A Replacement Bride

Chapter 346

Elizabeth frowned with dissatisfaction at her attitude. "Since you're W Co.'s president, why didn't you tell us earlier about it? Your dad got held up for such a long time because of you!"

Katherine nearly laughed aloud when she heard this. How can each of these three people sound more justified than the last? There's a limit to shamelessness, but I guess they have no sense of shame at all. "Grandma, you've wronged me by saying this. None of you have ever mentioned to me what happened to the Levisay Group. And besides, I did marry into the Levisays, but Joaquin isn't in charge of the Levisay Group, so I know nothing about its affairs. How am I supposed to learn that Dad wants to collaborate with W Co.?" She threw her hands up while looking all innocent.

Her words indeed made sense. Unable to find fault with what she had said, Elizabeth had no choice but to keep a straight face and say in a stern voice, "It's not too late for you to know that now. Now that you've moved your company back to Hovington, collaborating with the Levisay Group can help you get established quickly in Hovington, even the entire country. It can only do you good."

Playing good cop to Elizabeth's bad cop, Hera kept on smiling ingratiatingly while coming to Katherine's side. Feigning amiability, she took the latter's hand and patted it gently, saying, "That's right, Kathy. We're supposed to stay united as a family in the first place. It'll be a win-win if our two companies can work together. You know what they say about keeping the goodies within the family. You've got to give such a great opportunity to your own family, right?"

Offended by the woman's touch, Katherine quietly pulled her hand out of her grasp. Resting her elbow on the armrest next to her, she propped her chin in her hand and eyed the woman leisurely without saying a word.

Unable to gauge her mood, Hera had no choice but to shoot a glance at John.

Taking the hint from her, John said reluctantly at last, "Don't worry, Katherine. I'm Joaquin's dad, so as long as you're willing to collaborate with the Levisay Group, I definitely won't let you and Joaquin get the short end of the stick. I've decided to give Joaquin five more percent of the Levisay Group's shares. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Joaquin smiled a half smile with a cool expression. "That's a rare magnanimous gesture from you, Dad. I remember that Robert holds 20 percent of the Levisay Group's shares without having to do anything, no? I've had only five percent shares over these years. Now that you're willing to give me five more percent to secure a collaboration with W Co., I'm so touched," he replied in a sarcastic manner that showed his scorn for the shares. Why would I care about these shares? I couldn't even care less about the Levisay Group! This is property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

John's face froze. The next instant, he knitted his brows, chiding, "How could you compare yourself with your brother?!"

Hera also gnashed her teeth in anger inwardly when she heard this. At first, she'd been very dissatisfied with the decision, but she had no choice but to compromise for the sake of the Levisay Family's glory in order for her and Robert to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. Since Robert hadn't been showing any signs of recovery, he might never get better in the future, so she had to plan for his future. As for the shares, even though they're given to Joaquin, it's not impossible to get them back once the Levisay Group doesn't have to rely on W Co. anymore!

Just when she was thinking to herself, Joaquin replied with a snorting laugh, "Yeah, I can't compare myself with Robert. He's already a cripple, after all."

Provoked by such words at once, Hera immediately stood up and glared at Joaquin fiercely, wishing she could step forward and tear his mouth to pieces.

Elizabeth and John's faces darkened, too.

At the sight of this, Katherine unhurriedly got up. "Why are you getting all worked up in the midst of a conversation? We're a family. Can't we talk nicely to each other?" she said with a half-smile, using Hera's own words against the trio. Then, she cut the Gordian knot by saying in a businesslike tone, "Dad, it's not that I'm not willing to do you the favor, but I'm not the only person who makes decisions in the company, where everything has to follow some sort of a procedure. What about this? I'll give you the phone number of the head of the project department, so if you have something to talk about, you can communicate with him directly. As for whether our companies can collaborate, that depends on the Levisay Group's performance. That being said, I have had my hands full moving the company back to the country lately, so I can't say for sure when you'll get a reply. You've got to be patient; just wait for some time and perhaps you'll get a reply."

The instant she said so, Elizabeth was the first to voice her strong dissatisfaction. "How could you ask your dad to wait?! Would anyone do such a thing as you did? How could you be unable to make decisions on such a trifling matter as the company's president? In my opinion, it's just because you don't want to!"

Hera dropped all pretense, too; she revealed her acidic side while echoing Elizabeth. "That's right! Whom are you attempting to fool with such an excuse? Katherine, do you think we're pleading to collaborate with you? We just thought you were a member of our family and wanted to lend you a helping hand! How dare you not appreciate our kindness when all we wanted was to help you gain a firm foothold in Hovington as soon as possible! Don't forget that the Levisay Group is a leading enterprise with some authority in Hovington! Now that we're willing to help you, you should've accepted it with gratitude. Don't think you can put on airs in front of us just because you're W Co.'s president! At the end of the day, you're our daughter-in-law, and it's only proper to obey your elders!"

Tsk, tsk. Turning hostile as soon as we can't talk things out, eh? This trio is so unpredictable. Katherine blinked her eyes.

Just as she wanted to say something, Joaquin dragged her behind him. "Obey our elders, eh?" He touched the inside of his left cheek with the tip of his tongue as his eyes narrowed. "Seems like you guys have forgotten that I've never obeyed you all despite being the son of the family. Why does my wife have to obey you guys? When did she ever need you all to teach her how to do things here? She can do whatever she wants. Now that you've come and said whatever you have to say, there's nothing else for us to talk about, so get out of here right now! Or do you want to embarrass yourselves further by staying here?"

Not expecting him to say that, the Levisay trio instantly turned livid and then purple with rage. "You…" Elizabeth started gasping for breath. "What an ingrate! I think you've forgotten which family you came from!"

John was exasperated as well. "Joaquin! What good would it do you to go against the Levisays?"

Joaquin's lips curled into a smirk. "It wouldn't do me any good, but it's fine as long as it makes me happy."

Seeing how explosive the situation was, Katherine raised an eyebrow before stepping out from behind Joaquin with a plastic smile. "Dad, Mom, Grandma, please don't be angry. Such is the kind of temper Joaquin has, so let's ignore him. I understand what you guys meant, but W Co. has a rule where all collaborations have to be done according to the procedure. As the company president, I have to set a good example. And besides, I believe that the Levisay Group can surely get approved by W Co. with its capabilities. Dad, don't you think so too?"

Naturally, John couldn't deny what she said.

Knowing that she wouldn't agree to it, the Levisay trio exchanged glances with one another. Having no alternative, they had no choice but to leave with sullen expressions.