Chapter 41

Now that Blake had recovered, he would undoubtedly return to the Yates family, the most prominent family in Andenfall. The Clyde family, by comparison, was insignificant. The prospect of marrying into the Yates family filled Amelia with nausea. "I've lost another wonderful opportunity," she thought bitterly. "Compared to Blake, Liam is utterly worthless. This is so unfair." Her anger and desperation intensified with each passing thought.

"Amelia, why aren't you in your room? You haven't recovered yet," Rosy said, entering Amelia's room. Seeing her daughter's devastated expression, Rosy's worry deepened. Back in her room, Rosy questioned Amelia again.

"Mom," Amelia began hesitantly, "about Isabel..."

Rosy interrupted, unhappy. "Why bring her up? You're my daughter."

Shaking her head, Amelia clarified, "Mom, that's not what I meant. I wanted to tell you that her fiancé, Blake, has fully recovered."

"Are you sure?" Rosy asked, stunned.

"Yes, a hundred percent. I don't understand it. It's only been half a year. How did he recover so quickly? Mom, if we hadn't switched my fiancé with Isabel's, I would be with Blake now. I wouldn't have met that bastard, Liam," Amelia cried. A profound sense of loss overwhelmed her.

"You're right," Rosy sighed. "It would have been better if we hadn't done that... Regardless, Blake is part of the Yates family now. If we'd seized that opportunity to connect with the Yates, the Swansons wouldn't have bullied us," she murmured, realizing the missed chance. But it was too late.

Just then, Rosy's phone rang. "Mom, it's about Maxwell. He borrowed from a loan shark, and the creditors are at the door! Dad isn't home yet. Come back! They're terrifying!" It was Ethan.

Rosy was shocked and terrified. "How did Maxwell get involved with a loan shark? We've always given him everything he wanted," she thought, her voice tinged with disbelief.

"Mom, what happened?" Amelia asked.

"Maxwell borrowed from a loan shark and is in trouble. I have to go home now," Rosy answered, rushing back only to find a group of intimidating bodyguards in black, knives at their sides, inside her house.

"Maxwell's mother, is it? He owes us money," the leader declared.

"Who are you?" Rosy asked, her voice firm.

"We're from the Celestial Clan. He borrowed from Mr. Preston, and the deadline has passed. We're here to collect the debt," the man pressed. Maxwell rushed over, clinging to Rosy's leg. "Mom, help me! Please! They say if I don't pay today, I lose my arm!"

Suppressing her anger, Rosy asked calmly, "How much does Maxwell owe you?"

"One hundred and fifty million dollars, with interest," the man replied flatly.

"What?" Rosy gasped, reeling from the shock. "One hundred and fifty million dollars? We just recovered Lucian's hundred million, and now we have to pay this for Maxwell?"

Furious, she slapped Maxwell across the face. "Brat! You've been gambling again, haven't you?" As Maxwell's mother, she knew his gambling addiction, though it had always been for fun, until now.

Maxwell begged, "Mom, I know I was wrong. Please, help me! I borrowed thirty million, and now they want one hundred and fifty million! It's a rip-off!"

The man countered, "Mr. Clyde, this is fair. You read the contract, and you begged Mr. Preston for the loan. Yet now you deny it?"

"Give me three days," Rosy pleaded weakly, knowing Maxwell had likely been tricked.

"Three days? No, Mrs. Clyde. He already had three days. With interest, you'll owe three hundred million after three days. Are you sure?" the man scoffed.

"You've gone too far! Do you think we'll accept these terms?" Rosy fumed.

"I don't care. You owe Mr. Preston, and you'll pay him back," the man sneered.

Finally, Rosy compromised, "One day. Just give me one more day." Only then did the bodyguards leave.

That evening, Caius returned, and the family huddled together, discussing their predicament. "Maxwell, what were you thinking? Borrowing from a loan shark?" Caius groaned, his recent company troubles adding to his stress. Their life had been chaotic ever since Isabel's departure.

"Dad, Mom, I wanted to win back Lucian's money to ease your burden," Maxwell mumbled, head down. "I acted on impulse."

"Don't blame Maxwell," Amelia interjected, attempting to garner favor. "He did it for the family. He must have been deceived." She had rushed home from the hospital upon hearing the news.

Rosy turned to Amelia. "Amelia, we don't have that kind of money. Can you sell your jewelry to help us?"

Amelia remained silent, deeply reluctant. They want my jewelry? They might as well kill me, she thought. I need them every night to sleep. No one is getting them. However, she dared not openly disagree under her parents' and brother's intense gaze.

"I... of course, I can," she muttered, "but they aren't worth one hundred and fifty million. Even if I sell everything, it won't be enough."

Another sigh rippled through the room. Suddenly, Caius slammed the table. "Let's call the police! Let's not let these thugs get away with usury!"

"No, don't!" Maxwell panicked. "Dad, you know Mr. Preston. He won't let us off."

"Our only option is to borrow more money," Rosy said, her voice heavy with despair. "But we already borrowed so much. Relatives and friends are avoiding us. We might have to sell the company."

The revelation struck them all – the sale of the Clyde Group meant the end of their family's legacy. "No way! I won't let the Clyde family fall into ruin on my watch!" Caius roared, rising and storming out.

They deliberated all night, finding no solution. The next day, Rosy's frantic attempts to raise the money proved futile. Maxwell remained indoors, terrified of losing his arm, too distraught to eat. Rosy comforted him. "Calm down. Didn't you hear Caius? They won't dare hurt you. Besides, we have bodyguards. Just stay home, and everything will be alright." Maxwell, filled with deep regret, hugged Rosy, vowing to never gamble again.