“What!”
Madeline was stunned on the spot.
Her entire body froze as if struck by lightning, her eyes wide with shock.
Three contracts worth $1. 5 billion… the Kaur family could make a $500 million profit-like picking up money off the ground.
She had been counting on those contracts to pay off the $200 million loan, and now they were backing out?
Paulina Johnston was equally stunned. She hurried forward, her tone pleading:
“Charlie Carlson, what’s going on? The contracts were signed a month ago. We’ve already made all the preparations. How can you just terminate them like this?”
Charlie Carlson, the largest pharmaceutical distributor in the South, had the biggest contract with the Kaur family-$800 million. He was their most important partner.
“Are we not allowed to back out?” Charlie Carlson sneered coldly.
Noticing the distressed expressions of the mother and daughter, Matteo Kaur walked over, his voice tense.
“Madeline, what’s going on? Why do I hear something about contracts being terminated?”
“Terminated?”
Madeline’s face darkened. Ignoring Matteo, she glared at Charlie Carlson and said,
“Charlie Carlson, you signed contracts with the Kaur family. Breaking them means you’ll have to pay compensation!”
Paulina added, “Exactly! Contracts have legal weight. If you refuse to fulfill your obligations, we have the right to demand $300 million in penalties!”
Charlie Carlson smirked, his eyes full of disdain. “The law? That’s just a framework for the weak! Go ahead, sue us if you dare!”
Corbin Calder chimed in with a chuckle. “We’ll pay the penalties if you want, but do you really have the guts to take them?”
Boom-
Madeline felt as though her mind had been struck by thunder.
She staggered back two steps.
Of course.
The Kaur family could sue the three companies, but could they handle the consequences?
Charlie Carlson was the largest pharmaceutical distributor in the South, with connections spanning multiple provinces.
Corbin Calder had a strong foothold in Shipmeda State, with significant influence.
If these two powerhouses decided to target the Kaur family or sabotage them from the shadows, who would dare to work with them?
The Kaur family would be left to starve.
Matteo Kaur, growing more anxious, said, “Charlie Carlson, the Kaur family may be small, but we can manage these contracts.
“We’ve already developed plans and projections. We even prepared six different implementation schemes. We were just waiting for your funding to move forward. Why are you backing out now?
“If you’re terminating the contracts, at least give us a reason!”
“Reason?” Charlie Carlson’s cold smile deepened as he stared sharply at Matteo. “Do I really need to explain who you’ve offended?”
“Offended who?” Paulina looked bewildered, her voice trembling with desperation.
“We’ve been busy with the contracts lately and haven’t interacted with any other families. Who could we have offended?”
“Who could you have offended?” Corbin Calder laughed, shaking his head. His expression suddenly darkened as he roared,
“The three of us only signed contracts with the Kaur family because of Mr. Flynn Clark.
“And how did you treat him?”
“You forced him into a divorce, then made a spectacle out of it at the city hall with drums and fireworks. Didn’t you set off at least ten boxes of fireworks?”
Charlie Carlson sneered, his voice icy. “Ms. Kaur, you’re quite remarkable. You even posted about it online, bragging as if it were some great achievement.
‘Divorce Celebration’?
“Well then, let’s see how happy you’ll be in the future!”
What?!
Her daughter had divorced Flynn Clark!
Boom!
A thunderbolt seemed to strike Matteo Kaur.
His eyes widened in rage, his mind went blank, and blood rushed to his head. He roared, “When did this happen?
“Madeline! Tell me, when did this divorce happen? Speak!”
He was furious!
Completely and utterly furious!
His entire body trembled, his fists clenched tightly, and his eyes burned with uncontrollable rage.
Matteo had promised Adrianna Noble that he would marry his daughter to Flynn and treat him like a son.
And now they had thrown Flynn out, divorcing him?
They even celebrated with drums and fireworks!
What infuriated him the most was that he had been kept in the dark, treated like a fool.
For the first time, Madeline saw her father so enraged. She trembled and stammered, “It… it happened over twenty days ago.”
Twenty days ago?
They had kept it from him for over twenty days?
They had made a fool of him for twenty days!
“You idiot!”
Slap!
Matteo’s hand came down hard across Madeline’s face, leaving a bright red mark.
Madeline turned her head to the side, clutching her face as tears streamed down her cheeks, her hair disheveled.
“You hid a divorce from your own father? Ms. Kaur, impressive!
“I’ve lived a long life, but I’ve never seen anyone as arrogant and brainless as you!”
Even Charlie Carlson and the others were stunned by Madeline’s reckless actions. They scoffed before turning to leave.
Their loyalty was to Flynn. If Madeline dared to treat Flynn like this, they wouldn’t hold back their disdain.
Many of them even felt Matteo’s slap wasn’t harsh enough.
“Matteo, what are you doing?” Paulina cried out, rushing to support her daughter. Her heart ached as she saw Madeline’s tear-streaked face.
“So what if they divorced? Flynn opposes Layla. He’s bound to lose everything sooner or later.
“Our daughter wouldn’t have gained anything from staying with him.
“In fact, the Kaur family might have been dragged down because of him. I think this divorce was…”
Slap!
Paulina didn’t even finish her sentence before Matteo slapped her with full force.
This slap was far harder than the one he gave Madeline.
Paulina staggered three meters back, tripping and falling to the ground, blood seeping from her mouth as her head buzzed.
“Money, money, money! You’re nothing but a greedy woman! You’ve ruined Madeline with your greed!”
“I’ll beat some sense into you! You and your shallow, money-grubbing ways!”
Matteo, consumed by rage, began kicking Paulina repeatedly.
Paulina cried out in pain, curling up on the ground, holding her head as she wailed.
Matteo ignored her cries, his fury unrelenting.
“I’ll beat the greed out of you! I’ll make you pay for valuing money over people!”
“Madeline’s divorce-wasn’t it your idea?
“Something as big as a divorce, and you didn’t even consult me? What do you take me for? A fool? An idiot?”
“I promised Adrianna Noble I’d take care of Flynn, and you threw him out like garbage?”
“Do you even see me as your husband? Do you see me as your family?”
Matteo kicked and screamed, his blows occasionally landing on Paulina’s head, leaving her dazed and in agony. Her cries of pain echoed throughout the room.
“Dad, stop! Please stop…!” Madeline begged, sobbing uncontrollably as she tried to pull her father away.
Over the past few days, she had pinned all her hopes on those three contracts, dreaming of a grand comeback.
She had envisioned repaying the $200 million loan, earning $300 million in profits, and using that success to accept Nathan’s proposal.
But now, Nathan didn’t care for her anymore. The contracts were canceled, leaving the Kaur family with $200 million in debt.
Two hundred million! The Kaur family’s annual income was only $30 million. How could they ever repay it?
To make matters worse, her relatives had treated her like royalty recently, dreaming of joining a wealthy family.
Now, with their dreams shattered, the Kaur family’s relatives-who only cared about money-would surely curse her, maybe even beat her to death.
Her uncle Frank Kaur would erupt in rage, and her eldest uncle Max Kaur would seize the opportunity to attack.
Her days as the Kaur family’s president were over.