Sylvia observed the varied expressions of the three people, raised an eyebrow, and finally fixed her gaze on Louis. “You speak,” she said.
Louis felt inexplicably anxious and took a moment before saying, “We are here to apologize.”
Sylvia crossed her arms and looked at him leisurely. “What did you do that requires an apology? Did you do something shameful?” In fact, the moment she saw Lara, she had already guessed their intention.
However, she did not want a meaningless apology.
“Hurry up!” Donald, extremely embarrassed, pushed Lara towards Mollie’s hospital bed.
Lara rolled her eyes and reluctantly said, “I’m sorry. It was my fault yesterday that you almost had a miscarriage. My father has already punished me.”
“The Hipps Family almost lost a life. That’s called murder,” Mollie said angrily upon hearing that Lara was the one who harmed her.
Her eyes turned red as she glared at the well-dressed Lara, almost shouting, “You harmed my child! How can you use such a nonchalant tone to apologize? I don’t need your apology! Get out!”
Lara was startled and took two steps back.
“What are you yelling for? Do you think I wanted to come? It’s just having a baby. Is it worth making such a big deal out of it? Ridiculous!”
Donald, enraged, stepped forward and slapped Lara. He looked at her with disappointment. “It seems I wasn’t strict enough with you last night. Your attitude is still so arrogant.”
He was extremely disappointed in his adopted daughter.
“Daddy! I’ve already apologized. What more do you want from me?” Lara was furious. She was beaten last night and now again.
Are they addicted to hitting her? Or do they think she’s easy to bully?
“She didn’t actually miscarry. She’s lying here just fine,” Lara said angrily, tears streaming down her face. “I am your daughter!”
Donald’s eyes were filled with disappointment. “It’s because you’re my daughter that I’ve been too lenient with you, which is why you’ve become like this.”
“Am I wrong? She didn’t actually miscarry. What did I do wrong?” Lara couldn’t stand losing face in front of Sylvia.
Standing there humiliated and aggrieved, she felt like a clown for Sylvia to laugh at.
“You shouldn’t harm others, and you should be cautious of others. A pregnant woman who has no enmity with you, yet you harm her and try to destroy an unborn child. If the child had been lost, it would be murder!” Donald grew angrier. “You harmed someone who is now lying in a hospital bed and still don’t recognize your malicious behavior.”
Louis saw Donald’s dark face and the sweat on his forehead and quickly helped him sit on the sofa. “Donald, calm down. Your health is important.”
“If I hand over all my business to her, it will be ruined sooner or later.” Donald took a deep breath and then coughed violently.
Hearing this, Lara panicked.
“Daddy, I’m sorry. I won’t dare again. I’m sincerely repenting. Please don’t send me away… I was too impulsive this time.”
She then apologized repeatedly to Mollie. “I’m sorry, Clare. I really didn’t mean it. Please forgive me.”
Mollie sneered at her. “Sorry, but I don’t accept your apology… I will never forgive someone who tried to kill my child.”
Such a hypocritical apology was worthless.
Sylvia found it very amusing and glanced at Louis. “Louis, your family is quite peculiar!”
With just one sentence, she made Louis blush with shame.
Louis couldn’t stand the thought of his status in Sylvia’s eyes being shaken. He increasingly disliked Lara, feeling she was full of schemes from the moment they adopted her.
Now it seemed he was right.
His chest hurt from anger. “Louis, why not send her back?”
She caused chaos at home every day, clashing with the Bennett siblings and making the household restless.
Hearing Louis say this, Lara’s face turned pale. She knelt in front of Donald, crying bitterly. “Daddy, I know I was wrong. Please don’t send me away. I’ve been with you since I was twelve. Can you really bear to send me away?”
Seeing her so pitiful and without pride, Donald sighed deeply. “We are father and daughter, but…”
He glanced at Clare and then at Sylvia and Mollie, looking tired. “I’m sorry for not raising my daughter well. This is my responsibility. I’m willing to pay the price. Whatever you ask for, as long as I can do it…”
“The one who hurt my wife wasn’t you, but I can’t swallow this anger,” Clare said coldly. He was also angry and resentful but couldn’t ignore Donald’s face, especially now that many people knew what Lara had done.
The Hipps Family and the Fox family were now at odds.
If something happened to Lara in the future, everyone would think it was the Hipps Family seeking revenge.
So it was better to resolve the matter thoroughly today.
“Clare can ask for anything he wants. I’ll do it,” Donald said angrily. Last night he gave Lucille a resort; today he didn’t know what else he would have to give away.
Although he was the richest man in the world, he couldn’t keep up with Lara’s rate of squandering.
Clare didn’t speak; instead, Sylvia spoke with interest. “I heard Mr. Fox recently acquired a resort project.”
Donald looked embarrassed and answered awkwardly, “I’m sorry, Miss Andrews… But that project was given away last night.”
“I didn’t expect it to be so popular. Since it’s already given away, let’s forget it.” Sylvia glanced at Clare again. “My uncle is about to conduct an exercise soon. How about Donald sponsors this exercise? After all, in previous years, the Hipps Family and other families jointly sponsored it.”
Since it wasn’t a real battle, the Presidential Palace would find it difficult to cover the cost alone, so the president would seek funds from various families, promising to include their company brands in the exercise as advertisements.
It was called advertising fees; the families didn’t lose out.
Every year the exercise was broadcast live on television; now it was live on both video platforms and TV.
The advertising effect was excellent but much more expensive than regular ads, making the families reluctantly agree.
But if the Fox family sponsored it alone… The financial burden would be heavy but not ruinous.
Donald never expected Sylvia to make such a bold request.
He looked at her in shock for a long time.
Louis frowned. “Sylvia… Isn’t this condition too harsh? After all, we were once mentor and student…”
“Yes, we were mentor and student, but Franklin is my husband! The president entrusted this exercise to him and my uncle. I’m afraid other families won’t contribute and will make things difficult for them… So I have to plan ahead.” Sylvia spoke lightly as if she wasn’t asking for billions but just a few dollars.
Clare hadn’t thought of this before but now looked approvingly at Sylvia; she was indeed formidable.
He coughed lightly and supported her. “Sylvia is right; we won’t need to find sponsors later, ensuring a smooth exercise.”
Lara panicked; sponsoring wasn’t a joke-billions could be thrown away without a trace!
She quickly told Donald, “Daddy, we can give something else; don’t agree to this condition!”
They were practically robbing money more blatantly than Lucille.
Donald felt like his face was being slapped by the Hipps Family repeatedly.
And he couldn’t fight back.
He roared angrily, “Shut up!”
Lara stood aside in grievance, not daring to speak again.
Donald looked at Lara almost hopelessly. “What an unfortunate family!” He sighed deeply. “Fine, Miss Andrews, it’s our fault first. Any condition you propose is not excessive. I’ll accept it.”
Sylvia hadn’t expected Donald to agree and said cheerfully, “Refreshing!”
She walked over to Donald and placed her hand on his wrist. “Since Mr. Fox is so straightforward, let me check your pulse. You seem unwell.”
Donald didn’t refuse but nodded appreciatively. “Thank you.”
Sylvia felt his pulse and frowned immediately. “Blood deficiency pulse; have you had any major bleeding recently…”
“No,” Donald quickly denied.
Sylvia observed his pale face and constant coughing. “Your lungs also have issues; you need to nourish your body first with herbs since Western medicine only treats symptoms.”