He Tricked Me With Fake Illness For Her, I Sent Him to Amputation

Chapter 3

I spent all night combing through the company's financial statements and discovered that Ryan had already siphoned off most of Grant Group's assets.

I had been so consumed with Ryan's supposed health problems that I had left the day-to-day running of the company to Uncle Derek Grant.

I never imagined that Ryan had turned him against me long ago.

Just then, my phone rang.

It was Linda Parker, my mother's executive assistant.

"Ms. Grant, you need to come to the office right now!"

For a moment, my mind went blank.

Ryan had just undergone surgery and was supposed to be in the hospital.

How had he managed to make his move so quickly?

The moment I reached Grant Group headquarters, two burly security guards blocked my path.

A press conference was underway at the entrance, with reporters packed around Ryan's wheelchair and cameras trained on him.

He spoke into the microphones with practiced warmth and sincerity.

"Thank you all for your concern. Recently, my wife, Tessa Grant, has been caring for me while managing the company, and the strain has taken a serious toll on her health. As her husband, I can't bear to watch her push herself this hard. After careful consideration, the board has voted to appoint me acting CEO while she takes medical leave. I will protect the company her family built and make sure she has the time she needs to recover."

Applause broke out among the onlookers while the reporters kept their cameras trained on him.

Someone in the crowd exclaimed, "Mr. Hale is an incredible husband. He just had surgery, but he came straight here to step in for his wife!"

The guards didn't let me through until the reporters had left.

Ryan spotted me and wheeled over at once.

"Tess, did you sleep at all last night? Those dark circles look awful. Your mother was also told at a checkup 2 days ago that she had a heart condition. Neither of you can keep pushing yourselves like this. The board approved the arrangement, so there was nothing I could do. I've already taken care of everything. I bought a house with a yard in Pinehaven. The fresh air and quiet surroundings will be perfect for your recovery."

So this was his so-called restructuring.

He had dressed up a blatant power grab as concern, pushed me out of my own company, and tried to send me into exile.

Amanda appeared right on cue.

"Tessa, Ryan is only doing this because he cares about you."

She came over and took my hand with false affection.

"Look at you. You're exhausted, and you're already getting fine lines around your eyes. Why work yourself to the bone when Ryan is willing to take care of the company? The slightest ache has him dropping everything to look after me. You should let someone take care of you for once. If you need anything in Pinehaven, tell me. I'll have Ryan send it over. We are best friends, after all."

I watched the two of them put on their little show and forced down my anger.

With the board united behind him, there was little I could do for the moment.

'Ryan Hale, you may think you've stolen Grant Group from me, but the real show hasn't even begun.'