Love and Devotion No Longer His to Claim by Dream Fish

Chapter 15

Angela seemed oblivious as she sat calmly on the couch and sipped her now-cold coffee, Erica found nothing and

could only cross her arms as she emerged. Her eyes were filled with mockery as she looked at Angela.

"It seems you've hidden it well. Could it be on you?" she said with a sneer, casting a disdainful glance over

Angela.

"It's not,” Angela replied curtly, too tired to argue further. She set down her cup and got up, ready to go to bed.

The maids could clean up the mess later on.

"Stop!" Erica snapped, grabbing her arm to stop her from leaving. "If you won't bring it out yourself, strip down

so | can check. That necklace is a Bamford family treasure."

"Get lost!” Angela had had enough and slapped Erica hard across the face. She shot back hotly, "It's always

Bamford family this, Bamford family that are you a dog belonging to the Bamford family?”

Her gaze was icy, and her voice was filled with contempt. She then pulled out her phone and pressed three

numbers.

"W-What are you doing?" Erica clutched her stinging cheek, panicking as Angela put her finger over the call

button.

“The police station is only 15 minutes away. If you think you can keep this up, do carry on. If the police can prove

that | took it, I'll pay for it no matter the cost. But if they can't, I'll sue you for slander!” Angela stated without

flinching.

Erica was stunned. Was she serious about calling the police? This was Bamford Estate. Didn't she care about

their reputation?

“Are you insane? It's the middle of the night. Do you really want to wake everyone up?” Erica hissed.

Angela smirked. “What? Why are you hesitant? What are you afraid of? Even if you wrongfully accuse me, Dexter

will still be on your side, won't he?"

“What's going on?” Dexter suddenly appeared at the door, wearing a set of gray loungewear.

“Mr. Bamford, | was just asking about the whereabouts of a missing necklace, and Mrs. Bamford threatened to

call the police. She even hit me," Erica explained, going over to Dexter with reddened eyes.

Dexter's gaze moved to the mess around the room. He frowned and narrowed his eyes at Angela as though he

had figured out what had happened.

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Chapter 15

Angela, however, didn't spare him a glance. St concerned her.

“All this fuss and turning the house upside do really are trouble,” he criticized with a scoff, h

Erica took a breath to steady herself. Then, as i demanded sternly, “You should apologize to M

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Angela only found it laughable.

“Why should I?” she asked with a piercing look

"You have stolen something! How can you still feigning tears and looking aggrieved.

"Say one more word, and I'll rip that mouth of glare piercing, making even Dexter falter.

Erica recalled the slap from earlier. As she felt

silent.

"Have you lost your mind?" Dexter pulled Erica tall shadow over her. "She's absolutely right. O

He trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.

Angela lifted her eyes to look at him, her eyes fi

"What is it? Hmm?” she asked, lifting her chin

Then, she smiled indifferently, like she didn't took, so I'd appreciate it if you'd both stop both Bamford can just go

ahead and take the title fre bothersome, I'll gladly leave.”

Angela grabbed her bag and turned to walk out

“Stop right there!” Dexter stepped forward and lock her up and don't let her out!"

With that, Angela was once again confined and

For the first few days, she could endure it, as sh painted, listened to music, and pushed unpleas quite well.

But as the date of the design competition neare set for 8:00 am on April 8th. Today was April 70

Chapter 15

Angela, however, didn't spare him a glance. She sat where she was as if none of it concerned her.

“All this fuss and turning the house upside down over something so trivial. Angela, you really are trouble,” he

criticized with a scoff, his tone laced with sarcasm.

Erica took a breath to steady herself. Then, as if she were the lady of the house, she demanded sternly, "You

should apologize to Mr. Bamford!"

Angela only found it laughable.

“Why should I?” she asked with a piercing look.

“You have stolen something! How can you still speak so audaciously?” Erica replied, feigning tears and looking

aggrieved.

