Donald’s expression was dark. Although admitting defeat in front of his daughter humiliated him, he also had no desire to live with her any longer.
Judith glanced at Serena before smiling and saying, “Of course, I’d like to stay there. However, who’s paying? Will you pay for it, Yvonne? The nursing home is much better than this house. They have professional nurses and doctors, and even the food is better there. You surely don’t expect an old woman to pay out of her own pocket, do you?”
The words weren’t harsh, yet every sentence accused them of being ungrateful. After all, as a dignified CEO, how could he possibly let his elderly mother pay for her own nursing home?
Donald took several deep breaths before finally speaking. “I’ll pay, but Serena is not allowed to mention calling off the wedding again at the end of the month.”
Serena took a sip of her soup before saying, “I won’t be attending the wedding. I can pay for the fees, but I want my mother’s 15% of the company shares. Give me her shares, and I’ll take Grandma and leave. From then on, neither of us will need you to take responsibility. How about that?”
Donald nearly choked on his own saliva when he heard her words. “I really underestimated you. So this was about the company shares all along. If you want to get them, you have to get over my dead body!”
Judith was deeply hurt by his words. She couldn’t believe that the son she had raised was using her to threaten his own daughter.
“Rena,” she said gently. “It’s fine. I still have 5% in my hands. Tomorrow, I’ll transfer them to you.”
At that moment, Yvonne’s heart dropped.
“No! You can’t!”
She couldn’t accept the fact that she and her daughter got nothing, while Serena walked away with 5% for free.
Serena hadn’t intended to truly take the shares. She smiled faintly and said, “Who is paying for the nursing home then?”
Yvonne’s face turned dark as she gritted her teeth and said, “I will pay for it.”
At last, the farce came to an end.
Serena didn’t push the matter of the shares further as she happily packed her grandmother’s belongings.
“Grandma, don’t listen to him anymore. The nursing home suits you better. Plus, I don’t feel at ease with you living here. Don’t worry about money. I’m about to get promoted, so my salary will double. Even if they don’t pay for it, I can still afford to do so.” Though after paying, she’d have nothing left.
Judith smiled happily and said, “Alright. I know you are great, but I wasn’t joking when I said about the shares. I’m already an old woman, so those shares mean nothing to me. If I give them to you, you’ll still have a sense of security even if your father favors others in the future.”
Serena felt like crying when she heard Judith’s words.
“I know, Grandma. I know you’re the one who loves me the most.” Then, she buried her face into Judith’s knees, tears soaking the latter’s trousers.
Judith’s heart ached. She gently ruffled Serena’s hair and said, “Don’t cry. As long as I am alive, I’ll cherish you.”
Judith had only just returned, her luggage not even unpacked, and now it was being moved-unchanged-back into the car.
Serena personally escorted her back to the nursing home. Along the way, she also took the bank card Yvonne had handed over.
Yvonne glared at her and said, “There’s five hundred thousand in that card. Make sure you spend it slowly.”
Serena smiled as she took the card from her hand. “Thank you, Aunt Yvonne.”
As Yvonne watched the car drive away, she stormed off to find Donald, furious and anxious.
“Donald, why didn’t you tell me that Grandma still had 5% of the company shares? If not for today, I wouldn’t have known at all!”
He fell silent for a moment before replying, “That was left to my mother by my father. How could I possibly take it from her?”
“Then, what about the 15% Serena mentioned?” She couldn’t believe he didn’t give her anything after all these years with him.
A glint flashed across Donald’s eyes as he said, “We are a family. Everything I have will belong to Kyana in the future.”
Donald’s only lifelong regret was that he had no son. Both daughters would eventually marry out, and his entire fortune would benefit outsiders. That was what he found the hardest to accept.
Yvonne wouldn’t accept it. She had lost five hundred thousand today and even been drenched with water by Serena. No matter what, she refused to let this matter slide. “Why don’t you buy Kyana a villa as her dowry? This old house is outdated anyway. We might as well move.”
His gaze darkened, and he said, “The company needs money right now. Let’s wait a bit longer. I won’t shortchange Kyana on what I’ve promised. Right now, the most important thing is for Serena to marry Trevor.”
