion was pointless.


    Seeing that she had abruptly closed up, rage surged from Holly Sims¡¯ heart.


    Seeing this, Captain Lincoln sighed, ¡°Dr. Sims, she¡¯s been like this all night, not saying a word. Let it go, I¡¯ll have someone take her back to prison. Otherwise, our people will have to stay up all night, and we won¡¯t get anything out of her¡­¡±


    No sooner had he finished speaking than Holly Sims shouted angrily: ¡°You guys leave, I¡¯ll stay up with her! I want to see how many more incredible lies she can tell!¡±


    Captain Lincoln: ¡­


    He coughed once, ¡°Fine, then we¡¯ll go to sleep. If she confesses anything, call us immediately.¡±


    After the group left, only Keira Olsen and Holly Sims remained in the interrogation room.


    Holly Sims sat opposite her, staring intensely at her: ¡°Why lie? Why apply for bail, pretending there are some doubts that probably don¡¯t even exist, are you just using me, trying to make me testify that you¡¯re not the murderer?¡±


    Keira Olsen said, ¡°Rest assured, I won¡¯t apply for bail.¡±


    She didn¡¯t want Holly Sims to become a target for Captain Lincoln, nor did she want Holly Sims to shed her uniform.


    Holly Sims paused briefly, her eyes reddening even more: ¡°You think by saying that, I will forgive you?!¡±


    She turned away, wiping the corner of her eye.


    Keira Olsen said nothing more.


    The night deepened, and whether her period was approaching or it was just too late and she hadn¡¯t rested, Keira Olsen felt a headache coming on, with a slight pain in her lower abdomen.


    The night dragged on.


    Until the next morning, Keira Olsen felt the dizziness intensifying¡­


    Bad.


    The lack of rest caused her period to come early, and she started to become anemic!


    Holly Sims had not slept all night, her mind in turmoil.


    As daylight broke, she glared fiercely at Keira Olsen, about to say a few more words, but then she saw her pale face, devoid of any color¡­


    Holly Sims stood up suddenly, panicking: ¡°Keira Olsen, what¡¯s wrong with you?!¡±

 Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: Chapter 87

    Chapter 87: Chapter 87


    Keira Olsen felt a dropping pain in her lower abdomen, but she could endure it.


    She grasped Holly Sims¡¯s wrist and said, ¡°I need to go to the bathroom.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll help you.¡±


    Holly Sims supported her by the arm and escorted her into the bathroom, quietly waiting outside.


    Inside, she felt uneasy.


    Seeing her pale face and the cold sweat on her forehead, could it be that she was really anemic?


    ¡­


    At that moment, inside the detention center visitation room.


    Poppy Hill came over with a smile, ingratiating herself, ¡°Isla, how did you find the time to visit me?¡±


    After finishing, she added, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have come, this isn¡¯t a good place, it might bring bad luck.¡±


    Her warmth was met only with a faint smile from Isla Olsen, then she showed a hesitant expression.


    Poppy Hill immediately asked with concern, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, you look terrible, did something happen?¡±


    As she finished speaking, her expression darkened, ¡°Is it Keira again? Has she disrespected you?¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À0.§ã¦Ï


    Isla Olsen just bitterly smiled, ¡°It¡¯s Keira, but not disrespect toward me, Keira is in trouble.¡±


    ¡°Oh, then it¡¯s nothing.¡± Poppy Hill scoffed, ¡°With her obstinate nature, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Who did she offend this time? Did she get a lesson?¡±


    A schadenfreude smile spread across her face.


    Isla Olsen choked up, increasingly finding Poppy Hill foolish.


    It had always been like this since they were young, wearing everything on her face, utterly clueless about pretense.


    It was a mystery how, back in the day, she had gotten so lucky as to be switched with Keira Olsen.


    Isla Olsen¡¯s eyes flickered, then she lowered her head, ¡°It¡¯s not that she offended someone, she, she committed murder and is now detained by the police.¡±


    ¡°Great news!¡± Poppy Hill immediately exclaimed excitedly, ¡°That ungrateful creature should be sentenced to death, right? Then she¡¯ll never anger you again!¡±


    Isla Olsen: ¡°¡­¡±


    She gave Poppy Hill a pitying glance, then coughed, ¡°She killed Finley Hill.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care who she killed¡­ What? Isla, whom did you say? Finley?! Am I hearing things?!!¡±


    Poppy Hill lunged forward onto the table, her emotions highly agitated.


    The only brother in the family, though a bit of a scoundrel, Poppy Hill loved him dearly.


