Chapter 25
Aline looked at him coldly. “Let me guess-you think that because I saved Mitch today, he might feel indebted, and you want to use that to get him to invest in your company?”
A flicker of awkwardness crossed Clayton’s face-he’d been exposed.
“What’s wrong with that?” he said. “I’m just trying to make the most of an opportunity. It’s good for the company-and good for our family.”
Family?
That word used to mean everything to Aline. When she married him, it was because she wanted a home again.
But in the end, she realized-he was never capable of giving her one.
“If I hadn’t saved Mitch today, would you still be asking me to return to the company?” she asked.
“You’re the lady of the company-you’re welcome back anytime,” Clayton replied.
“Then can I walk into the office and publicly announce that I’m the lady of the company?” she raised an eyebrow.
Clayton fell silent. After a long pause, he said, “We agreed to keep the marriage private for now-until the timing is right.”
“Oh, I see,” she said, voice flat. “Because if we made it public now, everyone at the company would realize you’ve been cheating on your wife. Everyone knows Joyce is your first love, but no one knows we’re married.”
Clayton’s expression darkened. “Do you really have to make things this hard for me?”
“I’m not trying to make things hard. That’s exactly why I have no intention of going back to the company,” Aline said. “Besides, I already told Mitch at the stables-if he insists on repaying me, he can donate to build a Hope Elementary. So don’t expect me to help you get him to invest in Hill Group.”
Clayton was both embarrassed and furious. He didn’t speak to her for the rest of the night.
The next day, Aline visited Clarice’s company. They agreed she would officially start work after her parents’ burial in their hometown.
At lunchtime, Aline happened to scroll through Tanisha’s social media.
There was a photo: a man’s hands, one holding a bowl of cereal, the other gently scooping it with a spoon.
The caption read: [My brother made cereal for his future sister-in-law-smells amazing!]
As she stared at the bowl in the photo, Aline finally understood what Clayton had been so busy doing in the kitchen that morning.
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Chapter 25
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She remembered when she had gotten sick-running a fever, barely able to move. Clayton had just said he was too busy with work and told her to take care of herself.
Even when the fever started to break, he dragged her back to the office because the company needed her.
She had gone to work hooked up to an IV, and he didn’t even blink. Making cereal? He hadn’t even ordered her take- out-she had to do that herself.
But now, he was up early making cereal for Joyce.
The difference between love and indifference was crystal clear.
“What are you looking at?” Clarice leaned over curiously.
When she saw the photo, she froze for a second, then her eyes widened. “Wait-don’t tell me Clayton made cereal for Joyce? That’s outrageous. You two aren’t even divorced yet!”
“It doesn’t matter,” Aline said, putting away her phone and standing up.
“Where are you going? Don’t tell me you’re heading to the hospital to confront them?” Clarice asked, half-joking.
“I’m not that bored,” Aline replied. “I’m going to the funeral home to check arrangements for my parents.”
But as soon as she stepped out of the office building, a sleek black sedan pulled up in front of her.
A man in a black suit stepped out and approached politely. “Ms. Moore, I’m Mr. Fuentes’ secretary. He’d like to invite you to dinner to thank you for saving his life.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Aline said. “I already told him-if he really wants to thank me, he can donate a Hope Ele- mentary.”
