While Allison fretted over what excuse she should give to ask for money from her son, she received an invitation to a video call on her phone. She picked up her phone and saw that it was Maxine calling her. She instantly accepted the invitation and said exaggeratedly, "Are you already back home, Maxine? You're only gone for a few days, but I've already missed you!" Maxine did not stay for too long in Crawford Manor, but she knew how to butter up to Allison. Somehow, she knew Allison's preferences, and Allison was perfectly satisfied by every lavish gift Maxine bought her. Moreover, Maxine's father was a much more influential figure than Bianca's father. That was the main reason why Allison liked Maxine. Of course, Maxine was a sensible and obedient girl, unlike that ingrate Bianca, who would always go against her wishes. Maxine's delicate and petite face appeared on Allison's phone screen. She smiled sweetly as she greeted Allison, "I miss you too, Aunt Allison. I thought I c
Maxine went to the study and noticed that her usually stern father was busy at work. Her mother was also there, preparing a pot of tea. "Dad, Mom." Maxine greeted them softly, took the teacup from her mother's hands, and placed it on her father's desk. She turned around to face her mother and spoke sweetly, "Your tea-making skills are getting better, Mom. I could smell the tea leaves at the door. No wonder Dad always likes the tea you make for him. Isn't that so, Dad?" Irving's stern expression did not change, but the corners of his lips eased up a little. "Mm," he replied. "You really know how to tease me, my dear daughter." Verona could not help but smile genuinely. She had always loved her precious daughter. "What do you want for dinner today, Maxine? There's a newly-opened five-star hotel in town, and the signature chef is quite skilled. I'll bring you there tonight." "Never mind, Mom. The chef at home is quite skilled too. It's the same if we have dinner at home,"
Luke went to the company early that morning, while the driver picked up the three children and sent them to Crawford Manor because Old Master Crawford missed them. The people who remained in the mansion were Bianca, Old Master Rayne, and Wanda who came to visit. Johann had suggested a naturopathic treatment program for Old Master Rayne. The old man was already quite elderly, and his symptoms were chronic. Today, Bianca and Wanda were in the kitchen preparing a herbal remedy for Old Master Rayne. The thick smell of medicinal herbs wafted in the kitchen. They had to reduce the tonic three times in the pot, and they were only boiling it for the second time. Bianca thought that the smell alone was bitter. "Aunt Wanda, the tonic smells so pungent and bitter. Can Grandpa's stomach take it?" Bianca furrowed her brows. She could not imagine how her grandfather took the tonic every day. Wanda smiled when she saw how worried her niece was. "Don't worry, sometimes herbal remedies can be
Bianca and Wanda could only watch as Allison stepped into the mansion uninvited. Wanda was dazzled by the luxury brand clothing and accessories that Allison wore. Needless to say, her entire set of Chanel clothes cost six digits. The black handbag she clutched was a Hermes matte Porosus crocodile handbag. Her wristwatch was a limited edition Richard Mille that cost millions. Adding the two diamond rings on her middle and ring finger, she could have bought a decent house in downtown A City. Wanda knew that the Crawfords were wealthy and Luke made a lot of money, but it was quite eye-opening to see one flaunt their wealth so blatantly. Moreover, T Corporation was facing a life-and-death crisis. The families of the deceased were in the middle of demanding compensation from T Corporation. What if the media caught wind of Allison's lavishness? That would have caused the media to pile on even more unsubstantiated claims about Luke's company. She did not know if that woman was braze
The entrance to the building was crowded with people. There were many reporters from various media outlets, but there were even more angry protestors. They raised banners with slogans written in red ink, eager to claim justice for those who had lost their lives in the collapse of The Galleria. Those slogans looked as though they were written in blood. It was a spine-chilling sight. Allison mouthed a curse before stepping out of her bright-red Lamborghini. She opened the car door, put on her shades, and casually stepped out with her ten-inch high heels. She lifted her head and looked at the T Corporation building. The tall skyscraper gleamed like a pearl under the sunlight. Other buildings around it were nothing more than dust when compared to it. That was the business empire that her son had single-handedly built. She felt proud whenever she looked at the building. It was also something that she could brag to her friends. Her son's office was proudly located on the to
About ten minutes later, Allison entered the T Corporation building through a secret entrance. Her current appearance could only be described as pathetic. Her usually fair and well-maintained face was now black and blue and swollen all over. Her impeccably permed hair was also in a mess. Her arms and elbows were covered in bruises and bloody streaks. Even one of her high heels had gone missing. Jason nearly burst into laughter when he saw Allison's appearance. However, he had to put on a serious face so that he would not embarrass his boss's mother. "Why did you come to the company, Madam? You should've stayed at home." He pretended to be shocked. "The crowd outside is uncontrollable, and it's easy for you to get hurt. Did you forget that Mr. Crawford was seriously injured just last week?" He knew that there must be a reason why Allison would appear at the T Corporation building. Usually, when she wanted money, she would have made a phone call instead. Allison tried to stra
Allison felt a little embarrassed when she saw her son's gloomy face. "That's not a lot, right? Isn't T Corporation one of the biggest corporations in the country? It's even renowned internationally too. Don't tell me that the company is running out of money just because of this minor accident?" Luke lit a cigarette, feeling rather frustrated. Sometimes, he did not have the patience to deal with his mother, who only knew how to ask him for money. "This is a delicate scenario, Mother. You must have seen the situation at the entrance when you came here, right? Can you please not compound my troubles? I'll get the finance department to transfer three million dollars to your account. That should be enough for three months if you spend it sparingly. Please stop bothering me during this period." "What? Only three million?" Allison's face stretched exaggeratedly, and her voice became shrill. "Do you think that three million dollars is enough for me, my son? That's only enough for a fe
Luke picked up the coffee cup and took a sip. He frowned when he tasted the sweetness. That was not what he usually drank. He put the cup down after taking only one sip. The steam that rose from the cup and the sweetness of the aroma gave off an inexplicably eerie atmosphere. He gently closed his eyes and massaged his temples as he thought of the various things that troubled him. After resting for a while, he took out his phone and noticed several missed call notifications and messages. They were all from Bianca. Luke felt a lot more relieved when he saw that. He pressed a button to access his voicemail, and Bianca's soft and gentle voice entered his ears. "Remember to take a short rest when you're feeling tired, Luke. Please don't overwork yourself. I've made some soup for you. Should I send it over to your office?" Luke quickly typed a reply. [It's fine. It's not very safe here. You should stay at home and look after the children. Don't go anywhere. Just place the soup