After returning to Boleesia from Kennethville, Heather no longer had to deal with the disturbances from those who had once claimed to be her friends. Life gradually returned to a peaceful rhythm.
Meanwhile, back in Kennethville, Mitchell remained in a state of numbness after Heather left. He existed like a soulless shell, moving through life without purpose.
Vanessa was torn between anger and sympathy. The poised woman she used to be now cursed like a street hag wherever she wen
When Ryder walked into Mitchell’s hospital room, he saw the pitiful sight of both Mitchell and Vanessa. It sparked a fury in him.
He grabbed Mitchell by the collar and yanked him out of the bed, landing two sharp slaps across his face. Blood dripped from Mitchell’s lip as Ryder’s angry voice echoed in his ears.
“Mitchell, look at yourself! Do you think acting like this will make Heather come back? She wouldn’t even spare you a second glance now.
“If you keep going down this path, you’ll just become a joke for everyone. Forget about others
-look at your mother. She’s been worrying over you so much that she’s aged years in just a short time!”
Mitchell’s vacant gaze finally flickered with some emotion. His eyes landed on Vanessa, and he realized how much both of them had changed in these two short months.
Not only had he ruined himself, but Vanessa, too, now bore the signs of stress–wrinkles lined her face, and her once meticulously styled hair was now messy, with strands of gray peeking through.
It wasn’t just Vanessa–Ryder had changed too.
Ever since Heather left, Mitchell had been blindly searching for her, ignoring everything else, and his mental breakdown became the talk of Kennethville. People whispered about the Bennetts‘ misfortunes, while others saw it as an opportunity to bring down Bennett Corporation and profit from its downfall.
Ryder was stuck trying to clean up Mitchell’s mess while also fending off the schemes of rival families in Kennethville. He was utterly exhausted, physically and mentally.
Mitchell’s eyes reddened in an instant, and tears once again streamed down his face.
“Mom, Dad, I’m so sorry. I promise I’ll…”
The tears soaked into the sheets, and Mitchell’s half–formed promise remained unspoken.
For the next period, Mitchell cooperated with his treatment. His body healed, and he eventually returned to work.
1/2
25 BONUS
Chapter 24
Mitchell’s business acumen was nothing short of remarkable. If it weren’t for his sharp mind, those in Kennethville wouldn’t have chosen that moment, when Mitchell was at his lowest, to target Bennett Corporation.
Once he regained control of the company, Mitchell struck back with ruthless precision, taking down all those who had dared to challenge Bennett Corporation during his absence.
As company after company filed for bankruptcy, the remaining rivals, trembling with fear, came to Mitchell, offering groveling apologies and paying massive compensations. It wasn’t long before the corporate war came to an end.
