Gage’s voice was firm with an edge of warning. “I’m back to stake my claim, to secure what's mine, and to correct the mistake of attempting to give it to someone else.”Chairman Paul let out a deep sigh. “If you’re here for the meeting, take a seat so we can proceed.”Gage looked back, and Richard promptly pushed his wheelchair around to the opposite side of the table, positioning him next to Rachel.Rachel turned to the director beside her. “Could you please move your seat?" She requested, and knowing the question that would come next, she immediately added. “Gage’s shares have surpassed ten percent, so he's entitled to sit at the chairman's right side.”The room fell silent as everyone's eyes widened in shock, including the chairman. “When did this happen?” The chairman asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. “How is that possible?”Rachel let out a sigh and explained, “since Mason and I contributed some of our shares to him,” she spoke with confidence, her chin slightly rai
The room exploded into stunned silence, with Sadie’s disbelieving gasp hanging in the air. “What?!” She shot up from her seat, her voice a challenge. Bryson quickly followed, his eyes wide with incredulity. “That can’t be right! It can’t be Kaylie!” He exclaimed, his voice rising in protest.Rachel raised an eyebrow, her expression puzzled. “Why the surprise?” she asked, her arms spreading wide in a questioning gesture. “She’s his wife, after all. Why wouldn't it be possible?”“Kaylie is-” Bryson spoke Kaylie’s name, but his mother's sharp tone cut him off. “Bryson!” Sadie warned, her voice raised. Their eyes met, and she subtly winked, signaling him to hold back his thoughts.A silent understanding passed between Chairman Paul and Bryson as their eyes met. Bryson sat down without uttering a word, and his mother trailed behind him, taking her seat as well.‘This can’t be… Kaylie would never betray me. Not her.’Sadie’s eyes narrowed, her jaw clenched, and she grasped her gown tightly
Bryson walked into the parlor, and his mother jumped up, rushing over to him. His expression was somber, and his mother’s concern was palpable. She positioned herself in front of him, placing her hands on his shoulders and locking eyes with him.“How did it go?” she asked, her voice laced with worry. “What did your father say? He disagreed, did he?”“He did,” he answered in simplicity. “Kaylie will be taking over, so I can’t have the share anymore.”Sadie’s eyes widened in shock, still struggling to wrap her head around the announcement, despite not being entirely new to her. As a fellow director, she had strongly considered opposing Kaylie's involvement, but Chairman Paul had sent her home before the second emergency meeting even started, leaving her without a chance to voice her dissent.Sadie's hands flew to her chest as she stumbled backward, but Vera was quick to react, rushing to her side and catching her before she fell. “Calm down, Ma,” Vera soothed, holding her tightly as she
The door creaked open, and before Chairman Paul could even step inside, Sadie sprang to her feet from the bed, her arms crossed over her chest. She strode forward, her eyes fixed intently on him. “You didn't come home last night? Where did you sleep? Where are you coming from?” The questions tumbled out in rapid succession. She’d been waiting, coiled with tension, since the sound of his car had echoed through the driveway. As soon as he'd stepped in, she was ready to confront him. Chairman Paul brushed past her concerns, walking straight to the bed. He sank onto the edge, his movements weary, and began to remove his wristwatch. As he set it down on the nightstand, Sadie closed in, her anger palpable.“I'm talking to you,” she said, her voice even, careful not to let her tone get shrill. “You didn't come home, and you didn't even bother to call. I called you over and over, but you didn't pick up until your phone died, or maybe you switched it off.”Chairman Paul’s response was direct,
Chairman Paul entered the dining room, and Kaylie and Bryson stood to greet him. Without a word, he adjusted his chair to his liking before taking a seat. His eyes were noticeably red.“Are you okay, sir?” Kaylie asked, her voice laced with concern. She couldn’t help but notice his reddened eyes. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”Chairman Paul’s gaze dropped, and he shook his head slightly. “I’m fine,” he replied curtly. “Are you serving the meal or the maid? Please, let’s hurry. I have a meeting.”Though Kaylie wasn’t convinced, she didn’t press the issue, aware that Gage’s presence meant she should maintain a level of detachment. She nodded and began serving the meal, trying to gauge the chairman’s condition without drawing further attention to it.“Okay, sir,” she said, rising from her seat since the maids were still out on errands. Despite no longer seeking the chairman’s approval, a lingering habit prompted her to attend to him first. As she approached the chairman’s place,
“I can’t take this anymore!” Sadie screamed, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she sat on the edge of the bed, her teeth clenched in frustration. Vera stepped forward, her eyes fixed on Sadie’s tense form. She had been standing there for minutes, watching Sadie’s anger simmer just below the surface, but she had waited for the right moment to intervene. “If only you’d listened to me,” Vera said, her voice laced with a mix of concern and exasperation. “Things wouldn’t have escalated this far.” Sadie’s gaze snapped up, her face etched with regret and guilt. “How was I supposed to know, Vera?” She whispered, her voice barely audible. “Kaylie was a master manipulator. She made her plan seem flawless, and I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. I thought her tears and concern for Bryson were genuine,” Sadie’s voice cracked as she struggled to continue, the pain of her past interactions with Kaylie still raw. “Her smiles, her reactions whenever I talked about Bryson’s success…” Her word
