Ch. 401..405: Begging For A Reconciliation Chapter 401-405

Chapter 401 What Makes You Love Him

A gust of chilly wind blew in through the window. Leah walked up there to close the window.

She frowned and politely refused Shawn’s invitation, "I'm sorry. I’m too busy."

Leah thought to herself, if I went out with Shawn by myself, whether Hendrik or Han, I think I would drive both of them mad. After all, Shawn had a hostile relationship with both of them. Even more so, considering that Shawn was working with Jackson and the recent events, this man would undoubtedly devise a new ruse.

Shawn's gaze turned icy as he asked, "Sarah, aren't we friends? You said you'd let me see Carlotta whenever I wanted to see her. Bring Carlotta to see me tomorrow. After all, there is something I believe you really want to know, and it's regarding the mystery surrounding Han and Shawn's identities."

Leah inhaled deeply. Although she had her coat tightly around her, she was still shivering. She couldn't help but remember Han's comforting embrace in the hospital, and a warm sensation insidiously flooded her heart. Afterward, she regretted her abnormal behavior.

Leah kept rejecting Shawn, and she said, "I…we can talk about it on the phone. Recently, Carlotta has been very busy with school. She doesn’t have time to leave the house."

She was aware that Hendrik was doing his best to deal with Shawn right now and that she was a target for kidnappers. Overall, it was best not to wander around and cause trouble for him.

Shawn's eyes suddenly glowed with bloodlust. Finally, without showing any emotion, he hung up the

phone and uttered, "Fine, forget it then."

Next to him, Jackson saw that their plan had fallen through. He kicked over the table and cursed, "Does this c*nt know something? Why is she ignoring you!"

Jackson thought, This guy boasts about how great he is all the time, but he can't even handle a woman. He's a thrash!

The look on Shawn's face was one of icy coldness. He gave Jackson a chilly look before stating, "She no longer believes in me. You must find stronger proof to undermine the trust between Han and Sarah."

Jackson acknowledged the significance of this issue and concurred, "Well, I've sent my best intelligence to spy on Han day and night. Owen is not willing to cooperate with us either. We must find new allies to expand our influence and territory!"

The next day, in the White Group.

Leah had just finished a meeting when she received a call from Susan.

"Ms. White, I had asked my senior management to review the new product you designed. It has received high praise from everyone. We are prepared to manufacture this bracelet right away. Please complete the final design and promotional materials. The salary and bonus of 7 million dollars will be deposited into your account this afternoon!"

"All right, Ms. Victor, thank you."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they hung up the phone.

Leah exhaled a sigh of relief. She was grateful that she was given the chance to work with HJ Corporation when she traveled abroad. Otherwise, she believed that she would never be able to pay Han's 70 million until her next incarnation. She had raised 10 million dollars with this amount, in addition to the profits she had made from Dream Designs during this time.

She thought for a while before making a phone call.

"Mr. Baldwin, I'm Sarah White. I consulted with you earlier. I want to revisit the office building that you listed for sale."

Mr. Baldwin said, "I'm available to give you a tour three days from now, but I need to confirm that you have at least 100 million dollars in funds."

Leah hung up the phone after they agreed on a time. She sat down at her desk and continued working.

Serena previously informed her that despite having a large number of orders, they were short-staffed and had limited space in their studio. As a result, Leah decided to relocate the company to a larger office and launch her own company.

Even though they seldom have loose orders, the studio should be able to continue operating thanks to the company's long-term agreement with HJ Corporation. She decided to purchase the office building and relocate her business there after seeing the advertisement in which Mr. Baldwin was selling it. The only problem was that she was still short by 20 million dollars.

Leah headed to Dream Designs to meet Serena later that evening after finishing the product

advertisements for HJ Corporation. Their employees served them coffee as they sat in the office.

"Serena, I have found a good office building for the company, but they want to see proof of funds for 100 million dollars. I'm still short of 20 million. Can you lend me some money? Once I've completed the verification, I'll pay you back."

"Sarah, why are you treating me like an outsider?" Serena cut her off before she could complete her sentence.

Leah was a little taken aback, "What do you mean?"

Serena is the first person that comes to mind when I need to borrow money because I always think of her as a friend.

When Serena saw how perplexed Leah looked, she sighed helplessly. She clarified, "Instead of telling me that you want to borrow some money, you should just ask for it. I'll send it your way right away. You don't need to pay me back. Consider it as my investment in the company!"

