Chapter 179


    Graciay on the hospital bed, her wrist wound neatly bandaged, as pale as a ghost while the blood


    transfusion slowly replenished her strength.


    Having sent the attending nurse away with a curt nod, Samuel closed the door quietly.


    “Dad…” Gracia’s voice trembled as she looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears.


    Samuel stood at the bedside, his expression a storm of emotions, watching his daughter. Suddenly, his


    hand flew up, and he pped Gracia across the face with a force that nearly sent her tumbling off the


    bed. “You’ve shamed us beyond redemption! Does the Wright name mean nothing to you anymore?”


    Gracia was stunned, her head spinning from the impact.


    “What has gotten into you? Gracia is already hurt, and you hit her!” Lydia caught Samuel’s arm, her


    heart aching for her daughter.


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    “What good has she done in the past few months, Lydia? Do I need to spell it out for you?” Samuel’s


    voice was tight with anger as he turned to face Lydia.


    One scandal came after another, each more embarrassing than thest!


    Before Natalie had returned, Samuel had thought of Gracia as his sensible, well–mannered daughter,


    never imagining she could be so devious. But she was reaping the whirlwind, and it was her own doing!


    “She did it for our family, Samuel! Without our daughter’s efforts, would the Howard family have ever


    given us the time of day?” Lydia’s voice was low but insistent.


    “You’ve spoiled her! Did you ever consider the consequences when encouraging her to do those


    things?” Samuel’s anger was palpable.


    What made things worse was that Gracia’s two movie roles were on the chopping block.


    Matthew had pleaded with the producers, sick as he was, and they had offered a stark choice to either


    cut Gracia’s scenes to a mere cameo or terminate her contract and reshoot with a new


    lead.


    Samuel had been anxiously awaiting news at home but turned out to have been blindsided by Gracia’s


    scandal overseas.


    Lydia opened her mouth to respond, but Samuel’s phone rang, cutting her off.


    He pulled it out and saw it was a call from the studio. Calming himself, he walked to the window and


    answered.


    Before Samuel could even speak, the voice on the other end cut in, “I’m sorry, Mr. Wright, but we have


    to terminate the contract. We’ll let Gracia Wright keep her pay out of respect for our years of


    coboration with Matthew. That’s our loss.”


    Chapter 179


    Samuel took a deep breath, trying to mask his frustration with forced politeness. “Is there no way to


    work this out?”


    “Put yourself in our shoes, Mr. Wright. If one of your artists caused such a scandal, would you keep


    employing them?” The reply was unyielding.


    “Besides, we’ve invested heavily and can’t afford to be associated with someone caught up in tax


    evasion and award scandals. The regtory board won’t approve Gracia. They say she’ll set a bad


    example. We’re at an impasse.”


    *Take care of yourselves, and I’d suggestying low for a while.”


    Samuel listened as the producerid it all out, hanging up before he could get a word in.


    He stood by the window, silent for a long time before she turned to Gracia on the bed.


    Tears streamed down Gracia’s face as she stared at Samuel’s phone, realization dawning on


    her.


    She was done.


    Yet she knew the awards hade with the Howard family’s backing. It wasn’t her fault, and she


    hadn’t done anything wrong.


    “Let’s focus on thepany’s future, Samuel. There’s no point berating Gracia anymore. It’s already


    done,” Lydia said, holding Gracia close, tears in her eyes.


    She feared Samuel’s anger might drive him to do something drastic. In all their years together, she had


    never seen him so furious as to havein a hand on Gracia.