The preparation for the press conference was almost done.
And the media took their seats after arriving.
Ian and Sammy, along with Clara, were waiting in one of the hotel rooms. The whole family gathered here for this important occasion.
Experienced as Ian was, he took this quite seriously and showed no delight. He frowned, forming even more wrinkles on his forehead.
Sammy also seemed anxious. Although they had struck a deal with LC Group to save the Nathan Group. However, since the Nathan Group did not belong to the Nathans completely after the deal was made, they were faced with an uncertain future.
Clara stepped up to Sammy and said, “Sammy, please don’t worry. At least the Nathan Group will be saved through the deal. We’ll take it one step at a time.”
Sammy nodded and forced a smile at Clara, “Clara, you don’t have to come. I’ll be busy as hell today, and so I may not be able to take care of you.”
“I’ll always be by your side, especially on such an important day,” said Clara in a gentle tone.
These days, Clara’s life wasn’t easy either. The Nathan Group’s collapse was the last thing she wanted to see. It cost her a lot to become Sammy’s wife. She wouldn’t allow the Nathan Group to go bankrupt before she enjoyed the luxurious life she always longed for.
Just as they were talking, someone suddenly knocked at the door.
“Mr. Sammy, there’s a young miss who claims to be Miss. Norris wanting to see you. She said it was urgent.”
“Miss. Norris?”
They immediately thought of Serina. The Norris family only had two daughters, one of whom was Clara and another was Serina.
“What is she doing here? Does she come to mock us? How can she be so mean?” Clara muttered.
Sammy said, “Tell her that I’m too busy to see her today.” He didn’t want to have a conflict with Serina at this time. Today was critical for the Nathan Group.
But Ian said, “Wait a moment!”
Sammy and Clara looked towards Ian together and heard Ian continuing to say, “Sammy, go to meet her.”
“But, dad…”
Ian explained, “Serina’s status has changed now that she is married to Derek. She might come representing him.”
“Go find out what she’s going to say,” he ordered Sammy.
Clara was unpleasant about this.
“Alright then,” Sammy looked up at the messenger and said, “bring her over.”
“Yes, sir.” the messenger quickly walked out.
Sammy wouldn’t like Clara and Serina to meet each other. He was concerned that they would cause trouble again, so he stood up and said, “Clara, wait for me here. I’ll be right back.”
Clara nodded without saying anything.
As soon as Sammy walked out, he saw Serina anxiously running over. She said, “Sammy, you can’t sign this contract today!”
“Serina, we don’t have another choice. If we don’t sign this contract with the LC Group, the Nathan Group would go bankrupt.”
Serina handed the documents over to Sammy and said, “Take a look, this is a trap that Derek set for you! Once you sign this, the LC Group will immediately break its promise and withdraw its capital. At that time, Derek will acquire your company at the lowest price!”
Sammy hurriedly looked through the document that Serina had handed him. It contained the whole plan of Derek.
“All of this was Derek’s trick!”
“Is it all Derek’s trick?” Clara walked out of the room and said, “Serina, are you going to tell us that you have no idea about what he was planning this whole time even though you’re his wife? Derek and the Nathan Group had no conflict in the past. The only possible reason why he wants to ruin the Nathan Group is you, isn’t it?”
“I had no idea about this until yesterday!” Serina retorted, “He did this behind my back!”
“So you say. Serina, you’re really good at playing good cop, bad cop. You let Derek mess with us first. And then you come here as a savior when the situation becomes critical. What a classic plot!”
Clara crossed her arms and taunted Serina.
“Clara!” Serina was extremely mad for her words, and she said, “I don’t want to quarrel with you at this time! If you hadn’t hung up my phone yesterday and blacklisted me, things wouldn’t turn out so bad!”
Clara lowered her voice as she felt a little guilty. “Don’t slander me. I didn’t blacklist you.”
Sammy did not pay attention to their quarrel and kept staring at the document.
“You know what you did! It must be you who stole Sammy’s phone and blacklisted me!”
Clara walked close to Sammy, grabbed his arm, and said, “Sammy, she’s merely talking nonsense. She could be sent by Derek to make a mess. This must be a trap!”
Serina gritted her teeth angrily. She never expected that Clara could be so troublesome.
“Sammy, you know me. Have I ever lied to you all these years?”
“Who knows?” Clara said, “You have held a grudge against Sammy since he didn’t marry you. You made me lose his child, let alone lying.”
Serina was choked by Clara.
Clara knew quite well how to hurt people’s feelings. Serina had always been guilty of making her lose her child.
She could only turn to Sammy and said, “Sammy, believe it or not. I’ve told you everything I know. It’s all up to you.”
…
Serina was leaving when Ian came out followed by his secretary and said, “We can’t sign this agreement today.”
…
Everyone looked at him.
Ian’s eyes were filled with worry. Just now, his lawyers discovered something fishy in their contract with the LC Group.
This was indeed a trap.
“Sammy, tell everyone that today’s signing ceremony is canceled.”
“But, dad…”
“Do as I said, cancel the signing ceremony immediately!”
—
The decision to cancel the signing ceremony was so sudden that the media felt there was something unusual behind this incident. All of them stayed here, waiting to interview representatives of both sides.
There even came some reporters who didn’t receive the invitation to the ceremony, trying to dig out some news.
Serina took a lot of effort to get out of the hotel.
As soon as she got out, a Rolls-Royce was parked at the door, and Henry stood beside the car.
“Miss Serina, sorry, Mrs. Maynard, Mr. Derek wants to see you.”
Serina instantly froze.
She stopped Sammy from signing the contract, but how would she explain to Derek?
‘I ruined his plan. He’ll certainly go mad. What’s worse, he may beat me for this.’
Serina bit her lower lip and thought, ‘What is done is done. There’s no turning back. Besides, I would also like to ask why he did so if he is going to be mad at me.’
“Let’s go!” Serina sat in the car.
Henry drove the Rolls-Royce and brought Serina back to the Crystal Palace.
Derek had already returned and was waiting for her on the sofa.
As soon as Serina stepped into the house, she felt a strong sense of hostility which obviously came from Derek.