Kaylie held up the file, her eyes scanning the staff as she asked, “Does anyone know what this is?”The staff remained silent, deliberately turning their faces away to show disinterest.A smile crept onto Sadie and Vera’s lips as they exchanged a knowing glance, their plan already bearing fruit.Sadie’s gaze dropped slightly, and she softly bit her upper lip, a hint of satisfaction crossing her face. Then her head snapped up, her expression transforming into a cold, stoic mask. “Your lives, your jobs, your fate in this household—it all lies in this file I hold. Anyone care to look?”Vera turned to Sadie, her brow furrowed in question. “What's she talking about?” She asked, but before Sadie could respond, Kaylie continued, her words hanging in the air like a challenge.“What most of you don't know is that my co-wife,” Kaylie said, glancing over her shoulder at Sadie, “isn't the one who signs your paychecks. It’s Gage.”The staff’s eyes widened in surprise, their mouths agape. “Ehn!” The
“We're here,” Kaylie announced, a bright smile spreading across her face. She glanced up at the hospital sign, her eyes scanning the letters on the board while reading them out. “Care Haven Hospital,” Her gaze snapped back to Gage, her excitement palpable. “This is the biggest hospital in the city. You know that, right?” She asked.Gage nodded, his expression a mix of resignation and fatigue. He had been cooped up in the car for too long and was itching to stretch his legs, but Kaylie’s enthusiasm was infectious, and he couldn’t deny her excitement.Richard hopped out of the car, fetched the wheelchair, and positioned it beside Gage’s door. He spread it, ready to assist Gage out of the vehicle, but Kaylie’s hand shot up, halting him.“Don't worry,” she said, her voice gentle. “I’ll take care of him.”Kaylie quickly exited the car and walked around to the other side, her eyes locking onto Gage’s as she opened the door.She offered a reassuring smile, which made his heart skip a beat. H
“Stop!” Gage commanded, and Richard immediately hit the brakes as if he'd been waiting for the order. The sudden halt sent the cab driver rolling forward a few inches before he managed to pause. As the cab skidded to a stop on the roadside, Kaylie flung open the door and, forgetting to settle the fare, sprinted out of the car, racing toward Gage’s vehicle.The driver quickly shed his seatbelt and leapt out of the cab, calling out, “Ma’am!” He waved his arms to catch her attention, but Kaylie was oblivious, her focus fixed on Gage. The driver swiftly caught up with her, grasping her arm from behind and spinning her around. “You haven’t paid me, ma’am,” he said, extending his left hand expectantly.Kaylie’s eyes widened in surprise. “Huh?” She uttered, patting her jeans pockets in a panic. She checked again, but her pockets were empty.The driver’s finger jabbed toward her face. “You’re paying before you leave here!” He said, his voice escalating. “How could you hail a cab without the
Over an hour had passed since Dr. Gage finished Gage’s physical assessment. He’d headed to the radiology department to collect Gage’s imaging and neurological test results.Kaylie had remained silent, not uttering a word to Gage, while Gage, who’d been eager to start a conversation, had lost his nerve. His mouth had betrayed his heart, and the silence continued.The door swung open, and Dr. George entered, a smile on his face, clutching a file tightly in his hands. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting…”Kaylie’s face lifted, and she glared backward. A smile spread across her face. “Dr. George…” she murmured.George walked around the table, taking his seat and placing the file in front of him. “There’s a free test going on in the hospital today, so the queue was quite long.” He explained.Kaylie nodded, her eyes fixed on the file. “Okay,” she said softly, her mind still on the main point bothering her. “The test… how is it?”George handed her the file, his expression professional. “This is th
“We're here,” Kaylie announced, a bright smile spreading across her face. She glanced up at the hospital sign, her eyes scanning the letters on the board while reading them out. “Care Haven Hospital,” Her gaze snapped back to Gage, her excitement palpable. “This is the biggest hospital in the city. You know that, right?” She asked.Gage nodded, his expression a mix of resignation and fatigue. He had been cooped up in the car for too long and was itching to stretch his legs, but Kaylie’s enthusiasm was infectious, and he couldn’t deny her excitement.Richard hopped out of the car, fetched the wheelchair, and positioned it beside Gage’s door. He spread it, ready to assist Gage out of the vehicle, but Kaylie’s hand shot up, halting him.“Don't worry,” she said, her voice gentle. “I’ll take care of him.”Kaylie quickly exited the car and walked around to the other side, her eyes locking onto Gage’s as she opened the door.She offered a reassuring smile, which made his heart skip a beat. H