As long as the wedding wasn’t over, the knot in his chest wouldn’t loosen. Only once their families were truly allied could he feel at ease.
…
Kyana had partied all night with her friends and didn’t come home until noon the next day.
“Mom, why isn’t Grandma here? Didn’t you say she was back last night?”
“She’s been sent back again!” Yvonne replied irritably.
“What? Why?” Kyana was genuinely confused. “I ran into Serena at Vermillion Restaurant last night and angered her by telling her that Grandma is back. Why is Grandma being sent away again?”
Hearing her words, Yvonne looked at her daughter with a complicated expression. No wonder Serena knew about it so soon.
“Enough. Your father said that once she’s married, he’ll buy you a villa as your dowry.”
“Really?” Kyana’s eyes lit up. One of her friends had mocked her family for declining just yesterday. Once Donald had bought her a villa, she’d slap that friend in the face first thing.
“Is she really going to marry Trevor?”
Yvonne sneered coldly and said, “Kyana, Trevor isn’t suitable for you, so stop thinking about him. Although he is the eldest grandson in the Levine family, he doesn’t control the Levine Group. He is just the president of a subsidiary. Besides, you know it better than anyone as to his relationship with Amber.”
Once Serena married into that family, she’d learn what suffering meant. Yvonne had never thought this was a marriage worth envying.
“But…” Kyana still felt unwilling. After all, this was the Levine family they were talking about.
Yvonne patted the back of her hand and said, “Look at the big picture. He isn’t the only unmarried man in the Levine family.”
Kyana was baffled for a moment before she realized what her mother meant.
“Mom… Do you mean…”
Yvonne smiled faintly and said, “That one is the true power behind the Levine family. If you grab his attention, you’ll be a rank higher than Serena in the future.”
After making sure her grandmother was settled, Serena went to the firm later that afternoon.
Eugene’s office was vacant. The emptiness felt strange.
“Where’s the Boss?”
Shawn leaned closer. “With Mr. Rowe.”
He lowered his voice even further. “Mr. Lopez is there too.”
Serena raised an eyebrow. Everyone knew Adam Rowe had two heavyweight deputies, and those two had never gotten along.
“Sounds like it’s about Levine Group’s agency contract. The Boss went over to sort things out with Mr. Rowe today.”
Serena’s chest tightened. “Mr. Lopez’s side took it?”
Sebastian had promised her he would handle things fairly that day.
Her gaze dulled. Then again, when he’d made that promise, he hadn’t known she was planning to end her engagement with Trevor.
If he backed out now, it would almost be understandable.
“No clue. I heard they were already set to hand it to the Boss. Right before signing, Mr. Lopez contacted the client and offered a five-percent cut. Next thing you know, they stopped responding to us.”
Serena snapped, “How could they pull something like that? That’s straight-up poaching.”
Cutting fees just to steal a contract was the kind of move that not only wounded the enemy badly but also bled yourself dry too.
And it made Beaumont Legal look fractured in front of the client.
The Levine Group wasn’t foolish. There was a real chance they’d walk away from both sides.
Shawn let out a sharp laugh. “Tell me about it. That’s why the Boss lost it. I’ve never seen him that angry. He nearly jabbed Mr. Lopez in the face and cursed him out.”
…
Serena mulled it over. The Levine Group deal mattered-to her and to the team.
A merger case on her record would polish her resume. Even limited involvement would help, especially with her upcoming mid-level review, but this was an internal conflict.
She shouldn’t pull Sebastian into it.
It wasn’t appropriate. And it wasn’t how she handled things.
She opened the chat window, typed a few lines, then erased them all.
Then, a message appeared from the other side.
‘SL: If you have something to say, say it. You’ve been sitting in my chat for thirty minutes.’
Serena startled.
Her phone slipped from her hand and smacked against the floor.
Shawn frowned. “Serena? You alright? Still worrying about the Boss and Lopez clashing? Relax. Mr. Rowe usually leans our way. This time, Mr. Lopez undercut on purpose just to steal the Levine Group. Once Mr. Rowe hears the full story, I doubt he’ll side with him.”
Lily scooted closer. “I wouldn’t be so sure. I heard someone on their side has a connection with the Levine Group.”
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