Will You Really Not Save My Dad's Company?

To prevent further damage to the company, the news of my dad's death was kept strictly confidential.

Yet, I had told Jeffrey. A simple glance at our chat would have revealed that something was amiss. But predictably, he never checked.

"If you really cared, why didn't you answer my calls? Why didn't you reach out on your own?" I asked, my voice dripping with indifference.

"I… I've been busy with the company," he stammered.

"Busy meeting your lover?" I dismissed his excuses and turned to leave.

But he quickly grabbed my wrist, his grip firm. Leaning close, he whispered insistently, "Melinda is sick. What are you fighting her for? You're already my wife."

"Melinda is ill? Then, she should seek treatment. What does that have to do with me?" I laughed bitterly, finding it amusing.

As I pulled my arm free and my resolve to leave hardened, his tone became colder, more urgent.

"Don't forget, I'm the only one who can save your dad's company now!"

I stopped and faced him with unwavering calm. "If I begged you to save it, would you even consider it? My dad's accident happened because he was trying to reach you for help. The drunk driver has paid for his crime, but the true culprit… is you!"

Melinda, who had been smirking from the sidelines, let out a mocking laugh. "Your dad's still recovering from that accident? Maybe I should send him some chicken soup to speed up his recovery.

"Jeffrey married you out of necessity, not choice. The company needed him. Do you actually believe he loves you? He's always been mine, so if you came here for money, don't bother—"

I cut her off with a sharp slap across her face, my anger boiling over.

"There's no need for chicken soup, especially not when it's filthy, stinky, and rotten. Only Jeffrey could stomach such garbage!"

Melinda staggered back from the force of my slap. Before she could say anything, Jeffrey was already by her side.

"Evalyn, have you lost your mind? Attacking people like this? What, am I showing too much deference?

"Can't you talk without being passive-aggressive? Are you seriously putting on such a dramatic show just for money?"

As I moved to confront her again, Jeffrey blocked my path.

"Jeffrey, get out of my way!"

"I just mentioned chicken soup? Did I hit a nerve?" Melinda taunted.

She then called out frantically to the bodyguards by the door. "What are you waiting for? Restrain her!"

In an instant, Jeffrey's bodyguards pinned me down, pressing my face against the cold, hard floor.

"Tell them to let go of me!" I demanded, glaring up at Jeffrey with all the fury I could muster.

He returned my gaze with a chilling indifference. "Evalyn, you're in the wrong here. You struck her. Apologize to her now!"

"In your dreams! She's nothing more than a sewer rat. Apologize to her, huh? She's not worth the breath," I retorted vehemently.

Ignoring my comments, Melinda patted Jeffrey on the shoulder, acting as if she hadn't heard a word. "Jeff, just forget about it. Divorce her immediately. You've seen her true colors now."

Jeffrey's eyes lingered on me for a long moment. "Evalyn, just apologize now, and we can pretend this never happened."

"Absolutely not! And I will divorce you!" I responded icily.

Throughout this exchange, Melinda wore a facade of dejection, but upon hearing the word 'divorce,' her demeanor shifted.

"Divorce!" she echoed, her eyes flashing with sudden interest.

I couldn't help but laugh sarcastically. "Congratulations, Melinda. You've finally gotten what you wanted. Are you satisfied now?"

A brief smile flickered across her lips, quickly masked yet revealing her internal victory.

I tried to struggle, but it was useless.

"Do you think you can just marry into the Hood Family and leave as you please?" Jeffrey taunted. "You were the one who demanded this marriage! You promised to love me forever. Have you tired of me so quickly?"

Pulling out his phone, he gave me a cold, mocking smile. He looked as if he was ready to threaten me again.

He had done this before, vanishing for a month and giving me the silent treatment for two months just to force me into an apology.

But this time was different. I no longer cared. His power to intimidate me had evaporated.

"Andrew, hold off on gathering the funds for now," he spoke into the phone.

I met his gaze with a calm defiance.

When I first learned of my dad's company's troubles, I swallowed my pride and sought Jeffrey's help.

He had always known how much it meant to me. Unfortunately, he never shared my concerns.

"Evalyn, apologize to Melinda, and I'll arrange a financial bailout for your dad's company."

I laughed bitterly. "Jeffrey, if I don't apologize, are you really going to let my dad's company fail?"

A heavy silence fell between us before he finally answered, "Yes."

Jeffrey Receives Shocking News

But Jeffrey was oblivious to the shift in fortunes. His opportunity to play the hero had vanished.

