Novalie’s POV
The room fell into quiescence before all hell broke loose. My stepmother sneered, her face contorted into an ugly scowl.
“What nonsense! Novalie ditched her responsibilities at the company to be a wife, and now she’s getting the company? Impossible,” she scoffed in disbelief.
And she was right. I was having a hard time believing Julian too, but he stood firmly on my side.
“Well, you better believe it. She’s taking over the company, and you will respect Grandfather’s decision, as he chose the practical daughter for this position.” Julian diverted his attention toward me.
“What do you have to say, Novalie?” he smiled.
I blinked rapidly, not knowing what to say.
It was all so sudden and overwhelming. How did I go from mourning my child and my broken marriage to taking over the company?
Aries squeezed my hand before whispering in my ear.
“You’ve got this, Nova. Address your family. Use this as an opportunity to take back what was stolen from you.”
It took me a moment to understand what he meant. I glanced at Noah, and he stared at me with indifference.
My dignity.
“Thank you, Julian,” I smiled at him before facing my stepmother and Amelia, who was fuming beside my ex-husband.
“I will take over the company under Grandfather’s wishes, and I won’t let you all down,” I enunciated aloud.
Some of the guests started whispering among themselves when Amelia spoke up.
“If she’s taking over the company, then we’re going to be bankrupt in a month. She hasn’t seen the walls of an office for years. There’s no way she would even know what she’s doing,” she groused.
“And you’re the one to talk? Someone with no brains who only knows how to pose for the camera and pout her lips like a whiny slut,” Aries scoffed.
“Don’t you dare speak to her like that,” Noah warned sternly, and my fists clenched, the tight feeling in my chest extending to my throat.
Of course he would defend her.
Aries didn’t back down.
“And what would you do if I speak to her like that? You abandoned your wife and divorced her after she had a miscarriage and almost died because of you. All for what? This unattractive, artificial vanilla blonde?” he mocked.
Noah took a step forward while Amelia held him back.
“What is he doing here?! Throw him out. He’s not a guest,” my stepmother seethed.
Something inside me snapped.
I was tired of being the weak one, the one they hurled curses at while I stood there and took it without putting up a fight.
Not this time.
“You have no right to do that. He’s my guest, and he stays. In fact, if you are not comfortable here, security will escort you out. In case you forget, I’m in charge now,” I retorted, lifting my chin.
Her eyes widened at my comment.
“You’re out of your mind if you think we will bow at your feet just because Grandfather gave you the company. I would rather die than let you order me around when you are beneath me,” Amelia glared.
“Then it won’t be long before your funeral. Enough of this. We’re here for the celebrant, not for you, little miss wannabe actress. You all are dismissed,” I waved them off.
My stepmother started cursing at me while Noah led them away, holding Amelia close.
Julian cleared his throat, forcing me to avert my gaze from them to him. He sighed nervously, scratching his nape.
“Look, Novalie, I wanted to call, but I just—”
“It’s okay. I know you’ve been busy,” I embraced him.
He patted my back awkwardly. I missed when we used to be closer, unlike now.
He exchanged pleasantries with Aries and complimented him on how his company was currently leading in the country, then pulled me aside.
“There’s something I left out of that announcement. Grandfather thought you were still together with Noah, but I had to tell him the news. You know how Grandfather gets sometimes. What I’m trying to say is that you need a partner to fully claim the position of CEO. Grandfather thinks it will be too much for you alone, and you need someone to assist you,” Julian disclosed.
My heart skipped a beat.
A partner?
I had just gotten divorced and was still healing. I couldn’t even see myself in a relationship in the next couple of years.
“Maybe you could talk to Noah, make him understand, or…” he trailed off, glancing at Aries, who was standing a few feet away from us.
I shook my head.
“No. I’ll try to figure something out,” I remarked, even though I had no idea what to do.
This was so sudden and confusing. I was starting to worry that I wouldn’t be able to do well and that I would fail Grandfather for trusting me.
I straightened my posture, brushing the thought off my mind. I wasn’t going to fail. There was no more room for failure in my life.
I had failed my unborn child by getting married to Noah.
I had failed myself when I left everything to marry him.
My grandfather didn’t choose me just because I was his favorite. I was the only one who could do it. I studied business administration and had a master’s degree. He made sure I prepared for this all along, and I had always helped at the company before I got married.
Aries took my hand again when I returned to his side, and I didn’t know why, but that soothed all my worries at that moment. He was a good man, and he deserved more than a broken woman like me.
“The celebrant is here,” Aries voiced out.
My heart thumped loudly in my chest as Nana walked out of the house, the permanent scowl on her face as she regarded the guests.
Amelia rushed to her side, playing the sweet granddaughter like she always did, and it worked because Nana loved her.
Her blue eyes found me in the crowd, and the lines on her forehead deepened. Then she started walking toward me, and I braced myself for what was coming.
When she got closer, I decided to speak first despite the look of disgust on her face.
“Happy Birthday, Nan—”
A resounding slap landed on my cheek, cutting me short.
