Chapter 952: Bait her?

[Miller Family]

"Dad, we should accept Penelope Bennet’s offer," Theo Miller turned to the head seat where his father was sitting, having breakfast. "This is the best offer we could get."

His father’s face hardened, but he didn’t say a word. His wife, on the other hand, sighed heavily.

"I knew it!" Mrs. Miller exclaimed. "The Bennet Family has been eyeing ours because they want it! Hah! Husband, even if it kills us, don’t let the Bennet Family have their way!"

"Mom!" Theo yelled. "How can you say that? Our family is slowly drowning. Our noses are barely above the surface!"

"But they are the Bennet Family! If they want our company, that means there’s still hope! How would you explain the Bennets’ interest in our company if there were no way out?!"

Theo clenched his teeth, his grip on his cutlery shaking. He shot his father a fiery glare, knowing his mother was only being controlled by her emotions.

"Dad," he breathed out. "Are you really planning to turn down Penelope’s offer?"

"Of course!" Mrs. Miller remarked. "Why else would your father send her away after everything she spewed last night—"

"No." Before Mrs. Miller could continue with her rant, Mr. Miller snapped his eyes at Theo. "Agreeing to her terms right away isn’t going to raise the price. If she wants the Miller Family, we still need to bait her."

"Bait her?" Theo scoffed. "Dad, everyone knows about our family’s financial state. They were all expecting us to declare bankruptcy. If not today, then tomorrow, or until we can delay that, but it’s going to happen either way. We can’t hold it off for much longer."

They both knew that.

Unlike Mrs. Miller, who could only curry favor with the other rich wives in the upper echelon and fail, both men were aware of the rest of the situation. Since the Ito Family had withdrawn their partnership and many of their big investors pulled out, the Miller Family was sinking into debt.

"We also took out a big loan..." Theo breathed out nervously. "...we have to decide now. Once we start paying off that loan, it’s gonna be the death of us. The interest will just bury us deeper. For once, please listen to me. I know I failed you by getting dragged into that damn Sven Bennet’s schemes, but it’s our only hope now."

Helplessness swirled in Theo’s eyes, while his father appeared conflicted.

"Theo!" Mrs. Miller harrumphed. "We’ll pay off the loan our family took out if we can just find out what Penelope Bennet is planning!"

She slammed her hands on the table as she stood, her nose flaring. "Even in this situation, our Miller Family should stand tall and prove to everyone that this is just a crisis we can survive!"

"Mom! This isn’t just a small crisis we can deal with like before!" Theo barked. "This crisis is our family’s death sentence! That loan’s interest is sky-high. The only reason we accepted it is because they were the only company willing to lend us money to cover our other losses!"

"Still, if the Bennets are interested, I’m certain other companies are too! Why are you even reconsidering that brat’s offer?!"

"There are others interested in us?! Mom, can you hear yourself? Didn’t you get an offer from your friend’s husband, and they want to buy our company like it’s a bargain on the market!"

"Theo Miller, how dare you raise your voice to your mother?!"

"ENOUGH!" Mr. Miller slammed his hands on the table, cutting off the argument between his son and wife. "That’s enough."

"Husband, your son just wants to sell us to our biggest competitor! How could you let him say all this—"

"Enough!" Mr. Miller repeated, his eyes glinting as he glared at his wife. "Enough now."

Mrs. Miller’s face soured. "It seems I’m the only one who cares about our family. Very well! If that is what you men want, then so be it. However, don’t blame me if this goes wrong!"

With that, Mrs. Miller tossed her napkin and stormed out. Her husband and son watched her leave, sighing heavily.

"Ah... goddamn it..." Theo slumped back into his seat, ruffling his hair in distress. "Why is she acting like Patricia?"

Theo had been so busy trying to save their company that he had never taken the time to appreciate or observe his family. But today, it was clear to him why his little sister was like that. His mother was like that, after all.

Who would have thought tantrums could be inherited?

"Dad..." Theo breathed out heavily, snapping his eyes up at him. "...Penelope Bennet is the owner of the Prime Group. She handles the security of some of the most important people, not just in Anteca, but in the world. Do you think she hasn’t heard about the loan? Even if she hadn’t heard of it, she would find out, and if she finds out about it before the buyout, our value will decrease tenfold."

He paused, hoping his words would reach his father’s heart. "The price she offered us is enough to cover all our losses and leave us with something. It’s enough for us to live comfortably."

It was impressive how Penelope Bennet could offer such a price, but it only proved her financial capabilities. To be fair, that price was the best they could get.

"Even if the Pierson Corporation offered to buy us out, I’m sure they’d offer a lower price," Theo said. "Please."

Mr. Miller stared at his son. Everything Theo had said was already on his mind. However, as a businessman, he also had to take some time to preserve a little bit of his dignity.

Perhaps an overnight decision was already plenty of time?

Mr. Miller shook his head and sighed in defeat. "Call Penelope Bennet and tell her we’re accepting her offer."

"Yes!" Theo’s eyes lit up, and without wasting time, he pulled out his phone to make the call. He wasn’t expecting it to be picked up so quickly, but it was. "Hello? This is Theo Miller. Miss Bennet told me to call her once we made our decision—well, we did. Please relay my message to her."

After saying his piece, Theo expected a short response and to wait for a date and time. Much to his surprise, it seemed Penny was expecting their call today.

"What is it, Theo?" Mr. Miller asked as he watched his son’s expression change before the call ended. Part of his heart shook nervously, fearing Penny had changed her mind. "Don’t tell me she already changed her mind?"

Theo slowly locked eyes with his father, looking confused. "No, she didn’t change her mind."

"Then why do you look like that?"

"Because... I was told to meet her at..." Theo trailed off, casting the phone a confused look. "... the Pierson Corporation."