Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 16

When Bella heard that last sentence, she lowered her head for a moment, unable to stop the corners of her mouth from turning up in a slight smile.

After so many years of effort, Brandon's words were the greatest affirmation she could have received.

She would never forget that day, ten years ago!

Eleanor Lancaster had stormed their home with a mob of friends and family, and as they threatened her mother, Bella had hidden in her small room, trembling with fear, too scared to come out.

Eleanor had screamed that her mother was a homewrecker, a seductress who had swindled her husband out of a fortune.

Bella knew all that money had gone to raising her.

And because of that, Eleanor had called her the wretched offspring of a wretched woman, destined for a life of obscurity.

But now, she had made it.

Eleanor's own son had just declared that her daughter wasn't even worthy of shining Bella's shoes.

Bella felt a surge of satisfaction, but she quickly schooled her expression.

She tried to reason with Brandon, “Brandon, no matter how wrong she is, she's still your sister. You should at least try to preserve her dignity in public. So many people were watching just now.”

Brandon, however, was in no mood to listen. “Dignity? If she cared about dignity, she wouldn’t have taken a job as a cleaner. The great heiress of a prestigious family—isn't she afraid of her friends finding out and dying of embarrassment?”

Although security had escorted Brandon out and he couldn't get back upstairs, he refused to leave.

Bella had originally planned to head back to the Blake Group to discuss strategies for their ongoing algorithm collaboration with Litech NaLabs.

But seeing Brandon in such a state, she worried he would cause a scene in his agitation, which would tarnish her own image in Nathan's eyes.

After weighing her options, Bella decided she had no choice but to stay with him.

Back in the office, Lillian entered with a mop. Nathan quickly took it from her and started cleaning the spilled coffee on the floor.

As he worked, Nathan asked, “So those were your family members? I seem to recall you saying your brother doted on you.”

Lillian sat on the sofa, sipping her coffee.

She wore a look of resignation. “So much has changed with the Mercer family over the past few years. A lot of things... they’re just not the same anymore.”

Back when her father and brothers adored her, would they have ever sent her to prison?

Would they have ever thought anything she did was a disgrace?

Before, even if she had dressed up as a beggar for fun, they would have praised her for her convincing costume.

But now...

Nathan said, “Li, the algorithm is yours. It seems your brother and the Blake family want to collaborate on it. I can't make this decision. What are your thoughts?”

Lillian replied, “I may be the developer of the Li Algorithm, but didn't you and our professor pour your hearts into it too? How could it be my decision alone?”

Nathan insisted, “Without you, there would be no Li Algorithm. The professor and I have always said that as long as it gets used, everything else is up to you. Even the professor has to pay you royalties, let alone me. I stand with him completely. Li, this algorithm has made you a lot of money over the years. Have you thought about what you want to do with it?”

Lillian asked, “What do you mean?”

“I mean how you’re going to spend it! You can't live in a hotel forever, can you? I heard you took a cab to get here this morning. Aren’t you planning on buying a house and a car?”

It wasn't that Lillian hadn't thought about it.

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