Bound By A Broken Night novel Chapter 106

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Chapter 106

After a long moment, Red finally spoke.

“I have a feeling…” he began slowly, his voice low, thoughtful.

“I have a feeling we may have displeased someone from Malakai Group. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be treated this way.”

The words made everyone turn toward him at once.

“What do you mean?” Elvira asked sharply.

Rima and Mirriam leaned closer, waiting for him to continue.

Red didn’t answer immediately. His eyes drifted toward the now half–empty office, but his gaze seemed fixed on something ar beyond it–replaying conversations, decisions, alliances, and mistakes.

“I can understand the removal of the Chairman position,” he said quietly at last.

“With the acquisition, redundancy was inevitable. That part… was expected.”

He paused, his expression darkening.

“But replacing me as CEO…” His jaw tightened.

“That wasn’t just restructuring.”

He turned to face them, suspicion now clear in his eyes.

“That felt personal.”

The air grew colder around them.

“I could sense it,” he continued.

“This wasn’t a last–minute decision. It was planned. Deliberate. Someone made sure I would be removed from the CEO seat.”

Mirriam swallowed hard.

“But why? What could we have done that would warrant something like this?”

Red’s silence returned–longer this time.

Because deep down, he knew. This wasn’t just a corporate takeover. It was a calculated removal.

And somewhere inside Malakai Group, someone had been waiting for the right moment to push the Knowles family out.

Their low voices and quiet lamentations were abruptly cut short when the door opened.

Several figures entered with firm, purposeful strides.

At the center of them stood CEO Ashton Pierce, flanked by his assistants, his presence immediately shifting the atmosphere in the room from grief to tension.

Red straightened at once, instinctively pulling himself back into professionalism despite the turmoil inside him.

“What can we do for you, CEO Pierce?” he asked, rising to his feet to face the younger man.

But Mirriam reacted faster.

“Ashton, what is happening? Why was my dad removed?” she rushed toward him, her tone emotional, her familiarity instinctive almost pleading.

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Ashton looked at her. Not warmly. Not even neutrally.

Indifferently.

Coldly.

The unfamiliar hardness in his eyes made Mirriam falter. Her steps slowed, then stopped altogether as the realization sank ;n. She quietly stepped back.

Ashton’s attention moved past her and settled on Rima.

“I happened to pass by the Director of Finance’s office,” he said calmly.

“And Director Rima Knowles was not at her post–during official office hours.”

The directness of the statement made Rima’s face drain of color.

“Ah… I was just helping calm my husband and my mother–in–law after what happened earlier, CEO Pierce,” she explained quickly, forcing steadiness into her voice.

Ashton’s expression did not change.

“So this is a family gathering?” he asked flatly.

“Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to hold it at home, rather than during office hours–when productivity is expected?”

His gaze swept across all of them, sharp and assessing.

“Even the Director of Human Resources, Miss Mirriam Knowles, has left her post without notice,” he added.

Mirriam shifted uneasily, her fingers tightening around her bag.

“Ashton, this isn’t what it looks like-”

She stopped mid–sentence. One look from him was enough. It wasn’t anger. It was distance.

Professional. Detached.

Ashton’s eyes moved past her as if she hadn’t spoken at all, settling once more on Rima.

“Anyway,” he said, his tone calm but firm, “I’m here to personally deliver a suspension order.”

He extended his hand slightly. One of his assistants immediately placed a folder onto his palm.

Red’s unease deepened.

“Suspension? Of what, CEO Pierce?” he asked, his voice tight.

Ashton glanced at him briefly.

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