Jarrod used to love everything she cooked-there was never a meal left


    unfinished. Now that she''d shown Cara her recipes, he''d at least eat something, she thought.


    Cara''s eyes lingered on her. "Ma''am, are you heading out?"


    Elodie nced toward the master bedroom. "I have some urgent work to deal with."


    She didn''t offer any more exnation. After everything that had happened today, everyone needed a little time to process.


    Cara didn''t press further.


    Leaving the recipe with Cara, Elodie made her way to VistaLink Technologies.


    There really was a work emergency; the tech department had hit a snag she had to personally resolve.


    Ivan made a trip to the Harcourt estate.


    The Harcourt Group had copsed. Predators were circling, waiting to tear them apart.


    Ma was slumped on the living room couch, drained and defeated by the blow.


    He couldn''t understand it. He''d managed to pay off part of the debt-surely the others wouldn''t push him this far. But everything had changed overnight; severalpanies had joined forces to crush him.


    When Reba Harcourt saw Ivan, she looked as though she''d spotted a savior. She jumped up, rushing to grab Ivan''s hand. "Brother, you''re finally here! There''s trouble at home. Dad says we''re facing a forced takeover, and the money from the buyout won''t even cover our debts-we''ll get nothing..."


    She truly believed Ivan could fix this.


    Ivan''s gaze lingered on her anxious, aggrieved face as he pulled his hand free. "Really? Sounds rough."


    Reba sensed something off, staring at him in confusion. "Brother?"


    Ma roused himself, hurrying to his feet. "Ivan, thank God you''re back! I''ve been calling and calling. TerraGreen Solutions carries a lot of weight in the industry. If the Harcourts go under, I lose everything I''ve worked for. Ivan, you have to help us!"


    Ivan dropped onto the sofa in front of the coffee table, a mocking tilt to his mouth. "President Harcourt, never thought I''d see the day you crashed and burned."


    Something in his tone made Ma go cold.


    Ma broke out in a cold sweat. "What''s that supposed to mean?"


    “Forgot to mention—the buyers? I''m one of them." Ivan stretched out his legs, eyes glinting with menace.


    Ma''s face drained of color; he could barely stand. "You? What are you trying to do?"


    Reba rushed over, grabbing Ivan''s arm. "Brother, please, this isn''t funny. The family''s really in trouble this time."


    Ivan shook her off so hard she nearly fell, stunned at the man before her.


    He sneered at Ma. "Still haven''t figured it out? This is Jarrod''s doing. One


    word from him, and thosepanies had plenty of ways to crush the Harcourt Group. Who do you think you''re up against?"


    Ma''s lips quivered; his knees nearly gave out.


    He''d thought that, for Elodie''s sake, Jarrod would never go so far. Clearly, he''d been wrong.


    "President Harcourt, you''re finished.


    The Harcourt family is finished."


    Ivan''s words were merciless. As


    Ma copsed to his knees, Ivan rose and strode forward, stooping


    close: "But you and I aren''t done. You sent me to prison for three years, forced me and Elodie apart. Now, with nothing left, do you really think I''ll let you off easy?"


    His voice was ice-cold.


    Ma''s expression twisted in terror-how much did Ivan know?


    "Ivan, you''ve got it wrong! I''m your father, I raised you! Help me, please—the Harcourt family can''t go under!" His hands shook as he tried to grab Ivan''s pant leg, but Ivan ground his hand into the floor with his shoe, twisting with contempt.


    Ma broke into a cold sweat, nearly crying out in pain.


    "Brother, stop! Please, let go!" Reba snapped out of her daze and flung herself forward, pleading.


    Ivan picked up the ss ashtray


    from the table and tapped it mockingly against Ma''s cheek "I spent years at Harcourt, saw every dirty trick you pulled. No one knows your secrets better than I do Ma. Jarrod''s going to ruin you, and I''m going to make you wish you''d never been born. I''ve got plenty of time."


    Ma''s face was chalk white.


    Ivan tossed the ashtray onto his head with a dull thud.


    It was Ma''s deeds that hadnded Ivan in prison, that had torn Elodie away


    from him. If not for Ma, Elodie would have married him long ago.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!