Back to My Worst Birthday and Starting Anew
Chapter 185 Sudden Friendship
She clutched the effigy in her hand, her eyes cold and filled with vicious intent.
+8 Pearls
Returning to school after a few days off, Charmaine received exciting news from Rex the moment she stepped into the classroom.
“Boss, all those minor shareholders at Bennett’s company have bailed, and I bought their shares. After today’s signings, we now hold 47%.”
Charmaine queried, “Bennett holds 48%. What about the remaining 5%?”
Rex chuckled over the phone, “Guess who, Boss?”
Charmaine thought for a moment, a cold smile forming on her lips. “Leah.”
“Wow! Nothing gets past you, Boss! Right on the mark!” Rex exclaimed loudly.
“Bennett is a cunning man. The last 5% puts his majority at risk. He wouldn’t hand it over to anyone he didn’t fully trust.”
Rex made a clicking sound. “Want to take a guess when Bennett transferred those shares to Leah?”
On the other end of the call, Rex’s voice took on a playful, meaningful tone.
Just then, Charmaine heard a familiar voice at the classroom door.
Glancing up from her phone, she saw Leah walk in, beaming with happiness.
Their eyes met.
Charmaine clearly saw Leah’s fleeting look of shock and disgust, along with …
a deeply buried yet unwittingly revealed cunning scheme.
The smirk on Charmaine’s lips grew deeper, her voice lowering. “When she was still a kid, at least before it was publicly acknowledged that the two families‘ children had been switched.”
“Boss, you’re amazing!” Rex’s excitement was palpable. “Leah’s shares are founders‘ shares. Bennett gave them to her the same year he founded the company!”
Charmaine did a quick calculation. “Six years ago, when Leah and I were twelve, Bennett founded the company early in the year.”
She remembered that time vividly.
During the company’s founding period, Bennett would leave early and come back late. Charmaine, returning from school, had to cook, clean, and wash the day’s laundry.
It was just after the start of spring. The weather hadn’t warmed up yet, and by the time Charmaine finished her chores, it was nearly midnight. Her hands were red and numb from the cold.
That month was also when Charmaine got her first period, which was late compared to other girls her age.
1/2
Chapter 185 Sudden Friendship
She learned about menstruation in school but didn’t realize how uncomfortable it would be.
Her lower abdomen ached, her back was sore, and her body felt heavy.
After finishing her chores and lying down, Bennett came home, drunk and belligerent.
He vomited all over the doorway, and Sophie banged on her door with intense disdain.
“What are you sleeping for? Get up and clean that mess!”
64%
+8 Pearls
Charmaine, enduring her abdominal pain, got out of bed and opened the door, revealing her pale face. “Mom, I don’t feel well. Can I clean it up tomorrow?”
“Wait until tomorrow? Are you kidding me?!”
Sophie’s hand came down heavy and hard, poking Charmaine’s forehead. “Stop pretending to be pitiful. A little work makes you complain everywhere. Who do you think you are, some rich family’s heiress? We work hard to feed and clothe you, and you can’t even pull your weight!”
The blow almost made Charmaine faint.
In the end, despite her pain, she cleaned up the mess outside the door.
“Boss, are you still there?”
Rex’s voice brought Charmaine back from her memories.
Suppressing the coldness in her eyes, she said blandly, “I know. I’ll deal with her shares.”
Ending the call, Charmaine felt a pat on her shoulder.
She looked up to see Celeste hopping in front of her. “You’re finally back! I’ve been waiting for you for days.”
“Waiting for me?”
“Yeah, you’re practically my only friend now. Of course, I missed you.”
This friendship felt rather sudden.
Celeste leaned closer, talking incessantly as if she’d been holding back for days.
She chatted about everything that had happened at school while Charmaine was away and how busy Dominic had become after taking on the South City project, making connections with several bigwigs.
“All thanks to you, Charmaine!”
As Celeste continued, she noticed Leah approaching and suddenly raised her voice, the glee in her tone barely concealed.
。
