Ch. 151..155: Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire Chapter 151-155
Chapter 151: She Wants A Divorce
Aurora descended the staircase alongside Xander, her light steps contrasting with the tension that built the moment Nene met them at the bottom. The usual warmth in Nene’s expression was replaced by a slight grimness as she bowed politely.
"Ma’am," Nene began cautiously, "Tea Time Gossip has published a scandal involving Mr. Owen and Mrs. Olivia. And it’s serious this time."
Aurora’s brows knitted together as she halted mid-step. "What happened?"
Nene hesitated before handing over a tablet. "It seems Mrs. Olivia has lost her child following an altercation with Mr. Owen at a nightclub."
The words struck like a bolt. Aurora’s hand flew to her mouth in shock. "She lost her baby?"
Hearing this, Xander stepped forward, his jaw tightening. "What commotion? What nightclub?" His voice was low but simmering with restrained anger.
As Nene detailed the contents of the article, Liam appeared from the hallway, his expression sombre as he approached them. "Sir," he said, bowing slightly, "the news is spreading fast. The company stocks are plummeting because of the scandal."
Xander’s anger boiled over, his fingers balling into fists. His nephew’s reckless actions had crossed a line yet again. Aurora placed a soothing hand on his arm and patted it gently. "Darling, please calm down," she urged softly.
Xander exhaled heavily, forcing himself to relax. Handing the tablet back to Nene, he turned to Liam. "Wait for me in the study," he ordered curtly before glancing at Aurora. "I will be back."
Aurora nodded silently, watching him disappear down the hall with Liam.
---
Aurora walked into the dining area and found Abigail and Asher already seated. Their lighthearted bickering filled the space until their eyes fell on her troubled expression. Abigail immediately sat upright.
"Aura, what’s wrong?" Abigail asked, her playful demeanour fading into concern.
Aurora slid into her seat and clasped her hands together on the table. "It’s about Olivia. She caught Owen at a nightclub with his mistress. They argued, and in the middle of it, she fell and miscarried."
Abigail’s brows arched, but instead of sympathy, her face hardened. "Karma finally caught up with her," she said without a shred of pity. "Look what the man she snatched from you did to her in the end."
Aurora sighed. "Abby, I have no comment on that. An innocent child didn’t deserve to be sacrificed for her mistakes."
Asher leaned forward, picking up his coffee. "Where’s Xander?"
Aurora glanced toward the hallway. "Liam came to inform him about the stocks dropping because of Owen’s scandal. He’s handling it."
"I think this might be the final straw," Asher said with a measured tone, setting his cup down. "Xander might cut his nephew off for good this time."
---
Xander joined them toward the end of breakfast. His neutral expression barely masked the tension simmering beneath. Abigail and Asher greeted him with a polite "Good morning," to which he responded curtly.
Aurora, seated beside him, reached out instinctively. "How did it go with Liam?"
"Unfortunately, things aren’t easily fixed this time," he said, his tone sharp. "A drastic measure needs to be taken." Looking at everyone, he added, "I might be tied up with work for most of the day."
"That’s all right," Asher said, clasping his hands. "Your company is important. Take care of what you need to."
---
After breakfast, Xander retreated to his study where Liam waited with updates. Xander sat behind his desk, his piercing gaze scanning the tablet Liam handed him. The numbers confirmed his worst fears—the company stocks were nosediving.
Placing the tablet on the desk, Xander clenched his fists tightly. "This is unacceptable."
Liam remained silent as Xander picked up his phone and dialled his older brother, Richard. The call went unanswered. His patience thinning, Xander reached for the landline.
The butler at the Scott family’s main residence answered. "Good morning, Mr. Scott."
"Where is my brother?" Xander demanded.
The butler hesitated before replying, "Mr. Richard and Mrs. Patricia left for the police station early this morning. Mr. Owen was arrested last night for assault and domestic violence."
Xander’s face darkened. "Thank you." He hung up abruptly, deep in thought before declaring to Liam, "It seems I will have to pay them a visit myself."
