Chapter 19 – Confusing Issues
I couldn’t shake the words I had just heard.
Rachel, the heiress of Blake Empire?
The moment those words were spoken at the shopping center, Maria and Susan erupted
into laughter.
Susan crossed her arms, smirking.
“Rachel? The heiress of Blake Empire? Please, she could never be! What a joke.”
I watched her closely. This wasn’t the Susan I knew.
There was something different in the way she spoke–something cruel, almost vindictive.
Rachel, on the other hand, remained calm. She didn’t argue, didn’t react to their taunts.
Instead, she picked up her shopping bags and walked away without a word.
I clenched my jaw. None of this made sense.
“Let’s go,” I said, leading my mother and Susan back home.
Later that evening, I sat alone in my study, staring at the glass of whiskey in my hand.
My mind replayed the events of the day.
Who was that man at the shopping center? Why did he call Rachel the heiress? And why did Susan and Maria react so strongly?
A soft knock pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to see Ivan standing at the door, his little hands clutching the frame.
“Dad…” His voice was quiet, uncertain.
“What is it, son?” I set the glass down.
He stepped inside, hesitating. Then, in the smallest voice, he asked, “Is Rachel dead?”
My entire body went still.
“What did you just say?” My voice came out sharper than I intended.
Ivan looked up at me with innocent eyes. “Is Rachel dead?”
I took a slow, deep breath. “Why would you ask that?”
“Because Aunty Susan said that if Rachel dies, my mom can go to heaven.”
I felt like I had been punched in the gut. My chest tightened as I tried to process his words.
“Susan told you that?” I asked, my voice dangerously calm.
Ivan nodded. “She also said Rachel killed my mom.”
I shot up from my chair, my heart pounding. “What else did she tell you?”
“She told me to kill Rachel’s cat… as a punishment for killing my mom.” His voice was hesitant.
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A sickening feeling settled in my stomach.
Ivan shifted on his feet. “She also told me that Rachel was the reason my mom died and that if I wanted to make it right, I had to do something.”
I froze. “What do you mean?”
Ivan’s lips trembled. “Aunty Susan told me to shoot the arrow at Rachel… the day she was leaving.”
The room spun.
I clenched my fists, trying to control my rage. “Susan told you to do that?”
He nodded slowly.
I didn’t wait another second. I stormed out of my study, my blood boiling.
I found Susan in the living room, flipping through a magazine like she had no care in the world.
“Susan!” My voice thundered through the room.
She looked up, startled. “Micheal, what’s wrong?”
I took long strides toward her. “Did you tell Ivan that Rachel killed his mother? Did you tell him to kill her cat? To shoot her with an arrow?”
Her eyes widened before filling with tears. “Micheal… it’s not what you think.”
“Then explain it to me.” My voice was dangerously low.
She sniffled, wiping at her eyes. “Ivan is just a child. He misunderstood things. I only told him stories to help him cope with his mother’s absence. I never meant for him to take it seriously.”
I stared at her, my hands shaking with rage. “You expect me to believe that? You poisoned his mind against Rachel!”
Tears streamed down her face. “Micheal, please… if you love Rachel, and you want to be with her, I won’t stand in your way. I just want you to be happy.”
I ran a frustrated hand through my hair. “I don’t need your permission, Susan. I need the truth.”
Before she could answer, my phone rang. I glanced at the screen–it was my assistant.
I answered sharply, “What is it?”
“Sir, you need to come to the office immediately. There’s a board meeting happening right now.”
I frowned. “A board meeting? Without me?”
The assistant hesitated. “Yes, sir. We assumed you already knew. The board called for a
vote.”
A cold feeling spread through me. “A vote on what?”
There was a pause. “On your position as CEO.”
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I nearly dropped my phone.
“I’m on my way,” I said before ending the call.
grabbed my coat and stormed out of the house.
***
The moment I entered the boardroom, all eyes turned to me.
I didn’t bother sitting down.
“Would someone like to tell me why a meeting was held without me?”
The chairman cleared his throat. “Micheal, we assumed you were aware.”
I clenched my jaw. “Aware of what?”
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One of the board members shifted uncomfortably. “You are no longer the major shareholder, Micheal. You have been voted out as CEO.”
The words hit me like a freight train.
I let out a cold laugh. “This is my company. You can’t just remove me.”
The chairman sighed. “Micheal, you sold shares. Someone else bought them. It was legal.”
I felt my patience snap. “Who bought them?”
No one answered.
I took a deep breath. “I have a pending transaction with Blake Empire. If you think you can push me out, you’re mistaken.”
Before I could say another word, the door opened.
Everyone turned.
Xavier was wheeled into the room by his butler. Beside him, Rachel stood, her expression unreadable.
I felt my stomach drop.
I frowned, my eyes narrowing. “What the hell are you two doing here?”
