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Billionaire Gave His Gardener $8,000 as a Joke — A Year Later, He Couldn't Believe His Eyes

Billionaire Gave His Gardener $8,000 as a Joke — A Year Later, He Couldn't Believe His Eyes

Chapter 22

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Finally, Cynthia spoke, her voice sounding tired: "Elijah."He already knew; people often know bad news before hearing it."I'm sorry." The words confirmed everything. Cynthia continued, "Mr. Whitmore has decided to terminate your employment, effective immediately."The greenhouse suddenly felt quieter—not empty, just distant, as though the world had stepped backward.Elijah listened calmly. Cynthia sounded genuinely uncomfortable. "There won't be a dispute over your final pay.""I understand."Another pause. "I tried to explain.""I know."Because he did know. Cynthia wasn't the villain; she never had been. The woman simply worked inside a system where some decisions were made above her."I'm sorry," she repeated.This time, Elijah smiled softly, even though she couldn't see it. "Take care of yourself, Cynthia."The call ended. For a few seconds, he stood motionless. The greenhouse remained silent around him as rows of plants stretched beneath the pale morning light. Everything looked exactly the same, yet somehow nothing was. Thirty-one years of gardening, nine years at the Whitmore estate—gone with a phone call.Marcus arrived twenty minutes later. One look at Elijah's face told him something had happened. The teenager climbed from the truck. "What is it?"Elijah didn't answer immediately. Instead, he carefully finished adjusting a damaged seedling tray, then another, then another. Finally, he stood. "They let me go."Marcus froze; the words landed like a punch. "What?""They terminated my position."The teenager stared, waiting for more, waiting for a correction, waiting for someone to say it wasn't true. Nothing came.Anger arrived first: hot, immediate, unfiltered. "That's ridiculous!"Elijah remained quiet.Marcus stepped forward. "He accused you of stealing!"Still silence.
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Billionaire Gave His Gardener $8,000 as a Joke — A Year Later, He Couldn't Believe His Eyes

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