"Have you noticed how close you've been getting to Howard recently?" Lana suddenly asked during breakfast.Nadia paused for a moment before replying, "What makes you think that? Dr. Howard and I are just good friends."Lana found it perplexing. The two often went out together. They would stargaze and enjoy the view of the sea, yet she said they were only friends. Lana observed that Nadia seemed focused on making money, even more so than herself. It might have been a result of scars from her past relationship. She also showed little interest in anything else.Nadia might not have been aware of the depth of Howard's feelings for her. However, Lana could tell that Howard's feelings went beyond the usual doctor-patient relationship.Despite that, Nadia didn't seem to want to discuss it, and Lana respected her decision.She steered the conversation toward the topic of money. "Nadia, have you completed the plan I asked you to work on?""Are you referring to the plan for opening new b

In the evening, Liam attended a wine-tasting event at Irwin Winery. It was the largest winery in Gilsbury. The owner, a true Fleinese, exclusively imported their red wines from Fleines by air.Businesspeople were drawn to this venue for their negotiations. On one hand, the atmosphere was tranquil, and on the other, they could enjoy authentic wines. It was a perfect win-win.Liam, a connoisseur with a taste for meat and red wine, held a VVIP status here. The winery's owner extended a personal welcome, even pouring a glass of wine that had just arrived on a plane earlier that afternoon.Savoring his drink leisurely, Liam quietly eavesdropped on conversations around him. His deep gaze was focused on a particular spot, showing his thoughts were elsewhere.As the evening unfolded, people entered and exited, yet Liam remained silent. He didn't say a single word.The others believed Liam was in a foul mood and it was wise to avoid him.Before long, two more individuals arrived—a man

"Are you really 'S'?" a voice asked in awe."'S', could you please give me an autograph? I can talk about every case you've been involved in. I'm your loyal fan," another voice exclaimed excitedly."Please do your best tomorrow, 'S.' I will be there to support you," chimed in another.Carol smiled at Nelson's classmates and said, "Thank you for your support. I will give my best performance tomorrow. Now, please allow me some time to complete my task, okay?"Upon the top hacker's words, no one dared to linger. After they pledged their support for Carol at the competition, Nelson politely escorted them away.Zeke didn't know much about hacking. Still, he knew it was an impressive skill that brought glory to the country.Looking at Carol, his eyes filled with affection. "Carol, if that's the case, I won't disturb you anymore. I'll also be at the competition tomorrow to support you."Carol remained silent. Her fingers danced across the keyboard, the rhythmic clacking sounds filling

Rumors circulating online suggested a romantic connection between hackers "Z" and "S". Carol now firmly believed the idea.If Liam had no feelings for her, he wouldn't have revealed himself as "Z" in front of the entire world once he found out she was "S".What a despicable man!He had rejected a golden opportunity yet orchestrated such a grand spectacle. Was he trying to emphasize the depth of his feelings?Carol was convinced that after today, she and Liam would get back together.While Carol was brimming with confidence and hope for the future, the host snapped out of his shock. With "Z's" confirmation of issues with this elite-level task, the truth became undeniable. He turned to Sullivan for assistance.Rising to his feet, Sullivan addressed the audience in fluent Zantelesian."I apologize for meeting you all in this manner. I rushed here for this competition precisely related to this matter. "The task I assigned this time was poorly conceived, resulting in a bug that d

Lana felt trapped, cornered by Liam. His threat loomed over her like a storm cloud.The significant height difference between them allowed Liam an easy peek beneath her neckline with a subtle tilt of his head. It caused his heart to race.Suddenly, an overwhelming desire surged within him. It urged him to lose himself in her embrace, to breathe in the scent that enveloped her.The moment this thought crossed his mind, Liam grew intensely uneasy.His perverse inclinations seemed to be spiraling out of control. Now, he found himself entertaining crude fantasies about Lana.To quell his escalating desires, Liam diverted his attention. He gazed at Lana's beautiful and delicate face. "So, you're a perfumer one moment, a hacker the next, and now managing four restaurants. Which one is the real you?"Lana let out a dry chuckle. "There's no such thing as the 'real me.' I'm just a chef who enjoys perfumes and surfing the internet."Oddly, her explanation seemed strangely believable. He