The next day, Winston brought me to the company.
No one mentioned what had happened yesterday. Not him, not his parents, not even Kiara. It was as if the entire house had entered a strange, collective silence.
I frowned. “Why did you bring me here? I already signed the share transfer. The company is yours now–fm done with it.” Winston smiled and crouched down in front of my wheelchair, speaking at eye level
“I know you did it with good intentions. I overreacted yesterday. But since we’re married, I’ve decided to believe in you. My mother said she’ll contact a doctor to take a look at your condition. Maybe the hospital misdiagnosed you.”
“Today, I just wanted to show you the company–to let you see how I’m handling it.”
I nodded, forcing a faint smile.
He had a meeting to attend, so he let me wander the company on my own. I hadn’t been here in over a month. Despite everything, a strange sense of nostalgia clung to me
But I knew–soon, this place would change completely.
As I passed by the pantry, I overheard hushed voices.
“Did you hear? President Reynolds gave all her shares to Mr. Flemming because she can’t have kids. Apparently, she was really promiscuous before marriage and had multiple abortions. Now she’s infertile and handed the company over as compensation Otherwise, she would have been dumped ages ago.
No way! She always looked so proper. Ugh, disgusting. Doesn’t she know how dangerous that is?”
“I also heard her mother died the same way–had an affair, got caught by her husband, and killed herself.”
I froze in place.
My whole body began to tremble uncontrollably
-They… were talking about my mother.
The truth was, when I was ten, my father had been the one who cheated. My mother had fallen into depression, and eventually jumped to her death.
One month after she died, that woman moved in with her five–year–old daughter–Kiara &
And now, these people were spreading filthy rumors about both of us.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I shoved the door open with burning eyes, and stared directly at the three employees.
Their expressions were priceless–shock, guilt, and panicked. They avoided my eyes and scrambled toward the exit.
“Stop right there!” I shouted. “Who told you all that nonsense?“?
“1–I’m sorry, President Reynolds. We didn’t mean to. I can’t remember who said it… I swear”
“M–me neither… I forgot too.
My grip on the wheelchair handles tightened as rage surged through me.
“If you don’t say who it was, don’t bother showing up tomorrow. have HR issue termination letters and blacklist you across the industry. People who spread malicious rumors don’t belong in this business.”
The three employees finally cracked, their voices panicked and rushed.
“Please, don’t, President Reynolds–it was our fault. We swear it won’t happen again. It was Ms. Kiara… she’s the one who told us. She said the company is hers now, and that you wouldn’t be coming back.”
Their voices trailed off, heads hung low and trembling with fear.
In the end, I let them off with a warning–but only on the condition that they resign voluntarily.
I returned to my office alone and stared at a photo of my mother and me, tears silently streaking down my face.
After an hour passed, Winston still didn’t return.
I asked the driver to take me home. But when we got to the underground parking lot, I noticed Winston’s car lights were still on
In a dimly lit comer, I saw him–slipping a ring onto Kiara’s finger, holding her hand with unmistakable tenderness
I froze in place, the slanderous words I’d just overheard replaying in my mind like a broken record.
Did Winston already know about those rumors?
“Baby,” he whispered, “this is a critical time. You showing up at the office out of nowhere made it hard for me to explain things to your sister &
Kiara pouted, then buried her face in his chest like a spoiled child.
“What’s there to explain? I know she hates me and my mom. Ever since I graduated, she’s done everything to keep me out of the company. But look at us now–she’s a cripple, and I’m your personal secretary. I still made it in ”
“She tried so hard to guard against me, and still failed. Just like her mother–small–minded and bitter”
Before she could say more, Winston silenced her with a kiss, clearly angered by her reckless words.
But she only giggled and clung to him. “Oh, stop. Blanca already handed you the company. Everyone there answers to you now. What’s
there to be afraid of?2
“Just a little more patience,” he murmured. “We already have a fake divorce certificate. Soon, I’ll find a respectable excuse to make it
10
7:00 AM ď ď.
“Just a little more patience,” he murmured. “We already have a fake divorce certificate. Soon, I’ll find a respectable excuse to make it
official. I won’t let you or your mom be wronged.”
Every word sent icy needles through my veins. My limbs trembled. My heart felt like it was being shredded from the inside out.
Tears streamed silently down my cheeks as I crouched in the shadows.
I had told him once–how my mother died, how my father blamed me, favored Kiara, and crushed me under his prejudice.
And Winston had held my hand, looked into my eyes, and promised, “I understand. I hate people who destroy families more than anything.”
But now I see–he had been lying all along.!
From beginning to end… he had only ever loved her.”
And all along, he was just waiting for the right moment to justify betraying me.
