Dark Revenge Of A Jilted Bride: Till Life Do Us Part!-Chapter 101: Uncertain

"Are you sure you don’t want to stay back one more night? Kent says you need rest..."

Florence’s voice was gentle, coaxing, threaded with the kind of worry that refused to be soothed.

Gianna shook her head in response, her fingers absentmindedly ruffling Nathaniel’s soft curls as he slept against her chest.

Across the room, his sister chattered on about her day at school, animated hands slicing through the air as she spoke to Athena, who sat on the couch with the little one settled comfortably on her thigh, listening with a patient smile.

"I can rest at home, Gigi," Gianna replied softly. "You will do a better job than any nurse... you know that..."

Florence sighed, the sound heavy with resignation. She reached for Gianna’s hand and held it between both of hers, her grip firm, protective, worry still etched into the fine lines around her eyes despite Kent’s reassuring words that Gianna was very much out of the woods now. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"I know... but maybe medications and health monitoring—"

She stopped mid-sentence when she saw Gianna already shaking her head, lips pressed together in quiet insistence.

"Okay then," Florence relented at last, exhaling. "I will let the doctor know."

She turned to Athena. "Where is Kent’s office?"

"Grandma, don’t worry about those," Athena said easily, waving it off. "Just sit down. Grandpa is already at it. I already texted him that Gianna would be going home with us tonight."

Gianna sighed in relief before she could stop herself. She couldn’t stay in the hospital day after day—it was already making her feel sick in a different way, restless and trapped. She wanted to go home. Needed to.

"Alright then..." Florence finally agreed, taking a seat on the edge of the bed, her hands tucked between her thighs.

She studied Gianna for a moment before speaking again. "So, tell me, Gia—what do you think about the news online? I am sure you have thoughts... what are you going to do?"

What was she going to do?

Gianna wasn’t even sure. She caught her lower lip between her teeth, gaze drifting upward as her head rested back against the pillow propped against the headboard. Her mind spun.

She didn’t particularly care about Sabrina and her current relationship with overzealous citizens—that was simply the latter reaping consequences of their own making.

What truly concerned her was her father’s company. And then Zane’s.

Those two were taking hits they shouldn’t be taking, blows meant to cripple the institutions in the long run.

She had read the comments, the speculative articles, the whispers from shareholders already talking about replacement. Replacing whom, exactly? With someone outside the family? Someone not even affiliated with the Aldos?

She shook her head faintly. Her grandfather wouldn’t like that. Neither would her father. It didn’t matter that they were dead—she still had to do something. She had to avert it. But would that mean keeping her uncle on the chair?

She scoffed lightly, the sound bitter. Was that even the best idea, considering the news making the rounds? Her uncle had run the company into debt—no wonder he needed her help.

And if she gave him the boost he wanted, wouldn’t that only make him entitled? Less accountable?

She sighed again, long and weary, unaware she had become the quiet center of attention in the room.

What to do?

"You are thinking too much, Gianna," Florence remarked at last, unable to bear the silence anymore. She placed a comforting hand on Gianna’s thigh.

"What choice do I have?" Gianna asked quietly.

"That’s why you have us, my dear," Florence replied, a small, reassuring smile softening her features. "Share your problems with us. We can always find a solution."

Gianna nodded, grateful. Her lips curved when she noticed Kathleen already asleep.

"You can keep her on the bed," she offered. "There is enough space."

Athena didn’t hesitate. She carefully lifted her daughter, rose to her feet, crossed the short distance, and laid the little girl gently in the space Gianna had made available, then placed Nathaniel beside her, adjusting the blanket with care.

"So," Athena said, returning to the couch. "Talk then. What do you want to do?"

Gianna shrugged, watching her settle back. "To be honest, I don’t know. Stepping in to help my father’s company would entail helping my uncle, and that—"

She shook her head slowly, eyes flicking between Florence and Athena.

"—isn’t a good idea in my opinion. My uncle can be something else. He might see my love for my father’s legacy and prey on that."

"That’s true," Florence agreed, then turned to Athena. "Any ideas?"

Athena shrugged. "Ethan. Since Gianna isn’t exactly interested personally in the business—and coupled with the fact that those old men on the board wouldn’t trust her to handle a construction company—Ethan can step in. He has won more business awards than any man I know. He turned my businesses into something renowned, each a large empire on its own, even without the Thorne name. I’m sure he can handle it."

Gianna already knew this. Still, she frowned slightly. "But if he comes here, who would handle the places under his belt?"

Athena chuckled. "Has that been your worry all this while?"

She rolled her eyes. "He has capable hands trained to run my companies in his absence—even Master Shen’s academy. You don’t have to worry. Everything is online now. Even if he’s physically absent, he can run things virtually, at least until we find a replacement for the company..."

She paused, then grinned. "Maybe your husband."

Gianna scoffed loudly. "What husband? You must be crazy."

Athena laughed, joined by Florence. "Well, that way, Gianna, the company stays in the family."

"And you know..." Athena added after a beat, mischief glinting in her eyes, "Noah can also be a good handler."

Gianna scowled, which only made Athena laugh harder.

"You are really enjoying this topic," Gianna said with a pout.

Her thoughts drifted unwillingly to the other headlines—Zane and Noah’s fight. Or quarrel, rather, since Zane had dodged the blow with ease.

She sighed. What was she supposed to do with all this drama?

"So, that is settled then?" Florence cut in gently.

Gianna nodded. "Ethan will do. My uncle can go to hell and retire." She turned to Athena. "And Zane’s company? Do you know what he’s up to?"

"You don’t have to worry about that," Athena said calmly. "Zane can take care of himself. His godchildren have already pitched in with their newspaper company. We just need information from the man in captivity, something solid to back up our claims. And of course..."

She paused meaningfully. "...you have to speak to Arthur."