Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 918

Colin blinked, then nodded slowly. Yes, obviously the massive financial payout was all that mattered.

No matter how much the public despised them, the Mercer Group was currently bleeding out. They were on the brink of absolute ruin. If they didn't secure a massive injection of capital or a revolutionary tech project immediately, they would have to file for bankruptcy.

The corporation could not die. They wouldn't allow it!

Martin refused to let his family's legacy collapse under his watch.

Their only salvation was leeching off Lillian. If they could successfully blackmail her into submission, all their financial woes would vanish overnight.

Driven by sheer greed, the Mercer men finally made their move.

Just before six o'clock that evening, their predatory legal documents were delivered straight to the Lillionix headquarters.

Lillian was just packing up to head home when Ethan Hayes walked into her office and dropped the manila envelope on her desk. She read the contents and was left completely speechless by the sheer audacity.

Ethan hadn't opened the sealed package, but seeing the cold fury freezing over Lillian's features, his posture instantly went rigid. "Lillian, what's wrong?"

Lillian rubbed her temples, disgusted. "Read it yourself. They have officially lost whatever tiny shred of shame they had left."

The Mercer men's maneuver had genuinely caught Lillian off guard. She couldn't fathom that they were delusional enough to target her ownership of the Li Algorithm.

They actually believed they were legally entitled to her life's work. The crux of their lawsuit hinged on the pathetic claim that Lillian had been a minor when the code was written.

Scanning the document, Ethan let out a harsh bark of disbelief. "Good God. The depths of the Mercer family's depravity truly never cease to amaze me.

"I didn't know human beings could stoop this low.

"They're claiming that because you were under eighteen when you started the studio and developed the Li Algorithm, and supposedly used 'family funds'—they are legally entitled to eighty percent of your shares?!

"Why don't they just rob a bank? It'd be faster and slightly more dignified!

"What kind of absolute psychopaths are they? Do they have no shame?!"

Lillian took a slow, deep breath, fighting down the urge to scream.

"Bella was just an outsider. For years in that cell, I tried to rationalize it. I told myself they did it out of sheer desperation for money, that they needed Bella's connections to save the company, and I was just the unfortunate collateral damage.

"Now I see how hopelessly naive I was.

"The truth is, they're just inherently evil. Blaming it on 'business interests' gives them way too much credit as human beings.

"They aren't human. No person with a soul could operate the way they do.

"They will do the most vile, parasitic things without a shred of remorse. How can creatures like that even be called family?"

Without another word, Lillian snatched the legal threat from Ethan's hands, marched over to the industrial shredder, and pulverized the document into meaningless confetti.

She grabbed her designer purse and strode toward the door.

"I'm clocking out," she said over her shoulder. "If I'm late for dinner again, Mr. Peregrine is going to lecture me to death."