Chapter 2

As Creed Group continued to gain prominence in the industry, Stuart had long forgotten that it was Grandpa's exclusive pharmaceutical patent that helped him claw his way to the top among the big corporations.

The man who had once obediently followed Grandpa around doing experiments and brought me candy was gone. All that was left was the powerful CEO of Creed Group.

Looking at Grandpa lying in the ICU and covered in tubes, I hated Stuart to the core. How could he so shamelessly protect the person who hit his mentor?

I would never let Madison get away with this! They would have to pay the price.

The legal team told me that Grandpa had prepared the patent transfer documents for me even before my marriage. Therefore, it was essentially my personal premarital property.

Grandpa had made this arrangement in anticipation of such a situation.

So, even though I had married Stuart, he wouldn't get Grandpa's patent.

By the time I got back to the villa, it was already 3:00 pm. I had gone back to pick up some documents. But lo and behold, Madison and Stuart were sitting together on the living room couch.

Madison was holding the guardian angel figurine that Grandpa had gone out of his way to get for me.

I lost my temper right away. "Who said you could touch my stuff? Put that down and get out of my house!"

Startled, Madison quickly hid behind Stuart. She looked like she was about to cry.

She mumbled pitifully, "Veronica, rumors are already spreading at the university that you're blaming me for the car accident. I can't stay there anymore."

As she spoke, she got up to leave. "I shouldn't have come. I'll just head back to the university."

Stuart grabbed her arm and pushed her back down onto the couch. Then, they sat even closer than before I came in.

"Veronica, I've already given you a way out. Withdraw the case today! Otherwise, there's no place in the Creed family for a woman as unreasonable as you!" he spat.

The way Stuart twisted the truth made me feel so nauseated that I could vomit.

I didn't want to argue anymore, so I stormed upstairs and gathered the important evidence to keep them safe.

"Listen here, Stuart. I'm the one leaving you!" I exclaimed.

Upon hearing that, he let go of Madison and hurried forward to grab my wrist. "What do you mean by that?"

I gave him a mocking smile. "I don't do hand-me-downs."

"Say that again!" Stuart's eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was terrifyingly cold.

Madison flinched, and the guardian angel figurine fell from her hand and shattered into pieces upon hitting the floor.

I was absolutely enraged at the sight of this. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

Tears welled up in Madison's eyes as she waved her hands frantically. "Stuart, I was startled by Veronica. I'll apologize."

But Stuart shielded her behind him without hesitation. "It's just a cheap ceramic doll. You don't need to apologize."

He knew full well that Grandpa had spent a whole month praying at a church to get me that figurine. Yet, he made it sound like it was just some cheap souvenir.

I straightened my back and took several deep breaths. "Isn't it best that I leave? That way, I can make room for you two. Soon enough, the title of Mrs. Creed will be up for grabs. Whoever wants it can have it."

Stuart caught the sarcasm in my voice. Overcome with fury, he slapped me hard enough to knock me to the ground.

He bellowed indignantly, "What nonsense are you spouting? Maddy is a student I sponsored. I've always treated her like a younger sister. How can you insinuate such a filthy scenario?"

I held my face. The fury that had just risen within me vanished completely. It was replaced by utter numbness.

After all these years, this was the first time he'd ever hit me—and it was for Madison.

With a few large strides, Stuart made his way to the front door and threw my suitcase out.

He warned, "Veronica, don't think you can manipulate me. I don't care where you go. I'll say this one last time. You have half a day left to withdraw the case!"

The door slammed shut in my face. I stared at it for a moment before silently picking up my suitcase. I then took a cab to the law firm to collect the patent transfer documents.

As I looked at the thick stack of papers, I couldn't help but tear up.

These were the results of Grandpa's life's work.

Just then, the lawyer assisting me handed over a contract. "Ms. Yancey, Trevino Group is offering one billion dollars for a five-year exclusive right to the patent. They'd like to know if you're open to negotiations."