âIf we sell the companyâs shares, itâll be taken over by outsiders! Do you really want strangers to run our company?â
Grace casually replied, âWell, what else can we do? If youâre incapable of running the business properly, itâs better to hand it over sooner rather than later to prevent bankruptcy. If I die, I wonât be able to explain this to the ancestors of the Murphy family.â
Perhaps not expecting Grace to respond this way, Attlee and Olga felt uneasy.
âIâve been capable of running this company all these years, you know that. Itâs just a tough economic climate now.â
Before Attlee could finish, Grace laughed, âIs it really the economy? Did you not notice that our luck has run dry since you sent Bella away? You kicked out our goddess of fortune, and you donât even realize it.â
âDonât get too upset, your health is important.â
Attlee quickly tried to soothe her: âOlga and I holding shares means we can continue to manage the company as major shareholders; this would take some pressure off you, and we can make more money to take care of you. Plus, the company wonât be taken over by other shareholders, and we can solve our current predicament. Isnât that a winâwin?â
He repeated to Grace what Olga had previously said.
âIf we could solve our current predicament, we wouldnât need your shares, right? But we are out of options; itâs a last resort. And if the company goes bankrupt, even if we have loads of shares, they would be worthless!â
Grace understood his point and gave a cold laugh, saying, âIâm not helping you.â
Upon hearing this, Attlee became more anxious: âYou may not be aware of the current state of the company; even the factories have been closed down. If this continues, our company will really go bankrupt!â
âWell, you made your bed; now lie in it!â Grace retorted angrily, âYouâre nowhere to be seen normally, but now that you need a favor, you remember me?â âWeâve been very busy with all the things happening in the company recently; itâs not like we deliberately avoided you.â Attlee tried to persuade her with more words. But Grace had made up her mind: âIf you really cared about me, you wouldnât have sent Bella away behind my back when I was seriously ill, separating me from my granddaughter!â
At this, Ãlga couldnât hold back any longer. âBut Yoli is your real granddaughter! Why are you only seeing Bella? Sheâs not even our blood relative!â.
âSo what!â Grace snapped back, âYouâre not even as good to me as she is! Do you know how much sheâs sacrificed for this family?â
âHow have we not been good to you? Have we not sacrificed anything?â
Olga was furious. Grace was really good at twisting the truth. Yoli had prepared so many gifts for her today; wasnât that a sign of goodwill? Where did they go wrong?
Theyâve been working hard running the company and taking care of the family all these years; didnât they sacrifice anything?
Was Grace blind to their efforts?
Seeing them start to argue, Attlee hurriedly tried to mediate: âAlright, everyone calm down.â
âIâm not giving up any shares!â Grace was angry and coughed a few times before adding, âNot just shares; my house, car, savingsâIâm not giving up anything! Get out.â