As she explained, Serena had completed the transaction using her mobile banking app.

Leah's eyes slightly reddened as she was greatly moved. She said, "Thank you."

Since it was getting late, Lead did not stay much longer in the office. She reminded Serena before leaving, "By the way, I think Shawn and Jackson are up to something lately. He asked me to go out with him all by myself yesterday. I need you to be careful and remember to bring bodyguards with you when you go out."

Serena nodded gravely, "Hmm, it's normal for him to make a move, especially since some of his company was recently taken over by Mr. Hendrik. Due to your good relationship with Mr. Hendrik, he might try to target you."

The front desk receptionist interrupted the two as they were conversing with an internal call, "Ms. White and Miss Coleman, Mr. Ford is here."

Leah had a bad feeling about this, she said, "Tell him that I’m not…"

"Sarah, what are you and your friend talking about? I want to hear it." Shawn's cheerful voice came from the doorway as he pushed the door open and entered the office.

Even though Serena was displeased, she refrained from making a scene. She said, "Mr. Ford, please leave. We’re in the middle of something."

Seeing that Shawn had made himself comfortable on the sofa, Leah's expression became complicated, and she asked, "What do you want?"

Did he really believe I was unaware of what he had done? He is acting as if nothing has happened.

Shawn met Leah’s gaze. His smile sent chills down her spine. Shawn said, "What would you do, Sarah, if you discovered Han was lying to you?"

With that being said, he took out several photos from his pocket and continued, "I want to meet you because I don’t want you to be left in the dark."

The photos Shawn brought with him were the ones that Jackson had recently taken during their

investigation. The photos showed Hendrik and Han entering and leaving the same hotel.

Leah stared at the photos. She was stunned.

Shawn’s voice continued to come from the side, he said, "Sarah, I discovered that Han and Hendrik are the same people."

He looked pleased with the shocking expression on Leah's face. He had the impression that Leah would sever her relationship with Han and return to him.

Serena's eyes widened in shock, and she exclaimed, "They are the same person? That's impossible!"

Why did Han have to hold back for all these years if he was as great as Mr. Hendrik?"

Leah struggled for a while to hold back her shock. She pushed the photos back to Shawn and said, "Whether they are the same person or not has nothing to do with me."

She had long held the suspicion that they were different people, but she has since confirmed that they were not the same person. These photos by themselves were not very convincing.

Seeing that she still did not believe him, Shawn's gaze turned ruthless. He grabbed her slender wrist and asked slowly, "Sarah, what do you love about him?"

Chapter 402 Why Should I Comfort Him

Shawn's question stung Leah's heart.

There was a glimpse of embarrassment in her clear and beautiful eyes. Leah struggled to withdraw her wrist and she said, "I don't love him."

Those simple words caused the atmosphere in the office to fall silent. Shawn's stern expression softened a lot. He leaned closer to lean next to her ear and said ambiguously, "Sarah, since you don't love him. You shouldn’t bother with his affairs. Why don’t you come back to me?"

Leah felt his scorching breath on her neck. It made her feel very uncomfortable as she struggled. She said, "Shawn, I should have told you before that, the relationship between us…"

At this moment, the corner of her eye caught a glimpse of a slender figure standing silently by the office’s door. This man was wearing a black suit, and his face was expressionless. The deep and cold looks in his eyes made Leah shiver in fear.

It’s Han? When did he get there?

Following her gaze, both Shawn and Serena saw Han.

Han walked over with a sneer. He pulled Leah's hand away from Shawn's grip and held her hand himself. Han said, "Mr. Ford, are you still in the mood to talk about the heart’s matter here?"

His nonchalant words evoked a strong sense of oppression. Leah was shocked by the icy temperature

of his hand, she asked, "How did you get here?"

She wondered, did he hear what I just said?

Shawn's cold gaze fixed on Han's face, and he burst out laughing. He stated, "As everyone knows, Sarah is my wife."

He grabbed Leah's other arm.

Leah was caught in the middle. She felt like she was unable to make any of them happy. She felt both panicked and anxious about the progress of things. Leah looked to Serena for help.

When their eyes met, Serena finally snapped out of the dramatic scene where two men were fighting over one woman. She walked up to the trio with a stern look on her face and saved Leah from both men.

