Chapter 38 They Were Just Optional
“You said you would never see Lillian <b>again</b>!” Madeline spoke each word through gritted teeth.
Just thinking about the illnesses Lillian had made her furious. Who the hell gets that many diseases all at once?
It would’ve made more sense if she were old, but <b>Lillian </b>was still so young and already had that I many problems.
Ethan’s face turned dark. “As for me and Ste, don’t even think about it.
“What did you just say? Don’t tell me you’re still thinking about that Lillian<b>?</b>”
“This has nothing to do with Lillian. Ethan cut Madeline off immediately.
If he had to admit it, maybe beforest night, Lillian had been part of the reason things never moved forward with Ste.
But then he thought of that man who showed up in Kingston Heights, and his expression turned even darker.
Then what is it?” Madeline didn’t believe for a second it <b>had </b>nothing to do with Lillian.
Ethan said, “I <b>told </b>you, it has nothing to do with Lillian.”
“<b>Stop </b>saying her name! Ethan, let me tell you something. Even if things won’t work out with Ste, don’t even dream about being with Lillian. That’ll only happen over our dead bodies.”
Those “dead bodies” she was talking about were the six elders of the family, each one a heavy–hitter.
<b>Ethan’s </b>grandparents from both his father’s and mother’s side, plus Madeline and his father.
With things said to <b>this </b>extent, whatever might have existed between <b>Ethan </b>and Lillian was basically done for.
Ethan was so angry his head pounded. “There’s nothing between me and Lillian. And I’m not going to marry Ste either.”
“You!”
Neither of them backed down even a little..
Madeline’s chest heaved in anger. She shot Ethan a sharp re. Fine, don’t marry her. But don’t pretend you don’t <b>know </b>why our family ever even considered the Reed family.”
Ethan stayed silent.
Of course he knew. It was because the Reed family controlled a rare <b>mineral </b>deposit. There weren’t even five ces like it in the entire world.
The Reed family also understood that without the Keene family’s backing, there was no way they could even keep <b>hold </b>of
that mine.
<b>And </b>the stuff that <b>could </b>be extracted from that mine happened to be exactly what the Keene family needed most.
If the Keene family–could find <b>that </b>kind of mineral somewhere else, they wouldn’t even bother talking to the Reed family.
Besides, the mine was almost depleted already. There wasn’t much left.
To the Keene family now, the Reed family was just <b>optional</b>.
Madeline closed her eyes and <b>said</b>, “Your uncle just got word. That man from Falvaria is in Rivermount now”
The man from Falvaria Madeline mentioned had the same kind of mineral the Reed family <b>had</b>, but ten times as <b>much</b><b>. </b>
When Ethan heard that, his eyes widened sharply. “<b>You </b>mean… that man?”
10:42 PM c
Chapter 38 They Were Just Optional
Meanwhile, Ste <b>had </b>been <b>in </b>meetings all afternoon at her studio.
Right at six, she got a call from Abraham. “Come down. I’m parked on the road outside the building”
“You can’t stop there, can you? Why not go into the underground garage?”
“That’s why you need to hurry up.”
“Okay.”
After hanging up, Ste stuffed a bunch of things into her limited edition handbag without much care.
Her assistant Kimmy saw this and looked heartbroken. “Ms. Dawson, that’s a limited edition.”
Ste blinked. “What<b>? </b>It is?” She really had no idea.
Finished
Kimmy was speechless. Seriously? Does Ms. Dawson has no sense of what’s expensive? When she buys this stuff. does she not notice the price tags? The studio barely makes that much profit <b>in </b><b>a </b>whole year.
Then Kimmy remembered how Ste had bought a whole pile of things just to give away to the team. She was unbelievably generous!
Even after breaking off the engagement with the Keene family, she still spent money like it was nothing. Kimmy began to wonder if Ste was the daughter of some prestigious family.
The Reed family didn’t pamper her that much. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be running a studio.
“All the follow–up instructions from the meeting were handed out. Keep an eye on them,” Ste said quickly.
Kimmy nodded. “Got it.”
After <b>giving </b>some brief instructions, <b>Ste </b>headed straight out.
As soon <b>as </b>she stepped out of the building, she saw that shy car parked a short distance away,
She walked quickly toward it.
Her phone buzzed again. She’d taken a bunch of calls from major clients today, so she didn’t even check the screen, just answered casually.
“Hello<b>?</b>”
“Where are you?”
On the other end, Jonathan’s voice sounded tense. Even through the <b>phone</b>, Ste could hear the <b>anger </b>he was holding <b>back</b>.
Ste frowned. “What do you want?”
Jonathan said, “Call Rianne. Tell her toe back right <b>now</b>.”