?Chapter 82:


    Katelyn scoffed and shot back, “I haven’t considered the Baileys my family since the hospital incident.”


    “You!” Sharon seethed with anger upon hearing her. Not wanting to waste another moment on them, Katelyn proceeded to upload the recording. “So don’t me me for being cruel.”


    The moment Katelyn pressed the upload button, the recording would be all over the Inte.


    As she said this, her finger hovered over the screen. Lise’s pupils dted sharply. She gritted her teeth and pleaded, “Don’t post it. We’ll just leave.”


    They couldn’t afford to worsen their public image any further.


    Clutching Sharon’s arm, Lise saw her mother’s flushed face and whispered, “Mom, we should leave now. Staying will only cause more damage.”


    Sharon understood this, but leaving without achieving anything was hard for her to ept. As she turned to leave, she shot Katelyn a fierce look. “You’ll definitely regret this.”


    Watching Sharon and Lise walk away, full of resentment and frustration, Katelyn remained unaffected and went back to her work.


    All she wanted was to lead a peaceful life, free from the Bailey family’s constant disturbances.


    It was best to move somewhere they wouldn’t be able to find her.


    Sharon and Lise got into their car. Sharon couldn’t hold back her fury any longer and said angrily, “How did I end up raising such an ungrateful person? She won’t even do this small favor for us. A dog would at least show some loyalty to its owner!”


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    Lise’s impatience flickered. What would they do now that Katelyn had refused to help?


    She regretted not urging her mother to keep a cooler head. Her life had turned so bitter. She hadn’t even been able to live like a wealthydy for long, and now she was on the verge of losing everything!


    But for now, she had no choice but to try and calm Sharon. She patted Sharon’s back consolingly and said, “Mom, don’t let it get to you. It’s not good for your health. We still need to figure out how to get through this mess.”


    Sharon clenched her teeth, filled with bitterness. “What can we do? That bitch won’t help us. Where will we find such a huge amount of money?”


    Lise paused, and then a spark of an idea shed in her mind.


    She nced at Sharon reflexively, but after a moment of hesitation, she chose to stay silent about it. Instead, she sighed heavily. “Ah well, there must be other ways.”


    Sharon clutched her chest and furrowed her brow. “God! What are we going to do?”


    Throughout the journey home, Sharon kept venting her frustrations. Upon returning, she continued to criticize Katelyn for her ingratitude.


    Lise, tired of hearing theints and not wanting to engage with her parents, decided to visit the Wheeler Group instead.


    The scandal involving the Bailey family’s tax evasion was now public knowledge, though the exact amount they owed remained unclear. It wasmon knowledge, however, that it was enormous and could potentially bankrupt the family.


    Lise paced anxiously in the Wheeler Group’s lounge, her brow creased with worry.


    Neil walked out of the meeting room and noticed her immediately, approaching with curiosity. “Lise, what brings you here today?”


    Grasping the hem of her dress nervously, Lise looked at him with uncertainty.


    “Neil, I need to ask for your help.”


    Neil’s expression darkened. He paused before seating himself and said casually, “You’re here to ask for money for your parents, aren’t you? How much do they need? You see, thepany is facing a financial crisis right now.”


    Embarrassment flickered in Neil’s eyes. It wasn’t that he was unwilling to help her, but… His recent projects had encountered several problems. Clients were backing out and demandingpensation, and the troubles seemed orchestrated against him. Drained by these challenges over the past few days, Neil found himself too overwhelmed to focus on Lise.


    Moreover, the issues were tied to Lise’s parents, and he felt she shouldn’t bear such a burden. Yet, it seemed… life was proving challenging for her, and for Lise.


    Her hopeful expression froze.


    Before she could articte her request, Neil preemptively declined, clearly wary of a financial ask. Did he now see her as a burden?


    As her fiancé, he hadn’t even inquired about her needs, yet he was quick to emphasize his own financial constraints. It was so realistic, but at the same time, it stung.


    Lise knew she couldn’t afford to upset him. Her options were limited to her parents and Neil; she couldn’t risk offending him further.


    With this in mind, she shook her head and rified, “Neil, you got it wrong. I’m not here for money. I need your help with something else.”


    Neil looked at her, surprised, and asked, “What do you need?”


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