Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 12

Sabrina mused aloud, “Lillian gave back all the money and won’t come home. Do you think she’ll try to find some other way to survive out there?”

As she spoke, she gently sat down beside Martin, her hands resting naturally on his shoulders.

Martin glanced at Bella, then thought of Lillian, and a surge of anger washed over him.

They were around the same age, yet Bella had achieved so much, while Lillian was still a source of constant worry.

He fumed, “She has no skills, and now she has a prison record. What could she possibly do to survive out there?”

Sebastian interjected coolly, “During the early days of my startup, she did some management work at the company. Could it be...”

Martin scoffed. “Your startup succeeded because of you, Sebastian. I’m her father, don’t you think I know what she’s capable of?”

Brandon also dismissed the idea. “In her own family’s company, with you there to catch her if she fell, of course she could do anything. But what survival skills does she have out in the real world?”

Only Colin scratched his head. “Aren’t you guys selling Lillian a bit short? I seem to remember she was actually a pretty good student, had a lot of talents...”

Before he could finish, Martin cut him off. “That top-tier university she went to? I donated a new academic building to get her in. A good student? If she were so smart, would she be in this mess today?”

His words hung in the air, and a sudden tension filled the room.

Sebastian had agreed to Lillian’s advances all those years ago because she had told him she’d gotten into that university on her own merit.

He had thought she was an intellectual peer, someone worthy of standing by his side.

But hearing this from her own family, he felt as if Lillian had deceived him all along.

Bella, keenly aware of the shift in Sebastian’s expression, quickly changed the subject.

“Alright, let’s focus on how to get her home. Noah’s been hospitalized again. The poor child is suffering so much.”

Her words instantly deepened Sebastian’s resentment toward Lillian.

Martin declared, “I know her. She was raised in luxury. She can’t survive without money. Give her two days, and she’ll come crawling back on her own.”

Bella added, “As long as she comes back. Mr. Mercer, Brandon, Colin, tomorrow I’m going to ‘Litech NaLabs’ to discuss the usage rights for the Li algorithm. Since the Mercer Group is also developing its AI division and our companies work so closely together, I was thinking, Brandon, why don’t you come with me?”

Brandon’s eyes lit up at her words.

“I can come with you?”

Bella smiled faintly. “Of course. I consider the Mercer family my own, and you as my real brother. It’s only natural to share resources.”

Sabrina seized the opportunity, gently offering a piece of fruit to Martin. “Bella has always been such a family-oriented child.”

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