---
At the hospital, Stephanie arrived to see Olivia in a VIP suite. Stella sat nearby, slicing an apple into delicate pieces. Olivia, pale and weak, struggled to sit up.
Stephanie began cautiously. "Olivia, how are you feeling?"
Olivia averted her gaze, biting her lip. "I’m alive," she said softly.
Stephanie offered a comforting smile before her tone turned firm. "I’m sorry for your loss, but Olivia, you should’ve left Owen the moment you saw what he was capable of. He cheated on Aurora with you, what were you expecting? That he would remain faithful to you? Look at where this has led you."
Stella intervened sharply. "Sister-in-law, now is not the time for admonishments. My daughter just lost her child."
Stephanie glared at Stella. "And whose fault is that? You pushed her into this marriage despite knowing what Owen was. You even held an engagement party without her father’s consent. You enabled this!"
Stella stiffened but refused to back down. Olivia, meanwhile, seemed to withdraw into herself, her expression blank. Finally, she spoke, her voice cold and steady.
"Owen was a mistake. I should have insisted and cancelled the wedding when I had the chance. But now, nothing will stop me from divorcing him."
Stella nodded, her tone gentler. "And this time, I won’t stop you."
Stephanie folded her arms. "Divorce is fine, but what’s the use after all this? She’s been through a major surgery and may not conceive again."
Without waiting for a response, Stephanie shifted gears, her tone sharp. "And where is Owen? Isn’t he supposed to be here?"
Stella scoffed, her expression hardening. "I called the cops on him last night. He’s sitting behind bars now. After what he did—causing my daughter to lose her child and jeopardizing her chances of having another—I made sure he paid."
Stephanie’s brows arched slightly in surprise. Stella’s decisive action wasn’t entirely unexpected, but it still caught her off guard.
Olivia, however, remained silent. She didn’t flinch at the mention of Owen’s arrest, her face betraying no emotion. She was indifferent—completely detached from the man who had so thoroughly disrespected and humiliated her.
But Olivia harboured a secret. Her miscarriage wasn’t a tragedy; it was a calculated plan to escape her marriage. She had secretly taken lisinopril, a medication that induced miscarriage, waiting for the perfect opportunity to pin the blame on Owen.
Her scheme worked flawlessly. Owen’s reckless actions fell into place, but she hadn’t anticipated the cost. The miscarriage left her with a slim chance of conceiving again.
Had Olivia known the full consequences, she might have reconsidered. Now, with her freedom nearly within reach, she was left to bear the heavy price of her decision.
---
At the police station, Patricia and Richard bailed Owen out with their lawyer’s assistance. But as Owen stepped out, four men in black grabbed him by the arms and dragged him toward a waiting car.
"Hey! What’s going on?" Owen shouted, struggling against their grip. His parents stood silently, watching as he was whisked away.
Richard shook hands with the police chief. "Thank you for your cooperation."
The chief nodded. "Just doing my job."
If it wasn’t clear from the CCTV footage in the VIP room and a few witnesses that Owen hadn’t intended to harm Olivia in the first place, he would have been in a lot of trouble.
---
Owen sat stiffly in the back seat of the sleek black car, his wrists pinned by the iron grip of two men in suits.
"Hey! Are you deaf?" he snapped, his patience fraying. "Where are you taking me?"
His captors ignored him, their silence unyielding as the car glided onto the highway. Realizing resistance was futile, Owen slumped back, beads of sweat forming on his brow as his mind churned with unease.
He was still pissed at the fact that Stella called the police to arrest him while he was still at the hospital. This was something that had never happened in his life before and to add to the fact that he had to sleep overnight at the station was more pissing than embarrassing.
---
At the hospital, Patricia and Richard entered Olivia’s room, greeted by Stella’s icy stare as she sat vigil at her daughter’s bedside. "We came to apologize," Patricia began tentatively.
Stella’s lips thinned. "After what your son did? What kind of man pushes his pregnant wife and kills his own child?"
Richard flinched. "Stella, please, we don’t condone Owen’s actions. We are here to support Olivia."
"You didn’t stop him either," Stella retorted sharply.
