Monique slid into the car seat, looking smug. She glanced back at Scott, but he didn't join her right away. He stood outside the car, his face like thunder as he spoke quietly with his assistant and lawyer. Something felt wrong. Only when the two men walked away did Scott finally get in. His voice was rough when he told the driver to move. Monique felt the heavy atmosphere. Shouldn't he be celebrating Carolyn's release? Why did he wear such a long face, as if he'd gone bust? "Scott, what's going on?" she asked softly, keeping her voice low. He didn't answer. His hand tightened around the papers in his grasp, crumpling them. Monique's eyes fixed on the document. Her expression darkened. She reached over and snatched the papers from him."What's this?" Her smile vanished as she read. Her face clouded over, and then she exploded. "Thirty percent? You gave Chloe thirty percent of the shares? Scott, have you lost your mind? How could you do this? What about me? What about Carolyn?" She threw the papers back at him. Scott picked them up silently. His face turned even gloomier—so dark it was scary. "Thirty percent! You treat her so well? Just hand it over like it's nothing? You give this to her, and she becomes the biggest shareholder. From now on, she'll have the final say in the board. What are we then? Carolyn and I have stuck by you all these years, and you only give us ten percent?" She grabbed his arm, shaking him hard. "How could you do this? You didn't even want to give us that ten percent back then! I had to beg for weeks before you agreed! But for Chloe, you just hand over thirty percent? What were you thinking?" Monique's voice cracked. She scratched at him, half-yelling, half-crying.The driver glanced nervously in the mirror, then stared straight ahead, staying quiet. Scott's face stayed grim. The moment Monique started tearing at his clothes and sobbing, he snapped. It was always like this. Every time, she used tears against him. Again and again. He'd had enough. More than enough! Did he want to give away thirty percent? If he hadn't agreed, Carolyn would be in prison. Wasn't it Monique who insisted they save Carolyn? Now she was having a fit? Was she trying to break him? "Enough! Stop it!" Scott pushed her away. Before she could react, he slapped her across the face. Monique never imagined he would actually strike her. All these years, he had treated her like a princess. This was the first time his hand had ever come at her face. "Scott, you hit me?" she shrieked, tears flooding down her cheeks. "Hit you? I wish you'd both vanish!" Scott's anger finally erupted. "You think I wanted to sign that paper? Those shares belonged to her mother! If her mother were still alive, they would never have been mine to begin with. She was just claiming what always belonged to her. What choice did I have?" He stared hard at Monique. "If Carolyn hadn't messed things up, would I be stuck signing a contract like this?" Monique stood frozen, tear tracks still shining on her face. She wanted to pour out her grievances, to sulk and plead until Scott revoked this unfair demand. But his words hit her like a physical blow, shattering her composure completely. All of this was Kristina's fault—couldn't even rest peacefully after dying, leaving this mess behind. And that bitch Chloe should never have come back. If she hadn't, none of this would be happening. Monique's fingers curled into tight fists. Scott was truly furious. She had never seen him explode like this. It was all for Carolyn. He'd had no choice but to give in. For now, she had to give in too and swallow the anger. Nothing mattered more than getting Carolyn out. She wiped her tears and softened her voice. "Scott, I'm sorry. I lost my temper. Let's just go pick up Carolyn, okay? She's been locked up for two days. She must be going crazy in there." Scott said nothing. Monique straightened up and leaned gently against him, acting as meek as a lamb. She knew better than to push him now. No matter how angry she was, this wasn't the time. Getting Carolyn out came first. Everything else—she'd find a way to get it back later. ***** Chloe had just gotten home when her phone lit up with a call from Oralia. "Carolyn's out. Did your dad sign the share transfer?" Oralia sounded worried. After learning about Chloe's plan, she had wanted Scott to hand over every last share of Lewis Group.