Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 182

Sabrina seized on his words. "You'll give Bella money?"

Since he'd brought it up, she was going to run with it.

Martin nodded seriously. "Yes, I'll give Bella money."

"Shares are better than cash," she countered. "Money gets spent, but shares would guarantee Bella has the resources to help us with the child long-term."

Martin found himself agreeing with her logic.

"You're right. Shares are the only real way to secure the future for Bella and our child.

Darling, let me think about it and figure out how many shares would be appropriate for Bella.

Now that we're married, Bella is my daughter too. It's only right that she has a stake in the Mercer family.

But it might be difficult to transfer them from my two sons' holdings.

They may seem generous, but when it comes to their own financial interests, I'm not so sure they'd be willing to give anything up.

I need to maintain enough shares to control the company, so I'll have to calculate this carefully."

Sabrina was surprised Martin hadn't even considered the shares Lillian had returned.

They were readily available and could be transferred directly to Bella.

Since he hadn't brought it up, she decided to do it herself.

"Martin, have you forgotten about the shares that are already available?

Didn't Lillian have her lawyer return her shares?

You haven't done anything with them yet, have you?

You could give that portion to Bella for now.

Then, after you've done your calculations, you can make it up to Lillian later."

She said it, but Sabrina had no intention of ever giving anything back to Lillian.

Lillian had given up the shares herself. She didn't want them.

And if she didn't want them, there was no reason to ever give them back.

Martin remembered.

"You have a point, darling. But those shares were originally Lillian's.

We may fight as a family, but she's still my biological daughter. I've already divorced her mother, and the matriarch hasn't woken up yet.

If she ever does wake up and finds out I've treated Lillian this way, she'll be furious.

I need to think about the shares a bit more."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Sabrina's expression soured.

"What do you mean by that, Martin? It sounds like you think I'm after Lillian's shares. I just said you could give them to Bella now and make it up to Lillian later.

I've never drawn such lines with you. Do you think I'm plotting to take your own daughter's shares?

For so long, she had watched Martin argue with Lillian, constantly threatening to cut ties.

But it was all just talk. He had never truly intended to disown Lillian.

He was just pressuring her from all sides, trying to make her obedient, hoping she would come back, admit her mistake, and apologize.

She never imagined Martin loved his biological daughter so deeply.

Compared to that, her Bella meant nothing to him.

The thought filled Sabrina with an intense sense of displeasure.

How hateful!

It seemed her original plan of letting Martin and Lillian's relationship deteriorate naturally was impossible.

If she wanted that outcome, she would have to take matters into her own hands.

She couldn't let things continue this way. Who knew, maybe one day Lillian would hit rock bottom and actually come back to apologize.

She had known for a long time that when Lillian was born, as the only girl in the family, the matriarch had given her more shares than her two older brothers.

If those shares were returned to Lillian, she would once again be a major shareholder in the company.

After all, the shares still in Martin's name would eventually be divided among his children as inheritance, likely an equal split.

Sabrina would never allow someone who held no goodwill towards her to become a major shareholder. To be squeezed out, leaving her and her daughter with no standing in the family? What kind of life would that be?