Serena said, "If you two have something to discuss, please do it on your own. Sarah doesn't have time to deal with you two."

Seeing the two extraordinary men face off due to her friend, Serena was greatly amazed. She used to see Donald and Ron pestering Sarah, but she never thought she would witness a showdown between two top dogs like this.

She escorted Sarah to the upstairs lounge.

Then, she closed the door for her and gave her heartfelt advice, "Sarah, why don't you choose a

partner so they won't keep bothering your life? If you don't love Han or Shawn, then Mr. Hendrik seems like a good choice. By the way, don't believe Shawn’s crap. There's no way Mr. Hendrik and Han could be the same person!"

Leah rubbed her sore wrist, which was hurting after those two grabbed it. She felt a throbbing headache. She doubted that those two were the same person, nor did she want to believe it. These kinds of photos could be faked. Therefore, she doubted it was genuine.

However, she still had a strange sense of something feeling off in her heart. After all, the similarities between Han and Hendrik were far too many.

She also remembered Hendrik's words, that he would show her anytime if she wanted to know what he looked like. If Hendrik were Han, he wouldn't have the confidence to say something like that.

With a loud bang coming from the downstairs office, Serena worriedly went back to check on the situation.

"If you two need to talk things out, please take it outside. Don't make a scene in our studio!"

As Serena’s figure gradually disappeared, Leah wearily lay down on the soft bed. She closed her eyes to recuperate. There had been way too many things happening recently—so many that she had a hard time catching her breath.

The door to the lounge suddenly opened. She ignored it because she mistook it for Serena. She only came back to her senses until the bed began to sink and a shadow engulfed her. Her nose was flooded with the smells of a cool and pleasant fragrance.

She opened her eyes abruptly and fell into the deep and cold black eyes of Han.

Han propped his body on top of her, their distance and posture were ambiguous.

"Move aside…"

Leah's heart skipped a beat. She averted her gaze uncomfortably. She unconsciously sweat profusely. Her hand was held by a cold and large hand the next moment.

A deep and pleasing voice was heard, "Leah, is there something you want to say to me?"

Leah met his gaze following his inexplicable question. She lightly furrowed and said, "Not really."

He seems a little out of character today. Normally, he would humiliate me when he saw me with Shawn.

Lean felt the cold temperature from Han’s palm. She moved her lips but could not voice what was in her heart.

Why was his hand feeling so cold? Never mind, he would claim that I’m in love with him again, if I show that I’m worried about him.

"Shawn told you that Hendrik and I are the same person. What do you think?"

He continued to maintain the same position above Leah. His expression was indifferent.

"I don't buy it."

Han burst into laughter. He stood up by the bed and said, "Let’s go home."

He left the room afterward. Leah looked at his tall figure with a complicated look in her eyes, but she caught up with him.

She was surprised that he wasn’t mad today. Leah didn't want to provoke him either. They sat in the back seat of the car and looked at the night scene in silence.

Soon, they arrived at Villa Victoria. They entered the house one after the other.

Carlotta demanded Leah hug her for a while, and after that she asked Han to give her a hug too. She wondered, "Daddy, why are you feeling so cold? Did you catch a cold?"

She was held in Han's arms. The girl worriedly reached out to touch his forehead.

Han's cold gaze flickered for a moment, and he said, "I’m alright. Carlotta, you should go to bed early."

He put the little girl down and went back to his room all by himself.

Carlotta watched as Han’s figure walked away for a long time. Then, she ran up to Leah and grabbed her hand. She pulled her toward Han's room and said, "Mommy, Daddy doesn’t seem happy. You should go and comfort him."

Leah experienced a tightening in her chest. She immediately declined, saying, "He's just too preoccupied with work, Carlotta. He isn't upset. Let's go, I'll tell you a story. You need to get ready to go to sleep."

He might be depressed, but why should I comfort him? He has never been short of women around him, he doesn’t need me.

Carlotta pouted her mouth in dissatisfaction. She said, "Mommy, you just don't care enough about Daddy. I’m sure that he’s upset. I can read stories and go to sleep by myself tonight. You need to go to Daddy's room and comfort him."

Leah was speechless.

On a chilly autumn night, Han stood quietly by the window. He let the cold moonlight sprinkle on him.

"I don't love him!" Leah's words echoed in his mind involuntarily.

