Serena''s mood and outlook had changed dramatically. Her initial fear of the illness had given way to a sense of ease. Moreover, her own recovery meant there was hope for her mother''s condition as well.


    In Vanessa''s vi, she had just gotten off a call with her mother and was in a foul mood. Laverne ced a newly acquired advertising contract in front of her. "Vanessa, I know you''ve been downtely, but this is easy money we shouldn''t turn down-"


    Vanessa nced at the contract with disgust. "What is this trash? You want me to be a spokesperson for diapers?"


    "No, what I mean is-" Laverne tried to exin.


    Furious, Vanessa mmed the contract on the table. "Do you think I''m so desperate I''ll take any ad thates my way? Don''t bring me these demeaning offers again."


    Laverne sighed and patiently reasoned with her, "Vanessa, times have changed. We''re losing almost all of our high-end endorsements. This brand may be new, but the endorsement fee is very generous."


    Vanessa rubbed her temples in frustration. She knew her situation well. She knew something was wrong after Henry Holt had called her the other night only to hang up without a word. She was sure Serena had pulled some trick to ruin her reputation. Later, when she tried calling him back several times, she discovered he had blocked her number.


    This gave her a bad feeling, but now she couldn''t find Henry and had no idea what was going on with him.


    As forn, she had given up hope. In fact, she was waiting for him to contact her to terminate their arrangement, because she was genuinely terrified of the blood draws.


    After thest one, her mental state had deteriorated. The anemia caused hypoglycemia, andbined with immense stress, it gave her terrible headaches.


    Vanessa had recentlye to a profound realization: it''s no use earning money if you''re not alive to spend it.


    Laverne said no more and left with a bag of Vanessa''s dry cleaning.


    Just as Vanessa tried to stand up, a wave of dizziness forced her back down. She gasped in pain, her expression twisting.


    Just then, her phone rang. Seeing it was her father, Rnd Yeaton, made Vanessa''s head throb even more, but she answered anyway. "Hello? Dad, what''s up?"


    "Vanessa, is Mr. Goodwin with you? Can you ask him what''s going on with


    InnoMind Group? Our order volume has dropped significantly this month," Rnd asked directly.


    Vanessa''s breath caught in her throat. She wasn''t feeling well and could only manage to say, "Dad, it''s not a good time for me to contact him—"


    "Not a good time? What''s not a good time about it? Isn''t he my future son-inw? You need to contact him as soon as possible and find out what''s going on," Rnd demanded, his voiceced with urgency and amanding tone.


    Listening to the dial tone, Vanessa''s chest heaved. Could the decline in her father''spany''s orders have something to do withn?


    But right now, she couldn''t even get in touch with him, let alone ask him for a favor. Gavin had answered herst few calls.


    The stock dividends from her father''spany were a significant source of her future ie. If Yeaton Holdings was in trouble, it meant her own assets were shrinking too.


    She suddenly regretted her decision. She should have askedn for a


    lump sum of cash instead of using his connections to get shares in her father''spany. Now, those shares tred her fate to Yeator Holdings, for better or for worse.


    After some hesitation, Vanessa picked up her phone and called Gavin. To seen, she had to go through him.


    "Miss Shannon, how can I help you?" Gavin''s voice came from the other end.


    "Gavin, isn busy right now? I have something I need to discuss with him."


    "I''m sorry, Miss Shannon. Mr. Goodwin is in a meeting and can''t take your call at the moment."


    Vanessa tightened her grip on the phone. It was the same old excuse from Gavin. She forced augh. "Gavin, you know my rtio withn. If something important gets dyed because of this, you won''t be able to take responsibility for it, will you?"


    She had to speak withn directly about this; otherwise, she wouldn''t be able to answer to her father.


    "My apologies, Miss Shannon. You can tell me what it''s about, and I will pass the message along," Gavin replied, his tone polite but distant.