Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
He stopped and glared at her. “What is it this time?”
“My dad. His health is declining.” She rose from the ground unsteadily. Then, she mustered all her courage to speak. “The doctor says that Dad’s kidney will fail if we can’t find a kidney transplant for him. There will be no hope for him if that happens.”
“And?”
“You promised me. to find a kidney transplant for my dad.”
“Let’s discuss this after the cocktail party.”
“That won’t do! Dad can’t hold on that long!” Close to tears, Clarissa worriedly begged, “Please. Considering that our family has helped yours for years and the fact that we’ve been married for years, please save Dad!”
“I said to discuss this after the cocktail party. Are you begging to be beaten? Can’t you understand my words?” He shot her a threatening look.
Clarissa jolted in fear.
“Besides, don’t you know how much a kidney transplant costs? Your dad still proved himself useful to me when he was the Attorney General years ago. I would have seen it as an investment and saved him back then.
“But he’s a dying old man now. Why would I waste my money and energy on a man who’s about to meet his maker? I’m not doing charity.” Josh looked away in disdain and snorted. “If your dad could wait, make him wait. If he can’t, he only has himself to blame.”
After Josh left, Clarissa fell on her knees helplessly. She covered her face and wept.
In the evening, Clarissa changed into simple clothes to visit her father, Oscar Sparks, at the hospital. She covered every inch of her skin from head to toe to hide her bruises and scars from Oscar.
Oscar had weakened to a point where he struggled to speak. Still, he tried to stop Clarissa from worrying about him because he was aware of her suffering in her marriage to Josh.
Had the Schmidt family not financially assisted the Sparks family, the Sparkses would have gone bankrupt. It was all thanks to the Schmidt Group that Clarissa’s brother, Hendrix Sparks, had a job. As a result, Oscar dared not ask for more.
Clarissa verbally promised not to worry, but she took the chance of getting water and sobbed inconsolably on the bench in the corridor.
The doctor gave Oscar a month to live. A kidney transplant was their final hope, but the surgery risk was high.
Oscar had repeatedly talked her out of trying, but she couldn’t bring herself to give up on him. As a daughter, she wanted her dad to live. Moreover, Oscar was the only reason that kept her going. If
Oscar passed away, she would have no reason to live with the Schmidts.
Right then, she heard the steady sounds of leather shoes and the crisp clicking of heels. Two people approached her.
“Ms. Sparks.”
Clarissa couldn’t help but marvel at the clear and melodious voice. She slowly raised her swollen eyes, only to be shocked by Alyssa and Jeremy’s presence. They looked like the perfect couple.
Although Clarissa was in a seated position with Alyssa towering over her, Alyssa did not put on any airs. Instead, she flashed Clarissa a gracious and friendly smile.
Jeremy, holding onto Alyssa’s waist, looked as handsome as ever. No man from the Schmidt family could hold a candle to him¡ªnot even Jameson, the popular choice in the race to power right now.
Although Jameson was good-looking, he did not exude the same air as Jeremy. Jameson wouldn’t appear like a leader, even if he was appointed to be one. Jeremy was the embodiment of a real leader. No woman except for Alyssa was good enough for him. They were indeed a match made in heaven.
“Mr. Walsh, Ms. Alyssa, why are you…” Clarissa’s voice trailed off in surprise.
Not in a rush to explain the purpose of the visit, Alyssa took a seat beside Clarissa like a friend. “General Sparks must have been hospitalized for quite a while.”
Clarissa lowered her head. It had been a while since she heard Oscar being addressed as such. “Dad has retired a while ago. I haven’t heard anyone calling him General since.”
Alyssa smiled patiently. “General Sparks might have retired, but his legacy in the Solana City justice system remains. My second brother is a prosecutor. He once took General Sparks’ class when he majored in political science and prelaw at the University of Solana City. My brother held General Sparks in high regard.”
“Ms. Alyssa, Dad is not as great as you make him sound.” Teary-eyed, Clarissa crumpled the hem of her shirt. “I’m sure you’re here for a reason. You must be here to discuss matters related to the Schmidt Group, likely about my husband.
“I’m sorry, but we’re standing on opposing sides. As a member of the Schmidt family, I will never betray the Schmidt Group. You don’t have to say anything more to me. Please leave.”
Frowning, Jeremy shot a hesitant glance at Alyssa. Even as the president of the Walsh Group, he felt the need to ask for permission from his partner before speaking. It seemed that Alyssa was the one wearing the pants in the relationship.
Alyssa nodded in silence. Upon getting the green light, Jeremy handed over the documents they prepared to Clarissa.
“What is.”
“Ms. Sparks, we don’t need an answer from you right away. Please have a look at these documents for now,” Alyssa suggested with a calm smile.
Clarissa looked puzzled but accepted the documents regardless. She carefully checked the contents, and she shot up in surprise. Her heart raced in excitement. “I-Is this…”
“Mr. Walsh found a kidney donor match for your father,” Alyssa addressed Clarissa gently like she would a friend. “It’s difficult to find a matching donor. I believe you understand the complexity since you’ve been searching for a long time. Even wealthy patients struggle to find a matching donor. Forcing a kidney transplant will only result in adverse reactions that ultimately lead to kidney failure. Mr.
