An Unbreakable Addiction

11

"You and Hunter have been married for three years now," Mr. Jasper Sr. said, his voice filled with hope It's time you two have a child. Why don't you quit your job and focus on preparing for a family? After the baby, you can always return to work. What do you think?" He was eager for Mia to have a child, believing that if she did, Hunter's focus would return to her.

Mia gave a light chuckle and shook her head, but before she could respond, another voice cut in. "Dad, I heard you're planning to transfer some of your shares in Genesis Corporation to Mia. I don't agree!"

At the sound of the voice, Mia looked up and saw her mother-in-law, Mabel, storming in from the doorway. She looked like she had just rushed back from out of town.

Mr. Jasper Sr.'s face darkened. "They're my shares. I'll give them to whomever I want. What difference does it make if you don't agree?"

Mabel marched over, stopping in front of Mia with a hard, scrutinizing look. "Mia, if you accept these shares, then divorce Hunter!" She knew well how much Mia cared about Hunter, convinced that Mia would refuse the shares to avoid jeopardizing her marriage.

Mia gave a calm smile. "If you can convince Hunter to divorce me, I'll sign the papers right away."

Mr. Jasper Sr.'s heart skipped a beat hearing Mia so calmly mention divorcing Hunter. Feeling a surge of worry, he turned his frustration on Mabel. "Enough! Stay out of my business! I decide where my shares go. * not you!".

His face was flushed with anger. Mabel, equally furious, shot back, "You only have 8% of Genesis Corporation's shares, and you're giving Mia 5%? The Jasper family doesn't just have one granddaughter-in-law! Isn't this unfair?"

Her expression darkened, and she couldn't help but think how strange it was that Mia was now willing to divorce Hunter. Could it be because of all the recent headlines?

Mia

a was momentarily stunned. She hadn't realized how many shares Mr. Jasper Sr. held, but she understood that holding 5% of Genesis Corporation would mean an annual dividend of at least one billion. When Mr. Jasper Sr. first mentioned giving her shares, Mia had thought it was best to accept them out of respect and gratitude, planning to decide later what to do with them.

Another reason lingered in the back of her mind. If she didn't accept these shares, Hunter might end up transferring them to Jenna. These shares were hers by right. Why should Jenna have them?

Mr. Jasper Sr. sneered, "When I first brought Hunter back, you had me transfer 10% of the shares to Zane A year ago, when he passed, those shares fell to you. Is that fair to everyone else?"

At his age, he could see through people with ease, and he knew exactly how ruthless his daughter-in-law could be.

The mention, of her late son's name made Mabel snap, her voice breaking. "If Hunter hadn't been brought back, my Zane might still be alive! My only son is gone. Those shares should rightfully belong to me!"

She practically shouted, putting all her pain into those words. She had raised her son with everything she

had, only to lose him. No amount of shares could ever ease the grief of that loss.

In Mia's memory, her mother-in-law had always been the picture of grace, treating everyone with warmth and kindness. To the world, Mabel was the ideal high-society woman, the perfect stepmother. But now, over just 5% of the shares, that flawless image had cracked, revealing a face twisted by greed and anger.

Watching Mabel's contorted expression, Mia couldn't help but think back to three years ago, when her own parents had desperately tried to marry her off to an older man. That same frightening look.

Mr. Jasper Sr.'s rage boiled over, and he shouted at Mabel, "If you hadn't forced him out that night to find Jenna, he wouldn't have died! Zane's death is on your hands!"Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Mia froze, stunned. The death of Zane Jasper had always been a closed subject within the family, but now, a new, darker truth had