Chapter 39

Shirley's voice was hysterical and broken: "What do you mean, what's wrong?"

"Do you know that everything you have now is because of me? And you dare to betray me with my money! You bastard!"

She screamed into the phone.

I couldn't understand James's voice, but I could tell Shirley was getting more and more distraught.

"Fine, if you think Paula is so great, then get money from her from now on. I won't give you any more money. Let's see how you survive!"

"Just wait and see, James. Just wait!"

With that, Shirley hung up the phone and covered her face, crying in the living room.

But I only felt disgusted by her. She had caused the death of someone else's child, and she still had the nerve to cry?

I saved the recording, planning to continue recording under the coffee table tomorrow.

It seems I underestimated this device; it can still pick up some things.

After putting everything in place, I suddenly remembered that the children were still with Shirley. I was afraid she might take her anger out on my kids, so I quickly went downstairs to bring them up.

Brandon looked at me with a strange expression: "Weren't you asleep?"

I nodded: "I just thought of the kids and couldn't sleep. I'll take them upstairs to play."

With that, I took the kids upstairs.

They weren't very close to me yet, after all, they had been under Shirley's influence for a while. So I wasn't in a hurry; I could take my time.

I coaxed the two kids to sleep and slowly lay down to sleep myself.

But I had a nightmare, dreaming that Shirley had lost my kids, and I couldn't find them no matter how hard I tried.

In the end, I found them in a desolate place, lying in a pit.

"No, no, my children! My children!"

I woke up with a start, only to find Brandon sitting by my bed, looking at me. Seeing me wake up, he quickly comforted me: "It's okay, Caroline, you just had a nightmare."

Still shaken, I was held tightly in his arms, feeling even more disgusted. I would rather have nightmares than be close to Brandon.

Because he was my nightmare.

I quietly broke free from Brandon's embrace: "What are you doing here?"

It was already dark outside, so why wasn't Brandon in his room sleeping? Why was he here?

Could it be that he found out about the recording? But he shouldn't be reacting this way.

I quietly watched Brandon's next move.

"I was going back to my room when I heard you talking. I came in and found you talking in your sleep."

"Caroline, are you under too much pressure lately? If you don't want Shirley to take care of the kids, we can send one of them to my mom's place. That way, you won't have to worry so much."

I sneered. Send them to Karen's place? I'm afraid the kids would get depressed even faster.

"Don't give me that. If you're tired of it, just say so. I'll take the kids and move out."

"Have you forgotten how Karen treated us last time? She said Brett was ill-mannered. Who else should the toys be for if not Brett? Does she have other grandchildren?"

Brandon's eyes flickered, and he smiled: "She doesn't. I've already talked to her about it. She was wrong."

I sneered: "And you still dare to suggest sending the kids to her? You don't love your children."

Brandon immediately got anxious, frowning: "She only did that once. You don't have to say it like that."

I snorted: "I wasn't there, so who knows how she behaves? I'm telling you, I care a lot about that incident, and I'll never forget it!"

"If you bring it up again, we'll get a divorce!"

I said firmly.

Brandon was stunned. After all, this was the first time in our nearly ten-year marriage that I had mentioned divorce. He frowned deeply.

"Caroline, you..."

He thought I was just angry, but I meant every word.

I decided to say everything I had been holding back, or I might blurt it out in another nightmare: "And tell me, what's going on with the company?"

Brandon's eyes showed a hint of evasion: "Nothing's going on. You saw it yourself; it's running normally. What's the problem?"

I sneered: "There's a big problem. Why is Earl in the company?"

Brandon looked into my eyes and explained: "Earl graduated from college, so he came to our company to gain some experience. And he's doing well."

"Doing well?"

I asked mockingly: "Brandon, do you think I've lost my memory? I paid for Earl's college education. Someone like Earl, and you didn't find him a regular job but made him a manager in the company. What are you thinking?"

"Do you think the company is your family business? Have you forgotten that my dad founded it?"

"And now it's full of your family members. Just because I haven't said anything doesn't mean I don't have an opinion. You're filling the company with useless people to push me out?"

Brandon's face darkened immediately. After all, in all our years of marriage, I had never spoken to him like this.

"Useless people? Watch your words."

"Aren't they? Let's not even talk about Earl. How can someone like Irene be the CFO? She worked as a cashier in a supermarket for twenty years and never even did accounting!"

"And isn't she doing fine? The company is running normally. What are you arguing about? Do you want Asher back?"

He sneered: "Let me tell you, Asher will never come back after cooking the books. Am I wrong to put my family in charge to avoid another incident?"

When he mentioned Asher, a hint of malice flashed in Brandon's eyes. I suddenly realized why even Simon couldn't find Asher's whereabouts. Could it be related to Brandon?

I glared at Brandon, and he looked back at me with a sinister expression, as if he was about to reveal his true nature.

Brandon had never shown this side of himself in front of me. It seemed he couldn't hold back this time.

"Last time I went to check the accounts, Irene wouldn't let me. What can she do?"

Brandon didn't dare to touch me now, given the old house issue. He was afraid of my death and wanted to keep me safe.

Sure enough, after a while, Brandon gave in, lowered his head, and admitted his mistake.

"I'm sorry, Caroline. After Asher's betrayal, I don't trust anyone else. And I'm in control of the company's direction, so there's no problem. Don't worry."

"Aunt Asher didn't let you check the accounts because she didn't want you to tire yourself. She had no other intentions."

"When you're better, you can return to the company anytime."