Juliana’s rant was too much for Grandpa Byrne to handle. “You think you can judge people better than Coleen? If you're so smart, why haven’t you achieved anything yet? Coleen is the CEO of the company. Cut the nonsense, Coleen needs to rest. All of you, leave.”
Juliana waved her arms around as she spoke, her voice rising with emotion. “Dad, I’m telling the truth. Don’t let that little witch Molly fool you. She’s just pretending. Think about it. Her family’s loaded, so why come back to the Cedillo family and then to us? Coleen’s sick, and Molly, who’s basically a stranger, is looking after her like she’s her own daughter. She’s got an agenda.
“She wants to win you over and take over the company. Once she does, she’ll kick all of you out. I see right through her. She’s been a snake since she was a kid.”
Chad’s voice cut through the room. “Enough!”
His anger silenced everyone. Chad was known to have a temper, but he rarely exploded like this.
His face was stern as he glared at Juliana and her group. “Letting Molly manage the company is just the beginning. In the future, Chade Inc. will be hers. I don’t care about Molly’s motives. Even if she takes everything from us, we’d let her. This is none of your business.”
Chad stood up, pointing to the door. “Get out.”
Vivian quickly stepped in to calm things down. “Chad, I apologize on behalf of my mom. The company belongs to Auntie, and only she can make decisions. We’re outsiders here and have no right to interfere. Auntie just got out of the hospital. Her happiness is what matters most.”
Vivian then pulled Juliana's hand. “Mom, let’s go. Auntie needs to rest.”
Juliana, wary of Chad, didn’t dare speak to him directly. She was upset about being pushed out and aimed her words at Coleen, trying to hit her where it hurt. “I know you blame yourself for your daughter’s death and haven’t moved on. You’re using Molly as a stand-in for Jade to numb your pain. But you can’t keep running away. You need to face your guilt. If you give the company to a stranger, I won’t stand for it, even if everyone else agrees.”
Kendrick slammed his hand on the table, pointing at Juliana. “Shut up, Juliana.”
He pointed to the door. “Get out.”
Vivian saw the situation spiraling out of control. They couldn’t afford to piss off the Byrne family now. She tried to pull Juliana away.
But Coleen, sitting on the couch, seemed off.
Her daughter’s death was a wound that never healed. Hearing about it always sent her back into her nightmares. This time, she clutched her chest, struggling to breathe, her mind swamped by the past.
Her face turned pale, looking like she was drowning, cut off from the world as voices called out to her.
“Mom, Mom.” Chad shook his mother, worry etched on his face.
Grandma Aubree, in tears, rushed over, looking at her daughter-in-law who seemed lifeless. “Coleen, don’t be silent.”
“Call Molly, now!” Chad barked at the maid.
The maid, startled, ran upstairs to wake Molly. “Miss, you need to see your mom, she’s in trouble.”
Molly jumped out of bed, not even putting on shoes, and ran out.
She saw the crowd around her mother, just out of the hospital, and her eyes filled with fear. “Mom, Mom!”
She rushed over, hugging Coleen’s waist. “Mom, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me, you just got out of the hospital. Please wake up.”
Coleen looked at her daughter, her consciousness fading, but she mustered the strength to touch her daughter’s face.
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