Patricia tried to interject, but Olivia’s steely voice cut through the tension. "Do you think apologies can fix this? Your son destroyed my life!" Tears streaked her pale face as she added, "I want a divorce!"
Patricia and Richard exchanged helpless glances, urging her to reconsider, but Olivia was resolute. "This marriage was a mistake. I’m done."
Stella rose, her voice unyielding. "You heard her. Leave. There’s nothing more to discuss."
Defeated, Patricia and Richard departed, their apologies ringing hollow.
---
When the door closed, Stella turned to Olivia, her gaze softening. "Are you sure this is what you want?"
"Absolutely!" Olivia’s voice trembled with emotion. "If you’d listened to me before, I wouldn’t be in this mess!"
Stella sighed, guilt etched across her face. "You are right. This time, I’m fully behind you. You will file for divorce, and we will demand half of Owen’s assets. No going back!"
Chapter 152: Xander’s Decision
Tea Time Gossip Blog: Scandals, Arrests, and a Marriage on the Brink.
"What is the fate of the marriage between Owen Scott and Olivia Swift?"
Last night, chaos unfolded outside the hospital as Owen Scott, the Scott family’s first grandson, was seen in handcuffs, escorted by the police. Several photos captured Owen in the humiliating moment, his expression grim, his usual air of arrogance noticeably absent.
This shocking turn of events raises a question: Who made the call that led to Owen’s arrest?
Sources close to Tea Time reveal that Owen spent the night behind bars before his parents, Patricia and Richard Scott, discreetly arrived at the police station this morning to bail him out. Their silent exit speaks volumes about the growing tension within the Scott household.
But let’s not forget the history: once upon a time, Owen was romantically linked to Aurora Swift, Olivia’s sister. That is, until Olivia stepped in. Accusations of "husband-snatching" were whispered through high society circles, but Olivia brushed them aside, parading her relationship with Owen without a care. Now, with Owen’s string of scandals and this latest arrest, it begs the question: Is this karma coming back to haunt Olivia?
Meanwhile, the repercussions of Owen’s actions extend far beyond his personal life. The Scott family’s billion-dollar tech company, Dante Group, is bleeding in the stock market. Investors are wary, and with every scandal tied to Owen’s name, the company’s future dims. Perhaps it’s time for the Scotts to address the root of the problem—Owen himself.
And where does the Swift family stand in all this? Olivia’s father, the late Adam Swift, had always been vocal about his disapproval of Owen. One can only imagine his fury if he were alive to witness this debacle. The question now is whether the Swift family will sit silently or retaliate. Will this scandal spark a battle between two of Wing City’s most powerful families?
Tea Time is watching closely. Stay tuned for updates on this unfolding drama—because in the world of the rich and powerful, the fallout from betrayal, scandal, and loss is never simple.
Who will emerge victorious in this war of reputations: the Scotts or the Swifts? Only time will tell.
~Tea Time.Top of Form
---
Aurora called Nene and asked her to prepare a healthcare package and a card for Olivia and personally deliver it on her behalf.
"Let her know that I heard the news, and that I’m sorry for her loss and wish her a quick recovery," Aurora instructed.
About an hour later, Nene arrived at the hospital carrying a beautifully prepared basket of fresh fruits, a bouquet of vibrant flowers, and a delicate card embossed with "Get Well Soon."
Inside Olivia’s private room, Stella was seated beside her daughter, peeling an apple. When Nene knocked and entered, both women looked up.
"Good morning," Nene greeted politely. "I’m Nene, Mrs. Scott’s assistant."
Stella inclined her head slightly but remained silent, observing Nene with mild curiosity.
Nene approached Olivia’s bedside, placing the gifts gently on the table. Olivia’s face lit up in surprise and gratitude.
"These are from Mrs. Scott," Nene said, her tone warm. "She’s sorry for your loss and sends her wishes for a speedy recovery."
Olivia adjusted her position on the bed, sitting straighter. "How is Mrs. Scott?" she asked.
"She’s preoccupied with some important preparations," Nene replied. "But she wants you to know you’re in her thoughts."
