"With your capabilities, V&S Group won''tst the week. It''s like sending a monkey to rule a kingdom just because they ran out of real soldiers. Pathetic..."


    Violet clicked down the hallway in her stilettos, head held high, not bothering to hide her disdain as she left.


    "Wait, wait-Ms. Marchand... don''t go...!"


    VP Weaver''s voice cut through the tension, stopping Violet in her tracks. She nced over her shoulder, a hint of malicious delight flickering in her eyes.


    "What, is there something else? Want to beg me to stay? Forget it. You made your choice when you sided with that woman. Whatever happens to thispany from now on-it''s none of my concern."


    Weaver scratched his nose awkwardly. "No, uh, it''s just... you haven''t handed in your office keys yet."


    Violet''s face flushed with rage. She yanked the keys from her purse and mmed them down on the table, not saying another word.


    Ailie, standing nearby, picked up her phone and dialed.


    "Can you send a few cleaners up to clear out the corner office? I''m worried someone''s left a mess behind-don''t want any germs hanging around."


    The whole room struggled to keep straight faces as Violet stormed out, not even ncing back.


    Ailie had Violet''s old chair switched out immediately, and Yasmine found her a new one.


    Ailie took her seat. "Alright, everyone-let''s start with introductions..."


    ***


    Downstairs, Violet paused just outside the building''s ss doors. She turned to look up: the V&S Group tower loomed behind her, just as imposing as the day she first arrived. But this time, she left alone-no one came to see her off, no one called after her to stay.


    She pulled out her phone and dialed. "Mom..."


    Her voice trembled, tears brimming in her eyes.


    Yulia''s voice was sharp with anger. "Let it go. So what if you lost thepany Come back to Golden Era Enterprises. With your talent, you can help your father-no need fo waste it on building someone else''s empire."


    For the first time that morning, Violet felt a flicker offort. She clenched her jaw


    so hard her teeth ached.


    McNeil hadn''t answered her calls in days, but she was done waiting.


    "McNeil, if you don''te back right now, I''ll cut off Randy Langford''s blood supply. This is your choice."


    He''d always catered to her needs,


    alwayse running-except now he''d left her for Victoria. All these years, she''d been the


    e donation et


    blood for Randy, McNeil''s


    cousin—thest survivor after that


    terrible ident.


    A reply came quickly.


    "Do as you wish. Randy has three months left, Violet. I''ve already arranged for someone else to help her, and if that doesn''t work, the doctors can fit her with an artificial heart until a suitable donor appears.


    I owe you a life, and Randy owes you too. No matter what, I won''t let you die, I''ll


    save you. But I''m noting back to Starfall City. Take care of yourself."


    Violet stared at the message. She recognized every word, but together, they made no sense.


    An artificial heart? Did that mean Randy didn''t need her anymore?


    "No, McNeil, listen to me. Juste back, please. Everyone in Starfall City knows we''re married. You''re my husband-you running off to Victoria, do you think I don''t know?"


    She couldn''t understand. She wouldn''t allow it.


    She called him again. Still no answer.


    "McNeil, why are you doing this? Why? We were so close, you gave me everything I wanted, and now you''re ignoring me. Why? I''m your wife..."


    She sobbed into the phone, but no one was listening. McNeil never picked up. She was on the edge of breaking down.


    Finally, twenty minutester, a new message appeared.


    "I owe you my life, not my love. Our wedding was just a formality... there won''t be anything more."