NOVEL NEXT Chapter 10: CHAPTER 10
Isaac, trembling with fury, felt his vision blur as he struggled to breathe. Regina clung to his arm, fears threatening to spill.
"Honey, maybe we should go and beg V Group. I'll go with you," she said. "We have to convince them to give us back our management rights, no matter what—even if it means making only a fraction of what we used to."
She knew that nearly ninety percent of the Murphy family's wealth came from their partnership with V Group. Losing that partnership meant losing their status and financial security, a thought Regina couldn't bear.
Isaac clenched his jaw and finally nodded. "Fine. We'll go together."
"If they refuse…" he said, abruptly getting to his feet, "I'll end it right there in front of them."
He pointed at his assistant, Micah Barnes. "You're coming with us. And if we don't get those rights back, you're out."
Micah, a 25-year-old distant relative, hadn't made it into any decent universities and ended up at some shady diploma mill abroad. Since graduating, he had been working for Isaac, fully aware that his limited skills made him dependent on the Murphy Group. If they sank, he'd go down with them.
Micah scrambled to gather his tablet and belongings. "Yes, Mr. Murphy," he said, rushing after Isaac and Regina.
Just as they reached the door, they ran into Zoe and Andrew. Isaac waved them off, saying, "Make yourselves at home. I've got urgent business to handle, but I'll be back soon."
After a few steps, he paused and turned back to Zoe with a reassuring smile. "Zoe, let your parents know there's been a small misunderstanding with V Group, but we'll have it sorted out soon. Nothing to worry about."
Zoe forced a smile. "Of course, Mr. Murphy."
In the city, wealthy families often arranged marriages to secure their social positions. The Murphys had started out middle-class but had risen fast in the past decade, becoming the second-wealthiest family after the Harpers—and they were poised to overtake them.
If the Murphys lost their main source of income, it was unclear if the Murray and Harper families would still be interested in a marriage alliance. From that angle, Zoe was just as anxious about the Murphys' chances of winning back V Group.
Once Isaac and Regina left, Zoe and Andrew moved into the living room, exchanging uneasy glances as they reflected on the humiliation they'd faced earlier and the Murphys' impending crisis.
After a moment, Andrew pulled out his phone. "I've made a lot of connections since I got back. I'll see if anyone can help us get in touch with V Group."
Zoe smiled sweetly. "You're a rising star. I'm sure plenty of people would love to do you a favor."
Though Andrew was still an up-and-coming actor, he carried himself with the confidence of an A-lister. He flashed her a cocky smile at her words and stepped out into the garden to make his calls.
Watching him go, Zoe muttered, "If only your brains were as sharp as your looks, but…"
Zoe sighed, her frustration mounting as thoughts of Avery crept into her mind. "V Group won't even notice you. People will laugh at how clueless you are if you try to reach out. I can't even bring myself to tell you that.
"Every time I run into Avery, everything goes wrong! I almost had a car accident on the way here, and now the Murphys are in crisis. She's a jinx! Everyone who crosses her path suffers!
"If I'm going down, she's coming with me!"
Zoe's eyes gleamed with malice as she pulled out her phone and sent an anonymous email to a private investigator she had hired before.
The reply came quickly: [I'll have photos and videos of the Carter family within three days.]
Zoe deleted the emails, a wicked smile spreading across her face.
Back in school, everyone praised Avery as the most beautiful and intelligent girl. She had no shortage of admirers, but once pictures and videos of the Carters' poverty started circulating, Zoe was confident no affluent family would still consider her a suitable match.
"Of course, some might play around with her. But marry her? Their families would never allow it," Zoe thought, smirking.
---
When news broke that V Group had severed ties with the Murphy Group, Alexander Moran was the first to be informed.
"Mr. Moran, should we reach out to V now?" Louis asked.
Alexander remained calm. "No need to rush. First, find out why V made this move."
"Everyone's scrambling to contact V Group. Aren't you worried we might miss our chance?" Louis pressed.
Alexander crossed his arms, his gaze steady. "V Group is notorious for being unpredictable. They work with those who catch their eye and discard those who don't. The key to securing their partnership is understanding and catering to their interests."
Louis nodded. "Understood. I'll investigate the reasons behind their break with the Murphy Group."
Alexander turned his attention to the window. "In the meantime, go to Harmony Hospital."
---
In the VIP ward at Harmony Hospital, Avery sat by her grandmother's bed, meticulously reviewing the medical reports from the past few days. Her grandmother remained unconscious, occasionally waking but only briefly and mumbling incoherently.
Avery had instructed the caregiver to alert her whenever her grandmother showed signs of waking. However, these brief moments of consciousness were so fleeting that her grandmother was usually asleep again when Avery arrived. Considering this, Avery contemplated moving into the hospital for a while.
She was lost in thought when the attending physician, Jack Kingston, entered.
"Miss Carter," Jack greeted her politely. "Mr. Alexander Moran would like to see you."
Avery blinked in surprise. "Alexander Moran? The renowned Alexander Moran?" she asked, her mind immediately picturing the prominent figure.
Jack nodded. "Yes, that's right."
Avery wasn't flustered or excited about meeting such a prominent figure. Instead, she was puzzled. "Why does he want to see me?"
Jack explained, "He learned that Dr. Annie personally led the team that performed surgery on your grandmother a month ago. He's hoping you can help him reach out to Dr. Annie for treatment for a family member."
Avery had dealt with similar requests recently and immediately shook her head. "Dr. Annie mentioned she wouldn't be taking on new patients for a year. You know this, Dr. Kingston, so I'm afraid I can't help him."
Jack nodded in understanding. "I did explain that to him, but he's still hoping you'll give him ten minutes of your time. If you still decide not to help after those ten minutes, he promises not to trouble you again."
Jack hesitated before adding earnestly, "Mr. Moran has donated over 20 million dollars to Harmony Hospital, saving the lives of countless children and elderly patients. He's been a tremendous benefactor.
"If it's not too much trouble, Miss Carter, I hope you can spare him those ten minutes."