Pedro scowled as he said coldly, "She''s about to leave the country. What''s the point of holding so many shares?


    "It''s not that we''re unwilling to give her money, but you all know the situation at the Wilkie Group. Even if we were to give her the money, it will have to wait until thepany stabilizes."


    Jane sneered. "You make it sound so reasonable. If I handed over all my shares to Theo, I''d be lucky to see a penny from him. That''s assuming he''d even bother to get my name right!"


    Pedro red at her. "Are you really going to push me?"


    "You''re the one forcing me," Jane replied, her voice icy. "Even if the shares rot in my hands, I''ll never give them to Theo!"


    "Fine! You''re a truly good granddaughter!" Pedro snapped, his voice brimming with fury.


    The meeting ended on a sour note, with everyone leaving in frustration.


    Back at the vi, Ruth sat beside Jane. "Now that they couldn''t get the shares, they''ll surelye up with other ways to take them from you. Jane, don''t let your guard down."


    Soft-hearted? Jane scoffed. When Pedro chose Theo and abandoned her, she had stopped feeling sorry for him.


    Still, the shares weren''t safe in her hands. Given Theo''s nature, he might resort to something worse to get them.


    Jane nced at her mother. "Mom, I''m going out for a while."


    She left the vi and went straight to Prospectus Technology.


    ...


    When Damon heard Jane was there to see him, he raised an eyebrow.


    Business? That was unexpected.


    "Have here to my office."


    Momentster, Jane wheeled herself in, her leg still in a cast from the serious fracture she''d suffered recently.


    "Ms. Wilkie, I hear you''d like to discuss business," Damon said.


    Jane nodded. "Mr. Sumner, I have 10% of the Wilkie Group''s shares. Are you interested?"


    Damon was momentarily taken


    aback, then smiled faintly. "Ms.


    Wilkie, wouldn''t it be more logical to sell your shares to the Wilkies? Why offer them to me? Aren''t you concerned the Wilkie Group might change its name?"


    Jane''s expression hardened. "If Theo ends up controlling the Wilkie Group, it


    might as well change its name."


    "How much do you want for your shares?" Damon asked.


    Jane fixed her gaze on him. "I don''t want money. I want to trade 10% of the Wilkie


    Group''s shares for 1% of Prospectus Technology''s shares."


    If the shares were no longer in her possession, Pedro couldn''t force her to transfer them to Theo. She was determined not to let Theo win.


    Damon frowned.


    Trading 10% of the Wilkie Group for 1% of Prospectus Technology seemed favorable at first nce. However, with the Wilkie Group in


    decline, those shares held little value


    for him.


    "Sorry, Ms. Wilkie. I can''t ept that offer. Prospectus Technology just weathered


    some turbulence, and I have no ns to sell my shares," he replied.


    Jane''s expression tightened. She


    hadn''t anticipated his refusal. "Mr. Sumner, don''t intend to join the board of Prospectus Technology I''m only interested in the dividends. Besides, I''ll be leaving the country soon and won''t being back."


    Damon''s tone remained cool. "Ms. Wilkie, I don''t rely on guarantees that aren''t


    legally binding. It seems this deal isn''t feasible."