"Wendy, you don’t believe ?" Michael sounded weary. "What I told you before was all true, including what I’m going to tell you. They are all true.
"Back then, Christian had purposely targeted Collins Group to force Yonina into a corner.
"He wanted her to be left with no choice but to marry him.
"My mother’s mind was not very clear, but she still likes Yonina very much, and so Christian made use of that.
"That night at the party, Christian had it all planned.
"He got soone to lure my mother away and then let my mother slip a spiked drink.
"And Yonina was already waiting for in my room.
"Christian’s plan was for Yonina and to sleep together, and then he would blow the matter up.
"That I slept with my younger brother’s fiancée during their engagent party. He would beco the victim and have everybody’s sympathy.
"And I would have no choice but to marry Yonina.
"As for Yonina, she would beco one of Christian’s pawns.
"Christian had two goals - one was to force you to leave , the other was to defeat utterly.
"Everything between Yonina and is all a charade. We’re doing this to lower Christian’s guard.
"As long as we played along, we would be able to find a chance to defeat Christian."
"Haha," Wendy scoffed. "You’re quite a good storyteller."
"I’m not making this up, Wendy. What do I have to do so that you’ll believe ?" Michael sighed. "I didn’t tell you the truth before because I wanted you to leave Lake City.
"I know Christian well. He will do anything to get what he wants.
"If you got involved in this, you’ll be in danger.
"He had actually paid soone off to tamper with your car brakes.
"I don’t dare to put you and the children’s lives in danger.
"So, I thought Yonina and I should work together and let Christian think that his plan is going smoothly.
"Yonina is now my informant and supplies with lots of information from Christian.
"Right now, Christian and I are fighting the sa project, and he needs funds urgently.
"By giving you HG’s shares, he is most likely trying to win you over because he is afraid that you might not put your whole heart into designing for HG at this critical mont.
"More than half of HG’s profits now was earned through you.
"And Christian’s money cos from HG.
"Wendy, I know I shouldn’t have lied to you, but I really had no other choice.
"You can hate or not trust .
"I just hope that at this critical mont, you won’t help Christian to fight us. It is most likely that the gains HG gets from your creations are the best weapon Christian has against us."
"Mr. Lucas, let correct you. It isn’t us, only you," Wendy did not sound willing to back down. "I want to make things clear today. I am not standing on your side."
"You know that this was all part of Christian’s plan, and you still want to help him to fight ?" Michael found it quite difficult to believe her.
Michael would have nothing to say if Wendy had helped Christian unwittingly.
But now, even after telling Wendy everything, she was still so stubborn and wanted to continue working for HG?
"Yes," Wendy answered calmly. "I already own HG’s shares. I don’t care who is HG’s boss. He gave a third of the shares all at once, which is worth at least half a billion dollars. Why should I help my lying ex-husband?"
"Wendy, Christian isn’t really giving you the shares. He’s... "
"I’m sorry, Mr. Lucas," Wendy cut Michael off before he could finish. "It’s late, and I would like to rest."
After Wendy ended the call, she blocked his number.
Everything was Michael’s plan.
They were supposed to be husband and wife.
How could he deceive her "for her own good?"
He did not even tell her about him working together with Yonina.
Was she, Wendy Stewart, so untrustworthy?
In Wendy’s understanding, married couples were supposed to stick together for richer or poorer.
And not hide the truth from the wife, and try to solve a problem with an outsider.
Since he had deceived her then, now Wendy was going to let him have a taste of his own dicine.
At the sa ti, Zen was lying in bed typing a text ssage. She hesitated for a while before hitting the send button.
And then Christian received a short ssage. His eyes smiled as he read it.
...
Wendy had gotten HG’s shares, and Zen had gotten a job at HG.
Both of them went to work together every day.
On their way to and from work, they would talk about interesting things from the past now and then. On the surface, they seed to be closer than before.
Todd continued to pick Wendy up as he always did, except now there was Zen too. That reduced the chances for Todd and Wendy to talk.
Todd had always seen their daily commute as a chance to deepen their relationship.
Only during their commute were they able to have ti alone.
