Chapter 178 A Jewel Among Stones.
“You–you’ve gone too far!”
That one word–how many–<b>had </b>struck a nerve. Susan exploded<b>. </b>
They started yelling right in the middle of the hospital hallway.
Ste returned from ying a round of <b>chess </b>with Madam Alice, only to catch Susan and Madeline in the middle of a full- blown shouting match..
Madeline was seething.
<b>“</b><b>She </b>was probably passed around by the Luke family before she showed up here pretending <b>to </b>be some innocent little flower! And you–you raised her so well, huh? Raised her to steal your <b>real </b>daughter’s fiancé? Impressive. Really opened my eyes.”
Susan nearly fainted from rage.
“How–how can you say something like that? Lillian was clean and decent overseas! She-
“<b>Clean</b>?” Madeline cut her off sharply. “Should I remind you <b>why </b>she left Rivermount two years ago? Because she almost killed Ste, and you had to get her out before it <b>got </b>out.”
Susan’s chest tightened <b>again</b><b>. </b>
Madeline red at her. “Your adopted daughter nearly murdered your real one, <b>and </b>you still took her side, Susan, Ste must’ve been cursed to be stuck with a mom like you. No wonder she cut ties. If she hadn’t, I’d seriously question her sanity.”
“You–you-
Susan turned her head, <b>and </b>spotted Ste.
Her expression turned darker.
But Ste didn’t even spare her a nce. Her face was cold, eyes indifferent.
Abel followed just behind her, his expression clouded with fury.
Ste walked past without a word. Madeline opened her mouth like she wanted to say something–but no words came out.
She just watched as Ste walked away.
Then Madeline turned back to Susan.
“You picked a worthless stone and thought it <b>was </b><b>a </b>gem. Meanwhile, the real jewel. you can’t even begin to imagine how valuable she is. Remember this–if you so <b>much </b><b>as </b>try to use Lillian to contact Ethan again, I’ll make sure Lillian doesn’t live to regret it.”
Every word wasced with deadly <b>calm</b>.
<b>Susan </b>flinched, her face pale. She couldn’t <b>say </b>a single word.
Madeline left
<b>Susan </b>slumped <b>against </b>the cold hallway wall, her whole body trembling.
Arthe Reed Groun
4:42 PM
Chapter 178 A Jewel Among Stones
He was about to <b>head </b>to the hospital when he ran into l’atrick.
“You’re heading out?”
Jonathan nodded. “Mom said Ste and Lillian fought. Lillian passed out and she’s in critical care now.”
Patrick’s expression darkened.
“Do you <b>even </b>know <b>what’s </b>happening right now? Do you understand priorities?”
Finished
Thepany was dealing with serious issues, every one of them hard to fix. And this guy was still focused on family drama?
Jonathan’s breath hitched. Thepany had been under siege for days,
No one <b>knew </b>who was behind it, but several partners <b>had </b>already backed out of coborations. <b>And </b>they refused to negotiate.
Patrick had just learned that it was Susan who told Jonathan to go to the hospital. His blood pressure spiked.
You’re going to <b>Honest </b>Corp instead. Go meet their CEO and <b>find </b>out why they’re cutting ties.”
Honest Corp had been one of their strongest partners.
If anything mattered right now, it was figuring out why everyone was jumping ship at once.
Jonathan nodded. “I’m on my way.”
“Move fast. Patrick said.
“Understood.
Jonathan left, knowing full well how serious things were. If they didn’t resolve this soon, Reed Group was facing <b>real </b>bankruptcy
Once he <b>was </b>gone, Patrick immediately called Susan.
<b>As </b>soon as she picked up, he tore into her.
“How many people do you need hovering around <b>Lillian’s </b>hospital bed? You trying to throw a parade?”
He didn’t hold <b>back </b>
Patrick had <b>always </b>been a very traditional man–men should <b>handle </b>outside affairs, <b>women </b>handle the <b>home</b>.
Someone being sick? That’s what nurses are for. Not a reason to derail the entire family.
Susan was caught off <b>guard </b>“What what are you talking <b>about</b>?”
“Lillian’s sick, so what? You want <b>our </b>son to be her doctor too?”
Susan’s breath caught
“And another thing–what the hell are you doing with Starleaf? Are you even watching the news? Do you even know what kind of mess you caused?”
That statement hat Susan square in the gut.
She didn’t need a reminder–everyone in Rivermount had seen the public release of her signature on the disownment agreement
already started to show The Reed Groun might not survive