Chapter 1461
Charles shook his head, perfectly content with the outcome. He had expected this from the start.
Charles understood all too well how the Evans family operated. With Napier orchestrating things, it was clear Oakley would get off with a slap on the wrist rather than any real punishment. What did catch Charles off guard was Napier’s choice to push Oakley out of the fight for future family head entirely.
Oakley was far from happy about it, but Napier didn’t mince words—if Oakley refused to play along, he’d walk away empty-handed.
Reluctantly, Oakley accepted his overseas holdings and left, stripped of any real influence but kept comfortable enough not to stir up trouble.
On his way out, Oakley shot Charles a venomous glare, only to be met with an indifferent shrug.
He couldn’t resist lashing out one last time. “Without Millie around, I doubt you’ll ever measure up to Reuben!”
Charles just smiled and gave him a lazy wave. “Take care of your new fortune, Oakley. What I do with my life is none of your business.”
Oakley stormed onto his flight, leaving everything and everyone behind.
Meanwhile, Charles walked home hand in hand with Trudy, both lost in thoughts of Millie.
“Do you think Millie will ever wake up?” they pondered aloud, sharing a look filled with longing and worry.
The Watson family had faced their own set of upheavals this past year.
With Brandon’s legal problems, Simon stepped in to steady the ship, temporarily filling the CEO’s seat. The initial shock sent Watson Group’s shares tumbling, but the strength of their product line eventually pulled the company back on course.
Brandon’s time in prison turned out to be short. Ongoing health issues earned him a medical release, and as his sentence wrapped up, Simon returned to handle the company’s global operations, letting Brandon reclaim his old position at the helm.
Brandon spent much of the year in and out of surgery, but his legs never quite returned to what they once were. The right side had mostly regained its strength, yet the left refused to heal, throbbing with sharp pain whenever the weather turned damp. Most days, he leaned on a wheelchair or a cane just to get around.
There were moments of frustration, but he managed to carry on, adapting to the new limits his body set for him. With time, Brandon learned to accept his situation. Still, in the quiet stretches of pain, his thoughts always drifted to Millie.
Babette became the steady force behind Watson Group’s recovery, patching old wounds and steering the company out of the shadows. Her work spoke for itself, earning her a place in the family again.
Her connection with Egbert shifted into something comfortable and genuine—true friendship. After releasing the ghosts of past attachments, they both found their rhythm in their own pursuits.
Babette kept a watchful eye on Watson Group’s branch in Fiesta, sometimes joining Egbert for dinner. Those evenings often ended in long talks about their journeys and gentle speculation about when Millie would finally return to them.
The Elliott family had found their own bright spots over the past year.
Adriana poured herself into work, winning praise for her recent projects. Jayceon became a master at handling family politics, all while trading playful barbs with the McCoy family’s spirited second daughter.
Helga, weighed down by guilt since the incident, slowly found her footing with the help of counseling. She took Nicole out for little escapes—sweet treats, spa days—trying to lift the heaviness that clung to them both.