Chapter 899


    Kate shot Tiffany a conciliatory smile.


    Then, she lowered her pride and practically begged, “Tiff, please ept my sincerest apologies. I''ve


    given the matter much thought over the past year, and I''ve realized I must shoulder part of the me


    for the end of Derrick and Crystal''s rtionship. That''s why I''ll no longer object if you and Derrick


    reconcile. Please forgive me and give him another chance.”


    Tiffany stiffened in surprise, though she was quickly amused by the olderdy''s words.


    She replied civilly, “Thank you for your generosity, Mrs. Hisson, but Derrick and I have been divorced


    for a year. We''ve never reconnected since then, and I''m just trying to get on with my life after the split.


    There''s nothing to forgive, Mrs. Hisson. That''s all I have to say. I hope you and Mr. Hisson live a long


    and healthy life.”


    Considering her numerous conflicts with Kate in the past, it was already a feat that Tiffany managed to


    maintain a courteous tone with her former mother-inw.


    Kate opened her mouth as though to say something, but Derrick deliberately coughed to catch her


    attention. She nced at him and swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue.


    Tiffany also nced at Derrick. She clearly sensed that Kate was somewhat fearful of her son. She had


    no idea what had happened in the past year, but the power dynamics in the family had obviously


    shifted, and Kate was no longer as overbearing as she remembered.


    She did have a guess, though. Perhaps it''s because Derrick is formally the head of the Hisson family


    now.


    Not that it mattered to her now.


    The ufortable meal eventually came to an end. Tiffany dered politely, “Mr. and Mrs. Hisson,


    thank you for inviting us to a meal today. I''ve got a manuscript to rush, so I shan''t take up more of your


    time.”


    Before Kate could say a word, Derrick piped up, “Don''t worry about it. Your manuscript is more


    important. But make sure you take it slow sometimes. Don''t forget to eat and rest while you''re rushing


    your manuscript. You look as though you''ve lost some weight, so don''t skip any more meals.”


    Tiffany nced at her ex-husband and gave him a slight nod.


    Then, Derrick firmly dragged his parents away from the restaurant. Tiffany stared at his back,


    something akin to admiration shing through her gaze.


    “Tiff, he''s gone. Stop staring.” Amelia even nudged her friend for good measure.


    Only then did Tiffany retract her gaze and smile at Amelia.


    Amelia had already turned to Teddy and asked, “Have you booked a hotel, Teddy? Should I get Oscar


    to arrange a ce for you to stay?”


    “I asked my assistant to get me a room at a hotel I always stay at when I''m in Chanaea. I''ll head over


    there in a bit. You can go meet your love Oscar now, Amelia. Let Tiff and I have some alone time. Won''t


    you take pity on my depressingly single life?” Teddy shrugged as he replied jauntily to Amelia''s


    question.


    Tiffany shot Amelia a look that warned her against leaving them alone.


    Amelia immediately said to Teddy, “s, I think your wish isn''t happening tonight. Tiff is rushing out a


    script for an office drama, so please forgive her absence tonight. Oscar and I will clear our schedules


    tomorrow and be your dedicated tour guide.”


    Teddy nced at Tiffany. Then, as though remembering something, he swiftly agreed to Amelia''s


    suggestion.


    “Get some rest then, Tiff. If you''re free in a couple of days, then I''d love to have you show me around.


    Don''t worry; I won''t try anything funny. Please don''t treat me like some predator. I''m a bona fide


    gentleman.”


    Tiffany mustered a smile in response.


    A momentter, Oscar sent someone to drive Teddy to his hotel. Tiffany was visibly relieved when the


    car left.


    Amelia turned to her husband and said, “Wait for me in the car, Oscar. I need to talk to Tiff.”


    Oscar wrapped his hand around her nape and pulled her in for a forehead kiss before getting into his


    car.


    The lovebirds'' public disy of affection had Tiffany cringing dramatically in response. She smirked at


    Amelia andined, “You''re really rubbing it in, huh.”


    Amelia merely stared at her friend quietly.


    The smile on Tiffany''s face disappeared, and she shrugged before exining, “I went to the airport to


    fetch Teddy, hoping to treat him to a meal. I didn''t expect to run into Derrick and his parents here.