He happened to overhear Shawn speaking to Leah when he arrived at the studio to pick her up. She made it clear that she didn't love him. Although it was not a surprise, the thought of it made him feel the chilliness all the way to his bones.

Under Carlotta's coercion, Leah came to Han’s room.

The cutie and Mrs. Fisher were staring at her. She had to compromise and went into the room.

Leah opened the door and went in. Then, she heard the sound of the little girl's triumphant voice.

"Mommy, I'll have Mrs. Fisher arrange for someone to watch you all night. You're not allowed to come out until tomorrow morning!"

The door was closed by Mrs. Fisher. She had no choice but to brace herself and enter the room.

However, the room was dark and she could not see anything. She could barely make out the slender figure by the window in the dim moonlight.

She staggered over to Han and said,"Carlotta…asked me to come and check on you. Don't worry, I'll sleep on the sofa tonight and won't bother you."

She was embraced tightly before she could finish her sentence.

"It's you who come to me by yourself," Han said in a low, hushed voice next to her ear.

Chapter 403

Chapter 403 The Poison Will Soon Take Effect

Leah was carried to the bed by Han. He gave her a passionate kiss before she had a chance to react.

She was taken aback when she noticed a glimmer of sadness in his cold eyes, which were ordinarily cold and aloof in the dim moonlight. Leah felt a tightness in her chest.

Is he in a bad mood? Why?

As the temperature in the room gradually increased due to their intimacy, she thought Han was going to do something to her. Instead, he abruptly released her and hugged her from behind.

After a long period of silence, the atmosphere began to cool down once more.

"What's wrong with you?" Leah asked as she panted. She was unable to hold back her question.

Han did not say anything other than to firmly hold her in his arms. His unusual behavior made her uneasy.

Leah slowly dozed off in his arms because it was late at night and she had been up all day.

"Leah, why can't you try to love me?" Han asked softly once she was breathing steadily.

His voice was soft. His words were lost in the soft breeze that entered the room.

Leah awoke the following morning in a cozy embrace. She noticed that she had spent the entire night

falling asleep in Han's arms. Her cheeks were slightly flushed. She cautiously got up and prepared to leave, but Han caught her in his arms again.

Han stared blankly at her and said, "Mr. Baldwin told me that you have your eye on his building."

Leah struggled to free herself and ultimately sat on top of him. It appeared as though she was riding on him. She considered this posture to be inappropriate. She perfunctorily responded to get herself out of this situation, "Uh-huh, what's wrong?"

She wondered, did Mr. Baldwin tell Han so quickly before I even had a chance to go see the building?

Han mocked, "You are such a moron, Leah. Your level of intelligence hasn't increased over time."

He got out of bed and hugged her waist, but he kept her on top of him.

Leah's complexion turned slightly dark when he inexplicably scolded her. She asked, "What do you mean?"

"Do you believe that a building in the city center would be sold for such a low price of 150 million dollars for no apparent reason?"

Leah had some reservations as well, but Mr. Baldwin had assured her that he was in desperate need of cash to expand his business overseas.

Han's sexy lips curled into a more cynical smile when he heard the explanation. He remarked, "It's incredible that after hearing him say this, you still don't understand how dangerous the situation is. Ask

me if you want a building. I have one that I can give you."

Immediately after, Han’s lips were pressed against Leah's delicate neck. His voice became low and hoarse, "Of course, you have to please me first."

The bedroom door burst open before he could finish. Ben, Mrs. Fisher, the butler, and Carlotta all lost their balance and fell into the room.

Leah was at a loss for words.

Are they peeping on us?

She thought she was about to pass out from shame. She quickly covered herself with the quilt. Her ears were now red, and she was hiding her face with her hands.

Han's expression darkened as he reprimanded, "Get out."

Mrs. Fisher swiftly took Carlotta and fled after realizing that he had become enraged. She said, "Carlotta, let's go!"

Carlotta sighed regretfully, "I haven't seen the climax yet. I don't know if my parents have made up. It's all Ben's fault for coming over here. If he hadn’t, none of that would've happened!"

When Mrs. Fisher thought of the erotic scene just now, she could not help but break out in a cold sweat. She urged, "Carlotta, the two of them must have made up!"

Mrs. Fisher thought, how could the two still fight after Mrs. Howard sat on Mr. Howard? Speaking of which, it was the first time I discovered Mr. Howard's preferences.

