Playtime's Over, CEO: She's Really Done With You-Chapter 512: Safeguard What Belongs to Her

Someone immediately chimed in, "Yeah, haven’t you seen the news? Even Silas Hawthorne has no solution, he’s gone to Corvale to beg, we’re not sold to Aeon, why can’t we look for another buyer?"

"You guys!" Raine was practically fuming.

But what they said wasn’t entirely wrong.

Raine could only say, "Think about it, these days, when hasn’t Serena treated you well? The salary and benefits are good, bonuses, paid vacations, better than many other companies. She’s just temporarily injured now, she’ll get better! And besides, the Hawthorne Group is still here, what are you afraid of?"

"What if she doesn’t get better?" That same troublemaker replied, "What if she just dies?"

"You!"

Raine couldn’t find the words to refute.

Inside, the crowd was in chaos again.

Everyone had something to say.

"The Hawthorne Group deals in the jewelry business, even if they take us over, we’ll still be like stepchildren, so we might as well jump ship to a good company while we can."

"Yeah, and Mr. Sheridan is seriously injured, he’s been in the ICU for days, I think it’s grim."

"In any case, I don’t want to take such a big risk, I need to be prudent, I have a wife and kids to care for."

...

The room was a mess.

Raine was so anxious her eyes turned red.

But she also understood that everyone has their own reasons, and from a personal perspective, it made sense.

So she could only worry helplessly.

Just then, Aeon’s doors opened once more, Secretary Sawyer pushed a wheelchair in, accompanied by a little girl.

It was Silas Hawthorne and Seraphina.

"Mr. Hawthorne!"

Someone noticed them first and called out.

Then everyone gradually quieted down, afraid to say much.

Previously, when Serena worked overtime with them, Silas was always there with her, and they all knew him.

"Cough, cough..."

Silas Hawthorne lightly coughed twice, his face still pale.

"Everyone, come to the meeting room," he rasped.

After speaking, he nodded at Raine.

Then the orderly pushed him out first.

Silas and Seraphina arrived first, Silas pulled a chair over for Seraphina and had her sit next to him.

Then the people from Aeon came in quickly, finding their seats.

Aeon is just a start-up, there aren’t many people, so although the meeting room was a bit crowded, it was still accommodating.

Raine was the last to enter, she nodded at Silas Hawthorne to indicate everyone was there.

Silas nodded in understanding.

He glanced at everyone present, many with heads lowered, expressions varied.

"Serena is seriously injured," Silas Hawthorne said, his voice hoarse from the fever, "I understand everyone’s concerns."

No one made a sound.

"If anyone wants to leave, I think, Serena wouldn’t stop you," Silas continued, "but I hope you’ll consider why you joined Aeon in the first place."

"Perhaps it was for the salary, maybe for future prospects, or just for her, for the Sheridan Family, for Evan Sheridan."

"Aeon’s strength is clearer to you than to me," Silas went on, "Aside from Serena’s personal abilities, there’s a mature operational system, MKK’s support, being a shareholder of the rapidly growing Aether, multiple orders and contracts involving various enterprises, plus the backing from the Hawthorne Group and myself."

"As long as you do your work well, there won’t be any issues."

Silas looked at everyone present, paused slightly, and clenched his hand hidden under the table, continuing, "Even if she is gone..."

Silas slightly lowered his eyes, saying, "Aeon will continue to operate normally."

The room was silent.

Many were secretly exchanging glances.

After a long silence, finally, someone spoke up, "Mr. Hawthorne, if Mr. Sheridan is really gone, would you..."

The person didn’t finish, nor did they dare.

But everyone understood their meaning.

They were asking if Silas would marry again.

"No," Silas answered without any hesitation, "She is my only choice."

Again, people exchanged glances.

In each other’s eyes, they saw the shared thought—"He’s saying this now, but who knows what will happen in the future?"

Silas understood their thoughts and remained silent.

He just turned his face slightly, looking at Seraphina.

Seraphina nodded and then stood up.

Although just a little girl, her actions captured everyone’s attention.

"Aeon still has me," Seraphina’s voice was childish but firm, "I am my mom’s first heir, if she never wakes up, I will take good care of everyone."

"Aeon will always run independently, it won’t be like a stepchild," Seraphina added, "My dad will help me, and I’ll grow up quickly."

Saying this, Seraphina clenched her small fists, her eyes reddened, and said, "But I still believe my mom will wake up soon, and none of this will happen."

Silas gently held Seraphina’s hand, his eyes full of comfort.

She chose the child.

Although the two are not related by blood, their personalities are very similar.

Silas looked away and said, "That’s about it, this is the toughest time for Aeon, I need everyone to get through this with us."

"Three days."

Silas continued, "Seraphina and I give everyone three days to decide whether to stay or leave."

"Believe us, those who choose to stay with Aeon, we won’t treat any of you unfairly."

After Silas finished, he looked over at Raine and nodded.

The meeting room door on the side was opened.

Silas glanced at Seraphina.

Seraphina nodded as well.

Secretary Sawyer pushed the wheelchair, taking Silas and Seraphina to Serena’s office.

They had been here many times before.

But this time felt very different.

Silas went to her desk, looking at the things placed there.

Various office supplies, that potted plant, and the photo frame on the table.

Holding Seraphina, Silas reached for the photo frame.

It held a family photo of the three of them.

He gently caressed the photo.

This place was filled with traces of her.

The things she used, her habits, the decor she loved.

The memory of her being exhausted, lying asleep on the sofa, was still vivid.

Silas slightly tightened his grip on the photo frame, suppressing his emotions.

The fever made him a little dizzy; he paused for a moment, then reached for the kettle, watering the potted plant.

"I’ll protect everything of yours," Silas whispered, "Everything will be fine, and when you recover, we’ll restore their brilliance."

Silas put down the watering can, looking once more at that photo, gently caressing her face in it.

"Please, don’t deteriorate anymore, get well soon, okay?" Silas’s eyes reddened, recalling those urgent rescues, he lowered his gaze slightly, deeply afraid of losing her.