He Gave Me Brother’s Life To Her Dog Chapter 07
Derek didn’t move out of the condo right away.
He probably still believed that if he stalled past the fifteen
days, I’d change my mind.
On the third day, I had the property manager do an
inventory of the apartment.
His clothes, books, and personal items were boxed up and
sent to the apartment he’d chosen.
didn’t take anything he had bought himself.
The expensive sound system in the living room was his. It went with him.
The collector pens in the study were his. They went with him.
Even the watch Grant gave him–I put it in the box.
Only the furniture, the condo, and the other car in the garage stayed.
When Derek saw the half–empty closet, he demanded of the
property manager, “Where is Maren?”
Ms. Sterling no longer lives here.”
“Where did she go?”
I’m sorry, I don’t know.”
The truth was, I had moved back in with my parents.
Mom had been sleeping terribly. She often opened Grant’s
bedroom door in the middle of the night and sat inside until
dawn. I couldn’t leave her alone.
Derek thought I was avoiding him. He sent a string of
messages.
[You didn’t have to leave the condo empty.]
[I’m already looking for a new job. I’ll move out soon.]
[Maren, don’t think I can’t survive without Sterling.]
I didn’t reply.
With his salary and bonuses, of course he wouldn’t starve.
But after leaving Sterling Holdings, he learned for the first
time how much of the admiration he received actually
belonged to him.
The people who used to call him brother at dinners suddenly
took forever to answer his calls once he was removed.
The companies that once invited him to become a partner
now offered him only a director position.
A headhunter put it delicately, “Mr. Hayes, your résumé is
strong. But the market values not just ability–it also values
the resources you can mobilize.”
“Your past successful projects all relied on the Sterling
platform. In a different environment, we’d need to reassess.”
At first, Lauren stayed by his side.
She rented an apartment for him and bought new sheets and dishes.
“It’s smaller, but as long as we work hard together, we’ll have
everything someday.”
Derek was moved by those words. He used the rest of his
savings to pay a year’s rent on the apartment and cover
Luna’s follow–up tests and treatment.
Even though Luna had been resurrected, her kidney disease
still needed long–term care.
A week later, the animal hospital sent a bill.
Lauren instinctively handed the bill to Derek.
Derek pulled out his phone and remembered his corporate
card had been canceled.
He paid with his own debit card.
As they walked out, Lauren asked, “When can you cash out
your shares?”
Derek stopped walking.
What shares?”
“Your Sterling Holdings shares.”
Lauren looked at him.
“Everyone said after Grant died, you and Maren would inherit
the company together.”
“I thought you held at least ten percent.
Derek was silent for a long time.
“No.”
“Not a single share?”
“Grant mentioned an equity incentive plan once, but it was
never signed.”
Lauren’s expression shifted.