I was taken aback. Nathan’s direct words made me realize how serious this was. I picked up the document and read through it. It was a signed contract that proposed a project so big that the Tanner family wouldn’t be able to accept any other smaller projects due to the sheer manpower needed for it. It was obvious that this contract was very important.
I noticed that it was signed by a ‘Mitchell Martin’. I soon remembered that that was the name of Monica’s father. Clearly, this was an agreement between both the Martin family and the Tanner family.
“This contract is the lifeline of the Tanner family right now. We’ve already started producing the merchandise in the factories we own and had to invest in even higher quality machinery due to the terms in the contract. We’re running low on funds right now because of that. However, as long as we keep going for a bit longer and pass the products to the Martin family by the end of the month, our company will rise even further,” Nathan explained casually.
I knew what he meant. In short, this contract was extremely important and the resources needed had drained the Tanner family’s pockets, leaving them entirely susceptible to the Martin family’s decisions. I smiled bitterly and said, “Don’t tell me that the Martin family is threatening to end the contract despite the liquidated damages?”
“That’s exactly the case. The Martin family is clearly trying to push us into a corner and we can’t do anything about it. Only you can help us now,” Yvette said as she poured me a glass of water. Her voice had suddenly gone all quiet and timid as she said, “You wouldn’t want the Tanner family to be ruined too, would you? After all, you’re still a Tanner no matter what. You can’t deny that.”
“What is Mitchell Martin up to? He can’t possibly do something like that just because he doesn’t like the Tanner family. What are his terms?” I could already guess what he wanted in return, but I still asked in hopes that my guesses would be wrong.
“Easy peasy. He wants you to leave Mr. Lane. It’s not that hard, is it, Eve? After all, you two were never meant for each other in the first place. Are you really willing to ruin the Tanner family for him? We have a lot of projects that are in some way related to the Martin family. We can’t risk getting on their bad side,” Nathan said straightforwardly.
Never meant for each other? I nearly laughed out loud at that. How could that be possible? We had gone through so many life-and-death situations that at this point, I couldn’t picture a future without him. He had tried to get to know me since I was thirteen. My father had no way of knowing how much we loved each other.
“I’m sorry, but that’s an absolute joke. You out of all people shouldn’t be saying that we weren’t made for each other. You’re just scared of getting on the Martin family’s bad side and in exchange, you’re willing to give up my happiness. Am I right?” I scoffed coldly. I knew I had wasted my time coming all the way here. I might as well have asked him to talk it out over the phone so I didn’t have to run all the way over here to face all this.
“I know you spent a lot of time trying to win over Mr. Lane and it might be a waste for you to let go of him just like that, but he and Monica are already widely known in Avenport to be a couple. Are you willing to break apart their years of love and friendship like what you did with Crystal and Lyle? The moment Crystal returned, Lyle was willing to leave you for her. Once Christopher does the same for Monica, you’ll wish you took my advice in the first place.”
I hated the way Nathan spoke with such confidence as if he was simply trying to give me advice for my own good.
I scoffed again and said, “So you know that Lyle and Crystal are in the wrong too, huh? To think that you always painted me in a bad light. What a turn of events.”
“No one’s in the right or wrong here. Of all the men out there, you have chosen to go after Christopher Lane? Is that someone you deserve to be with? Are you really willing to be a mistress for the rest of your life?”
