Chapter 4 Apologize

The CEO wasn't leaving anyone alive.

First, he used the farm as a scapegoat.Now that they were innocent, he still wanted to crush them.

Even after all his years under a ruthless boss, the assistant felt a rare pang of guilt watching the girl sob like her world had ended.

Little Cara, who had been quietly reading, suddenly looked up.The moment she saw the girl on the screen, her eyes went wide.It was the weird aunt who had hugged her at the airport!

Cara's tiny reaction immediately caught Skylar's attention."Cara, do you know her?" he asked, gently lifting her into his arms.

Cara glanced at him... then turned away, silent."Cara..." he murmured.

He would give anything for her to say a single word. Just one.

Thinking of the healer who had rejected them made his blood boil again."That doctor-any progress locating them?" he asked, voice cold."...No, sir," the assistant replied awkwardly.

His phone rang. He stepped out to answer."Hello-?"

"I'm Dr. Eclipse. The one who refused your request."

The assistant's eyes widened.Thinking the healer had changed their mind, he blurted, "Doctor Eclipse-!"

"If you want me to treat your daughter, tell him to apologize publicly to the girl in that video. Sandara Wellington."

"...What?"

Lightning seemed to strike his skull. Make the heartless CEO apologize? Impossible.

"You have thirty minutes. I won't repeat myself."

Then Ryan-posing as Dr. Eclipse-hung up.

The assistant panicked, trying to call back, but the number was virtual.

No way out. He had to report every word to the CEO.

"Apologize?" Skylar's expression instantly darkened.

His assistant froze, terrified.

Skylar glanced at his daughter.The icy look in his eyes softened slightly.

Ever since she lost her voice, he had searched everywhere for a cure.Even all his power and wealth couldn't fix her.And now, this miracle doctor-Dr. Eclipse-was their only hope.

"Fine," Skylar said suddenly.Compared to his daughter, nothing else mattered.Apologizing? He'd do it. Even if it meant giving up his entire fortune.

The assistant froze. The CEO... actually agreed.

Police Station.

Sandara was about to leave at her usual slow pace when a black luxury car rolled to a stop in front of her.

She froze.

The assistant jumped out immediately, opening the door respectfully.

Skylar stepped out-long legs first, tall, powerful frame, a face almost too perfect to be real.

"Oh my God... that's the CEO of Addams Corp, right?" a sharp-eyed reporter gasped.

CEO? The hotel's big boss?

Seeing him walk toward her, Sandara panicked and took a few steps back.

Skylar frowned at her attempt to hide.He stopped two steps away, his dark gaze locking on her fair, delicate face.He could see the fear in her eyes.

Skylar inhaled slowly. "Miss Wellington... I'm sorry."

Every reporter froze.The CEO of Addams Corp-here at the police station-personally apologizing?

What the...?

Wasn't he supposed to be cold, ruthless, the type who crushed anyone in his way?And now he was publicly apologizing?

"Me?" Sandara blinked, innocently. "You're apologizing to me?"

"Yes."

"But... why?" She looked confused.

"The hotel's mistake today dragged your family's farm into trouble," he explained.

"Dragged us?" Sandara tilted her head, pretending to think."Yes.""Why did it drag us?" she asked again, blinking innocently.

The reporters went silent.Was this woman really that clueless?

Skylar's eyes darkened.Even his assistant could sense he was about to lose control.

"The crisis wasn't handled properly," Skylar said, voice colder.

"Ohhh..." Sandara made a soft "O" and scratched her head. "So that's why!"

"Then why did these reporters say our farm poisoned people?" she asked, looking up at them.

The reporters froze.

Skylar's icy gaze swept over them."Every reporter who slandered Miss Wellington-see you in court."

"..."

Thunder seemed to explode over their heads.They came for gossip, and suddenly they were the ones in trouble.

"Mr. Addams, it's a misunderstanding-" they tried to explain, but his assistant quickly shooed them away.

Watching them leave, Sandara felt secretly delighted.Serves them right. Thought they could smear anyone for money? Now they were the ones being bitten back.

"Miss Wellington, satisfied?" Skylar asked.

"Huh?" She blinked, then grinned. "Mr. Addams, you're such a good person!"She even gave a big thumbs-up."Five stars!"

Childish, yes-but endearing.

Skylar told his assistant, "Call him. Ask if he's satisfied.""Understood."

But before the assistant could dial, his phone rang.

"You call this a sincere apology?"

"What wasn't sincere?!" the assistant almost exploded.The CEO came in person-how was that not sincere?!

"Put the phone on with your CEO."

The assistant handed it over.

Skylar took the phone.

"Mr. Addams, what you capitalists did today was outrageous. Here's the deal. Be that poor girl's bodyguard for a few days. Comfort her traumatized heart. Do that, and I'll treat your daughter."

"You can really cure her?" Skylar asked sharply, ignoring everything else.

"It's just aphasia. Don't worry. As long as you can coax her in front of you, I'll fix it."

Skylar looked at Sandara. "What's your relationship with her?"

"What relationship could we possibly have? I'm just a kind-hearted hero helping someone in need," came the calm reply.

Then the call ended.

"...He just hung up."

Skylar's aura darkened instantly.The air felt like a storm was about to break.

Sandara pointed forward nervously. "Um... I'll just... go first-"

"Wait." Skylar stopped her.

"...What?"

"Where are you going?"

"To the hospital. Visit my grandpa."

"I'll take you."

"Um... that's... not necessary..."

She said no, but her feet didn't move.

He walked ahead, personally opening the car door.

Sandara's lips curved slightly.Well... she'd never been in a car this nice before. Must be worth millions.She climbed in with a cheerful grin. "Then... thank you for the ride!"

Skylar said nothing.For his daughter, everything else didn't matter.

When he turned back to her, the icy coldness was gone.

"Mr. Addams, you really are a good person," Sandara said sincerely."If your kitchen staff hadn't released the security footage, our farm would've been doomed!"

"Not like your hotel manager," she sniffed, tears welling."The moment there was trouble, he dragged our farm into it... I thought the sky was falling. No matter how we explained, no one would believe us. That manager is rich, arrogant, and vicious. If he wanted us to take the fall, he'd definitely tamper with the results..."

Skylar's expression darkened further.Why did it feel like this woman... was insulting him?

"Good thing someone like you exists, Mr. Addams. Someone who would never frame helpless people like us."

His lips twitched.Her flattery felt more like humiliation.

"Mr. Addams, to show my gratitude, I'll give you a cow!" she suddenly said.

She pulled out her phone, flipping through her photo album."We have a lot of cows and pigs, but each is unique. Look-this one has a black spot on its back. And this one-its head is huge..."

Skylar stared.It was unbearably noisy.

Without thinking, he reached out and covered her mouth.

Sandara's eyes went wide.

***