    Isla Olsen sighed, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not Keira¡¯s fault, I heard Finley Hill demanded five million from her. When she refused, during their struggle, Finley accidentally fell onto a steel bar and was impaled through the chest¡­ He died instantly. Aunt Hill, calm down, although Keira is Dr. South¡¯s daughter and probably very wealthy, five million is still a lot, it¡¯s understandable she wouldn¡¯t want to give it.¡±


    Poppy Hill¡¯s eyes widened, her rims red as she suddenly stood up, ¡°This cursed girl, over five million, she killed Finley?! I shouldn¡¯t have raised her, she should have been drowned at birth! Where is she? I want to kill her! To avenge Finley!!¡±


    Her emotions were too highly charged, causing a nearby officer to warn her.


    After a while, Poppy Hill¡¯s emotions finally settled a bit, but the anger in her eyes was undiminished.


    Isla Olsen spoke up, ¡°Aunt Hill, since both are your relatives, I felt you had the right to know, please don¡¯t do anything rash.¡±


    Poppy Hill looked dazed, tears streaming down, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Isla, I¡¯m okay, I¡¯m okay¡­¡±


    Isla Olsen then spoke, ¡°Good, then you should go back first. I, I¡¯ll go see Keira¡­¡±


    ¡°Why see her? A death row inmate! I¡¯ll just wait for her execution!¡± Poppy Hill said viciously.


    Isla Olsen looked at her as if she were viewing a fool, ¡°Aunt Hill, Keira¡¯s charge is manslaughter, at most she will get ten years and then she¡¯ll be released¡­¡±


    ¡°How can that be?! That¡¯s letting her off too easy!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Finding that Poppy Hill simply couldn¡¯t grasp the main point of her words, Isla Olsen sighed, ¡°Aunt Hill, Keira didn¡¯t do it intentionally, she killed someone and must be scared. If you see her in the detention center, remember to comfort her.¡±


    Poppy Hill finally reacted, ¡°She¡¯s detained here too?!¡±


    Isla Olsen nodded, ¡°Yes, she hasn¡¯t been sentenced, so she is temporarily detained in a single patient room¡ªshe should be with you, right?¡±


    Both shared patient rooms and single patient rooms are in the same area.


    Poppy Hill¡¯s eyes narrowed, revealing a fierce look, ¡°That¡¯s good then.¡±


    Isla Olsen stood up, ¡°Aunt Hill, it¡¯s about time I left.¡±


    Poppy Hill reluctantly responded, ¡°Ah, Isla, you need to take good care of yourself and marry into the Horton Family peacefully. Don¡¯t worry about me¡­¡±


    However, Isla Olsen had already left the visiting room without paying attention to her words.


    She followed the visiting room¡¯s direction out the door, preparing to leave the police station, but then she saw her old classmate Holly Sims at the bathroom entrance, looking anxious.


    A policewoman was asking her, ¡°Dr. Sims, Keira Olsen¡¯s lawyer came again early this morning, asking about the status of the bail review. Seeing the suspect¡¯s condition just now, she seemed genuinely anemic, so is it approved or not?¡±


    Holly Sims knit her brows upon hearing this.


    She looked worriedly towards the bathroom, thinking about Keira Olsen¡¯s apparent weakness, which seemed genuine. She pursed her lips, about to say ¡°agree¡± when Captain Lincoln approached.


    Captain Lincoln also heard the conversation and frowned, ¡°Already feigning illness?¡±


    Holly Sims countered, ¡°She¡¯s not faking it.¡±


    Captain Lincoln scoffed, ¡°Dr. Sims, I think you¡¯ve forgotten how she played you last night. You believe this? I remember you swore last night that if she applied for bail, you would take off your uniform. Haven¡¯t you forgotten that?¡±


    Holly Sims clenched her jaw, ¡°Captain Lincoln, she is really unwell¡­¡±


    But Captain Lincoln didn¡¯t believe it, ¡°How convenient, just detained for a day and already feeling unwell. A delicate miss can¡¯t handle a bit of hardship.¡±


    Holly Sims wanted to speak, but Isla Olsen stepped forward, ¡°Hello, are you talking about my sister Keira Olsen?¡±


    Several people turned towards her.


    Holly Sims frowned slightly, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Isla Olsen¡¯s face showed nervousness, she grabbed Holly Sims, ¡°Dr. Sims, can we talk over here? About my sister¡¯s health¡­¡±


    Holly Sims¡¯s expression grew solemn, knowing Isla Olsen was Keira¡¯s sister, recalling how Isla knew her own background in middle school and became wiser, thereby stopping any bullying toward Keira at school.


