Ch. 1851..1860
Chapter 1851
Chapter 1851 Retribution
“Gabriella, if you still consider yourself human, you should go and visit Joan. You used to be best
friends. How can you be so heartless?” Larry looked at the woman in front of him with a stern
expression.
Gabriella sneered at his words.
She never once regarded Joan as her best friend. All that time they spent in college as best friends
were nothing but a facade.
I’m Gabriella Ward. How could I possibly befriend someone like Joan? She was the one who was
stupid enough to be deceived over and over again.
But of course, how could Joan not notice anything before? It was just that she had constantly been in
denial. Thus, even though Gabriella treated her badly all of a sudden, she didn’t think much about it.
“Larry, what’s wrong with Joan? Where should I visit her?” Gabriella feigned cluelessness.
“Gabriella, you’re still pretending at a time like this? What? Do you get off on acting? I’m telling you.
The day when the truth comes to light, I hope you’ll start living an honest life!” Larry growled.
He had already guessed the outcome before coming here.
Gabriella would never easily admit that she was behind this or the fact that she had hired someone to
do it.
“A person’s life is at stake, Gabriella. Retribution will come knocking on your door in due time!” Larry
spun around and stormed away.
Despite that, she didn’t regret her actions. For Larry, she was willing to suffer through any retribution,
including losing her life. She just couldn’t accept reality. What did Joan do to deserve Larry’s love?
What does she have that I don’t?
Gabriella’s eyes dulled as she watched Larry’s retreating figure.
She didn’t wish for much; only to be able to sit down and have a decent meal with that man. However,
this seemed to have become a dream that would never come true.
Once upon a time, she and Larry had done almost everything together. But ever since Joan appeared,
all of this changed. She felt like she was taken for granted, whereas Joan had become the center of his
life. This was what Gabriella couldn’t accept the most.
People said that kind women would always be favored by God, just like how a man would never push
away an innocent and cute girl.
…
Joan slowly opened her eyes on the bed.
“Miss, you’re awake?” an old woman asked in a soft voice.
“Mm…” Joan’s mind suddenly registered the splitting headache she was having.
She immediately reached up to massage her temples, opening her eyes wide to study her
surroundings.
“Where am I?” she asked in a weary voice.
“This is my house, Miss. You’ve been out for three days. Come, drink some water.” The old woman
quickly handed Joan a cup of water.
“Thank you.” Joan guzzled down the water as though she had been walking in the desert for months.
“W-What’s wrong with my legs?” After quenching her thirst, she looked at her legs in horror only to
realize that she couldn’t move them at all.
“Miss, there’s nothing wrong with your legs. I was just afraid that you’d hurt them when you turned in
bed, so I fixed them in place,” the woman explained with a small smile.
Thank God I wasn’t kidnapped. Joan breathed a sigh of relief.
“My child, what is your name?” the woman asked since Joan had finally woken up.
Suddenly, Joan was stunned because she found that her mind drew a complete blank.
She couldn’t remember her own name.
Seeing the embarrassed and confused look on the girl’s face, the woman came to a sudden realization.
“Have you forgotten your name?”
Yes, I can’t remember anything, including where I’m from, what I do for a living, whether or not I’m
married…
Joan nodded gingerly at the woman and confirmed that she couldn’t remember a thing.
The woman surveyed Joan, then shook her head and sighed regretfully.
This poor girl. She can’t even remember her name.
Her family must be worried sick.
Chapter 1852
Chapter 1852 Selena Young
The woman’s eyes dimmed.
“Come, girl. Let’s not think about that for now. You must be hungry. I’ll cook something for you.” The
woman immediately went into the kitchen.
Joan scanned her surroundings again before getting down from the bed.
She didn’t know where this was or why she was here.
But for some reason, when she was in a coma, she seemed to have heard a voice. And that voice
sounded very familiar.
Could that voice belong to this old woman?
Joan shook her head, dismissing this idea as soon as it came.
No. It was a man’s voice.
“Come now, girl. Have a bowl of lentil soup.” The woman placed a bowl in front of her.
When the aroma wafted into Joan’s nostrils, she unhesitatingly picked up the spoon next to it and dug
in.
The woman felt a pang in her heart when she saw the young lady wolfing down the food.
But at the same time, she admired her as well. It’s truly a miracle that she survived after falling off a
bridge into a river.
Perhaps God wasn’t ready to claim her life.
This place was a small village in the mountains. It wasn’t far from the city Larry was in, but very few
people from the city visited this village.
The old woman went by the name Delilah Young, but everyone in the village liked to call her Ms.
Young. She used to be a noble lady, but was framed and forced to stay in this small village.
