Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 44

Martin knew exactly what securing the rights to the Li Algorithm would mean for his company.

"Hannah, is this information reliable?"

"Of course," Hannah said confidently. "Bella personally called Mr. Cole to invite him to a meeting at our office. She said she's one hundred percent certain that once he sees the project she's working on, he'll be convinced. This deal is practically a sure thing. Mr. Cole won't find a more suitable partner in the country than our Bella."

Martin nodded, his expression one of deep satisfaction. "Bella is such a capable young woman. Sabrina, you've raised a wonderful daughter."

Sabrina's heart swelled with pride, but she clutched Martin's hand, her face a mask of gratitude. "Martin, if it weren't for you, my daughter and I would have frozen to death on the streets long ago. Bella's success is entirely thanks to your support. Without you funding her education, giving her every opportunity, how could she have achieved what she has today? You and the Mercer family deserve credit for all her accomplishments. We will never, ever forget your kindness, Martin. Meeting you was the luckiest day of my life."

Sabrina's words were like a balm to Martin's soul, warming him from the inside out. His ego soared. This feeling of being needed, of being praised and relied upon, made him feel immensely powerful.

Hannah watched the two of them getting overly affectionate and tactfully excused herself. Once she was out of the room, she couldn't help but admire Sabrina's skill. "Sabrina is a true master. I need to take notes. If I'm going to land Brandon, the heir to the Mercer Group, I'll need to learn everything I can from her."

Brandon soon heard about Lillian's rapid promotions at Litech NaLabs as well. He didn't for a moment consider that Lillian might possess some hidden talent he was unaware of. He simply concluded that Nathan was blinded by lust. Litech NaLabs might be the current hotshot company, but if Nathan kept playing games like this, he was bound to crash and burn. Despite his anger at Lillian, Brandon hadn't forgotten about her connection to old Mr. Montrose of Sevria Bay. He decided he needed to find an opportunity to speak with her alone about it. It was clear that a peaceful family gathering with Lillian was no longer a possibility.

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That evening, when Lillian went to visit her grandmother after work, she discovered she had been locked out of the room. Her visitation rights were gone.

"What's going on? I'm her granddaughter. Why can't I go in to see my grandmother?"

The bodyguards blocked her path. "I'm sorry, Ms. Mercer. If you can't open the door, you don't have clearance to visit. Please leave."

Lillian understood immediately. This was the Mercer family's retaliation for her defiance. After the scene she'd caused at the family home the previous night, this was their warning.

The Mercer family had no idea that at the age of thirteen, she had started her career as a hacker. Hacking a simple smart lock, even after being away from the field for six years, was child's play for her. It would still be child's play in sixty years.

As Lillian moved to enter, the two bodyguards panicked and rushed to block her path. "Ms. Mercer, Mr. Mercer gave us direct orders. If we let you in without his explicit command, we'll be fired on the spot. Please, Ms. Mercer, don't make this difficult for us."

"I've gained access. I've opened the door," Lillian stated calmly. "And today, I am going to see my grandmother."

The guards still wouldn't budge. But Lillian wasn't alone anymore. She stood her ground, looked at the two men, and gave a cold smile. She took two steps back and made a subtle, elegant gesture with her hand. In an instant, several of her own bodyguards appeared, taking down the Mercer guards in a matter of seconds.

Lillian looked down at the men on the floor. "There. Now your boss can't fire you, can he? By the way, send me the medical bills." With that, she pushed open the door and walked into the hospital room. Behind her, her own bodyguard quietly closed the door, taking up the position previously held by the Mercer family's men.

The two defeated guards scrambled to their feet and rushed to report to Martin. He was still with Sabrina, and when he heard the news, he slammed his hand on the table in a fury. "The audacity! She dares to defy me, her own father, to this extent?"