    Therefore, Holly Sims didn¡¯t know the sisters had a poor relationship. She walked aside with Isla Olsen, her expression worried, ¡°What exactly is wrong with Keira Olsen?¡±


    Isla Olsen sighed, ¡°Probably her menstrual period. She always feels unwell at this time each month. Women¡¯s issues, you know.¡±


    Holly Sims immediately breathed a sigh of relief.


    It was good that Keira Olsen wasn¡¯t sick.


    But then Isla Olsen grasped her hand, ¡°Holly, we are middle school classmates, right? Please help Keira, agree to her bail, okay?¡±


    Holly Sims¡¯s expression suddenly darkened.


    But Isla Olsen seemed not to notice and continued, ¡°Every time it¡¯s our period, we look pale, almost like we are anemic. Just remember our past friendship, and sign. We promise we won¡¯t leave¡­¡±


    Holly Sims abruptly pulled her hand away, ¡°In your dreams! The law enforcement isn¡¯t a place for bargaining!¡±


    She sharply turned towards the bathroom, then towards Captain Lincoln, ¡°She doesn¡¯t qualify for bail; send her back to detention immediately!¡±


    Only then was Captain Lincoln satisfied, ¡°Good that you understand.¡±


    Holly Sims didn¡¯t want to linger any longer and quickly went upstairs to the department of forensic medicine.


    When Keira Olsen, pale-faced, walked out of the bathroom, she saw a policewoman standing there with her arms crossed, who scoffed upon seeing her, ¡°Miss Olsen, it¡¯s just your period. We¡¯re all women here, stop pretending! Go back, and wait for your next interrogation!¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s legs were a bit weak as she was ushered back to her solitary cell.


    The moment she entered, everything suddenly went dark before her eyes, and she collapsed to the ground¡­


    ¡­


    Upstairs, Holly Sims grew angrier as she thought about it.


    But the image of Keira Olsen¡¯s pale, bloodless cheeks flashed through her mind¡­


    She couldn¡¯t be heartless after all, immediately she took out her insulated mug, poured a cup of lemon water, and headed to the detention center!

 Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Chapter 88

    Chapter 88: Chapter 88


    ¡°Keira Olsen, wake up, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    The policewoman saw Keira Olsen¡¯s movements and hurriedly pushed her.


    Keira Olsen slowly opened her eyes amidst confusion.


    Usually a strong woman, she was now so weak that her body trembled slightly, ¡°Please help me to the bed.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    The policewoman hurriedly assisted her and asked, ¡°How are you feeling now?¡±


    Keira Olsen was truly unwell and wouldn¡¯t put up with any grievances for Holly Sims¡¯s sake, she said directly, ¡°I have anemia. Call Holly Sims to come for another blood test; it can be detected now.¡±


    The policewoman frowned upon hearing this and observed Keira Olsen carefully, ¡°Dr. Sims was upset, she probably won¡¯t come again.¡±


    Keira Olsen pursed her lips, ¡°Then you draw the blood and send it for testing.¡±


    The policewoman, ¡°¡­All right, I¡¯ll go call someone from the forensic department.¡±


    Having said that, she left the cell.


    As she was walking out, suddenly Poppy Hill called her, ¡°Officer.¡±


    The policewoman looked at her, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï


    Poppy Hill pointed at the infirmary where Keira Olsen was, ¡°That¡¯s my daughter, isn¡¯t she feeling well? May I take care of her?¡±


    The policewoman was startled, ¡°She¡¯s your daughter?¡±


    Are mothers and daughters being imprisoned together these days?


    Poppy Hill nodded, ¡°Yes, my daughter, you can check our family relationship.¡±


    Hearing this, the policewoman took out her phone, logged into the system, and verified their identities; indeed, they were mother and daughter.


    The policewoman thought for a moment and, recalling Keira Olsen¡¯s appearance just now, said, ¡°All right.¡±


    ¡­


    Keira Olsen lay on the single bed, having just closed her eyes when the door was opened again.


    The forensic pathologist called so quickly?


    She struggled to lift her eyelids and saw a figure walk in, followed by that eerie voice, ¡°Keira, don¡¯t be scared, Mom is here¡­¡±


    Keira Olsen¡¯s body stiffened sharply.


    Perhaps due to her weakness, memories from when she was five years old suddenly surged in her mind.


    Back then, she was young, without warm clothes in winter, and often caught colds.


