Chapter 6

Of course, we live in a society governed by law. We wouldn’t dare break it.

Our method? Psychological warfare.

Since Chloe’s family essentially runs this hospital, it wasn’t long before Mark’s legs and lower body were put in a cast.

The doctor told him his bones were fractured and he’d need a good month of bed rest.

Mark was in so much pain he couldn’t even close his legs, so he naturally believed every word.

During his hospital stay, we continued with the next phase of our plan.

Chloe had promised Aunt Karen she’d help her get a plum government job, but then went silent.

Aunt Karen waited three days. By the fourth, she clearly couldn't hold back anymore and called me:

“Ashley, has your friend called you back? Does she need any documents?”

“Aunt Karen, you know how these things go. If it were easy, we wouldn’t need help. Chloe’s waiting for the perfect timing too.”

“Right, right. I’ll keep waiting then. Please keep pressing on your end.”

A week later, Aunt Karen called again. This time, her patience was definitely gone:

“Ashley, if there’s any kickback needed, your uncle says we’ll pay it. Just as long as it gets done.”

“Aunt Karen, I told you not to worry about money.”

I feigned annoyance.

“If you keep treating me like some stranger you’re trying to bribe, I’m dropping this entirely.”

“No, no, no!”

Aunt Karen let out a strained chuckle.

“How could I let you go through all this trouble and expense? Just tell me what’s needed.”

In the meantime, Mark’s “accidental” fall and hospitalization had allowed us to vent a little bit of our anger.

So, Aunt Karen’s matter needed to be resolved quickly too.

Chloe called Aunt Karen, asking if she was listed as the owner or director of a company.

She said she’d tried to pull strings for the government job, but when they ran a background check, they found a company listed under her name, and that was an immediate red flag.

They rejected her on the spot.

“Aunt Karen, so you’re a big shot businesswoman! With your status, you’re asking me to get you a government job? You made me look like an idiot and I got chewed out by my connections! Aunt Karen, even if you’re my cousin Ashley’s aunt, you can’t screw over your own niece like this, can you?”

Aunt Karen was desperate to explain, but the more she tried, the more tangled she got. Finally, she had to call me:

“Ashley, you need to tell your friend that company is Mark’s and yours, not mine!”

“Aunt Karen, the company is officially under *your* name. No matter how much I explain, it won’t matter. They only look at what’s in black and white; they won’t listen to my word-of-mouth testimony.”

“Then, then!”

Aunt Karen fumed.

“What about Mark? Tell him to get my name off that company *now*, or don’t blame your aunt for cutting him off completely!”

Looking at Mark, lying in bed, drowsy and half-asleep, I offered a faint smile.

“Mark, Aunt Karen doesn’t want to be the company’s official director anymore. What do you think we should do?”

Mark lifted his eyes to me, then shook his head.

“Wife, I’m so sleepy. You handle it.”

We’d been adding sedatives to his IVs these past few days, plus the calming scents I diffused in his private room.

It would have been a miracle if Mark *wasn't* sleepy.

Since Mark said that, what else could I do?

Taking Mark’s ID and the documents I’d already prepared, I took Aunt Karen straight to the city’s Business Registration Office.

The process went smoothly. In about 20 days, Mark would officially become the new director and owner.

And I, well, I would own half of the company’s shares.

Mark’s legs were finally well enough for him to walk again.

I used the excuse that company matters were overwhelming – after all, I was now the *real* boss’s wife.

I couldn’t come to care for him every day, so I specifically hired a nurse to look after him.

Mark didn’t say anything, looking somewhat dazed and out of it.