Chapter 438 Are You Questioning My Fiancé’s Status?
“What should I say, then? Should I thank you for embarrassing me and causing more trouble for me?” Elise frowned, hinting at Daniel to stop messing with her.
The corner of Daniel’s lips twitched in frustration. Is she implying that my efforts to help her turned out to be creating more problems? It’s fine if she doesn’t understand how powerful the Dahlen Family is, but wouldn’t a regular person understand that they would have to bear the consequences after hurting someone else’s daughter? Both Russell and Daniel had used all of their efforts on trying to convince the Dahlen Family, and they had even offered them some expensive herbs. Yet, it seemed like Russell and Daniel’s actions were pointless in Elise’s eyes.
“You’re still young, Elise; perhaps that’s why you lack foresight in this situation. Do you know that the Dahlens hold almost as much power as what the Griffiths used to hold? If we hadn’t helped you earlier, you would have to suffer in Tissote from now onward,” Daniel explained in a solemn tone.
“Haha…” Elise responded with a fake laugh. “You’re right. I had no reason to interact with people like them at first, but now, thanks to you, I’m afraid I’m stuck in this mess.” She paused to watch the look of disbelief spreading across Daniel’s face. “You should end what you’ve started. Since you were so thoughtful to help me with this matter, why don’t you help me treat their daughter as well, huh? I’ll thank your whole family for the efforts, okay?”
The mixture of emotions that filled Daniel’s face was pure entertainment to Elise. Daniel had imagined all the possible reactions Elise might give him, but he hadn’t expected her to be so unappreciative of his actions. Yet, since things had come to that point, Daniel couldn’t embarrass himself by rejecting her request. He had already done half the work—he couldn’t just give up then. “Fine. Since you asked for my help, I’ll do you another favor this time! But I hope you remember that you owe me one once I’m done treating the patient, Elise!”
“That’s not going to happen!” Elise shot him an emotionless stare. She sure is a stubborn one, Daniel thought. But she has underestimated my patience and greed! She doesn’t want to owe me anything, right? Well, I’m going to make sure that she does! I just have to treat a patient, after all. The Andersons have nurtured a good number of skillful doctors in the past years, and they have helped cure loads of rich people. Maya is just another one of those people, right?
“Fine. We’ll see how it goes, Elise!” Daniel gritted his teeth and spoke in an animated manner. Before he stormed off, he made sure to give her a final, firm glare. However, it only took an hour for Daniel to realize that he had embarrassed himself once more.
Russell rushed over in search of Daniel, but he only found Trevor and Jeanie when he arrived. “Jeanie,” Russell cried anxiously. “Where’s Yoyo? Tell her to get out here to save Daniel! Daniel offered to treat the Dahlens’ daughter as he was trying to compensate for the mistakes that Yoyo made. But now, Miss Dahlen is in a great deal of pain, and the Dahlens think that Daniel was trying to curse them. They’ve captured him, and they’re threatening to end his life if anything happens to Miss Dahlen!”
Trevor’s expression remained blank and he said mockingly, “Remember when my dad and I were stuck in our beds in Pinewood Hospital? We were in a similarly life-threatening situation then, but why didn’t you and Daniel show up to help us? If my memory serves me right, you guys didn’t even care for Mom and Grandma. I know Yoyo well—I know that she wouldn’t want to get involved in this. I think you should leave and go elsewhere to find a solution.”
Russell was displeased about Trevor’s tone. However, for the sake of Daniel, Russell decided to hold his temper back and stayed where he was. “I want to see Yoyo,” Russell repeated in a stubborn voice.
“Yoyo is extremely busy during the day. Even if she’s back, I wouldn’t want to see her tiring herself out even more by wasting her energy on some troublemaker. You should leave now.” Jeanie’s words were brutal.
“A troublemaker?!” Russell was already frustrated to begin with, and he was even more furious when he heard Jeanie. “You watched Daniel grow up, Jeanie. How could you call him a troublemaker? You guys were never so cold-hearted in the past. Did Yoyo decide to cut ties and forget about her own uncle when she has only been living away from home for a while?”
“You shouldn’t talk about our relational ties when you’ve always been heartless to us.” An icy, bone-chilling voice sounded from behind Russell right after he finished his sentence. Alexander and Elise walked over together, and Alexander positioned himself right in front of Russell. “If you think Ellie is a heartless person, then you can stop using relationships to persuade us to do anything. Why don’t we talk business, Mr. Anderson?”
Human connections were ultimately transactional relationships, after all—some individuals may agree to exchange one valuable thing for another. However, people like Russell were the ones who would use the excuse of relational ties and bonds to guilt-trip others into doing things for him. Alexander wasn’t about to let Russell play the same trick this time. Alexander decided that he wouldn’t hold back with Russell since Russell was the one who asked for it.
The strong aura in the air made Russell’s pupils shrink. “W-What business?” he asked weakly.
“Elise can treat the Dahlens’ daughter, but you’ll have to use all of the Anderson Family’s shares to pay for it, Mr. Anderson.” Alexander’s face was void of any emotion. Even Elise raised an eyebrow when she heard his words. In the past, Elise had heard rumors about Alexander being the most unforgiving and harsh opponent in the business industry. However, when she actually got to witness him negotiating with another individual, she was still surprised by the power he had to force others into a corner.
“We’re talking about family matters here. You’re not officially married to Yoyo, so you shouldn’t stick your nose into other people’s business, President Griffith.” Russell gave Alexander a warning. The Andersons’ shares were practically their family’s lifeline—Russell wouldn’t even agree to touch 1% of the shares, let alone all of it.
Furthermore, with the high unpredictability in the markets, even an additional 1% might determine their wins and losses. Russell didn’t want to test his luck. “Are you questioning my fiancé’s status in the family?” Elise shot Russell a glare. “If that’s the case, I’ll just repeat what he said. If you want me to save your son, you’ll have to give us all the Anderson Family’s shares. Otherwise, you can just wait around for your son’s funeral!”
“You—” Russell had tried his best to maintain a gentlemanly tone throughout their conversation, but his façade was fading as he widened his eyes to glare at Elise. “Fine. If you don’t agree to save him, then I won’t have you as my niece from today onward!”
“Ooh, that’s terrifying.” Alexander stuck his head out and leaned closer to the other man. “It seems like you’ve forgotten that you guys are the ones trying to build connections with my fiancée. Do you think we’d be bothered after we get rid of a piece of gum that has been sticking onto our shoes?”
A piece of gum? How dare he describe me that way? I’ve lived for so long, but I’ve never been offended in such a horrible manner. Russell felt his rage building up in his chest, but he couldn’t seem to release it at them, nor could he swallow and conceal his anger. In the end, he kept his mouth shut, and he spun around and stormed off.
Russell had only taken a few steps when he heard a phone ringing from behind him. Alexander held his phone up, and he felt his eyebrow twitching when he saw the caller ID. Elise squinted to read the caller ID on the screen. ‘Mommy,’ it read.
