Seeing him stop, Gwenda continued, "Now's the best time. If I miss this" Her father would otherwise hand the company to Gretchen. Regaining control later would be far more difficult. She had to act quickly.

"You want to get the company back?" August snorted in disbelief. "With you and what army?"

"August, I know you think I'm stupid and only throw tantrums, but I'm serious this time. Please trust me! Just this once." Gwenda's face was etched with anxiety.

Grandma Suzanne looked at Gwenda, then at August. "I don't think Gwenda's joking, August."

"Granny, do you really trust her?" August found it hard to believe. "Her brain must have been fried in the fire. How else would she say that? Have you forgotten how she protected the Evanses? With her temperament, she's probably trying to swindle you out of your shares and give them to her father!"

Suzanne fell silent. August's words weren't unreasonable. She'd often warned Gwenda against trusting her stepmother and stepsister, but Gwenda had always refused to listen, even falling out with Suzanne for a time. Suzanne knew how much Gwenda trusted the Evanses.

"Gwenda" Suzanne hesitated.

Gwenda understood. "Grandma, I've seen Pauline and Gretchen's true colors. I really want to take the company back! I promise! And I'll move out. Please trust me!" She'd made up her mind to cut all ties with the Evanses.

Suzanne hadn't expected this. Hesitating, she glanced at August. "August, what do you think?"

August frowned, then relented. "Fine, you can take the shares. But you have to prove you're doing this for the company, not lying to us!"

"Got it!" Gwenda had a plan. "Give me half a month, and I'll prove it."

August remained dubious. "We'll talk when you've actually done it."

"Alright." Gwenda knew gaining their trust in such a short time would be difficult; she needed to show results. "August, Grandma, don't worry. I won't let you down."

August and Suzanne looked at her skeptically, then left without further comment.

That afternoon, Olivier's subordinate arrived, completed Gwenda's discharge, and escorted her back to the Evanses' home. Before leaving the car, Gwenda instructed the driver, "Please wait while I pack a few things. I'll need you to take me somewhere else afterward." "Okay, Miss Evans."

Gwenda got out and looked up at the house where she'd lived for twenty years. Then, with a swirl of complicated thoughts, she entered.

Inside, Gretchen sat on the couch, head down, looking utterly wronged. Gwenda's slap had left her cheek red and swollen—a sight calculated to garner sympathy, especially from Benson Evans, who considered her his precious treasure. He was furious and anxious.

Pauline Evans snapped at her husband, "Benson, how could you say that about Gwenda? I'm sure she didn't mean to."

The final "☐☐☐☐" was removed as it seemed to be an artifact and not part of the text.