Natalie finally nodded in agreement.
A faint smile stretched across Sebastian’s lips.
He cupped her cheeks and kissed her, slipping his tongue into her mouth.
They were a couple now.
The Quinn family’s house was still clamorous after Sebastian and Natalie left. The maid was cleaning the red stains on the carpet, listening to the three of them bicker.
Cassie lost her temper.
She sniffled loudly and burst into tears as if she had just broken up with her boyfriend.
“How could Sebastian do this to me? How could he compare me to that bitch? I’m in no way inferior to her! Mom, no one has ever humiliated me this way!”
George was reading the newspaper, scowling with frustration. He couldn’t understand what his daughter was thinking.
‘What makes her think Sebastian would like her? Besides, isn’t it a good thing he doesn’t like her?’ he thought.
Since Sebastian didn’t like her, he wouldn’t blame them for marrying him to Natalie instead of Cassie.
George couldn’t understand why his daughter was making a fuss.
Lauren was also furious.She had been dreading this day, thinking Sebastian would ruin their lives if he found the truth.
However, the man showed completely no interest in Cassie, which infuriated them.
“Stop crying.Otherwise, your eyes will become puffy and bloodshot. You won’t be able to go out.Sebastian is just a loser.He doesn’t deserve you.”
Lauren patted Cassie’s back to comfort her.But Cassie began to weep harder.
Gritting her teeth, she picked up the teacup on the table and threw it on the floor.
“But he doesn’t like me.He even compared me with that bitch. That’s the biggest humiliation of my life!” Lauren’s heart clenched at the sight of the shattered remnants of the antique vases and cups on the floor.
She had spent a lot of money on them, but Cassie smashed them in an instant.
“That’s a good thing. What would you have done if Sebastian pestered you to marry him?”
Lauren continued to persuade her daughter.
Hearing that made Cassie calm down a little.
“Of course, I wouldn’t have agreed.” She sniffed loudly.
“But I should be the one denying him and this proposal.I can’t believe he doesn’t want me.”
“Sebastian is not a good man.I’ve asked you not to let his good looks deceive you.Keep my words in mind.Otherwise, sooner or later, you’ll fall for the wrong man and suffer.” Lauren poked Cassie’s temple with disappointment.
At that moment, George’s phone rang.
Lauren picked up the phone and glanced at the screen.
“George, it’s a call from the company you have partnered with.Answer it now!”
She nudged George’s arm, who was about to doze off on the sofa.
“What’s the matter? Why have they called me at this hour?”George sat upright, clearing his throat.
“Hello, Mr.Walton.What’s up?”
The caller was the CEO of one of the Quinn family’s partnering companies.
“Mr.Quinn, the senior executives of our company have decided to terminate our cooperation with your company.” George sprang up from his seat in horror.
“Wait, Mr.Walton.Why? What’s with the sudden decision? Are you not happy with our collaboration?”
George wasn’t good at handling business.
The company was barely holding on over the years as he struggled to retain the connections his father had built in the past.
This collaboration was crucial for business.
Once they withdrew, the Quinn family would face severe downfall.
The partner then spoke, his tone bland.
“I heard that you once arranged your biological daughter’s marriage, only to make your adopted daughter many in her stead. You still owe the girl a sum of money, don’t you? Yet you refuse to give her proper compensation. Your adopted daughter has made this matter public, and she certainly wasn’t subtle about it.Clearly, you are not a trustworthy person.In our recent meeting with the shareholders, we have reached a consensus to no longer engage in any cooperation with your dubious enterprises.”
Although the man’s voice was relatively calm, George felt it rumble in his core.
“Mr.Walton, these allegations aren’t true at all! We have our fair share of difficulties.Can’t you please reconsider the matter?”
George was so frightened that he could barely think properly before speaking.He was still honest, to a degree.He wanted to acknowledge the Quinn family’s fault in the issue with the marriage, but he didn’t know how to even begin his explanation.
“Why should I? How dare you insist on a collaboration when you and your family have already been exposed for your deceit?” George felt his face bum with shame.He had nothing to say to that.
Lauren was seated beside him, and she had been pressing her ear to the other side of the phone the whole time to listen in on the conversation.
She was just as shaken to learn that their business partner intended to terminate their cooperation.
Unlike George, however, she was quite adept with words.
“Let me talk to him,” she said impatiently as she grabbed the phone from his hands.
“Please, Mr.Walton,” Lauren said in a singsong voice.
“You must allow us to explain our side of the matter. You can’t just listen to what other people are saying.It is true that we have an adopted daughter.However, this so-called expose of hers is nothing but a ploy to extort us of money.Such an ungrateful girl, really.We raised her like our own, and here she is now, maligning us for profit.I’m afraid that she won’t stop until she has taken every single penny to our name.We would have gladly given her what she needed, but we know her well enough to know that she’s only going to squander any cash she gets her hands on. This is a family matter, Mr.Walton.We are trying to handle it as best as we can, but I hope you understand that personal affairs have no place in business transactions.”
Lauren had fully expected to convince the man with her persuasive ways, but she only received more disdainful remarks.
“I disagree.As a matter of fact, I had this issue investigated exactly because of our existing collaboration.I must say, I’m quite appalled that you persist in slandering your adopted daughter.I already know that Natalie asked you for money in order to finance the surgery of a maid that used to serve the Quinn family.She wasn’t going to spend it on herself.It seems that you and your husband are incapable of truth.Only an idiot would be willing to enter a business deal with you, and I assure you, I am no idiot.Furthermore, the Quinn family has been on the decline in recent years. The only reason why we kept giving you contracts is to honor the friendship between the previous generations of our two families.Now that you have broken that trust, I believe I have no other choice but to sever our ties for good.”