As Gilbert watched her walk away, a growing unease settled in his chest. He tried to understand why she was acting this way, but he quickly pushed the thought aside and hurried after her. When he finally caught up with her in their private accommodation in the mansion, his words came before he could think. "Viv, please, wait."Vivienne turned to look at Gilbert more intently, her impatience now getting the best of her. "Listen, Gilbert! What do you even have to say this time? Is it that same lame-ass story about finding a better job? You’ve been repeating that for months, and here we are—two years in, and you’re still stuck in that dead-end job."Disappointed, Gilbert sighed as he tried to explain. "Honey, I know you're upset, but… uh, I’m doing the best I can. I thought you saw that too…"Before he could finish, Vivienne, looking even more infuriated, cut him off. "You heard me, Gilbert! I’m not interested in that, okay?"Gilbert exhaled deeply, his frustration rising. The silence in

“Sir, are you still there?” The voice on the other end jolted Gilbert back to reality. He hurriedly picked up the phone from the floor, his hands shaking. He was overwhelmed by a mix of shock and disbelief.“Uh, excuse me... sorry, are you... Gilbert Hayes?” The voice hesitated, sounding uncertain. “I believe there’s been a mistake.”“A mistake?” Gilbert struggled to keep his anger in check as he held the cracked phone to his ear, the screen flashing erratically. “You think this is a joke?”“Sorry, but Megan Hayes isn’t dead,” the voice clarified. “There’s been a misunderstanding. We have two patients named Megan in our care, and you didn’t provide a surname.”Gilbert’s face tightened, clearly pissed off. “Two Megans? Are you serious?” His chest tightened. “I... I didn’t think of mentioning her last name. Why would I? I thought you’d know!”“It’s protocol, sir. You didn’t introduce yourself or specify her full name.”Gilbert's displeasure was evident as he lashed out, “So, you’re sayi

Gilbert took it, confusion settling in. What could possibly be inside? He felt a mix of anticipation and disappointment, wishing she could do more. As he stared at the envelope, he couldn’t help but wonder if this was just another empty gesture.“Make sure you follow through with what’s in that envelope,” Callie said softly, her eyes locking onto his for a moment before she gave a small nod, almost as if she knew something he didn’t.Gilbert sighed, still holding the envelope. "I…. I….wait, what exactly is this?"Callie just smiled while looking in haste. “You’ll find out, okay?”The next moment, she turned and headed toward her sleek Volkswagen, parked nearby.As she pulled away, Gilbert, feeling both spooked and curious, opened the envelope. Inside was a short note with the address of a popular five-star hotel in New York City and instructions to meet Mr. Hoffman, the CEO of Hoffman Corp.Gilbert stared at the note, his heart racing. For a moment, he didn’t know what to think. The n

The moment Gilbert stepped out of the Astor mansion, disbelief hit him like a sledgehammer. How could they? Their treatment of him was nothing short of cruel, like a nightmare he never thought he’d endure.They had used him. Vivienne and her family acted like Gilbert's sacrifices meant nothing. He gave everything to Vivienne, and what did he get in return? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. This was how the rich treated the poor, wasn’t it? Like trash. Like he didn’t even matter. The more he thought about it, the more his regret and anger deepened. He had sacrificed so much for her, and now he was left with nothing but the bitter taste of betrayal.As the thought seeped in more, Gilbert's panic grew. Leaving the house meant more than just leaving his wife. It meant losing everything as he had no shelter, no backup plan. Where would he go? Once Megan was discharged, where would they live? The weight of it all pressed down on him. He had no answers, no clue what his next move should be. Thi

The butler, without reluctance, swiftly handed Gilbert the key fob. Gilbert’s fingers tightened around it, his excitement bubbling over as he eyed the sleek Aston Martin. He was eager, almost energetic, as he stepped toward the car.Just as he reached for the door handle, Mr. Hoffman called out, a hint of concern in his voice. “Can you drive, commander Hayes?” His gaze was steady, brows slightly furrowed.Gilbert paused, throwing a playful glance over his shoulder. ''Drive? I used to drive my ex-wife to work every day. So yeah, I think I’ve got this,'' he responded with a smirk and the right dose of sarcasm.Mr. Hoffman chuckled, his tension easing, while Gilbert slid into the driver’s seat, the thrill of his new life sparking in his eyes. Quickly pressing the key fob, the car engine roared to life, its powerful hum sending a rush of adrenaline through him. Gilbert chuckled heartily as he revved the engine hard, feeling the surge of control and satisfaction. This wasn’t just any car—