Chapter 4

As the new CEO, Sage was impressive from the moment she set foot into the company and had caused chaos on her first day at work.

She had made tremendous personnel changes to the management department. She had more than ten senior management officers, a few founding members, and the directors— those who had taken orders from Braxton and Zane to intimidate her— resign from their positions.

It was early in the morning, and Braxton's office was already filled with a group of furious people. Some were slamming the tables whilst others were kicking the chairs, and they were shouting wildly. "I don't give a d*mn about what she says! I have been working my *ss off for the Norah Group for the past few years, and I've dedicated at least half my life to this company! Who does she think she is to have me resign?! You better give me a darn good explanation. All I did was follow your orders, but now that you and your niece are back on good terms, you're willing to sacrifice me? Who do you think you are to walk all over me in such a way?!"

Bellowing with rage, everyone in the room demanded an explanation for their dismissals. Gone were their neat and polite appearances. The people here today looked frightening and aggressive.

Braxton got dizzy from the tumultuous situation as he tried to calm the crowd down. "Everyone, please calm down…"

Zane, on the other hand, was fiddling with his cufflinks, looking as if he had nothing to do with the situation. He reassured himself that he would still be the vice-chairman of the board of directors.

As the situation was not his responsibility, and neither was he to blame, Zane could not care less about handling the situation.

Though Braxton looked as if he was trying his best to comfort and reassure the crowd, he was exceptionally calm. He knew that he would still retain his position as chairman of the board. Therefore, he was unaffected by the changes in personnel as long as his benefits remained untouched.

In fact, Sage had shown him the list of personnel changes before making the announcement, and the final decision had been agreed upon by both of them.

"Uncle Braxton, times have changed, and we can't afford to keep those who do not contribute anything to the company. I've already spent most of my savings on saving the company. If we continue to allow these freeloaders to benefit from the company, I'm afraid that we will need to start to sell our property, and it has come to my attention that there is a piece of empty land that you and Uncle Zane have acquired which you intend to turn into a golf course…"

At the mention of his benefits, Braxton who had initially put up a defensive front quickly changed his attitude and agreed to Sage's suggestions regarding the personnel changes.

He was determined to keep freeloaders out of their company.

Sage could not be bothered to explain herself to those old men, so she had left the company and gone straight home.

Norah Residence, also known as Rosa Garden, was originally a rose garden. As both Sage and her mom loved roses, Sawyer Norah had purchased the piece of land and built their house amongst the roses.

It had been three years since she had last returned, and for some reason, Sage was actually feeling nervous. Could it be that she was just feeling sentimental?

She had been selfish for three years because of love. Sage wondered if her parents would blame her for what she had done.

It was May, the season for roses in Salem City. The weather in Nadeem City was colder compared to the weather in Salem. When she left Yuriel Mansion, the roses had not yet begun to bloom.

The light in Sage's eyes dimmed when she thought of that man. She could still feel a wrenching pain in her heart. However, ever since she had made the decision to leave, she had to try and move on.

As the car pulled into the garden, Sage could no longer wait to see the roses. However, the moment she got out of the car, she realized that the bed of roses that had been planted by her father was long gone and was now replaced by peonies. Weeds grew wild in the bed of flowers.

Sage felt a raging fire blazing her heart. She had turned a blind eye when those people had occupied her home, but they had crossed the line by having the nerve to ruin her rose garden.

"Did they really think I was dead?" Sage thought to herself. The shameless group of people infuriated her.

All of a sudden, Sage heard laughter from afar. She turned around to see two girls, who were all dolled up, laughing away. Each of them had their arm linked through the arm of a man.

The one at the front was dressed in a white-laced dress and wore a diamond-encrusted crown. She stood on her toes and placed a kiss on her man's lips. The lovebirds were all over each other.

Despite the distance, the man realized that there was someone there, and he pushed Yeva Norah away to get a better look. However, as soon as he realized that the individual was Sage, he nearly fell down the stairs. His expression had changed drastically.

Looking as if he had just seen a ghost, the man pointed to where Sage stood and stuttered in horror, "Sage… Sage Norah!"

The other three looked in the direction he was pointing, and they looked at Sage in horror as well, covering their mouths in disbelief. Yeva gave a horrified shriek, "What are you?! Are you a ghost?!"

Sage, who was dressed all in white, stood in the middle of the bed of peonies, glaring at them with coldness in her eyes. Her red lips pulled into a smirk. In a sinister and chilling voice, Sage answered, "A clear conscience makes a soft pillow. Julian Jefferson, Yeva Norah, I hope you're ready because I'm here to get my revenge."