Chapter 14 Withdrawal Of


    Funds


    Under Karina''s gentle persistence, Corrine shared a brief ount of her hospital encounter.


    Mercifully, Karina''s attention soon shifted to Bruce and Leah''s situation. "Those two are absolutely revolting! In your ce, I would have struck her across the face!"


    A subtle frost crept into Corrine''s gaze. "Perhaps this experience will teach her something valuable."


    Though she harbored no desire to waste energy on Leah, Corrine remained prepared to deliver a firmer lesson should her previous warning fall on deaf ears. Mercy and excessive forgiveness had never been her defining traits.


    Karina bobbed her head in agreement before dering, “But Bruce won''t escape consequences so easily!"


    "What do you have in mind?" Corrine''s curiosity peaked.


    "I''ve withdrawn my investment," Karina announced with casual indifference. "The Ashton family only received my funding because of you. Now that they''ve shown their true colors, why should I maintain any generosity?"


    "You should have consulted me first," Corrine admonished. "The Bayside project holds genuine promise. Sudden withdrawal means sacrificing tens of millions! Isn''t that recklessly wasteful?"


    Karina dramatically flung herself beside Corrine, feigning devastation. "Tens of millions! My heart aches! You''ll have to make it up to me."


    "Why should Ipensate for your impulsive decisions?"


    While their exchange maintained its yful warmth, on another floor of the hospital, Bruce''s expression had hardened into grave concern.


    The Bayside project represented the Ashton Group''s most significant recent venture, one that few within the


    Bruce had fought relentlessly, attending countless meetings to secure vital investments. Now, at this crucial


    moment, the withdrawal of funds struck like a thunderbolt.


    "Contact the Brooks family immediately, whatever it takes!" Bruce''s voice carried razor-sharp urgency.


    "Yes, Mr. Ashton," his assistant responded promptly.


    After ending the call, Bruce drew a steadying breath before returning to the hospital ward.


    Inside, he found his mother, Tracy, examining Leah''s forehead wound while sighing dramatically. "She always


    Bruce''s arrival coincided with his mother''s words, his brow furrowing at their harsh edge.


    When Leah caught Bruce''s expression, vulnerability flickered across her features. "The fault lies entirely with me. I shouldn''t have appeared suddenly, creating misunderstandings with Corrine or affecting their rtionship."


    "You''re not to me," Bruce interjected, epting the half-peeled apple from his mother. "What Corrine and I had was mutually convenient. Even without your presence, it would have reached its natural end."


    "Given her background, she never truly belonged with the Ashton family," Tracy remarked, undisguised contempt coloring her words about Corrine. "Bruce''s excessive kindness prevented him from outright refusing her persistent marriage demands."


    To her, the marriage had been nothing more than a blemish on the Ashton family''s reputation, one that left her the subject of ridicule among Lyhaton''s social elite.


    Leah lowered her gaze, projecting an aura of delicate fragility designed to evoke sympathy. "Years ago, when false usations threatened my father, he sent me abroad overnight for protection. I missed my chance with Bruce then, and now I''ve inadvertently hurt Corrine. Yet these feelings for Bruce have persisted through all these years I cannot simply dismiss them."