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Chapter 49
Chapter 49
“Byron, you’ve already talked to all those pharmaceutical manufacturers. Sylvia won’t find anyone to work with. She’ll have to come crawling back to you soon.” Joanna lay in the hospital bed, looking pale and fragile.
The previous night, she’d feigned illness to confront Sylvia, hoping to manipulate Zack into leaving with her, it backfired spectacularly, leaving her fuming and unable to gracefully retreat. So, she’d checked herself into the hospital and summoned Byron.
Byron stood by the window, sunlight catching the sharp lines of his handsome face. His brow furrowed slightly. “If she had any sense, she’d be fiere already.”
He’d cut off her funding and manufacturing options. If she wanted to keep selling those patches, she had no choice but to come to him..
Joanna added plaintively, “Byron, when Sylvia gets here, you have to make her understand. She can’t keep turning Zack against me. He’s barely spoken to me lately…”
Byron’s expression hardened. That was his main concern too. While Zack had certainly seemed happier since Sylvia’s return, he’d also become defiant.
“Mr. Blair,” a nurse entered the room, “there’s a young woman outside asking for you, checking room by room.”
Byron instantly knew it was Sylvia. He stepped out, and sure enough, there she was.
A cold smirk touched his lips. ‘Cut off her resources, and now she’s desperate.‘
“Sylvia,” he began, “agree to one thing, and I’ll have those manufacturers calling you themselves.”
This was exactly why Sylvia had come. Byron had deliberately sabotaged her, obviously intending to leverage it. “What’s the condition?” she asked warily.
Byron loosened his tie, irritation flashing across his face. “Joanna looked after Zack for years. Since you’ve been back, you’ve turned him against her. She’s in that room right now. I want you to go in there and apologize.”
It’s just an apology. Simple. A chance for her to make amends. From deliberately hitting Joanna with her car, to scheming her way into the Blair family, and now trying to take Zack…
“He hadn’t expected someone with her background to be so manipulative.‘ Byron thought.
But Sylvia didn’t see it as a kindness. “Byron, you went to all this trouble just to drag me down here for Joanna? What if I refuse?”
Byron’s face clouded over. “Then forget about selling those patches anywhere in Silverton!”
Byron got annoyed. ‘This woman is impossible! Joanna was practically collapsing yesterday, reached out to her, and Sylvia just shut her down cold. Anyone with a shred of decency wouldn’t have ignored her, especially a doctor. Does she have any compassion at all?‘
“Fine. I’ll go.” Sylvia paused, then walked towards the indicated hospital room.
Byron relaxed slightly. ‘Knew it. She always caves.’
Used to be, the slightest frown from him would send her into a panic, terrified she’d displeased him.
She’s put on a tougher act lately, but deep down, she’s still the same pushover.
Truthfully, if she’d just show a little humility, he wouldn’t mind helping her.
She needs manufacturers? One call from him could get her patches into every major hospital in the country.
Joanna, lying in bed, heard footsteps approaching the door and felt a flicker of triumphant excitement. ‘Sylvia couldn’t handle the pressure after all. Caved so quickly.
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Chapter 49
As Sylvia entered, Joanna immediately adopted a frail, pitiful expression. “Sylvia, thank you for coming,” she whispered. “Really, I don’t need anything from you… I just want Zack back. He needs Byron, and… he needs me.”
Sylvia instantly saw through the act – Joanna’s color was healthy, far from sick – but didn’t bother calling her out.
She gave Joanna a cool glance. “Joanna, funny you should mention it. That’s exactly what I came to say to you. As Zack’s mother, I want you to stay away
from him.”
Joanna’s eyes widened in disbelief. She hadn’t expected this. Hurt flashing in her eyes, she looked pleadingly at Byron.
Byron’s face darkened. “Sylvia, do you have any idea what you’re saying?”
Sylvia met his gaze calmly. “Perfectly. And that’s precisely why I won’t have someone with no biological connection to my son raising him…
Byron snapped, “Are you trying to kill your little patch business?”
Sylvia gave a humorless laugh. “Don’t worry about the manufacturers. Even without them, I’m perfectly capable of supporting Zack on my own.”
Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, she turned back to Byron. “Oh, and speaking of raising him? I forgot to mention. I’m filing for full custody.”
Byron almost laughed, treating it as a joke. “You disappear for three years without a word, and now you want custody? On what grounds?”
From the bed, Joanna quickly interjected, “Byron, don’t be upset. She’s just joking.”
No one took her seriously. But just then, Byron’s phone rang. It was Louis, the family butler. “Sir, a legal notice just arrived for you. It’s regarding Master
Zack’s custody.”
“Sylvia, you actually did it?” Byron snapped, ending the call, his voice tight with fury.
“Why wouldn’t I dare? I don’t want my son growing up in your world, where all he does is study and stare at screens, with none of the joy a kid his age should have. That’s why I’m taking back custody!”
“Sylvia, are you really claiming this is for Zack’s benefit?” Byron’s expression was glacial, his tone dripping ice. “I know what you’re really after. It’s money, isn’t it? Fine. Name your price. How much to make this go away?”
He pulled out his checkbook, scribbled a figure, his lips a thin line. “Ten million? Twenty? Take it, and stay the hell away from Zack.”
Joanna’s eyes flew wide with panic from the bed, wanting to stop him, but it was too late.
Sylvia took the offered check, a small, tight smile playing on her lips. “Generous, Mr. Blair.”
Byron’s disgust deepened. ‘What an idiot. She could have had so much more, but she’s too stupid and stubborn to see it. Her loss.”
Just as he assumed she’d take the money and back down, Sylvia let out a sharp, cold laugh. Then, she ripped the check into tiny pieces and threw them contemptuously at his chest.
“Byron, don’t think your damn money makes the world revolve around you! The more you act like this, the more convinced I am that Zack doesn’t belong anywhere near you!”
With that, Sylvia turned and strode towards the door. Pausing with her hand on the handle, she looked back. “The court hearing is in one week. I expect to see you there.”
Byron stood frozen, his face livid. He couldn’t believe this woman, who used to tremble in his presence, was actually taking him to court.
“Byron, how could she change so much?” Joanna asked weakly from the bed, fishing for sympathy. But Byron wasn’t listening. Fuming, he stormed out of the room, left the hospital, and headed straight home.
“Zack!” he called out as he entered the large foyer, heading towards the stairs. “It’s Saturday! Let’s grab some lunch out. Anywhere you want to go?”
11:28 Mon, 16 Jun
Chapter 49
Because of Sylvia’s stunt, a knot of anxiety tightened in his chest. What if she really was turning Zack against him?
Normally, Zack would have come bounding down the stairs immediately. But now? Silence. He called again, louder this time. Still nothing
