First Love After Marriage by Flora Nancy

Chapter 17 

“Don’t get worked up. We have been together for so many years, and I’ve never met your grandmother before. Now that she’s sick, I’m going to visit her to show my filial piety.” Jim assured Nadia. 

He found out about Nadia’s grandmother’s illness from a mutual friend of theirs. The thought of Nadia holding an IOU for 40,000 dollars, bearing his signature and thumbprint, inade him uncomfortable. He wanted to visit Iris in the hospital and ask Nadia to return the IOU to him. 

Nadia knew that things had escalated between them, and she couldn’t trust Jim’s apparent kindness. Through gritted teeth, she snapped. “Jim Ford. I’m warning you. Don’t you dare have any sinister intentions toward my grandmother. You should be coming after me.” 

Jim glanced at Nadia’s grandmother lying on the bed, nonchalantly stating, “Don’t be so agitated. As long as you obediently listen to me, considering our many years together. I promise I won’t make things difficult for you.” 

“What exactly are you planning?” 

“Nothing else. I just want you to return that 40–thousand–dollar IOU to me. Then we’ll be even.” 

Initially. Nadia had intended to have Jim repay the 40 thousand dollars to ease her burden and return the money to James. After all, she didn’t want to owe James. But she wasn’t prepared for Jim’s despicable move of using her grandmother as leverage. 

“Stay away from my grandmother. I’m going to the hospital right now. If anything happens to her, I’ll fight you tooth and 

nail.” 

Her grandmother was her bottom line, and she meant what she said. 

Hearing Nadia’s conversation, Daisy, who was nearby, worriedly asked, “Nadia, what’s going on?” 

Nadia didn’t have time to explain everything and simply said. “Mrs. Howe, I have to go. Are you going back to Orchid Valley 

or…” 

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll stay here for a bit longer and then go back. You go take care of your business.” 

Daisy didn’t want to become a burden to her granddaughter–in–law. 

Clare came out of the restroom holding a towel and noticed the bag in Nadia’s hand. Clare had overheard Nadia talking about Iris on the phone, so there had to be something going on with Iris again. 

“Nadia, let me take care of Mrs. Howe. Just go to the hospital and take care of your business. If there’s anything I can help with, don’t hesitate to ask. 

Nadia looked gratefully at Clare, who was always there to lend a helping hand when Nadia needed it the most. 

“Then I’ll go to the hospital now. I’ll leave everything here to you.” 

Turning around, Nadia headed toward the street and hailed a taxi. 

Watching Nadia’s expression, Daisy knew something had happened. She immediately took out her phone and called James. 

James was in the middle of a shareholders‘ meeting with his phone placed on the table, continuously vibrating. He glanced at the phone on the table and saw that it was his grandmother calling, so he reluctantly picked up the phone. 

He knew his grandmother’s temperament well. If he didn’t answer her call, she would keep calling until he did. 

“Grandma, I’m in a meeting.” he said. 

“Is your meeting more important, or is your wife more important?” Daisy retorted. 

“What…” 

James hesitated. At this moment, his meeting was definitely more important. After all, he had only known Nadia for a little over a day. But he couldn’t refuse his grandmother. 

“Hurry up and go to the hospital. Your wife is in trouble. It sounds like someone is causing her problems. Go and resolve it,” Daisy commanded, leaving no room for James to argue. 

James furrowed his brow, thinking that Nadia always caused trouble for him. But he had no choice but to listen to his grandmother. After hanging up the phone, he called his assistant, Harold. 

Go to Kingsley Hospital and see what that woman is up to again” James ordered. 

Harold nodded, looking sympathetically at James. 

Jaines was forced by Daisy to marry a woman he had no feelings for, just because that woman had saved Daisy. 

Now, even Harold had to deal with that woman’s issues. He was already 26 years old and needed to find a girlfriend quickly. He didn’t want to end up like his boss James. 

Chapter 17 

Harold left the meeting room, and James returned to his seat. 

The sound of Daisy’s voice on the phone was quite lond just now. “Did Mr. Howe get married?” people present wondered. “Who is the wealthy heiress or rich second generation that caught Mr. Howe’s attention? Everyone had a puzzled look on their faces. 

Victor Clifford had built the business empire with James’s grandfather, but his shareholding was relatively small. He had hoped to introduce his granddaughter to James and see if there was any fate for her to become the young mistress of the Howe family. It seemed like his hope had been shattered. James had quietly gotten married. 

Everyone whispered among themselves, trying to figure out the situation. 

James’s sharp gaze swept over all the shareholders. They immediately fell silent, not daring to say a word. 

The Howe Group had three main branches of brokerage, smart home, and real estate. 

James’s uncle, Jack Howe, the second–largest shareholder of the Howe Group, had his sights set on James’s position. 

Fortunately, Daisy transferred her shares to James, which secured James’s position as the CEO. 

It was Jack Howe who instigated this shareholders‘ meeting. 

The industry was going through a tough time, neither profitable nor losing money. Everyone remained silent, and then Jack spoke up. 

“James, you have been in this position for quite some time now, but the smart home division hasn’t shown any progress. How do you expect us to have faith in you?” he questioned. 

James smirked. “Well. Jack, that division is your responsibility. If it’s not making money, shouldn’t you be finding solutions?” 

James deflected the question back to his uncle. 

you 

“I’m not the company’s CEO, and I have done my best to maintain a break–even situation. You are the CEO, and have been in that position for over six months. If you can improve the performance of the smart home division by 30 percent within the next three months, I won’t say anything more,” Jack challenged. 

Jack had put in a lot of effort to make James organize this shareholders‘ meeting Jack wanted James to raise the performance of the smart home division, which had always been a difficult problem. 

Hearing what Jack said, James tried to hold back the anger in his heart. 

It could be said that Jack had ruined the smart home division. It had great potential, yet it wasn’t making money. 

Even if Jack demanded a 50 percent improvement within the next three months, James could achieve it, let alone a 30 

percent one. 

However, James knew Jack wouldn’t make it easy for him. 

Jack had been working in the smart home division for 20 years and could create obstacles if he wanted to.. 

The reason why Jack was so greedy was that he wanted to help his own underachieving son. His son was always involved in scandals, spending time with mediocre actresses and bar hostesses. Jack often had to clean up after him. It was unimaginable for the Howe Group to fall into the hands of his irresponsible son. 

Daisy knew that Jack’s son was a useless person who could do nothing. She didn’t want to embarrass the Howe family, so she transferred her shares to James. 

“Alright, Jack. If I can improve the performance of the smart home division by 30 percent, you have to resign from the Howe Group,” James declared. 

Jack didn’t expect that James was bold enough to agree to this proposal. Jack intended to present a difficult challenge to James but didn’t expect James to want Jack out of the Howe Group. 

However, Jack was confident and knew that it was challenging to improve by 5 percent within three months, let alone 30 percent. 

Jack had it under control. He wouldn’t simply let James secure his position as the CEO so easily. 

Jack had absolute certainty and was determined to bring James down this time. 

A hint of a smile appeared in Jack’s eyes. “Alright, it’s a deal.” 

After the meeting ended, James returned to his office and received a call from Harold. 

“Mr. Howe, Mrs. Howe’s ex–boyfriend has come to the hospital…” 

Upon hearing the words “ex–boyfriend,” James furrowed his brow. “So I have just dealt with that Dr. White,” he murmured inwardly, “and now her ex–boyfriend suddenly shows up?” 

It was becoming quite a mess. 

“Alriglu, I’ll come right away. Keep an eye on her,” James ordered. 

Chapter 17 

“How many times are you going to cuckold me, Nadia?” he murmured. 

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