Mr. James Sr. felt his heart clench with anger every time he talked to her, but he forced himself to remain calm. "You are Teresa''s daughter, a granddaughter of the James family. If you marry Mr. Bet Thompson, it would be a strategic alliance. That''s a major event, of course I have to be concerned."


    Having said that, he reverted to his usual tactic of dangling a carrot.


    "I really underestimated you. I never thought you''d catch Mr. Bet Thompson''s eye. If you can get Bet to marry you, I can give you 10% of the James Group''s shares. You should know, even your younger uncle Joshua doesn''t hold that many shares."


    "However,” he added with a helpless shake of his head, "Ms. Walker has been infatuated with Bet for years and won''t give up easily. The Walker family won''t let such a prize son-inw slip through their fingers either. If they refuse to back down, you don''t stand much of a chance."


    He naturally wanted Bet as a family, but he knew they couldn''tpete with the Walker family.


    And the Taylor family had made their stance clear. No matter how much Thomas liked Yvonne, if his family didn''t approve, the marriage was off the table.


    "It''s fine if you can''t marry into the Thompson family. Marrying up isn''t always a blessing. Actually, the Hughes family is a good match. Our families are social equals, and I''ve watched Steven grow up, so I know he''s a good kid. After your first meeting, he called me and said he had a good impression of you and was willing to date... When you marry into the Hughes family, I can give you 8% of thepany''s shares as your wedding gifts. That way, you''ll be able to hold your head high in their family."


    Mr. James Sr. went on and on, putting on the act of a doting grandfather who had Yvonne''s best interests at heart.


    Yvonne''s ears were starting to hurt. She stuck a finger in her ear and said flippantly, "10% is too little. Make it at least 20%!"


    Mr. James Sr. was first stunned, then his eyes widened in fury. "Youngdy, are you dreaming?"


    “So you do know what dreaming is,” Yvonne sneered. “Expecting me to help the James family-now that''s a dream."


    "Yvonne, don''t forget, you have James family blood running through your veins!" Mr. James Sr. was infuriated by her uncooperative attitude.


    "Your eldest daughter, Teresa, has


    always believed that nurture is


    greater than nature. If she and I barely have a mother-daughter bond, what makes you think I have any connection to the James family'' suggest you stop trying to use me, lest you lose more than you gain."


    Yvonne leaned forward slightly, looking at Mr. James Sr. as she said slowly, "Bet and I are on very


    good terms. You spent all those et


    years being swayed by Mrs. James Sr., pushing aside the children from your first wife until they had no ce to stand. You of all people should understand the power of pillow talk. If I were to say a few words to Bet, do you think the already fragile James family could


    withstand the full wrath of the


    Thompson family?"


    Mr. James Sr. pointed a trembling finger at Yvonne, ovee by a coughing fit.


    Themotion brought Mrs. James Sr. and Teresa rushing into the room.


    Mrs. James Sr. put on a show of deep concern, rubbing Mr. James Sr.''s chest and patting his back.


    Teresa saw the old man coughing until his face turned red and shot a disapproving re at Yvonne. "Don''t you know your grandfather is sick? How Could you upset him like this Didn''t I tell you to listen to him and be agreeable? You ungrateful child, get out!"


    Teresa was acting high and mighty, but the words had barely left her mouth when


    Mr. James Sr. pped her hard across the face.


    "Shut your mouth, you idiot!" He was so angry that one p wasn''t enough. He grabbed a ss from the bedside table and hurled it at Teresa.