"So-called tech genius and inspirational figure. He''s nothing but a low-life scumbag!"


    Matthew felt a hot flush of shame as the whispers grew louder. The carefully crafted public image he had built was crumbling before his eyes.


    "Shut up! Don''t you dare talk about my brother like that!" Verna shot to her feet. "He never asked Yvonne to help us! She''s the one who was desperately throwing herself at him. Why should she get a piece of his money now?"


    "Verna, sit down! This is not the time or ce," Mrs. Gonzalez hissed, pulling her daughter back into her seat.


    But Verna''s outburst had already ignited the crowd.


    "To be so ungrateful to someone who was there for you in your darkest hour... this whole family is despicable."


    "They should be ashamed of themselves."


    "I heard the Gonzalez family went bankrupt because the father was a criminal. Like father, like son, I guess. All of them are trash."


    "That''s it, I''m boycotting all Gonzalez Group products.”


    "Order in the court," the judge''s stern voice boomed, silencing the gallery.


    Matthew''swyer requested a brief recess.


    In a quiet hallway outside the courtroom, thewyer spoke frankly. "Mr. Gonzalez, I warned you. The intiff''s evidence is solid, and our chances of winning are slim. Even if the money dide from MS Spencer, she has no proof


    "And based on my experience, she''s lying. You''re the only one who can''t see it," he added under his breath. "Mr. Gonzalez, as your counsel, must @dvise you that continuing this trial will not only damage yourpany''s reputation, but as your angel investor, Ms. Jones is entitled


    to ever more than


    to even more than ten percent of the


    an teabercenfor the


    shares. I strongly suggest you


    ept a settlement. Don''t let your


    pride get in the way.


    "Ms. Jones is your fiancée. You have a long history together. If you talk to her, appeal to that history, she might be willing topromise."


    The message was clear: use their rtionship to his advantage and beg for mercy.


    Matthew''s face was a mask of frustration, but he knew he was cornered. "Fine," he muttered.


    During the recess, Yvonne and herwyer were led to a mediation room.


    Inside, Matthew and hiswyer were waiting, along with Mrs. Gonzalez, Verna, and the entire Spencer n: George, Teresa, and Queena.


    Yvonne walked in calmly and took a seat opposite them.


    “You disgraceful girl! Who taught you to hold a good deed over someone''s head like this? You''ve brought nothing but shame to the Spencer family!" George yelled, pointing a finger at her the moment she sat down.


    "Only a saint expects nothing in return, and I''m no saint. Mr. Spencer, since you''re so charitable, why don''t you donate your entire fortune to a good cause?" Yvonne retorted.


    George''s face turned purple with rage. If they weren''t in a courthouse, he would have thrown something at her.


    "George, dear, calm down. Let''s


    speak to her properly," Teresa said,


    gently patting his arm. She then


    turned to Yvonne. "Yvonne, in all the


    years you''ve been with us, you''ve been nothing but willful and reckless. Your father and I never intended to give you that money. It was Queena who pleaded on your behalf. We only gave it to you for her sake. So, in the end, it was still Queena who helped Matthew."