At the hospital
Fred returned to the hospital and stayed with Joan. He held her hands lightly and talked with her. Maggie and the rest left leaving him alone with Joan. "I've informed dad about the chairwoman's acts and intentions. Rest assured, I will let whoever is involved in this incident pay for it. When you wake up, I'll marry you openly and with honor", he said. He spent the night taking care of her. Josh came in around 5am and asked him to get some rest. "You didn't rest throughout the night, you should go back and get changed and have some sleep", Josh urged him. "Let's go back then. I already told the doctor to have a nurse stationed here, Maggie and the others have to go to work in the morning. I can let Joan stay here alone", Fred replied. "You don't have to worry much. Tracy already said she'd stay with Joan this morning, while Annie and Maggie would come later after work", Josh explained. "I can be at ease then. Let's carry out today's plan", Fred said and tapped Josh's shoulder. "Let's go", he said. Fred left with Josh while Tracy arrived about an hour later. Joan moved her fingers while Tracy talked with her. "You see, I've finished the book you gave me. You need to wake early and buy me more books. Though you're work oriented, you bring much fun to our lives, the house is boring without you", Tracy said.
At the Chairman's mansion
The chairman was laying on his bed when his wife returned. He heard his room door open but acted as if he was fast asleep, he laid on his bed still and didn't get up. Vivian came in with Mrs Benard and looked around the Chairman's room. "This old man is nearing his last days. You did a good job Vivian", Mrs Benard said. "I made sure to add extra drops in his water. He has been laying still on his bed since yesterday", Vivian reported. "I heard his son visited him yesterday. He never thought that'd be the last time he'll see his dad. I had a lovely night out there without this man around. He's been a good man to me, so I'll give him a befitting burial when the time comes", the chairwoman said. "Why don't we torture him longer. He won't be able to witness you becoming the chairperson of the board if he's dead", Vivian said. The chairman listened keenly and ensured his phone is still on recording and laid still on his bed. Mrs Benard drew near her husband and sat on his bed. She looked at him closely and touched his face, then held his chin tightly. "I hope you don't blame me for this, old man. I was devoted to you for many years, but you intend to pass on the company to your good son. I don't have a choice than to do this. Your stupid daughter too, Mitchell, she knows nothing other than to draw and paint. She inherited those genes from you and doesn't act like my daughter. I already paved the way for her, and she has no choice other than to obey", Mrs Benard said slowly. "That reminds me of Fred, I'll deal with him after I finish you off", she added and left his room. Vivian followed her out and slammed the door behind her. Mr Benard opened his eyes after she left and saved the recording, he forwarded it to Fred and told him to get prepared.
Mrs Benard called Robbins and said, "let's proceed as planned. The chairman is nearing his end, you and I will take over the company". Mr Benard overheard his wife's conversation on the phone and pretended he was ill and unable to get up. Mrs Benard dressed up and went to the company, she called for an emergency meeting with the board. The shareholders were present and some directors in the group, there were about thirty people in the meeting hall. Mr Robbins was present as well. "Madam, why are you here?", Mr Steve asked. "My presence today is to notify the board of the chairman's retirement. He's ill and can no longer handle the company, I'll take over from him", Mrs Benard answered. The board members looked at one another in awe. "The new chairman is elected based on the percentage of shares you have. I'm afraid you don't have enough shares. The legitimate heir of the company should be Fred Benard. He isn't here, we should wait for him before we decide on this matter", Steve defended. Fred barged in few minutes later and sat in the president's seat, Mrs Benard looked at him with hateful eyes. "Now that Fred is here, we'll proceed further. I have the Chairman's will with me, according to the will I'm to handle the group till Fred is mature enough", Mrs Benard said and showed them a fake will. The board members looked at one another while Robbins stood up. "Why is he here?", "Wasn't he kicked out of the group for mishandling funds", the people said to one another. Robbins looked at them and said, "the Chairman's will is here, it doesn't matter even if Fred has the highest shares". Fred got up and said, "the will is fake, the signature was forged too. Are you that eager to become the chairperson?", he asked his step mum. Mrs Benard replied, "I'm doing this all for you, yet you're going against me openly". "Let's handle this fairly, we'll vote. Raise your hands if you're in support of Fred", she said. Half of the boards members raised their hands. Mrs Benard shook her head. "This is going to be a long matter. Raise your hands if you're in support of support of me leading this company", she said. Five among the board members and Robbins raised their hands. Fred looked at her and said, "you lost". Mrs Benard ordered the two men that was with her to take Fred down. "It doesn't matter if the board is in support of me leading the company or not. I'm the the new chairperson of the group", she said loudly. "You people can resign if you aren't interested in keeping your position", she added.
