Chapter 1038
+25 BOAWUS
Laura arrived home, and though the drive had given her time to calm down, she was still shocked by everything she had said. She had researched Alice George before, but she never imagined she would actually use that information to intimidate her.
Without meaning to, she had proven that a part of her was like her mother. She didn’t want to admit it—she had noticed certain harsh tendencies in herself since childhood but she had always chosen to stay reserved to avoid trouble. Back then, she didn’t have anyone to back her up.
“Laura, Laura… what the hell have you done?” she muttered to herself.
“What kind of mess have you gotten yourself into, girl?” a voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Grandpa!” Laura spun around, startled. “How much did you hear?”
“Enough to know that you did something,” Magnus said, taking a sip of his drink.
“Hmm… Have you ever said or done something without even knowing why?” Laura asked, still trying to process everything.
“I suppose I have. I’m old, so my memory isn’t what it used to be, but I’m pretty sure I’ve got a long list of things like that. Why, sweetheart?”
“Well… Is Dad home?”
“No, he went out with Diana and Adele.”
“Oh, great! I was hoping to see my daughter, and she’s out running around.” Laura laughed softly.
“You know how she is–if it’s not Maximus, it’s Paul or Maurice taking her somewhere. Even Emma takes her out sometimes. That child is never in one place for long.”
“She’s very lucky…”
“She is. She has a big family that loves her. Just like you do.”
“Well… Now, maybe. Before? Not so much.”
“I know. Your father has told me about it, and trust me, it kills him.”
“Yeah… He’s made that clear to me a million times. I don’t hold it against him anymore.”
“Alright, enough changing the subject. Tell me, what did you do?”
Laura took a deep breath and began telling him everything the bullying she endured from Alice, Audrey, and the other girls at school. She told him about her past with Adrian and finally brought him up to speed on what had happened earlier that afternoon.
“Grandpa… What do you think? You probably think I’m crazy, don’t you?” she asked, guilt creeping into her voice.
“My dear… I was just thinking about how quickly you’re maturing. If I were in your shoes, I probably would’ve done something worse.”
“Really?”
“Of course! Does your father know everything that woman did to you?”
“No… I never talked to him about it.”
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Chapter 1038
+25 BONUS
“Well, if he did know, trust me, that family would already be wiped off the map. Economically speaking, of course. No one messes with an Evans and walks away unscathed.”
“And if that woman tries to take action against you, believe me, we’ll shut it down in the blink of an eye. Just trust your grandpa,” Magnus said, giving her a playful wink.
“Grandpa!” Laura gasped, surprised at how lightly he was taking the situation.
“What?” Magnus chuckled. “That woman needs to learn that every action has a reaction. You’re not alone, sweetheart. You have me, and don’t forget–you have an entire family backing you up.”
“Thank you, Grandpa,” Laura said, hugging him tightly.
“Now, can I tell you something a little more serious?”
“Of course… What is it?”
“That fire in you–it’s admirable. And I know you’d be a great asset to the company we’re building. So, I need you to finish your studies… because I think we’ve just found our future CEO.”
“What?!”
“Yes, I can already picture you running the company we’re about to launch.”
“No, Grandpa, that’s for Lucius, Adam, or Alden! I could never handle that kind of responsibility!” Laura said, looking overwhelmed.
“Why not? The Palmer family was run by men, and look how that turned out. It’s time for women to take the lead. We have you, we have Serenity, and, well… Peter’s daughters, but they’re still too young for that.”
“Grandpa!”
“What? Just calling it like I see it,” Magnus teased.
“Grandpa… I’m afraid you see too much potential in me, and then I won’t be able to handle it.”
“It wouldn’t be right away. But if the day ever comes when we need to choose a CEO, you would be my first choice.
11
Meanwhile, at the Brown estate…
A violent fight had erupted in the Brown–George household
“You’re an idiot! A complete animal! A nobody!” Alice screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice echoing through the mansion. “Your pathetic family should kiss the ground walk on! Because of me, your worthless family even has food on the table!”
Adrian just watched as his wife threw whatever she could get her hands on, smashing everything she had once bought.
He was exhausted. Completely exhausted.
Marrying this woman had been a mistake, and every day, he was pushed closer to his breaking point.
“And you can forget about seeing your daughter,” Alice sneered. “Because I will not allow it. That trash you left behind isn’t going to ruin my reputation! No one will dare say that you have a bastard child! No one!”
She thought she had him in the palm of her hand.
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Adrian had endured her outbursts and humiliations for over a year.
But tonight? Tonight, he had finally reached his limit.
It wasn’t until Alice threw a vase at him that reality hit.
The heavy ceramic object struck his forehead, cutting him open.
“Fuck! Shit!” Adrian winced, feeling the warm trickle of blood down his face.
Alice’s rage immediately turned into panic.
“Oh my God, baby! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to! Are you okay?!” she gasped, rushing toward him. “Alice, no. Don’t touch me,” Adrian groaned, pressing a hand to his forehead as his vision blurred.
+25 BONUS
“Baby, please, I didn’t mean it… I don’t know what happened,” she cried, trying to get him to look at her. “Goddamn it, Alice! Move! I can’t even breathe right now! This is over! Alice! I want a divorce!” Adrian shouted as he staggered toward the kitchen.
“WHAT?! No! Adrian, no! I didn’t mean it!” Alice shrieked, trying to block his path.
Adrian’s head throbbed. He felt dizzy from the impact. The staff, long accustomed to Alice’s outbursts, knew better than to intervene. No one was coming to help him.
“Get out of my way, Alice! I need to see how bad this is—” Adrian growled, his balance wavering.
“My love… my baby… I’m sorry… please…” Alice whimpered, clutching his free hand.
Adrian turned to her, and for the first time, he felt something different.
Hatred.
“Alice… for fuck’s sake! Let me go check my wound! I’ve put up with your shit for a year, but I’m done! Get the hell away from me!” Adrian barked, his patience finally snapping.
Alice froze.
Something in his eyes terrified her.
Adrian stumbled into the kitchen, where the housekeeper gasped in horror.
“Sir! Sir!” she shouted. “Help! Someone help!”
Before anyone could reach him, Adrian collapsed to the floor.
