Chris knew Kathryn and Tally had been covering for each other, no matter the circumstances during that period. His smile deepened. He assumed that Kathryn was able to survive all these years because she had Tally by her side.Kathryn's head dipped even more upon learning that Tally had admitted everything. "C-Could you please don't give Tally a hard time?""You're still going to defend her?""I threatened her back then. I told her I would kill myself if she won't help me.""Let me remind you, you're in a difficult position yourself now," Chris remarked ruthlessly.Kathryn was stunned again. She was suddenly aware that she couldn't save her own skin after what had just happened, let alone focus on Tally's situation.Regardless, she remembered how Tally tried to defend her just now and became even more determined. "It's true. I've indeed threatened her to do that."Chris scoffed."Just vent your anger on me if you're angry. This really has nothing to do with Tally."Kathryn co
Chris nodded.Kathryn gazed at Chris in disbelief. She couldn't fathom how he had accepted her request so readily. In the past, she would have faced severe consequences for something like this, possibly even risking her life, let alone her job, house, and bank savings."When did I not keep my promise?""Of course not. You've always kept your promises." Kathryn had become cheerful instantly. Her eyes, which had been filled with fear, were bright with happiness at the moment."But how do you think I should punish Tally?"Kathryn was speechless. The emotions that had begun to well up with happiness were abruptly frozen in her chest."I-It really has nothing to do with her!" Kathryn stammered anxiously.She had considered confessing to Chris on several occasions before. Still, her fear that Tally and the Johnson Group would become entangled in the situation had led her to keep it a secret until today. Kathyrn noticed that Chris looked unmoved. She wanted to continue speaking, b
That was … Besides, hadn't Randall said Chris would go easy on them for being honest? Why did things look so bad? Tally really regretted her choice now. They'd turned themselves into lambs for the slaughter, all because of Kathryn.Nervously and with conflicted feelings, she turned to Markus. "Um, do you plan to keep your promise? You said you'd help protect Johnson Group if I earned ten million for Skyline Group.""What I said was I'd help you keep the secret, wasn't it?"Tally fell silent. Come to think of it, that was indeed what he had said. Feeling the pressure of the rapid interrogation, Tally couldn't hold back any longer and confessed the truth."Seriously, why did you go and confess like a stupid person?""It wasn't me! It was my dad!" Tally wanted to cry just thinking about it. Her father might not have managed Johnson Group very well, but he was an honorable man.She must have gone mad. Why did she ever tell her father the truth? What was she going to do? "Is the
"Some solutions have a price." Markus emphasized the word "price", making Tally raise an eyebrow. She suddenly teared up as she recalled everything her dad had gone through for Johnson Group. "What kind of price?""That depends on what you're willing to do for Johnson Group." Markus' tone became unreadable. She couldn't tell what he was feeling, but she could tell she was at the edge of an abyss that she could fall into at any time.Tally felt like she couldn't breathe, but she still tried to take a deep breath and asked, "What do I need to do?""You'd do anything?""That depends on what I need to do.""Then Johnson Group must not be very important to you," Markus said with a chuckle that grated on Tally's ears.How could it not be important to her? She knew why Randall had sent her out to work. It was so that she could manage the company better in the future.Johnson Group was his life's work, and he wanted to hand it over to someone capable. As his only child, Randall natu
Tally didn't know how she got out of Skyline Group. As she walked on the street with the wind in her face, all she felt was coldness while she replayed what Markus said over and over. At this point, it really seemed like what Markus suggested was her only option. After all, Miller Group was the perfect example of what happened when Chris got mad.That company had gone bankrupt within a short month. Chris had given her three days, but he was probably already setting things into motion.The buzzing of Tally's phone snapped her out of her thoughts. When she took it out, she realized the call was from Randall.Tears fell from her red eyes as she picked up, and she tried her best not to sound like she was crying. "Dad?""Where are you?""At the company. I'm coming back." After hanging up, she rushed home and drove for a whole hour to get there.It was already 2:00 am by then, but the lights were still on at home. It was obvious just how anxious Randall was. When she walked in, Randa
Tally lifted her head in shock. Leaving the country? He was asking her to leave the country? Tally's heart twinged. Even now, she didn't expect her father to insist on protecting her.But Chris was already pissed. If she, the mastermind, left the country now, Johnson Group would be in even more trouble. "No. No way. How could I leave now?""What are you staying for? Do you want Chris to turn you into another Amelia Miller?" Amelia had been close to Chris, yet she'd still ended up like that. There was no way Tally would be spared. That was what Randall had concluded after three hours of hard thinking.Tally couldn't help but shudder when she heard Amelia's name. That woman's ending was terrible, but she deserved it.Then again, she herself deserved it, too."Ms. Dell's already packing your things. The flight's at 6:00 am, so you're headed straight for the airport once you're done."6:00 am? So she wasn't even allowed to stay home now? Tally's tears started falling even faste
In the end, Tally didn't leave Harborlean.Randall couldn't convince her, so all he could do was stall for time with Chris. In the meantime, Tally didn't sit by idly. She'd always been so scared of marriage that she didn't even dare date a man, but she went on a ton of blind dates the next day. In fact, she went on three dates in a row, so it was obvious what she was planning to do. She didn't just need to get married. She needed a husband who could save the family.Her dates included Victor Glenn, the fourth son of the Glenns, and Travis Winchester, the Winchesters' eldest son.By 10:00 am, both men had called Chris one right after the other, asking what the Johnson girl had done to piss him off. The girl was so anxious that she even asked to marry that same day.Chris frowned. "Marry you?""Not me, she'll marry anyone who dares to marry her and help Johnson Group survive this crisis.""Oh?" Chris frowned. Tally must have been desperate. Didn't she know what these two men's
When Chris' tone suddenly became so threatening, Kathryn's heart seized up. She couldn't believe him. "Then I won't say anything. I'll stay quiet!" Kathryn didn't dare continue after hearing Chris' dangerous tone. What if something happened to the Johnsons?She hadn't anticipated that things would become this difficult to resolve at this stage."S-So, how do you plan to punish me?" Kathryn asked pitifully. Even if she couldn't talk about Tally, she could talk about herself, right?Chris hadn't reacted much since last night, so Kathryn hadn't figured out that he already knew. She still thought he only found out last night. His overly calm tone also made her very nervous.Watching Kathryn's nervousness, the corner of Chris' lips lifted. However, Kathryn only saw his smile as a dangerous omen."I haven't decided," he said.Kathryn was speechless. He hadn't decided? Did that mean he hadn't decided how to punish both her and the Johnsons?"T-Then punish me alone! I can take it," K