"Ruben, where have you been? The house is burning here," Simon said through clenched teeth.
Ruben walked toward them casually while Natasha quickly filled him in on everything that had happened.
"So I leave for a week and the house goes ka-boom?" Ruben said with a raised brow.
"What do you think happened?" Robert asked.
Simon shot Robert a sharp look, but Robert continued anyway.
After Paige died, Ruben had joined the company. What made him valuable was his strange ability to notice things most people completely missed.
"We already know what happened," Simon said firmly. "A thief broke into our house and stole from us."
Ruben looked at him suspiciously.
"Listen, let's move. Ruben can follow us to the address left behind and see what's there. Maybe the thief is trying to tell us something."
"Boss, no disrespect, but… don't you think that's a little too easy?" Ruben replied carefully. "Why would someone steal from you and then leave an address behind for you to follow? Unless they want you to."
Murmurs broke out across the room as everyone began throwing in their opinions at once. The noise grew louder and louder until Simon's ears felt numb.
"Let's dial it down a bit—" Natasha began.
Simon slammed his fist onto the table.
"Just listen to me!" he roared.
The room fell completely silent.
"We've just been robbed. AID is gone!" Simon continued, his voice shaking with controlled fury. "Don't you all understand what that means? We're vulnerable without AID."
He looked around at each of them.
"If someone can just storm in here and walk away with everything, do you really think we're safe? Our weapons, gadgets, guns, and all the serums—gone. And with the tight budget we're already on, we can't just produce another batch."
He paused, his gaze settling on Ruben.
"So yes… with all due respect, Ruben—I'm your boss."
Betty was preparing to do laundry when something in the trash caught her eye.
She pulled it out.
An academic award.
Monica's name was written clearly across it.
Just then, as if on cue, Monica walked into the room after returning from school.
"Wanna explain this?" Betty asked, anger clearly audible in her voice.
"Afternoon, Mom," Monica said casually. "Oh… you found the award? Lucky. It could've gotten trashed."
Her sarcasm was obvious as she walked past her mother, ignoring her completely. She placed her schoolbag on the table, sat on the bed, and picked up her knitting kit.
"Monica," Betty said, her tone shifting to concern. "Knitting is a passion, not a career. Throwing away all your achievements… it's like you're cursing your own future."
Just the other day, Betty had found a gold medal in the trash. She had warned Monica then too, but it seemed the girl simply didn't care.
"I already have enough knowledge," Monica said sharply. "And I'll keep learning on my own. Signing me up for quizzes and competitions and threatening teachers if I don't participate—that's the curse."
She turned toward her mother, anger blazing in her eyes.
"I'm tired of you making decisions for me like I'm not smart enough. You keep putting me in the spotlight."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"I understand you want to brag about your child getting first place in every competition since grade one. But I'm grown now. I'm in Grade 12, and I'm tired of it."
Betty looked away, guilt creeping into her expression.
"You don't even congratulate me," Monica added bitterly.
"How can I congratulate you when you throw all your awards in the trash?" Betty replied.
"I missed Sophie's birthday party today," Monica said, tears suddenly streaming down her face, "because Mr. Shigwedha begged me to participate in a competition you signed me up for."
Her voice broke.
"Leave me alone, Mom."
She grabbed Betty by the shoulders, pushed her out of the room, and slammed the door shut.
Catherine stormed into her mother's office, slamming the door open.
"When were you planning to tell me you're selling my uncle's company?" she demanded.
Vivian looked up from the cheques she had been signing.
"Catherine… what are you talking about?" she asked, slowly inhaling.
She had been expecting this moment.
"Alexander is determined to buy the company," Catherine said. "He told me he already spoke to you."
Vivian stood up and gently guided her daughter to a couch.
"Baby, sit down. I meant to tell you yesterday when you came in… but then you gave me the good news."
They both sat.
"I put the company up for sale," Vivian admitted. "Alexander immediately made an offer. A very good offer—almost unbelievably good."
She sighed.
"But even then, I didn't want to let it go. I loved your uncle, Catty."
Her voice softened.
"But the debts left me no choice. I accepted the offer and was preparing the papers yesterday… and then you came in with the news."
Vivian smiled faintly.
"When you and Alexander get married, with his fortune, we'll automatically be safe. And you'll still keep the company. Of course, I'll remain the boss."
Catherine relaxed slightly and smiled.
"For a second I thought you were really going to sell it," she said, wiping tears from the back of her hand. "That company is the only piece of Paige I have left."
Vivian's smile faded instantly.
"Yes… but the company isn't Paige's. She—"
"Mom," Catherine interrupted quietly.
"I know Dad believed he cheated Uncle Victor… but Uncle Victor actually played him."
Vivian stiffened.
"The Samuels Group belonged to Paige," Catherine continued. "That's what was written on the property papers. It was supposed to be Paige's signature transferring it to my name."
She shook her head.
"But when I noticed that, Uncle called me and asked me to sign anyway."
Vivian's mind began racing.
Blue had been right.
The company truly belonged to Paige.
And the transfer papers—papers that would be extremely important when Catherine married Alexander and their properties merged—should have carried Paige's signature.
But Paige was dead.
And the original documents were missing.
Which meant that officially, the Samuels Group didn't belong to Catherine… or to Vivian.
"Madam," the office intercom suddenly crackled.
"Mr. Shikongo is in the lobby. He doesn't have an appointment."
Vivian froze.
Her face slowly filled with shock and disbelief.