No More Living in Her Shadow

Vivian spoke animatedly about what a perfect match Henry and Lynette were.

“When our families join forces, there won’t be any place left for you.

“By this time next year, I should have a grandchild.

“You can just stay home and change my grandson’s diapers or something.

“I can still offer you a meal or two.”

Henry and I were supposed to have a child together.

If the baby had been born, he would be three years old now.

The year Henry’s father passed away, Vivian could do nothing but cry. I had to oversee the funeral while helping Henry deal with the relatives with ulterior motives.

The stress caused me to miscarry.

We could not let anyone see our weaknesses, so we hid in the hospital room. Our eyes were red.

Henry held me in his arms tightly, as though I were his last connection to the world.

He wept as though his heart was breaking.

“Lynn, I’m so tired…

“Lynn, you’re all I have left…”

Was it me he really wanted to hold back then? Did he have someone else in mind?

Enduring Vivian's relentless onslaught, I fought to contain the sharp pain tightening in my chest.

I looked up and took a deep breath.

“How about this? You should let Henry fire me.

“After that, you can break the law as much as you want.”

The Monroe family’s fortune had dwindled over the past couple of years, which was why they were willing to ‘lower themselves’.

However, if Shaw Corporation took on this burden, the road ahead would undoubtedly become much more difficult.

Setting emotions aside, I had no formal education. Everything I knew about business management was self-taught. I had been involved with Shaw Corporation since I was seventeen and had endured years of scorn. My blood, sweat, and tears were woven into the company’s success.

While driving, I called Henry to discuss the pros and cons of leaving.

However, ever since Lynette returned to the country, Henry seemed to have reverted to a foolish teenager.

He scoffed.

“Are you saying that Lynette will drag me down but you won’t?

“Lynn, I’ve spoiled you and raised your expectations after all these years.

“If you think we’re a burden, go find someone better.

“But before that, you owe Lynette an apology.”

My throat suddenly spasmed, and I hung up the phone before erupting into violent coughs. The sickly taste of blood clogged my throat, cutting off my breath. Flecks of my blood stained the steering wheel with each cough.

I slammed on the brakes. The seat belt dug painfully into my ribs.

The sun dipped below the horizon.

I leaned back in the seat. Dark red spots were clouding my vision, like fireworks announcing the countdown to my death.

After a moment, I pulled out a tissue and slowly wiped away the blood bit by bit.

I turned the car around and headed for the hospital.

My forehead was bruised, my arm was inflamed, and my lungs felt shattered.

When I went to register, I did not even know which department to choose.

I realized I could not even swipe my card to cover the registration fee.

I did not draw a salary from the company. My everyday expenses came from Henry’s supplementary card, which had clearly been deactivated.

The people in line behind me grew impatient, urging me to hurry.

Luckily, someone extended their phone to help me cover the fee.

I turned around and was surprised to see that it was Leon.

Usually, we only met on the battlefield of negotiations.

We each had our own hidden agendas, with polite greetings and insincere motives.

Today, having gotten into two awkward situations with him, I picked up the registration slip and thanked him.

However, it felt too curt, so I tried to make small talk.

“Mr. Leon, are you here to visit someone?”

Leon quickly folded the medical record he was holding.

I still caught a glimpse of his name on it.

Elan Corporation had several decked-out hospitals. Why was he here for treatment?

Leon did not follow my lead.

“The Shaw family is teaming up with the Monroe family, so our cooperation seems to be indefinitely postponed.”

He seemed to have the inside scoop.

“Miss May, are you really not considering my proposal?”

Leon had made several attempts to recruit me for Elan Corporation.

Back then, Henry had called him an illegitimate child and accused him of underhanded tactics.

My phone buzzed. It was Henry.

However, when I answered the call, it was Lynette.

“Lynn, Henry’s had too much to drink. He wants you to come pick him up.

“We’re at…”

It was a place I did not know.

Since Lynette returned, the two of them often hung out to reminisce about their childhood.

They would come up with various excuses to make me pick them up, forcing me to endure their public displays of affection as childhood sweethearts.

I was just an intruder who came along later.

Leon seemed to be waiting for my response. I held up the registration slip and said, “Thank you.”

Then, I hurried off.

The road grew increasingly isolated as I drove until all that lay ahead was an old, abandoned warehouse.

Feeling uneasy, I turned around to leave, but my way back was already blocked by two vans.

Four or five men got out of the vehicles.