Later on, she ended up staying because she was discontented by the outside world’s troubles, and
also reluctant to part with these simple and loyal villagers. She never married, but took in a child named
Lucius.
“Lucius, pour this lady a glass of water. She’s injured and has difficulty moving around,” Delilah said
softly, caressing the boy’s hair.
“Granny, would you like some water too? I’ll pour another glass for you.” Lucius cocked his head
innocently.
The boy’s kind and sweet behavior made Delilah smile with content.
Lucius was also dealt a bad card in life. Back then, his parents abandoned him by a river in the village,
and it was Delilah who took him in as her own.
“Here’s your water, ma’am.” Lucius carefully extended the glass toward Joan.
After lying in bed for so long, there were times when Joan thought she wouldn’t be able to rise again,
but she refused to succumb to fate. Inexplicably, she felt some sort of power calling to her.
“Thank you, Lucius.” Joan gently pinched the boy’s cheek.
Joan was very fond of this boy. There were a few times when she wanted to accept him as her godson,
but she wasn’t fully recovered yet. Not to mention, she had lost all her memories. Hence, she didn’t
have the courage to bring this matter up to Delilah.
As the days flew by, Joan’s situation gradually improved.
However, her name still remained a mystery to her. Hence, she was no longer Joan Watts, but instead,
took Delilah’s surname and went by Selena Young.
“How are you feeling, Selena?” Delilah looked worriedly at the woman in front of her.
“All is well, Ms. Young. Look, I’m completely fine.” Selena spun on the spot several times.
Seeing Selena recover so quickly, a joyful smile tugged at Delilah’s lips.
After recuperating at home for so long, Selena felt that it was time to look for a job. Ms. Young must’ve
spent a lot of money to take care of my daily needs all this time.
“Ms. Young, I want to look for a job,” Selena blurted out, staring at Delilah with an earnest expression.
The older woman wasn’t all that surprised by Selena’s statement.
“Alright. I’ll keep an eye out for any job openings, but where do you want to work? Here or somewhere
else? There’s a bustling city not far from our village which would, of course, have more job
opportunities, but I suggest that you stay here for the time being. After all, you’ve only just recovered,”
Delilah proposed.
She was right. That bustling city was a foreign place to her, even more so with her memories gone.
Even surviving would be a problem there, so it was better to familiarize herself by working here first.
“Alright.”
The two of them came to an agreement. Soon, Selena got a job as a cashier in a supermarket.
Chapter 1853
Chapter 1853 Rotten Apple
“Mom!” Lucius yelled across the distance.
Looking up, Selena saw Delilah and Lucius standing by the entrance of the supermarket.
“Hey, you’re both here,” Selena yelled back excitedly.
Before, Selena wanted to take Lucius as her godson. In the beginning, he had also called her his
godmother, but later on, they realized that he didn’t have a biological mother anyway. Hence, he
switched to calling her “mom” instead.
Delilah was initially worried that it would affect Selena’s future, especially her marriage. However,
Selena didn’t seem to mind at all.
“Whoa, Selena. You already have a son at such a young age?” A newly appointed supervisor, Freya
Brooks, gave her the side-eye and deliberately passed a remark.
Freya had disliked Selena since the first day she started working here. It wasn’t because Selena had
offended her, but because she was jealous of the latter for being too outstanding.
“Yes. This is my son.” Selena smiled awkwardly.
“Then what does your husband do for a living?” probed Freya.
Why have I never heard about Selena being married?
“Uhm, I’m not married.” Selena maintained the smile on her face.
As though she had just received great news, Freya strutted away with a gleeful smile.
“Mom, who was that? Did she bully you?” Lucius stared after the other woman with a solemn
expression.
“No. I’m fine. How was school today, Lucius? Were you a good boy?” Selena gently caressed the boy’s
head.
That day was Lucius’ first day in school. Because of work, Selena couldn’t send him to school.
“It was great, Mom. Don’t worry. I’m your son, after all!” Lucius patted his chest in a manly way.
“Hey, have you heard? It turns out that Selena has a son! It’s true. And she’s not even married yet. My
God, how can there be such a woman working in our supermarket? She has no self-respect
whatsoever. What an embarrassment…”
Freya scorned her in front of the other department leaders, making sure to add in some exaggerated
comments.
Village folks were relatively more conservative and traditional-minded. Hence, they took a woman’s
chastity and marriage very seriously.
Rumors and gossip would undoubtedly circulate the village when they heard that Selena was
unmarried, yet had a child. However, when everyone found out that the child was Lucius, they were
humbled by Selena’s courage.
“Ahh, Lucius is Selena’s godson,” one of the department leaders clarified.
Freya was dumbfounded for a good few seconds.
