Chapter 10%
Carlson Group was completely destroyed. When the stock price hit rock bottom, I bought every last share of the company.
I removed the Carlson family and Patrick from the group entirely, renaming it “Hope.“}
This should have been a gift for my daughter when she turned eighteen, but I could no longer give it to her.
The old man of the Carlson family vomited blood and died when the company’s name was changed. Before he passed, he muttered weakly, “This is the price of betraying sincerity.“}]
From the time I began acquiring Carlson’s until Mr. Carlson died, Patrick did nothing. He didn’t appear until after Mr. Carlson was buried. By then, he had grown gaunt, with a scruffy beard and dark circles under his eyes. He wore the same suit from our wedding day and held a bouquet of roses.
When he saw me walking out of the company, he immediately smiled and hurried toward me.”
But when he saw the frown on my face, he paused, then carefully extended the flowers to me in a pleading gesture.
“Lucia, I know I was wrong. Please, give me a chance to make up for it. I’ll spend the rest of my life making things right.“>
“No need,” I replied coldly. “I’ve already taken back everything you owed me. We’re even now.“>
The light in his eyes dimmed, but he persisted. “Then can you give me a chance to win you back? Look, I’m wearing the suit you loved, and these roses are your favorite.”
He knelt down on one knee, his eyes intense. “Lucia, I truly love you. I can’t live without you.”}
I took a deep breath, then spoke with finality. “Patrick, I never liked that suit on you, and the roses in your hand are what I despise most.“}]
“How is that possible? The clothes and flowers at our wedding–those were what you loved…” He looked confused for a moment, then the realization struck, and his face turned pale.
I sneered. “Do you remember? The wedding you gave me wasn’t for me. It was a plan you orchestrated with Laura. This suit and these roses are what she likes.“}
I glared at him coldly. “You loved Laura so much, and you held me in such low regard. You gave me your wedding with her. Do you think I didn’t know all along? You’re so naive. I knew everything from the very beginning.”
Patrick was shaking. He begged incoherently, “I was wrong. I’ve made so many mistakes. I’ll change. I’ll give you anything you want! Lucia, for the sake of our past love, can’t you give me another chance?”
“We loved each other? When?” I said coldly. “At first, it was because of gratitude, and later, it was to give Audrey a home. I’ve never loved you, and I never will. I could never love a cold–hearted, ungrateful man.“>
! threw the roses he had given me to the ground, stomping on them hard as I looked down at Patrick, whose face was filled with defeat.
“Patrick, you should be thinking about how to live the rest of your life now, as a man everyone will despise and resent you wherever you go.”
Patrick left, broken and drained, as though every ounce of life had left him.”
I donated all the revenue and entrusted the business to a professional manager, leaving behind the place that had filled me with disappointment and hopelessness.}
Later, I read in the newspaper that Patrick had been stabbed in the heart by Laura, who had gone mad with grief.”
When the emergency team arrived, he refused treatment, slowly allowing himself to die.
Before he passed, he left behind only one message: “I owe my daughter a life… Now, I’m going to see her. I need to tell her… I’m sorry…”
I scoffed and turned off the news.
With a deep breath, I carefully watered the small tree in front of me to keep the insects away.
I had buried my daughter’s ashes there at the beginning, though I wasn’t sure if it was because a seed had been planted there at the same
time.
When spring came, the tree sprouted, growing into a graceful little sapling.
I named it “Hope.“>
“Spring is here again, and I hope you grow strong and tall,” I whispered as I gently caressed the tree trunk.
A tear fell slowly down my cheek.
“Baby, Mommy misses you so much.”
As if hearing my words, the leaves rustled softly, as though my daughter’s laughter echoed in the air.
“Mom, don’t cry.“!
