Chapter 4 Now You Want To Bargain

Madelyn almost never made personal requests of Bryson, but after all they'd been through, she thought he'd make an exception-just this once.

She'd forgotten the kind of man he was; Bryson wouldn't even bother giving her an official title, let alone do her any favors out of lingering affection.

He hesitated briefly, hand stilling on the mouse, then continued clicking as though unmoved. "Personal feelings have no place at work. You're the one who insisted we end things, and now you want to bargain?"

His reply landed exactly as she'd expected, but Madelyn pressed her luck anyway. "But..."

Bryson cut her off, his voice growing brisk, "I'll increase the orphanage compensation. That's as far as I'll go. Get back to work."

Madelyn lingered just long enough to take in Bryson's cold, unmoved gaze before she pivoted and slipped out of the office. On her way out, she brushed past Janice, who had just arrived, her presence fresh and oblivious to the tension inside.

Without missing a beat, Madelyn offered Janice a brief, polite nod and hurried away, her posture rigid and unyielding.

As the heavy door swung shut behind her, a gentle, hesitant voice drifted out. "Bryson, I couldn't quite follow Ramona's explanation, and I was too nervous to ask her to say it again..."

Whatever Bryson replied, Madelyn never heard it.

Her mind was elsewhere-she already understood that nothing she said or did would change his mind. If she refused to go, Bryson would simply assign someone else to the task, and the orphanage's chances for more support would evaporate.

Steeling herself, Madelyn strode back to the PR department. She methodically packed up the materials she needed and set off toward the Southverd Development Zone, her resolve hardening with each determined step.

Matthew Campbell, the project manager, kept pace beside Madelyn, giving her a low-voiced update as they moved.

"That holdout at Verdancy Lane knows exactly what's at stake. Now he's asking for a ridiculous payout-way beyond market value. Our team's tried reasoning with him for three days, but he won't give an inch."

Madelyn's response was crisp. "Let's see it for ourselves."

The confidence in her eyes and the quiet determination in her steps seemed to steady Matthew's nerves.

When they pulled up to Verdancy Lane, the street looked desolate under the afternoon sun. A scruffy, wild-eyed man sprawled theatrically across the pavement, his voice hoarse from shouting.

"This is my home! You want to tear it down, fine-but I want a hundred million! Otherwise, you're not getting a single brick!"

A few feet away, on a barren patch of earth, two frail elders huddled together, their cries thin and desperate.

Nearby, a woman in a faded coat sat in stunned silence, her arms wrapped tightly around a small child, her gaze locked on some distant, invisible point.

"That's him!" Matthew pointed out the man with a heavy sigh, his brow furrowed in frustration. "We've looked into his background. His family's been rooted here for three generations, and even their ancestral graves are just up the road."

Madelyn took in the neighborhood's layout, quickly realizing this particular house was the centerpiece of the entire block.

Brennan Group's plans for Verdancy Lane hinged on transforming it into a vibrant, interconnected hub-restaurants, boutiques, and nightlife all seamlessly woven together.

One stubborn holdout would fracture the whole vision, leaving a glaring flaw that would ruin both flow and appeal. They needed him to accept the three million and move, or the entire project risked unraveling.

"Sir, I'm the person in charge of this project. Could we speak for a moment?" Madelyn addressed the man, her voice gentle but unwavering as she crouched beside him. "The price you're asking is well beyond the legal compensation for demolition. Being this stubborn won't benefit either side."

The man on the ground shot Madelyn a cutting glare, stubborn defiance blazing in his eyes. "I don't care what you offer. Unless you bring me a hundred million, nobody's laying a finger on this house!"

Matthew edged closer, his voice pitched low. "What now? This guy's a nightmare-he won't budge no matter what."

The man behind them kept bellowing, his stubbornness echoing through the street. "Go ahead and kill me if you want! If you're not giving a hundred million, I'm not leaving. Over my dead body!"

Madelyn's gaze lingered on the man before she issued her orders to Matthew. "Film everything here-get it all. We'll let Mr. Mills see exactly what we're up against."

An hour later, Madelyn and Matthew pushed open the doors to Bryson's office.

Inside, Janice scrambled off Bryson's lap, cheeks flaming red. She quickly stepped away, looking flustered, her hair a wild mess and the bottom of her blouse untucked and rumpled.

Bryson stayed perfectly still, his gaze sharp and commanding as he glanced up. "I hope you have a good reason for barging in."

Madelyn tamped down the surge of irritation burning inside her chest and began a concise report on the standoff at Verdancy Lane.

Bryson barely bothered to watch the video before dismissively flicking his wrist. "Get them to move their family's burial site. If you need a little more in the budget, fine-handle it. Don't waste my time with these petty issues."

But before Madelyn could respond, Janice suddenly burst out, her voice trembling with a mix of astonishment and urgency, "Wait! That woman in the video-she looks just like my little sister. I'd recognize that birthmark anywhere!"

Eighteen years ago, the Sutton family's youngest daughter had vanished without a trace. They had spent nearly two decades searching for her.

And now, the woman married to the stubborn holdout bore the exact same birthmark, in the exact same place, as Janice's long-lost sister.

It felt like an unbelievable stroke of luck.

Janice hadn't imagined that years of searching would finally lead to a breakthrough-a chance discovery in a short video.

"I have to tell my parents right away." She could barely contain her excitement as she gripped her phone, hands shaking with anticipation.

Bryson glanced at Madelyn and gave a quiet nod. "Let the project team know-put everything on pause for now."

Hearing those words, Madelyn felt a sour ache blossom in her chest.

She'd swallowed her pride and begged Bryson to spare Verdancy Lane, only to be coldly reminded to keep her emotions out of business.

But with a single remark from Janice, Bryson didn't hesitate to call off the entire operation. The favoritism was unmistakable. Maybe this time, Bryson's feelings for Janice really did run deep.