    Everything else happened like what you saw earlier.”


    Amelia decided to test the waters andmented, “Teddy only called you when he came to Chanaea; I


    didn''t hear even a hint about his travel ns. The two of you seem to be pretty close. Are you


    considering dating him?”


    Tiffany shrugged again and denied it. “There''s nothing to it. We''re just friends. I went to the airport to


    fetch him because he asked me to. He said so many things on the phone and made me sound like


    some heartless viin if I refused to pick him up, so I went. But at the end of the day, I know we can


    never be together. Even if Derrick is out of the picture, I would never consider Teddy as boyfriend


    material. I prefer dating a local.”


    She hadid everything out in the open, and it was impossible for Amelia to misunderstand her


    reasons.


    “You''re the only person who can decide on your rtionship. I won''t interfere, but I have a little piece of


    advice for you. Teddy won''t give up that easily, so you might be better off nipping his intentions in the


    bud.”


    Tiffany said wryly, “I expressed my thoughts very clearly on our way here, but your mentor seems very


    confident in his ability to change my mind. I think you know what I mean.”


    “Well, you''ve clearly bewitched your admirers, though your poprity with the opposite sex hasn''t


    exactly given you decent candidates.” Amelia patted her friend on the shoulder and said, “You should


    go home. We can talk about this tomorrow. I can tell Mrs. Hisson is softening her stance. She might try


    to y the emotional card to help Derrick win you over.”


    Tiffany lowered her eyes, seemingly lost in thought.


    Amelia led Tiffany to her car and opened the door, gently coaxing her inside.


    She only returned to Oscar''s car after Tiffany drove off.


    As she put on her seatbelt, she said to Oscar, “I thought Derrick had finally let go after a year. He


    must''ve been acting every time I saw him in the past. I think he''s determined to win Tiff over again, but


    Teddy''s pulling out all the stops, and he''s definitely a strong contender.”


    Oscar steered the car steadily. Turning the steering wheel at a corner, he then replied, “Frankly, Teddy


    has no real advantage here. Tiffany doesn''t even like him. Now Derrick is a different story. She doesn''t


    look as though she has forgotten about him at all, but his betrayal is a big hindrance toward their


    reconciliation. They''ll need a massive breakthrough to bury their past before they can get back


    together.”


    Amelia blinked several times as she mulled over his words. “Do you have any suggestions, Oscar?”


    He shot her a nce and smiled. “What do you think would happen if Derrick suffered a car ident


    and news of his life being in critical danger gets out?”


    Grudges, big or small, became inconsequential in the face of life-or-death situations.


    Amelia initially blinked in confusion, though realization soon dawned upon her.


    “Oscar! What a wicked suggestion. I hate lying to Tiff, though. Let''s go back to square one. idents


    are far too cliché anyway,” Amelia responded after some thought.


    She was not against the idea of matchmaking Derrick and Tiffany per se, but she thought it was


    prudent to confirm Tiffany''s feelings for her ex-husband. If she acted selfishly and encouraged their


    reconciliation, Derrick''s illegitimate child would always haunt them, and inevitable arguments about his


    past betrayal would slowly but surely erode their love for each other.


    Oscar arched his brow at his wife''s reply but did not seem to mind that she had shot down his


    suggestion.


    Amelia fell back into deep thought. Suddenly, she asked, “Oscar, do you think I should help Tiff to


    reconcile with Derrick?”


    “Well, they''re both hung up on each other, so getting back together seems to be the straightforward


    solution. But let''s not forget about the child who triggered their divorce. That''s the main hurdle to their


    reconciliation. If we want a reunion to happen, we need to help Tiffany fully warm up to Derrick''s child.”


    Oscar instantly identified the crux of the problem.


    Amelia nodded her head in agreement.


    “Amelia, you shouldn''t interfere in this matter. Just let her make the decisions. She''s already an adult,


    so she should know what''s best for her. Your interventions will only halt her growth. Besides, I think it''s


    fine for her to stay single now. She''ll be able to find her soul mate once she wishes to ept


    someone,” Oscar said.


    “I know that. I''ve never thought of interfering with her rtionship, but I feel she shouldn''t get involved


    with Derrick anymore since they''ve missed out on one another. Dragging this matter further will only


    cause them to be reminded of their unpleasant past.”


