Early the next morning, Brian and Jessica boarded a flight back to Hartdale.

    b50 /b

    55 vouchers.

    They had originally nned to head straight home, but en route, Brian received a call from a board member at hispany. An important meeting hade up, and they were urgently requesting his attendance.

    Brian frowned, clearly reluctant. “I’m still on the road. Couldn’t you try my father?”

    “He’s overseas on business. There’s really no one else. Mr. Atkinson, we’re out of options. Please, just this once,” the board member said, his tone bordering on pleading.

    Brian nced at Jessica instinctively.

    She had overheard the conversation and, meeting his eyes, said calmly, “Go. It’s no big deal if we get home a bitter. Besides, I haven’t been by the Atkinson Group in a while.”

    Hearing Jessica’s voice over the line, the board member quickly added, “Thank you, Ms. Grant. Really.”

    With Jessica’s support, Brian didn’t argue

    further.

    “All right. I’ll be there in about an hour. But let’s be clear, just the one meeting. Don’t involve me in anything else.”

    Brian was still officially on leave and had no intention of being pulled back into the daily grind.

    “Understood. That’s more than enough,” the board member said, clearly relieved.

    With that, Brian hung up, turned the wheel, and headed toward the Atkinson Group building with Jessica.

    An hourter, the sleek, understated Cullinan came to a smooth stop outside thepany’s headquarters.

    Brian stepped out first, walked around the car, and opened the door for Jessica, offering his hand as she stepped out. Together, they made their way toward the entrance.

    Just outside the building, Grace sat perched on a small folding stool, her eyes scanning the area restlessly. Suddenly, she froze, spotting the couple approaching. She elbowed her husband sharply.

    “Ow! What the hell?” Peter yelped, tearing his gaze away from his phone.

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    “Peter, look. Doesn’t that look like Brian?” Grace whispered excitedly, gripping his arm.

    For weeks now, she and Peter had been staking out the Atkinson Group from dawn to dusk, hoping to catch sight of the man who, ording to their daughter Madeline, had been supporting her financially.

    Despite online chatter that Brian was off filming a reality show, they remained convinced it was a deliberate ruse, an attempt to avoid them.

    In response, they only increased their appearances, much to the frustration of the building’s front desk, which now had security escort them out on sight.

    They weren’t even allowed to sit inside, forcing them to bring their own stools and wait outside, rain or shine.

    Meanwhile, the man eager to buy Madeline was bing more insistent, pressuring not just them, but even Miguel, nearly causing his girlfriend to uncover the entire affair.

    Miguel, furious, had issued a stark warning. If their meddling led to a breakup, he’d never marry, and their family line would end with him.

    Unable to take the threat lightly, Grace and Peter had thrown themselves even harder into their daily stakeouts.

    Now, after more than two weeks, Grace finally spotted someone who looked like Brian, and her excitement was palpable.

    Peter stood abruptly. “Where?”

    “There. Come on!”

    The moment Peter caught a good look, he grabbed Grace’s hand, and the two hurried toward Brian.

    Brian, meanwhile, was helping Jessica up the steps. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed two figures approaching but thought little of it until someone suddenly grabbed his arm.

    “Hold it right there.”

    Peter’s tug did little to shake Brian, who held his ground. Jessica, startled by the suddenmotion, nearly lost her footing. Brian immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulder and steadied her as they reached the top step.

    “You okay, Jessib?/bb” /bhe asked quietly.

    Still shaken, Jessica had just opened her mouth to respond when Grace suddenly dropped to the ground in front of them, pping her thighs and crying out for all to hear.

    15:39 Wed, bSep /b10

    :

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    “Everyonee and have a look. This rich man used my daughter and didn’t pay a cent! Now he’s hiding her away! My poor baby girl. I miss you so much!” Grace’s voice rose to a piercing wail, drawing immediate attention from passersby.

    Jessica narrowed her eyesb, /bstudying the two of them more closely. After a moment, recognition settled in. These were Madeline’s parents.

    Brian noticed her frown, and his mood, already frayed, took a sharp turn for the worse. Without hesitation, he forcefully pulled his arm from Peter’s grip, reaching for his phone to call security.

    But Peter surged forward again, voice rising. “Don’t think you can brush us off. You used my daughter for months. You owe her. We’re not leaving withoutpensation. Three hundred thousand. Not a cent less.”

    “Exactly,” Grace added, stepping in beside him. “You think we’ll let you ruin our daughter and walk away? That won’t happen. Not today!”

    Brian let out a disbelievingugh. He shoved Peter back with a swift kick, then pointed at them both. “You’re out of your minds. I don’t even know who your daughter is.”

    “Save it. We know everything. My daughter, Madeline, was involved with you. Now she’s gone, and you’re pretending like you’ve never heard her name? You don’t get to walk away from this,” Grace snapped, dragging Peter upright.

    “Peter, are you hurt? Look what he did. Someone call the police! He’s attacking people in broad daylight!” Grace wailed, loud enough to turn heads on the street.

    Brian’s expression darkened. He exhaled slowly, jaw tight.

    “So, you’re Madeline’s parents,” he said coldly. “That exins a lot. I don’t know where you picked up these rumors, but let me make myself absolutely clear. I have no connection to your daughter. I’ve never been involved with her.

    “The only woman I’ve ever loved is my wife, Jessica. If you continue this nonsense, I’ll have the police deal with you.”

    Peter’s face twisted with anger. He turned toward Jessica and spat at her feet. “You expect us to believe that? She’s the other woman, isn’t she? You dumped my daughter for her.”

    Grace lunged forward, shrieking. “You home–wrecking witch! You stole my daughter’s man!”

    Brian was on the brink of losing his temper. He had always sworn never toy a hand on a woman, but Jessica had been the only exception.

    Brian moved before she could reach Jessica. In a single motion, he stepped in front of his

    …

    wife, grabbed Grace’s outstretched arm, and shoved her backward with force.

    “Enough. Get away from her!”

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    Grace stumbled, crying out, then fell into a fresh fit of screaming. “You’re disgusting! Shielding your mistress in public? What kind of man are you?”

    Brian’s expression had turned stone cold.

    Just as he began to move again, the security team finally arrived, swiftly restraining both intruders.

    Brian didn’t hesitate. He pulled out his phone and dialed the police.

    “Let go of us!” Grace and Peter struggled in the guards‘ grasp, still ring at Brian and Jessica as if the weight of the world rested on their fury.

    The head of security approached. “Mr. Atkinson, how would you like us to proceed?”

    His face was expressionless, eyes sharp and cold as they swept over Grace and Peter, who were still cursing loudly. Without hesitation, he said, “The police will be here shortly. Let them handle it. Make sure they deal with it seriously.”

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    15:39 Wedb, /bSep 10