My Invincible Husband Has Returned

Chapter 196

Liam shut the door behind him, his smile a bit forced. "Yeah, just stepped out for a bit. Had too much to eat and couldn't sleep, so I took a stroll."

He approached Celena and crouched down, gently enveloping her refreshing, soft hand in his warm grasp. Celena blushed, her eyes darting away as she toyed with a lock of hair. "Alright then, since you're back, let's call it a night."

Celena got up, put on her slippers, and walked over to the bedroom. Her hand was on the doorknob, about to close the door, when she paused. Her grip whitened as she fought with her decision, but finally, she said, "From now on, stay out of my business, please. I'm asking you for a favor. I don't want us to be too involved. Go to bed early, good night."

After her words, Celena gently shut the door. As she turned away, tears broke free and streamed down her face. She missed the look of concern in Liam's eyes that lingered behind the door.

Liam sat on the couch, staring at the closed bedroom door, his heart heavy. His eyes rested on a photo on the coffee table, a joyful snapshot of Celena and Jovie hugging and smiling at the camera.

He picked up the frame, his fingers tenderly tracing Celena's image, his face filled with emotion, eyes glistening with tears. He made a silent promise, "Celena, don't worry, I won't let anyone hurt you again. I'll protect you from anyone who tries."

The next morning.

The Yafe family arrived at the company bright and early.

Cheryl, in her high heels and a sleek black dress, cut a striking figure. Her red lips and curls complemented the dress, making her look like an alluring black rose in full bloom.

Cheryl stormed up to Celena's office door, barged in without a second thought, and tossed the stack of papers onto Celena's desk with a thud. "Celena, what's the mess with the Rectenwald factory shutting down? Don't you realize we're in a crunch for time? The factory's closure is screwing up everything. You're clueless, wasting time, and the Stone family's losses—can you handle that kind of responsibility? You're clearly out of your league here!"

The mere mention of Rectenwald made Celena's head spin. She scrambled to straighten the papers Cheryl flung at her. "Cheryl, I'm so sorry. I'm about to head back to Rectenwald to sort this out. Trust me, I'll fix it fast. We won't miss a beat on the partnership."

After her plea, Celena scooped up the documents, gave Cheryl a quick nod, and made for the door. However, Cheryl wasn't having any of it. She yanked Celena back by the arm, holding her in place.

With a swift motion, Cheryl slapped Celena hard across the cheek, her finger wagging in Celena's face. "Where do you think you're running off to, huh? You're useless, how could you possibly fix this? I'm here to tell you I'm taking over these factory issues. You just focus on the mall projects and keep your nose out of the rest. Step out of line again, and you'll answer me." NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

Celena, hand pressed to her stinging cheek, whispered, "However, Grandfather said I was supposed to handle it all."

Cheryl just snorted in disdain.

Cheryl let out a derisive snort, her gaze dripping with disdain as she stared at Celena. "Quit trying to use Grandpa to scare me. Do you think I'm scared? Let me tell you something—if Grandpa even finds out, he won't say a word. My talents are way beyond anything you could ever hope to match. If you want to keep your place in the Stone family, you'll do exactly as I say. This isn't a negotiation, it's an order! Step out of line, and it won't just be you who pays the price—your kid will suffer too!"