Mar

arsh real

ve. Led by Oliver, the shareholders of Hughes Gro

ld walk through those doors-l

ugh to keep her under for days. He had checked on her him

scious, let alone st

n an instant, cameras whippin

ht now? You look remarkably well-ha

hip shift. Were you aware of it? With you h

at this change was planned

ard, jostling for posit

ome room," Carl called out,

ared how Ashly

taking back the story

u. You always drive yourself too hard. I didn't want you waking up and jumping straight

ing the secrecy while painting him as the thou

lyn would swallow it, j

reached to draw her

ugh, his hand

t away without a

ession, walked straight to the po

she said calmly. "And

ashed over

of color. Paulina we

n wasn't

es locking onto Carl's, "I'll be takin

if I ever wanted them returned, you would hand them over without a fi

spot, shock plain on his face. For a

e Hughes family stood froz

g the shares meant being wiped out complet

at the top for years, it was a nightma

you can't

ild that compa

our contribution in it too-you d

sts erupted from t

ses, your shopping sprees, your vacations-came straight out of company money. So tell m

r worth to this company doesn't ev

ce been head-over-heels for Carl. In reality, every dollar, ev

been sliced off her own portio

n ret

scorn, sneers, and

hly

ttle brat. You open your eyes and suddenly act like you own the world. It was Carl who looked after you all those

no family, no power, no real standing. In her eyes, without the Hugh

ly afloat all this time? You used my own funds to pay for my care, and now you expec

mbled with fury, words

ned Ashlyn would co

alia could say or do whatever she wanted, and Ashlyn wo

ood her ground, Thal

to strike just like old times. "How dare you ta

n moved first-a clean, sharp slap tha

ut of m