The family elders were furious. "Aiden! What are you saying? You're going to redistribute our shares just because we suspected your daughter might've betrayed our company? I'm telling you—you don't have that right!""I do! I'm the head of this family!" Aiden retorted. "I can buy your shares out of consideration for our company's future!""We won't sell them to you!""That's right! We won't!""That won't be up to you when the time comes!" Aiden looked at them without any intention of backing down. At that moment, the family elders knew he wasn't joking. Since Aiden was able to become the head of the Hackett family, he was no pushover. If they upset him, he could forcefully buy their shares. They could get a lot of money if he did, but what about their children and grandchildren?If they left the company, they would be getting further and further away from the center of power, and their dreams of their descendants becoming the head of their family would be impossible."Enough
Cheryl pursed her lips.Noticing her refusal to answer, Aiden said, "It's okay if you don't want to say it. All right, it's getting late. It's time for us to get some rest. You should get some rest as well!"As Cheryl watched Aiden and Selena leave, she felt a wave of disappointment from him for some reason. It wasn't that she didn't want to answer him, but she didn't know how to. If word about what happened got out, it would cause a buzz in Easton. The future heir of the largest family in the country was dead. That revelation would cause an uproar anywhere else.Aiden probably wouldn't believe it if she told him. He might even think Caroline was bluffing.After entering their room, Selena could tell that Aiden was upset. She gently rubbed his back. "What's wrong? Are you still sad that our daughter didn't answer your question?"Aiden shook his head. "No.""No? We've been married for so many years. I know you very well," Selena replied. "Hey, don't be sad. After all, Cheryl d
Cheryl stood by the door. When she heard Aiden and Selena's conversation, she felt her heart breaking. She originally wanted to return to her room, but after hesitating for a moment, she walked downstairs instead.When she was growing up, her adoptive parents had always focused on Joshua. They barely paid attention to her. So, as a child, she strived to get first in exams and score full scores.Even so, her adoptive parents still wouldn't notice her. Sometimes, she even discovered that they were unhappy when she'd come first.At that time, she didn't know that it was because she wasn't their biological daughter that they reacted that way. She had thought it was because of their village's patriarchal culture that they believed it didn't matter if a girl was capable.Cheryl began to worry about not being able to go to school, so she studied even harder. In particular, she scored first in every exam that offered scholarships during high school, and she began to save money in secre
"That's not what I meant!" Cheryl stared at Joshua warily. "I'm asking how you got in here!"The Hacketts' residence's security was airtight. There was no way Joshua broke in."Of course, the Hackett family members brought me here." Joshua sat down on another swing. It was as if he owned the place and no one else was around. "You're living the good life, Cheryl! How many lifetimes do I have to work to get a life like yours? It must be fun being part of a rich family!"Cheryl glared at Joshua. "If you don't leave, I'll call security!""Don't do that!" Joshua was very calm and wasn't frightened by Cheryl's threat in the slightest. He even smiled at her. "Cheryl, did you know? Since you left, I haven't been able to eat or sleep. All I wanted to do was to see you."Cheryl was very disgusted by his words. She was about to take out her phone to call someone when Joshua said, "Actually, I was relieved after knowing you're not my sister."Cheryl looked at him. "What do you mean by that?"
Cheryl couldn't help but smile as she watched Jack leave dejectedly. Her smile was as dazzling as the stars in the sky, and Jack couldn't help but be stunned by the sight.When Cheryl turned around, she saw Jack staring at her and looked down with a blush. "What are you doing here?"Jack finally returned to his senses. "Oh, I heard you went to see Madam, so I hurried over to the hospital. But unexpectedly, you'd already left when I arrived. But I-I really …""Really what?" Cheryl blushed.Jack looked down, his face turning very red. He no longer had the bravado he had when dealing with Joshua just now. "I missed you …"Cheryl's ears turned red, but she couldn't help but laugh. "And?""Then, I came here.""How did you get in here?""I-I climbed over the wall."Cheryl looked at Jack in shock. "You climbed over the wall?"The wall outside the Hacketts' residence was over six feet tall. How on earth did Jack climb over that?"Yeah."Cheryl knew he wasn't lying, but she still
"The wealthy can be ruthless, but not all of them are like that. Besides, Aiden and Selena are your parents, and you're their daughter. It's only natural that parents love their children."Cheryl smiled. "I always think about the worst-case scenario for everything. Maybe that's why I thought they'd abandon me for their benefit before I returned to this family. "In fact, after thinking about it, if they were really such parents, they wouldn't have agreed to give up on their attack on the Evans Group in the first place.""Yeah." Jack gently hugged Cheryl. He enjoyed every second of the moment and savored every second with her."Maybe Caroline's parents left such a deep impression on me that I thought Aiden was like them."Speaking of Dan and Sarah, Cheryl still had some fears. Fortunately, Eddy was dead now, and Dan and Sarah were nowhere to be found. Otherwise, Caroline would probably have a hard time.Jack explained, "There are all kinds of parents. Madam was just unlucky to h
The action took Caroline by surprise. She turned around on instinct and saw Kirk standing at the door. Her mind was filled with thoughts of running away, yet she stood still where she was. And just like that, they stood there, no one initiating conversation.After a long while, Caroline regained her voice. "I couldn't sleep, so I'm out for a walk." She had already forgotten her anger when she saw Kirk's face.Kirk looked at Caroline tenderly, carefully hiding the desire in his gaze. He feared that his bluntness would scare her. "Me too."After they finished talking, there was another moment of silence."T-then, I'll be heading back to my room. You ... should get some rest," Caroline said. Then, she walked to her room.But Kirk stopped her. "Since we both can't sleep, let's go for a walk together. Maybe we can go back to sleep after that."Caroline wanted to refuse, but she noticed that Kirk's face wasn't the only thing she couldn't resist. She also couldn't resist his voice.
"You don't have to answer if you feel awkward about it." Looking into the distance, Kirk said, "Carol, it doesn't matter whether or not you choose to be with me. I just want you to be happy."Caroline looked at Kirk's side profile. She believed his words were sincere. But it would be great if he wasn't a Morrison."Oh, yeah." Kirk turned to look at Caroline. "Carol, you said you need me for something. What was it? You don't have to feel awkward. Even if we aren't spouses anymore, we're still friends. And friends should help each other, don't you think so?"As Caroline looked at Kirk, she felt her emotions welling up in her chest. He was so kind. He was so kind that she felt a little ashamed. Because of this, Caroline didn't have the courage to make demands."Is there a problem?" Kirk gently asked when Caroline was quiet for a long while.Caroline shook her head. "No. I don't think I should trouble you anymore. I'd better handle it myself.""I don't find it troubling.""But