I was taken aback. Nathanâs 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 wouldnât 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 âMitchell Martinâ. I soon remembered that that was the name of Monicaâs father. Clearly, this was an agreement between both the Martin family and the Tanner family.
âThis contract is the lifeline of the Tanner family right now. Weâve 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. Weâre 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,â Nathan explained casually.
I knew what he meant. In short, this contract was extremely important and the resources needed had drained the Tanner familyâs pockets, leaving them entirely susceptible to the Martin familyâs decisions. I smiled bitterly and said, âDonât tell me that the Martin family is threatening to end the contract despite the liquidated damages?â
âThatâs exactly the case. The Martin family is clearly trying to push us into a corner and we canât do anything about it. Only you can help us now,â Yvette said as she poured me a glass of water. Her voice had suddenly gone all quiet and timid as she said, âYou wouldnât want the Tanner family to be ruined too, would you? After all, youâre still a Tanner no matter what. You canât deny that.â
âWhat is Mitchell Martin up to? He canât possibly do something like that just because he doesnât like the Tanner family. What are his terms?â I could already guess what he wanted in return, but I still asked in hopes that my guesses would be wrong.
âEasy peasy. He wants you to leave Mr. Lane. Itâs 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 canât risk getting on their bad side,â 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 couldnât 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.
âIâm sorry, but thatâs an absolute joke. You out of all people shouldnât be saying that we werenât made for each other. Youâre just scared of getting on the Martin familyâs bad side and in exchange, youâre willing to give up my happiness. Am I right?â 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 didnât have to run all the way over here to face all this.
âI 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, youâll wish you took my advice in the first place.â
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, âSo 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.â
âNo oneâs 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?â