Mrs Benard continued with her talk when she heard someone clapping, the board members looked back and saw a man walking in slowly, while clapping his hands. It was the chairman, "what an excellent performance", he said. His wife looked at him in surprise and said, "you! you're alive and well!". "Yes, I'm healthy and well. You thought I was going to die, I'm here to supervise how you handle the company", the chairman said. Two policemen came in with a young man, Cobbs, and their maid, Vivian. "I suppose you know this young man?", the chairman asked his wife. "No I don't. Who's he darling?", she asked. "I'm surprised you still call me as your husband. You know well who's your husband in the group", the chairman said. "Arrest this woman and the traitor of the group", the chairman ordered. The police arrested the chairwoman together with Robbins. "What is going on here?", a board member asked.
At the hospital
Joan opened her eyes and looked around, Tracy was beside her together with a nurse. "Thank God you're finally awake. You've been unconscious for a day", Tracy said. "A day!", Joan screamed. "Where's Fred?", she asked. "I had a long dream about him", Joan said. "Calm down baby, Fred is fine. He took care of you throughout the night. He should be in the company now", Tracy answered. Joan got up and saw a bag placed beside Tracy. "Is there clothes inside that bag?", she asked. "What're you trying to do", Tracy asked in return. Joan took the bag and changed her clothes. "I can't possibly wear this patient's gown to the company, I need to see Fred", Joan answered. Tracy shouted and said, "you just woke up. The first person you asked for is Fred, you're such a sincere woman in love". "You need to recuperate", she urged her. Joan picked her phone and didn't listen to Tracy and ran out of the hospital. The nurse there notified the doctor and he went over to the ward. "You mean she ran away?", the doctor asked. "She did. I couldn't stop her. I just hope she's fine", Tracy replied. "Let's just hope she's fine. I'll ask a nurse to get on with the discharge process. Ensure she comes over later", the doctor said and left.
Joan rushed to the company and asked an employee about Fred. "Mr Fred is in the meeting hall", the employee answered. Joan went to the meeting hall and saw Fred, she called him and he ran over to meet her. "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be in the hospital?", he asked. He thought for a while and said, "you're awake darling. I'm so happy". Joan smiled and nodded. Fred held her close to him and went on with the company's matters.
"The chairwoman committed many crimes that warrants arrests and a jail term. She faked the chairman's will and harmed him with poison. She burnt the gallery and turned the arts exhibition into a mess. She's directly involved in the accident I had some months ago. She's also in an extra marital affair with Mr Robbins. The two people with the police is her accomplices", Fred explained. "You're lying Fred. I took great care of you, now you instigated your dad against me. You're really ungrateful", Mrs Benard said. "Take her away", the chairman ordered. The police took the perpetrators away while the chairman talked with the board members. "I'm ashamed to face you all. I didn't handle my family affairs well. I'm already old and can no longer lead the company. I hereby retire and let Fred lead the company", the chairman declared. "Mr Fred is indeed the right candidate", a board member said. The members looked at one another and nodded in agreement. Fred became the new CEO and the meeting was dismissed. Mr Benard went out of the hall while Fred followed him. "It was a tough one. I never expected her to become like this. It's so disappointing and heartbreaking. You should learn from her mistakes", he said to Fred. "Don't be troubled by this dad, it's unbelievable indeed but mum chose this path. I need you to live on well for I and Mitchell. We'll make you proud", Fred replied. "It's alright son. I'm leaving now, I need to get some rest", Mr Benard said tapping his son's hands gently and left not long after.
Fred was disheartened by the occurrence and went to the rooftop looking at the view of the city. Joan looked around for him and thought to check the rooftop. Fred was deeply immersed in his thoughts and didn't notice her presence. "You seem lost", she said. "How did you find me here?", he asked. "I'll always find you, regardless of wherever you go", she replied. "What're you thinking about?", she asked. "I'm just wondering about why mum did that. She was nice woman, I didn't know when she became obsessed with greed. It's so heartbreaking and painful. Up till this morning, I was hoping the perpetrator isn't her", he lamented. Joan drew near to him and rested his head on her shoulder. "The bond between you and her is broken, but the longing is there. I hope she has a change of heart. We can hire a good lawyer for her to have her sentence reduced", Joan said firmly. Fred stared at Joan's eyes and kissed her affectionately. "It's all over, we can be together now", he said gently.