Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 1404

Bella almost laughed.

"Mom, don't be mad at them. I completely understand. The Mercer family has been a titan in the industry for nearly a century. Over three generations, they've obviously hoarded an unbelievable fortune.

"But they've also weathered storms, and those assets are their absolute last resort. Martin is the current patriarch. He knows exactly how crucial that safety net is. Why would he liquidate it for a stepdaughter with no blood ties to him?

"Those antiques are recognizable. If they suddenly flooded the market, everyone would realize the Mercer Group was going under. It would trigger a massive panic, and the ship would sink even faster. Unless they secure a miraculous investment, they wouldn't dare touch that vault.

"So stop asking them to pay off my debts. They wouldn't even give me a fraction of those heirlooms for my dowry. That should tell you everything you need to know. In their eyes, you and I are just outsiders. No matter how long we live in that house, we'll never truly be Mercers."

Hearing this, Sabrina felt a wave of profound disappointment.

She had spent years scheming and fighting to officially marry Martin, yet he still kept his guard up against her. He listened to her in almost everything, but when it came to the family wealth...

Her anger flared. "Then what are we supposed to do? My daughter is being pushed to the edge, while they sit on a mountain of gold! It's not fair!"

Bella was right—Martin was already breaking.

Today, he had 'called in sick' to avoid his daily trip to Halfridge Villas to endure his humiliating apologies. Skipping just one day made him desperately wish he could stop going entirely. How wonderful would it be if he never had to go back?

When the workday finally ended, Martin didn't go home. Instead, he summoned his two sons to his office.

"Brandon, Colin," Martin sighed, rubbing his temples. "We need to find a way to get your sister to come back to the family early. If she comes home, I can finally end this miserable public humiliation ritual. I've been doing this for days now!"