Chapter 206 What Are You Doing Here?
Chapter 206 What Are You Doing Here?
45 Free Coins
“Mr. Fullbuster would never marry a divorced woman. And if Anne drags him into another scandal–people saying he broke up someone’s marriage–what then? Wouldn’t he turn his anger on our White Family as well?” Selina said coldly.
Timothy and Melanie’s expressions tightened, both looking deeply unsettled.
Christopher cut in sharply. “Selina’s right. Anneliese is a brainless fool!”
Selina let out a weary sigh. “Dad was planning to talk to Zacharias about helping us raise some funds. That’s gone now. And Mr. Fullbuster–I was hoping I could beg him for help, but that’s impossible too. It’s my fault… I’m useless.”
She broke off, covering her lips as a cough racked her thin body, her fragile shoulders trembling.
Melanie’s heart ached. She reached over and patted Selina’s back. “Don’t blame yourself. You just need to focus on getting well. None of this is on you. Anne’s the one being reckless and dragging everyone down.”
Selina shook her head. “How can it have nothing to do with me? I should have left the White Family long ago, cut ties with you all. Then Anne wouldn’t feel so distant from everyone. It’s me–I was too greedy, too unwilling to let go…”
“Don’t be ridiculous! You’ve got no kin of your own–where could you possibly go? I raised you with my own two hands, my little princess. When you say things like that, it tears me apart.” Melanie’s voice trembled with sorrow.
Selina’s birth mother was Mikita Hodge. She had been only nineteen, unmarried, without the means to raise a child. When she saw the wealth of the White Family, she disguised herself as a nurse at the hospital and secretly switched the babies.
After carrying Anneliese away, she fled to Baytree and abandoned the infant by the roadside. If a sanitation worker hadn’t found her in time and rushed her to the hospital, Anneliese would have slipped away without a sound.
Melanie never forgave Mikita for what she had done. However, the woman had already died in a car accident ten years ago. No one ever learned who Selina’s father was.
The White Family never held Selina responsible for Mikita’s sins. To them, Selina was
innocent.
In fact, they believed Mikita’s death had already served as punishment, as if fate itself had
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Chapter 206 What Are You Doing Here?
* Free Couns
decided Selina should remain in the White household. She was alone in the world, and heaven had no intention of letting anyone take her away.
By contrast, the White Family’s view of Anneliese was far colder. She refused to take their family name. Even after her adoptive parents passed away, she chose to stay in Baytree, caring for Nishay through her illness.
Every year on her foster parents‘ death anniversary, Anneliese would return to pay her
respects. Her heart, they thought, belonged entirely to Baytree. To the White Family, she never truly felt like part of their family.
And now, watching her, the White Family was convinced they had been right all along. Selina always put the family first. Anneliese, in their eyes, only ever brought them trouble.
Timothy’s expression hardened. “Selina, don’t start overthinking things.”
Perseus yanked a tissue from the box and dabbed at Selina’s tears. “Dad, you promised to hand Anneliese that huge chunk of shares at the banquet. I’m not letting that slide!”
Christopher frowned as well. “She’s nothing but an ingrate–cold–blooded and vicious. When our family was struggling, she didn’t lift a finger. Instead, she kicked us while we were already down.”
Selina clutched at Christopher’s arm, then Perseus‘, trying to calm them both. “No, listen. The company’s cash flow can’t hold out. Anne’s the only one who might actually help us now. Maybe if she asks Mr. Fullbuster, he’ll step in. And… with the divorce, we don’t even know if Anne got a share of the assets.”
Timothy’s eyes flickered, and for a moment, Perseus and the others exchanged a spark of hope.
By then, the story of that disastrous banquet had already made the rounds in their circle. Wherever the White Family appeared, they were met with whispering and pointed stares.
Even when they sought out investors, people openly told them to put business aside and get their family mess in order first.
The White Family’s reputation had hit rock bottom. White Inc. had already botched two significant projects in a row. There was still a chance to pull in new funding and survive the storm, but that door was closing quickly. If they couldn’t patch the hole in time, the entire cash flow would collapse.
This whole mess is on Anneliese, and she d*mn well needs to own up to it!
Timothy turned to Melanie and said, “Selina’s right. What matters now is plugging that
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Chapter 206 What Are You Doing Here?
financial hole. Go find Anneliese and coax her, properly.”
Melanie clearly wasn’t thrilled, but she still gave a reluctant nod.
UD
With the company in trouble, it didn’t take long before Timothy walked out of the ward with Christopher and Perseus.
Once they stepped into the hallway, Timothy pulled Christopher aside. “Head to Clauderias Tech right away.”
As soon as the others were gone, Selina instantly dropped her frail act. She snatched up her phone, scrolling through the socialite group chats. Threads about the White Family banquet were buzzing, with venomous remarks aimed squarely at her. Her hands trembled as she slammed the phone onto the table, eyes burning red with fury.
The door suddenly creaked open. A middle–aged woman stepped in, stylish and poised, carrying herself with the effortless grace of old money. She closed the door quickly behind her.
A closer look at her features revealed a striking resemblance to Selina.
“Selina.”
“Mom? What are you doing here?” Selina’s voice faltered, startled.
Mikita strode over and clasped Selina’s hand. “Word reached me that you’ve suffered a terrible humiliation. How could I not come see myself? Don’t worry. I watched Melanie walk out with her two useless sons. I won’t be running into them.”
