?Chapter 1666:


    He continued, “Trust me, we’ll secure the money this time. Just listen to me. I’m not steering you wrong. Brenna is wealthy and does charity work, funding prosthetics for the disabled—each one costing hundreds of thousands. With our family in crisis, she’ll surely help us.”


    Conor remained silent, unconvinced by the n and unwilling to act on it.


    Jalen, indifferent to Conor’s hesitation, recalled how he had always persuaded his brother to borrow money despite his initial refusals.


    He added, “Conor, even if Brenna doesn’t pay, I’ve got another angle. Go to her boyfriend, the world’s richest man, with more wealth than he could ever spend. For Brenna’s sake, he’ll have to give you something. You’re guaranteed to get money this time. Aim high—at least a hundred million! Don’t hold back out of pride or shame. Ask for as much as possible. That money will cover Mom’s treatment. If you refuse, fine. Just watch Mom suffer and die. I’m broke and won’t deal with it anyway.”


    With that, Jalen walked away.


    Conor stood there, his face flushing with fury. The harsh truth lingered. Without money, he would have to watch their mother die from her illness eventually.


    She had toiled her entire life, living in their father’s shadow, enduring countless injustices to protect his reputation. Now, battling liver cancer, she was in agony daily, her time clearly running out.


    For her sake, Conor resolved to try what Jalen had suggested. He lingered, mulling it over, then decided to act. Instead of returning upstairs, he boarded a bus to find Brenna.


    Arriving at the Mitchell Group’s towering building, he felt dwarfed gazing up at its height. He stood outside for a while, strategizing how to approach Brenna.


    Truthfully, he was no stranger to borrowing money from people, having faced plenty of rejections and harsh words. He knew how to do it by now.


    When he entered the Mitchell Group’s lobby, a receptionist stopped him, noting hisck of an employee badge. “Hello, sir. Are you here to meet someone or for an interview?”


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    Conor offered a courteous smile. “I’m here to see Brenna Harper. May I go up?”


    The receptionist, sensing familiarity in his tone, assumed he might be close to Brenna but still asked, “Could you provide your name, your connection to Miss Harper, and whether you have an appointment?”


    “I’m her cousin, Conor Bentley.” Conor found the corporate formalities excessive—needing an appointment just to see someone seemed absurd.


    “One moment, sir. Let me verify.” The receptionist phoned Brenna’s office.


    Shortly after, she directed Conor to the 58th floor.


    In the elevator, Conor’s nerves crept in. He feared Brenna might berate or humiliate him, as Giselle had done before.


    Conor could still remember that day vividly—the visit to the Harper family, and the way Jalen had deceived Brenna without a hint of remorse.


    Conor knew Brenna had likely asked her mother what was going on. And when she did, she would’ve realized Jalen’s story was nonsense. Honestly, Jalen had really been foolish to lie to her. Did he really think Brenna wouldn’t check for herself?


    Conor wished he had spoken up that day and exposed his brother’s lies. But he hadn’t, and now, the fear that Brenna might see him in the same light as his brother weighed heavily on him.


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