Olivia smiled softly, her fingers brushing over the bouquet. "Thank her for me. And please let her know I appreciate her thoughtfulness."
"I will," Nene promised and then went on to ask about Olivia’s wellbeing before excusing herself.
After she left, Stella moved closer to Olivia, a small smile playing on her lips. "You seem pleased."
"Of course," Olivia said, inhaling the flowers’ delicate fragrance. "Do you know what it means for Mrs. Scott to send me these gifts? It shows how much she values me."
"Mrs. Scott is indeed thoughtful and seems to like you to have sent her assistant to personally deliver the gifts," Stella agreed, her eyes scanning the arrangement with approval.
---
The Scott Family’s Main Residence.
At the same time, Owen’s parents returned home and as soon as they did, Richard asked about Owen and learnt from the butler that he was in his bedroom. The butler also informed him that his younger brother, Xander had called to ask about them.
A minute later, Richard stormed into Owen’s room, his anger palpable. Patricia trailed behind, her face a mix of worry and disappointment.
Owen, pacing the floor anxiously, froze when his father entered in rage.
"Dad, I—"
Before he could finish, Richard’s palm connected sharply with his cheek, silencing him.
"You disgraceful fool!" Richard roared. "Do you have any idea what you’ve done to this family? To our company? Arrested outside a hospital and plastered all over the gossip blogs—have you lost your mind?"
Patricia stepped forward, trying to calm her husband. "Richard, please—"
"Don’t ’please’ me!" he snapped, cutting her off. Turning back to Owen, he continued, "You’ve embarrassed this family for the last time. The stocks are plummeting because of your stupidity. Do you think this is a joke?"
Owen’s face burned with humiliation, his fists clenching at his sides. "I didn’t mean for this to happen," he mumbled.
"Didn’t mean to?" Richard barked. "You had a mistress, partied openly, and pushed your pregnant wife—what part of that wasn’t deliberate?"
Patricia placed a hand on Richard’s arm. "That’s enough, Richard. Let’s not escalate this further."
"Get ready to face the consequences of your actions!" Richard shot Owen one last glare before storming out. Patricia lingered, her disappointment evident.
"Son, you’ve let us down once again." she said softly before leaving the room.
Alone, Owen sank onto the edge of the bed, his head in his hands. The weight of his mistakes pressed heavily on him. He had deep regrets about a lot of things, and he wasn’t proud of his disgraceful actions either.
Thinking about it, his reputation was very well intact when he was dating Aurora but after he shifted gear to her sister, Olivia, things turned for the worse.
It’s not like Owen didn’t claim his faults in the recent and past events, he did. The only thought he was having right now was that the matter wouldn’t have escalated if it was Aurora he had done these wrongs to.
---
Xander’s Private Residence.
When Nene returned home, she reported everything to Aurora.
"What about her health?" Aurora inquired, referring to Olivia.
"She is slowly recovering. Mrs. Swift was present as well," Nene explained, "but she didn’t ask too many questions. Olivia seemed genuinely happy with the gifts."
Aurora’s gaze drifted as she considered Nene’s words. "She’s happy now," Aurora murmured, her lips curving into a faint smirk. "Wait until she learns who Mrs. Scott actually is."
---
Later that day, Xander arrived at the Scott family’s residence. The butler greeted him and led him inside, where Richard met him at the door.
"Xander," Richard greeted nervously, extending a hand.
Xander shook it briefly and stepped inside. "Where’s Owen?" he asked coldly, his tone brooking no argument.
Richard signalled the butler, who quickly left to fetch Owen. Patricia entered moments later, offering Xander a polite smile.
"Xander, it’s been a while," she said.
He nodded curtly. "Sister-in-law."
Moments later, Owen entered the room, his face carefully neutral. Upon seeing Xander, he bowed deeply. "Uncle," he greeted respectfully.
Xander didn’t mince words. "You’ve crossed the line, Owen. I warned you before, didn’t I? No more scandals. Yet here we are, with the company’s stocks in shambles because of your recklessness."
