CHAPTER 836: CHAPTER 835

After Carol climbed the stairs, she received a call from Rosemary, who dropped a bombshell about a hidden truth behind a car accident from years ago. Carol’s long lashes fluttered slightly, betraying her surprise and shock.

Once the call ended, Carol checked the evidence Rosemary had sent her. Each message, each document, stoked the flames of her indignation.

After a while, she called her brother Dennis, asking him to come home. She returned to her laptop, her fingers dancing across the keyboard before finally emerging into the living room.

At that moment, Maureen was still adding fuel to the fire, badmouthing her, while Katherine was beside her, crying a river, leaving Rudolf frustrated and distraught.

"I’ve made up my mind." Carol walked up to them and announced, her expression unflinching, "Didn’t Dad say he wanted to announce our identities to all our friends and relatives soon, to let everyone

know that we are back? I think we shouldn’t wait for another day. Why not just do it tonight?"

"Are you trying to negotiate terms with your dad?" Maureen snapped back, realizing what was happening, "You’re really something, aren’t you? Always playing your own game. It doesn’t matter

when we announce your return. But Katherine needs to make amends and apologize before midnight tonight. Her situation is far more urgent than yours. Instead of resolving that, you’re here stirring up trouble with irrelevant things."

"I didn’t ask for your opinion."

Carol’s retort infuriated Maureen.

She couldn’t believe Carol would dare to dismiss her so blatantly.

"Carol, are you really willing to help Katherine?" Rudolf looked surprised. Just moments ago, Carol had been adamant about staying out of her sister’s issues. What had changed?

"If she’s ready to swallow her pride, apologize, and offer some compensation, I’m okay with it. Anyway, New Year is coming up, and all our relatives will naturally learn about me and my brother’s return. There’s no rush."

As Carol turned to head upstairs, Maureen quickly said, "Wait!"

Though she didn’t want their friends and relatives to know about their existence, they didn’t have a better solution for Katherine’s predicament at the moment.

If that wretched girl was willing to help, not only would they save themselves from shelling out 3 million, but they’d also save face.

Just this once, they’d let Carol have her way. They could always tarnish her reputation later, skewing their friends’ and relatives’ perception of her.

"Are you really willing to help?"

Before Maureen could finish, Carol was already ascending the stairs. Maureen called out, "Wait!" She had no choice but to look at her husband, "Honey, book a private dining room. We’ll have dinner with all our friends and relatives tonight. I’ve been so busy lately; I neglected to announce Carol and Dennis’s return right away. It’s understandable that Carol is upset. Let’s do it tonight. She’s right; there’s no time like the present."

"And Dennis." Rudolf wasn’t sure where his son had gone and whether he’d be able to return that evening. If they were to announce their return, Dennis was one of the main characters.

"He’ll be back soon."

Hearing Carol’s assurance, Maureen grew more resentful, convinced the siblings had conspired together. Their father hadn’t even agreed to the announcement yet, and her brother was already on his

way to receive blessings from friends and relatives.

"Then tonight, we’ll all raise our glasses to celebrate - you and your brother’s safe return," Rudolf started calling to invite friends and relatives.

"Make sure Meredith Brooks comes home too." Carol said coldly to Maureen, "No one should be missing."

Maureen scoffed. She hadn’t expected this audacious girl to take herself so seriously. Meredith was her and Rudolf’s beloved son, the heir to their estate, and now he was supposed to come back and

celebrate for these two? In her dreams.

"If I’m in a foul mood, then forget it. I’m not lifting a finger to help."

Maureen hadn’t expected to be at her mercy, feeling frustrated yet compelled to call her son.

Meredith had been spoiled rotten since childhood, a classic rich brat, living a life of leisure and luxury,spending money like it was going out of style. At the moment, he was in the middle of a card game, "I won! I’ve won again!!"

He tossed his cards onto the table with glee, as the others around him groaned in dismay.

"Meredith, your luck today is just insane. If you keep this up, we’re all gonna go broke."

"Seriously."

"Give us a break, will you?"

The voices of his high-society buddies echoed over the phone.

"If you don’t come back now, you can kiss goodbye to 3 million of your inheritance from your dad!"

Maureen hit him right where it hurt.

"What 3 million? The entire fortune is mine; who dares to take a penny away from me? Who?"

"It’s a long story, but if you want to keep living the high life and have money, you better come home,and the sooner the better. Otherwise, it’s not just the 3 million that’s at stake. The whole Brooks family

will be dragged through the mud, and future business is going to be a lot tougher."

Scandals like these would surely make some partners reconsider their ties. Meredith cursed under his breath but ultimately had no choice but to return.

6 PM. Maureen, all smiles and feigning elegance, stood alongside her husband at the entrance of the restaurant, greeting friends and relatives.

She was taken aback to realize her husband had booked the entire ground floor. Once the guests started trickling in, she sneakily pinched her husband’s arm.

"This is when we need to be careful with money, Katherine’s 3 million debacle is still up in the air, and here you are splurging - it’s just wasteful!"

She had thought a couple of tables would suffice to show their status, but no, her husband had gone all out, booking thirty tables and even inviting the old neighbors.

"Carol and Dennis returning safely is a cause for a grand celebration. I’ve neglected them for too many years. Tonight, this welcome home feast should not be confused with Katherine’s compensation; they are entirely different matters." Rudolf said with a gentleman’s smile as he saw more guests arriving,

"Please, come inside."

"They’re exactly the same. They’re both your daughters. You’re willing to spend so much on the kids from your ex-wife, but you begrudge Katherine 3 million."

"That’s Katherine’s mess she got herself into. She needs to cough up the money she earned through dirty means to pay them back. Whatever’s missing, as her father, I am willing to cover. After all, it’s our fault for not raising her right and letting her make mistakes. You, on the other hand, can’t seem to swallow your pride and have her apologize publicly."

"Wow, so now you’ve got Carol and Dennis, and you’re ready to throw Katherine and Meredith to the

wolves, pushing the kids to embarrass themselves in front of everyone. That’s a new one! You can greet the guests on your own; I’m going inside," Maureen stormed off, fuming.

"Maureen." Rudolf, knowing he would get nowhere with her, resigned himself to welcoming the incoming guests alone against the chilly breeze.

Once all the guests had arrived, Rudolf took to the stage and expressed his gratitude to everyone present.