Chapter 6

That night, I went to the Hughes Estate.

In the dining room, Andrew's mother, Andrew, Emily, and my father Richard were seated.

Richard was in his wheelchair, looking pale and weak.

When he saw me, he gave me a small nod.

"Lauren," he said.

I walked over to him. "Dad, what are you doing here?"

Andrew's mother jumped in. "We're here to talk some sense into you. Every couple has their ups and downs—no marriage is perfect."

Emily kept her head down. "Lauren, if I'm the reason for all this, I can leave Riverside."

Andrew's mother quickly patted her hand. "Why would you leave? You haven't done anything wrong."

I looked at everyone sitting at the table. "So you called me here just to watch this show?"

Andrew said, "Sit down and eat."

I didn't sit.

Andrew's mother's face darkened.

"Lauren, your dad's right here—are you really going to embarrass him like this?" she snapped.

My father raised his hand. "Mrs. Hughes, let's not say things like that."

Andrew's mother gave a smile. "Richard, I'm just looking out for the kids. Lauren's got quite a temper—someone really ought to keep her in check."

My father looked at me. "Lauren, do you really want a divorce?"

"Yes," I said.

He nodded. "Then go ahead."

Andrew's mother's smile disappeared.

Andrew turned to look at him.

Emily looked up, and a flicker of surprise flashed in her eyes.

My father continued, "My daughter wasn't sold off to the Hughes family."

Andrew's mother said coldly, "Richard, don't forget that Harmony Medical Center is still relying on the Hughes family."

My father coughed twice.

"It's a contract, not a handout," he said.

Andrew's mother was stunned into silence.

Andrew spoke up. "Lauren and I will handle this ourselves."

My father looked at him. "You should understand—if my daughter is being mistreated, there's no way I can sit back and pretend I don't see it."

Emily's eyes turned red again.

"Mr. Linwood, Andrew really isn't a bad guy. He's just way too sentimental," she said.

My father looked at her. "Ms. Shaw, it's not right for you to defend someone else's husband when you're just a guest in their home."

Emily's face went pale.

Andrew's mother snapped, "She's not in good health—are you all just going to pick on her?"

I shot back, "Being sick doesn't give her a free pass."

Andrew's mother picked up a document from the table. "Fine, if the Linwood family is so tough, then there's no need to sign this additional investment agreement."

I glanced over.

It was the funding agreement for the new Harmony Medical Center campus.

Andrew frowned. "Mom."

Andrew's mother said, "She wants a divorce? Fine. But the Linwood family can forget about getting a single cent from the Hughes family for their project."

My father stayed silent.

I walked over, picked up the agreement, gave it a quick look, and put it back on the table.

"We're not signing this," I said flatly.

Andrew's mother let out a cold laugh. "Oh, so just because you say so? If the new Harmony Medical Center campus gets halted, who's going to eat those losses?"

I said, "The Linwood family will handle it. We don't need your money."

Emily said softly, "Lauren, don't be stubborn. The hospital isn't something you can mess around with."

I looked at her. "Oh, you know best again, huh?"

She bit her lip.

Andrew's mother sneered, "And what are you going to use to cover those losses? That medical license you haven't touched in years?"

My father gripped my hand. "Lauren."

I patted the back of his hand. "It's okay, Dad."

I pulled out another document. "We've already secured the funding for the new campus this afternoon."

Andrew's mother was stunned.

Andrew looked at me. "Who invested?"

I replied, "That's none of your business."

Andrew's mother didn't buy it. "Lauren, don't try to bluff your way through this."

Just then, the butler came in.

"Mrs. Hughes, there's a Mr. Chapman outside. He says he's here to deliver some documents for Ms. Linwood," the butler announced.

Andrew's mother frowned. "Mr. Chapman? Who's that?"

A man in a dark suit walked in.

He gave me a slight nod. "Ms. Linwood, here's the confirmation letter from Southstar Capital."

The dining room went dead silent.

Andrew stood up.

"Jack Chapman?" he asked.

Jack glanced at him. "Mr. Hughes."

Andrew's mother's tone shifted. "Southstar Capital?"

I took the document.

Jack said, "The first installment of 100 million dollars will be wired tomorrow morning. Chairman Langley asked me to let you know—he's been waiting for the new Harmony Medical Center campus for years."

Andrew stared at me. "You know Chairman Langley?"

Before I could respond, Jack added, "Chairman Langley requests your presence at the signing ceremony tomorrow night, Ms. Linwood, if you're available."

Andrew's mom's expression shifted from steely to rattled.

Emily's fork tapped nervously against the rim of her plate.

My father murmured, "Lauren, Chairman Langley?"

I looked at my father.

There was something in his eyes I couldn't quite read.

Andrew stepped closer. "Lauren, what exactly is your relationship with the Langley family?"

Just as I was about to answer, an elderly voice called out from the doorway.

"Let me answer that.

"She's the benefactor the Langley family has been waiting for a decade."