Chapter 71 Far Too Expensive


    At first, Liam had expected the penalty for backing out of the loan to be a few hundred dors, maybe 1,000 at most. But the 150,000 demand took himpletely by surprise.


    Garth pointed to the contract lying on the table. "It''s all right here," he said coolly. "Once the money''s in your ount, the loan''s official. Doesn''t matter if it takes two hours or two months, it''s the same."


    Liam''s forehead tightened with anger, veins throbbing at his temples. He was about to argue when two burly men in suits entered the room.


    They looked like bodyguards, and their imposing presence made Liam shrink back instinctively.


    He quickly swallowed his words and forced a smile.


    "Mr. Jenning, we''re all friends here. Let''s talk this over calmly," Liam suggested.


    The two men stood close, ring at him like they were just waiting for an excuse to make a move.


    Garth, arms crossed and leaning back with an air of superiority, looked down at Liam. "I''ve been treating you like a VIP, and this is how you speak to me? It''s gettingte. So, what''s it going to be? Are you going to return the money or sign the contract? Make up your mind."


    Liam stood frozen between the two bodyguards, realizing that he had no choice left.


    The penalty for breaking the contract was far too steep to walk away from.


    With a heavy sigh, he picked up the loan agreement and signed it.


    Only then was he free to leave.


    His n was to go home and confront Caroline about everything.


    But when he arrived at the apartment, it was empty. Caroline wasn''t there, and neither was Helen.


    Frustration boiled over inside him, and his eyesnded on a vase on the table. Without thinking, he, grabbed it and threw it to the floor.


    The sound of shattering ceramic filled the room.


    Wren, who had been cleaning in her room, rushed out at the noise. When she saw the damage, her face went pale.


    "Mr. Liam, that was the vase Mr. Edwin just brought back. He told me it cost over 100,000! Why did you-


    Liam interrupted her sharply, "Edwin''s back? Where is he?"


    Wren replied, "He didn''t say. He probably went to thepany."


    Liam''s brow furrowed deeply, a mix of worry and anxiety washing over him.


    He had nned to keep the factory''s financial struggles hidden from Edwin, using


    the loan to cover the deficits and slowly stabilize the business.


    Finished


    If Edwin found out about thepany''s financial troubles, Liam didn''t know what


    his reaction would be. Overwhelmed, Liam turned to Wren. "Clean up the mess. I need to go to thepany."


    He left in a hurry, his steps quick and filled with unease.


    Caroline caused all this mess.


    If she hadn''t gotten in the way and prevented Helen from receiving that award, the factory would have had a steady stream of orders by now.


    Instead, we have sunk to the point where we can''t even pay our employees.


    I need to exin everything to Edwin. He''s a reasonable man, and after hearing the truth, I''m sure he won''t take it out


    on me.


    Meanwhile, Caroline, at the Gxy Bay Residences, had no clue that Edwin had returned.


    After leaving the loan office, she had gone to the inte café, but not for the reasons Liam thought. Instead of entering through the front door, she slipped in through the back to avoid being seen.


    She was hoping to escape from Liam''s questions, so she hade to this apartment in Gxy Bay Residences.


    She stayed there in peace until evening.


    Caroline had nned to head back after dinner, but when she opened the fridge, she saw that the leftover vegetables from the previous day had gone bad.


    Sighing, she decided to go downstairs to the market and buy some fresh greens.


    As she walked toward the market, she noticed an elderly woman selling free- range eggs at the entrance.


    Caroline approached and squatted beside her. "How much for ten eggs?" she asked.


    Caroline had bought eggs from an elderlydy before when she cooked at the Somertons, and she remembered how much better they tastedpared to supermarket eggs.


    As a chef, she preferred using high-quality ingredients, and these eggs certainly fit the bill.


    The old woman smiled kindly. "Six bucks a pound," she replied.


    Caroline frowned and pulled her hand back, setting the eggs down.


    Six dors for ten eggs? Even though they''re free-range, that far too expensive.


    Just a few days ago, I''ve bought simr eggs for only 4.50 dors near Waterford Gardens.


    Seeing her hesitation, the elderly woman quickly added, "These are free-range, home-raised eggs. I feed my chickens grain. They''re nothing like the ones from the store."


    Caroline knew exactly what the woman meant, but the price was still too high for her to justify buying them.


    The elderly woman with her grav hair and wrinkled face had a kind, almost pleading expression and


    sapien firar 100 Expensive


    Caroline couldn''t bring herself to haggle over the price.


    She smiled politely and said, "Thanks, but I think I''ll pass for now."


    Finishert


    But the woman called out after her, "Well, I''ve only got a few left. If you take them


    all, I''ll sell them to you for five bucks per 10 eggs. My grandson''s in the hospital,


    and I need to get home to cook for him, so I''m willing to sell them cheaper."


    11. 11.