Chapter <b>222 </b>
-HUNTER’S POV-
55 vouchers
The new staff stood in a line like recruits waiting for inspection. Their eyes shifted nervously, some gripping their folders so tightly their knuckles whitened.
I sat across from them in my study, sleeves rolled up, jaw clenched. One week, three days. That’s how long it had been since the hospital call that gutted me. Five days of bncing boardrooms and hospital rooms, revenge and regret.
And now…..this. A house that needed order.
I leaned forward, steepling my fingers. “Let’s get one thing clear,” I said, voice low but harsh.
“This house doesn’t run on gossip. It doesn’t run on secrets. It runs on discipline. You follow the rules. You give respect where it’s due. Thedy of the house……” I paused, letting their gazes follow the weight of those words.
“….is away recovering, but she’ll be back soon. When she does, she is your boss. If I hear otherwise, if I hear even a whisper of disrespect toward her, I won’t fire you.” My mouth curled.
“I’ll erase you. Understand?” Heads bobbed, nervous yes–sirs echoing around the room.
Good.
I waved Sally forward. “Assign their duties. Make sure they learn the house inside out.”
She nodded, taking over. I stood, buttoning my jacket, my chest already tightening at the thought of the hospital. Caesar and Celine.
That’s all that mattered now.
I slid into the car and started down the drive, only to curse under my breath as a ck sedan swerved to block the gates. The guard detail shifted immediately, but I already knew who it was when the door cracked open.
Edward ckwood,
The man looked like hell. His once–pressed suit was wrinkled, tie askew, the arrogance drained from him and reced with desperation. His eyes darted, wild. He stumbled forward, only to be caught by my security.
“Reid!” His voice cracked. “We need to talk!”
I pushed the door open, stepping out slow, deliberate. The spring air was cool, but inside me, fire burned steady. This was the man whose daughter had wed her way into my life, whose greed and games had cost me my child.
Edward strained against the guards. “You’ve destroyed my family….my business……everything!” <fn55a4> Th?s chapter is updated by find·novel</fn55a4>
I smirked coldly, tilting my head. “No, Edward. Your daughter did that. I only…finished the job.”
<b>10:06 </b>Fri, <b>Sep </b><b>19 </b>
<b>87 </b>
His <b>face </b>twisted, rage bleeding into despair. “She made mistakes….she didn’t mean…..”
55 vouchers
“Save your excuses.” My voice cut like a de. “You raised her. You taught her entitlement, maniption, obsession. You should’ve known the fire you were feeding. And now you want me to pity you?”
Edward sagged against the men holding him, his shoulders shaking. He looked less like the powerful ckwood patriarch and more like a broken drunk on the street.
I stepped closer, lowering my voice so only he could hear.
“You thought the ckwood name was untouchable. It’s not. I’ll make sure your family’s legacy is ash. You want someone to me?” I leaned in, eyes locking on his.
“me your daughter.”
I straightened, flicking my hand. “Get him out of here. If he resists, call the cops. Or deal with him quietly. I don’t care which.”
The guards dragged him back, his curses echoing down the drive as the gate swallowed him. I slipped back behind the wheel, pulse steady, face nk. But inside…inside, there was no satisfaction.
Breaking another man didn’t bring my daughter back.
<b>**** </b>
By the time I pulled into the hospital, exhaustion was dragging at my bones. I smoothed my jacket, grabbed the flowers from the seat beside me, and stepped into the lobby. The familiar antiseptic scent wed at my throat.
I hated hospitals. Always had. And then, as if the universe wanted to mock me further, I saw her.
“Hunter,” my mother’s voice floated across the lobby like poisoned silk.
I stopped dead, muttering a curse. Of all days.
She stood near the reception, diamonds glittering at her throat, hair pulled into her signature chignon. To anyone else, she looked the perfect society matriarch…poised, untouchable. But to me, she was poison wrapped in silk.
“What are you doing here?” My tone was sharp, tired.
Her lips curved in a practiced smile. “I came to see my daughter–inw. Surely you can’t begrudge a mother
that.”
I barked augh, humorless. “Daughter–inw? The one you refuse to acknowledge? Don’t insult me, Mother. If you’ve finally lost your mind, I’ll be happy to reserve you a room in the madhouse. There’s always space for
one more Reid.”
Her smile faltered, just a twitch, but she masked it quickly. “Must you always be <b>so </b>cruel? I’m only concerned. The poor girl……..
<b>10:06 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>19 </b>
…
<b>87 </b>
55 vouchers
“Stop.” I turned to face her fully, eyes sharp. “Don’t you dare pretend concern for her. Celine is lying in that bed because you forced Mia into our lives. You handed her the matches and then <b>act </b>surprised when the house burned.”
Her eyes narrowed, her hand tightening around her clutch. “Hunter…..”
“No.” My voice rose, sharp enough to draw nces from a nurse behind the desk. I didn’t care.
“If you had a shred of conscience, a shred of decency as a mother, you’d turn around and leave. Whatever drama you came here to stir–take it elsewhere. Because if you bring it near her, near my family, <b>I </b>swear you’ll regret it.”
For once, Eleanor Reid had no words.
She stared at me, lips parting, eyes glittering with unspoken rage. I turned away, not sparing her another nce, and stalked toward the elevator.
**
The ride up was silent, but my chest still burned. I gripped the flowers so tightly the stems snapped, water dripping onto my hand. I didn’t even notice until the elevator doors slid open.
The corridor smelled faintly ofvender cleaner, a poor attempt to cover the sterility. I walked toward her room, heart thudding faster with each step.
The door cracked open just as I reached it.
ncey stepped out.
For a heartbeat, we just stared. He looked at me, then at the flowers in my hand, his expression unreadable. I braced myself for bad news, for words I wasn’t sure I could survive.
But instead, he offered a small smile. “She’s resting. You can go in.”
The tightness in my chest eased, just a bit. I nodded, grip loosening on the ruined flowers.
“Thank you,” I murmured, and stepped past him into the room where the woman I loved….and almost lost….waited.
AD
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