Chapter 4 I've Come To Claim Your Lives

With Emily's return to Morris Group, the inevitable shake-up began. Her initial reforms sent shockwaves through the whole company.

A sweeping restructure saw numerous high-ranking officials either dismissed or reassigned, including the allies of Kyson and Logan, who had dared to confront Emily upon her arrival.

In the morning, Kyson's office was a scene of chaos. The air was filled with angry voices, pounding fists on tables, and the clatter of chairs. "This is outrageous! After all the years I've dedicated to Morris Group, pouring my heart and soul into it, why am I fired like this? Your family owes me an explanation! You've reconciled with your niece, and I'm just collateral damage? How is that fair?"

The office room erupted with others echoing the sentiment, their faces flushing with anger, a stark contrast to their usual polished demeanor.

Amidst the uproar, Kyson struggled to restore order, saying, "Please, let's all calm down for a minute..."

Logan, comfortably seated in a corner, idly toyed with his bracelet. He embodied the picture of calm, unaffected by the turmoil. Secure in his role as vice director, he remained aloof to the fates of others. To him, as long as he wasn't the target, the chaos around him was of little concern.

Kyson made an effort to soothe his former allies, yet he remained composed internally. His primary concern was safeguarding his own status and benefits, regardless of the staffing changes below him.

Emily had actually consulted him about the personnel adjustments beforehand, a decision born from their mutual discussions.

"Uncle Kyson, the Morris Group isn't as financially stable as it used to be. We can't afford to carry dead weight. I've invested all of my savings to rescue the company. If we allow these underperformers to continue draining our resources, we might end up having to liquidate our assets. I learned that you and Logan recently invested in land in the northern suburbs, aiming to develop a golf course..."

Emily's argument, focusing on personal stakes, had quickly swayed Kyson. The anger he had initially felt evaporated, replaced by agreement. These people had to go to eliminate the dead weight.

Emily had little patience for lengthy debates with these old-timers. She preferred to let them sort out their own mess. Leaving the company behind, she headed straight for her family home.

The Morris Mansion, known as Rose Mansion, stood on what had once been a sprawling rose garden. Both Emily and her mother shared a love for roses, prompting Joshua, Emily's father, to purchase the land and build a home for their family there.

Returning after three years, Emily found herself unexpectedly anxious.

For three years, she had acted on impulse for the sake of love. She wondered if her parents watching over her from heaven would have disapproved.

Now, in May, the roses in Merden were in full bloom, contrasting with the colder climate of Vilgate. When she departed from the Collins Mansion, the roses there had yet to bloom.

Thoughts of that man still caused Emily's heart to ache, as though it were being ripped apart. Yet, having made the decision to leave, she knew she must work on letting go.

As her car entered the mansion, Emily eagerly anticipated the sight of roses. Stepping out of the car, her excitement turned to dismay. The rose garden her father had lovingly tended was now gone, replaced by peonies, with weeds running rampant around them.

A surge of anger filled her. Not only had they taken over her home, but they had also destroyed her beloved rose garden.

Had those brazen intruders truly believed she was dead?

Laughter broke through her thoughts, drawing Emily's attention to two elegantly dressed women emerging from the house, each arm in arm with a man.

The woman in the front was adorned in a white lace dress, her hair pinned with a tiny diamond tiara. She leaned in for a kiss, oblivious to the world around her.

It was the man's sudden awareness of another presence that interrupted the moment. Pushing the woman away, he caught sight of Emily. His reaction was one of sheer shock as if he had seen a ghost. Losing his balance, he stumbled and fell.

Staring at Emily with wide eyes, he stammered, "E-Emily!"

The other three also turned their gazes toward Emily, their reactions mirroring the man's shock, covering their mouths in astonishment. Ruby Morris shouted, "Are you real or a ghost?"

Clad in a white dress, Emily's demeanor was cool, her lips curled into a sardonic smile. Her voice, both haunting and captivating, carried through the air.

"Guilt breeds ghosts. I've come to claim your lives. Mathew Graham, Ruby Morris, are you prepared?"