Chapter 68 Coteral Damage.


    “What do you mean Susan, fuming with rage, was caught off guard by Patrick’s sudden remark


    She had just worked herself into a fury over Ste, and now this man had the nerve to ask her to give Ste whatever she wanted <b>Was </b>that a joke?


    Patrick’s voice was cold. “Half an hour ago. I got a <b>call</b>. The message was simple. If we don’t give her what she wants, <b>we </b>can forget about running thepany.”


    Susan’s eyes widened in disbelief. You actually believed that?”


    This was Rivermount. Who could possibly threaten us like that? And more importantly, who made the <b>call</b>! Half an hour ago didn’t I just leave Ste’s ce?


    Patrick continued, “Do you think I wanted to believe it? But in the past thirty minutes. I’ve partners pulling out of our deals”


    two calls from major


    otten tw


    Those partnerships were pirs of the Reed Group


    <b>Two </b>major projects, gone in half an hour. Whoever was behind it was clearly no ordinary person.


    Susan stood stunned. “You mean, all this happened because I didn’t agree to her demands?”


    Patrick replied coldly. “She was mentioned by name. Who else could it be?”


    Susan was at a loss for words.


    Patrick’s voice dropped. “What did she ask for?”


    to that?”


    Susan answered, still fuming “She wants to cut ties with us. Completely. You think I can agree to


    She <b>had </b>assumed Ste’sst phone call had just been a bluff. But now? Clearly not


    young girl pulling <b>in </b>980,000 dors in a year. There had to be someone powerful backing her. But her methods…..


    Thinking about it made Susan’s heart ache. That was her daughter. How could she <b>bear </b>it!


    Patrick’s breath hitched. “She really said <b>that</b><b>?</b>*


    Susan confirmed, “What else could it be? What couldn’t I afford to give her!”


    At this point, Susan wished Ste had asked for something material. Jewelry<b>, </b>a house, money. She would have agreed in a heartbeat.


    As long as Rianne and Eddie were still willing to help treat Lilian, she <b>could </b>agree to anything


    But what Ste wanted was not material. She wanted nothing more to do with them.


    And how could she ept that?


    Susan trembled with fury.


    Patrick’s voice sharpened. “<b>What </b>did you fight about this time?”


    His tone was not just annoyed. It was usatory,


    The call he <b>had </b>gotten had <b>not </b>been a bluff. He fully believed the person on the other end could wipe out the Reed Group if they wanted <b>to</b><b>. </b>


    Susan snapped, “She made 980,000 dors <bst </b>year. Don’t you think I deserve to know how? She’s still my daughter. I don’t want her selling herself short


    Chapter 68 Coteral Damage


    Every single fight between Susan and Ste seemed to start the same <b>way</b><b>: </b>Susan did not know how to talk to her


    + Pearls


    They had not raised her. They did not understand her temperament. <b>And </b>if she used the same domineering tone she always had, Ste would never y along


    Patrick’s voiceced with me. “How many times have I told you to be patient with her?”


    Susan rolled her eyes. “Oh.


    you the one who said not to give her a credit card when you came back from


    Kingston Heights?”


    When it came to Ste, neither of them had the high grouil


    Patrick snapped. To not wasting any more breath on this. Just handle it!


    Susan asked in mockery. “And how do you suggest I do that? She’s not answering my calls. She won’t see me.


    And when she had finally gotten a chance to meet with her, just look at how that turned out.


    If you can’t fix this, your days as my wife might be numbered Patrick ended the call in a fury


    To think that <b>the </bpany’s biggest crisis stemmed from a mother–daughter feud. What a joke.


    Meanwhile, Patrick made a call to Ethan.


    As soon as Ethan <b>heard </b>that the Reed Group’s troubles were all tied to Ste, his mind immediately went to the man standing silently by her side.


    That man… Could he really pull the strings to cancel too massive projects in thirty minutes? Iho <b>was </b>he


    “<b>Ethan</b>,” Patrick’s voice was anxious. “You know your father’s stance on me. And now with Lilian, the pressure is already. intense<b>. </b>But <b>this</b>?”


    The Keene family had long been unhappy with him<b>, </b>and now there was a new yer, one he could not even identify. squeezing him from the shadows, te felt like he was suffocating,


    Ethan’s voice was as cold as ice. “Understood. I’ll handle it.”


    He ended the call and nced down <b>at </b>the cast on his left hand.


    His voice to Jason turned frigid. “Still haven’t figured out who <b>that </b>man is?”


    Send Gifts