Walsh, I dare say, has utilized all his resources to find this matching donor.”
“You. You.” Staring at the documents containing life-saving information for Oscar, Clarissa sobbed.
Her tears stained the papers and smudged the printed words.
“Ms. Sparks, you’re a good daughter. Anyone else would have given up by now,” Jeremy remarked coolly and earnestly.
“What. do you want me to do?” She hung her head as she clutched the papers with trembling hands.
Alyssa’s eyes lit up with passion. She proposed firmly, “Ms. Sparks, we’d like to release you from the suffering.”
Knowing that Alyssa and Rose were good friends, Clarissa knew that Alyssa must have heard about the domestic violence at the Schmidts’ home. Clarissa’s pale face was colored with rage and humiliation. “You’re only using the matching donor to make a deal with me. You either want me to publicly expose the domestic violence or make me Josh’s spy so that you can take him down.
“Ms. Alyssa, you’re just using me. You don’t have to make it sound altruistic.”
Jeremy furrowed his brows when he realized that Clarissa, though seeming vulnerable, was opinionated.
“Using you? I guess so.” Alyssa flashed a smile. “However, if we’re using each other and benefitting off it, that should be labeled a ‘cooperation’ instead. Ms. Sparks, Mr. Walsh and I would like to work with you. What do you think?”
Clarissa slowly raised her gaze to examine Alyssa with a racing heart. Alyssa wore a serious look on her lovely face.
It had been ages since anyone accorded Clarissa any respect. Be it the outsiders or the maids at the Schmidt residence, everyone might address her politely, but no one showed her any shred of respect. She was regarded as an outcast of the family and Josh’s plaything.
Hence, she felt her passion reignited when Alyssa addressed her as “Ms. Sparks”. She was brought back to the good old times when she was the precious daughter of the Sparks family, doted on by her parents and her brother. That was the happiest time in her life.
I. I so wish to go home. I wish to turn back time,” Clarissa mumbled between sobs.
Feeling touched, Alyssa offered, “We can help you leave the Schmidt family and return to your old life if that’s what you want.”
Clutching the documents tightly, Clarissa questioned, “What do you need me to do in exchange for the kidney transplant?”
Jeremy’s eyes darkened. “Talking about domestic violence publicly is like airing dirty laundry. As the victim, you’ll be stressed and troubled if the news gets out. You may choose to use domestic violence as your weapon against Josh or keep your silence.”
Clarissa was taken aback by how considerate Jeremy was in the negotiation.
“Ms. Sparks, you must have a lot of dirt on Josh after years of marriage to him. Share some clues with us and provide evidence. We’ll kickstart the investigation on our own.
“We promise to protect you and keep our cooperation a secret from Josh. To return your favor, I will arrange for the kidney to be transported to Solana City within three days and immediately schedule surgery for your father,” Alyssa elaborated on her thoughtful plan earnestly.
Staring straight at Alyssa, Clarissa whispered, “Do I need to… sign some sort of agreement or contract? Give it to me. I’ll sign now.”
Alyssa shook her head with a smile. “There’s no need for that.” Jeremy, surprised by her reply, looked at her in confusion. He might be an intelligent man with many years of experience in doing business, but he couldn’t figure out the intention behind Alyssa’s move.
“Is there no need to sign an agreement? Ms. Alyssa, are you sure?” Clarissa stared at Alyssa in shock. “Aren’t you worried that I would change my mind after the transplant and refuse to help you out? I thought you businesspeople always dismissed oral agreements and emphasized the importance of putting everything down in black and white.”
“I’m doing this to show you that you always have a choice, regardless of the deal we have struck.” Alyssa flashed a faint smile, looking as calming and reassuring as ever. “If you sign the agreement, you’ll turn this into a formal deal. If you don’t, you can think of it as a battle to avenge your family.
“I will not blame you if you choose to return to the Schmidt family under pressure after the transplant surgery. As a doctor, my priority is saving lives. Not only that, as General Sparks was a great mentor to my brother, I’ll do this to return his favor on my brother’s behalf.”
Even as an outsider, Jeremy felt awestruck by Alyssa’s remarks and marveled at Alyssa’s grace and elegance.
The emotional impact on Clarissa was understandably greater. At that moment, Clarissa’s pent-up anger, frustration, grievance, and pain transformed into tears that rolled down her cheeks. She threw herself into Alyssa’s arms and finally cried her heart out after fighting to hold back her emotions.
Jeremy had not let go of Alyssa’s waist on their way home from hospital. They sat in silence as they walked back to the car. She finally relaxed when they entered the car and leaned softly on his firm and warm chest.
She rested her forehead on his broad shoulder and started weeping quietly. His breathing grew heavy at the sounds of her quiet sobs. He gently caressed her back, feeling emotional and touched.
“My darling,” he called out dotingly.
Then, he nibbled her ear. He said, “Why are you becoming a crybaby by the day? You were once a strong career woman.”
“Pfft! I didn’t cry in public, okay? I only cry when I’m with you. Anything wrong with that?” She pouted and wiped away her tears with his tie. “It’s like how Elizabeth Bennett only kicks up a fuss when she’s with Mr. Darcy.”
“Of course you can.” He breathed heavily by her ear, his voice sending a thrill of excitement through her. “However, you must remember that you can only cry when you’re with me.”