    Whenever she was ill, Poppy Hill would lock her up, not allowing her to go out, and Mrs. Olsen would always come to see her, feeding her medicine.


    But as soon as Mrs. Olsen had left, Poppy Hill would rush to her side, grab her throat forcing her to vomit the medicine she had just swallowed!


    She hit the powerless five-year-old and raged in her ears, ¡°You don¡¯t deserve medicine, why don¡¯t you just die from fever?¡±


    ¡°You damned little slut, you have today too! Weren¡¯t you arrogant? Daring to hit Isla Olsen repeatedly, even defying me, sending me to this cell, I¡¯ll strangle you¡­¡±


    The malicious voice from her memories mixed with the low whispers of the woman in reality, making Keira Olsen subconsciously curl up her body, just like in her childhood, wishing she could shrink into a ball to resist the external pressure.


    It felt like she was five again, back in that dimly lit basement.


    The room was very dark.


    The extreme dizziness brought on by her anemia made it difficult for her to distinguish reality from memories, with countless pleas for mercy murmuring at her lips.


    The five-year-old her begged softly, ¡°Mom, I was wrong, I shouldn¡¯t have gotten sick, please don¡¯t hit me¡­¡±


    But the sharp pain still came from her body.


    The hands in front of her gripped her arms, abdomen, thighs, twisting them harshly.


    Keira Olsen slowly pursed her lips.


    At the age of seven, she already understood that pleading was useless¡ªshe could only endure in silence.


    But the pain persisted.


    The curses continued unabated: ¡°Die! Die! You killed my brother, you should die! I want you to pay with your life!¡±


    By the age of nine, she had learned to resist and wanted to push her away forcefully, but her frail body couldn¡¯t muster the strength, only inviting crazier beatings.


    Then came the silent endurance at ten, eleven, twelve¡­


    Until she turned thirteen and started junior high.


    Though still slender, she had grown taller than Poppy Hill. She forcefully shoved the woman away, saying coldly, ¡°If you dislike having me as a daughter so much, then I¡¯ll leave.¡±


    She packed a few worn clothes and left the Olsen Family without hesitation¡­


    There was no home for her in the world, but outside, the sky was vast and the sea wide; anywhere but the Olsen home could be her home.


    She had grown up and could protect herself now!


    Keira Olsen, dizzy and groggy, suddenly opened her eyes, waking from the nightmare!!


    Her gaze sharply turned to Poppy Hill in front of her.


    Poppy Hill, who was pinching her waist, paused slightly at her movement before both hands swiftly clasped Keira¡¯s neck: ¡°You little slut, what are you looking at? Die! I want you to pay for my brother¡¯s life!¡±


    Keira mustered all her strength, grabbed her wrists, and shoved her away!


    Poppy Hill stumbled backward, falling hard to the ground. Just as she tried to charge again, a voice from the doorway asked, ¡°What are you doing?!¡±


    Poppy Hill turned and saw Holly Sims with wide eyes, standing at the doorway. She hurriedly opened the iron gate and walked in.


    Her eyes swept over Poppy Hill and Keira Olsen, puzzled.


    Had she not been mistaken, the two were fighting?


    Weren¡¯t they mother and daughter?


    Now completely drained, Keira fell back onto the bed, lacking even the strength to move a finger.


    In a faint voice, she said, ¡°You arrived just in time, I have anemia¡­ even if you don¡¯t release me on bail, take me to get an infusion, to get iron supplementation right now¡­¡±


    Before Holly Sims could respond, Poppy Hill sat down hard on the floor: ¡°You have anemia? How could you have so much strength with anemia? The push hurt me terribly! You must be faking it! Fighting here does carry a punishment, after all!¡±


    Holly Sims had just arrived in time to see Keira Olsen open her eyes and shove Poppy Hill. The ferocity in her eyes made Holly Sims feel like she didn¡¯t even know her.


    Recalling what Isla Olsen had said, she clenched her fists and firmly declared, ¡°Keira Olsen, I won¡¯t be fooled by you again!¡±


    She turned away and called to the guards: ¡°These two were fighting, take them to solitary confinement immediately!¡±


    ¡­


    At that moment, outside the police station.


    The lawyer, having learned they couldn¡¯t get bail, said helplessly, ¡°Mr. Horton, if we want to reapply, we probably have to wait until tomorrow.¡±


    Lewis Horton frowned and looked at Samuel Morgan.


