As Creed Group continued to gain prominence in the industry, Stuart had long forgotten that it was Grandpa's exclusive pharmaceutical patent that helped him claw his way to the top among the big corporations.

The man who had once obediently followed Grandpa around doing experiments and brought me candy was gone. All that was left was the powerful CEO of Creed Group.

Looking at Grandpa lying in the ICU and covered in tubes, I hated Stuart to the core. How could he so shamelessly protect the person who hit his mentor?

I would never let Madison get away with this! They would have to pay the price.

The legal team told me that Grandpa had prepared the patent transfer documents for me even before my marriage. Therefore, it was essentially my personal premarital property.

Grandpa had made this arrangement in anticipation of such a situation.

So, even though I had married Stuart, he wouldn't get Grandpa's patent.

By the time I got back to the villa, it was already 3:00 pm. I had gone back to pick up some documents. But lo and behold, Madison and Stuart were sitting together on the living room couch.

Madison was holding the guardian angel figurine that Grandpa had gone out of his way to get for me.

I lost my temper right away. "Who said you could touch my stuff? Put that down and get out of my house!"

Startled, Madison quickly hid behind Stuart. She looked like she was about to cry.

She mumbled pitifully, "Veronica, rumors are already spreading at the university that you're blaming me for the car accident. I can't stay there anymore."

As she spoke, she got up to leave. "I shouldn't have come. I'll just head back to the university."

Stuart grabbed her arm and pushed her back down onto the couch. Then, they sat even closer than before I came in.

"Veronica, I've already given you a way out. Withdraw the case today! Otherwise, there's no place in the Creed family for a woman as unreasonable as you!" he spat.

The way Stuart twisted the truth made me feel so nauseated that I could vomit.

I didn't want to argue anymore, so I stormed upstairs and gathered the important evidence to keep them safe.

"Listen here, Stuart. I'm the one leaving you!" I exclaimed.

Upon hearing that, he let go of Madison and hurried forward to grab my wrist. "What do you mean by that?"

I gave him a mocking smile. "I don't do hand-me-downs."

"Say that again!" Stuart's eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was terrifyingly cold.

Madison flinched, and the guardian angel figurine fell from her hand and shattered into pieces upon hitting the floor.

I was absolutely enraged at the sight of this. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

Tears welled up in Madison's eyes as she waved her hands frantically. "Stuart, I was startled by Veronica. I'll apologize."

But Stuart shielded her behind him without hesitation. "It's just a cheap ceramic doll. You don't need to apologize."

He knew full well that Grandpa had spent a whole month praying at a church to get me that figurine. Yet, he made it sound like it was just some cheap souvenir.

I straightened my back and took several deep breaths. "Isn't it best that I leave? That way, I can make room for you two. Soon enough, the title of Mrs. Creed will be up for grabs. Whoever wants it can have it."

Stuart caught the sarcasm in my voice. Overcome with fury, he slapped me hard enough to knock me to the ground.

He bellowed indignantly, "What nonsense are you spouting? Maddy is a student I sponsored. I've always treated her like a younger sister. How can you insinuate such a filthy scenario?"

I held my face. The fury that had just risen within me vanished completely. It was replaced by utter numbness.

After all these years, this was the first time he'd ever hit me—and it was for Madison.

With a few large strides, Stuart made his way to the front door and threw my suitcase out.

He warned, "Veronica, don't think you can manipulate me. I don't care where you go. I'll say this one last time. You have half a day left to withdraw the case!"

The door slammed shut in my face. I stared at it for a moment before silently picking up my suitcase. I then took a cab to the law firm to collect the patent transfer documents.

As I looked at the thick stack of papers, I couldn't help but tear up.

These were the results of Grandpa's life's work.

Just then, the lawyer assisting me handed over a contract. "Ms. Yancey, Trevino Group is offering one billion dollars for a five-year exclusive right to the patent. They'd like to know if you're open to negotiations."

That night, I signed the contract with the other party through the legal team Grandpa assigned to me.