"Say one more word, and I'll rip that mouth of yours to shreds!" Angela turned, her icy glare piercing, making

even Dexter falter.

Erica recalled the slap from earlier. As she felt her cheek throbbing again, she quickly fell

silent.

"Have you lost your mind?" Dexter pulled Erica aside and went over to Angela, casting his tall shadow over her.

“She's absolutely right. Over these past few days, you've.....”

He trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.

Angela lifted her eyes to look at him, her eyes filled with cold disappointment.

"What is it? Hmm?” she asked, lifting her chin to challenge him.

Then, she smiled indifferently, like she didn't care. "I didn't take whatever it is she said | took, so I'd appreciate

it if you'd both stop bothering me. Whoever wants to be Mrs. Bamford can just go ahead and take the title

from me. And if you find my presence bothersome, I'll gladly leave.”

Angela grabbed her bag and turned to walk out

"Stop right there!" Dexter stepped forward and blocked her path. He ordered, "Someone lock her up and don't let

her out!"

With that, Angela was once again confined and isolated from the outside world.

For the first few days, she could endure it, as she found speace in solitude. She painted, listened to music,

and pushed unpleasant thoughts aside. She was managing quite well.

But as the date of the design competition neared, she grew anxious. The competition was set for 8:00 am on

April 8th. Today was April 7th.

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Chapter 15

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If she missed it, she didn't know how long she would have to wait for another chance to earn enough money to

buy back Marie's house,

She tried getting Donna Smith, the housekeeper who brought her meals, to let her out. But the woman was tight-

lipped and kept repeating that Dexter's orders were to not let Angela leave the house.

With no other option left, Angela resorted to the simplest and crudest plan-climbing out of the window.

She had scouted the area beforehand. The villa's security team wouldn't arrive until after 8: 00 am. In a corner of

the backyard, there was a small hole she had dug when she had once cared for a stray mutt

Dexter had deemed it unacceptable for her to raise a mutt instead of a pedigree, so he had ordered her to get

rid of the dog.

Nevertheless, Angela had dug a hole to allow the dog to cand go so that she could feed it in secret. That

little escape route was coming in handy for her presently.

At 6:30 am on April 8th, she asked Donna to send in her breakfast and told her she was going back to sleep after

her meal. She specifically instructed Donna not to disturb her

until noon.

After locking the door, she moved the couch and table over to barricade it.

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Then, dressed in casual clothes, she opened the second-floor window and climbed down the elm tree outside.

She ran along the red brick wall to the backyard, where she crawled out through the hole she had

dug for the mutt.

Angela arrived at the competition venue just in tas it started at 8:00 am.

This competition was co-hosted by an internationally renowned company and several top domestic corporations.

Hence, representatives from various companies were present.

Angela drew the number 18 and was seated at the far edge at the back. The organizers had provided all the

necessary supplies. At the sound of a robotic voice announcing the start, everyone began working on their

respective artworks.

To test their nerves, the judges sat right in front of the participants in full view.

The thfor this competition was “animal”. Simple as it seemed, creating something exceptional according to

this thwas no easy feat.

After pondering for a while, Angela decided on how she would approach the theme. When the bell rang, she

started drawing immediately

Halfway through, she sensed an oddly familiar tension around her that made her heart skip

a beat.

Chapter 15

She looked up and scanned her surroundings qui

Lo and behold, there he was!

Dexter was seated at the judges’ table, having an

He hadn't noticed her yet but seemed close to tur body froze. She ducked her head down, too afrakc

Her heart pounded and could very well burst fort terrible luck! Of all places, why did he have to sho

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Chapter 15

She looked up and scanned her surroundings quickly.

Lo and behold, there he was!

Dexter was seated at the judges’ table, having arrived late, and placed right in the center.

He hadn't noticed her yet but seemed close to turning in her direction. Angela's entire body froze. She ducked

her head down, too afraid to look up.

Her heart pounded and could very well burst forth from her chest at any second. What terrible luck! Of all

places, why did he have to show here?

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