    Samuel said, ¡°Considering the dates, we can wait. But the day after tomorrow is absolutely the limit, huh¡­¡±


    Lewis Horton nodded, feeling a vague sense of unease.


    Just then, the policewoman from earlier approached Captain Lincoln and said, ¡°Captain Lincoln, I¡¯ve seen that Keira Olsen looks really unwell. Women can indeed suffer from anemia during their menstrual period. Should we check on her again?¡±


    Hearing this, Samuel, about to leave, suddenly froze. Panic surged through him: ¡°The boss¡¯s period started? This is bad, really bad¡­¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s expression darkened: ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    In a panic, Samuel said, spinning in distress, ¡°The boss hasn¡¯t had timely iron supplementation and must be severely anemic now! But if we can¡¯t get the bail sorted out, what do we do?¡±


    What to do?


    Lewis Horton immediately turned around and ran towards the detention center without hesitation!!

 Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: Chapter 89

    Chapter 89: Chapter 89


    Samuel Morgan was stunned.


    By the time he came back to his senses, he hurriedly walked up to Lewis Horton: ¡°Mr. Horton, are you planning to¡­ break in?¡±


    Lewis Horton did not speak, but he walked straight from the front hall to the guardroom behind, answering with his actions.


    Samuel Morgan: ¡°You¡¯re too bold! Isn¡¯t this against the rules?¡±


    Lewis Horton kept walking without stopping and asked coldly, ¡°What else? Can your boss wait until tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°Of course not!¡±


    Samuel Morgan followed closely: ¡°The boss¡¯s health can¡¯t make it through the night. There was once when iron wasn¡¯t administered in time, and the boss went into shock and was nearly beyond rescue¡­¡±


    As he said this, he became frantic and blurted out in anger: ¡°The boss¡¯s disease is indeed strange. No one would believe it; they must think we¡¯re deceiving them. We can¡¯t wait any longer! For the boss, I¡¯m all in!¡±


    While he was muttering to himself, Lewis Horton had already rushed toward the direction of the guardroom.


    The police officer at the guardroom blocked the entrance: ¡°This is a prison; no unauthorized persons allowed! Leave immediately.¡±


    Lewis Horton simply ignored him and barged inside.


    Captain Lincoln, who had felt that something was amiss at the door, followed them in and immediately aimed his gun at Lewis Horton when he saw the situation: ¡°Mr. Horton, stop right there, or I¡¯ll shoot!¡±


    Lewis Horton turned back to look at him, his expression calm.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    Samuel Morgan trembled with fear, looking at the dark maw of the gun barrel, his legs shaking.


    This is terrifying!


    Seeing the two men halt, Captain Lincoln breathed a sigh of relief.


    He knew of Lewis Horton¡¯s identity, the man in charge of the Horton Family, not someone who could be easily detained. He said directly, ¡°Mr. Horton, why have you come here?¡±


    Samuel Morgan was about to say it was for Keira Olsen when Lewis Horton stopped him: ¡°I wanted to use the restroom and somehow ended up here.¡±


    Samuel Morgan: ?


    He stared hard at Lewis Horton, feeling a sudden chill at the bottom of his heart.


    Indeed, his boss¡¯s marriage was utterly out of the blue; at gunpoint, it would be natural for Lewis Horton not to want to take risks.


    But he couldn¡¯t leave his boss unattended.


    Thus, as Lewis Horton turned to walk back, he stood still in his place.


    Captain Lincoln frowned at him: ¡°Mr. Morgan? You¡¯re not following along?¡±


    Samuel Morgan was terrified, taking a deep breath, ¡°I don¡¯t¡­¡±


    Before he could finish the word ¡®go¡¯, sudden chaos erupted!


    Lewis Horton, who had walked up to Captain Lincoln¡¯s side, suddenly made his move. He rapidly approached Captain Lincoln, deftly grasping his trigger point, and Captain Lincoln¡¯s controlled hand went limp, the gun slipping into Lewis Horton¡¯s hand.


    Captain Lincoln wanted to counter and retrieve it, but in the next moment, he suddenly felt a cold presence on his forehead.


    Lewis Horton aimed the gun at him.


    Captain Lincoln: !!


    He was completely dumbfounded!


    He certainly wouldn¡¯t make such a mistake when facing violent criminals, but Lewis Horton and Samuel Morgan were well-known business leaders from Oceanion, the kind always accompanied by bodyguards.


    He could never have imagined that Lewis Horton would attack a police officer!


    Samuel Morgan was also stunned, dumbfounded looking at Lewis Horton.


