Chapter 279

Joe had been on the verge of sleep, but it slipped away. Though his expression remained frosty, he held Skylar tightly. He could see she was deeply hurt and frightened by her nightmare.

In his embrace, Skylar gradually calmed down, as if breaking free from the terrifying scenes of her dreams. "I hate you guys," she muttered calmly, regaining her composure.

Joe heard her declaration of hatred and wondered if she meant Christopher and Maisy. If so, she could tell him, and he could easily get rid of them. However, knowing Skylar wanted to handle it herself, he feigned ignorance.

He had been woken, convinced he couldn't fall back asleep. But before he knew it, he drifted into slumber again, soothed by Skylar's steady breathing.

The past few days had been exceptionally challenging for Kenny, after he transferred the remaining balance from his account. Accustomed to dining at famous restaurants, he now only managed a few bites at the office. His colleagues, who had previously flattered him, seemed aware of the Williamses' situation and began subtly probing and insinuating things.

Kenny noticed a distinct shift in their treatment after Steven's return from his business trip. Once eager to please him, they now curried favor with Steven. He felt marginalized within the company, and his confidence in research and development was waning.

During his lunch break, he called Peter. "You haven't transferred any money to me these past two months. I'm almost broke. Can you please deposit some money into my account? One million dollars will do," Kenny said.

Peter angrily countered, "Kenny, you should know about the company's situation. We're facing unprecedented challenges. Our accounts are running dry. Dad and I are racking our brains to find solutions, and you're aware of this. So why are you still asking for money? Don't you have your monthly salary?"

Kenny's expression darkened. "My salary is only a few tens of thousands of dollars a month. It's barely enough for my daily expenses. Is the company really in such dire straits?"

He knew the family company was in trouble; otherwise, they wouldn't have sought Skylar's help. But was it really at the point where they couldn't afford living expenses? He'd never imagined things would become so challenging.

Worry and fatigue were etched on Peter's face as he sat by the floor-to-ceiling window in his office. He'd been full of ambition after graduating, envisioning expanding the Williamses' business, but now…

"Perhaps it's even more serious than you think," Peter began. "Over the past couple of years, Dad and I have taken out bank loans to expand our business. There's a possibility we'll go under and face bankruptcy. Then our family will be burdened with massive debts."

Kenny's heart faltered. "There must be a way out, right? When you were in school, your business acumen was evident. You could spot opportunities others couldn't. The company has thrived under your leadership. I'm confident you can come up with a plan to turn things around."

The thought of the Williams family losing everything panicked Kenny.

After considering it, Peter answered truthfully, "Prepare yourself mentally. It's likely the company will go under. But Dad and I will do everything we can to revive it."

He said nothing more and hung up. Kenny remained in a daze.