Chapter 10 Adversity

At first, Tiffany thought that all she had to consider after her father’s funeral was the child in her belly and a way to successfully divorce Mortimer. She didn’t expect to receive a call from a lawyer asking her to go to NC Company for the reading of Ivan’s will. Tiffany didn’t dare to delay it, so she rushed to the company. NC Company was Ivan’s and Juliana’s lifelong passion project. It had gone through moments of incredible splendor in the past, and Tiffany was extremely proud of its existence. However, ever since her parents divorced, the company’s business went downhill. Until now, only a few of its employees were sticking to their jobs. Looking at the dilapidated building, an ache weighed in Tiffany’s heart. Even so, she had to look alive and listen to the lawyer with Angus by her side. The lawyer did not beat around the bush. He took out the document and said bluntly, “Miss Tiffany, I regret the passing of your father, and I offer you my deepest condolences. Now, I will begin the reading of his last will and testament. Your father owned three real estate properties. You may find their specific locations in the title deeds. He also left behind some bonds and stocks. I have sorted them all out. Once the necessary procedures have been undertaken, they will all be transferred to you.” Apart from that moment spent with Ivan before he passed, Tiffany had not been in touch with him for a long time. When she heard from the lawyer about how much she had inherited, she was both surprised and just a little grateful. Although the money was not enough for her to leave Mortimer, it could still be used to make her mother’s life a little more comfortable. She would no longer have to cram into a house with her uncle’s family. But this happiness did not last for long. The lawyer continued, “Besides these inheritances, Mr. Niles also left NC Company to you. I must tell you that this company has suffered a tremendous loss. You would not be able to repay the debt even if you sold all the properties he has left.” “How much more would that need?” Tiffany asked. The lawyer held up five fingers. “Five… fifty million dollars?” “No. It’s five hundred million dollars.” The astronomical figure made Tiffany inhale sharply. She would not receive that amount of money even if she was sold to Mortimer again. She rubbed her temples. “What about my stepmother and sister? They should have some money on their hands.” “They’ve long taken the money and left!” Angus was one of the company’s senior employees. He was also Ivan’s friend. He felt very deeply for the company. Heartbroken, he said, “NC is the way it is because your father put that woman into the company. If I had known, I would have stopped it at all costs.” Tiffany let out a deep sigh and patted his shoulder to comfort him. The lawyer pushed another document toward her. "Miss Tiffany, you can also choose to give up the inheritance that your father left you. This way, NC Company's debt will not be of your concern." There were two choices. Tiffany knew the pros and cons of each one very well. But she knew that if she signed her name on the contract, her parents' lifelong efforts would go to waste. She hesitated for a moment and put down the pen. She looked at Angus and said, "I'd like to ask you something. Do you think that there is any hope left for the company?" Angus paused. "Actually, we developed a new product before your father passed. It's already in the manufacturing stage. But because we didn't have sufficient funding, the factory was forced to halt its operations. If we could secure a loan to resume manufacturing, the company might just be able to be revived." Tiffany looked at the company that her father had left behind and pondered for a while. "Angus, are you willing to take a gamble with me?" On the top floor of KB Corporation’s headquarters in the city center, Mortimer stood before an impeccably polished window. His fingers grazed an expensive porcelain coffee mug. Placed before him were the details that his assistant, Logan, had just delivered. These were Mortimer's direct orders, so Logan had gone through the documents with a fine-toothed comb. Besides the situation of NC Company, the file also disclosed Tiffany’s household matters. He had even written down the exact plane that Fanny and Tabitha had flown in. Hunter, the Director of Public Relations of KB Corporation, saw the concern that Mortimer had for NC Company and began feeling mischievous. He said softly to Logan, "Wanna make a bet?" "What bet?" "That woman called Tiffany. We'll bet on whether she'll approach the president for a loan." Hunter sipped his coffee and said with a grin, "Despite what the president thinks of her, she is still his wife. As long as she says the word, he will lend her some of the money. Besides, five hundred million dollars is a large sum. Who can lend her that, if not the president?" Logan thought it to be unlikely. "You know of the president's temper. Even if she does intend to do so, she might not have the balls to do it." "But that's not certain." Hunter looked confident in his victory. "Don't underestimate her. She is a woman who dares to slap Lucia." Logan's excitement grew as he heard this. "Alright. We'll make the bet. If I win, you'll give me your prized golf club. And if I lose, I'll give you my red wine from 1985. How about that?" "Deal!" After confirming their bet, they thought that it would take a few days to know who had won. They did not think that the news would arrive that very afternoon. They were both wrong. Tiffany did not go to Mortimer for help, and neither did she give up on NC Company. Instead, she had gone looking for banks to obtain loans. Tiffany had called up every bank in the city. However, because NC Company was in such a devastating state, only the director of United Bank agreed to talk with her. "United Bank? Their director is known for being an old pervert. He loves taking advantage of young women. If Tiffany goes to see him, she might find herself in an unfavorable position." Hunter couldn’t understand why Tiffany would go out of her way to beg from a stranger rather than Mortimer, her extremely wealthy husband. Logan was equally as bewildered. Compared to this, however, what worried him more was Mortimer's temper in case Tiffany got into trouble. After all, Tiffany was legally Mrs. Campbell. After great consideration, he broke the news to Mortimer in the most euphemistic way possible. Mortimer's face darkened immediately. Even the atmosphere in the office tensed up. "Do you need me to give Tiffany a call and nudge her about it?" Logan asked cautiously. "No!" Mortimer's voice was hoarse. His tight grip on the leather chair caused his knuckles to turn white. "No one is allowed to contact her! She is no longer associated with me, even if she dies!"