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Novel Catalog
Chapter_53
11.50
The atmosphere at Valentine Manor was opulent, a lavish estate perched on the rolling hills of a prestigious neighborhood. The preparations for the engagement party were in full swing, showcasing a level of extravagance that could rival the finest celebrations. The house was brimming with relatives and friends, all filling every seat as the event began to unfold.
Monica and Yvonne had hastily fled from the award ceremony, battered and bruised, retreating to the safety of the Valentine family home. But as they arrived, the sight of the romantic engagement feast ignited a wave of fury within Monica. She gripped the invitation tightly, her fingers trembling with rage.
The reporters, who had been invited by Monica to cover the event, had already witnessed the live broadcast of the ceremony. Now, they were pressing her with relentless questions about the scandalous turn of events.
Preston descended from the second-floor conference room, his enthusiasm palpable as he saw his wife and daughter enter. “Did you bring home the grand prize?” he asked excitedly. “Then let’s get this engagement party started! Where’s Simon? Where’s Phebe? And the elders of the Perlman clan?”
Monica’s hands trembled as she hid behind Yvonne, sensing that something was wrong. Yvonne, noticing Preston’s unusual excitement, knew how much he valued his reputation. With the engagement party ruined by the scandal, she hesitated, not daring to tell him the truth. “Honey, come here first. There’s something I need to discuss with you,” she said nervously, casting quick glances at the guests.
Preston’s excitement quickly turned to impatience. “It’s not the time for discussions!” he exclaimed, his brow furrowing. “I’ve been waiting all morning. Where are those investors who said they’d support Valentine Corp days ago? My daughter is about to marry into the Perlman family. They wouldn’t dare snub us! I’ll give them a push.”
“Darling!” Yvonne protested, but Preston had already picked up the phone, dialing with determination. “Mr. Wendt, Monica’s back with the grand prize. Why haven’t you come for the engagement ceremony?”
A long pause followed, and then a mocking voice responded from the other end. “Preston, have you been offline? Your daughter made a fool of herself at the awards. You still expect us to invest? Haven’t you heard? Phebe called off the engagement.”
“What?” Preston froze, his face turning red with anger. He turned to Yvonne with a fierce glare.
“Darling, listen to me, it was all Whitney’s fault,” Yvonne tried to explain, but Preston shoved her aside in fury, reaching for his phone again.
The headlines were like daggers in Preston’s heart: Monica’s plagiarism, her failed attempt to bribe Imperial Gem Corporation, her broken engagement with the Perlman family, and the growing scandal surrounding Valentine Corp.
Preston was consumed by rage, his face contorted with humiliation. “How could you keep this from me? You’ve brought disgrace upon us! I’ve borrowed so much money from the banks. Now look at the mess you’ve made!” he shouted, his voice filled with anger.
Yvonne screamed as Preston dragged her down the stairs. Monica, paralyzed with fear, watched from the doorway. She knew what her father was capable of when he was this angry. As he raged, he slapped Yvonne across the face, disregarding the onlookers, including relatives and reporters. “You thought you could hide this from me? You’ve failed me in every way! Look at how you’ve raised Monica! If I had known how useless you both were, I would have locked you up after the last charity ball!”
Monica’s heart raced with humiliation. She screamed in protest, “How can you talk to mom like that? She’s given everything for the Valentine family. How could you be so heartless?”
Preston’s fury flared once more as he slapped Monica. “You dare talk back to me?” he shouted. “You’re just a worthless daughter. I should’ve had a son!”
Yvonne, broken and weak, could only watch as her husband’s rage consumed everything. The scandal was unfolding in front of them, and Preston didn’t seem to care that it was all in plain sight for everyone to see.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Preston stormed off, dismissing everyone. As he left, he received another call: “Sir, Valentine Corp’s stocks are plummeting. The media is all over Monica’s scandal. It can’t be contained.”
Preston’s face turned cold as he absorbed the news. “Look at the mess you two have made,” he muttered, storming out of the house. “If Valentine Corp collapses, you’ll both pay the price.”
On the floor, Yvonne and Monica clung to each other, their faces bruised from the slaps. The weight of their failures pressed down on them as they wept.
“Mom, why did Mr. Lippert help that wretch Whitney?” Monica muttered, struggling to understand. “He’s supposed to be some influential third son of the Lippert family. How could Whitney have reached someone of his stature?”
Yvonne could only shake her head in confusion. They were both at a loss for answers.
Meanwhile, Whitney was sitting with Tiana, scrolling through her social media feed. “Well, I’m an expert at this,” Tiana said, tapping away at her phone. “I know how to get back at them quickly.” She smirked as she inserted Monica’s scandal into the trending topics.
Whitney’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “Thanks to Mr. Lippert, we’ve got the momentum we need. Now, it’s my turn to shine.”
With each passing moment, the impact of Monica’s scandal spread, and Whitney’s business strategy seemed to be falling perfectly into place. She could feel the power of the media working in her favor as the shareholders who had once mocked her began to panic. With Monica’s reputation in ruins, Whitney could finally make her move to reclaim what was rightfully hers.
As they drove off, Tiana asked, “Where are you going now?”
“Home, of course,” Whitney replied, grinning. “I’ll be back in no time.”
Tiana rolled her eyes. “Forget home. Let’s go party! This day calls for a bottle worth three hundred!”
Whitney shook her head at Tiana’s suggestion, her thoughts still lingering on Mr. Lippert. “That man is too dangerous to get close to,” she said, her tone serious. “Although he isn’t irredeemable, some men are just too much of a risk.”
Tiana grinned. “Oh, one good deed and now he’s ‘not irredeemable’? Between him and L, who do you like more? You’re a lucky girl, having top-notch men like them at your fingertips.”
Whitney merely smiled, her thoughts elsewhere. The drama unfolding in the world of business and scandal had only just begun.