The butler got up quickly and pretended to calmly straighten his suit after Mrs. Fisher and Carlotta left. He said, "Mr. and Mrs. Howard, breakfast is ready. Please come downstairs and enjoy your breakfast."

Ben wanted to leave after everyone else did. He was unable to do that, though, as he had something crucial to report. He had to bite the bullet and take a step forward.

"Boss, it has been confirmed that Mr. Baldwin is illegally raising funds and preparing to flee the country. Additionally, he took our 5 million dollar joint fund. Shall we send our own men to track him down or hand him over to the police?"

Han cast a downward glance at the woman hiding beneath the quilt. He answered calmly, "Let the police handle it."

Before Ben left, he asked him coldly, "What about that guy?"

Ben understood right away that Han was referred to as Donald. He said, "Boss, after our men warned him, he had restrained himself and found several scapegoats to clear his suspicions. He won't have any issues as long as we don't reveal him."

After that, the door was closed and the room quieted down.

Leah emerged from the quilt with a bewildered look. She asked, "Mr. Baldwin broke the law?"

Han sneered and mocked, "That's why I’m saying that you're stupid. Didn't you look into his

background before cooperating with them? Many serious crimes had taken place in that building. He was desperate to get rid of it before his wrongdoings were exposed. If you bought it, you would have to bear all the responsibility."

This time, Leah did not get angry in the face of his ridicule. She was grateful and felt a pang of fear.

"Thank you."

Although she felt awkward, she still swallowed her pride and thanked him.

Her bright eyes had a dim glow to them. She was disappointed with herself. Everything she attempted to do failed and she nearly got herself into trouble when she tried to purchase a building to expand Dream Designs.

In the end, Leah was forced to abandon her plan to purchase the property and refocus on finishing the advertising copy for HJ Corporation's new product.

Two days later, she sent the final colored draft of the design and the advertising copy to Susan.

That afternoon, she met with a client before going back to her office.

Ross handed her a list and reported, "Ms. White, these are some people who are interested in buying our company shares. Do any of them appeal to you? Our company needs several high-level shareholders."

More than a dozen top executives were detained a few days ago because they may have been involved in criminal activity. Leah was the only person left to manage the business at this point. She

could not, of course, manage everything on her own for very long.

Leah meticulously reviewed the list and inquired, "Have you looked into their backgrounds? They must not be associated with Jackson or any other forces in any way."

Ross shook her head, "I have looked into them, and they seem fine, but I cannot guarantee that they will be loyal to the company. Don't worry, Ms. White. Mr. Hendrik will manipulate everything in secret. You don't have to worry about anyone infiltrating the company."

Leah breathed a sigh of relief and put down the list. She said, "Good. Set up a meeting so I can speak with them. Furthermore, has the West Street project begun yet?"

She inquired about the land that she had acquired from Mr. Thompson. Leah only had two years to fulfill the gambling. She had to speed up.

"The construction has begun."

…

Anna also discovered that Leah had purchased the West Street property.

She lost her poise and frantically smashed the glass in her hand. Then she chastised, "How can this b*tch have such great abilities? Why is she so hard to get rid of? No matter how many people I send to kill her, there are no results. She even avoided Mr. Baldwin, whom I had set up to drag her down!"

Anna's anger drove her crazy.

How did this rural beggar have such incredible luck? If this went on, wouldn't she draw more of Ethan's attention as she got stronger?

Owen heard the commotion and walked over. He had a sinister smile on his face and soothed, "No need to worry, Nana. She won't live for very long. She didn't just take a simple sleeping pill when she drank the red wine at the auction; it also contained a deadly poison. Given the timing, the effects of the poison will start to manifest in two days."

Chapter 404 Wither Venom

"Dream Design Is On Fire!"

"The New Design from HJ Corporation is Pretty!"

HJ Corporation has released promotional images of its new product. It had made the headlines in the news in the afternoon. The public had high expectations of the new product.

"I have to admit that the brand has finally recaptured some of its former glory with the introduction of its new product by HJ Corporation. At last, the brand has come up with something worthwhile!"

"That's right. The Victor family oversees HJ Corporation. How is it possible for a family with over a century of heritage to continue to produce jewelry with a quirky style that has been trendy in the market for recent years?"

"I've heard that Cindy is the product's designer. It has to be her! You can tell just by looking at that design!"

