“What the hell?” Oliver exclaimed, bewildered.
‘What is wrong with him?’ Oliver thought, rolling his eyes in exasperation.
Dustin rubbed his nose, content to sit back and watch the unfolding drama. ‘Ha, looks like some idiot just insulted Klein’s favorite girl,’ he thought, a smirk creeping onto his face.
Oliver was completely baffled by Klein’s sudden outburst of anger. It was as if a storm had rolled in out of nowhere, and he couldn’t fathom the cause.
In a moment of mischief, he nudged Dustin with his foot, knowing that Dustin was the one who usually had the best rapport with Klein. “Hey, Dustin, what’s got him all riled up?” Eric chimed in, his curiosity piqued.
Dustin flashed a slow, teasing grin, enjoying the moment. “Wanna know? Maybe if you beg a little, I might consider spilling the beans.”
Oliver rolled his eyes, snorting dismissively. “Please. Even if I begged, you’d still keep your lips sealed. Forget it. Save your little mystery act for someone else.”
Eric’s mind raced with wild possibilities, but one particular thought flashed through his mind, and he quickly dismissed it. ‘Nah, that’s way too dirty,’ he thought, shaking his head internally. ‘Come on, there’s no way Klein could be that much of an asshole, right?’
*****
As Klein stepped out of the Royal Crest Club, a wave of frustration washed over him. He immediately reached for his phone and dialed his assistant, Ryan Ward, with a sense of urgency.
“What’s going on with the news online? Why are they twisting the truth?” Klein’s voice was sharp, laced with irritation.
Ryan pressed his lips together, trying to decipher the underlying meaning of Klein’s words. “Mr. Harris, are you referring to the news about Carter and Ms. Moore?”
Klein’s frown deepened, annoyance radiating off him like heat from a flame. “I’m asking why the news is distorting the facts. It was Whitney who called off the wedding, not the other way around.”
A chill ran down Ryan’s spine as he grasped the gravity of the situation.
“Understood, Mr. Harris. I’ll have the media rectify the story immediately,” Ryan responded, his voice steady despite the tension.
Klein offered a terse acknowledgment before ending the call, his mind racing with thoughts of how to manage the fallout.
Just ten minutes later, the erroneous headlines were scrubbed away, replaced by a sensational new story that screamed, “Moore Heiress Dumps Fiancé at the Altar! Carter’s Forbidden Romance with His Foster Sister Sends Shockwaves Through High Society!”
A triumphant grin spread across Klein’s face as he scrolled through the updated news, elation bubbling within him.
He quickly sent a message to Ryan.
Klein: [Nice work. You’re getting double the year-end bonus.]
Ryan was momentarily speechless, his heart racing at the unexpected praise.
Ryan replied, his tone polite and grateful,
Ryan: [Thank you, sir. That’s very generous of you.]
Later that night, Emily opened the trending link that Tina had sent her, and her reaction was explosive. She hurled her phone across the room, frustration boiling over.
“That bitch! She actually paid for negative press just to drag me through the mud. She’s really something,” Emily thought, her mind racing with disbelief and anger.
George, noticing the story gaining traction online, scrambled to get someone to take it down, but no matter what he did, the article remained stubbornly in place.
He couldn’t shake the nagging thought, ‘Could this be Whitney’s doing? How could she possibly have that kind of influence? Not even her dad, Samuel, would have the clout to pull this off.’
*****
Whitney had been racing around all day, her mind preoccupied with a million thoughts, and honestly, she couldn’t care less about the online drama swirling around her.
After dealing with a series of errands, she made her way to the bank to apply for a secured loan.
The bank manager explained that she could borrow up to three hundred thousand dollars with an interest rate of 3.85%. Whitney felt a surge of determination; she could manage the payments without breaking a sweat. Without a moment’s hesitation, she urged the bank manager to begin the paperwork.
She knew the contract wouldn’t be finalized immediately-the approval process would take about a week-but she was confident. With this loan, combined with her existing savings, covering Patricia’s medical bills, nursing care, and nutrition for an entire year would be manageable.
There was no way Whitney was going to ask Samuel for financial help ever again.
From now on, it would be just her and Patricia against the world, and Whitney was determined to keep them afloat. She refused to allow life to corner them.
However, at three in the morning, a frantic call from the hospital shattered her resolve, dragging her straight into a nightmare.
Whitney couldn’t even recall how she made it to the hospital; her entire body trembled, her hands shaking uncontrollably.
As she watched Patricia being wheeled into the ER once more, it felt as if a black hole had opened within her, ready to consume her completely.
A nurse rushed out of the operating room, urgency written across her face. “Ms. Moore, this is your grandmother’s critical condition notice. Please sign here.”
Whitney’s hands quaked as she hastily scribbled her name. “Is she going to be okay?” she asked, desperation lacing her voice.
The nurse, sensing Whitney’s anxiety, attempted to comfort her. “The doctors will do everything they can to save her.”
With that, the nurse hurried back into the operating room, leaving Whitney alone with her spiraling thoughts.
From 3 AM to 9 AM, Whitney sat in the waiting area, silent tears streaming down her cheeks, each droplet a testament to her fear and despair.
At 9:07, after what felt like an eternity of waiting, the operating room doors finally swung open.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Moore. We did everything we could,” the doctor said, his tone somber.
He looked at Whitney, his expression grave as he delivered the news. “Your grandmother, Patricia Moore, passed away at 9:07. Cause of death: heart failure.”
Whitney’s legs buckled beneath her, but the nurse was quick to catch her before she fell.
“I’m so sorry for your loss, Ms. Moore. There’s still a lot of paperwork to handle. You should call your family now,” the nurse said gently, her voice filled with compassion.
Whitney gripped the nurse’s hand tightly, her voice trembling as she pleaded, “Please, I need to see her.”
“She’ll be brought back to the room soon,” the nurse assured her softly.
When Whitney finally saw Patricia being wheeled back into the room, covered with a white sheet and accompanied by two nurses, her heart shattered. She collapsed at Patricia’s bedside, unable to bear the sight.
She couldn’t summon the strength to lift the sheet. The memory of just days ago, when Patricia had been smiling at her, felt like a cruel joke now.
It felt as if something was clawing at her heart, threatening to rip it from her chest.
The pain was so intense that she could hardly breathe.
“Granny…” Whitney cried out, dropping to her knees beside the bed, her voice filled with anguish.
A flood of memories overwhelmed her, each one a bittersweet reminder of their time together.
“Whit, come here. Let Grandma tell you a story, okay?”
“Whit, don’t cry. It’s okay if your dad doesn’t care about you. You’ve got me, and you’re not missing out on anything.”
“Whit, this 5% share is for you. I don’t know how much it’s worth, but no matter what, it’s your backbone. A woman needs her own money to stand tall in this world.”
“Whit, if you don’t want to get married, then don’t. As long as you’re happy, I’ll always have your back, no matter what you decide.”
Grief crashed over her like a relentless wave, wrapping her in its cold embrace and pulling her under. She felt as if she were drowning, her vision blurring, unable to catch her breath.
“Grandma, don’t you want me anymore?” Whitney sobbed, her voice quaking with heartbreak.
“Grandma, please come back. Without you, there’s no one else who’ll ever love me like you do,” she cried, feeling as though her entire world was crumbling around her.
Time slipped away as Whitney lost herself in her tears, but eventually, she managed to pull herself together, wiping her face and staring at Patricia, now lying still in the hospital bed, her complexion pale and lifeless.
She looked peaceful, serene, yet utterly devoid of life.
For all those years, Patricia had been the only person Whitney could truly rely on.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.