Under the Fitzgerald Group's pressure, Theodore finally relented after much deliberation."I want to speak with Mr. Fitzgerald in person."His request was promptly denied by Owen. "I’m sorry, but Mr. Fitzgerald is very busy and doesn’t have time to meet with you."The Fitzgeralds had cut off all of Theodore’s escape routes, leaving him only two choices: comply with the Fitzgerald Group or face bankruptcy.Taking a deep breath, Theodore asked Owen, "What exactly do you want from me?"His willingness to bow down showed he recognized the severity of the Fitzgeralds' influence. Owen replied with a serious expression, "Begin the rescue operation and save the trapped workers.""Is it really worth making such a big fuss over those few workers?" Theodore squinted, his gaze sharp and ruthless.This conflict with the Fitzgeralds was now inevitable—he was determined to retaliate given the chance."Of course, it’s worth it." A crisp voice suddenly interrupted, startling Theodore. He turn
Jade's meaning was crystal clear: if Shane bullied Melanie again, she would make him pay.This time, targeting the Bancroft family was precisely because of this.Jade's gaze was icy, sharp as a blade, sending chills down his spine."I didn't bully her! On the contrary, she bullied me! Look at these injuries!" Shane revealed the wounds on his body to Jade, trying to prove he wasn’t lying.Theodore's face turned livid with anger, cursing himself inwardly for raising such a useless son.Melanie scoffed, retorting, "I don't provoke unless provoked. Shane, if you hadn't messed with me, would I have hit you?"Jade pulled Melanie back. "Now's not the time for this. The most important thing is to save lives."Melanie nodded, positioning herself behind Jade.Jade turned to Theodore and asked, "Mr. Bancroft, can we proceed with the rescue now?"Theodore’s expression was stony, his teeth gritting. "The Bancroft family never said we wouldn't rescue anyone. It's just that the underground s
Jade gave Melanie a faint, confident smile. She never engaged in anything she wasn't sure of. This time, she would see how thoroughly she could humiliate Theodore.Melanie was still worried. Experts had stated that the underground situation was complicated. How could an outsider like Jade be so certain she could rescue her father unharmed?Everyone followed behind Jade, curiosity evident on their faces. They were eager to see how she would manage the rescue. Could a young woman really have such remarkable abilities?Upon arriving at the scene, all the personnel were already in place, awaiting the order to commence the rescue.A bespectacled worker approached Jade. "Miss Severin, based on our observations, although the underground conditions are complex, the structure is quite stable. The collapse occurred in a dead corner, forming a narrow space inside..."The technical jargon made Melanie's head spin. She interrupted anxiously, "Excuse me, but I just want to know if my father is
The overwhelming emotions suffocating Shane left him gasping for air. He picked up a cigarette, lit it, and took a slow drag.Theodore watched him, eyes wide with surprise. Shane rarely smoked, and only when something deeply troubled him did he take a puff.'What is bothering him today? Is it the bet I have with Jade?' But Theodore dismissed this thought quickly. 'Shane is usually carefree and won’t dwell on such things.'If it isn’t about the company, then what could it be?' His gaze fell on Melanie, and his heart skipped a beat. 'Could it be because of that young woman?'He had assumed Shane was just playing around, but seeing him now, Theodore’s expression grew serious.…The rescue continued into the night, and finally, there was good news."They have found them."Those four simple words thundered through the crowd like a bolt of lightning.Melanie’s sinking heart leaped with hope. She rushed towards the scene without hesitation, with Jade hurrying behind her.The site wa
Jade watched Melanie accompany John to the hospital and then turned back to find Theodore. In the office, Theodore wore a defeated expression. He had hoped to slip away quietly amidst the crowd, but Jade had already set people to watch him, blocking both the front and back exits. Unable to escape, he had no choice but to return to the office."Mr. Bancroft, you seem to have something urgent?" Jade sat leisurely across from him, her smile broad and eyes twinkling, while Theodore's brows furrowed tightly.As it turned out, Jade was more capable than he had anticipated. He had thought she was just bluffing, but she had actually managed to achieve her goal. Now he had no choice but to keep his promise and agree to one of Jade's requests.Theodore didn’t beat around the bush. "What exactly do you want me to do? Just say it. As long as it’s within my ability, I’ll do it."If her request was reasonable, he would comply, but anything beyond his capability was out of his control.Theodor
Despite getting an undeserved benefit, Theodore felt his chest tighten with frustration, almost causing him to cough up blood. Jade was clearly using the Fitzgerald family to pressure him."If you have any demands, just state them." Theodore sighed in resignation, his voice weak and defeated. He had already decided that as long as Jade's demands were not too outrageous, he would grit his teeth and part with more money to settle the matter."Actually, what I have in mind is..." Jade paused, her gaze filled with meaning as she looked at Theodore and smiled warmly. "I want to help you fulfill a dream."Theodore was intrigued and unable to contain his curiosity. "Fulfill a dream for me? What do you mean by that?"He was skeptical of Jade’s sudden shift from a wager to fulfilling dreams. Only a fool would believe her at face value. His anxiety grew, unsure of what scheme Jade was plotting, and sweat began to bead on his forehead and trickle down his cheeks."Yes, fulfill a dream for yo
Patricia was contemplating ways to extinguish Shane's infatuation, but Jade's proposal aligned perfectly with her intentions. Becoming the Bancrofts' goddaughter would ensure that Shane gave up his hopes."Mom?" Shane looked at Patricia in astonishment. "Don’t you dislike Melanie? Why would you want to take her in as your goddaughter?"Patricia shot him a look and replied, "Do I have a choice in the matter? Your father lost a bet. It's not just Miss Severin's request. Even if it were more outrageous, we would have to agree. The Bancroft family is a prominent one. We uphold our promises. If we go back on our word, we'll be the laughing stock."Shane was rendered speechless. Patricia's words sounded noble, but only he knew what his parents were truly like. When it came to money, pride was easily discarded. Naturally, he dared not say this out loud and could only grumble inwardly.Realizing he couldn't persuade his mother, Shane turned to Theodore, hoping for his support. "Dad, do y
The doctor had barely left when Rebecca dared to appear. While watching Melanie curled up on the chair, Rebecca's eyes shifted. A fake smile spread across her face as she sat beside her.In a voice dripping with false kindness, she said, "Melanie, dear, I know you're a filial daughter, but you must consider the situation. Your father needs a lot of money now and will need even more in the future. You should try to understand our situation and help out a bit, don't you think?"Hearing Rebecca's voice made Melanie's stomach churn. This stepmother of hers was selfish, greedy, and malicious. If it hadn't been for Rebecca's mistreatment, John's health wouldn't have deteriorated like this.Clenching her fists inside her sleeves, Melanie struggled to contain her anger. She replied coldly, "I haven't asked for a single penny from the family all these years. On the contrary, I send money home every month. Meanwhile, you do nothing but play cards or loaf around. When you're out of money, you