Overnight, the Gardner family met its downfall while going viral online. Netizens joked that the family


    was a cautionary tale ofw and order and should be given a lifetime achievement award for their


    “service”.


    Rosaline Kirkman had been arrested and sentenced for contract killing and abetting murder, which did


    not warrant a death or life sentence, but she had to spend twenty years or more behind bars.


    As she was 50 years old at the time of sentencing, she should expect to spend the rest of her life in


    prison.


    At the same time, Andrew Gardner suffered a stroke from the shock and was sent to the ICU. As a


    result of dyed treatment due to the chaos at the event, he fell into a deepa from hypoxia and


    brain tissue damage.


    “Ms. Gardner, please be mentally prepared. There is a high possibility that your father might fall into a


    vegetative state.”


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Upon hearing Andrew’s prognosis from the doctor, Liana froze by the door. The colors drained from her


    face.


    At that moment, the Gardner Group was crushed by debt. The manufacturers and debtors had been


    knocking on her door for days to demand payment, scaring her into staying at the hotel instead of going


    home.


    She had emptied what little savings she had to hire an attorney for Rosaline and to pay for Andrew’s


    medical treatments. For the first time in life, she had a taste of poverty.


    It never rained, but it poured. Two dayster, the staff from Rose Emerson’s studio reached out to her.


    Liana had left her dress on the ground in a hurry to flee her birthday party. When she went back to pick


    up


    the dress, it was reduced to a stained rag covered with dirty footprints.


    “What? Are you saying I need to pay back five times the price tag?”


    She crumpled thepensation form and bellowed, “That’s 600 thousand dors! How dare you extort


    that amount for a fucking dress? Why don’t you rob a bank instead?”


    “Is 600 thousand dors too much for you?” Rose’s assistant chuckled teasingly.


    The assistant continued, “Those who purchase our haute couture are wealthy and influential. Six


    hundred thousand is nothing to them. We have customers who can afford dresses worth millions.


    “You shouldn’t have borrowed the dress from Ms. Emerson if the price tag was exorbitant for you. Don’t


    “You-You’re just a fucking assistant. Watch that mouth of yours! I’ll lodge aint!” Liana’s


    expression contorted in anger.


    “Fine. Do as you wish, but please transfer the amount to the ount stated on thepensation form.


    If you miss the payment deadline, we will bring this to court and get a court order.”


    With that, Rose’s assistant gave Liana a disdainful stare and left.


    Shaking in fear, Liana plopped on the chair and sobbed into her hands. Finally, she could not take it


    anymore and cried out loud.


    When she was tired from crying, she wiped away her tears and drove to Seaview Manor alone.


    Liana grasped onto herst hope-Sophia. She believed that Sophia was partly responsible for her


    downfall and should lend a helping hand as an aunt.


    The Becketts were having dinner in the dining hall. Newton’s condition was stable these days and


    looked more healthy. Newton disliked his hospital stay, so he opted to recover at Crescent Bay.


    It was a rare asion where everyone in the family was present, including Jasper. However, the vibe


    at the dinner table was oppressive and depressing.


    Sophia loved being lovey-dovey with Javier at mealtime on normal days, feeding each other food.


    Tonight, the couple ate dinner in silence. Javier looked glum while Sophia yed with the food on her


    te, seemingly losing her appetite.


    In stark contrast to her parents’ moodiness, Betty had a voracious appetite and took a second helping.


    “You should eat less. Can’t you see you’re getting chubbier? It will be hard to marry you off!” Sophia


    treated Betty like a punching bag to release her frustration about the Gardner family.


    “Tsk. What’s wrong with eating a little bit more? And what’s more, I am a Beckett. I don’t have to worry


    about my marriage prospects,” Betty grumbled.


    Then, she scoffed and added, “Dad, Mom, stop looking so down. The situation might be difficult for


    now,


    but at least we found out the problem and nip it in the bud.”