Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Forsaken Wife's Empire: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

(Patricia’s POV) A soft knock came at the door. I didn’t need to look to know who it was. James opened the door with a polite smile and a folder in his hand. I set the book I’d been reading down on the table and looked up, smiling back. It had been about a week since the party. I had asked James to send our contract to the Bedfords, and today was the day they came to finalize and sign the agreement. The meeting was being held in the main hall on the last floor, right beside the parking lot. But I had no intention of showing myself yet. Instead, I told James to handle the meeting while I stayed back here, close enough to the hall to catch a glimpse of their proud, satisfied faces... faces that had no idea how close they were to being crushed. “How did it go, James?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. My chest fluttered with quiet excitement. “Just as you predicted, Ma’am,” he replied, placing the folder in front of me. “The contract is signed. You now own twenty percent of

(Raymond’s POV)I left here yesterday, telling myself I’d never come back... with or without an appointment. I even decided I’d start sending a representative instead. But then James called, saying the President wanted to see me. In person.“Good day, sir,” the receptionist at the lobby greeted as I walked in.I gave a small nod. “I’m here to see the President. I have a meeting with her.”“Okay, sir.” She picked up the telephone. “Please give me a minute to confirm with the Assistant.”I sighed and let my eyes roam the lobby. Every worker looked sharp, focused, even zealous, exactly how I remembered. It didn’t seem like leadership had changed at all. Whoever this new President was, she was clearly following Mr. Smith’s footsteps.“Please go ahead, sir. They’re waiting for you on the President’s floor,” the receptionist said, snapping me out of my thoughts.I nodded and moved toward the elevator. Three people stood nearby, one of them holding a file. I could tell they were staff by the

(Patricia’s POV)“Congratulations once again, Mr. and Mrs. Salvador,” the magistrate said, her tone warm and sincere.I returned the brightest smile I could manage and held tightly onto Raymond’s arm. We both thanked her, and then he led me out of the courtroom. The moment we stepped into the parking lot, I gently pulled my hand away.He turned, staring at me like my action had hurt him. But I had no plans of clinging to him where it wasn’t needed. Holding his arm inside the courtroom was only to sell the act... that we were in love.“I really appreciate that you agreed to do this,” I said as we approached my car. “I’ll definitely fulfill my part of the agreement.”He sighed. “Patricia…”“Forward all the deals you want to James,” I cut in firmly. “We’ll secure them, just as promised.”He didn’t answer immediately. He just stared at me, his eyes strangely soft.“You don’t have to help me with anything, Patricia,” he said calmly.I frowned. He didn’t need anything? Really? Then why had

(Mason’s POV)“Don’t worry, Dad. I have everything under control,” I said softly over the phone as I walked down the stairs.He let out a sigh of relief. He had been worried about our recent partnership with the Smiths. It was our first deal, and he didn’t want me to mess anything up.“I trust you, Mason,” he said. “So, how is the migraine? I hope you’re getting better now.”“Yes, Dad. I’m good now. I’ll be in the office tomorrow.”I was supposed to have a meeting with a client this evening, but I cancelled because of the sudden headache.“Alright, son. See you tomorrow,” he responded.The call ended. I drew in a deep breath as I walked toward the living room.“Do you need anything, sir?” the maid asked warmly when she saw me.I shook my head and settled into the cushion. My eyes flicked to the wall clock. 6:30 p.m. Rose still wasn’t back from wherever she had gone with Liam.“So, she didn’t tell you where she went?” I asked the maid.She shook her head nervously, careful not to upset

(Patricia’s POV)“Daddy said you’re my stepmother. Can I call you Mummy?” Julie asked, her voice small but filled with hope.I froze, blinking in surprise. My heart thudded in my chest. Mummy? No one had ever called me that, not even Liam.For years, I had dreamed of hearing that word from my own child. I prayed for the day my baby would call me Mummy. But the baby who should have called me that was taken away before I even knew it existed.Tears burned the back of my eyes. I had almost accepted that no one would ever call me that, but now this little girl was asking me, and something inside me fluttered, a strange mix of pain and joy all at once“Uhm… Julie, you don’t have…” Raymond started awkwardly, his eyes shifted to me.He was afraid I’d feel uncomfortable, and he was about to speak for me, but I didn’t let him finish.“Of course, princess,” I said warmly, brushing her cheek. “You can call me anything you like.”And I meant every word. She could be the daughter I never had, and