I Texted My Dad One Word The World Burned novel Chapter 24

Chapter 4

I rose to my feet, heart pounding with anticipation. This was my moment.

But when the spotlight lit the stage, it wasn’t me standing there.

It was Emily, beaming with triumph.

The hall erupted into gasps.

My body froze, a hollow buzzing filling my ears. Around me, employees stared in shock, whispering furiously to one another.

“Are you kidding? Everyone knows this project was Ms. Green’s work.”

But Daniel’s expression didn’t waver. Calm, composed, he lavished praise on Emily, speaking of her tireless effort, her dedication- lies that burned through me like acid.

And then he announced, as though it were the most natural decision in the world:

“Starting today, Charlotte Green will step down from her role, and Emily Sanders will be promoted to Director of Product, Development.

My nails bit deep into my palm, sharp pain radiating outward–but it was nothing compared to the crushing weight in my chest.

Onstage, Emily’s lips curved in a smile she couldn’t quite suppress..

When the launch ended and the crowd had only just begun to disperse, I strode forward and slapped her hard across the face.

The crack echoed through the hall.

“Stealing someone else’s work and calling it your own–you feel no shame?”

Emily clutched her cheek, silent, her lips pressed into a thin line.

But Daniel reacted instantly, shoving me back with such force that I staggered.

“Charlotte! How dare you raise your hand to her? That was my decision!”

He was shaking with fury, his voice booming across the venue.

“She had nowhere to go after you drove her out. How is she supposed to survive in Baymont on an assistant’s salary?”

The sheer audacity of his defense broke something in me.

A laugh slipped out, sharp and bitter.

“Her contribution? You mean when she brewed coffee that poisoned the entire team with food poisoning? Or when she tried making cheese fondue and shut down the whole office with a power outage?”

I clenched my jaw, forcing the tears back. If I let them out now, I’d collapse.

‘How dare you hand over a year of my blood, sweat, and sleepless nights to someone else? Daniel Brooks, how dare you?”

He looked at me with eyes full of disappointment, as if I were the unreasonable one.

“Charlotte, when did you become so mean? It’s just a patent. I did if all for you.”

“For me?” My voice was ice.

“Yes. You’ve spent years running yourself ragged in research. After we’re married, I just want you to rest, to be Mrs. Brooks. Do you really want to exhaust yourself like this forever?”

Without another word, he took Emily by the arm and led her off the stage, not once looking back

My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was my father’s lawyer.

Choufe &

“Miss Green, we’ve uncovered something. You should return to Grandville immediately so we can speak in person.

I wiped the wetness from the corner of my eye, voice steady.

“Alright. I’ll be there.”

I was the only daughter of Richard Green, Grandville’s wealthiest man.

That secret, I had planned to reveal to Daniel on the day we got our license.

But that chance was gone forever.

When my plane landed in Grandville, I should have gone straight to see my father.

Instead, his secretary told me he was tied up in an urgent meeting. So I turned toward the legal department.

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