Chapter 78
Stephanie: “Did I say something wrong? You didn’t forget, right? You gave me a card with a $6,000 monthly limit. Tsk tsk, the Hart family sure has a lot of money.”
Catlin: “… ”
Hearing Stephanie’s sarcastic tone, Catlin’s anger nearly stole her breath. “So, you think it’s not enough?” she gritted out, her voice laced with venom.
Stephanie: “It seems you still don’t understand what the Hart family is going through, or why.”
The emphasis on "going through" instantly reminded Catlin of Chad's earlier call. The loss of two major partnerships flashed before her eyes, leaving her pale with shock. “You… is the man who called your father really behind this?”
Stephanie: “If you want to figure it out, then we should end our relationship. What do you think?”
Her tone suggested a casual proposition, yet carried an undeniable threat. Dread surged through Catlin. How dare Stephanie threaten her?
Stephanie: “Take your time to think about it. I’m hanging up now.”
“Wait,” Catlin urgently called out, just as Stephanie was about to disconnect. Contacting her was already difficult; she needed clarification. “What’s your relationship with that man?”
“Looks like you still haven’t figured out your position.”
Catlin: “… ”
Her chest tightened. Before she could respond, Stephanie hung up. The abrupt silence fueled Catlin’s fury; she almost smashed the phone. What position? she thought. She hadn’t figured out her own position?
Chapter 78
What position is Stephanie in? Position? She is her mother!
“Mom, Mom! Stop!” Olivia quickly grabbed her mother’s hand. “Don’t.” The phone was borrowed. Contacting Stephanie was now even harder; their numbers were likely blacklisted. Earlier, Catlin had blacklisted two nurses' numbers after receiving several calls. Anyone who overheard them would face the same treatment.
Catlin suppressed her anger. “This is too much, just too much.” Her own daughter was making her question her place. So, Stephanie was serious about severing ties with her family? Catlin hadn’t anticipated such a strong reaction to canceling Stephanie’s card.
“Mom, don’t be mad,” Olivia softly advised. Seeing Olivia’s gentle nature brought Catlin a measure of comfort.
“I’m not mad. If she wants to cut ties, let her. I don’t need a daughter like that.” Catlin’s voice held deep disappointment. “She thinks that because she can earn two million dollars a year from some man, she’ll always be able to make that much?”
“That’s not going to work, Mom. Don’t you really want her to ruin herself?” Olivia said sadly.
Catlin: “What can we do?”
“I’ll talk to Chris. I’ll make sure he screens the partners he introduces to her in the future, so she doesn’t get involved with those shady companies.” In essence, she planned to block Stephanie’s studio’s opportunities. Olivia silently resolved to prevent anyone from viewing this as one of Stephanie's strengths. The mention of "shady companies" reignited Catlin's rage.