Months after the grand opening of HAG Company, everything had finally begun to flourish. Business was thriving, the app had become the most-used in the country, and proposals, investments, and sponsorships poured in enough to keep the company running smoother than ever.
One quiet afternoon, Hansen was in his office typing important scripts on his laptop. The day had been long, but productive. As he leaned back to loosen up, his eyes drifted across his desk then stopped.
A sealed brown envelope sat among the stack of documents.
He frowned.
That envelope hadn't been there earlier.
Just as he reached for it, his phone buzzed, making his heartbeat jump a little faster. The moment he touched the envelope, a strange flutter rolled in his stomach with unease, anticipation… fear.
He immediately dialed Ivan. Ivan picked up on the third ring.
"Do you have any idea about the brown envelope on my desk?"
"Umh, no. It was strictly for you, so I just let them pass it on," Ivan replied before hanging up with a shrug in his voice.
Hansen inhaled deeply then slowly opened the envelope. The first words he saw made his hands go weak.
A RESIGNATION LETTER.
His eyes darted to the signature, then to the final line,
"Thanks for being the best boss ever. Keep up the good works."
The paper slipped from his hand and fluttered to the floor.
His jaw tightened. His fist clenched hard against the fragile surface of the desk. Anger, confusion, and something far heavier pulled at his chest.
He abruptly pushed back his chair. Standing up, he yanked at the collar of his shirt as though the room had suddenly become too tight, too suffocating. Without another thought, Hansen stormed out of his office, his expression sullen, serious, and ready to confront whatever truth waited behind that letter.
Meanwhile, Ciara was in the grocery store with the kids, letting them choose what they wanted.
"Is this the one you want? Just pick whatever you need so we go back home, I'm exhausted," she yawned.
She glanced around and frowned.
"But where is Valerie? She was supposed to stand right next to me."
Kane put his items down and followed Ciara through the aisles. By the time they reached the third branch of the sporting goods section, they found her standing confidently between two girls around Kane's age.
"Valerie!" Ciara's voice echoed through the mall, drawing attention.
Valerie jumped. "Auntie slim! You startled me."
A young man watching from a distance burst into laughter at the nickname.
"Hahaha… auntie slim. That's a good one," he chuckled as he turned only for both of them to freeze.
"Jayden?!"
"Ciara?!"
"Jeanette! Janette!" Kane called out at the same moment, recognizing the twins.
Valerie blinked dramatically. "So I'm the only lost child here?"
"No, dear. I'm right here," Janette said, moving beside her with a kind smile.
"You're such a lovely child. We're all with you, okay?"
"Okay!" Valerie grinned.
At the exit of the mall, a car pulled up and out stepped Lucas.
"There comes my annoying uncle," Valerie muttered. "Auntie slim, is he taking us home?"
"Oh yes…" Ciara answered with raised brows.
"No!" Valerie folded her arms and turned away with an exaggerated pout.
Her dramatics made the entire Klausenburg group burst into laughter.
"Annoying uncle? This kid is a genius," Jayden joked.
"I was actually planning to take you all on a treat," he added, crouching to Valerie's level. "But since your annoying uncle is here, we'll have to postpone."
He winked and waved as they parted ways. "We'll talk later."
Once they were in the car, Lucas glanced at her through the rearview mirror.
"So why am I the 'annoying uncle,' hmm?"
"Because you've been ruining my plans since I was born!" Valerie declared proudly.
"When Mom was supposed to take me to Handsome Uncle's place, you ruined it by saying you were sick. And now, Uncle Jayden wanted to give us a treat, but you ruined it again because you showed up. You always pop up at the right time, and I hate you for that."
She jabbed her finger at him for emphasis.
"Oh really?" Lucas raised a brow, tapping his phone. A recording played from her entire rant.
"I'll show this to handsome Uncle," he threatened playfully. "Since he keeps defending you as the quiet, sweet little girl he's ever met."
"No! Please, good uncle, don't do that to me! I'm begging you!" Valerie wailed dramatically.
The car erupted in laughter until Kane choked mid-laugh and started coughing.
"See?" Lucas teased. "You nearly killed Kane with your superpowers."
That pushed Valerie over the edge, her eyes filled with tears and she clung to Ciara and Kane.
"I want to go back to Mama Cruz… Auntie slim, Kane, please take me back to Mama Cruz."
Ciara hugged her gently. "Mama Cruz is already at Hansen's house and besides, we're almost home, Valerie. Calm down. Annoying Uncle won't show the tape to Handsome Uncle, okay?"
Valerie sniffed and nodded hopefully.
The rain poured harder, soaking Hansen's pajamas until they clung to his skin, but he didn't move. The sea roared behind him, waves slamming into the rocks as though they, too, were shouting in frustration. The wind pushed against him, but he stood firm, eyes fixed on the dark horizon.
Mama Cruz's voice echoed in his mind, steady, mature, full of quiet pain.
"I've worked with you for so many years… even before I knew who you truly were."
"You're a good man, Hansen. A man who loves my daughter more than anything."
"But I do not want it to look like I am taking someone's position now that you know I am Sunshine's mum."
"What will people say when they learn I am your in-law? Hatred, Hansen. Hatred is what they'll have for me."
"Thank you for being the best boss ever."
He squeezed his eyes shut, breath uneven as her last words stung like the cold rain on his skin.
"Why would you leave… like this?" he whispered. He crouched down, fingers digging into the wet sand, trying to steady the chaos swirling inside him.
"She thinks people's hatred will chase her out?" he muttered. "She thinks I would allow that?" He stood, teeth clenched, rain dripping down his face.
"Mrs Cruz… you're family."
His voice cracked on the last word.
He ran a hand through his wet hair, pacing along the shoreline. The waves splashed up, nearly touching his feet, but he didn't move away.
"She raised Sunshine," he said to himself. "She protected her. Guided her. Stood by her…" His voice dropped.
"And cared for me, too… even when she didn't have to."
Thunder rumbled overhead as he took a deep breath.
"She thinks resigning will save us from whispers?" He scoffed bitterly.
"She thinks running away will solve anything?" His expression hardened, eyes sharpening with a new resolve.
"No," he said firmly. "She doesn't get to just vanish because she's scared of gossip."
He turned around sharply, walking toward the road, steps splashing through puddles.
"That resignation letter…" He clenched his fist. "…I'm not accepting it."
Lightning illuminated his silhouette as he made his way back.
"If she thinks she can walk away quietly…"
He narrowed his eyes.
"…she clearly doesn't know me well enough."