Chapter 120

Howard's POV

I watched Annie's figure as she walked back toward the office building,her silhouette graceful against the afternoon sunlight. When she disappeared around the corner, I finally answered my ringing phone.

"Hello?" I said, keeping my voice professional despite the lingering effects of our moment together.

"Mr. Thompson," came Mr. Morgan's serious voice on the other end. "Mr.White has suddenly contacted me, saying he no longer wants me involved in this project."

I wasn't surprised. After Bill's humiliating rejection by Catherine,it was predictable that he would seek revenge through his father's business connections. Mr. White was clearly trying to pressure Morgan.

"You haven't told him yet?" I asked calmly, already knowing the answer.

"If he cancels the cooperation, the penalty fee is ten times the original amount," Morgan replied.

I smiled slightly, pleased with my foresight. "If he's willing to pay that money, then take it." I had deliberately set the penalty clause high precisely for situations like this.

Morgan's voice became strained. "That's exactly what I told him, but they're talking about withdrawing investment. They claim if the project can't be completed on time, I'll lose even more."

Cnapler 20ope Ts Life Can Last Forever

"But the key is, we can complete it." I responded confidently,leaning against a nearby tree.

Morgan's voice noticeably relaxed. "So..."

"Are you planning to invest now?" I realized I had circled around to this point and found it somewhat amusing.

Instead of answering directly, I asked, "How is the progress with the procedures I instructed you to follow?"

Before taking on this project, I needed to ensure the White family had clearly stated they wouldn't interfere, and that there were records to prove it. I never fought battles I wasn't certain of winning.

"All completed!" Morgan answered enthusiastically. "I've obtained all the necessary records, and I have lawyers as witnesses."

I nodded in satisfaction, though he couldn't see it. "Good. You can use this opportunity to clear out disloyal employees from your company."

Morgan sounded surprised. "Is that possile?"

"Of course," I responded calmly, watching a bird land on a branch above me.

"Then I'll handle these matters and contact you afterward."

"All right."

I ended the call and took a moment to enjoy the gentle breeze before heading back to the office. The fresh air cleared my head,helping me transition from our intimate moment back to business matters. Still,thoughts of Annie lingered in my mind, and I found myself walking faster

than usual to return to her.

When I entered our office, Annie was already at her workspace, absorbed in a new illustration. The concentration on her face was captivating-her brow slightly furrowed, bottom lip caught between her teeth. She didn't notice me at first, giving me a moment to appreciate her presence.

I walked to the water dispenser, filled two glasses, and brought one to her."Just as I predicted, the White family's behavior is completely within my expectations."

Annie looked up, accepting the water with a grateful smile. "Thank you."She took a sip before asking, "He previously liked Catherine and tried to pressure her family to force marriage. Now that he's interested in someone else, why is he still causing trouble?"

I sat in the chair beside her, close enough that our knees almost touched."Perhaps because he can't accept not getting what he wants." I observed her thoughtful expression. "People like him are accustomed to their families fulfiling their every request, eventually developing a mindset that they must obtain what they like at any cost."

Annie tilted her head, a habit I found endearing. "Couldn't they apply that determination to their work instead?"

"Work requires genuine ability," I explained, watching her eyes follow my reasoning. "The market won't show favoritism because of their identity.When they discover their inadequacy, they retreat to their comfort zone."

"Failure is the mother of success," Annie countered, her eyes bright with conviction.′′Ifyou identify problems and correct them, you'll eventually succeed,won't you?"

-all Last Forever

"Not everyone is willing to learn from mistakes," I said, meeting her gaze directly.

"True enough," Annie shrugged,her shoulder brushing against mine."Rather than these complex schemes, I believe more in hard work,earning money through my own abilities..."

A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.

"Come in,"I called.

Susan entered, carrying several sample books. "The foreign publishers have finalized all details and would like us to review these. Also, the first batch of merchandise has been shipped, and production capacity now matches sales. Thanks to Sarah's unintentional 'help,' Annie's comics have surged in popularity, with a dramatic increase in followers."

"Do we need to handle such minor matters?" I glanced at the sample books skeptically.

Susan smiled. "These have already been reviewed. I wanted to report the data situation to you, and the results are quite astonishing."

Annie opened her phone to check, her expression instantly transforming into shock. "Oh my God..."

"What is it?" I asked, leaning closer.

"The number of followers has increased more than tenfold since I last checked," Annie said incredulously, her eyes wide. "This really happened

in just a few days?"

Susan nodded in confirmation.′′YeS.′′

Forever

Annie handed me her phone. Looking at the data, I had to admit it exceeded my expectations. When I initially decided to enter the comic industry, it was merely an experiment. I hadn't anticipated such impressive influence and profitability.

"Both merchandise sales and online views have increased substantially," I told Annie, handing back her phone. "Your income will be several times higher than expected."

This news clearly stunned Annie. She stared at her phone, blinking rapidly as if to confirm the numbers were real.

Susan added,"If we compare with international markets, the potential is even greater. If the project reaches a global level, the returns will be quite significant."

After presenting the results, Susan left us alone.

I gently tapped Annie's shoulder. "Back to reality?"

"I never imagined I could earn this much," Annie admitted, her voice soft with wonder. "It's incredible."

"The market is much larger than we imagined," I said, watching her expression shift between disbelief and joy. "And this is just the beginning.As publicity increases and global audiences become familiar with your work, the income will only continue to grow."

"That's wonderful. This way, I'll soon have enough funds for my mother and me to retire comfortably."

Annie stared at the data, her face radiant with the joy of success.She unconsciously licked her lips, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Her delight was infectious, and I found myself smiling in response.

Forever

My gaze was involuntarily drawn to her-the slight upward tilt ofher chin,the elegant curve of her neck, and the subtle outline of her collarbone visible beneath herblouse. Seeing her transformation from a dejected divorcée to this confident, independent woman sent a rush of heat through my body.

I moved behind her, placing my hands on her shoulders, feeling the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric. I leaned down, my lips almost touching her earlobe. "You're particularly sexy today..."

My palms slid down her shoulders, my fingertips lightly touching the first button of her blouse. Annie's body noticeably stiffened for an instant before relaxing again. She tilted her head back, her hair brushing against my cheek,carrying a subtle fragrance that was uniquely hers.

She placed her hand over mine, not to stop me but to guide my fingers as I unfastened that first button. My heartbeat accelerated, and just as I was preparing to go further, she suddenly stood up, skillfully slipping out of my embrace.

"Not now, Howard," Annie turned to face me, her eyes flickering with a mixture of desire and rationality. Her finger lightly traced my chest, yet she maintained an arm's length distance. "We still have work to finish,and Lucy will be out of school soon. We need to arrive at the school on time."

As she spoke, she rebuttoned what had just been unfastened,but deliberately moved slowly, ensuring I could see each subtle movement."We'll celebrate properly tonight at home, all right?" she said softly,her tone full of suggestion.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. "You're right." I retreated to my own seat, but my gaze remained fixed on her. The way her

Forever

fitted dress outlined her curves made it impossible to focus on the work in front of me.

Looking at Annie's profile as sheworked diligently,occasionally casting teasing glances my way. I found myself thinking: I hope this life can last forever.