"Uncle, I didn’t mean—"
"Silence!" Xander snapped, his voice cold. "Your actions have consequences, and now you will face them. As of tomorrow, you will be removed from Dante Group’s board. A public statement will follow after the meeting with the investors. You’ve caused enough damage."
Owen’s face paled. "Please, Uncle, give me another chance—"
"No more chances," Xander said firmly, rising to his feet. "Fix your life, Owen. That’s all I will say."
As Xander left, Richard glared at Owen with undisguised disgust and stormed off. Patricia sighed, her disappointment palpable.
"You’d better find a way to fix this. Kneel, prostrate, beg your uncle. Do whatever needs to be done to get back on DANTE Group’s board," she said before walking away.
Left alone, Owen clenched his fists, his teeth gritting in frustration as he grappled with the magnitude of his losses.
---
At the hospital, Olivia read the latest gossip blog on her tablet, a satisfied smirk spreading across her lips as she scrolled through the photos of Owen’s arrest.
"Owen, this is what you get for disrespecting and disregarding me over and over again," she muttered under her breath. "And this is just the beginning."
Stella entered the room carrying a branded shopping bag. She placed it on the table and joined her daughter’s side.
"I think we should not only take half of Owen’s assets but also demand five percent of Dante Group’s shares," Stella said decisively. "We will claim what’s rightfully ours."
Olivia’s smirk widened as she nodded. "I couldn’t agree more, Mum."
Chapter 153: The Problem with Waxing
Aurora and Abigail sat in the living room, catching up on their lives over the last few weeks.
Aurora finally revealed the identity of her biological father to Abigail, shocking the latter to the core.
"Aura, are you sure about this?" Abigail questioned with a hint of disbelief in her tone as she fixed her gaze on Aurora.
"Yes," Aurora nodded, releasing a deep sigh.
Silence followed next as Abigail took some time processing the piece of private information she had just revealed.
"Who knew the man you were looking for has been in front of you all this while? Stella is evil and there are no two ways about it because how can someone deliberately do this?" Abigail asked, her brows slightly furrowed as a frown contoured her face.
Hearing that, Aurora crossed her leg over the other while thinking to herself. She wondered how Abigail would react when she revealed that Olivia wasn’t Adam’s biological father.
Aurora trusted that she would take the matter upon herself to confront Stella and expose her to it.
Regardless of the outcome, Aurora refrained from exposing that secret as she wasn’t sure of what to do with it yet. Also, her Aunt had confided in her, so she mustn’t disappoint her... yet.
It took some time before Abigail was able to move past the earlier topic. She told Aurora that she would give her support no matter what she chose to do about it in the future before going on to ask about her recovery.
"Do you still experience memory loss?" Abigail inquired with concern laced in her tone. She looked quite worried about her best friend.
It was one thing to know she had a chip in her head for years and had a high chance of suffering amnesia, and another thing to actually live that life a bit after the surgery.
A small smile slowly crept up at the corner of Aurora’s lips as Abigail asked that question. "I don’t know if it’s all thanks to having Nene by my side or my own efforts, but my forgetfulness has reduced a ton. At least I’m able to get by at work just fine."
"If there are any issues, don’t hesitate to inform me or your husband. Technology is advancing at a faster rate. I believe there would be a solution to any problem you encounter," Abigail encouraged, squeezing the flesh in her arm gently.
"Mmmm." Aurora nodded in acceptance. She would love to live a healthy long life after everything she had gone through until this point. Therefore, she would do anything humanly possible to achieve it.
Even if she doesn’t make the effort, the universe owes her that.
"I will be leaving tomorrow morning, what do you say about going to the spa today to get some facials and massage done?" Abigail suddenly suggested, a smile lighting up her face.
Almost immediately, Aurora rejected her idea with the excuse that she didn’t want to take a step out of the house. Regardless of her reason, Abigail conceded, but with one condition.
"Abby?" Aurora called, tilting her head to the side.
"Yes," Abigail insisted, meeting her gaze head-on.
In the end, Aurora gave up. She called Nene over and asked her to arrange for an aesthetician to come to the house.
