She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 99

Though the dinner was meant to celebrate Sabrina’s return from the wellness retreat, Gregory was the one who profited the most by the end of it.

***

Crescent Ridge Estate.

The Hale family had already left, leaving only Melanie behind.

In the living room, she stood before Nathaniel, arms crossed, her expression serious.

"Dad, our patented Dendrobium is cultivated with proprietary, state-of-the-art technology. So many companies have been fighting for the exclusive distribution rights, but you’ve turned them all down. Why did you give them to the Hale family so easily this time?"

Challenged by Melanie, Nathaniel slammed his hand on the rosewood armrest of his chair.

"You have the nerve to ask me? I did it all for you…"

"You were photographed out with some boy toy, and your in-laws came to me demanding an explanation. If I didn't give them the exclusive rights to the Dendrobium, how else was I supposed to compensate for the face your husband's family lost?"

Melanie knew it. She pressed her forehead in frustration.

"So I'm not allowed to have dinner with a male friend after getting married?"

"If you were photographed getting a hotel room with a boy toy, this wouldn't have been solved with just an exclusive contract!"

"Dad…"

Melanie realized it was impossible to reason with her father.

Thankfully, when she was working to bring down the Hale Group, her father's company, Nathaniel Corp, had its liquid assets tied up by Stellaris PharmaTech. Otherwise, her father probably would have bankrupted himself to bail out Dominic.

Dominic was the one who had an affair, got involved with his own adopted sister, and fathered an illegitimate child.

Yet in her father’s eyes, it was as if she were the restless one in the marriage, always on the verge of cheating.

"Dad, you're accusing me of spending a fortune to treat another man to dinner, but have you considered that Dominic spent the same amount of money on Evelyn and Lila…"

Melanie stared at Nathaniel’s face, trying to hint that the relationship between Dominic, Evelyn, and Lila was not so simple.

Nathaniel sat on the sofa, fuming.

Just then, Sabrina placed a hand on his thigh.

"Darling, don't be angry… Remember when you forbade Melanie from studying pharmacology, or from hanging out with that woman who owns a nightclub? When has she ever listened to you?"

"Melanie is just… like her mother, with that same stubborn streak… Girls like that have personality, not like our Aria. She’s much more sensible, always taking your advice…"

"Take studying abroad, for example. You planned it all out, and Aria went without a second thought, didn't she?"

Under Sabrina's soothing words, Nathaniel's anger slowly subsided.

"Yes, you're right. Aria is the obedient and sensible one… not like Melanie."

As he spoke, Nathaniel took Sabrina’s hand.

"When Aria finishes her studies and comes back, I'll bring her into Nathaniel Corp to help manage our family's business."