Chapter 34

Maris Everett was fuming, chest heaving, struggling to catch her breath. “Just you wait,” she finally sputtered, “I’ll make sure you’re kicked out of the Everett Group!” And with that, she slammed the phone down.

Brynn, staring at her phone, let out a soft, disbelieving laugh. Everyone seemed to think they could push her around. “They think I’m so easy to manipulate, huh? So eager to get rid of me? Well, I don’t want to be here either!” With a smirk, Brynn fired off her resignation letter to every shareholder in the Everett Group, including her adoptive father, Randy.

Randy, seeing the email, scoffed. “Trying to threaten me with resignation? Does she think I’m a pushover?” He completely dismissed it.

The other shareholders, however, were in a panic. They didn’t give a damn about the Everett family drama; all they cared about was the mountain of profit Brynn had generated for the company over the years. She was the Everett Group’s cash cow. After getting wind of the situation, the shareholders were furious and immediately called Randy.

“…Randy, you and your wife only own 30% of the company,” the lead shareholder said coldly. “We shareholders also own 30%. Brynn has 5%. Together, we hold 35% of the shares. We don’t care what feud you have with Brynn. All we know is, if Brynn leaves, we’re selling all our shares. Think about that!”

The shareholder hung up, leaving Randy stunned. He hadn’t realized Brynn had so much influence in the company. He, Randy Everett, was supposed to be the majority shareholder! It was infuriating. With no other choice, Randy swallowed his pride and went to apologize to Brynn.

Seeing the usually arrogant Randy groveling was immensely satisfying for Brynn. She relished seeing him squirm, hating her but utterly helpless. Just for that, she decided to hold off on resigning. For now.

Brynn was happy, but Randy was seething. He figured Brynn was feeling so confident because of the Suncrest Group deal. Once he got his hands on an invitation to Suncrest’s event and schmoozed with the President, he’d be able to put Brynn in her place and kick her out of the company. With that in mind, he immediately called Kylie.

“Hello, Dad…”

“Go get an invitation to the Suncrest Group event from Chase Johnson,” Randy ordered.

“Dad,” Kylie interrupted, sounding distressed. “Chase doesn’t have an invitation either.”

Kylie was in a bind. Chase might be a Johnson, but he wasn’t part of the Eaglemont Johnsons, and he wasn’t close to that branch of the family. The President wouldn’t even know who Chase was!

Randy’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What are you talking about? Isn’t Chase a Johnson? The new President is a Johnson! How could he not have an invitation?”

“That’s not how it works, Dad. Chase and…”

Before Kylie could finish, Randy cut her off. “Bottom line, you need to get an invitation to Suncrest’s annual celebration from Chase Johnson,” he commanded coldly. “If you can’t even manage that, there’s no point in you staying with the Everett family!”

Randy hung up without another word, leaving no room for negotiation. Kylie stared at her phone, resentment boiling inside her. “Ungrateful bastard!” she muttered, face dark with anger. “He can’t get the invitation himself, so he dumps the problem on me!”

Despite her anger, Kylie knew she had to go to Chase and somehow get that invitation. Otherwise… she really would be kicked out of the Everett family.

Meanwhile, Chase Johnson was in his office, restless and uneasy. “How could this be…” he mumbled to himself, lost in thought. “Brynn loved me for three years. How could she fall for someone else so quickly?” Three years of love, down the drain! He couldn’t believe, couldn’t accept, that Brynn had moved on so easily. “I need to find out who this guy is,” Chase muttered through gritted teeth, reaching for his phone to investigate Brynn’s new husband.

Just then, his secretary knocked and entered. “Mr. Johnson, Miss Kylie Everett is here to see you.”

Before the secretary finished, Kylie, wearing a loose-fitting dress, walked in with a sweet smile. “Chase.”

Seeing Kylie, a flicker of annoyance crossed Chase’s eyes. He knew, deep down, that he didn’t love Kylie. The only one he had ever loved was Brynn.

He was only with Kylie because of a drunken mistake, a moment of weakness. And skipping out on their wedding to be at the hospital with Kylie wasn’t because he was genuinely worried about her. He just didn’t want to get married and used it as an excuse.

“What are you doing here?” Chase asked, frowning slightly, his tone laced with impatience.

Kylie was taken aback by his cold, distant tone. A wave of hurt washed over her. But she couldn’t confront him in front of his secretary; Chase valued his image.

“Chase, ever since I got pregnant, I haven’t been able to eat or sleep properly,” Kylie said, walking closer and taking his hand. “I feel awful, Chase.”

Surely, he’d be gentle with her, for the sake of the baby.

However, Chase subtly pulled his hand away and said coldly, “If you’re not feeling well, you should be resting at home, not running around.”

Kylie was stunned. Before she could respond, Chase instructed his secretary. “See her out and have the driver take her home.”