Cameron Walker, a childhood friend with whom I grew up, had stepped in to save my company.

Quiet, reserved, and usually a man of few words, Cameron had always had a knack for caring for others.

On the day we graduated from university, he revealed his long-held feelings for me. He confessed that he had reserved his heart for me, not allowing any other to claim a place.

However, I had just fallen for Jeffrey days before and gently rejected Cameron.

Devastated by the news of my relationship with Jeffrey, Cameron had left the country without a goodbye. Yet, at my lowest, he returned.

He found me in the hospital, pulling me into a tight embrace with a sob in his voice, "Eva, I've finally found you!"

I attempted to wriggle free, but he clung tighter as if he were trying to fuse me into his soul.

I never imagined that I would meet him again in such a miserable state.

Cameron knew my dad's company had been struggling, giving our rivals the perfect opportunity to ensnare us in corporate warfare.

As the company teetered on the brink of collapse, none of my father's business associates came to our aid. Many simply watched, eager to see us fail.

Even Jeffrey, the son-in-law my dad had trusted and supported, had abandoned us when we needed him most.

I watched in despair as my dad's life's work—everything he had poured his heart into—was on the brink of being destroyed. The devastation was complete and heart-wrenching.

Then, Cameron wired a massive sum of his company's funds into my company's account. It was a lifeline that pulled Levine Group back from the brink of bankruptcy.

Presently, Jeffrey noticed my distraught state and a trace of guilt flickered in his eyes. He gestured for his bodyguards to release me.

However, Melinda, seething with jealousy, interrupted him before he could speak. She detested any sign of his concern for me.

As I stood to leave, Melinda's foot shot out, tripping me.

Caught completely off guard, I tumbled to the floor. A glass ornament nearby toppled over, shattering into pieces all around me.

Her eyes burned with undisguised malice as she pressed her heel into the back of my hand, driving shards of glass into my palm. The intense pain nearly caused me to lose consciousness.

Amidst my agony, Jeffrey's angry voice jolted me back to reality.

"Evalyn! How long will you keep up this act? Are you staging this pathetic scene just for money now?"

As pain overwhelmed me, my vision blurred, and darkness threatened the edges of my sight. Breathing became a struggle, each breath more laborious than the last.

"Evalyn! How long are you going to keep acting? Are you pulling this pathetic stunt just to get money now?"

My vision blurred, and darkness swirled at the edges of my sight. It was getting harder to breathe.

"You're nothing but a thief," Melinda hissed, her voice seething with disdain. "The title of Mrs. Hood was always meant to be mine, and it's only fitting that your dad's company went under. He deserved it, really.

"I thought you were so devoted to your dad. But all you've done is play the victim, using his name to garner sympathy."

Her tone grew even crueler as she added, "Honestly, it would have been better if your dad had just died in that car accident like you claimed!"

I didn't know where the strength came from, but I somehow managed to get to my feet. Without thinking, I lunged at her, intent on striking her.

But before I could reach her, Jeffrey pulled her into his arms.

My Dad's body still lay in the funeral home, yet even in death, he found no peace. Cursed by others, his memory was tainted.

In the ensuing scuffle, I managed to scratch her hand, leaving vivid red marks. Jeffrey's frown deepened as he inspected the injury.

Without missing a beat, Melinda shoved me to the ground and ground her heel into my fingers. "Look at you. Pathetic and hysterical! What right do you have to still call yourself Mrs. Hood?" she commented maliciously.

Jeffrey, standing by her side, echoed her sentiments without a hint of regret. "Evalyn, have you seen yourself lately?"

His next words were laced with scorn. "Calling you a dog would be a compliment."

I gasped for air as Melinda's triumphant smirk loomed over me.

I recalled our wedding day; he had held me close, portraying the doting husband before the flashing cameras. Yet, the moment we were alone, he cast me aside like refuse.

I had been so naive.

I thought I could survive by playing dumb, that time would eventually erase certain people from his life.

I was tragically mistaken. The one erased was me.

My dignity was crushed beneath their feet, and I had lost everything.

Suddenly, Jeffrey picked up his phone. "Andrew, cancel the funds for the Levine Group."

There was a pause on the other end before Andrew finally responded, "But, Mr. Hood, the Levine Group has just announced a partnership with the Walker Group. Also, Mrs. Hood's father has passed away."

The news struck everyone like a thunderbolt.

As the reality sunk in, a wave of agony overwhelmed me, as cold and relentless as a winter storm, consuming my spirit.

Overcome by grief and pain, my legs gave way.

Everything faded to black.