---
Half an hour later, the professional aesthetician arrived and was introduced to Aurora and Abigail before she commenced.
Already, an NDA has already been signed regarding Aurora’s identity as Mrs. Scott and Xander’s residence, so Aurora had nothing to worry about as she laid down with her stomach on the table and enjoyed the massage.
After the massage section, the two women had their facials done before moving into the next part and that was where Aurora called it quits.
The aesthetician had to briefly leave the ladies to make a decision as they were arguing and seemed to be talking about something private.
"Abby, I have never done this before and I’m not going to start now," Aurora stubbornly refused as she sat up on the bed.
"Just tell me you are afraid and nothing else," Abigail retorted. "Which woman in the world wouldn’t experience pain on their first waxing appointment?"
Aurora simply didn’t care about what she said and made her stance clear. "Abby, I don’t like pain and it isn’t bad to avoid it besides, I don’t want anyone looking down there to do some work while I scream in pain. It’s such an uncomfortable experience."
"Oh... I forgot... Only Xander can look down there and do some work while you scream in pleasure," Abigail teased while gesturing with her hands.
"Abby!" Aurora’s gaze widened in shock as her gaze swiftly moved to the door before shifting back to Abigail, a blush creeping up the tip of her ears. "Can you be mindful of your words?"
Abigail shrugged. "At least, I’m telling the truth," she said without a care before giving it another chance to try and convince her. "Aura, don’t be afraid to try new things. Besides, you are not waxing to please anyone but yourself. And if you like, you can think of it as a gift for Xander tonight."
"A gift?" Aurora narrowed her eyes.
"Yes, a gift," Abigail confirmed. "Your husband has been tensed since yesterday because of the work that stupid Owen created for him at the company. Maybe if you let him give you head in a cleared couchie, he might relax."
"Oh my goodness!" Aurora gasped for breath as she finally understood what Abigail had been going on about. "You are really crazy!"
Abigail smiled proudly, not denying the accusation. "I’m crazy, but I do tell the truth and that’s all that matters."
Somehow, Abigail managed to convince Aurora to get a wax done, but a new problem came up for the latter.
Aurora seemed uncomfortable talking about it but had no choice as Abigail forced her to speak up.
"Abby, getting a wax done down there would leave me spreading my legs, and the aesthetician would know that I’m active," Aurora whispered.
"Sexually active?" Abigail raised a questioning brow. Aurora nodded in response, confirming her guess.
Chapter 154: The Pressure on Xander
Aware of how embarrassed her best friend was with sensitive topics like that, Abigail became mindful of her reactions and comments.
"Aura, you are worrying about a lot of unnecessary things at this point," Abigail said, her tone soft. "The only people that can see down there are your husband, your gyne and the aesthetician for moments like this, and it’s their job."
Letting out an exasperated sigh, Abigail added, "Besides, you are married. What’s wrong with being sexually active? Shouldn’t it be a problem when you have a man like Xander and he doesn’t touch you?"
Abigail spoke to Aurora without filter, proof that what she worried about or was being conservative with, was nothing. And that was the only way the latter could relax.
"I won’t try to force you if you are still uncomfortable after the one-hour lecture I have given," Abigail said in the end, refusing to pressure her, and Aurora was grateful for that.
"I think I will give this a try next time. But for today, I will just watch and grade your composure." Aurora smiled.
A soft chuckle escaped Abigail’s lips at that statement. After they had both relaxed, they called the aesthetician in.
Aurora sat right on her bed with a large towel covering her body as she watched Abigail getting a wax done.
As Abigail had been doing this over the years, she was already used to the pain and didn’t even wince for a moment.
In the end, Aurora decided to get her armpits waxed and ended up regretting it after experiencing the pain.
"Good job, Aura." Abigail gave her a thumbs-up with an encouraging smile. "There is a first time for everything."
Some minutes later, the waxing section ended. Aurora and Abigail got dressed as the aesthetician packed up her things and left.
"How do you feel?" Abigail asked as they walked into the living area together.
