Joshua's POV

I didn't think that she felt hurt that much. How could she think that I would use her as a stress-releasing object? She was a precious woman. I would never treat her like that. She misunderstood everything. I would never try to hurt her deliberately.

When I arrived at the company, I saw my father and shareholders leaving the conference room. I looked at them in confusion. I didn't know there was a board meeting today.

"I didn't know today was a board meeting," I commented as I approached my father.

My father heaved a loud sigh and replied firmly, "It was a spontaneous meeting. Let's talk in my office."

As soon as we walked into my father's office and closed the door behind me, I asked him impatiently, "Why was there a meeting without me? I wasn't even informed."

My father rubbed his neck and breathed deeply. He looked strange.

"Dad, is there something bad?" I asked worriedly.

"They want your resignation," he replied uncomfortably.

"What?!" I exclaimed, furrowing my eyebrows. "I work hard for this company. How dare they want me out?!" I added angrily.

"I know, but what happened in the construction site..."

"It wasn't my fault! It is those bastards' faults. They plotted everything and now they are having fun who knows where," I cut him off, irritated and ran my hand through my hair angrily.

"I know, Joshua. I told them, but..." He sighed and approached me. "It will be better if you stay away for a while. As soon as we find those bastards, you will be back as a CEO," my father resumed, giving me a reassuring smile.

"What?!" I exclaimed in shock.

"Most of the shareholders voted that you were replaced by someone else," he informed sadly.

I clenched my fist tightly while I was boiling with anger. I felt betrayed and angry. After what I had done for this company, they decided to get rid of me at the first fault. Moreover, it wasn't even my fault. Those bastards did everything that everyone thought that the blame was on me.

"Without my presence? Without even informing me about the meeting? Those bastards want to kick me out after what I have done for this company!" I commented furiously.

"Joshua, calm down. I understand you, but..."

"No, Dad. You can't understand. You weren't betrayed," I cut him off.

My father sighed. "Joshua... try..." When he wanted to put his hand on my shoulder, I pulled back.

"Very well!" I gave my father a fake smile and stormed out, gritting my teeth.  My father called from behind me, but I ignored him, accelerating my pace. I had to stay alone to calm down. It felt like the whole world was against me.

When I got in my car, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out of my pocket and looked at the screen. There was a message from an unknown number.

'How was your day? It will get worse. Soon you will be all alone and in jail. Even your pretty wife will dump you. Don't worry I will take care of her.'

"Fucking bastard!" I exclaimed in frustration and threw my phone angrily.

"What happened? Journalists again?" Mark asked worriedly and picked up my phone.

"Give me," I demanded in panic, extending my hand towards him, being afraid of that he would see the message and find out about my marriage.

He gave me my phone, looking at me in confusion.

"I will send you a phone number. Find who owns this," I told him and sent him a message. He nodded and started the engine. I heaved a loud sigh, running my hand through my hair, and leaned my head back against the backrest.

***

"Damn it!" I exclaimed angrily and turned off the TV.

The worker's wife was giving an interview, lying that we hadn't been interested in her husband's health. She was a lying bitch. My father and I visited him at the hospital and asked about his wellbeing. Our representative visited the hospital every day and kept us informed.

I frowned in annoyance as my phone rang. When I looked at the screen, I saw it was my cousin, Cole. He was replacing me in the company temporarily. However, I was working instead of him because Cole didn't know about our projects. He didn't like to work in our family company; he owned restaurants.

So Cole often called me and informed me about the things going on there and asked my father's or my opinions before making decisions about the projects.

"Joshua, when are you coming back? I am tired of this hectic life. I want to go to my restaurant and return to my peaceful life," Cole pleaded, desperate. "Of course, if Kyle hasn't burned my restaurant yet."

Kyle was his younger brother. He was a carefree person. He studied at university, but he went there to get girls other than studying. He spent his time to partying and having fun with different girls. Cole barely convinced him to replace him at the restaurants, but Cole was worried that his brother would mess up, finding some woman with slender legs to spend time instead of taking care of the restaurants.

"You know the most of the shareholders don't want me there," I reminded, trying to sound nonchalant. "Till I solve my problem, they won't let me be there. Especially after finding out that because of the incident and delay, they will lose money," I added, sighing, and ran my hand through my hair.

He heaved a loud sigh and informed me, "That crazy man's assistant called again."

"Whose assistant?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows.

"Mr. Green. He doesn't agree with me attending the meeting. He gave an ultimatum, demanding that you attend the meeting. Otherwise, he won't sign the contact," Cole said in annoyance.

"Fine. I will go. Inform Celeste about the details of the meeting and timing," I stated firmly.

"No problem. See you later."

"See you."

***

I was sitting beside Celeste on the backseat of my car, but putting enough distance between us, while we were going to the ranch to have a meeting with Mr. Green. I tried to keep my promise to stay away from her as much as possible, but I still keep an eye on her after receiving the anonymous message. I was so worried about Celeste's safety.

I couldn't hold myself and looked at her time to time. She was so pretty. Her black midi dress surrendered her flawless body, showing her curves. She put her hair in a ponytail, giving the view of her neck. It reminded me of our childhood when she often did her hair ponytail. When I saw her for the first time, her hair was in ponytail as well.

Flashback

I was playing a football with my cousin, Cole, at the garden when I noticed a beautiful girl beside my little sister. She wore a white dress with cherry prints. She had a ponytail with cherry hair ties. Her hair looked like sunshine.

A few minutes later, my sister went inside while my pretty angel kept playing with her Barbie doll.

"Ouch!" I exclaimed in pain, resting my hand against my forehead as Cole hit me with a ball.

"Where are you looking?" he asked in annoyance, approaching me.

"I will marry her," I stated, determined, looking at my pretty angel.

"But we can't marry now. Daddy says we have to reach his height to marry," Cole commented, puzzled.

"Then I will wait. Mommy says if I drink carrot juice, I will get taller. So I will marry her soon," I told my cousin.

He nodded and pouted, furrowing his eyebrows, "Then I won't drink carrot juice. I don't want to marry. When you marry, you will have babies like Kyle and they don't let you sleep at nights, crying. And when he sleeps, Mommy and Daddy don't let me play a ball in the house."

"I don't care. I will play a ball at the garden then," I stated, determined and walked towards her.

When I wanted to greet her, I stumbled into a doll and fell down onto her.

"Sorry," I mumbled, embarrassed and pulled back, sitting on my knees.

"My dress!" she exclaimed angrily as tears ran down her cheeks.

I froze in my place while my body filled with fear while she kept crying, looking at her ripped dress.

"What happened?" My mother rushed out in panic.

"Mommy..." I mumbled in fear while my eyes welled up.

"Celly? What happened, honey?" my mother cooed her, bending down beside her. 

"He tore my dress," my pretty angel told my mother, still crying, pointing at me, giving me a death glare.

"Joshua, why did you rip her dress?" my mother asked in disbelief while trying to smooth the crying angel.

"I fell down..." I muttered as tears ran down my cheeks. I stood up quickly and ran away, ignoring my mother calling me.