Chapter 3

I stayed silent, just sitting there quietly and watching Ruth, Demi, and the others put on their show, offering only a calm smile in response.

Jacob stepped forward at that moment, clutching my hand. "I'm begging you, Flynn. Please save Tyler! He can't survive without you!"

I yanked my hand away. "You can save him yourselves if you want to. Either way, count me out!"

Tyler stared at me in disbelief. "What are you saying, Dad? Why won't you save me? I'm your son, Dad! How can you not save me?"

"I'm not the only one responsible for you, Tyler. Your mother is standing right there," I said with a calm smile. I then turned to Ruth and added, "I'm not going to save Tyler today, Ruth. You'll have to do it yourself!"

I then straightened my clothes and said, "I'll be heading off now if there's nothing else."

Ruth barked, "You'd better hold it right there! Have you completely lost your mind, Flynn, or are you having an affair? He's your own flesh and blood! How could you just let him die? How can you even say that? You've completely lost your mind!"

She then turned to the growing crowd and said, "Do you guys see this? He's Flynn Youngblood, Sales Director of Pelagic International. He's turning his back on his own son!"

Ruth exposed who I was, a move that only piqued my curiosity further. She was acting out of pure desperation. She resorted to exposing my identity since she couldn't force me to donate a kidney.

I couldn't help but wonder what her angle was. I furrowed my brow, my thoughts immediately shifting to Jacob. Why on earth was that guy sticking his nose into our family business anyway?

I was about to walk away when Ruth grabbed me. "You're not leaving until you explain everything!"

I bellowed, "I have nothing to tell you! I have a meeting today, so Tyler is all yours!"

I brushed her aside and walked away without looking back.

"You'd better get back here this instant!" Ruth roared at my retreating figure. "You'll regret this if you walk out now!"

I ignored everything and walked out of the hospital. I then sent Jacob's photo to Keith and said, "I need you to help me look into this guy, Keith."

I had died too suddenly in my past life to really think about it, but looking back, something was off with all of them. Why was Jacob so desperate to involve himself in my family issues, going as far as encouraging the bystanders to film me? That, along with Demi's behavior today, made me highly suspicious.

I headed to the office while waiting to hear back from Keith. I caught several people giving me odd looks as soon as I arrived, and when I looked back at them, they didn't even bother trying to hide it—they just openly trash-talked me right to my face.

"How can he have the nerve to show up for work? How can he be so ruthless to his own kid?"

"He's the sales director and part of the corporate elite. No wonder he's so cold-blooded!"

"I feel so sorry for that kid for having him as a father!"

I couldn't help but scowl at their comments, not expecting the news to travel so fast.

I had barely made it into my office when the CEO, Roger Livingston, called me. "I take it you've seen what's online, Flynn. You need to get your family situation sorted out, so consider yourself on leave for the next few days. You're dismissed for today."

I felt my heart sink after hearing that. After all, my role as sales director at Pelagic International was coveted by many, and with a scandal like this, I knew that if I walked out now, I'd probably return to find someone else sitting in my chair.

I was already a high-level executive and often criticized, and now that my family matters had been exposed and used as leverage, my entire career was about to be destroyed.

"I've done nothing wrong here, Mr. Livingston. I was targeted and set up in this whole situation. You can rest assured that Pelagic International won't be impacted by this. In addition—"

A commotion at the entrance interrupted me, and that was when I saw Ruth stormed through the door.

"Is this what you wanted, Flynn?" she shouted. "Tyler is dead! You bastard! You'd better come out here this instant!"