Chapter 3

Jack chimed in. "That's right. How many drinking parties have you attended over the years? I saw you having a great time back then —so much even when we told you not to go, you insisted on going."

Over the years, one of them had to maintain the image of a refined female CEO, while the other had to maintain the airs of a chairman.

This kind of lowering one's pride to curry favor was naturally something I would handle.

Six days left, I silently counted in my heart.

Then I took the wine glass Saoirse almost thrust into my mouth and turned to Oliver.

His face couldn't hide the smugness.

I raised my glass and spoke word by word. "I wish you the best of luck."

That night, a sharp pain in my stomach dragged me out of a nightmare.

The cold sweat soaked through my pajamas as I curled up in bed, every breath laced with pain.

I fumbled around the bedside table, searching for painkillers, but found nothing.

Only then did I remember that Helena Martinez had taken away all the medicines we usually kept at home, saying Oliver couldn't stand the smell of medicine.

The huge villa was completely empty.

They were probably all staying in Oliver's room, offering their concern and care.

I struggled to get up and went to the hospital by myself.

In the emergency room, the doctor looked at my medical record, his brows furrowed deeply. "How did it get like this again? Didn't I tell you to take good care of yourself?"

She stared at me and said with a tone full of reproach, "Didn't Ms. Lorenger take care of you? She came last time and made me promise to make sure you recover properly."

I felt a bit dazed.

My first stomach upset also happened here?

That time, Saoirse helped me rush into the emergency room, her eyes red with anxiety. She gripped the doctor's hand, repeatedly asking what to do.

Soon after I was discharged, she put away all my work documents and personally cooked porridge for me.

She would come to the hospital every few days to discuss my diet with the doctor.

She did love me and care about me back then.

However, over time, her love and care already gone.

Perhaps I was too busy, too busy to attend to everyone's feelings.

I still remembered the last time Saoirse and I argued.

I stayed up for three days and three nights working on a project. And I missed the trip I promised her.

She flew into a rage at me for the first time.

She accused me of being a cold-blooded monster who only knew how to work and failed to fulfill my responsibilities as a husband at all.

I was somewhat bewildered at the time.

I was just learning from my mother, trying to make their lives better — what was wrong with that?

Running two companies was incredibly busy and exhausting. I had no time to think about anything.

By the time I came to my senses, everything had become what it was today.

My phone vibrated, pulling me back from my memories.

A message from Saoirse. [Dad and I took Oliver out for a vacation to relax. Transfer eight hundred fifty thousand dollars from the company account.]

I replied with [Okay.] as I always did.

Then I sent a message to the finance department and granted them unlimited spending permission. It wouldn't be my company anymore, so I didn't have to worry about the cash flow anymore.

The doctor, Renata Bailey, was still nagging beside me. “You have to follow the doctor's advice and stop being so careless about your health."

I nodded firmly. "Okay, doctor. It won't happen again."

From now on, I would only live for myself.

I stayed in the hospital for a few days and Saoirse didn't even make a single call to me.

Only the Chief Financial Officer, Killian West, cautiously made a call.

"Mr. Lorenger, Ms. Lorenger ... her expenses at the overseas resort have already exceeded one million four hundred thousand dollars. If this continues, the company's cash flow will run dry."

I leaned against the bedhead, gazing at the gray sky outside the window.

"Let them be."

Killian was anxious on the other end. "But, Sir, the first payment for the project in south area is about to be settled. If we use that money now, we'll breach the contract!"