Lucia was surprised; she didn’t expect Callie to have such magnanimity.
She stepped forward, signaling the bodyguards to leave. The room became empty, leaving just the two of them in silent confrontation.
Sunlight filtered through the blinds and fell on the floor. Lucia placed the document folder on the table and adjusted Callie’s IV drip.
She sat down and got straight to the point. “The Oconnor Group’s financial chain is broken. Nelson has put in a lot of his own money. Foreign investors have seized the opportunity to offer to buy shares, aiming to acquire billions worth of his stocks.”
Callie listened, somewhat understanding, and asked lightly, “So?”
Lucia didn’t expect her to be so indifferent and raised her voice slightly. “Nelson must marry Marilyn to get through this crisis.”
So, she had to step aside.
“If you had said it like that earlier, I would have understood.” Callie let out a self-mocking laugh.
Lucia scrutinized this fragile woman closely. Despite the severe car accident, she showed no sign of distress; her demeanor was very calm.
It was the first time Lucia had seriously observed Callie. She put away her aristocratic demeanor and spoke very gently. “If it weren’t for Nelson, I might have admired you.”
Callie’s restrained facade shattered. She glanced sideways and said, “What you care about is not a girl’s character but the facade built by wealth, isn’t it?”
Lucia frowned slightly.
“You speak so nicely, but isn’t it my family background that you look down upon? If Marilyn were lying here, you wouldn’t agree to her entering the family either.”
Callie had already seen through everything and didn’t want to hide it anymore.
Strangely, Lucia wasn’t angry. She slightly curled her lips. “Nelson was never someone an ordinary family could match!”
“You never asked Nelson what he thought. All you cared about was his so-called reputation. I feel sad for him, having such a materialistic mother,” Callie hit the nail on the head. “A mother who abandoned him when he was young and came back to leech off him when he became successful!”
Lucia’s hands clenched several times in front of her. She smiled and held back. “I’m not here to argue with you today.”
Lucia pulled a newspaper from the document folder. The headline was about the Oconnor Group’s recent situation, with a picture of Nelson looking hurried.
She handed it to Callie and pointed at it. “The market is already aware of the Oconnor Group’s problems. Analysts have given a sell rating. If Nelson can’t turn things around, the Oconnor Group will soon be shorted. Over the years, his bold actions have offended many people who are now waiting to deliver a fatal blow to the Oconnor Group.”
Callie didn’t want to look but found herself reading it involuntarily.
Nelson’s situation was far more severe than she had imagined.
From the moment he became the executor of the Oconnor Group, he bore far more than anyone could imagine. He was someone countless people were determined to protect and also a thorn in many others’ sides, meaning he couldn’t make a single mistake.
Lucia gently put down the newspaper. “The Oconnor Group is the result of generations of effort from the Oconnor family. So for the sake of the Oconnor Group and for Nelson, everything can be sacrificed if necessary.”
Callie naturally understood that this “everything” included her.
Lucia tried to hold Callie’s hand. Seeing her silence, she continued, “I know this is very unfair to you, but from the moment you married him, fairness ceased to exist. I know you’re sad and aggrieved, but there’s no other way.”
“Only Marilyn can save him now, do you understand?”