Chapter 22
Cassian secretly arranged for someone to collaborate with Naomi, allocating five percent of the company’s annual profits to support her projects.
He didn’t dare disturb her anymore. This was the only way he knew to quietly protect her from
a distance.
When the shareholders found out, they stormed into Cassian’s office in protest. He simply threw the agreement on the table, silencing them.
The contract he signed with Naomi had no expiration date. As long as she continued to work on improving the villages, the funding would continue to come in.
Every day, Cassian received updates and videos about Naomi. She was growing more confident and radiant. She was the reason he could keep going.
Late one night, Cassian rose from his desk. Suddenly, everything went black. He collapsed to the ground.
When he came to, the first thing he saw was Lydia, who had tears streaming down her face.
Repeated head injuries had caused a buildup of blood clots in his brain, pressing on his nerves. The location was in delicate parts of his head, so surgery wasn’t an option. At any moment, he could lose his vision, fall unconscious, or even die.
Upon hearing the diagnosis, the first thought that flashed through Cassian’s mind wasn’t fear for himself. It was the fear that he might no longer be able to protect Naomi.
“At least the contract’s signed. In a way… I still manage to participate in her future.”
He turned to Lydia. “Mom, I’m sorry. I realized everything too late. I hurt both Naomi and you. If I die, please take care of her for me. If I had another chance… I swear, I’d never be such a jerk again.”
Cassian had fallen into a coma. It was uncertain when he would wake up. Lydia went to find Naomi, who was in tears, hoping she might be willing to visit him.
At that moment, Naomi had just thrown away the latest bouquet Cassian had sent. Dressed in a crisp white suit, she looked sharp and composed. When she saw Lydia, she paused for a brief
second.
Lydia had always treated her kindly. Naomi offered a polite smile and walked over. “Mrs. Hartwell, what brings you here?”
“Naomi, Cassian’s in a coma. The doctors say he could die at any moment. Please just go see him. I know I shouldn’t be bothering you, but I…” Lydia burst out crying.
Naomi’s expression shifted slightly. She reached out to steady Lydia and declined. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Hartwell… but I can’t. I no longer want to have any ties with him. I know you might blame me. I’m sorry.”
She took a deep breath.
“You don’t understand… you’ll never really be free of him. He…” Lydia stopped mid-sentence.
She remembered Cassian’s final request and swallowed the rest of her words. He was afraid that if Naomi ever learned the truth behind their collaboration, she’d terminate the deal without hesitation.
That agreement was the only thread still holding them together. Naomi didn’t notice Lydia’s hesitation. She simply bowed and said, “There’s nothing between us anymore. I’m sorry.”
Without hesitation, she turned and walked away. Lydia covered her mouth, trembling with sobs, but didn’t follow.
Naomi stepped out of the office building just as Roy got out of the car, smiling warmly at her.” Naomi, the restaurant’s booked. We can head straight there.”
“Thanks, Roy. This time, we have to secure the deal with the medical group. If it goes through, we won’t need to source a separate medical team,” she replied with a light smile, the shadow Cassian had cast on her mood already lifting.
“When Ms. Whitaker takes the lead, no deal is out of reach.”
Roy was not only Naomi’s business partner but also the company’s legal advisor. Recently, she only discovered that he was the wealthy heir to the Carrington family of Jorhaven, even richer
than Cassian.
He studied law simply out of passion. He became a lawyer for her. Still, Naomi had no intention of starting a relationship. Her focus was entirely on her work.
Roy didn’t seem to mind. He stayed by her side quietly. Yet, he would occasionally use work as an excuse to ask her out.
Twenty years flew by. Naomi had helped countless villages overcome poverty, becoming one of the nation’s top ten entrepreneurs. In her field, she continued to push forward, leaving a remarkable legacy.
Roy stayed by her side through it all. After two decades of quiet devotion, he finally got his happy ending. He and Naomi registered their marriage, and he became her lawful husband.
As for Cassian, he remained in a coma for twenty years. Just before his death, he briefly regained consciousness.
He said he had traveled through time… back to when he and Naomi were deeply in love. This
Chapter 22
time, he didn’t betray her. He didn’t stray. They got married, had children, and lived out a full, happy life together…
