Ulterior Motive The next day, I boarded the flight back to my hometown with Ava, I called


    Ivanna on the ne to let her I know about my trip.


    I also emphasized the importance ofpleting the tasks I had assigned her.


    Every step of my n had to be executed wlessly.


    I told Ivanna that I had tracked Matthew’s whereabouts and asked her to keep an eye on him.


    After ending the call, I held my phone tightly, battling the urge to make another call.


    Ultimately, I took a deep breath and turned off my phone.


    I couldn’t get too close to that man.


    Ava was excited the entire trip, but I reviewed my n meticulously.


    As had told me to stay alert and that he would help me.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Could this be his way of helping me? I didn’t want to ask him.


    The early autumn in my hometown was chilly.


    I had not told my mother when I left so she would not be worried.


    I Afternding, I took a taxi to the hospital, and my parents were overjoyed to see us.


    My father’s condition was good, but he had some facial paralysis, which made his speech awkward.


    My heart ached, and tears welled up in my eyes.


    I had not seen my father in over two years.


    His hair had turnedpletely gray, as had my mother’s.


    My emotions were all over the ce.


    Ava’s enthusiasm amused my dad to no end.


    She danced around, constantly asking the doctors to let us go home.


    I inquired about my father’s health and met with the doctor.


    The doctor agreed to release him but gave him medication and told him to take it on time.


    We all went home that evening.


    Ava was too young to remember herst visit, so she looked around wide- eyed.


    She quickly adjusted, though, chatting nonstop and gettingfortable.


    My parents were focused entirely on Ava, leaving me to cook.


    I went straight into the kitchen.


    My dad insisted on ordering takeout, but I told him not to worry.


    I had spent years serving that ungrateful family, so I was more than willing to cook for my parents.


    After a day there, I told my parents I needed to go to a steel window manufacturer in the capital city.


    That was the real reason I rushed back to my hometown.


    warned my mother not to tell Matthew where I was because he could check on me anytime! +15


    BONUS She looked worriedly at me.


    I briefly exined that we had different priorities and that I was prioritizing securing a project while he


    wasn’t.


    I never mentioned our rtionship issues.


    My dad was very supportive.


    “Just go.


    We know what to say.


    We’ll tell him to call you if he asks!” I advised against telling Ava too much because she was too bright.


    In the capital city, it was pouring, and the autumn wind was cold.


    I recalled my first visit here four years BOO.


    Thepany I was heading to didn’t work with Tanum Corporation.


    It was anotherpany I had engaged with back when I came to Sris.


    They were called Urban Builders.


    Thispany was bigger than the one Tanum Corporation worked with and made better quality


    products.


    However, we missed the opportunity to work together because of an incident.


    It had always haunted me.


    Of course, few people knew about it.


    It was suppressed back then, and not even Matthew knew.


    They didn’t coborate with Tanum Corporation because their pricing had always been too high.


    Ultimately, Matthew chose Westridge Holdings to save costs and ensure profits.


    After four years, I was back here, and the factory had expanded.


    However, the image of four years ago was still vivid, making it feel like I was in a different world.


    I hesitated for a while, took a deep breath, and was determined to face my fear for my future as well as