bChapter /bb66 /b

Eleanor’s face turned livid that Max would think that way about his own sister, Ste

“Let me make this clear. Anna isn’t going to die, and Ste didn’t do it. Believe it or not, no one will ever hand Ste over to the police bagain/b. Anyone who dares try will find themselves in police custody instead.”

Eleanor’s unyielding stance left Max speechless. Finally, before leaving, Max warned, “Grandma, when Ste turns against byou/bb, /byou’ll live to regret it.”

“Hmph!” Eleanor scoffed at Max’s retreating figure.

Now, the house was quiet with only Eleanor, Ste, and Kevin remaining.

Eleanor sighed, “Kevin, you’ve seen how things are for Ste in this house. Before, they used underhanded tactics, but now they’re not even pretending anymore. I told her to leave, but she won’t. She stays because she doesn’t want to leave me behind.

“I could go with her, but those people would surelye after us. They’re like madmen, dead set on getting bus/bb.” /b

Kevin remained silent

Her heart aching, Eleanor gazed at Ste. “The whole paint of bringing her back was so she could finally recuperate properly, but not once has she had the chance.”

“Grandma, what if we take Ste away for a while?” Kevin suggested,

Eleanor shook her head. “She won’t agree to that.” She knew her own health condition too well. Ste would never leave her side. But what worried Eleanor most was the terrifying thought that Ste might lose her life even before she herself passed away. “bWhat /bshould we do then?” Kevin really wanted to help.

Eleanor sighed, “I don’t know either. This trouble Anna stirred up this time definitely won’t blow over easily. Let’s see what they’re up to before we bmake /bany moves.”

Kevin nodded. After having lunch with Eleanor and Ste, he left in the afternoon.

Just then, Andrew and Max trudged back, looking utterly exhausted. The moment they spotted Eleanor and Ste lounging on the bsofa /bwatching TV, Andrew was instantly infuriated and strode over to switch off the television.

Eleanor shot Andrew a re. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Andrew snapped, “Mom, Anna is in the hospital fighting for her life. How can you just sit here watching TV like nothing’s wrong?”

Eleanor shot back sharply, “Why shouldn’t I? Ste’s had countless close calls, and none of you seemed to care then. What, do you think she’s some kind of fragile doll? Ste’s still standing strong here. So what could possibly happen to Anna?”

“Mom, how can you say something so heartless?”

“You think I’m heartless? Look at yourselves. The way you treat Ste is exactly how I’ll treat Anna.” After Eleanor finished speaking. her bface /bicy cold, she demanded, “Turn on the TV.”

Andrew kept ring at her.

Eleanor couldn’t care less. She turned the TV back on and kept watching

Andrew was seething with rage, his fists clenched, but in the end, he held himself back..

Max was fuming. He couldn’t stand seeing Andrew act like this. He switched off the TV and snapped at Eleanor, “Grandma, the scene you caused at the buffet yesterday has gone public. Now ourpany is in crisis.”

Eleanor’s peaceful TV time was over. “Me, making a fuss? If you hadn’t pulled that stunt, would any of this have happened? bYou /bshould’ve seen thising long ago.”

“Grandma, you and Grandpa built thispany from the ground up. How can you just wash your hands of it all now?”

“Enough. I’m done with this mess and won’t lift a finger to help. Sort it bout /byourselves,” Eleanor dered coldly.

Max said sharply, “Fine! If you won’t take care of it, then hand over the shares to me. I’ll take control.”

bMax’s /bblunt demand made both Andrew and Eleanor snap their heads toward him. Even Ste stared at him in utter disbelief.

Max didn’t think he’d said anything wrong, “Grandma, I’m not the majority shareholder yet, so there are decisions I can’t make. But once you transfer the shares to me, I’ll be able to take the reins. I’ll steer thepany to great sess.”

Andrew shot Max a silencing look.

Max remained utterly convinced he was in the right. “Just hand over the shares to me, and we’ll consider this matter closed. I’ll talk to Mom and Dad about Anna’s case, and they’ll drop all charges against Ste.”

Ste was speechless.

Eleanor scoffed, “Max, let’s cut the crap. All this drama is just about getting your hands on my shares, isn’t it?”

Max bfroze /bfor a moment. “No, Grandma. The Hayes family will be mine eventually. Since you’re not managing thepany anymore, why not just transfer all the shares to me now? That way, if anything were to happen to you…

Andrew kept shooting Max warning nces, but Max simply ignored them, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Eleanor.

“As the man of this family, the legacy is naturally mine to inherit. If it weren’t for this situation, I wouldn’t be asking now. But since it’se to thisb, /bGrandma, just be reasonable and hand over the shares already,”

Eleanor’s smile twisted into a mocking bsneer/b. “Max, I’ll give you this. You’re certainly more blunt than either of your parents. But let me make this clear. No way in hell am I giving you my shares.b” /b

“Grandma, if not to me, then who? To Ste? Look at her condition. Who knows how much longer she’ll beven /bst? What good is she for anyway?”

“Shut up!” Eleanor jabbed a trembling finger at Max. “Get out, right now. I don’t want to see your face.”

Max was about to argue further when Andrew hurriedly pulled him out of the room.

Max was practically freaking out, but Andrew shook his head and said, “You’re being way too reckless.”

i“/iBut Dad, if we don’t go for the shares now, when will we? Thepany just barely recovered, and now it’s all falling apart again

Andrew snapped, “Of course I’m anxious. Can’t you see how disgusted your grandma is?”

?

SOAT H

“She’s definitely going to give all the shares to Ste. What right does she have? She’ll be married off eventually anyway. I’m the only rightful heir to this family.”

Andrew said, “Alright, let’s drop it for now.”

Eleanor and Ste paid no attention to what Max and Andrew were discussing outside. Ste looked at Eleanor and asked, “Grandma, do you really think Anna is okay?”

“Of course she is. At worst, she just passed out. Honestly, I’ve always thought she was faking it, and now I’m convinced that she’s definitely putting on an act,” Eleanor replied.

A gentle warmth spread through Ste’s chest. But as she thought of Fiona, her lips curled into a cold sneer.

When Anna had the slightest issue, Fiona rushed to her side. But when Ste was in real trouble, at best, Fiona just put on a show Sometimes she couldn’t even be bothered to pretend.

Max confronted Ste once again,unching into emotional bckmail/b. “Ste, thispany crisis is all your fault. Grandma even stuck her neck out for you. If you still want this family to survive, there’s one thing you must do.”

Ste couldn’t be bothered to respond.

Max said coldly, “If you won’t speak, I’ll take your silence as consent.”

Ste stared at his ice–cold expression, and a sudden sense of dread crept over her. She wondered what Max was up to.

AD