Upon returning to the Faymon residence, Rayna went to check on the triplets while Curtis headed straight for the study.
In his inbox was an email from J and Vance.
The email contained the latest and most comprehensive test report, which showed that the slime secreted by Serekos consisted of an element capable of damaging human nerves and reversing human skin aging to an extent.
Rayna, cradling one of the children, stepped in and inquired, “What are you looking at?”
Just as she was about to approach, she saw Curtis closing the laptop at the quickest speed possible. “Nothing of importance,” the man replied.
Taking their child out of her arms, he continued, “By the way, it's best that you don't get involved with Glory's matters. I'll arrange for a professional manager to join Glory.”
Rayna cast him a doubtful glance. “Are you asking me to be a stay-at-home mom?” she asked softly.
“We'll talk about work after you've fully recovered,” Curtis replied, lowering his eyes to gaze at her. “As for Cassidy's situation, I'll have someone continue to follow up.”
Rayna initially wanted to decline, but upon noticing how he had shifted his attention to their child in his arms, she weighed up the situation and ultimately agreed, probably for the sake of their child.
When she was at Glory, she could distinctly sense that something was off with her body, not to mention that she did not overlook the doctor's hesitant demeanor at the hospital.
Putting the pieces together with Curtis' earlier solemn expression, she became more certain of her conjecture.
The following day, Curtis arranged for a professional manager to join Glory, a move that left the entire company puzzled.
Previously, the director of Sanders Group filled in for Rayna, then a professional manager was hired. The combined events caused the employees to suspect that there were issues between Rayna and Curtis or that something had happened to Rayna.
Jasmine handed over some of her work to the newly hired professional manager, prompting Glory to embrace a state of heightened tension.
It was because the latter was a taciturn individual with exacting standards.
Upon joining the company, the professional manager immediately began restructuring the R&D and PR departments.
They even went so far as to engage acquainted journalists to cover Glory's latest incident, hence laying the groundwork for what was to come.
Meanwhile, Cassidy, trapped in the mansion, was reading a newspaper that reported the happenings in Norwal City.
The day after Glory's change in management, the company promptly submitted a comprehensive set of documents to the police.
There began the police's investigation into the issues with Glory's products.
On the third day, the Zeller Group's branch company in Norwal City was summoned for questioning by the police.
Cassidy sat in the pavilion, staring blankly at the pond before her. She was visibly lost in her thoughts.
A familiar voice sounded from behind her, “Cassidy.”
Instead of turning her head, she changed her sitting posture and replied, “Did your godfather agree to let you come back?”
One move by Glory and the entire Norwal City was in the eye of the storm. Several cosmetics companies, which were simultaneously under suspicion, also submitted test reports of their own products to the police.
The reports showed the same ingredients as those submitted by Glory to the police.
However, they knew nothing about those ingredients, so they were simply labeled as unknown elements with potential neurological disruption effects.
The man approached her and asked, “Are you all right?”
Cassidy slowly lifted her eyes, which were devoid of emotion. “What constitutes 'all right'? And what does not?”
A guilty expression appeared on the man's face when he saw her in such a state. “I'm sorry. I... I needed money for the children's medical expenses...”
“I know. The original investor behind the welfare institution is Andrew, and what you did is understandable.” Cassidy poured him a cup of coffee. “You obeyed him from the beginning because he raised you and later because of the welfare institution. Will I never come first in your life?”
As she spoke, she poured herself a cup of coffee and slowly drank it. “To tell you the truth, I knew long ago that Yuna and Yasmin are your children. You didn't tell me that you were in a relationship when you were in university, but I still found out about it.”
At that, the man's pupils shrank. “You...”
“That year, I insisted on taking Yasmin out of the welfare institution because I know she's your child, but I didn't know that that woman had given birth to twins,” Cassidy uttered calmly. “I'm infertile, so if I had gotten married to you, a childless marriage like ours would eventually end, even without these matters.”
“My godfather, he...” Fernando wanted to say something after listening to her explicit recount but found himself struggling to do so.
“Actually, he's only fifteen years older than us.” Cassidy glanced at him. “I don't know how to comment on your relationship with him.”
Fernando stood frozen in place upon hearing her utterances.
“Back then, he was nurtured by my father to be the heir of the Gilroy family because some of the skills we have are exclusively passed down to men,” she explained in a soft voice. “You can tell from his current appearance—apart from some white hair strands, he doesn't look old at all.”
Fernando remained silent. He had always assumed that Andrew was just good at maintaining his appearance. It was not surprising, given his forte in inventing skincare products.
Cassidy continued, “Andrew once fell in love with an older woman who was abandoned by her husband because she was too old. She then lived alone in Loytas Mountain, also known as Shvomhid Mountain. The miracle doctor on Shvomhid Mountain was not a man but a woman. It was Isabelle who mistook my father for the miracle doctor.
“When Isabelle went up the mountain to seek herbs that year, it was also the time when that woman was seriously ill. My father only went to save her because Andrew begged him. Back then, I wasn't planning to go, but since my father was going to treat that woman and Shvomhid Mountain had many precious herbs, he thought it would be a waste not to gather them, so he insisted I tag along. While he was in charge of treating that woman, I gathered herbs.”
She gently swirled the coffee in her cup, revealing a bitter smile. “Isabelle wasn't as clever back then. She was easily deceived, and I made her believe me with just a few words.”
Cassidy then trained her eyes on Fernando. “I don't think Andrew will continue to let you take over Zeller Group after your return. What do you plan to do next?”
“What do you want me to do?” He looked at her and promised, “This time, as long as you ask, I will definitely do it.”
Cassidy chuckled. “What else can I ask for? In the current situation, I've already done what I should do.”
At the end of her sentence, she took a final sip of the coffee and slowly stood up. A breeze blew, shifting the coat draped over her body, which revealed her baby bump.
Fernando's eyes flashed with shock. “Cassidy, you...”
“I didn't lose the baby. Previously, I've been wearing shapewear to conceal my pregnancy, but now I can't hide it any longer.” Cassidy smiled. “I thought I was infertile, but as it turns out, my father and grandpa had been lying to me all this while.”
It was to make her give up on the idea of being with other men, thus forcing her to settle with Andrew.
“If you really want to help me, head to the Gilroy residence and pass the notebook in my room to Isabelle. In that notebook are notes made by my father, grandpa, and me, which clearly recorded the possible ways to extract that thing. However, those methods have never been tested. If she is brave enough, she can have a go at it.” With that, Cassidy turned around and stepped out of the pavilion.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Dear sweetheart novel (Rayna and Julian)