Wait. But I clearly heard that boy calling her “Mom”!
Lucius used to call Selena “Aunt Selena”, but he had never once met his birth mother before, so
Selena told him to call just her “Mom” instead. Another leader explained this to Freya.
Seeing the two department leaders speaking on behalf of Selena, Freya suddenly felt rather humiliated.
It seems like the department leaders hold that woman in high regard!
A cold light flashed across Freya’s eyes.
But why? She’s just a worthless cashier. What did she do to deserve everyone’s respect and affection?
Freya emanated a bitingly cold aura.
Regardless of the era and location, the most outstanding woman would always evoke the jealousy of
others. This was the truth that could never be altered. Even in a village where folks led simple lives,
there would always be a rotten apple that spoiled the whole barrel.
Selena Young, just how pretentious are you that you managed to fool an entire village full of people! I’ll
definitely force you to show your true colors!
Freya balled her fists together in anger.
At home, Selena bent over slightly with a pained expression. “Mom, what’s wrong? Are you tired?”
Seeing her having trouble walking, Lucius quickly went over to support her.
Selena wondered why she was suddenly ordered to unload the goods in the supermarket that day,
seeing as it wasn’t within her job scope at all.
“It’s okay. I’ll be fine after I rest for a while.” Selena stroked the boy’s hair.
“What’s wrong?” Delilah hurried over to ask.
Chapter 1854
Chapter 1854 A Ray Of Hope
“Nothing, Ms. Young. I just accidentally twisted my waist a little bit. All I need is a short rest.”
Delilah’s eyes filled with wariness and suspicion.
She’s just a cashier. How did she end up twisting her waist?
“Alright, we’ll leave it at that for now. Go rest for a bit first while I cook.” With that, Delilah went into the
kitchen.
After checking that Selena was happily chatting away with Lucius, Delilah swiftly took out her phone.
“What happened? Why is Selena injured?” There was a hint of displeasure in Delilah’s tone.
“Don’t worry, Ms. Young. I really had no idea about Selena’s injury. Tell you what, I’ll head over
tomorrow to check things out and give you a proper explanation,” the supermarket manager hurriedly
reassured.
Although Delilah wasn’t a local, her talent and capabilities were recognized by everyone, and she was
a highly revered person in the village.
Back at the office in Norton Corporation, Larry gazed at the photo on his desk with a wistful and
affectionate gleam in his eyes.
He still refused to believe the news of Joan’s death and kept deluding himself into thinking that she had
merely gone for a vacation; that she would definitely come back.
Knock, knock, knock!
Someone had been knocking on his office door for a long time, but Larry didn’t seem to hear it.
Finally, the person outside couldn’t take it anymore, entering the office without waiting for permission.
“Larry!” Caspian called out in a slightly exasperated voice.
“What’s wrong?” Larry squinted his eyes slightly at the man before him.
He hadn’t slept well in a long time because every time he closed his eyes, Joan’s face would plague his
mind.
“Larry, the shareholders are going to hold a shareholders’ meeting.” Caspian looked at Larry solemnly.
“Who said that?” Larry’s head snapped up.
Finally some reaction from him.
Caspian let out a relieved sigh. He was afraid that the news about Joan’s death would cause him to
spiral into despair and he would stop caring about company matters altogether.
“It was the shareholders who proposed this. They said that you should take a break from managing the
company because of what happened to Joan,” Caspian replied seriously.
Seeing Larry’s lack of reaction, he raised his voice. “Larry, Joan is gone and she wouldn’t want to see
you become a shell of your former self!”
He was really afraid that Larry would lose his position in the company.
Caspian’s words offered Larry a ray of hope.
That’s right. I have to pull myself together and become stronger so that when Joan returns, I’ll be able
to keep her safe.
“Alright, I understand. I’ll go,” Larry answered in a firm voice.
The company employees had already heard about what happened to Larry and Joan. Naturally, they
felt sad and sympathetic toward their president.
“Hey, it’s been so long already. Hasn’t Mr. Norton moved on from what happened? I heard that there’s
going to be a shareholders’ meeting this afternoon.” A female employee whispered in the ear of her
female colleague.
“It looks like he still hasn’t. Just look at him. He comes to work every day with dark circles under his
eyes. It’s clear that he’s not in a good frame of mind. Every day when he comes to the company, he
heads directly to his office without even interacting with us. I hope that he can get well soon.” The
female colleague shook her head and sighed softly.
Bang! Right then, Larry emerged from the office with a frosty expression.
The shareholders’ meeting was going to be yet another bloodless battle. These shareholders really
don’t have anything better to do every day, and are always thinking of ways to kick me out of the
company.
