Chapter 4

Mia's voice was defensive as she spoke up for her sister. "You're blaming my sister; she's cold but not so cruel," she said, her eyes flashing with anger. Brandon's expression was grim. "He has a strong reason, Mia, and you know it," he said, his voice low and even. Mia shook her head. "I know my sister; she's not what you think," she said, her voice firm. But Olivia was having none of it. Her face was twisted with anger and hatred. "Stop favoring your stepsister; she did all this," she spat, her voice venomous. "First, she caused Brandon's parents to have an accident, then she set our factory on fire and destroyed everything. She's taking revenge." The room fell silent, with everyone staring at Olivia in shock. But before anyone could respond, Brandon's phone rang, shrill in the silence. He answered it, his face turning serious as he listened to the person on the other end. Mia's eyes were fixed on him, her expression worried. "What happened?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Brandon's face was grim. "There's a board meeting," he said, his voice low. "There's some important discussion." Olivia's eyes narrowed. "About what?" she asked, her voice sharp. Brandon's expression was bleak. "My company is in debt," he said, his voice flat. "It was bound to happen." The room fell silent, with everyone staring at Brandon in shock. Mia's eyes were wide with worry, while Olivia's face was twisted with anger and fear. The atmosphere was tense, with everyone waiting for Brandon to say something, to do something. But he just stood there, his face grim, his eyes fixed on some point in the distance. The silence was oppressive, weighing heavily on everyone's shoulders. It was as if the entire room was holding its breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop. **** The board meeting was in full swing, with Brandon seated at the head of the table. He knew that the company was in trouble, but he had no idea how deep the problems ran. "I know our company is in debt," Brandon said, trying to sound confident. "First, the factory fire and then the cancellation of my big project. All our investors have also refused to invest." Mr. Wallace, one of the board members, spoke up. "Look, Brandon, we think you can't handle this company anymore. It's out of your hands." Brandon's face fell, but he tried to keep his cool. "What do you want to say?" he asked, his voice tight. Mr. Anderson, another board member, spoke up. "Look, Michael Rizzo's daughter, Isabella, whose company was separated after the merger of Moreno and Rizzo's companies, she has set up a separate company on her own, and today she is in the number one position. She also has some shares of our company..." Brandon's eyes narrowed. "So?" he asked, his voice sharp. Just then, the door opened, and Isabella walked in. She was dressed in a sleek black suit, her hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. She looked confident and in control. "I have bought your company and all the shares," she said, her voice clear and strong. "As well as the loan has been repaid, so now this company is mine." Brandon's face went white with shock. "No, it can't be," he stuttered. Isabella smiled, a cold, calculating smile. "This is the decision of all the board members," she said. "So now, you have nothing here, Brandon Moreno." Brandon's anger boiled over, and he slammed his fist on the table. He stood up, his face red with rage, and started to leave. Isabella's voice stopped him. "Well, I am not that cruel," she said. "I am concerned about my sister and her unborn child. So, if you want, I can give you a job here." Brandon turned back to her, his eyes wide with wonder. He looked at her, searching for any sign of weakness or vulnerability, but there was none. Isabella's expression was cold and unyielding, and Brandon knew that he was beaten. Without saying a word, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving Isabella in control of the company. **** Brandon's face was already red with anger and shock from the events that had just transpired in the boardroom. "You're pregnant?" he thundered, his voice echoing off the walls. Mia took a step back, her eyes welling up with tears. "I was about to tell you," she stammered. Brandon's face turned purple with rage. "When?" he shouted, his fists clenched at his sides. Mia trembled, her voice barely above a whisper. "You are already suffering a lot, and now this baby...I didn't want to add to your stress. I thought you would be angry, so I stayed silent." Brandon's eyes bulged out of his head. "My wife is fucking pregnant, and I'm hearing this from my enemy?" He roared, his voice dripping with venom. Mia burst into tears, her body shaking with sobs. "I'm sorry, Brandon," she wailed, her hands covering her face. Brandon's face was a picture of fury and shock. He couldn't believe that Mia had kept this secret from him and that he was finding out about it in the most humiliating way possible. ****