But now, there was one more person.
However, to Wendy, this arrangent helped save her from awkwardness.
So, to her, this was a good arrangent.
It was slightly past six o’clock when Wendy was wrapping up her work for the day, and she received a text ssage from Todd.
As expected, Todd asked her what ti she was finishing work and that he would co to pick her up.
Wendy replied that she was done.
Putting down her cell phone, Wendy called Zen’s office extension and said, "Pack up and let’s go."
Zen replied with an ok.
After a quick tidying of her things, Wendy carried her bag and went downstairs with Zen.
Lewis Design was not too far from HG, so Todd did not take too long to arrive.
Then the three of them went ho together.
"Is it convenient for to eat at your place?" asked Todd.
Wendy laughed and replied, "It’s not the first ti you have eaten at my house. Why are you so polite?"
Upon reaching ho, Wendy took out her key to unlock the door.
However, the mont she opened the door, she heard sothing that surprised her.
"Daddy, I missed you! You’re finally here to see ."
That was Leah’s voice.
And it was obvious who she was calling Daddy.
Wendy looked in the direction of the living room and saw Michael.
Zen looked from Wendy to Todd and then to Michael.
She anticipated that things were going to get bloody, so she slipped inside quietly and sat down on the sofa in the furthest corner.
"Why are you here?" Wendy walked in and threw her key onto the table. She was obviously not happy to see Michael.
Michael had been playing with Leah. When he saw Wendy’s expression, the smile on his face faded.
He was about to answer when Wendy yelled at Zess, who was in the kitchen, "Why didn’t you tell there is a stranger in the house?"
Zess stuck her head out of the kitchen. "Mr. Lucas asked not to tell you because you were coming ho soon," she replied, a little embarrassed.
"And you take orders from Mr. Lucas? Is he paying your wages?" Wendy asked while glaring icily at Michael.
Wendy was not finding fault with Zess.
She had said that for Michael to hear.
"I’m sorry for not doing my job properly," Zess imdiately lowered her head and apologized.
Wendy waved at her to go back to her work.
Zess glanced at the living room, a little worried, and then went back into the kitchen.
On the other hand, Jake was not as happy as Leah. He did not want to see Michael at all.
So, when Michael arrived, Jake had quickly returned to his room.
Michael set Leah down on the floor, bent over, and said to her gently, "Leah, be good. Go to your room and play by yourself for a while. I need to talk to Mummy. I’ll play with you after that, ok?"
Although Leah had no idea what was going on, she could sense that sothing was wrong.
She pouted and nodded her head reluctantly.
Michael took a deep breath as he watched Leah return to her room. Seeing Todd standing next to Wendy, Michael’s eyes looked a little disappointed.
It seed that during this ti, Wendy and Todd had grown closer.
They even ca ho together after work.
Michael was glad that he had co to Rheinsville City today.
There were so things that he had to say to Wendy in person.
It did not matter whether she believed it or not or what she chose in the end. Michael was willing to bear all the consequences.
Because it was all his fault.
"Wendy, could I have a word with you in private?" asked Michael, his voice pleading.
"No," Wendy answered without any hesitation.
"Wendy... "
"Mr. Lucas, if it is about work matters, please look for at my office during working hours. If it isn’t about work, then I’m sorry, I don’t wish to listen to anything you have to say."
Wendy’s outright rejection felt like a slap on Michael’s face.
Michael started to feel panicky. He took a few steps forward and pulled Wendy’s hand. "What I told you over the phone is the truth," he said. "I hope that you would carefully consider this matter and not make the wrong decision to spite ."
When Michael grabbed Wendy’s hand, her first instinct was to pull away with all her strength.
But because Michael was holding on so tightly, she could not free her hand.
Todd was standing right next to Wendy, watching Michael’s every single move closely.
When he saw what was happening, he rushed forward to push Michael away.
The next second, he had raised his fist and punched Michael hard.
Michael had not seen it coming and lost his balance and stumbled a step back.
Wendy did not expect Todd to punch Michael and covered her mouth in shock.
