Chapter 413
“Hurry, come with me-we need to save Mitchell!” Adeline pleaded, her voice tight with anxiety as she turned to Suzan.
For a moment, Suzan fell completely silent. The quiet on the other end of the line was so deep, it sent a chill down Adeline’s spine.
A prickling sense of dread crept over her. She just knew something wasn’t right.
At last, Suzan spoke, her words careful and measured. “Aunt Adeline, people are driven by self-interest. What’s happened to Mitchell is serious. If I’m going to help him, it’s going to cost me-not just effort, but I’ll have to call in favors from my uncle.”
Before Adeline could reply, Suzan continued, “He told me himself: it’s not worth going to so much trouble for a complete outsider. So… do you understand what I’m saying?”
Adeline was no fool; she caught Suzan’s meaning immediately.
She hadn’t expected Suzan to be so fixated on Mitchell.
Truth be told, Adeline had never thought much of Suzan before. But things were different now-Suzan’s uncle was a powerful man, and that sort of connection was worth leveraging.
Adeline had already made up her mind, but she made a show of thinking it over before responding. “Alright. I’ll do it.”
Suzan said softly, “I’m not forcing you, you understand what I mean, right?”
Adeline thought to herself, Suzan’s little schemes were written all over her face- how could anyone not see through her? Suzan wanted Mitchell to marry her of his own free will!
Whether Mitchell’s heart would truly be in it-well, who could say?
But as long as everything looked proper, as long as Suzan could hold her head
high in front of others, that was enough for her, wasn’t it?
“Fine,” Adeline replied.
Suzan’s lips curled into a determined, triumphant smile.
Meanwhile, Lyman’s phone rang-Lionel was calling.
“Mr. Harper.” Lionel sounded hesitant, almost embarrassed. After a moment’s pause, he said, “I’m sorry to bother you at a time like this. Really, I apologize for the intrusion.”
Lionel hadn’t yet explained his reason for calling, but Lyman already had a good idea what this was about.
The smile faded from Lyman’s face. He didn’t say a word.
It took Lionel a few seconds to speak again. I know I shouldn’t be asking you for this favor, but the truth is, Mitchell didn’t really harm your mother-in-law-he just made a reckless, extreme move. A little lesson should be enough. Tell you what: if you’re willing, from now on, I’ll make sure the Etheridge Group’s goods coming through my ports worldwide get a five percent tax break. What do you say?”
Lyman let out a quiet, humorless laugh. “That’s quite an offer, Mr. Carter. Such a lucrative deal, all in exchange for that worthless fool Mitchell? Do you really think he’s worth it?”
In his heart, Lionel looked down on Mitchell. It was bad enough the man was useless—now he’d stooped to threatening women and the elderly to get his way.
If Mitchell had been his own son, Lionel would have dealt with him himself. He wouldn’t have let him see the light of day again.
But none of that mattered. No matter what he thought, Suzan’s mind was made up—she was set on Mitchell. There was nothing he could do.
Maybe it was guilt; he owed Suzan’s grandmother too much. Now that she was gone, Suzan-his only niece-was all he had left to make amends to.
Lyman said, “I can’t make that decision on my own. I’ll need to discuss it with my wife.”
Effie was sitting right next to him, but Lyman saw no reason to let Lionel think this would be so easily resolved.
Lionel could only sigh and say, “Alright. Think it over.”