Rnd stared at his eldest daughter, speechless, while Faye looked on in shock.


    "Let me tell you, I''ve done nothing wrong," Vanessa dered. "I got to where I am today through my own hard work. It''s your own fault you couldn''t hold onto thepany. Don''t you dare try to pin this on me-I lost thirteen percent of my shares, too!"


    Faye suddenly found Vanessa utterly ridiculous. "Then why did you put on such a show for our family, pretending you and Mr. Goodwin were so in love? Why act like he doted on you? Why let us all mistakenly believe you were about to be the next Mrs. Goodwin?"


    Faye''s questions undeniably struck a nerve, exposing Vanessa''s most hypocritical and shameful side.


    Vanessa whipped her head around, ring at Faye for a few seconds before sneering, "Why? Because I felt like it! It was fun. What''s it to you?"


    "Oh, so it was all just a show you directed yourself!" Faye taunted. "You yed your part so well that we all believed it. Even Eleanor Sutton divorcedn Goodwin, clearing the way for you. You have no shame at all, do you?"


    A desperate, frantic look shed in Vanessa''s eyes. "Yes, it was all an act!n paid me and gave me resources to buy my blood to save his mother, alright? Our deal is almost over anyway, so you can say whatever you like."


    The truth left Rnd dumbfounded. He finally understood whyn was targeting the Yeatons—it was because his eldest daughter was so vain and insatiably greedy.


    "Is that what your mother taught you?" Rnd suddenly recalled her mother''s character, feeling a pathetic sense of resentment as he added with a self- deprecating sneer, "Like mother, like daughter."


    "Vanessa, you can live in your fantasy world if you want, but why did you have to lie to all of us?" Faye used angrily. "Do you realizen is the one sabotaging Dad''spany right now?" The memory of callingn her brother-inw earlier that day made her realize what aplete fool she must have looked like, and her face flushed with embarrassment.


    "That''s right! Now you see me for who I really am. Happy now?" Vanessa Crossed her arms. "They say a child''s failings are the father''s fault The Yeatens going bankrupt is just what you deserve. It''s karma!"* The words had barely left her mouth when Rnd furiously pped her across the face.


    "You wretched child," he roared.


    The p was so forceful that it sent Vanessa staggering to the floor. As shey there a bright red handprint was already visible on her cheek.


    Rnd''s chest heaved, his gaze on his eldest daughter filled with utter disappointment.


    "Dad, please calm down. Don''t let this affect your health," Faye said, rushing to her father''s side to console him.


    But when they looked at Vanessa on the floor, a secret sh of satisfaction crossed her eyes.


    Vanessa didn''t cry. Clutching her


    stinging cheek, she slowly turned her head to fix Rnd, with a look of icy hatred. You hit me? Rnd, what right do you have? You don''t even deserve to be called my father."


    Rnd raised his hand again but let it drop. His face was ashen, and he trembled with rage. "You—"


    In the end, Rnd turned and left. Faye nced back at Vanessa on the ground, a hidden flicker of pleasure in her own eyes.


    Rnd knew it with absolute certainty now: Yeaton Holdings was doomed. Ian was using thepany to vent his fury and exact his revenge.


    How could anypany targeted byn possibly survive?