?Chapter 1069:


    Locke adjusted his sses, eyes still wide. “What about you?”


    Ellis stood, phone in hand, practically glowing. “I’m getting ready to propose. And n a wedding. So unless the building’s on fire—don’t call for the next few months.”


    Locke’s head was spinning. Ten months. That’s how long Ellis had been at Lambert Group. Just two. And now he was stepping back?


    “Sir,” he called after him, brows furrowed.


    Ellis paused. “What’s wrong?”


    “Are you serious?” Locke asked, genuinely thrown.


    Ellis answered without missing a beat, “Dead serious.”


    “But didn’t the chairman ask you to properly manage thepany?” Locke said, trying to stay respectful but clearly rattled. He’d pictured working side by side with Ellis and building something great. And now this? “If you want, I can line up a nner to help with the wedding stuff—keep your te clear.”


    Ellis shook his head, tone firm. “When ites to her, I want to handle it myself. As for thepany, the status quo’s enough.”


    The business was stable. Money was not an issue. He could finally focus on what really matters.


    Locke had no choice but to nod. Even so, he couldn’t help but wonder who exactly this woman was that made Ellis put down everything.


    “Do your best,” Ellis said, slipping back into boss mode. “Starting this month, your sry’s doubled. Your performance bonus goes up two percent.”


    Locke’s eyes widened. “Understood, sir!” he said, suddenly energized. “Don’t worry about thepany—you just enjoy being in love!”


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    Ellis pped a hand on his shoulder, grabbed his keys and phone, and strolled out the door.


    Locke watched him go, grinning to himself.


    Double the sry and more bonuses? Money talked, alright. Ellis was generous—no doubt about it.


    Meanwhile, Freya had no clue Ellis had already handed offpany matters like it was nothing. She stared at hisst message, a small smile ying at her lips. Anytime after they got married?


    She figured the ring would arrive in about a month. Then, he’d propose. She’d take him home to meet her dad. A marriage register coulde a month or two after that. Seemed like a solid n.


    She quickly typed back a simple “Okay.”


    Then she turned to take a few quiet photos of the sleeping baby. Isabe looked like a little angel, peaceful and soft, her tiny fists curled near her face.


    Out in the hallway, Farrah was deep in conversation with Felipe.


    They’d discussed basically all they should, but Felipe could tell something was bothering her. He spoke up, gently but with conviction. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell my parents about the baby—and I won’t let them find out, either.”


    He knew his family too well. If they found out Farrah had given birth, they’d stop at nothing to take the baby away.


    But Isabe wasn’t theirs. She was Farrah’s. No one had the right to take her away—not even him.


    “Thank you,” Farrah said, exhaling slowly, visibly relieved.


    “I’ve already taken steps to keep them off your back,” Felipe went on. “They don’t know you were pregnant, and they won’t know about the baby either. You’ve got nothing to worry about on that front.”


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