Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 1018

Martin's fury showed no signs of cooling. "You lunatic! You do something this horrific and have the nerve to beg for my forgiveness?

"Do you have any idea what you've done? Do you realize that my sons and I are now taking the fall for your sick little scheme?

"Do you have any concept of how deeply Lillian despises the three of us right now?

"Have you seen the state the Mercer Group is in?

"This is entirely your fault! If you hadn't pulled this stunt, we would never have been pushed to the brink of ruin."

Sabrina sobbed violently, but beneath the tears, her mind was crystal clear.

She had known Martin for decades. She was intimately familiar with his cold-blooded nature and underlying ruthlessness.

When he didn't care about someone—like Eleanor Lancaster—he wouldn't hesitate to destroy them. Back then, he had violently struck Eleanor with a vase in a fit of rage.

Did he honestly not know that a blow like that could have killed her?

Of course he knew. A man of his intelligence understood the risks perfectly well.

He knew, and he did it anyway. The only reason Eleanor was still breathing—albeit with a shattered mind—was sheer, dumb luck. Her survival was a testament to her own resilience, not his mercy.

Even if the blow had been fatal, it would have been spun as a tragic domestic accident. A crime of passion.

With his wealth and three children to support, he would have likely walked away with a suspended sentence, perhaps making a hefty charitable donation to avoid seeing the inside of a cell.

As for Lillian, she might have been his flesh and blood, but he had never hesitated to throw her to the wolves when it suited his interests.

Sabrina knew the truth: Martin was only throwing a tantrum now because Lillian had suddenly become powerful and wealthy. He was furious that Sabrina's actions had drastically increased the price he had to pay to win his golden goose back.

If Lillian were still just a useless, disgraced ex-convict, Martin wouldn't have batted an eye. He would have continued protecting Sabrina without a second thought.

"They barely just got married, and it's already over. My heart is breaking, and I have no one to turn to.

"What was the point? Why did I do all of this just for it to end in ruin?"

Sabrina collapsed against the floor, clutching her chest as if she couldn't breathe, a portrait of overwhelming, devastating regret.

Martin still loved her. Watching the woman he adored break down in absolute agony tugged at his heartstrings.

Her words also sparked a sudden realization. The moment Bella finalized her divorce from Sebastian, the game would fundamentally change.

Bella stood to walk away with a $50 billion settlement. That kind of astronomical capital could instantly revive the struggling Mercer Group.

Because of that, Martin knew he couldn't afford to alienate Bella's mother. Besides, Bella had only been at the company for a week and had already engineered a massive PR victory. Her aggressive competence pleased him immensely.