Please, reluctantly accept twenty per cent of Harry's franchise, Mrs. Singers
"Mrs Singers, we are looking forward to having you in our board meetings, forty per cent of the Winding Group shares now belongs to you after signing this document"
Andrea was taken aback by the succession of shareholders relinquishing their company stakes in a bid for forgiveness.
Sitting motionless, she watched as Mr. Singers gathered the documents, explaining, "My wife is heavily pregnant and unable to move. I will bear this burden on her behalf."
Mr. Gibson and his associates seethed with anger as they were coerced into surrendering their shares, silently fuming at being referred to as burdens.
Though their hearts boiled with resentment, they masked their true feelings behind strained smiles that revealed more than they concealed.
"Andrea, consider granting them forgiveness. They have all humbly sought mercy," Mr. Singers implored gently.
Stunned speechless, Andrea gradually regained her composure, struggling to comprehend the unconventional display of contrition before her. This was a form of penance she had never encountered before.
The room fell silent as Mr. Gibson and the others held their breath, awaiting Andrea's response. Finally, she spoke, "I forgive you all." With those words, a collective exhale filled the air as they released the tension they had been holding.
As the group prepared to leave the ward, they each took a moment to address Mrs. Singers. "We will be waiting for you and wish you a speedy recovery," they said in succession before departing.
Once they had gone, the ward grew quiet. Mr. Singers carefully placed the documents outlining the transfer of shares on the table before turning to Andrea. "You can sign them once you have fully recovered," he informed her.
Andrea gazed at Mr. Singers for a long moment before softly asking, "Did you make them give up their shares in exchange for forgiveness?" It was not easy to discern from their expressions, as their faces had shown reluctance, yet they had still relinquished their shares.
Mr. Singers didn't respond immediately. Instead, he gently took Andrea's hand in his and gave it a reassuring squeeze before speaking.
"Andrea, the world you perceive isn't always as it seems. Not everyone is deserving of your kindness, and every action carries consequences. If wrongdoings go unpunished, they are bound to be repeated without remorse."
Pausing for a moment, Mr. Singers studied Andrea's expression intently before continuing with a somber tone. "They have taken advantage of your goodwill. With those shares in your possession, you wouldn't want their companies to suffer, would you?"
Instinctively, Andrea nodded in agreement, realizing the truth in Mr. Singers' words.
Glancing at the clock on the wall, which now showed 9 pm, Mr. Singers reached for one of the comic books he had bought and presented it to Andrea. "It's getting late. I'll read this to you so you can drift off to sleep with pleasant dreams."
He assisted Andrea in lying down on the bed before he started reading from the book. "Snake and frog were once friends, living in the mill town..."
Andrea's eyelids grew heavy as she listened to Mr. Singers' bedtime story, eventually drifting into a deep sleep.
Stopping his reading when he noticed Andrea had fallen asleep, Mr. Singers carefully set aside the comic book and ensured Andrea was covered snugly with the bedsheet. He then settled on the sofa, keeping a watchful eye over her as she slept.
The following morning, the sound of his ringing phone roused him from his slumber. Silencing the phone, he left the ward before answering the call.
"Mr. Singers, Agatha is awake," Tony's voice echoed through the phone.
"Alright," Mr. Singers acknowledged before ending the call and returning to check on Andrea, who was still peacefully asleep.
After confirming she was resting undisturbed, he left the hospital and drove to Tony's residence.
Upon reaching Tony's house, Tony escorted him into the living room.
Agatha sat down, her complexion pallid, cradling a teacup in her hands as she sipped in silence.
Raising her gaze, she locked eyes with Mr. Singers, a bitter smile playing on Agatha's lips.
Without a word, Tony discreetly departed the living room, leaving the two alone for their private conversation.
"Are you planning to send me away?" Agatha inquired softly, her reluctance evident on her face.
Mr. Singers removed his coat and settled in, his gaze unwavering as she spoke, "Don't ask me to leave. I can't bear to be apart from you, Mr. Singers I wish to remain by your side and continue serving you."
Glancing intently at her, Mr. Singers posed a question, "Do you understand why I married Andrea?"
Agatha straightened in her seat, attempting to comprehend, but finding no answers. She knew of Mr. Singers' late wife and his missing daughter, but the notion of him marrying his own child seemed preposterous.
Surely, there had to be a different explanation.
After pondering for a while, Agatha struggled to find an answer, eventually murmuring, "I don't know," while gazing down at her intertwined fingers.
"Because she is carrying my child, Agatha. That's why I married her. Surely you understand this," Mr. Singers stated firmly, his expression serious.
Looking up, Agatha responded anxiously, "Mr. Singers, I can carry your child. I am willing. I want to be the mother of your children. She can't give you beautiful and intelligent kids like I can. Please..."
"Enough, Agatha!" Mr. Singers interjected sharply, cutting her off.
He couldn't comprehend why everyone seemed to regard Andrea as inferior.
With a somber tone, he continued, "Agatha, you need to take some time off to cool off. Perhaps when you return, you will be able to distinguish between work and personal matters."
As Mr. Singers stood up, Agatha panicked, causing the teacup to slip from her trembling hands and crash to the floor. Tears welled up in her eyes as she pleaded, "Please, don't send me away."
As Mr. Singers walked towards the door, he mentioned, "The flight has been arranged, and you will depart at dusk."
After exiting the house, Mr. Singers encountered Tony outside and advised him, "You're accompanying her, so make the most of the time you'll have together."