    Oscar merely patted Amelia''s head. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    After they arrived home, Amelia yed with Tony for a short while. Then, she asked how he was


    adapting to the new school and if he could catch up with his studies. Tony reported everything to his


    mother. She pecked him on the cheek affectionately after listening to him.


    “My son is indeed brilliant.”


    Tony grinned happily.


    “Mommy, why don''t you sleep with me tonight? I''ve missed you.” He nced at Oscar and brazenly


    attempted to snatch Amelia from his father.


    Amelia patted Tony''s head in amusement.


    “Tony, don''t think of your daddy as your enemy. He''s your closest family member,” she said.


    Tony pursed his lips in response.


    “Be good. Members of the same family shouldn''t hold grudges against one another.”


    He fell silent for some time but ultimately nodded.


    After coaxing Tony to sleep, Amelia and Oscar returned to their bedroom. She hugged him from behind


    and chuckled.


    “Oscar, it seems like Tony thinks of you as his enemy. This is a result of what you did previously to


    distance yourself from him. Tsk tsk.”


    He grabbed her hand and asked, “Amelia, why do I sense that you''re gloating?”


    “Ah, you''ve caught me. I am gloating,” she chirped.


    Oscarughed out loud as well.


    “Don''t worry. Regardless of how smart he may be, I have the confidence to handle him as his father.


    Starting tomorrow, I''ll bring him to the organization for training. I wonder if hisbat skills have


    improved after one year of dy.”


    “Actually, Kurt taught him some self-defense techniques when we were living abroad.” Amelia hesitated


    briefly before informing him of the truth.


    Tony had made rtively good progress in polishing his fighting skills during that year. At the very least,


    his forms were proper and refined.


    Oscar did not say a word for a few moments. In the end, he nodded slightly.


    “Are you mad?”


    He brushed her nose with his finger. “Weren''t you already certain that I wouldn''t be mad when you


    asked that question?”


    “I''m busted again.”


    Taking in her dazzling smile, Oscar felt his heart melting.


    Holding her in his arms, hey on the bed and dozed off. A dreamless night ensued.


    The next day, Oscar requested his subordinates to hasten their progress in targeting Noah. In lesser


    than five days, news of Walker Group''s tax evasion amounting to over ten million spread like wildfire.


    Thepany''s general manager, Noah, was brought to the police station for investigation.


    Subsequently, thepany fell into chaos due to theck of leadership. Matthew filled the top position,


    but the finance director swindled the corporation''s fund and went on a run. Panic-stricken, Matthew had


    no choice but to report that incident to the police for them to handle the situation. The media worked


    together to report news of Walker Group''s impending bankruptcy, causing all thepany''s employees


    to feel anxious and fearful. Moreover, Matthew had grown used to a luxurious andid-back lifestyle all


    those years, not to mention he wasn''t cut out to manage a business. As a result, he failed to host a


    press conference in time to address the flying rumors and didn''t safeguard thepany''s rights and


    assets via legal means, causing thepany''s share price to plummet quickly. The share price even


    dropped to an all-time low. Under such circumstances, most employees chose to resign, and many


    experienced workers were poached by other corporations with lucrative sries. The considerably


    largepany in the market finally sumbed to the instability and was on the verge of dering


    bankruptcy after struggling for some time.


    Carol was deeply unsettled and annoyed by the turns of events. As she didn''t have effective


    countermeasures to resolve the crisis, she could only vent her frustration on the bedbound Isabe.


    Carol was deeply unsettled and annoyed by the turns of events. As she didn''t have effective


    countermeasures to resolve the crisis, she could only vent her frustration on the bedbound Isabe.


    “You''re a jinx! Why did I give birth to a daughter like you? If you hadn''t provoked Oscar back then, our


    family could''ve livedvishly by relying on our connection with Stephanie. You just had to fulfill your


    daydream and infuriate Oscar. Look what you''ve done now. The Walker family is going to bankrupt


    soon because of his relentless effort to take revenge on us. Are you happy now?” Carol grasped


    Isabe''s hair and bellowed with burning anger.


    Isabe felt her body was about to crumble because of how intensely her mother shook her. Her


    broken limbs had yet to show signs of recovery thus far.