Larry sneered at the thought of that.
“Are all the materials ready?” he asked in a monotonous voice.
“Yes. I’ve placed them on your desk,” his assistant immediately replied.
This was the first time Larry looked so spirited since Joan’s passing.
Hence, a faint smile appeared on his assistant’s lips.
The Larry from before is finally back.
Soon, the shareholders were seated in the meeting room with similarly grim looks on their faces, filling
the atmosphere with awkward tension.
Chapter 1855
Chapter 1855 Dismissal
Bang!
Larry slammed the door open and took his seat at the head of the table.
As one, the shareholders straightened in their seats and trained their gazes on Larry.
“You’re all here.” Larry cast each other shareholders a flinty stare.
“Mr. Norton, the company doesn’t seem to be doing very well lately,” an elderly shareholder spat out
viciously, waiting for Larry to make a fool out of himself.
“That’s right, Mr. Norton. We haven’t even received the proposal you mentioned to us previously,”
another shareholder said bluntly.
“This is a large company with hundreds of employees to feed. It’s not right to delay the company’s
development because of your personal matters, is it?”
“I agree…”
The shareholders erupted into a heated discussion.
Larry already expected this, so of course, he came fully prepared.
“The proposal I mentioned before was rejected by every one of you in this room, but I’m sure all of you
know, the companies that are implementing that model are developing very well. As for why you
haven’t seen the proposal, isn’t it a little too late to be asking that? All of you turned it down right from
the beginning, so naturally, I wouldn’t act on my own,” Larry deliberately emphasized.
There was no way he would take the blame for this.
His goal was to let these shareholders know how stupid they were.
“Mr. Norton, let’s not discuss this for the time being. Right now, the main issue at the company is that
the leaders are unable to lead or inspire the employees to work hard…” a shareholder said righteously.
Leaders? This is obviously meant for me alone. A sneer formed on Larry’s lips.
It was beyond a doubt that Larry was heartbroken over what happened to Joan, but he never once
rested on his laurels when it came to managing the company.
He often burned the midnight oil to read documents, then woke up early to check for flaws in the
company’s development.
But no one knew about all these things he did behind the scenes.
“Distribute the documents.” Larry glanced at his assistant.
“Yes, sir.” The assistant immediately handed out the documents to the shareholders around the table.
The shareholders looked at Larry suspiciously, wondering what the man was up to this time. But all of
them had agreed in advance that regardless of what trick he had up his sleeve, he would be dismissed
from his position on that day itself.
“Mr. Norton, what is this? Just cut to the chase.” The elderly shareholder tossed away the document in
his hand.
“This is a proposal about our collaboration with a well-known company in A Nation, W Enterprise. I just
closed the deal with them yesterday…” Larry explained.
All of the shareholders’ eyes had gone wide with shock.
They knew that W Enterprise was one of the top ten companies in the world. A collaboration with them
could bring Norton Corporation’s future development to greater heights.
In an instant, the air in the room stilled.
Following that was the sound of them flipping through the documents.
“W Enterprise has extremely strict requirements when it comes to their partner companies, so I hope
that all the shareholders present will work together to propel Norton Corporation into the future…”
None of the shareholders expected Larry to actually strike up a partnership with W Enterprise. Right
then, his dismissal could only be pushed back. Evidently, they cared more about their own profits.
Everyone knew that collaboration with W Enterprise would guarantee Norton Corporation a promising
future.
…
Dustin’s phone rang with an incoming call. Glancing at the screen, he saw that it was Jory.
“What is it?” Dustin asked whilst looking at his tablet.
“I’m getting married,” Jory answered in a low voice.
Dustin froze for a moment before returning to normal.
They’re finally sealing the deal after going through so much. A smile tugged on Dustin’s lips.
“Dustin, you’ve been away for so long already. Now that I’m getting married, you should come back and
be my best man,” Jory said cautiously.
Dustin bowed his head in hesitation.
Ever since the authorities confirmed that Joan had plunged into the river during the car accident, Dustin
had left the country. He just couldn’t bring himself to accept the news about Joan’s death. Thus, he
simply left that city which seemed to remind him of his loss.
“What’s wrong? Haven’t gotten over it yet?” Jory queried softly.
Chapter 1856
Chapter 1856 Delivering Flowers
“I’ll go.”
In the end, Dustin agreed to Jory’s request.
On the day of Nancy and Jory’s wedding, the venue was very lively.
Balloons decorated the venue, and the air was filled with the fragrance of roses and red wine.
Meanwhile, the bride looked gorgeous and the groom exuded charm.
Everyone was anticipating the beautiful moment when they were pronounced husband and wife.
