Beautiful In White

Chapter 4 TheWorld Turn Against Me

I stood there. The world seemed to turn against me. Even the temperature in the room was merciless—it was oppressively hot.

I began to stare at the board of directors. They all had different gazes; some were filled with pity, others mocking, and some guilt-ridden. But one thing was for sure—none of them was willing to help.

Saving my father was the most important thing. I took a deep breath, suppressing my anger, and spoke softly, “Appointing a new president has nothing to do with my father's bank card. Why was it frozen?”

I stared directly at Uncle Ryan, like a lawyer interrogating a culprit.

My uncle rubbed his beard, his lips curling slightly as he said, “The company is in trouble. We can't afford to waste money on unnecessary things.”

“What?!” I stumbled backward, my eyes wide open, my chest heaving. I pointed an accusing finger at him.

“Unnecessary things? My father is lying in the hospital, battling for his life. How is that a waste of money?”

Ryan, as if my father were a stranger to him, positioned himself comfortably in his seat and said indifferently, “Of course, it’s a waste of money. I heard the surgery costs seven million cedis. Do you know what that amount could do for the company?”

I squinted my eyes in frustration. “When my father took over the company, it was on the verge of collapsing. If not for him, would it have gotten this far?”

One of the shareholders, Mr. Jude—my father's trusted friend—chimed in. “Seven million cedis is a lot, but saving Mr. Blay is priceless. Why not release the money to her?”

Ryan sighed in frustration, feigning a worried expression. “It’s not like we’re disregarding his life,” he said. “But now the stock has fallen greatly, and withdrawing this amount of money could put the company at risk.”

He gestured with his hands, mimicking the company’s condition, then paused and continued, “How about this? Let’s wait for the company to stabilize; then, we can withdraw the money.”

He stared at me. His tone wasn’t suggesting; his words were final.

His words shattered all my hope. He wasn’t willing to help. Did he actually want my father dead?

“He is your brother,” I couldn’t help but blurt out.

“It’s because he’s my brother that I said he should wait until the company becomes stable. I know my brother well enough to believe he’d want us to focus on saving the company. He’s strong; he won't die,” Ryan said. His face was full of concern, but I could see the coldness beneath his eyes.

The board of directors agreed with him. They all suggested waiting until the company became stable. I clenched my fists, scanning the room as I gritted my teeth. “Very good. Very good,” I said, my voice cracking as I struggled to hold back tears.

I couldn’t stand their hypocritical faces any longer, so I left the hall.

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…Ryan’s POV…

Staring at Jasmine’s retreating back, my eyes grew cold. It was like a devil staring at his prey. I felt delighted. For once, the spotlight would be mine. Without him overshadowing me, they’d finally see my worth.

My younger brother had always outshone me, dimming my light and making it difficult for people to notice my capabilities and strength.

Now I could prove to the world how capable I am.

Oh, Father, how I wish you were alive to see my strength. Don’t worry. Your son will soon join you, and he will tell you everything.

I once loved my brother; he was my everything. But the constant comparisons made me develop hatred towards him. It grew stronger when I noticed he was surrounded by people, constantly praised.

We were born on the same day. We were both bright. Why was he constantly praised, while I was always scolded? Finally, I can prove to the world how capable I am.

I am sure he will not be alive by the time the company gets back on track. I heard he has no more than a month to live. I didn’t want the shareholders to know my intentions, so I suggested this delay.

Right now, I feel happy seeing his daughter suffer. This is just the beginning.

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…Jasmine’s POV…

I stood outside the company, staring at the towering building. Once, it had been a place of comfort, a second home. Now, it felt like a stranger, cold and uninviting.

A soft mocking drizzling began, as if nature pitied me. Soon, it poured, relentless and unkind, but I didn’t care. I stood there, letting it soak me to the bone.

My thoughts spiraled. How did it come to this? Where could I go now? I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms as I tried to suppress the wave of despair crashing over me.

A sudden screech snapped me out of my haze. A car came to a halt in front of me, the headlights piercing through the rain.

“Are you going to just give up so easily?”

I froze, the voice cold and cutting. Slowly, I turned toward the source.

It was him.

The man who had helped me escape before. What was he doing here?

Even through the rain, his presence was magnetic. His sharp features—high cheekbones, a chiseled jaw, and those deep, piercing eyes—were enough to steal the breath of anyone who dared look too long.

Gosh, he was perfect. He looked like he had stepped straight out of a painting, untouched by the chaos of the world.

“Do I look handsome?” His voice was laced with teasing, his lips curling into a slight smirk.

“Narcissist,” I muttered, tearing my gaze away from him.

“Are you just going to stand here and sulk?” he asked again, his tone more serious this time.

“What do you expect me to do?” I snapped, meeting his gaze again. His eyes seemed to bore into me, cold and unyielding, yet strangely comforting.

“Get in,” he said simply.

I hesitated, my body frozen in place. The rain continued to fall, the silence between us thick with tension. He didn’t move, didn’t look away. His patience only made the moment heavier.

“What do you want from me?” I finally asked, my voice barely audible over the storm.

“Get in,” he repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I stared at him for what felt like an eternity, my thoughts a whirlwind. Should I trust him? Could I?

Time seemed to stop as our eyes locked. The world around us disappeared, leaving just the two of us standing in the storm.

I stood still, not knowing what to do. Should I or shouldn't? What exactly does this man want?”