"All of Dream Designs' works are breathtaking. It's really lovely!"

Leah scrolled through the news while having her lunch during her break. When she noticed that the public was pleased with her work, she sighed with relief.

Since she was frequently the target of cyberbullying and received little positive attention from the general public, it was only natural that whenever she made headlines, they would be about something

negative. The compliments she received were like a warm light that showed her the way and gave her the confidence to keep going.

Her eyes were red as she sniffed. Leah grinned contentedly. Being a part of the industry is truly incredible. She was confident that she could persevere despite the obstacles that lay ahead of her.

Susan called at this precise moment.

"Ms. White, I appreciate your design. Our brand has been saved by you. Our orders have skyrocketed since we launched our new product. Stock in the company has increased considerably. I want to start an HJ Corporation branch with you as the CEO and Chief Designer in Linkville as a way of saying thank you. What do you say?"

Leah grinned and shook her head. She said, "I appreciate your kindness, but my plate is quite full now. Recently, I've wanted to grow my own business while working as a White Group representative. I don’t think I have time for a new role."

Susan was more keen after hearing her response. She queried. "Oh? Have you chosen an office to run your company yet?"

Susan initially believed Leah was just pretty eye candy who used men to advance in society. Later, after witnessing her abilities, she had a change of heart. Now that Susan had cooperated with Leah, she knew that Leah appeared to be delicate on the outside, but she was a strong and independent woman on the inside.

Leah captured Susan's attention more and more.

Susan had a curious look in her eyes, and she made Leah an offer as soon as she learned that she had not yet selected a location for her new office.

"My family owns a fifty-six-story building in Linkville. Would you like to share it with us? We won't collect rent from you and you can think of it as your annual bonus!"

Leah was overjoyed, but she took a moment to accept it. Yesterday, Han had only warned her against having too much faith in her business partners.

She hesitated to agree, out of caution she said, "I…let me think about it."

Susan was fine with it. She agreed right away, "Sure, I'll personally come to Linkville to talk to you about the design of the new products and other things after I wrap things up here."

After the call ended, Leah was excited. She was eager to meet Susan. She had promised to pay Leah for the new design.

Leah started looking into Susan's building in Linkville after Han's guidance. She worried that she might miss anything and had Donald continue to look into it.

Soon, Donald delivered the findings to her. He said, "Susan Victor, HJ Corporation, and the Victor family are all innocent. They haven't engaged in any unlawful activity. You can cooperate with them at ease."

Donald’s voice seemed tired and hoarse. Leah felt bad for not first asking if he was available before requesting his assistance. She said, "I’m sorry. I’ll only ask for your help if you’re free in the future."

Donald answered with a smile while shaking his head, "It's all right, Ms. White. I haven't been too busy lately. I'm currently dealing with some challenging situations that are tricky to handle."

"Do you need my help?"

After getting to know Donald for a while, Leah was moved by his sincerity and the fact that he never asked for anything in return.

"Nah, I’m good. All you have to do is live your own life."

The two exchanged pleasantries before ending the call.

The smile on Donald's face instantly vanished as soon as the call ended. He viciously spat at the man who was kneeling in front of him and kicked him.

"*sshole! How dare you turn on me? Do you not realize how much I detest it when my own brother betrays me?" Donald growled and repeatedly whipped that man.

The victim of the whipping was wailing in agony on the ground. He begged and pleaded for mercy, "I'm so sorry, boss! I have to survive too! I don't want to take part in illegal activities. It will take a toll on my family! Hasn't Mr. Howard already found out what you've been doing? He cautioned us not to commit crimes anymore!"

Don paused briefly. Although his rage slightly subsided, he kept a dejected expression on his face. He berated him, "Who the hell does that guy think he is to warn me? I've never had a fear of anyone in the underworld! I would have long since killed him if it weren't for Ms. White's admiration for him."

He spat again. Then he turned to the man next to him and asked, "Wither Venom has reportedly been sold for a high price. Do you know who the buyer is?"

"I'm not sure, but I heard the buyer seems to be a foreigner."

A sigh of relief escaped Donald's lips as he said, "Then it's fine. As long as we don't sell it to Ms. White's enemies, including Jackson, Shawn, and Owen. Remember, you can never sell it to them!"

"Roger that, boss!"

Donald left with a heavy heart. He had a series of thoughts running through his head.

