As Gina turned toward Frank, she realized why Helen was behaving like this!She turned her head, aiming herself at a pillar in the drawing room as she shrieked hysterically, "Apologize to Madam Lang right now and get that agreement, Helen, or I'll kill myself right now!""Go on, do it." Helen remained unmoved, shaking her head.Gina looked on in shock as she strode toward the couch, looking haughtily downward at Jade, Fleur, and Luna as she said icily, "If you came to humiliate me and assert your authority, Madam Lang, then I must inform you that you really should've chosen someone else. I might have done it for that billion-dollar investment company in the past, but now…"Helen's eyes flashed coldly as she bellowed, "You're all just a bunch of clowns, and I'm done being nice!"Her stately strut left Jade, Fleur, and Luna, with Fleur clutching her chest and almost collapsing."Fine, fine!" Fleur cried as she pointed a shaking finger at Helen before throwing the agreement at Luna
Helen ran straight toward Frank, throwing her hands around his waist as she hid her head over his chest."Oh… What should I do, Frank? My candidacy will be forfeited now!" she groaned. "And a billion-dollar investment company! I wouldn't have to suffer Vicky if only I had it… Sobs…"Her remorseful reaction akin to a toddler's left Frank chuckling as he watched her."Weren't you full of confidence just now?" he asked, clapping her on the shoulder to comfort her."I-I was just putting on airs!" Helen pouted miserably. "I was being impulsive, doing what I thought Vicky would do… and you're laughing at me! Oh, I'm such a goner…"She kept whimpering as she punched Frank playfully on the chest.It was certainly a far cry from her girlboss strut just now, and Frank had to hold back his laughter despite his amusement."Oh, the injustice…" Gina was left watching in despair as they flirted.Frank's ruby was gone, and now the billion-dollar investment company… It was all overwhelming her,
Was Gina really that brainless to ask Frank to go to Southstream and apologize, and for someone as lowly as Fleur?!If he was really forced to visit them, it would not be an apology—Frank would be threatening the Southstream Lanes instead, as he would not be satisfied until Helen was appointed the head of the Lane family.Once it was pushed through, every clique in the family would get upset, and they would go their separate ways when they could have coexisted peacefully."No, it's fine—I can come up with something else," Gavin quickly told Gina, his eyes soon lighting up with excitement as inspiration struck. "Listen up, Helen—there's this farm my father has been investing in," he explained. "He personally loves it and often hires contractors to green it. However, the farm itself is inflicting monetary losses, amounting up to the millions now. We can't keep giving handouts for a business even if the old man loves it, so he's been planning to sell it."As such, if you can take ov
On the other hand, Gina hung her head in silence for a long while.Then, having made up her mind, she looked up and snarled, "I'll find Cindy. If we do, we'd be able to buy that farm!""That's not necessary," Frank said, waving her off—money was no issue for him.The question here was how they were going to make a profit with that farm.Gina, however, was only getting further agitated. "No, I'm not taking this lying down. I'll find Cindy! Curse that brat… She'd do this to me when I trust her so much!"While Gina strode upstairs, Helen frowned as she turned toward Frank. "About the money… Why don't we ask Vicky? We might be able to pool the money by working together.""What?" Frank was a little surprised. "When did you two bond?""N-No!" Helen blushed as she snapped. "What are you talking about? We're just colleagues, that's all!"Frank raised a brow, staring at her with a faint, suspicious smile. "Hold on, did you fall for Vicky? Be honest now—which way do you swing?""Stop it
Jade, Luna, and Fleur—who had a major disagreement with Frank and the others at Lane Manor just yesterday—were there too.Pursing her lips, Fleur was already snorting when Frank arrived. "I'm telling you—he definitely came empty-handed and is going to appeal to our better nature using Henry Lane's name. I mean, these people, pooling a billion dollars in a day? Dream on!"Roth Lane, Gavin's eldest son, was there too, frowning at her words."Madam Lang," he said quietly, "Mr. Lawrence isn't all he seems. A billion dollars really isn't that much money to him.""Oh, don't be such a wuss, Roth." Luna snorted haughtily. "Even I can admit that Frank Lawrence has friends, but gathering a billion dollars in a day? It's still a challenge.""Don't worry, Luna." Jade grinned, winking at her. "That man obviously brought Helen here to appeal to emotion. And the farm is a money sink anyway—Helen would never make money out of it even if she bought it. They'd just lose more than what they bargaine
On the other hand, Vicky was smiling. "You must be Fleur Lang, ma'am. Your reputation precedes you… Oh, where are my manners? Would you like some tea? I can pour you some."She really enjoyed stepping on toes, gleeful even as she mentioned the tea incident of the previous night and leaving Fleur glowering.Jade, who had enough, snapped at Vicky right then, "Ms. Turnbull, you should stay in line even if your family is important in Morhen. We aren't afraid of you."Vicky gasped in dramatic surprise. "Whoa, you must be Jade Zahn! Hello to you too—I heard that my darling husband Frank Lawrence saved your daughter, yes?"She certainly was no punching bag like Helen, and her mention of that life debt left Jade and Luna pursing their lips grumpily."I mean, a life debt lasts forever, doesn't it? But why does it feel like neither of you are grateful?" Vicky sighed in exaggerated disappointment just then. "Such a shame I'm not as noble as my husband—I mean, if I saved someone and they st
Mark chuckled, gazing proudly upon the farm that stretched on endlessly. "Chickens, ducks, fishes, geese, pigs, and goats, and an enormous pond… These are all my treasures, and I've been watching over them for years.""And losing a whole lot of money because of it," Fleur added tactlessly.Mark's face fell right then, but Gavin hurried over to clear the air with a smile. "Helen, my father shed blood and sweat for this farm. I'd like him to enjoy some peace in the knowledge that it's passed on to safe hands.""Exactly," Mark said, his expression easing as he sighed. "My health's been declining ever since my brother's passing, and I feel too weary to keep managing the farm.""What are you saying, sir? You're the picture of good health, right?" Helen exclaimed, turning toward Frank."Yeah," Frank frowned ever so slightly but nodded in silence for Helen's sake.Gavin noticed Frank's hesitation, however, and made a mental note.On the other hand, Mark was chuckling and holding up his
Seeing the seriousness in Mark's eyes, Helen swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue.After all, she and Vicky had agreed after much discussion that it had to be a factory.The land was flat, and with that river, it was a god-given treasure for an industrial zone.And no one ever lost money when it came to industrial zones, though one could not say the same for a farm.Seeing her hesitation, Mark frowned in annoyance. "Are you going to build a factory here too?""No." Helen quickly denied it, while her mind quickly searched for options.It was obvious that Mark cherished his farm and refused to build factories that would pollute the natural goodness here.However, the problem was that farms were really not profitable, and they might end up losing a lot more.If that happened, forget Mark crediting Helen's abilities—all she would receive in turn was disappointment and a huge debt. She would certainly not be considered a candidate for the next head of the Lane family while s