    He had just decided to go all out, ready to lie on the ground and refuse to leave if necessary, at least to make these people give his boss a blood test!


    But he never expected that Mr. Horton would resort to such measures!


    This is illegal!


    ¡°Mr. Horton, if you put down the handgun now, I won¡¯t hold you accountable,¡± Captain Lincoln said, raising his hands, the seasoned veteran not showing any panic at this moment.


    Lewis Horton¡¯s voice was low: ¡°I apologize, but I¡¯m desperate to save someone.¡±


    Without waiting for Captain Lincoln to speak, he looked straight ahead: ¡°Step aside!¡±


    The few people at the entrance of the guardroom dared not block his way any longer, hastily making room.


    Lewis Horton then entered, holding Captain Lincoln hostage.


    Samuel Morgan dumbly followed behind him.


    He was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, forced aboard the thief¡¯s ship!


    If he said now that he wasn¡¯t an accomplice, these cops would definitely not believe him!


    At that moment, Keira Olsen still lay on her simple, thin bed. As two officers came in, wanting to take her and Poppy Hill to the solitary confinement room, she looked at Holly Sims and explained again, ¡°I really have anemia.¡±


    She indeed looked pale.


    Holly Sims¡¯s heart gave rise to hesitation again¡­


    At this moment, Poppy Hill simply lay down on the ground: ¡°Me too, oh my, I¡¯m feeling dizzy, I¡¯m about to die, save me!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Holly Sims truly didn¡¯t know what was real and what was fake anymore!


    Poppy Hill¡¯s acting was very convincing.


    And Kiera Olsen didn¡¯t seem to be acting¡­


    Just as she hesitated, footsteps and exclamations from other officers came from outside the door!


    Holly Sims immediately turned around with caution and saw Lewis Horton coming in, holding Captain Lincoln hostage.


    He quickly spotted Kiera Olsen¡¯s cell, his gaze passing through the iron bars and directly landing on Kiera Olsen!


    The woman was as pale as paper, lying weakly on the bed, seemingly without the strength to even move her fingers¡­


    Lewis Horton¡¯s pupils contracted.


    In his mind were all the images of her in the past, always standing tall no matter the situation¡­


    Such a woman would never bow down.


    Yet now, she was so weak she couldn¡¯t even sit up!


    A slight pang in his heart, he angrily said, ¡°This is torture of a suspect! I will definitely pursue this matter!¡±


    Holly Sims said, ¡°We didn¡¯t do anything, it was them fighting each other, everything we have done is according to the regulations!¡±


    Samuel Morgan, following behind Lewis Horton, saw Kiera Olsen¡¯s frail appearance, his eyes reddening: ¡°Boss, we¡¯re here to rescue you!¡±


    He glared at Holly Sims: ¡°My boss is about to die, and you still want to punish her? Are you even human?¡±


    Captain Lincoln scoffed: ¡°I really haven¡¯t heard of a woman dying because of her period! Even if you¡¯re faking illness, at least choose a different disease!¡±


    Holly Sims took a deep breath and felt worried for them; she looked directly at Kiera Olsen: ¡°Kiera Olsen, if you really didn¡¯t kill the person, escaping is useless! If you are innocent, we will clear your name! Even if you don¡¯t trust yourself, you should at least trust these police officers! Why cause so much trouble?¡±


    She spoke earnestly, ¡°I advise Mr. Horton to let go, I will plea for leniency on your behalf, Captain Lincoln won¡¯t hold you accountable, but if you really jailbreak, the consequences are unimaginable! Kiera Olsen, stop faking illness!¡±


    Kiera Olsen gave a bitter smile: ¡°Holly Sims, you keep saying I don¡¯t trust you, but do you trust me?¡±


    Holly Sims was stunned.


    Kiera Olsen said: ¡°You don¡¯t.¡±


    But Holly Sims¡¯s eyes reddened: ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I trust you? It¡¯s because you¡¯ve deceived me time and time again! You did years ago, and you did this time too! Haven¡¯t I been tricked by you enough?¡±


    Kiera Olsen didn¡¯t say anything more.


    Lewis Horton, still holding Captain Lincoln hostage, entered the medical room, ¡°Can you walk? We need to leave.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Kiera Olsen tried to stand up from the bed, trembling, but found that she simply didn¡¯t have the strength to do so.


    Lewis Horton immediately looked at Samuel Morgan: ¡°Come here.¡±


    Samuel Morgan approached him.


    ¡°Can you shoot?¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±


    The gun still pointed, Lewis Horton handed it to Samuel Morgan, who then took over holding Captain Lincoln hostage.


