He Let Assistant Manage My Wealth, I Left Him

Chapter 3

Clutching the crumpled budget, I dragged myself back to the bedroom.

I was so thirsty I couldn't stand it. I took a sip from the bathroom faucet.

Griffith's words filled my head. Bit by bit, my heart went cold. I tossed and turned through the early hours, barely sleeping.

Just as I was finally drifting into deeper sleep, my phone vibrated sharply.

"Ms. Peverell, your mother's condition has suddenly deteriorated!

"She's developed pneumonia and she can't breathe!

"Please come to the hospital immediately!"

I threw on some clothes in a panic and rushed downstairs.

I'd barely reached the living room when Annika blocked me.

"Mrs. Renshaw, did you disable the timers last night?"

The accusation hit me without warning. I froze, then opened my mouth to deny it.

Griffith came out of the study in his pajamas.

He was holding a tablet displaying the house's electricity usage from the previous night.

His expression was frighteningly dark.

"Odette! What the hell is wrong with you? I told you to learn to manage this household, for your own good! And you sneak down in the middle of the night and switch the main breaker back on? You say one thing to my face and do another behind my back? You've really let me down!"

His voice was heavy with exhaustion and scorn.

He slammed the tablet onto the coffee table.

"Maybe I was wrong.

"I should never have expected anything of you.

"Since you can't even manage 3,000 dollars, I might as well find someone who knows how to run a home."

The cruelty of his words was almost unbelievable.

My heart missed a beat.

"Griffith, I didn't!

"I didn't touch the timers!"

I shook my head desperately and reached for him.

Annika suddenly pulled out her phone and stepped between us.

"I knew she wouldn't admit it.

"Mr. Renshaw, you have a smart meter. The usage records couldn't be clearer.

"Between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. last night, the kitchen and living room lights were turned on four times.

"Who else could it have been?"

She sounded utterly certain.

I was about to argue when Griffith spoke coldly.

"Odette, didn't you just say you never touched them?

"Then look at the records yourself."

He pushed the tablet in front of me.

Thinking of Mom waiting at the hospital, I clutched my phone, my eyes stinging with panic.

"Griffith, the hospital just called. My mom's developed pneumonia.

"They said she can't breathe. Her life could be in danger at any moment.

"Let me get to the hospital first. We can check the electricity when I get back..."

Before I could finish, Annika interrupted with a frown. "Mrs. Renshaw, you aren't making this up again, are you? Trying to use it to get out of this?"

My eyes were red, but I ignored her.

I stepped forward and grabbed Griffith's hand.

"Griffith, believe me!

"I'd never joke about my mother's life!"

After a few tense seconds, he frowned and finally nodded.

"Fine.

"I'll drive you."

I forced a smile and hurried to the garage.

I was reaching for the front passenger door.

Annika appeared again.

"Mrs. Renshaw, his relatives have always thought I was his wife.

"If they see you sitting up front, it could damage his reputation..."

I froze and looked at Griffith.

He calmly nodded.

It felt as though a hand had closed around my heart. I opened the rear door and climbed in.

As soon as the car started, Annika pushed the front passenger seat a long way back.

I was so cramped behind her that I couldn't straighten my legs.

When I looked up, I noticed that she and Griffith were wearing matching couples' slippers.

I twisted the hem of my clothes between my fingers. My stomach ached with emptiness.

A low rumble.

My stomach had betrayed me.

Annika burst out laughing in the front seat. "Skipping meals to save money, Mrs. Renshaw? Now that's really taking household management to heart."