Although Nancy and Caspian were divorced, they had long since made peace with each other and
were now buddies for life. Simon had also finally accepted Jory. In fact, he was never against their
relationship but was actually testing them all this time.
Tucked in a corner, Larry stood in front of a window with a trace of sadness flashing across his eyes.
If Joan knew that Nancy and Jory are getting married, she’d probably be over the moon, right?
“Larry, what are you doing here?” Gabriella walked over right then.
Surprise flitted across Larry’s features, but he quickly regained his composure. He never expected
Gabriella to attend this wedding. Although Jory had formed an alliance with Gabriella before, according
to the former’s personality, he probably wouldn’t invite the latter to his wedding.
“Mm,” Larry replied tersely, having no intention to continue the conversation.
Since Joan was gone, Gabriella felt that it was time to make her move. Thus, she started addressing
him in an intimate manner. “Lars, h-how have you been lately?” She peered at him suspiciously, but the
man showed no reaction other than indifference.
It’s already been so long since Joan’s death. Hasn’t he moved on from his grief yet?
A trace of heartache entered Gabriella’s eyes, but there was also a hint of delight.
One day, I’ll definitely take Joan’s place!
Gabriella clenched her fists tightly.
“Now, let’s welcome the bride and groom!”
The venue reverberated with thunderous applause. This was the first time Dustin made an appearance
since he was the groom’s best man.
However, when his eyes swept over a particular person in the crowd, his gaze instantly darkened a few
shades.
At that moment, Larry was swirling the wine in his glass and taking small, elegant sips.
“Jory, were you the one who invited her?” Nancy whispered into Jory’s ear while discreetly pointing in
Gabriella’s direction with her right hand.
Jory shook his head without saying anything.
“Lars, it’s already been so long since Joan’s death. Haven’t you thought about finding another
girlfriend?” Gabriella asked out of the blue.
That new form of address grated on Larry’s nerves. He looked at Gabriella in front of him, his eyes
growing cold.
This woman definitely had something to do with Joan’s death, but Caspian hasn’t found any solid
evidence. Not to mention, the offending driver vanished all of sudden, leaving us without any clues.
“There’s no other woman I’d want besides Joan!” Larry growled before turning to leave.
Gabriella watched as Larry walked away, feeling slightly disheartened and bitter at the same time. I’ve
done so much for him. Doesn’t he feel anything for me at all?
We shall see.
A scheming smile crept onto Gabriella’s lips.
…
“Selena, are you busy? If you’re not, can you deliver these flowers for me?” Delilah said hastily.
Delilah didn’t have any special hobbies besides growing flowers in her downtime. Hence, this had
gradually become her career. However, the flowers she grew were very special and generally weren’t
available on the market. Thus, whenever there were events in the city nearby the village, her flowers
would be their first choice.
“Will do, Ms. Young. Just send me the address,” Selena called out.
It was coincidently her off day. Since she was idle at home, she followed Delilah to the garden.
“Come on. You can still make it if you leave now. It’s for a wedding, so make sure you deliver these
flowers in one piece.” Delilah pinned Selena with a serious gaze.
“Also, today’s your first time in the city. Since you’re free, you can have some fun over there before
coming home.” Delilah patted Selena’s shoulder gently.
I usually don’t have time to go shopping with Selena. This is the perfect time for her to go out and have
fun.
“What’s so fun about the city? I’d rather spend time with the plants here.” Selena smiled before turning
to leave.
The location where she was to deliver the flowers wasn’t that far from the village, but the wedding
venue managed to take Selena’s breath away.
Chapter 1857
Chapter 1857 Oddly Familiar
“This family must be filthy rich. Look at this extravagant wedding,” Selena muttered to herself.
“Good day, may I know who you’re looking for?” A security guard ran up to Security and questioned.
Security was slightly taken aback because she never expected to encounter a security guard.
“Hi, someone ordered these flowers. I’m here to deliver them,” Selena answered swiftly.
“I ordered them. Hand them to me.” As if on cue, a woman walked over.
At that, Selena extended the flowers to the woman.
“Jory Synder, are you willing to take Nancy Barrymore…” The priest was speaking on the stage.
Hearing his words, Selena’s brows furrowed slightly. Why do I find those two names so familiar? But I
don’t recall ever meeting them. Selena shook her head in an attempt to clear her mind.
How could I possibly know those people? They’re from the city, for Pete’s sake.
Selena swiveled on her heels to leave. At that moment, Larry was coincidently standing next to the
freshly placed flowers.
“These flowers are very unique,” Larry commented in a low voice.
“Yes, they’re very rare,” the woman explained.
The wedding was still ongoing, so the venue was teeming with life. Dustin was next to Jory, celebrating
the joyous occasion with his close friend.
Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared within his line of sight. “Joan.” However, it vanished after a split
second.
“What did you say?” Jory eyed Dustin cautiously.
But the next second, Jory shouted with alarm, “Dustin! What are you doing?”
“Joan?” Dustin called out tentatively, but there was no response.
By the time he ran to the entrance, there was no sign of anyone. Even so, he was certain that he had
seen someone walking out earlier; someone who looked very much like Joan.
“Selena, why are you back so early?” Delilah looked at the woman in surprise.
“Oh, well. I told you I prefer the plants here. The city is crowded with people. I just don’t see any fun in
that,” Selena replied right away.
“So how was it? The bride and groom must’ve been a charming couple, I suppose?” Delilah continued
probing.
Selena knitted her brows as she tried to recall. Hmm, I didn’t notice that much. But the bride’s and
groom’s names did sound oddly familiar. Maybe I’ve heard similar names from watching all those TV
series.
“Fine, I guess. But I think you’re the prettiest, Ms. Young.” Selena cheekily hugged Ms. Young from the
back.
After some playful banter, both of them got back to work in the garden.
The sky gradually grew dark, and the guests began filtering out of the wedding venue. Dustin sat alone
in front of the window as he stared into the dark sky outside, seemingly lost in his thoughts.
“What happened to you today, Dustin? You’re my best man. Why did you run out all of a sudden?” Jory
patted Dustin’s shoulder.
“I saw Joan,” Dustin replied slowly with disappointment heavy in his tone.
Jory’s heart broke for the man beside him. He knew that Dustin had always harbored feelings for Joan,
even though the man she loved was Larry.
“Stop talking nonsense. Joan is dead.” Jory didn’t mince his words.
How could she have survived after falling into such a deep river?
“But Jory, I really saw Joan. There’s no way I got it wrong!” Dustin refuted with an indignant expression.
Forget it. I’ll just let him be.
Jory didn’t continue arguing with him.
Perhaps he just misses her too much. Dustin bowed his head as sorrow flickered across his eyes.
“Will you go back or stay in the country?” Jory asked in a soft voice.
Dustin hesitated for a moment, but didn’t answer.
The next day, he left the country. But he couldn’t sleep the entire night as that familiar figure kept
streaking across his mind. In the end, he came to the conclusion that he was mistaken.
…
“Good day, Mr. Norton. I’m W Enterprise’s representative. I’m happy to come forth to discuss the
collaboration with you.” A man extended his right hand.
Larry glanced at the man and reached out to shake his hand with a courteous smile.
“W Enterprise hopes that your company can come up with a unique and innovative proposal. Recently,
we heard that there’s an old lady in a village nearby who has been planting a rare species of flower. We
hope to utilize this special flower to create a perfume formulation. Mr. Norton, you know that W
Enterprise is involved in many types of businesses, so this time, we hope that you can help with the
procurement of the raw materials…”
Chapter 1858
Chapter 1858 Flat Refusal
Larry had seen that special flower at Jory and Nancy’s wedding. In addition, he had also heard about it
before. Hence, this matter was not difficult for him.
Little did he know that the owner of those flowers, Delilah, wasn’t an easy person to deal with.
“Rest assured, we’ll handle the procurement of the raw materials,” Larry replied calmly.
Then, he searched for the woman who set up the flowers that day, and successfully obtained Delilah’s
contact information.
“I’m sorry, sir. Several years’ worth of the flowers has been sold out,” Delilah hurled back, not sounding
sorry whatsoever.
Delilah’s flowers were sold in limited numbers every year because she never intended to make huge
profits out of them. In the village, she was already satisfied with earnings that could cover her living
expenses. Not to mention, she didn’t want to leave the village.
As the days went by, Selena found her job in the supermarket getting easier. Meanwhile, Larry realized
that negotiating with Delilah was harder than he thought.
“Selena, don’t you think it’s time to think about marriage?” Delilah said abruptly.
Selena was momentarily stunned. Marriage never crossed her mind because she felt content living with
Delilah and Lucius.
“Remember Kevin from our village? He’s the one who used to help us move the flowers. He’s always
shown an interest in you. If you think he-”
“Ms. Young,” Selena interrupted Delilah, then bowed her head. “I’ve never thought about these things.”
For some reason, Selena felt revolted by this topic. Seeing the way she nervously changed the topic,
an idea surfaced in Delilah’s mind.
“Mom, I’m home!” Lucius yelled upon entering the house.
Selena’s eyes lit up and she immediately went over to greet him.
“Mom, I just met Kevin,” Lucius stated casually.
Kevin again? Selena eyed the boy in front of her suspiciously.
