As the years passed, the wealth and success of the Ford family business increased slowly but steadily. Meanwhile, the Ford brothers had also grown into intelligent, capable young men. It was only when Tobias took up the reins of the Ford family business, that it began skyrocketing.
Claudia had single-handedly shouldered every burden in the Ford family throughout Sheldon and Tobias’ childhood. It was the reason why she fretted so over Tobias’ marriage. Claudia had worked her whole life to bring her children happiness. She would now have to hand over that task to another woman.
Claudia was the only person who could empathize with Tobias’ struggles. The seemingly endless stretch of work that lay before Tobias was an image that no ordinary person was capable of grasping.
Skylar had arrived at Tobias’ home eager to discuss several matters. She now collapsed onto the sofa, feeling deflated. The silence and emptiness of her home seemed to be taunting her.
Looking out the window, Skylar saw the soft glow of lights dotting the landscape. A feeling of desolation overcame her.
As Skylar was indulging in her self-pity, a faint noise came from upstairs. Skylar sat up, immediately wary of another potential spy.
Did he follow me home? Skylar worried.
She heaved a sigh of relief when she saw Miranda descending the stairs.
“Why are you here? Why didn’t you wait for Dad to fetch you from the hospital? Has he sold off his house?” Skylar asked sarcastically.
Miranda rested a hand on the railing. After a few months of not having seen her daughter, Miranda thought that Skylar had grown prettier.
She kept this to herself, however, and said sharply, “Look at your pathetic state! Who bullied you this time?”
Skylar did not reply. She could not possibly admit that she had gone all the way to Tobias’ house so late at night only to have Tobias and Claudia spurn her. It was a rather humiliating experience.
Miranda sat down on the sofa next to Skylar. Neither of them said a word, both ruminating on their own troubles.
“I couldn’t wait for Thomas to come. He only visited me once, saying that Tobias took ninety-five percent of Quest Group’s profits. When Tobias took over, he left us with nothing. I thought he would help us out of the kindness! It turned out that he was merely riding on our vulnerable situation,” Miranda complained, her tone laced with bitterness.
Skylar had guessed as much. Thomas’ visible change in attitude was due to a discrepancy in the allocation of profits. Frantic at his loss, Thomas had resorted to the only method he knew how.
Derisively, Skylar retorted, “What are you planning to do, then? To head up to the rooftop and threaten to jump if Tobias doesn’t come? You’ve seen for yourself that it doesn’t work. I’m only a pawn in this game.”
Miranda covered her face with her hands and bent over in grief. She suddenly looked like a defenseless young girl, unable to deal with the harshness in her life.
Skylar felt discomfited. After all, Tobias had only intervened in Quest Group because of her. She’d initially been grateful for his help, but time had proven that she had been too naive and idealistic.
She clumsily patted Miranda on the shoulder and said soberly, “You can find a man anywhere you look. Why stick so irrevocably with one? Dad never consults you about anything. Isn’t his family supposed to be his top priority? Why don’t you look for someone else? It’s never too late to start dating again.”
“Shut up! I’ll only love your father. You’d better not say anything like that ever again,” Miranda said hotly. The inconsolable expression on her face was instantly replaced by wrath.
Frustrated by Miranda’s fickle changes in attitude, Skylar massaged her temple, saying, “Fine, I won’t say anything then. Where will you be spending the night? Here, next door, or Uncle Wesley’s?”
Miranda stared at Skylar, then said, “We’ve already moved out. There isn’t enough money for us to continue renting the place next door.”
