Zac’s eyes darkened slightly. “Fine. I’m free now.”
Michael happened to be near Voyager Tech for a meeting, so he arrived quickly. The moment he saw Zac, a flicker of shock crossed his face.
Zac’s face was covered in bruises. He looked like he had been beaten to a pulp.
“Mr. Lincoln… what happened to you?”
“Had too much to drinkst night. Took a bad fall,” Zac replied tly.
“Oh… I sec.”
Michael did not believe a word of it, but he hid it well, smiling politely. “Then let’s talk business.”
“Mm.”
Thirty minutester, the two men signed the contract.
“Mr. Smith, here’s to a smooth partnership,” Zac said, shaking his hand.
“Likewise.” Michael handed the contract to thewyer standing behind him.
Zac’s smile hardened. “So… when can I expect you to make good on your end of the deal?”
Michael met his gaze. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure shees back to the Smith family soon.”
“I’ll be waiting for the good news.”
After leaving Voyager Tech, Michael immediately called his wife, Kimberly Carlson. “Find an opportunity to meet with Liz.”
“What would I meet her for? The day she walked out, I made it clear that Mandy is my only daughter from
now on.”
The truth was, Kimberly had never liked Liz. Cutting ties with her had been the most peaceful period of Kimberly’s life. No one was using that girl from a small town as an excuse to take passive–aggressive digs at her anymore.
They should never have brought Liz home in the first ce. All it did was make Kimberly lose face. She would never see Liz as her daughter, and she would never admit to having her.
“You just do what I said,” Michael snapped. “She has been away for years. Do you really want her to stay gone forever?”
Kimberly gave a coldugh. “That is what she chose, isn’t it?”
“You think Zac Lincoln is still the broke nobody he used to be? You think the Smiths are still the same as before? Once Voyager Tech goes public, we might need m on our side. Bringing Liz back is nothing but good for us. That is all I’ll say. What you do with it is up to you.”
He hung up without waiting for a reply.
Meanwhile, Kimberly hung up the phone with a sour expression, pushed her poker chips forward, and said irritably, “I’m done ying. Count this hand as my loss. I’m heading home.”
She stood up with a cold expression, grabbed her purse, and prepared to leave. The other yers at the table quickly asked, “What’s wrong? Who got you all worked up?”
Kimberly pursed her lips and said curtly, “It’s nothing. m going home. We’ll y again next time.”
She turned and walked away briskly, her entire posture radiating resentment.
Only after she disappeared through the doorway did the other three women start whispering among themselves.
“From what I heard on that phone call, it sounds like the Smith family is nning to bring Liz back.”
“Probably. She is their real daughter after all. Mandy has had a good run these past few years, but fake is still fake. No matter how polished she is, she cannot turn into the real thing.”
“That is right. No matter how sweet or capable she is, she cannot beat blood ties.”
Kimberly did not hear their gossip. If she had, she would have started a fight on the spot.
In her mind, Mandy was her daughter. Liz, the country bumpkin, was nothing but an embarrassment and would never be worthy of the title. Kimberly would never see her as a daughter. She would never, ever acknowledge her as one.
Thanks to Michael’s phone call earlier, Kimberly had been in a foul mood all day. When Mandy called that evening, she was still feeling sour.
“Mom, did something happen today? You sound upset.
Kimberly hesitated for a moment, then decided not to tell her that Michael was nning to bring Liz back into the family. She did not want to distract Mandy from her thesis defense.
“It’s nothing. I just had a little argument with your father. How is your graduation defenseing along?”
“Almost done. Once I finish, I can finallye home. These past few years overseas have been awful. I’ve barely eaten or slept well. I can’t wait to be back, Mom. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you!”