Kaylie held up the file, her eyes scanning the staff as she asked, “Does anyone know what this is?”The staff remained silent, deliberately turning their faces away to show disinterest.A smile crept onto Sadie and Vera’s lips as they exchanged a knowing glance, their plan already bearing fruit.Sadie’s gaze dropped slightly, and she softly bit her upper lip, a hint of satisfaction crossing her face. Then her head snapped up, her expression transforming into a cold, stoic mask. “Your lives, your jobs, your fate in this household—it all lies in this file I hold. Anyone care to look?”Vera turned to Sadie, her brow furrowed in question. “What's she talking about?” She asked, but before Sadie could respond, Kaylie continued, her words hanging in the air like a challenge.“What most of you don't know is that my co-wife,” Kaylie said, glancing over her shoulder at Sadie, “isn't the one who signs your paychecks. It’s Gage.”The staff’s eyes widened in surprise, their mouths agape. “Ehn!” The
“I can’t take this anymore!” Sadie screamed, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she sat on the edge of the bed, her teeth clenched in frustration. Vera stepped forward, her eyes fixed on Sadie’s tense form. She had been standing there for minutes, watching Sadie’s anger simmer just below the surface, but she had waited for the right moment to intervene. “If only you’d listened to me,” Vera said, her voice laced with a mix of concern and exasperation. “Things wouldn’t have escalated this far.” Sadie’s gaze snapped up, her face etched with regret and guilt. “How was I supposed to know, Vera?” She whispered, her voice barely audible. “Kaylie was a master manipulator. She made her plan seem flawless, and I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. I thought her tears and concern for Bryson were genuine,” Sadie’s voice cracked as she struggled to continue, the pain of her past interactions with Kaylie still raw. “Her smiles, her reactions whenever I talked about Bryson’s success…” Her word
Chairman Paul entered the dining room, and Kaylie and Bryson stood to greet him. Without a word, he adjusted his chair to his liking before taking a seat. His eyes were noticeably red.“Are you okay, sir?” Kaylie asked, her voice laced with concern. She couldn’t help but notice his reddened eyes. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”Chairman Paul’s gaze dropped, and he shook his head slightly. “I’m fine,” he replied curtly. “Are you serving the meal or the maid? Please, let’s hurry. I have a meeting.”Though Kaylie wasn’t convinced, she didn’t press the issue, aware that Gage’s presence meant she should maintain a level of detachment. She nodded and began serving the meal, trying to gauge the chairman’s condition without drawing further attention to it.“Okay, sir,” she said, rising from her seat since the maids were still out on errands. Despite no longer seeking the chairman’s approval, a lingering habit prompted her to attend to him first. As she approached the chairman’s place,
The door creaked open, and before Chairman Paul could even step inside, Sadie sprang to her feet from the bed, her arms crossed over her chest. She strode forward, her eyes fixed intently on him. “You didn't come home last night? Where did you sleep? Where are you coming from?” The questions tumbled out in rapid succession. She’d been waiting, coiled with tension, since the sound of his car had echoed through the driveway. As soon as he'd stepped in, she was ready to confront him. Chairman Paul brushed past her concerns, walking straight to the bed. He sank onto the edge, his movements weary, and began to remove his wristwatch. As he set it down on the nightstand, Sadie closed in, her anger palpable.“I'm talking to you,” she said, her voice even, careful not to let her tone get shrill. “You didn't come home, and you didn't even bother to call. I called you over and over, but you didn't pick up until your phone died, or maybe you switched it off.”Chairman Paul’s response was direct,
Bryson walked into the parlor, and his mother jumped up, rushing over to him. His expression was somber, and his mother’s concern was palpable. She positioned herself in front of him, placing her hands on his shoulders and locking eyes with him.“How did it go?” she asked, her voice laced with worry. “What did your father say? He disagreed, did he?”“He did,” he answered in simplicity. “Kaylie will be taking over, so I can’t have the share anymore.”Sadie’s eyes widened in shock, still struggling to wrap her head around the announcement, despite not being entirely new to her. As a fellow director, she had strongly considered opposing Kaylie's involvement, but Chairman Paul had sent her home before the second emergency meeting even started, leaving her without a chance to voice her dissent.Sadie's hands flew to her chest as she stumbled backward, but Vera was quick to react, rushing to her side and catching her before she fell. “Calm down, Ma,” Vera soothed, holding her tightly as she
The room exploded into stunned silence, with Sadie’s disbelieving gasp hanging in the air. “What?!” She shot up from her seat, her voice a challenge. Bryson quickly followed, his eyes wide with incredulity. “That can’t be right! It can’t be Kaylie!” He exclaimed, his voice rising in protest.Rachel raised an eyebrow, her expression puzzled. “Why the surprise?” she asked, her arms spreading wide in a questioning gesture. “She’s his wife, after all. Why wouldn't it be possible?”“Kaylie is-” Bryson spoke Kaylie’s name, but his mother's sharp tone cut him off. “Bryson!” Sadie warned, her voice raised. Their eyes met, and she subtly winked, signaling him to hold back his thoughts.A silent understanding passed between Chairman Paul and Bryson as their eyes met. Bryson sat down without uttering a word, and his mother trailed behind him, taking her seat as well.‘This can’t be… Kaylie would never betray me. Not her.’Sadie’s eyes narrowed, her jaw clenched, and she grasped her gown tightly