Rachel and Sarah were both taken aback. It seemed that Hugh hade all this way simply because Serena had missed breakfast.


    They couldn''t help but wonder if it required someone as busy as Hugh to


    personallye and inquire about such a matter.


    Howard''s forehead broke into a cold sweat. He never expected Serena to be


    growing more important to Hugh by the day.


    Quickly, he forced a smile. "It''s... It''s all Sarah''s fault. I misunderstood Nina. I was


    just about to punish Sarah properly and make it up to Nina!"


    "Oh? Is grounding her your idea of a punishment? And what about thepensation?" Serena''s voice was cold as she raised an eyebrow.


    She thought to herself that since Hugh had alreadye all the way here and with such a strong ally by her side, there was no reason not to make use of the opportunity.


    Howard''s eyes shed with disbelief. Serena was really pushing her luck!


    But with Hugh''s sharp gaze on him, he didn''t dare refuse.


    Gritting his teeth, he finally said, "The mother''s failure to teach her daughter properly is to me. I''ll discipline Sarah, not just by grounding her, but I''ll also cut her allowances on her behalf. Rachel, you failed to teach your daughter well, so you will be grounded too!


    "From now on, aside from necessary trips, you are not allowed to go out aimlessly! You won''t be causing any more trouble in the future."


    Hearing his words, Rachel and Sarah''s faces immediately turned pale.


    If they couldn''t go out, Rachel wouldn''t be able to raise money for Bryan, and Sarah wouldn''t be able to find a way to win over Hugh''s heart.


    Just as they were still in shock, Serena spoke again, "So, not causing trouble ispensation for me?


    "Ms. Lloyd, I saved your daughter from jail. If you''re truly sincere, shouldn''t you offer me something of real value aspensation?"


    As she said that, Serena subtly mouthed the word "Bryan" to Rachel.


    That word hit Rachel''s soft spot.


    Almost immediately, Rachel slowly stood up, holding onto the couch for support.


    "Serena, I do want to thank you, but I don''t have any money... Maybe there''s another way we can work this out?"


    "As Mrs. Jansen, don''t you have any shares in Jansen Group?" Hugh suddenly asked.


    Rachel''s legs nearly gave out.


    Serena was slightly surprised. She had indeed intended to leverage the


    opportunity to get some liquid assets, but she hadn''t expected Hugh to think of Rachel''s shares in thepany.


    Serena mentally gave him a thumbs-up for being a good ally and moved closer to him.


    "Shares? Well, that could work," she said.


    Hugh noticed Serena getting closer to him. It seemed as though the exhaustion from the past few days had lifted, and his mood improved significantly.


    Meanwhile, Rachel clenched her fists tightly.


    This couple was trying to take everything from her. However, when she thought of the six million Bryan owed and how it couldn''t be paid, she could only grit her teeth.


    "I can only offer three percent of the shares. That''s the most I can give."


    Serena smiled, her lips curling into a slight grin. "Since Dad is home, we can handle the transfer now."


    She quickly called Natalie to draft the share transfer agreement. After printing it out, she had Rachel sign it. Howard stood by, watching, his face darkening.


    The Jansen Group had risen again with the help of Amber''s porcin collection, and he had personally erased every trace of her from thepany.


    But now, after so many years, Amber''s bloodline had somehow found its way back into the Jansen Group.


    This was problematic.


    The look in Howard''s eyes as he nced at Serena was filled only with cold indifference.