The deadly new international poison known as Wither Venom was introduced. It was colorless and odorless. Before the first sign of symptoms, there was an incubation period of roughly 6 to 14 days. It would only take a month from the first sign of the symptom to the victim’s death.

Donald reasoned to himself, I just acquired this poison last month. It made me a ton of money. How could I reform just because of that man’s words? I don’t care, as long as this poison doesn't affect Ms. White!

There was a drizzle in the evening, and the grayish sky was gloomy.

Leah was prepared to leave for home once she had finished her work. She saw Shawn standing in the rain with an umbrella and a bouquet of roses when she arrived at the company entrance.

She quickly frowned and went into the restroom on the first floor. She did not want to interact with him

at all. Leah pulled out her phone and considered for a moment who she should reach out to for help.

She then overheard a commotion coming from outside the bathroom.

"Mr. Ford, this is the women's restroom. You cannot enter!"

"Fine, I'll wait outside until Ms. White comes out."

Leah began to sweat profusely. Without any hesitation, she called Han shakily.

Only Hendrik and Han came to mind when she thought of all the people she knew who could fight Shawn. Hendrik was constantly busy and difficult to get a hold of. Han was not as busy as Hendrik. Han would also sometimes pick her up and take her back to Villa Victoria.

"Could you…come and pick me up?" She asked awkwardly and used a tone that suggested that the two of them were not very familiar with one another.

It was rare for Leah to take the initiative to ask for his help. Therefore, Han put down the documents in his hands. His expression softened, and the hardness in his eyes appeared to melt. He asked, "Is this how you ask for help? You won't even call my name?"

Leah's body turned frozen at his demand. She begged, "Han…please come to my office to pick me up."

Chapter 405 Anomalies

The downpour grew more intense. There were clear streams of water flowing down from the windows.

Ben awaited Han's signature on some paperwork by his side. When he saw his boss flirt with Leah, he tactfully left with the documents. He said, "Boss, I'll start the car now."

The moment Han heard his name from Leah's lips, he felt a tingling sensation in his heart. He put on his pricey custom suit and headed to White Group. He followed Leah's directions and found the first- floor restroom.

Han spotted a recognizable figure who was still holding a bouquet of flowers in his hand. He sneered, "Oh, it's you."

It makes sense that Leah would ask for his help given the extent to which he pushed her.

Shawn felt a chill on his back due to the intense pressure coming from behind him. His expression abruptly changed to one of icy coolness when he turned around and saw Han.

Shawn asked, "What on earth are you doing here?"

Han approached Shawn, and his handsome face had an icy appearance. He said, "I should be the one to ask you that."

The atmosphere between the two quickly turned tense and began to draw the attention of the onlookers.

Ben and Ross sprinted over and scattered the onlookers. The two exchanged looks before standing behind Han to collaborate against Shawn.

"Mr. Ford, from what I understand, you two are not married. Please leave."

"Mr. Ford, this is the White Group. Please show some respect."

Shawn's face had a grave and icy appearance as he turned to face the united trio. Finally, he let out an angry laugh before taking the flowers and leaving. He threatened, "Han, stop dreaming that you can hide your identity as Hendrik from Sarah forever."

After he left, Ross stepped forward and knocked on the door, saying, "Ms. White, he's gone. You can come out now!"

Leah opened the door cautiously. She carefully peered out to make sure Shawn had truly left before she exited with relief. Han's heart melted at her adorable appearance. He embraced her in his arms with a gentle smile.

He said, "Shawn and you used to get along incredibly well. Why did you change your mind? Is it because you fell in love with me?"

Leah did not argue with him when she considered that Han had just helped her. She just frowned and changed the subject. She said, "He's been bothering me lately and telling me all sorts of strange things."

Shawn’s aura had been getting darker and more ominous ever since he told her in the office that Han and Hendrik were the same people, and she did not believe him. He always asks Leah to take Carlotta to see him or asks her to go out with him. Leah felt uneasy about his request.

Leah was hit by a strong wind and a downpour outside of the building. Her thin clothing made her shiver. A coat carrying Han's cool and pleasant perfume was placed on her shoulder as she was wrapping herself up more tightly in her clothes.

Leah's heart was left feeling warm from the coat's lingering warmth, which dimmed the sparkle in her eyes a little.

