A Replacement Bride

Chapter 345

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?"

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

knitted his brows, chiding, "How could you compare yourself

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

a snorting laugh, "Yeah, I can't compare myself with Robert. He's already a cripple, after

up and glared at Joaquin fiercely, wishing she could step

John's faces

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

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

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

hostile as soon as we can't talk things out, eh? This trio is so