?


    "Mrs. Updike, do I look like an idiot to you? Or are you just not thinking straight?" Vrie asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.


    Monica''s expression stiffened in response.


    "Then what do you want?" Monica demanded, her voice cold.


    Vrie raised her eyebrows and said firmly, "Even if they''re sent abroad, they could alwayse back. What I want is to sever tiespletely."


    Monica''s face hardened. "Vrie, you''re still just a young woman. Don''t be so ruthless. Zayn''s mistress may be at fault, but the child is innocent. I can''t believe you''d suggest something so extreme!"


    Her gaze carried a note of disappointment, as though Vrie''s words reflected poorly on her character.


    Once, that look might have affected Vrie, but now Monica was no more than the mother of the defendant-a near stranger to her. "Whatever ruthlessness I have pales inparison to yours, Mrs. Updike. After all, you managed to raise a rapist," Vrie retorted.


    "What did you just say?!" Monica shot up from her seat, pointing an usatory finger at Vrie. "Say that again!"


    Her face flushed, her eyes zing with rage, as if she were ready tosh out.


    "No matter how many times I say it, it won''t change," Vrie replied coolly. "I won''t be withdrawing my charges, nor will I ept mediation. Zayn is going to pay for what he did."


    Monica sneered. "Fine. I had nned to support the Weir Group out of goodwill for Zayn''s mistake, but with your attitude, you can expect the Weir Group to go bankrupt!"


    Vrie rolled her eyes. "Don''t let the door hit you on the way out."


    If the Updikes could truly destroy the Weir Group, Zayn wouldn''t have needed to get engaged to her in the first ce. With Damon backing the Weir Group now, they had nothing to fear from the Updikes.


    Monica stormed out, her fury palpable, vowing to make Vrie pay. As she climbed into the car, she snapped at the driver, "Take me to the office!" "Yes, Mrs. Updike," the driver replied.


    Just as the car began to move, Monica''s phone rang.


    Seeing it was her husband, she


    answered, her anger barely


    net


    contained. "That witch Vrie won''t relent. You need to bankrupt the Weir Group!"


    She ranted for several moments before realizing Anthony hadn''t responded. "Why aren''t you saying anything?"


    "Ourpany... is going bankrupt," Anthony''s voice came through the phone, t and weary.


    "What?!" Monica''s voice shot up, filled with shock. "Are you out of your mind? What kind of nonsense is this?"


    et


    Just yesterday, the Updike Group had been fine, with several major deals signed. How could they be


    facing bankruptcy over


    Monica briefly wondered if Anthony was losing his mind, perhaps due to the stress over Zayn being caught.


    "It''s true. You''re losing ess to your own funds, too," Anthony replied.


    Upon hearing the despair in his voice, Monica''s panic deepened. "What''s going on? Stop scaring me!"


    "I have a lot to deal with right now.~


    Do what you can about Zayn. If nothing else works... then he''ll have to pay for what he did," Anthony said before hanging up.


    Monica immediately tried calling him back, but he didn''t answer. She stared at her phone, her face etched with despair.


    Yesterday, the Updike Group had been thriving. How could it be facing bankruptcy now?


    In the CEO''s office of the Updike Group...


    Anthony set his phone down and dialed his secretary. "Prepare the car. We''re going to see Mr. Genge."


    The Updike Group had just one day left to survive. If he could convince Tom to spare them, maybe there would still be a chance.