    Samuel Morgan: ???


    While he was puzzled, he saw Lewis Horton stride over to the bed, suddenly bend down, and directly pick up Kiera Olsen!!


    Then, he turned and left without hesitation.


    Samuel Morgan, dragging Captain Lincoln, followed closely behind.


    Holly Sims and the rest of the officers immediately followed them.


    A procession of people made their way to the hospital, causing a sensation.


    Kiera Olsen by now had fainted, and the doctor took her blood for an urgent test.


    Holly Sims followed the doctor closely, and told the rest, ¡°I¡¯ll keep a close watch the whole time, to prevent them from bribing the doctor to tamper with the blood report!¡±


    With so many police surrounding the hospital, the doctors were all nervous.


    As a result, the urgent blood report was out in ten minutes.


    Holly Sims snatched it immediately and looked at the numbers on it.

 Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: Chapter 90

    Chapter 90: Chapter 90


    The blood report came back relatively normal except for the iron levels, which had plummeted to a terrifyingly low point!


    She had never seen such terrible numbers in a living person before.


    Holly Sims stood there in shock, report in hand as she turned and went back outside the ward.


    At that moment, the atmosphere was tense with anticipation.


    The ward was surrounded by a number of police officers, and Samuel Morgan kept a tight grip on Captain Lincoln¡¯s hand without relenting.


    Throughout this ordeal, Captain Lincoln had tried numerous times to escape from Samuel Morgan¡¯s clutches but to no avail. He might have seemed unreliable, but he never gave him a chance.


    Seeing Holly Sims approaching, Captain Lincoln said, ¡°Samuel Morgan, the examination report is out. If you continue to hold me hostage, there will be no justifiable excuse. Our snipers are in position, and as soon as we confirm that the suspect isn¡¯t sick at all, we can take you out immediately! I advise you to put down the gun and surrender now!¡±


    Samuel Morgan snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t spout such grand nonsense here!¡±


    Clearly angered, Captain Lincoln turned to Dr. Sims, ¡°Since these people are obstinate, why don¡¯t you tell everyone the results of the examination? Let them stop their charade! Can anemia really lead to a loss of life?¡±


    Everyone¡¯s eyes immediately fixed on Holly Sims.


    Her jaw set tight, she spoke gravely, ¡°The suspect Keira Olsen has abnormal iron levels, which are life-threatening! Captain Lincoln, we misjudged the situation.¡±


    Captain Lincoln was shocked, ¡°What?¡±


    Holly Sims stepped forward and placed the report in front of Captain Lincoln, ¡°The normal serum iron range for females is 7.8-32.2¦Ìmol/L, but Keira Olsen¡¯s is currently at 1, which is considered severe and extreme iron deficiency, endangering her life.¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    Captain Lincoln¡¯s body tensed.


    Just then, a stern voice burst forth:


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Didn¡¯t you come for IV fluids just yesterday? Why did it take so long to administer iron?¡±


    Everyone turned around to see a man in his thirties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and looking refined, striding forward.


    He was dressed in a white lab coat and glared at Samuel Morgan with a somber face, ¡°She forgot the time, and so did you?¡±


    Chastised by the man, Samuel Morgan felt guilty and turned to Holly Sims, ¡°Dr. Olsen, it¡¯s not the forensic doctor who, despite everything, wouldn¡¯t believe the boss was sick. She insisted she was fine when she fainted. What more do you need to believe something¡¯s wrong?¡±


    As he spoke, he became increasingly angry, ¡°So are you waiting for someone to die before you admit they¡¯re ill?¡±


    Cornered by his words, Holly Sims clenched her fists, and out of shame, wished she could crawl into a hole.


    She looked into the ward.


    Keira Olsen was lying there receiving IV fluids, the girl looked pale and completely lifeless.


    Holly¡¯s eyes reddened.


    Why couldn¡¯t they just trust her?


    Angry at herself, she slapped her own face, her defiant eyes brimming with tears, ¡°It¡¯s my fault.¡±


    Samuel Morgan: ¡°¡­¡±


    He didn¡¯t expect his words to make the young lady cry, and thus he didn¡¯t dare to continue with his targeted remarks. He turned to Captain Lincoln again, ¡°And you, you have a stereotype against wealthy heirs, right? Because the rich heir in a previous case got away? Are all wealthy heirs bad people in this world? Let me tell you! Precisely because we¡¯re rich, we haven¡¯t encountered many bad things in life and consequently, our actions are more principled, alright!¡±


    Captain Lincoln¡¯s lips twitched in reaction to the scolding.


