Only the Begonia Remains the Same

Patrick’s voice echoed from the end of the hallway.

He strode over, yanking Sharon behind him in one swift motion, his gaze defensive as it swept over Margaret. “Margaret, Sharon’s already blaming herself. Why can’t you just forgive her?”

Margaret’s voice came out hoarse. “I never laid a hand on her.”

Patrick’s face darkened. “I saw it myself. End of discussion.” Turning back, he gripped Sharon’s shoulders. “Give her a taste of her own medicine. You’re going to be the CEO’s wife someday. Being this soft won’t do.”

Sharon shrank back. “That’s not right… I don’t dare…”

“Go on,” Patrick encouraged her. “I’ve got your back.”

Sharon crept timidly toward Margaret. Then, in a blind spot where Patrick couldn’t see, her eyes flashed with venom. She put her weight behind her wrist.

Still recovering from major injuries, Margaret lost her balance. Her lower back slammed against a fire hydrant, and she tumbled down the stairs.

Agony exploded from her spine. Before her vision blurred, she saw Sharon nestled in Patrick’s arms, flashing a triumphant smile.

But when Sharon looked up at Patrick again, her expression was on the verge of tears. “Patrick, I really didn’t push that hard.”

He pulled her close. “I believe you. You’re so delicate—you couldn’t possibly have that much strength.”

Standing on the steps, he looked down at Margaret with contempt. “It’s just a few stairs. When you’re done with your little act, get back on your own.” With that, he walked away without a backward glance.

Margaret, who had waited for him to save her, was once again the fool left behind.

…

Margaret woke to searing pain. Outside the window, deep night had fallen.

A figure sat by her bed, its outline blurred in the shadows.

“Patrick?”

The name slipped out instinctively, her voice a ragged whisper that didn’t sound like her own.

The figure stiffened.

Lights blazed on, forcing Margaret to squint.

It was still her assistant, Maria, keeping vigil. Her eyes were red-rimmed from crying.

Margaret’s foggy consciousness gradually cleared. She managed a weak smile. “Why the tears?”

Maria choked back a sob. “Margaret, please stop loving Mr. Patrick. He’s just a total scumbag!”

Margaret was taken aback.

The incident on the stairs had no other witnesses. Patrick would never own up to it. So Maria’s anger had to be about something else.

“What else did he do?”

“You had a bad fall, and your fever spiked to 104. I called to tell him, and he said… he said you should stop playing these games—that it only made him despise you more.”

Maria swallowed hard. “And… at the press conference just now, a reporter asked if the kidnapper had… violated you. He didn’t deny it.”

“Now everyone’s saying you’re… tainted. That it’s no wonder Mr. Patrick fired you and chose Sharon instead…”

Even with all the mental preparation, the words hit Margaret like hammer blows to the chest. She forced a deep breath, struggling to keep her composure.

“Contact a streaming platform for me. Tell them I want to go live, and I want them to push all the traffic my way.”

Maria’s eyes lit up. “Yes! I’ll do it right away!”

Margaret had navigated the business world for years. Her connections were just as good as Patrick’s—if not better. In fact, most of his current social circle had originally been introduced by her. Securing a slot on a streaming platform would be easy.

But soon, Maria was escorted back by several bodyguards.

Margaret’s face turned to ice. “What are you doing? Let her go!”