At exactly 8:30am, a black Bentley pulled into Cole’s group. The building was a fifty story building tall, made with glass and steel. It’s the largest business in the country and the top ten around the world.
Poppy stepped out, adjusting Elwins’ suit cuffs like she’d worn power all her life.
The security guards bowed. "Good morning, Master Cole."
God, that felt good. She couldn’t remember the last time anyone addressed her with respect.
She strode through the lobby, heart pounding beneath a chest that wasn’t hers. The weight of Elwins’ body was heavier than she expected. So much eyes were on her.
She could see a few woman ogling at her. And she sighed. If only they knew it was a woman behind this body. It’s not like there was anything special about her stupid husband.
Yes he was huge down there but that was it. It’s not like he used it for anything.
His assistant, Bryan, scurried beside her, rambling about board documents and press leaks.
"Master Cole," Bryan, his assistant, rushed to her side, juggling files. "There are statements to sign. The board members are already waiting in the conference room."
"Bring the document to my office, I’ll sign it before the board meeting."
"Yes, sir." Bryan said calmly.
She turned slightly to meet his gaze. "Also... prepare divorce papers."
Bryan stopped walking. "I... I’m sorry?"
"Contact the lawyers and prepare a divorce papers."
"Put my wife on a monthly salary of a fifty million. For a year. That should be enough compensation." Poppy said. All she wanted was the money she had spent on Cole all these years.
She had wasted her time and inheritance on him, it was time she got it back.
Bryan’s eyes nearly popped. "Fifty...?"
"Is that a problem?"
He shook his head so fast it almost flew off. "N-No, Master Cole!"
"Good. Also, allocate 15% shares to her. Effective immediately. And make it public."
Bryan’s jaw fell open. Master Cole, the one who barely acknowledged Poppy’s existence, now granting her shares and a divorce?
"Have the divorce filed within a week."
"Yes, sir," he said, dazed.
She smiled to herself as she strode deeper into Cole Group’s empire, her empire now. This was only the beginning.
Poppy wished she could speed the divorce, but there was nothing she could do. If Elwins wakes up in this body again by tomorrow, she was doomed.
She’ll never allow it. She’ll be as far away from him as possible.
Staff lined up respectfully as she passed, murmuring greetings, bowing.
Poppy didn’t respond to their greetings, she only walked into the office calmly.
---
Meanwhile, at the Cole Mansion...
Elwins, in Poppy’s body, limped toward the door, gripping the railing for support.
He was late.
He was sore.
And he was panicking.
"I need to get to the office!" he shouted, reaching the front steps. But no one responded.
"Where are those stupid servants?" Cole muttered. Didn’t they hear his scream?
"Is there anyone there?" Elwin screamed frustratedly. Poppy’s body was too weak for him to scream louder than he did, or even move around. He didn’t have the strength, plus she hadn’t had anything to eat since yesterday which made her even more weak.
"What is your problem? Why are you shouting like a mad dog?" A maid stepped in glaring at him and Elwins frowned. How dare she?
Did she know who she’s talking to?
"Master Elwins gave strict instructions to never let you out of this room. So you better shut up before I lose it!" The maid said.
Elwin was momentarily speechless. Since when was his servants this disrespectful. This was the same woman that always now to his feet whenever he was around.
"How dare you speak to me like that?!" Elwins sputtered. "I’m Elwins Cole, damn it!"
The maid stared at him for a moment.
Then burst out laughing.
She couldn’t believe it.
"Have the miscarriage made you lose a nut in your brain Poppy?" She asked.
"You can never even be master Cole’s foot, you’re nothing." She said smiling downwards as she glared at her.
Before Elwin could reply, the door opened and his mother walked in. Besides her was his Aunt, both women had a frown on their faces.
Elwin nearly wept with relief. "Mother!"
"No! No! Stop!"
He was her husband. And he let them treat her like this?
Why?
Just because she couldn’t give him a child?
He didn’t even care about having children! He would’ve adopted if he wanted. But his family, his cruel, heartless family, had treated her like a cursed object.
Like she was a baby making machine.
And he’d stood by and watched them.
He’d believed their lies. Ignored her silent cries. Dismissed her pain everytime she complained.
Elwins wanted to scream at himself.
"Don’t you dare resist you fool!" Martha barked, pulling him toward the staircase and Elwins’ heart skipped a beat.
Not the stairs. How body will never be able to take it. He cannot go through that torture.
"No, please let me walk." Elwins pleaded but the maid dragged him through it without mercy.
His body crashed down the steps, one after another, his stomach slamming into the wood, his back smashing against the corners, his bones rattling. The only thing that saves his bones from breaking was the rug placed there.
He screamed.
The pain was too much for him to bear alone. He felt like dying, but death didn’t come.
Never in his life has he felt so much pain before.
"What’s that noise?" a voice rang out.
Elwins looked up with trembling eyes and a flicker of hope was in his eyes at who he saw standing before him.
Camela. The woman he truly loved and cherished.
Camela had always been kind. Soft-spoken. The woman his mother wanted him to marry. He used to believe she had a pure heart.
She walked out of the kitchen with a cup of hot tea in her hands, saw the scene before her and smiled.
Elwins couldn’t believe it. She was smiling at his misery. Isn’t she supposed to be helping him? She’s supposed to tell the maids to let him go.
Camela wore the type of smile smile people wore when their dreams came true.
"Camela... please... help me," Elwins croaked, the taste of blood in his mouth. His body had gone numb from the pain he felt. His knuckles white and his skin pale.
Camela tilted her head like a sweet little girl. "But Poppy... helping you would mean going against Mother. I can’t do that."

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