Chapter 456: Don't Leave Me

“It’s not your fault. They judge you without knowing you—they’re all bastards. Even if I’d never met you, I wouldn’t have just let them boss me around. Don’t take the blame for this. I love you. You’re the only one for me, and right now, you’re all I have. Amina, don’t you dare talk about leaving me. If you do, everything I’ve done will have been for nothing.”

Now, Amina really didn’t dare leave him.

Zeke Walton had such a fiery temper. Now that he’d lost his parents, if he lost her too… she couldn’t imagine what he might do.

Zeke Walton knew that since his father had arrived, his mother couldn’t be in any real trouble. He drove Amina home.

On the drive, he urgently began to plan their future.

“They think I’m a good-for-nothing, right? That I can’t have a good life without them? Well, I’m going to build a real career and prove them all wrong! You’re forbidden from making food deliveries anymore. Starting tomorrow, you’re going to stay home and study. When the semester starts, you’ll go to class and do whatever it takes to graduate early. We’ll mold you into exactly the type of person they admire, and then we’ll blow their minds!”

Though he was furious, he was still filled with hope for the future. His optimism was infectious, and Amina started to feel hopeful too.

“I’ll listen to you. I’ll do whatever you say.”

Back home, Amina suddenly remembered she hadn’t contacted her grandmother in over a day. And if she was going to study, she’d need to get her books from her rented room. Zeke Walton immediately turned the car around and drove her there.

It had been a while since Amina had seen her grandmother. When the old woman learned that Amina and Zeke had reconciled, her expression was complicated.

Zeke Walton solemnly promised her they would never break up again. He told her grandmother to stop living in this tiny room and move into his villa with Amina. He said they could focus on getting healthy and studying, while he would go to the company and build his career.

Although her grandmother was deeply worried about their future, she supported her granddaughter’s decision and went with Amina to the villa.

Brimming with fighting spirit, Zeke Walton arrived at his company, only to be met with a bolt from the blue.

His assistant told him, “President Walton is here. He’s in your office.”

‘He’s not at the hospital with Mom? Did he come all the way here just to fight with me again?’

Zeke Walton entered his office, only to be met by his father’s cold, angry glare.

“Didn’t you tell me to get lost and never show my face to you again? What are you doing in my company?”

“Your company? Is this *your* company?”

Mr. Walton, sitting in Zeke’s executive chair, tapped on the desk, his expression grim.

“If I recall correctly, the initial concept for this company was yours. But every single thing besides that was acquired through my connections, wasn’t it?”

Zeke Walton’s head started ringing.

‘He’s here to settle the score? He really plans on disowning me.’

It was true. When the company was founded, aside from his own creative concept, everything else had come from his father’s influence.

“So what’s your point?”

“Isn’t my point obvious enough? Since you’re no longer my son, you’re no longer entitled to the benefits I’ve provided. Therefore, this company now belongs to me. You might argue that you built it from the ground up, that you’ve worked tirelessly to manage it all this time. But don’t forget, ever since this company started turning a profit, every cent you’ve spent has come from its earnings. The two cancel each other out. We’re square. I don’t owe you a thing.”

“Furthermore, besides this company, every car and property to your name was acquired through me. I’ve let you use them for this long. It’s not unreasonable for me to take them back, free of charge, is it?”

Zeke Walton was trembling with rage.

He never thought his father would go to such ruthless extremes to force him into submission.

But he was young and hot-headed. In a fit of rage, Zeke Walton agreed.

“Fine, take it all back! What else is yours? Name it, and I’ll give it all back! I have my own two hands. Don’t think for a second I can’t survive without you! You think this will turn me into the person you want me to be? Some kind of puppet? A marionette on a string? Never! I’d rather be poor, I’d rather suffer, than live under your thumb!”

“Excellent. Remember what you said today.”

Mr. Walton stood up, his teeth clenched.

“Then I’ll have my people see to it immediately. Not just the cars and the properties—all the money in your accounts belongs to me as well… I hope you can hold out for a few days. Don’t come crying back for my forgiveness before the echo of your big talk has even faded.”

Zeke Walton stormed out of the company.

He had driven to the office, but he couldn’t drive back. He had to hail a cab.

He hadn’t expected his father to move so quickly. When the taxi pulled up to the villa and he tried to pay the driver, his card was declined for insufficient funds.

He tried several other cards, but none of them worked. He swore furiously and had no choice but to call Wyatt Wynn.

“Wire me ten thousand, quick.”

Wyatt Wynn was completely bewildered.

‘Since when did Young Mr. Walton need ten thousand from him?’ But he sent the money anyway.

“Did something happen?”

“No. I’ll explain later.”

It took Zeke Walton another twenty minutes of walking to get back to the villa.

To add insult to injury, the butler from the main Walton Family estate was already there, waiting with a group of people.

Amina and her grandmother were sitting on the living room sofa in a daze. When they saw him come in, they both looked incredibly awkward.

Zeke Walton’s expression was no better than theirs.

He walked straight over and took Amina’s hand.

“We’ll go back to your place for now. Come upstairs and help me pack.”

The three of them looked like they were moving house. They packed all the personal belongings they had bought into several large bags, called a taxi, and went back to Amina’s rented room.

The entire time, Amina watched Zeke Walton cautiously, not daring to say a word.

Once they were back at her place and sitting down, Zeke Walton chugged a glass of water before finally speaking in a flat voice.

“I’ve broken with my family. They’ve drained my accounts and taken back the company, the house, and the cars. I’m a penniless loser now. Amina, do you still want to be with me?”

At his words, Amina’s cautious expression, which she had worn all day, suddenly brightened.

She threw her arms around Zeke Walton.

“How can you say that? When I first met you, I thought you were broke! I was never with you for your money!”

Now that he was broke again, she felt it was perfect.

They were finally equals. No one could accuse her of being after his money anymore.

Zeke Walton knew what she was thinking and, amused, gently pinched her nose.

“You’re so adorably clueless, yet people still call you a conniving woman. How unfair is that?”

After rushing about all day, everyone was exhausted. Amina cooked a meal herself, and as they ate, a confident Zeke Walton once again started planning their future with her.

“Even though I’m broke now, I still have a few friends. I’ve got a brain and two good hands. I can do anything; we won’t starve…”

Just as the two of them were chatting happily, Amina’s two shameless brothers showed up at the most inopportune time.

The door opened, and when she saw it was them, Amina’s expression turned grim.

“Why are you here again? After what you did to me last time, you still have the nerve to show your faces?”

The older brother shot back, “Who else would we look for? You’re our sister! Our house in town is gone. Tim Tate’s mom promised to help get it back, but now she’s backing out, and it’s all your fault! You go talk to her and get her to tell her cousin to give our house back! Otherwise, the two of us are crashing here and not leaving!”

With that, the two of them shoved Amina aside and pushed their way into the room.

They never expected to walk in and see Zeke Walton there, too.