Skyler sighed in dismay. "It’s entirely my fault. I should have been more thorough. O’Neil didn’t just deceive us—he duped a lot of people. According to the latest report, the lender has already seized the property and is in the process of selling it to JK Constructions for a luxury residential complex project."
Theodore’s eyes narrowed as he absorbed the information. "JK Constructions?" he repeated, the name sparking his curiosity. It was a top-tier construction company, a giant in the Fortune 500, but he hadn’t realized they were expanding into their city. "So, they are setting roots here as well."
Skyler nodded. "Yes, they are trying to establish a foothold in the city," he confirmed. "Anyway, I’ve submitted all the evidence of O’Neil’s deceit to the police. He’ll be behind bars soon."
Theodore shifted his focus, pulling his thoughts away from JK Constructions to the matter at hand. "I still want a prime location for the plaza project."
"I’m on it, sir," Skyler responded with determination.
"Have you checked on the wetland Bella mentioned?"
Skyler hesitated slightly. He wasn’t entirely confident about the potential of that land, but he kept his doubts to himself for now. "I’ll check on it and get back to you. Your meeting with the overseas branch is scheduled to start in an hour."
He placed a folder on the table. "All the details you requested are in here."
Theodore took the folder, his mind already shifting gears. "You can go now. I’ll call you when the meeting starts."
"Sure." Skyler nodded and left.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Zack had finally come to work after a week. He had been occupied with the arrangements for Ivy’s funeral and the complex negotiations surrounding acquiring the Hill family’s assets. But now, his dream had finally materialized.
He had managed to persuade Mr. Hill to transfer everything to him in his will, in exchange for settling the family’s debts. The company, the properties—everything the Hills once owned—was now his.
Two years ago, Zack had lost everything—his love, business, and family. It had all crumbled because of Ivy’s ruthless schemes to manipulate her way into his life. She had caused a misunderstanding between him and Rose, leading to the tragic accident that claimed her life.
From that moment on, Zack had vowed to destroy the Hills, to take from them everything they held dear. And now, after two years of meticulous planning and relentless pursuit, he had succeeded.
He leaned back in his seat with a sense of accomplishment, his lips curling into a satisfying smile. He reached for his phone, dialing a number he hadn’t called in what felt like an eternity. The line rang for a long time before a familiar, thin voice finally answered.
"Hello?"
Zack’s heart clenched at the sound of his mother’s voice, a voice he hadn’t heard in two long years. "Mum," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
"Zack! Is that really you?" she breathed, her disbelief evident. "You finally remembered to call me!"
Zack’s throat tightened as he struggled to contain the surge of emotions. Back then, his father had disowned him, severing all ties after what had happened with Rose, and Zack had distanced himself to protect his mother from any fallout.
"I wanted to call," he managed to say, choking with unshed tears, "but I was afraid Dad would blame you for staying in touch with me."
On the other end of the line, his mother began to sob with a mixture of relief and sorrow. The distance, the time, the pain—they all melted away in that moment.
"Mum, don’t cry...you don’t have to endure this misery anymore," Zack said softly. "I’ve taken care of the Hills. They’ve paid for what they did. Mr. Hill is behind bars for tax evasion, and I’ve taken over everything—the company, the assets, it’s all ours now."
His mother’s sobs grew quieter, replaced by a heavy sigh. "The Hills destroyed our family," she recounted. "They tore us apart. They created a misunderstanding between your father and Mr. Walton. Your father was mad at you back then and said harsh words. But deep down, he misses you. His loyalty to Mr. Walton kept him from reaching out to you, but it hasn’t been easy for him."
Zack was aware of his father’s dilemma. His father, Cole Hudson, used to be Alan Watson’s most trusted assistant. But because of Zack’s one mistake had crumbled the equation, severing the trust Cole had built over the years.
Zack’s connection with Ivy, the daughter of the arch-rival of the Waltons, had ruined not only his relationship with Rose but also had destroyed the bond between his father and Alan.
For one mistake, Zack had paid a heavy price. Rose was no longer with him, and the Waltons became the enemy of his family. He had vowed to take revenge on the Hills, and now that he had succeeded.
"Mum, things have changed for the better," Zack said softly. "Our suffering ends here. I want you to come and stay with me. There is someone I want you to meet. I think you’ll be happy."
Bella was his trump card. She was the only one who could mend the broken ties between his family and the Waltons, the key to restoring everything he had lost.
His mother’s voice brightened with curiosity. "Who is it, Zack? Did you find someone special?"
"More than just a girlfriend," Zack replied, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "I’ll tell you everything when you get here. Trust me, Mum, you’ll understand when you meet her." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
Knock-Knock...
The door knocked, interrupting Zack’s conversation. "I’m hanging up now," he said, straightening his posture. "Some work has come up. Talk to you later." As he ended the call, he said, "Come in."
His heart skipped a beat as Bella entered the room. She was dressed in a blue skirt and a white blouse, her appearance strikingly similar to his lost love, Rose.
’Rose!’ he mumbled in his mind nostalgically.
"Hello, Mr. Hudson," Bella greeted him with a smile.
Zack blinked puzzledly, unable to tear his gaze from her. Bella looked so much like Rose that it was difficult to believe she was not the same person. What if Rose was still alive and was hiding her identity from him? Zack couldn’t help but think that way.
His heart raced with anticipation. Perhaps Rose was still upset with him and that was why she wasn’t revealing her true identity.
"I am here to submit my resignation," Bella said, her words a cold splash of water that jolted him out of his trance.
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