Laura leaned back casually, "So, you wanna talk about what went down over ten years ago?"
"Over a decade ago?" Angela scowled, "I don't have time for a trip down memory lane, Laura. Look, I know we've got our issues, but if you help me out this time, I'll owe you big."
"Oh, I wouldn't want you to owe me forever. You're sneaky, despicable, and downright shameless."
"How dare you insult me!"
"I'm insulting you because you deserve it!"
"Laura, are you out of your mind? Why are you attacking me for no reason?"
"Still so full of yourself, huh?" Laura chuckled, "What makes you think you can be? Because you saved Stuart?"
Angela took a deep breath, trying to keep her cool, silently cursing Laura, and said, "Yeah, you know I'm Stuart's savior, so he won't really do anything to me. Maybe there's some misunderstanding between us. Can you help me get in touch with him?"
Laura thought Angela was still too naive. She had seen shameless people, but Angela took the cake!
Laura smirked, "Angela, I gotta say, I envy your skin."
Angela blinked, confused by the sudden change in topic.
But who doesn't like a compliment?
"I guess I was just born with it," Angela replied.
Before she could finish, Laura interjected, "I envy how you can stay shameless and cool with that thick skin of yours."
Angela got it then, and she was pissed. "Laura, what do you mean? I called you, and you can't even be polite!"
"Why be polite to a liar with no shame?" Laura shot back, "All these years, how much have you milked from Stuart? Isn't it thrilling? Angela, pretending to be Stuart's savior, have you become addicted to it?"
Angela went silent. After the shock came panic. Her voice shook, "You... what nonsense are you talking about? I'm warning you, don't talk nonsense!"
Laura said, "What, you still think you're Stuart's savior? Lie enough times, and even you believe it!"
"I did not! I... I..."
"You can't even speak properly, feeling guilty?" Laura said. "Angela, if I were you, I'd be on my knees outside Stuart's company confessing right now! You've deceived him for so many years, how can Stuart vent his anger without bankrupting the Lopez Family?"
Angela's fingers trembled as she hung up the phone, thinking, 'No, it can't be. Stuart couldn't possibly know! How could he? This matter... Wait, Robin! Could it be that Robin betrayed me?'
Angela wished she could rush to Robin right now and grab him by the neck to get answers. But obviously, that wasn't realistic.
Angela almost couldn't stand, she leaned against a nearby pillar for support.
She told herself not to panic, not to lose control; Laura's words might not be credible. But she couldn't help it—a wave of panic rose from her heart.
How could this matter be discovered? If Stuart knew, she couldn't imagine how furious he would be. But it had been so long; why would someone bring it up again? Besides, Stuart was so well-off—what was wrong with helping her out? And they grew up together!
Angela took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, but it wasn't working.
Suddenly, she looked up. There, at the entrance, stood a man with broad shoulders and long legs, exuding an air of nobility. It was Stuart.
Angela saw a glimmer of hope and quickly ran over. "Stuart!"
But before she could get close, someone stopped her.
Stuart kept walking, not even slowing down.
"Stuart!" Angela screamed, almost hysterical, "Listen to me! Stuart!"
Stuart acted like he didn't hear her, not even glancing her way.
"If you don't see me, I'll go find Josephine!" Angela shouted, and Stuart finally stopped.
Angela couldn't find the words. She was almost pleading, but he remained unfazed. The mere mention of "Josephine" triggered Stuart's reaction.
'Josephine! Again, Josephine! What does she have that I don't?' Angela fumed with anger.
Stuart walked steadily, step by step, towards her.
Angela looked at him and couldn't help but shiver.
Stuart's gaze was like ice, cold and detached. If looks could kill, Angela felt she would be dead.
She suddenly regretted it. Why did she come to him? Could she really reverse the Lopez Family's impending bankruptcy?
"Stuart." Angela forced herself to speak. No matter what, she had to try. All these years, she didn't believe Stuart had no feelings for her at all!
She looked at him weakly, "Why is it so hard to see you? Those security guards pushed me, my arm hurts so much."
"Angela." Stuart looked at her coldly, "You should be grateful you're still standing in front of me intact because I don't hit women."
Angela's tears streamed down. "Stuart! Even if I did something wrong, tell me, you can punish me however you want, but if those projects are all terminated, the Lopez Family will go bankrupt! Are you trying to make me die?"
"Then why don't you die?" Stuart looked at her expressionlessly. "If you die, maybe I can spare the Lopez Family."
"Why!" Angela screamed, "Why are you doing this to me?"
"Do I need to repeat what you did?" Stuart looked at her as if she were already dead. "Angela, what you did, I could never forgive, not even if I lived a hundred lifetimes! Bankruptcy? You think that's the worst that could happen? No, that's just the start."
Stuart finished speaking and turned to leave. Angela lunged forward, barely grabbing a corner of his coat.
Stuart, unable to bear it any longer, turned and kicked her. He didn't hold back at all, and Angela couldn't withstand his kick. She was kicked to the ground, clutching her chest, looking at Stuart in disbelief.
Stuart said, "I don't hit women, but you've pushed me to my limit. Besides, You're not even worth calling a woman, let alone a human. Angela, we'll deal with this in due time." With that, he ignored Angela's cries and pleas and walked away.
Angela was in too much pain to get up, so she called an ambulance for herself. At the hospital, after an examination, she found out she had two broken ribs.
After the doctor treated her, despite the pain, Angela gritted her teeth and went to find Robin. After going through multiple approvals, she finally saw him.