“What did he say to you?” she prodded.
“Mr. Kevin asked me whether I’d mind it if he becomes my father,” Lucius replied in a hushed voice.
The corners of Delilah’s lips lifted into an indiscernible smile.
As expected of Kevin. He’s always so direct.
“Mom, I actually think Mr. Kevin is a rather good person. He goes to the garden to help us almost every
day and has never once complained. I’d feel safe having a father like him,” Lucius intentionally said.
Indeed, both Lucius and Delilah were fond of Kevin, but at the end of the day, the decision was still in
Selena’s hands.
“I’m here!” Kevin called out loudly right then.
“Mr. Kevin!” Lucius dashed over to the man.
Turning to look at Kevin, Selena suddenly felt slightly embarrassed.
“Selena, I heard Ms. Young say that you like to eat fish. Here, I bought this for you.” Kevin handed a
freshly bought fish to her.
Selena hesitated for a while. She didn’t reciprocate Kevin’s feelings, so naturally, she wouldn’t want to
develop a complicated relationship with him.
Some things needed to be made clear. A person’s heart wasn’t something to be messed around with.
“Kevin, can we go outside? I need to talk to you.” Selena tugged Kevin out before he could respond.
Once out of earshot, she continued in a soft voice, “I’m sorry, Kevin. Thank you for the fish and for all
the kindness you’ve shown us, but I hope we can become good friends for life.”
Suddenly, Kevin’s eyes dimmed.
She had already rejected him before he could even confess his feelings for her.
“It’s fine. Good friends then.” Kevin scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
Noting the look on his face, guilt crept into Selena’s heart. In fact, she herself had no idea why she had
given him such a flat refusal.
…
“Larry, Delilah Young firmly refuses to work with us. What should we do?” Caspian was a little anxious.
This was the first large-scale collaboration between Norton Corporation and W Enterprise, and it was
crucial to ensure its success.
Chapter 1859
Chapter 1859 Finding Fault
Larry stood in front of the windows, immersed in his thoughts while he stared into the distance.
He never imagined that there would be a woman in this world who would refuse money.
“It’s fine. Check the specific location of the village. I’ll personally visit Ms. Young.” Larry announced with
a cold glint in his eyes.
Although Kevin never received any higher education, he was a civilized man. Ever since Selena
rejected him the other time, he stopped making advances on her altogether. Despite that, he still went
to the garden to help Delilah out as per usual.
Perhaps village folks were truly simple-minded.
“Kevin, aren’t you upset that Selena rejected you?” Delilah tried to sound him out.
“No. Love isn’t always meant to be,” Kevin answered calmly.
Delilah only smiled in response.
Kevin was a decent man. She knew that he wouldn’t force Selena or put any pressure on her.
…
“Selena, what the hell is wrong with you? Did you do this?” Freya abruptly pointed a finger at Selena
and shouted.
Having no idea what Freya was referring to, Selena’s face scrunched up in confusion.
“What’s wrong, Ms. Brooks?” she asked worriedly.
“Look at these goods. Were you the one who placed them here?” Freya shouted angrily.
Suddenly, everyone’s gazes swept toward Selena.
Selena cautiously walked closer to the shelf. Her brows knitted together into a frown. These goods
weren’t placed here by me.
“No, Ms. Brooks. It wasn’t me-”
“Looking for excuses after you’ve done something wrong? Selena Young, you’re really something,
aren’t you?” Freya cut her off.
Seeing Freya’s aggressive behavior and her reluctance to give her a chance to explain, Selena
understood that Freya was deliberately finding fault with her.
Coincidently, the manager wasn’t here that day. And it was precisely because of this that Freya dared
to openly stir up trouble.
“Ms. Brooks, Selena really wasn’t the one who placed them here,” a colleague explained on Selena’s
behalf.
“Shut your mouth! Get lost if you don’t want to work here!” Freya roared.
In an instant, everyone scurried away in fright, leaving Selena standing alone at the same spot as
Freya berated her.
“What’s going on here? Why is it so noisy?” Larry asked from inside his car.
Caspian handed a drink he bought from the supermarket to Larry, then returned to the driver’s seat.
“The supervisor is scolding an employee for making a mistake,” Caspian described briefly.
Subsequently, he put the car into drive.
It did not take long for them to arrive at the garden’s entrance.
Knock, knock, knock!
Kevin and Delilah exchanged puzzled glances.
Selena is at work and Lucius is in school. Who could it be?
Delilah vigilantly opened the door, only to see a man in a suit and leather shoes, standing there
expressionless.
“May I know who you’re looking for?” Delilah queried with a frown.
“Hello, I’m looking for Ms. Young,” Larry answered politely.