    “Mom, calm down. I''ll die if you continue to shake me in this manner,” Isabe yelped weakly.


    Carol disregarded her and kept moving her daughter roughly to and fro. Overwhelmed by rage, she


    even pped thetter''s face a few times, causing Isabe''s cheeks to swell.


    “I''ll kill you to prevent you from troubling the Walker family. Noah finally aplished some results in


    managing Walker Group, yet you ruined everything just as thepany was about to be one of


    the top ten corporations. And now, Noah was brought to the police station because of you. You''re


    nothing more than a jinx. I should just kill you.” Carol closed her hands around Isabe''s throat,


    choking thetter to the extent of causing her eyes to roll back into her head. Isabe almost died due


    to shortness of breath.


    Fortunately, the nurse entered the room at that moment. When she saw the scene, she immediately


    ced down the medications and rushed forward.


    “Please calm down, Mrs. Walker. Let go of the patient. Otherwise, she''ll die.” The nurse was able to pull


    Carol away after much difficulty. Isabe copsed on the bed, covered her neck with her functional


    arm, and coughed violently. She thought that was the end of her life earlier.


    Although she was in a very pathetic state, she felt it was better to pass away in peace than to survive in


    misery at that instant when she was facing death.


    Carol panted heavily while ring at Isabe. Then, she shouted at the nurse, “You don''t have to give


    her the medications. I want to proceed with the discharge procedures. It''s a waste of money to treat


    this jinx!”


    The nurse nced at Isabe, who was nearly strangled to death, sympathetically. She thought she


    was unlucky to deal with the Walker family members. Nheless, despite how piteous Isabe might


    be, the supply of medication had to stop once the payment was discontinued. After all, the hospital


    wasn''t a charitable organization. Mere sympathy wasn''t helpful or practical at the facility.


    “Mrs. Walker, I don''t have to administer these medications to Ms. Walker, is that right?” the nurse


    asked.


    “That''s right. Take them away. I''m going to settle the discharge procedure right away.”


    The nurse nodded. Then, she exited the room with the medications. Even Isabe''s cries failed to halt


    the nurse.


    “Mom, are you trying to kill me? You supported me when I sessfully tricked Oscar in the past. You


    and Noah acquired plenty of benefits by relying on me back then. Now that this matter is exposed, you


    come here to criticize me. You''ve been the one to profit the most in the past year. Why aren''t you


    mentioning that now?” Isabe uttered angrily while staring at her mother.


    Carol''s face flushed crimson in a fury after she heard that.


    “You jinx! Don''t go around deceiving others if you aren''t sufficiently capable. Do you think I would''ve


    epted the perks if I hadn''t assumed you would marry Oscar? You shouldn''t have been so full of


    yourself when you didn''t have the abilities. The Walker family is going to bankrupt soon because of


    you. You can start begging on the street tomorrow since you look like a tramp now anyway.” With that,


    she left the ward immediately.


    Isabe gazed at the deserted ward in despair. She had schemed for so long just to end up in her


    current wretched state. She thought at least her family members would side with her at the lowest point


    of her life. Unfortunately, she had overestimated her charisma and underestimated the Walker family


    members'' ruthlessness.


    Isabe was brought back to the Walker residence before her limbs recovered. Coincidentally, Noah


    was also released from the police station. Unshaven and disheveled, he appeared rather pathetic.


    When he saw Isabe, he reacted as if he had seen his nemesis.


    “Leave her on the streets for her to be a beggarwoman,” Noah uttered mercilessly.


    The two maids, who were supporting Isabe, exchanged nces and hesitated.


    “Hurry up and do as I say. Send her to the city center to beg there. She looks no different from a tramp


    right now. You two keep an eye on her in secret. Wasn''t she bathing in glory and fame previously? This


    time, I want her to experience what it feels like to be pitied by everyone,” Noah added.


    Carol, carrying stuff into the house from outside, faltered when she heard his speech. Although she


    med Isabe for her recklessness in causing the Walker family''s downfall, thetter was still her


    daughter at the end of the day. She couldn''t bear letting Isabe beg on the streets. Firstly, that news


    would be detrimental to the Walker family''s reputation. Secondly, Isabe was her biological daughter,


    after all.