Three days left.


    Theo flew out to Toronto to pick up Ruby, even chartering a private jet just to keep things under wraps.


    He thought he’d covered his tracks. Turns out, he hadn’t.


    The second they stepped out of the airport, they got ambushed by a mob of reporters.


    “Mr. Newton, why fly overseas to pick up your ex–girlfriend instead of dealing with your wife’s assault at home? Are you nning a divorce to get back together with your ex?”


    “Mr. Newton, did you know Mr. Miller’s hand was broken–by Mr. Miller himself?”


    “Mr. Newton, if you’re still married, does this count as cheating all over again?”


    shes went off nonstop. Microphones shoved in their faces. The noise was overwhelming. <!--


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    Ruby yanked her hat down, trying to hide from the cameras.


    With some help from airport staff, they finally managed to get into their cars–separately.


    Theo climbed into the back seat, yanking at his tie, clearly annoyed. “How the hell did the press find out about my trip?”


    “I’ve got people looking into it, sir,” Aiden answered from the front, ncing back at Theo. “While you were gone, the Parsons family came looking for Miller. He’s lost the use of one hand–still in the hospital.”


    Aiden hesitated, then added, “And…”


    Theo shot him <b>a </b>look. “And what?”


    Aiden lowered his voice. “The media’s all over you for leaving at a time like this. The board’s old guard–they’ve all been asking for you these past few days<b>.</b><b>” </b>


    Crisis after crisis. No time to catch his breath.


    Rumors flew around thepany–lose your wife, lose your fortune.


    Ever since the scandal with Nina came out, Theo’s position at thepany had been shaky at best.


    Sure, most of the shares still belonged to the Newton family, and there wasn’t another heir waiting in the wings. But reputation was everything.


    “Take me to see Joseph,” Theo said.


    At the hospital, Theo checked the parking lot before getting out, making sure there were no reporters lurking.


    Inside, Nina was sprawled on the couch, eyes closed. She jumped up the second Theo walked in and


    rushed over to him.


    Theo sidestepped her smoothly and went straight to Joseph. “How are you? What did the doctors <b>say</b><b>?</b>”


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    “It’ll be three to five years before it heals, if ever. I’ll need physical therapy the whole time,” Joseph grumbled.


    Theo pressed his lips together. Honestly, it was karma. Joseph used to mock Patricia in public, calling her a cripple. Now look at him.


    *Just focus on getting better,” Theo <b>said</b>–distant, formal.


    Joseph’s face twisted at Theo’s cold response, but years of friendship–and the Newtons‘ status over the Millers–kept him quiet.. <fnc663> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find~Novel</fnc663>


    Then Joseph remembered the news he’d just seen.


    “Ruby’s back?”


    Theo’s brows drew together. He nodded.


    “Theo, I’m not letting Patricia off. I don’t care if she’s your wife or not,” Joseph said, voice cold. Kelly’s warning echoed in his mind. Maybe if Patricia was still married to Theo, he’d hold back. But now? The Newtons wouldn’t protect her. The Parsons family was in another city–too far to help if anything went down.


    “So what, you’re giving me a heads–up?” Theo stared at him. “Since when are you so something you want to test me on?”


    polite? Hear


    Joseph had never bothered with pleasantries before. Every time, no matter who was watching, he would humiliate Patricia without a second thought.


    “If you saw the headlines about Ruby, you must’ve seen how the media’s tearing me apart. You didn’t care about my reputation when you went after Patricia–why act so polite now?“