Chapter 8
There was a sneer in the assistant’s voice.
Brandon’s grip on his phone tightened.
“That’s impossible. I was only detained for a month! There’s no way Whitmore Enterprises could’ve crumbled this fast. You’re bluffing.
Sean’s voice exploded over the line.
“Bluffing? Then go see it for yourself. Your precious Whitmore Enterprises? It’s got Carter’s name on it now. Rachel sold it dirt cheap with your signed transfer agreement in hand.”
He paused, voice dripping with scorn.
“You better wake the hell up, Brandon. You’re just a drowned rat now–anyone can step on you, and
no one will care.”
The call cut off before Brandon could respond.
He bolted toward the company building, but the moment he looked up, his heart stopped.
The giant Whitmore name that once gleamed above the tower had already been replaced with
Blackwell.
A mocking voice rang out behind him.
“Well, if it isn’t the mighty Mr. Whitmore himself. Funny, you’re looking more like a stray mutt than a CEO today.”
Brandon spun around, and there they were–Carter Blackwell, leaning casually against a red Ferrari, one arm slung possessively around Madison.
“Madison?” Brandon’s voice cracked in disbelief.
Madison’s arms wrapped around Carter’s waist, her lips curled in a smug smile as she leaned into
his chest.
Not the
way you say it. I’ve reclaimed my birth name–Madison Hale.”
”
Brandon trembled, staring at them as if the ground had split beneath his feet.
“How… how could you do this to me?” His voice shook with rage and betrayal. “I gave up everything for you, Madison. Even Rachel turned her back on me now, but you–how could you?”
Chapter 8
Madison glanced down at him with pure disdain.
“You think the Whitmore name still means anything? Your family’s ruined. Was I supposed to go
down with the ship?”
She gave a little snort, then added with casual cruelty,
“When I begged Rachel to send me overseas, your company was already tanking. I thought that was
- it. But somehow, you got lucky and pulled through. Too bad–this time, you won’t.”
Brandon’s eyes burned red.
“So you weren’t forced to leave the country? You asked her to send you away?
He lunged at her like a man possessed–but Carter caught him mid–motion and slammed a vicious kick into his chest, sending him flying.
“Touch my woman again, and I’ll break every bone in your body.”
Another brutal stomp came down, this time directly on Brandon’s hand.
Then Carter’s boot came crashing into Brandon’s face.
The
mouth.
was a sickening crunch. Two of Brandon’s front teeth flew out, blood gushing from his
Carter had never gotten over that punch Brandon once threw at him–and after years of being humiliated, he was more than ready to settle the score.
“You–how dare you hit me-!” Brandon choked out, clutching his bleeding mouth, fury and helplessness written all over his face.
Carter ground his heel into Brandon’s hand.
“Oh, I dare. You think I need a damn occasion?”
He spat on Brandon’s head.
“You’re not the Whitmore CEO anymore, you pathetic has–been. Rachel already sold the company to me, and even your precious little ‘adopted sister‘? She’s mine now too.”
Brandon could only glare, eyes full of hatred and pain.
Madison slowly crouched in front of him, looking at him like something she’d scrape off her shoe.
“Brandon, let me save you some breath,” she said coldly. “You’re nothing now. A washed–up
failure. People walk past you like they would a pile of trash–and if they’re in a bad mood, they’ll probably kick you for fun. What exactly do you have left to fight us with?”
Blood dripped from Brandon’s lips as he stared at her in silence, hands clenched tight.
“I won’t let you get away with this.”
She chuckled, then gently patted his bruised cheek like he was a pathetic child.
“You poor thing. Still pretending you’ve got power left?” she mocked. “Don’t waste your energy.”
She stood, looped her arm through Carter’s, and leaned in to kiss his cheek.
“Let’s go, babe. We’ve got actual business to take care of.”
Carter laughed out loud and pulled her close, his hand slipping down to grab her ass with no shame. “You’re a little hellcat, you know that? No wonder Brandon was so obsessed with you.”
