Todos os capítulos de The Cost of Favoring His Secretary: Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 9

"Angeline, is Robert back yet?" Mom asked, a note of worry in her voice. Ever since my mother-in-law, Cassidy Gilmer, had been hospitalized, my mother, Denise Bross, had been helping care for her too."That boy… If he doesn't hurry, he won't even make it in time to see his mother one last time."I stared at the phone that no longer rang through and let out a sigh. "He's not coming back. We should start handling the funeral arrangements."Word of Cassidy's death rocked the whole city within hours. I was in the middle of packing up her belongings when Robert Gilmer finally took me off his blocked list."Who gave you permission to go around spreading rumors about my mother? So what if I didn't wire your mother's medical bill in time?"Melanie already looked into it. Your mother's condition isn't even serious. Besides, that necklace Melanie wanted could've been snatched up by someone else any second."And for that, you go around cursing your own mother-in-law? That's crossing a lin

I couldn't breathe through Robert's grip. My nails tore into the back of his hand. "Your mom is dead!"He laughed, more furious than amused. "You want her dead that badly? So you can inherit the thirty percent of the company she promised her daughter-in-law?"I tried to speak, but nothing came out. He'd cut off my air completely.Without warning, he shoved me to the floor and called in the bodyguards waiting outside. "Smash all of it.""No! Robert!" I screamed and threw myself forward, but two bodyguards pinned me down before I could reach him.They ripped out Mom's monitor, her IV stand, every piece of equipment in the room, and smashed them to pieces. She cried out as a bodyguard yanked her straight off the bed. They tore the sheets and blankets apart too and threw the shreds on the floor."Mom! Robert, stop! Her bones are brittle; she's too old to survive this kind of shock! Make them stop!"My arms were raw from being wrenched, but I still couldn't get close enough to reach

I cried pitifully over the phone, and in the end, he transferred me a token payment of a hundred dollars."This is all I'm able to do for you," he said.I stared down at the shattered tiara in my hands, then at the pitiful few digits left in my account.I looked up. Robert had already walked off with his arm around Melanie. I caught him murmuring to comfort her, "Don't worry about it. There's another tiara coming up at next week's auction. I'll put in the winning bid for you."The hospital's payment notices kept coming. The doctor's messages kept pushing for a decision. My nails dug so hard into my palms I nearly drew blood.After turning it over and over in my head, I dialed a number. "I'll divorce him and marry you. But I want money first."I stumbled through paying the deposit and got Mom into surgery. When word came that it had gone well, exhaustion finally caught up with me, and I passed out.The moment I woke, I rushed straight to see Mom. Seeing the color back in her face

"Angeline, are you still holding onto that promise I made about splitting my shares with you after I die? Let me tell you right now, you won't see a cent of the Gilmer family's shares!"I nearly lost my footing. That voice. It really was Cassidy's.But I'd watched with my own eyes as her body went into the crematorium. I'd carried the urn back myself. She didn't have a twin sister or anything like that. So what was going on?A hand cracked across my face. My head hit the wall, and blood welled up instantly where it split."Stop it!"Mom rushed forward and threw herself between us. "Robert, something is very wrong here! I watched Cassidy get buried with my own eyes! That call cannot be her!"Robert sneered. "Even you, at your age, want to play these games?"Mom tried to answer, but he didn't let her finish. "Someone get this pair out of here. Hospital beds are for people who actually need them, not for people looking to put on a show.""No! Robert! My mother just had surgery! He

Anthony said, "Don't make it sound like I'm buying Angeline."Even if she'd never agreed to remarry me, I would have helped her the moment she came to me for that kind of help. Not like you, a husband who can't even keep his hands off his mother's medical fund without spending it on gifts for his secretary.""You!"Robert's fist connected with a crack. Anthony stumbled back a few steps, and I rushed to steady him."Why didn't you dodge that?"I dabbed the blood from the corner of his mouth, aching for him.He caught my hand, smiling, sly, "Angeline, he's awfully violent, isn't he?""You!"Robert's fist clenched again.I stepped in front of Anthony. "Don't waste your energy. I said I'm remarrying, and I meant it."Robert's jaw tightened. "Fine. Divorce me first, then."…Once I had the revised divorce papers drawn up, Robert suddenly refused to let go. No matter what version of the divorce agreement I drafted, even one where I walked away with absolutely nothing, he wouldn't