    But Samuel Morgan still felt unsatisfied, thinking back to how he had been on edge the whole way, fearing that Captain Lincoln would take his gun. If he failed to save his boss, they would all end up in jail for the jailbreak.


    So he lashed out even more fiercely, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you refusing to release our boss, would we have resorted to such measures? We¡¯re law-abiding citizens!¡±


    ¡°And now you want to come and snipe us? Come on, go ahead! Aim here!¡±


    He passed the gun back to Captain Lincoln, pointing it at his own chest, ¡°Shoot me dead! Shoot! After all, since you¡¯re pushing my boss to death, I have no reason to live either!¡±


    Captain Lincoln: ¡°¡­¡±


    The surrounding officers hiding in ambush: ¡°¡­¡±


    Captain Lincoln looked at the gun in his hand and also at the situation inside the ward, still puzzled, ¡°But how can a person become so anemic from iron deficiency to this extent?¡±


    The accompanying police officer was also baffled, ¡°Right, when we checked yesterday, her blood report was normal. But today, all of a sudden, it¡¯s no good, just like a video game character¡¯s health bar. Shouldn¡¯t it drop gradually? How did she suddenly become so critically weak?¡±


    Samuel Morgan: ?


    He twitched the corner of his mouth, about to retort at the two of them, when Holly Sims spoke up, ¡°What¡­ what disease does she have?¡±


    Her words were filled with concern, making Samuel Morgan feel embarrassed to scold anyone anymore.


    Dr. Matthew Olsen frowned upon hearing this, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? Genetic iron deficiency anemia. Her body is strange; it doesn¡¯t absorb any iron elements. She must rely on simple and straightforward IV treatment.¡±


    Holly Sims asked anxiously, ¡°How can there be such a disease? I¡¯ve never heard of it before!¡±


    Matthew Olsen pushed up his glasses. Behind the lenses, his beautiful eyes showed a sharpness. He spoke calmly, ¡°Have you heard of every single disease in the world? Even if you don¡¯t believe it, she should¡¯ve had all kinds of symptoms when her illness struck. Didn¡¯t you notice?¡±


    Holly Sims lowered her head, ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Matthew Olsen: ¡°What¡¯s the use of saying sorry to me? You should apologize to the person in the hospital room.¡±


    Holly Sims clenched her jaw, looking towards the hospital room, yet she dared not enter.


    She hesitated for a long time, still standing outside the door in the end.


    Matthew Olsen had already turned and entered the hospital room.


    As soon as he entered, he saw Lewis Horton standing by the side of the hospital room.


    The man slowly turned his head, their gazes meeting, neither saying a word for a moment.


    Lewis Horton¡¯s deep eyes swept over him, capturing instantly this man¡¯s unusual feeling for Keira Olsen.


    He asked with a composed face, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°Her primary physician.¡±


    After Matthew Olsen said this, he added another line, ¡°And also her sworn brother.¡±


    Lewis Horton¡¯s pupils unconsciously tightened.


    After a while, he stood up, extended his hand to Matthew Olsen, with a smile that was not quite a smile at his lips, ¡°So you¡¯re the sworn brother.¡±


    Matthew Olsen frowned, ¡°Hers.¡±


    ¡°And mine as well.¡± Lewis Horton said indifferently, with a powerful presence. ¡°We are husband and wife.¡±


    ¡°Husband and wife?!¡±


    Matthew Olsen suddenly stiffened.


    Lewis Horton spoke in a low voice, ¡°She didn¡¯t tell you? Then I apologize on her behalf.¡±


    Matthew Olsen: !!!


    ¡­


    Keira Olsen felt that she had fallen into a deep sleep. In her dream, she traveled back from her adulthood slowly to her childhood, back to when she was three years old.


    She clung to the glass window of the half-basement, watching Isla Olsen running around outside in a pretty dress while Mrs. Olsen gently wiped the sweat from her face.


    Suddenly, the door creaked open.


    Poppy Hill walked in.


    The little body shuddered.


    Poppy Hill¡¯s malevolent gaze turned towards her, following Keira Olsen¡¯s line of sight to the scene outside. She walked over, grabbed her by the hair, and viciously pushed her head into a nearby basin of water.


    Her voice intermingled with the sounds in the water and reality as if coming from far away¡­


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡±


    ¡°Let me tell you, my daughter should lead a life of luxury. And you, you deserve to stay forever in this filthy gutter, in the sewers!!¡±