Two days had passed since Ashley practically assumed office as the CEO of Flynn Enterprise. Everything had been going smoothly except for Lorenzo Grey, who persistently kept sending gifts that she'd refused to touch.
Arriving home after work today, Ashley couldn't help the feeling that something was off. Michelle was not in her usual spot in the living room waiting to welcome her back with a warm hug. Nor was her husband around, indulging Michelle with his usual affectionate gestures. Even the usually bustling maids were nowhere to be seen. Ashley's heart raced for an unknown reason.
A strange stillness hung in the air, making her steps feel heavier as she approached the staircase. She paused when she saw Madison and two unfamiliar maids speaking in hushed tones. They fell silent the moment they noticed her presence.
Ashley frowned and called Madison, who hurried to her side, while the other maids bowed slightly and scampered away, like children caught whispering secrets they shouldn't.
"Good evening, Miss Ashley," Madison greeted, her voice slightly shaky, afraid the new heiress might scold her for gossiping.
"Good evening, Madison," Ashley replied calmly. "You should stop trembling. I'm not here to ask what you were discussing with the others. I just want to know if my grandparents are home."
Madison modded sheepishly, grateful the heiress was different from Michelle, who resented gossip, especially during working hours. "Yes, Miss. They retired early today because..." She paused, biting her lower lip.
Ashley's frown deepened. "Because what, Madison?"
"The old master is... sick."
"Oh." Ashley was taken aback, thinking mikael had been fine when she last saw him the previous night.
Madison gave a quick nod.
"You said they're in their suite, right?"
"Yes," Madison replied grimly.
Ashley thanked her and headed for her grandparents' suite, following the maid's direction. She had never seen the other parts of the house since she usually moved between her room and the living room. Diverting to the right staircase today, instead of the left which led to her own room, felt strange, but she pressed on, ignoring her pounding heart. She couldn't help but wonder if Mikael's illness was as serious as it sounded, or if the mansion's eerie quiet was due to something else entirely.
Meanwhile, in the couple's suite, Michelle sat beside the bed, wiping the sweat from Mikael's face. She had been at it for hours now, trying to bring his temperature down.
"Honey, why did you keep this from me? Have you forgotten we said no secrets in this marriage?" She asked Mikael for what felt like the thousandth time, dabbing his forehead with a cold towel. Her trembling voice betrayed her fear. She regretted not confronting her dear husband since she began suspecting his illness.
Mikael remained silent, just as he had been since Dr. Nolan left. Watching his beautiful wife on the brink of tears pained him more than the doctor's diagnosis itself. They had always been honest with each other, but this time, the truth felt like a burden he had to carry alone. He hadn't wanted to hurt Michelle when he first began noticing the symptoms. And he had thought the pills would help, considering he started administering them early. But instead, he only grew weaker.
His trembling hand reached out to his wife, his eyes pleading for her to forgive him. "I watched you cry non-stop, life slowly draining from you when Jason became unresponsive to treatment, Michelle." Mikael began, calling his wife's name in a tone reserved for moments of utmost seriousness. "I couldn't bear to see that look on your face again."
Michelle's hands, now gripping her husband's, trembled as tears she had been holding back freely rolled down her cheeks. Just then, the doorbell rang, signaling someone was there to see them. Having instructed the maids to not disturb except when called upon, Michelle wondered who it might be.
Straightening the invisible crease on the duvet covering her husband, she kissed him on the cheek, and dried her tears before going to answer the door. She was surprised to find Ashley standing there, in her work clothes.
"Good evening... Grandma," Ashley greeted, surprising Michelle with the title she'd practiced all the way. She couldn't help but notice the old lady's red-rimmed eyes, signaling that she had been crying. Ashley's worry deepened. Michelle would've been too ecstatic to hear Ashley finally call her grandma but the state of her husband didn't allow her much happiness.
"Please, come inside, darling. I didn't realize time had passed so quickly." She stepped aside to allow Ashley passage. The younger woman's eyes immediately took in the breathtaking decor of the suite, which looked like a mini five-star hotel of its own.
"I was informed that my grandpa is sick," Ashley began cautiously, choosing her words carefully. "What's wrong with him?"
********
"Excuse me," Raphael said, rising from his seat and walking a short distance away from the dining room to answer his phone.
Damien's gaze followed his father, his ears straining in a vain attempt to eavesdrop. Meanwhile, Marcus and their mother, Evelyn, remained focused on the array of delicacies before them, eating as if it were their last meal on earth.
"You better say what I want to hear, or I stop paying for your mother's treatment," Raphael said the moment the call connected.
There was a brief silence before the caller spoke. "Your brother's getting weaker, sir. But I'm... I'm afraid."
Raphael's brows furrowed. "Afraid of what exactly?"
"I... I have to stop giving him the substance, or he might die."
"I see you're forgetting your options again, sweetheart," Raphael hissed, his voice turning colder, making the caller's heart pound even faster. "My brother's life, your mother's... or prison. The choice is yours."
"I can't do this anymore, sir, please..."
"Would you rather confess to killing my nephew? Think carefully." Raphael cut off the caller's plea before ending the call.
Returning to the table, he resumed eating, though his expression had darkened.
"What's the problem, honey?" Evelyn asked, prompting Damien to turn his attention to his father.
"I just received news that my brother's sick," he replied distressfully, shoving a slice of turkey into his mouth.
Damien's brows tightened with worry as he asked, "Did they say what kind of sickness? I hope it's not very serious."
Raphael shook his head. "No, they didn't. I guess I'll have to pay Mikael a visit to find out for myself. But in the meantime, we should be more concerned about the management of the company."
That caught Marcus's attention more than his uncle's sickness, and he waited for his father to continue.
Damien, confused by his father's last statement, asked, "Why should we be concerned about Uncle's company, Dad? Didn't he just hand it over to the new CEO?"
Evelyn and Marcus glared at Damien. "Are you more comfortable seeing a stranger occupy the position that should go to either you or Marcus?" Evelyn asked sharply.
"Dad owns a large percentage of shares in the company, and he's Mikael's brother," Marcus spat. "That makes him more eligible for the position than that strange gold digger."
Damien couldn't believe what he was hearing. "I don't see why we're even having this conversation," he countered. "The company belongs to Mikael, and he has every right to decide who runs it in his absence."
"Enough, all of you," Raphael said, silencing the room. His gaze pinned Damien, who, instead of backing down, met his father's intensity. "Don't be a fool, Damien. I didn't raise you to be a weakling." He said through gritted teeth.
Draining the last of his wine, Raphael rose and left the table, leaving his family to continue their dinner. Evelyn smirked in approval as Marcus followed their father. Damien, however, shoved back his chair and stormed off in the opposite direction, heading to his room.