"I just want to sleep, but I can’t as I’m waiting for Xander to come back. He went to his family’s main residence," Aurora sighed, feeling pity for her husband with the unwanted stress he was suddenly subjected to all thanks to Owen.
The two women settled down on the couch and switched on the TV as a servant came to serve them two fresh glasses of fruit juice before leaving.
As Aurora switched between the TV channels, looking for something interesting they could watch, Abigail spoke. "Sometimes, no matter how pissed I am at Olivia, I still feel gratitude towards her for taking Owen from you. Imagine the kind of situation you would have been in if you both had continued to date or even got married."
Aurora refused to imagine that scenario because she was indeed so stupid back then that she would have probably continued to support Owen unless her third eyes were miraculously opened.
"I trust you would have somehow delivered me from the situation no matter how stubborn I would be." Aurora laughed over the matter as she reflected on her life from the moment Xander came into the picture. She swore to be a good wife and be supportive of his business.
---
Xander returned home later, exhausted, not long after Asher came in from a private meeting.
As both men sat down to chat, Xander learnt the new set of instructions for their new mission and released a deep sigh.
"I hope you don’t lose your mind before we wrap things up," Asher said, watching him closely.
"I won’t," Xander replied before adding, "Not when I have my wife to keep me sane."
"Lucky bastard!" Asher slapped his shoulder playfully as laughter erupted from his lips.
---
Soon, time for dinner came and Aurora, Xander, Abigail and Asher gathered around to eat.
Aurora was happy with their weekend gathering and commented about it. She wished they would get to enjoy another one sooner and instantly, everyone encouraged her idea.
If it hadn’t been for Owen’s scandal, their weekend would have been unmatched but if course, someone out there had to indirectly ruin their fun.
---
MONDAY.
The following morning, Abigail and Asher left together after breakfast with Aurora and Xander.
And while Aurora reported to work, Xander left for his company to chair an important emergency meeting with his board and investors.
Sitting at the head table, Xander listened as everyone expressed their dissatisfaction with the company’s crumbling stocks that came about all thanks to Owen’s scandals.
"We are losing money and something has to be done!"
"We demand an explanation!"
"If DANTE Group has reached the end of the road for business, inform us so we can pull out our funds."
When it got to the point of the investors demanding and threatening to pull out their funds which was normal, Xander felt deep pressure wash over him. Never in his administration has such a thing been recorded, and it was all thanks to his stupid nephew for ruining his hard work.
Still standing on a made-up mind, Xander made a decision as the investors continued to put pressure on him. Some of them threatened to sell their shares, and Xander didn’t need to probe to know it would be to rival companies.
Apart from officially removing Owen from his position, Xander led a discussion on how to stop the company from entering into debt and found creative ideas to regain their position.
The discussion lasted over two hours as decisions and ideas were being implemented. In the end, the meeting was fruitful, giving Xander a minute to relax.
As soon as he declared the end of the meeting, he left the conference room as Liam accompanied him while informing him of his next schedule.
Today, Xander’s schedule was packed to the extent that he didn’t have any time for lunch. He had several meetings scattered around today and every one of them was important, so he couldn’t miss them.
Towards the end of the day, DANTE Group released an official public statement about their decision to kick Owen Scott out of the company. And immediately, the news spread across the country.
Chapter 155: Not That Kind of Protein
Everyone, including several news media outlets and online bloggers, had something to say about DANTE Group’s decision. But one thing was common amongst them: kicking Owen Scott out of his family company was the best decision ever.
They believed it was the first step to lift the giant tech company, which was already at its peak but at a high risk of going bankrupt and losing its reputation, which had existed for close to four decades.
"The Scott family has finally stopped being sentimental about Owen otherwise they were already set on the path of destruction."
"Dante Group just made the best decision ever by severing all ties with Owen. That’s the only way his scandals wouldn’t affect their stocks."
"Dante Group finally made a move. Why I commend them for it, I will still rebuke them for taking so much time to make this decision."
---
The Scott Family’s Main Residence.
While netizens were on the internet hailing Dante Group and the Scott family for finally removing Owen from his position with immediate effect until further notice, Owen sat on the couch in his bedroom and watched as his perfect life crumbled before him.