Leah wondered, how much longer can this deceitful pretense continue? Will I fall head over heels in love again?

The sky had turned dark on their way home.

Han broke the silence and proposed, "Take a day off tomorrow. We'll take Carlotta to Aquaria."

Leah found the word "we" to sound especially harsh. Her head started to buzz, and the corners of her eyes started to turn red. After some time, she finally said, "Okay."

Han detected the choked sound in her hoarse voice. He pulled her into his arms as his expression darkened. Han used this long finger to firmly pinch Leah's cheeks. He asked, "Leah, Is going out with me something you find intolerable?"

She actually cried when he asked her to take a day off. All of his good moods suddenly vanished.

Hans was frustrated.

Leah held back the sourness in her eyes and the weariness in her heart. She said, "Not really, I'm just tired."

She seemed to be telling the truth in her soft and weary voice.

Han stared at her for a while before letting her go. He warned, "Whatever your reason, you'd better get used to being with me."

They arrived at the villa shortly after.

Leah was genuinely worn out. She had been feeling weighed down and sleepy for the past few days.

After having a simple meal, she took a shower and went to bed.

Carlotta peeked into her mother's room with Han and said, "Mommy is actually sleeping. She looks tired. Should we stay at home tomorrow so Mommy can take a day off, Daddy?"

Han cast a quick glance over to Leah, who was lying on the bed. He stroked the little girl's soft hair and said, "She’s fine. She'll recover after a good rest."

Carlotta was cheered up hearing this. Her cheeks had turned rosy, and she said excitedly, "This is awesome, daddy! Tomorrow, we're going to do more than have fun. We're going to eat lots of delicious food and take pictures together!"

Han noticed that the little girl's voice was a little loud, so he closed the bedroom door and took her back

to his room.

Carlotta could not sleep because she was so excited. She keeps asking Han to tell her stories. Han complied and stayed with her all night.

Leah had a dream. She was in great distress because the agony of the past had come back to haunt her. She was covered in a cold sweat when she awoke the next morning.

Although it was cloudy outside, there was no rain. While the refreshing and cool breeze was blowing. Leah felt lightheaded as she changed her clothes, then she went limp and fell to the ground. Her ears were buzzing.

Han entered the room after hearing the noise. His expression immediately became bleak when he witnessed her fall. He approached her, helped her to stand up, and then dressed her.

"Leah, just let me know if you don't want to go. Stop using such a lame trick."

Leah's mood has been off ever since she learned they were going out yesterday.

Leah was exhausted and lacked the strength to argue with him. She leaned on him as Han changed her clothes for her. Han was irritated and had to control his rage because of her excessively submissive behavior. He thus pulled a long face and led her outside.

"Carlotta has been awake for some time. She is incredibly happy today. You need to put away that blank expression on your face."

Leah adjusted her expression while quietly glancing at Han. This man dared to criticize her despite how

icy he was at all times.

Han had booked the entire Aquaria.

Leah's aching head was relieved by the serene and chilly blue surroundings. Today, she appeared to be particularly worn out. She struggled to keep up with Han and Carlotta because she did not have much strength to walk.

"Dad, look at these gorgeous fishes! I want to keep them as pets!"

Han held Carlotta in his arms while the young girl pointed enthusiastically at the swimming fish.

Han gave a soft smile and said, "Sure, I'll build an aquarium for you."

Leah had a really hard time keeping up with the two's pace. She simply stood still and observed their backs. Han's incredibly tolerant and good-tempered toward Carlotta always surprised her.

Han turned around and found Leah sitting on the steps. She was panting and gazing enviously at the carefree fish with complex emotions in her eyes.

Ben had been lurking in the shadows, and he walked up to Han at this time. He said, "Boss, Ms. White seems exhausted."

Han handed Carlotta to Ben and walked up to Leah. He looked at her from a towering position, he asked, "When did your stamina become so poor?"

It seemed odd to Leah as well. She took a deep breath and stood up, saying, "Maybe I caught a cold

last night."

After all, she had slept in her sweat-soaked pajamas for the entire night. It was normal for her to catch a cold.

"You're so prone to illness."

Han said it impatiently. He grabbed her hand and led her outside. He said, "Get in the car and take a nap. I'll continue to walk around with Carlotta."

Han left Leah in the car and went back to Aquaria. Leah suddenly started coughing hysterically at this precise moment.