Chapter 3

Nancy went missing for several days and did not reappear until the day my mother's body was scheduled for cremation. Luis showed up with her at his side, not so much bringing her as escorting her.

She looked completely unwilling, nothing like before, as if she could not even be bothered to pretend to care about me anymore.

I had stepped away to the restroom when I happened to run into them, father and daughter, talking in a quiet corner.

"Dad, how much longer do I have to put up with this?" Nancy complained.

"What's the rush?" Luis shot back. "Did you forget how you used to beg me, skipping meals and everything, just so I'd help you marry Joshua?"

Nancy let out an icy laugh. "I did love him, once. But I loved the version of him who controlled everything and stood at the top. Not this man who spends all day circling the kitchen."

She gave him a dismissive glance. "Just look at him now. Does he even look like a man anymore? All he does is cook and eat. He's driving me insane."

"Even if you're going insane, you're going to endure it," Luis said sharply. "The contract isn't in your hands yet. If you let even a hint of this slip out, don't expect me to still recognize you as my daughter."

Luis left first.

I did not miss the bitterness written all over Nancy's face.

By the time I returned, Luis had already gone off to handle something. Nancy was left standing there alone, distracted while waiting for me.

I had no energy to focus on her.

I held my mother's urn in my arms, while Nancy silently opened an umbrella over us.

The weight in my hands felt like a thousand pounds, but the weight on my chest felt even heavier.

I broke down, crying uncontrollably.

This time, Nancy did not mock me like before. Instead, she suddenly reached out and wiped the tears from my face.

"Joshua, you still have me."

If I did not know the truth, I might have believed her right then.

After all, I had truly loved her once.

If I had not loved her, how could I have personally taught her how to run a company, how to read financial statements, and how to understand people?

I knew Luis had never been satisfied with her as his daughter and that he had plenty of other illegitimate children, which meant he had no real need for her, so I wanted Nancy to have the ability to protect herself.

I handed over the entire company to her, not because I wanted to slack off, but because I knew how badly she wanted to prove herself to Luis.

I planned everything for her.

However, I never imagined that the sharpest blade I forged for her would be the one she used to stab me in the back.

After finishing all of my mother's funeral arrangements, I turned and went straight to the company.

The receptionist was new and did not recognize me, so I introduced myself.

"I'm Mr. Lawson, Vice President here… and Nancy's husband."

She looked me up and down, suspicion written all over her face. She was just about to say something when someone called out to her.

"What are you doing? How could you stop Mr. Lawson like that?"

My former executive assistant stepped forward, shooting the receptionist a glare. I waved it off, not wanting to make a big deal out of it.

As I turned to leave, I heard her mutter under her breath, "I thought Mr. Shaw was the only VP here. Where did this Lawson guy come from?"

That was when it hit me.

Nancy had promoted Gilbert to Vice President.

My hand clenched into a fist as I headed toward Nancy's office. Just as I was about to walk in, her assistant stepped in front of me.

"Sir, Ms. Cooper is in a remote meeting right now. It's not a good time."

The assistant's eyes flickered nervously.

Faint laughter drifted out from behind the door. I heard a male and female voice.

Without another word, I shoved the assistant aside and kicked the door open.

Nancy sat behind her desk and looked up at me, her brows knitting slightly. "What are you doing here?" Her face was flushed, and her breathing was uneven. Just as I was about to step forward, she suddenly stopped me.

"I'm in a meeting. Go wait outside for a bit."

I glanced around the office. Nothing seemed out of place.

For a moment, I thought I might be overthinking things, so I turned and closed the door.

I had not come here for her, anyway.

Once I stepped outside, I pulled out my phone and made a call.

"I'm waiting for you on the thirteenth floor."