Delilah looked at the man quizzically. I don’t even know this man. Why did he come here to see me?
Wariness filled her eyes as she was hit with a sudden realization. Could it be for the flowers?
“Is there something you need?” She got right to the point.
“You must be Ms. Young then?” Larry maintained his courteous behavior.
Delilah, on the other hand, didn’t bother with pleasantries. “Yes, I am. Whatever it is you’re here for, just
out with it.”
Perceiving the woman’s temperament, Larry could finally understand why she was so adamant about
rejecting a collaboration with them.
“Ms. Young, may I go inside for a chat?” Larry asked.
Delilah looked him up and down. Sensing that he posed no danger or threat, she begrudgingly stepped
aside to allow him entry.
It was indeed a magical world. Mesmerized by the entire garden, a look of awe flickered across Larry’s
face.
He always believed that women who liked plants and flowers were kind and innocent. Although Delilah
was slightly rude to him earlier, it was obviously because she was an old lady who wanted no part of
the outside world.
Chapter 1860
Chapter 1860 No Means No
“If there’s anything you want to say, spill it. I’m busy,” Delilah said rudely.
“Ms. Young, let me introduce myself first. I am the president of Norton Corporation,” Larry said as he
stretched out his right hand.
Delilah was momentarily taken aback but composed herself quickly. She had heard of Norton
Corporation, and definitely of Larry. It just had not occurred to her that he would personally come to
look for her.
“If you’re looking to work with me, I must ask you to leave. I believe I’ve made myself very clear that I
will not work with you,” Delilah said firmly.
She left him no room for negotiation. Larry frowned.
It’s the first time in my life that somebody has refused an offer to work with me. Interesting. He looked
around before his gaze fell back upon Delilah, saying nothing.
She must have a weakness somewhere. All ordinary people do.
He thought hard about what Delilah’s vulnerable point could be.
“Grandma!” Just then, Lucius yelled as he pushed open the door and threw himself into Delilah’s
embrace.
“You’re home! Are you hungry?” Delilah gazed fondly at the boy before her.
“I’m not hungry. Mom would be home soon,” Lucius replied happily.
“Hello, Sir.” Lucius finally noticed Larry and greeted him with a bow.
Delilah hurriedly shoved the boy into his room and forbade him from coming out.
In this day and age, there are all kinds of people who would do anything to achieve their ambitions.
“Please leave. I’m not interested in working with you.” Delilah waved her hands at Larry.
Bemused, Larry obliged her request and departed.
“Larry, what are we going to do now that Ms. Young is refusing to work with us?” Caspian’s eyes had a
sliver of worry in them.
“Oh, she will,” Larry said determinedly.
Caspian gazed at Larry curiously, he had no idea what the latter meant.
“Selena, no more bonuses for you for the month. Oh, and you’re out of off days,” Freya said viciously.
Selena knew that Freya wouldn’t let her off that easily.
Nonetheless, she said nothing. With a sense of indignation, she bore her burden alone.
“What is it, Selena? Are you dissatisfied?” Freya asked suddenly, her cold eyes fixed on Selena.
Of course I am! She did not bother to investigate the truth and just blamed others! The more Selena
thought about it, the more incensed she became.
“No,” she answered.
Where did this woman come from? She is ill-tempered, short-sighted, and is keen on stirring up trouble.
Selena frowned and trudged over to the cashier with a heart full of grievances.
“Selena, what is it? What did Ms. Brooks say?” Her co-workers surrounded her and enquired
concernedly.
“I’ve just lost my bonus and leaves for the month,” Selena said gloomily with a shrug. “By the looks of it,
we would have to wait until next month for me to treat you guys.”
In an instant, the women voiced their indignation.
“How could Ms. Brooks do that? It wasn’t your responsibility! How could she punish you like that?”
“That’s right! This is something that needs to be discussed with the store owner…”
Not long after that, Freya emerged from her office. The women hurriedly dispersed and pretended to be
engrossed in their work.
“Ms. Young, I am out of leaves for the month,” Selena said with a pout.
Delilah looked at Selena with a raised brow.
“But it’s fine, it’s a chance for me to make more money,” Selena added, for she doesn’t want Delilah to
worry about her.
“Mom, didn’t you always have leaves available?” Lucius asked unhappily.
Selena brushed him off with an excuse. Though Delilah was dubious at Selena’s words, she did not
enquire further. She respected Selena’s choice in remaining reticent.
At the supermarket, it was business as usual. Every employee carried out their tasks in all seriousness.
Selena had been working non-stop for half a month. Everybody felt sorry for her but did not dare to
offend Freya.
For some reason, the manager had not been back for a long time.