Once I received the advance payment, I immediately arranged for Grandpa to be transferred to the best hospital in the city for the surgery.

The next day, I received Trevino Group's invitation to the bidding conference. I didn't expect to run into Stuart and Madison there.

"Veronica, what are you doing here?" Madison's eyes flitted between me and the CEO of Trevino Group, Max Trevino. "Even if Stuart was a little harsh with you yesterday, that's no reason to publicly humiliate him by going out with another man."

She then looked at me with disdain. "And you even found someone who owns a company inferior to Creed Group. How embarrassing!"

Trevino Group had emerged as a rising star in the pharmaceutical industry over the past few years. They were Creed Group's biggest competitor. But because of Grandpa's patent, Creed Group always had an upper hand over them.

I watched Madison run her mouth with an icy and dispassionate gaze.

Thinking she'd hit a nerve, she grew even more brazen with her words. "Veronica, Stuart said if you apologize to me and drop the case, he'll let it go. You blatantly humiliated him in public. You're not worthy of being Mrs. Creed."

Before I could respond, Stuart stepped in front of me with a face full of contempt. "Veronica, don't you think you've gone overboard? Dirty laundry shouldn't be aired in public. Need I remind you of that?

"You're in your 30s, but you're less mature than a university student who's about to graduate. You really should reflect on yourself!"

Max looked puzzled and was about to speak up for me, but I shook my head at him.

I countered, "What I do has nothing to do with you."

Stuart turned his head to the side and scoffed impatiently. "You're the wife of the CEO of Creed Group. How could it have nothing to do with me? Stop being childish. The one-day deadline I gave you is up. If you don't drop the case now, I'll cut off Alfred's medical care."

I responded with a calm smile. "Do as you please."

Stuart froze and frowned hard. "Yesterday, you were ready to fight me to the death for him. Now that you've got yourself a new man, you're tossing him aside? What a good granddaughter you are! Clearly, you're just jealous and picking a fight with me!

"Besides, do you really think Trevino Group can beat Creed Group? Don't forget that Creed Group has Alfred's most valuable medical patent."

Stuart then leaned in and lowered his voice. "As long as you behave from now on, you'll always be Mrs. Creed. Alfred will be just fine, too."

But I no longer cared about being Mrs. Creed.

With reddened eyes, I raised my hand and was ready to slap him for being abhorrently shameless.

Madison suddenly wedged herself between us and splashed the coffee in her hand onto me.

She cried, "How can you try to hit Stuart in public? You're a disgrace to him, Veronica!"

Her unexpected move caught me off guard. I stood stunned, my outfit soaked in coffee.

Stuart just watched uncaringly. Instead of showing concern for me, he pulled out a tissue to gently wipe the coffee from Madison's hand.

"I'm cutting off Alfred's medical care now. Remember, I gave you a chance. You're the one who doomed him," Stuart said darkly.

I ignored him and went straight to the changing room. I changed into a set of clothes I brought as backup. After letting Max know that I was leaving, I walked out.

As I made my way out, I heard many people already congratulating Stuart in advance. It was as if he would surely win the bid like he did in previous years.

I waited by the road for my ride.

Max came to see me off. He couldn't help but ask, "Ms. Yancey, Mr. Creed won't interfere with our deal, will he?"

He was worried that I might still be swayed by Stuart.

I shook my head. Since I'd chosen to let go, there was no turning back.

I opened the car door but couldn't resist glancing back one last time.

Stuart stood some distance away, holding his phone. He met my gaze from afar.

To my surprise, he suddenly rushed toward me in the next moment.

He held the car door open just as it was about to close, still holding his phone, which was in an ongoing call.

The voice of his secretary, Kaylee Jones, came through the receiver. "Mr. Creed, you heard me right. Dr. Gallagher has already been transferred to a new hospital.

"Also, his legal team has officially withdrawn the expired patent. We're no longer eligible to participate in the bidding!"

Kaylee's words came like a bolt from the blue.

Stuart's face instantly turned ashen as he shoved the phone in my face. "Veronica, explain to me what the hell is this?"