Chapter 385: Chapter 386

Chapter 385 Victoria stood by and said sarcastically, “Thea, it’s not that I’m criticizing you. You’re acting like you’re willing to die for a man. You’re just too love–struck.”

Thea was provoked and became even more furious. She stared at Victoria with bloodshot eyes, filled with deep resentment, and said, “If you don’t want to die, then get the hell out of here.”

Victoria complained to William with a grievance, “Uncle, look at the condition of my Thea, it is really worrying.”

The evil smirk overflowed in her eyes, as she eagerly awaited to witness how Thea was abandoned by her biological father. But William did not perform according to her script.

He came to Thea’s side and gently tidied up her messy hair. He also comforted his daughter with great warmth, saying, “Jade, if you feel sad, just cry it out. Daddy is here with you.”

Thea threw herself into William’s arms, crying her heart out.

“Dad, I’m sorry...”

He worried about her.

William gently patted her back and whispered, “You were my daughter, and we never needed to say those three words at any time. In fact, Dad should thank you, thank you for giving me something to worry about and making me feel that there is still some hope in life.”

Victoria was dumbfounded.

Thea was jealous of William’s tender doting on her.

It also made her realize that she had a long way to go in completely replacing Thea’s position in William’s heart.

“Thea, Uncle is not feeling well, please don’t let Uncle be upset because of you.” Victoria’s greatest strength lies in her ability to understand how to handle Thea.

She reminded Thea that William was not feeling well. Therefore, she cut off the possibility of Thea reporting her to William.

But she underestimated William’s love for his daughter.

William harshly criticized Victoria, “I was in great physical condition. Jade, if you have any troubles, you can tell Daddy. Daddy will bear them with you.”

Thea looked at her father, and the love in his eyes was genuine. She knew that as long as she acted spoiled with him, Dad would fire Victoria, whom she disliked, from the Fletcher Group. But if she did that, Dad would probably guess the fact that she and Victoria didn’t get along.

Thea didn’t want her father to know about her childhood experiences. She was afraid that his weak body wouldn’t be able to handle such a big blow.

So she chose to put on a facade of peace, “Dad, I’m fine.”

Thea got up and tidied up her disheveled state. She surreptitiously gave Victoria a fierce expression. That look seemed to silently declare to Victoria, “Plot against me, just Chapter 385 wait and see.”

Victoria, however, further provoked Thea and came up with another plan, “Uncle, Thea has been feeling exhausted lately. How about giving her a long vacation? Let her rest and take care of her health, it’s important.”

William looked at Thea’s dejected face and finally accepted Victoria’s suggestion, “Jade, why don’t you listen to your sister and go home to rest for a while.”

Thea stared at Victoria, who wanted to get rid of her in order to advance in her career. But how could she fulfill her wish?

Thea said, “Dad, I can go home and rest. But there’s one thing you have to promise me: the mall in the south is recruiting recently. The Hill Group wants to renew the contract at a low price, and I absolutely won’t allow it.”

William frowned and said, “The Hill Group? But isn’t that your brother–in–law’s side?”

Victoria stepped forward and said, “Yes, Uncle. My husband has been facing some difficulties in his company recently, and we are a bit short on funds. He wants to plead with Thea to lower the rent, but she refuses to acknowledge any family ties.”

This was deliberately picking a fight with Thea.

Thea glared at her angrily.

Victoria opened her mouth and formed her lips into a shape, saying, “Admit defeat.”

She seemed certain that William would help her.

Thea was puzzled, why was she so confident?

William hardly thought before saying to Victoria, “Xiner, I’m sorry, but I’m afraid Uncle is going to disappoint you this time. My daughter Jade rarely asks me for anything, so as a father, I naturally have to support her unconditionally.”

Victoria felt as if she had been slapped hard, her face burning with two red clouds.

Thea couldn’t help but curl her lips and chuckle.

She sneered at Victoria and said, “Go back and tell your husband to go find the mall himself.”

Victoria was unwilling and continued to plead with William, saying, “Uncle, it’s not that I’m showing favoritism. Thea’s decision is very irrational. After all, the Hill family and the Fletcher family had a contract first. According to the contract, the Hill family also has the right to renew their contract first.”

Although William left the rivers and lakes many years ago, he couldn’t be fooled because of his high intelligence. He asked very wisely, “Can the Hill family meet the business conditions of the shopping mall?”

Victoria said, “It basically fits.“”

William frowned, “Basically meets the requirements? So there. are still parts that don’t meet the requirements?”

That was because the younger sister had no way to increase the rent and extend the lease term, and the Hill family couldn’t afford the high rent.

William said, “Xiner, you have to look at the problem with a 5147%

developmental perspective. The mall used to be located in a desolate area, but now there is a well–established business district.

It is only natural for the rent to increase, isn’t it?”

Victoria was speechless.

“What my uncle said.”

William waved at her and said, “You go out first. I want to have a private conversation with my daughter.”

“Yes,” Victoria left dejectedly.

After the office was cleared, it suddenly became quiet.

Thea looked at her father with some embarrassment, her hands nervously fumbling, “Dad, I’m sorry. Today, your daughter couldn’t control her emotions well and it was really embarrassing.”

William, however, said, “Dad would rather see the version of you that just broke down, rather than the well–mannered and knowledgeable person you are now.”

Thea had her round, wide eyes open.

William felt sorry for Thea and patted her head. “You always hide all the negative emotions in front of your father, only sharing the good news. You are a filial child. But this version of you, being extremely kind to others but cruel to yourself, is not good. Dad hopes that my daughter can be a princess, it’s okay to have a bad temper, it’s okay to be willful. This version of you, tormenting others but not yourself.”

Thea’s eyes turned red. “Dad, you really spoiled me like this.“” William smiled brightly and said, “Dad wants to make up for all the missing fatherly love from the past twenty years. Jade, do you want to come home with Dad?”

Thea was taken aback, “Dad, you... have been discharged from the hospital?”

William nodded, “The condition was stable, and I only needed regular follow–up visits. So I asked the doctor to give me a discharge certificate.”

Thea’s eyes welled up with tears as she said, “Okay, I will go home with you.”

Thea dreamed of having a home with both a father and a mother.

In the evening, when Thea finished work and just arrived at the entrance of the company, she noticed a luxurious and imposing extended Lincoln car parked outside. On the car’s body, there were several large characters of dragons and phoenixes dancing, personally painted by William, saying, “Welcome home, the Fletcher family’s princess, Jade.”

William sat in the car and waved at her, saying, “Jade, get in the car quickly.”