He never expected things to get out of hand, and to the point where he would be publicly called out and disgraced for his actions. Now, he would have to live with all the repercussions of his actions and the guilt of killing his own child.
Owen weaved his fingers through his hair as he sank into a deep thought, still reeling from regret. His reputation was ruined, and he wasn’t even sure if he still had anything left.
There was probably nothing he could hold onto now.
"Fuck!" Owen cursed as he pounded his fist on the armrest of the sofa several times before being satisfied with the pain enough to clear his thoughts.
---
The Hospital.
The doctor and a nurse came to check up on Olivia towards the evening. The old drip was taken away and a fresh one was given to her.
"Doctor, how is my daughter doing?" Stella asked in worry as Olivia lay weakly on the bed, her forehead, burning.
"She has a mild fever but will be taken care of before tomorrow morning. You don’t have anything to worry about," the doctor assured Stella. "The nurse will continue to check on her every hour."
Stella nodded, releasing a soft sigh of relief before asking another question. "When will my daughter be discharged? I believe she has long past the critical stage and can now continue to receive treatment at home if need be. I am uncomfortable knowing that reporters have surrounded this hospital and refusing to leave."
Olivia heard her mother saying that and turned her gaze away. She was the very one who tipped the reporters off on her location so they would be right where on standby to capture the images of Owen’s arrest.
After making trouble, her mother was now looking for a scapegoat. And unfortunately, it seemed to be the doctors and the hospital’s management.
"Ma’am, I understand your concerns, but I promise that your daughter is safe here," the doctor explained, trying to convince Stella. Also, she can be released after two days."
"Good. That’s all I want to hear," Stella stated and went to sit down.
After checking on Olivia to make sure she was adjusting well and suffered no other complications, the doctor excused himself and left with the nurse.
"Olivia, the chef at home made you beef broth. You should have some with rice and grilled chicken soup you can have the energy recover quickly," Stella said.
Olivia shook her head. She was clearly not interested in eating any food at the moment. She was busy calculating her next move against Owen even though her head hurt.
---
Aurora checked the time on the clock and was a little worried given that Xander hadn’t returned home from work.
It was almost 7 PM yet there wasn’t any sign of his car. Left with no choice, she reached out to Liam to confirm his whereabouts and was told that they were on their way home.
Aurora sighed in relief as she dropped the call. Then she turned to Nene. "You can serve the dinner now."
"Okay, Ma’am," Nene replied and excused herself.
A few minutes later, Xander returned, the exhaustion on his face, evident of the day’s stress. Immediately, Aurora went to his side but as soon as she appeared, a smile quickly appeared on Xander’s lips.
"Sweetheart, did you wait too long?" Though Xander tried to mask his tiredness, Aurora still saw through the facade.
"Yes, I did, but I don’t mind," she said, sneaking her arm around his walked towards the dining room. "You have worked very hard today. I think you should have dinner first before a bath."
Xander simply agreed with her suggestion and allowed her to continue pulling him towards the dining table where a sumptuous dinner was already spread across.
Aurora and Xander settled down to fill their stomach barely saying a word. Aurora was considerate to not mention anything about work during dinner as Xander had gone through a long and exhausting day.
She could only imagine the kind of pressure he must have been in with the investors and his company board of directors.
It wasn’t easy to run a big company like DANTE Group, and let’s not get started with trying to revive the company from the lion’s snare two good times after Owen’s scandals affected the stocks before this final blow that almost sent the company into bankruptcy.
Aurora couldn’t imagine her state in that kind of position as it wasn’t a good place to be, so she could only be by Xander’s side and encourage him at this critical moment.
"You seem to like the eggplant," Aurora observed as she watched Xander with kindness in her eyes. "Do you want more of the vegetables?"
Xander turned to meet her gaze and offered a small smile. "No, I would prefer some proteins."
Almost immediately, Aurora reached for the plate of grilled turkey and was about to pick one for him when he grabbed her hand gently to stop her.
"Not that kind of protein," he said, stopping her.