Todd stood in front of Wendy and pointed his finger at Michael, warning, "Mr. Lucas, please show so respect! Corrine is now my girlfriend. Please do not touch her. This is Rheinsville City, not your Lake City where you can do as you please!"
"What good are you to take advantage of others when they’re down?" Michael asked. "If you were a real gentleman, you wouldn’t have expressed your love for Wendy during the children’s birthday party."
That hit Todd in his painful spot.
He knew that he was not a real gentleman.
But if he had not forced Wendy, he did not know when he would have another chance.
"I am not a gentleman. But then, what are you?" Todd laughed sardonically at Michael. "On one hand, you refused to acknowledge your wife so that you could marry Collins Group’s vice-CEO. On the other hand, you co pestering Corrine in Rheinsville City. You can stop wasting your ti. Corrine will not help you, neither would she sell off her shares to give you a loan."
"Sell off her shares to give a loan?" Michael was puzzled by what Todd said.
Since when did he want Wendy to sell off her shares?
He only wished for Wendy to not return to HG.
"I haven’t really seen how shaless you can be," Todd continued to mock Michael. "You don’t dare to admit it?"
"I... "
"Didn’t you want to talk to in private?" Wendy cut in before Michael could say anything.
Wendy took a step forward, stood in front of Todd, and said, looking at Michael, "Co with ."
She turned around and walked into her study.
Michael followed her and closed the door behind him.
"What did Todd Lewis an by that?" Michael asked Wendy who was standing in front of him.
Wendy had made all that up on purpose in front of the others at dinner.
She had not expected Michael to turn up in Rheinsville City and have a run-in with Todd in her house.
"What else could he have ant?" Wendy did not want to explain. Instead, she said, "Of course, I told them that you got jealous of owning shares of HG and wanted to sell them off to lend you money. Oh, that’s right. I also said how much money I had earned for HG and you shalessly wanted to help you at MC. And was even willing to divorce Yonina Collins."
"You... " Michael could not believe his ears. He found it hard to believe that Wendy would say all that.
"Do you really hate that much?" So much that she would purposely malign him.
"Shouldn’t I hate you?" Wendy asked with a faint laugh.
That question made Michael speechless. He also wished the floor would swallow him up.
Yes, Wendy had every right to hate him.
Wendy’s eyes were filled with disappointnt. Michael saw that and finally realized how foolish his decision had been.
He had always known that Wendy was not the type who wanted only the good tis.
She had hoped to also go through all the bad tis together.
She had not wanted his way of so-called protecting her.
His fingers curled one at a ti into a fist.
And then, Michael suddenly gave himself a tight slap.
Wendy was slightly confused by that slap.
Michael bowed his head and said regretfully, "I’m sorry, Wendy, I ca today to try and convince you not to work so hard for HG.
"But now I finally realize my mistake. I shouldn’t have lied to you or kept the truth from you.
"I should have told you everything so that we could think of a solution together, face the problem together.
"I know it’s too selfish for to ask you to forgive now.
"I should take full responsibility for all my decisions.
"I will not try to persuade you again.
"Wendy, it doesn’t matter anymore if you really help Christian to fight . That is my just dessert.
"I’m sorry."
Michael took a deep bow.
Wendy was rather surprised that Michael would apologize for his mistakes so soon.
"Trying to gain sympathy?" Wendy had lost almost all confidence and trust in Michael.
No matter what he did or said, Wendy would always suspect an ulterior motive.
This was a very tragic situation.
Michael took a deep breath when he ca to the sa realization. He regretted his past actions even more.
"I... " Michael started and then stopped. Blinking his eyes, he said, "I will leave Rheinsville City imdiately. Pretend that I never ca. From now on, I will not interfere with any decision you make. Of course, I have no right to give you my opinion. But, I would like to spend a little more ti with Leah before leaving. She will be very sad if I left without a word. Is that ok?"
Michael waited with great expectation for Wendy’s reply. She saw his eagerness and nodded her head.
She had not agreed for Michael but for Leah’s sake.
Leah was finally able to see her father, but the atmosphere was so tense earlier.
So, she needed Michael to comfort Leah.
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