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Chapter_90
Retreat Equals Defeat
The days following the scandal were a whirlwind, and just as I thought I had reached the limits of betrayal, Lauren, who had kept a low profile during the chaos, launched her own counterattack.
First, she revealed the forged financial verification certificate that Matthew had created to cover his tracks. It was a move that sent ripples through the entire family and the business. But Lauren didn’t stop there—she then turned the spotlight on Melanie, exposing her questionable actions, and she dug deep into my personal life, spreading the messy details that had once been hidden away.
Matthew, of course, tried to cover up the truth, but it was a losing battle. With only two days left before the crucial contract signing with ATL Empire, it became painfully clear that he had no intention of fulfilling my demands. Instead, he doubled down on protecting his position.
Then, the unexpected happened. On Monday morning, Matthew received an email from ATL Empire postponing the contract signing. His face drained of color as he processed the news, realizing the lucrative deal was slipping away from his grasp. The anxiety was written all over him when he visited me in the hospital.
“I want to go home,” I said coldly, tired of being trapped in this hospital room. More than that, I didn’t want Ava to spend any more time with the Murphys. I couldn’t forget Melanie’s words about how the Murphys valued sons over daughters. I needed to be with my daughter. She needed me.
Before Matthew could finish the discharge paperwork, Johnson arrived. The look on their faces was enough to tell me something was off. I watched as they spoke quietly in the hallway. I leaned closer, pressing my ear against the wall to eavesdrop on their conversation.
“Sir, you must stop hesitating and decide now. You know what your priorities are,” Johnson’s voice was urgent.
Matthew’s response was impatient, tinged with frustration. “You saw what happened earlier. If I return everything to her name now, she’ll still find a way to ruin me with the evidence she has.”
Johnson didn’t back down. “It’s still better than losing everything, right? Besides, it may seem like you don’t have the upper hand, but the assets still belong to your family. Women need a little coaxing, and then you can reclaim everything.”
I was stunned, hearing them talk about me like a pawn in their game. But it was clear now—Matthew was afraid of me gaining control over the assets. He had used my money to secure them, yet now he was acting as if they were his by right. How dare he claim what was never his?
I returned to my bed, my resolve strengthening. I knew that in time, everything would come back to me, and it wasn’t a matter of if, but when. But I also knew that I had to outmaneuver Matthew and make him lose everything, starting with the contract.
Later that day, Matthew took me home, and once we were settled, I called Grace and asked her to send Ava over. I could already sense Matthew was lingering around, waiting for the right moment to speak.
Feigning ignorance, I waited until he finally entered the room, his voice tentative. “Maybe we should make another call to Atlas about the project.”
I looked at him, keeping my voice firm and measured. “You have your pride, and so do I. I’m not close to Atlas either, so I won’t ask for anything unreasonable. But I could discuss the contract with him. If the deal falls through, though, don’t try to play any tricks to get it back. Business is built on trust and honesty, Matthew.”
He tried to push back. “Don’t be so stubborn. In any case, Tanum Corporation is still—”
“The company is no longer the same,” I cut him off, my voice unwavering. “We have different interests now. I’m fine staying in this small place, and I no longer have unrealistic dreams. You don’t need to remind me who the company belongs to. And you know that the contract has nothing to do with me. So stop getting me involved. You’ll only make things worse for yourself.”
The tension in the room was palpable as Matthew’s face darkened. He turned sharply and slammed the door as he left, leaving the air thick with unresolved anger and resentment.
Our relationship, much like a fragile piece of porcelain, seemed on the brink of shattering, yet it hadn’t yet broken. This was a battle now—a war of wills. The one who retreated would be the one to lose.
However, that evening, just when I thought I had reached my breaking point, a turning point came—one that would change everything.