hapter 148
Hudson looked at Ivana and asked, “What’s your idea?”
Ivana’s eyes lit up. She leaned in close to Hudson and whispered something.
After a moment, Hudson’s expression became tender. With a smile, he nodded in agreement, saying, “Okay, we’ll do it your .way.”
After the problem was temporarily solved, the atmosphere among the three became a bit lighter.
Molly looked at Hudson with concern and said, “Honey, you’re hurt so badly. Should we go to the hospital? I feel terrible seeing you like this.”
Molly struggled to hold back her resentment towards Hudson.
Hudson touched the wounds on his face and shook his head, saying, “No, it’s just a scratch.”
In his heart, he cursed, ‘Damn, it really hurts!‘
Going to the hospital would cost money, and right now, Hudson didn’t have much to spend.
Hudson gestured towards the necklace on the table and instructed Molly resolutely, “Sell all similar items at home and hand over the proceeds to me. I need the money immediately.”
Ivana’s expression changed as she was about to refuse, but Molly quickly grabbed her arm.
Molly nodded in response to Hudson and said, “Okay, we got it.”
Hudson looked better, and he called out to Ivana, “Go get the first aid kit and patch me up.”
Ivana suppressed her frustration, agreed, and obediently brought the first aid kit. After tending to Hudson’s wounds, she went upstairs feeling upset.
Then Ivana walked into her room and took out all the jewelry from the safe, putting each piece on with a sense of reluctance.
She wondered, ‘Do I really have to sell them?‘
Tears welled up in Ivana’s eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
These treasures had been in Ivana’s collection for a long time.
At this moment, there was a knock on the door.
Ivana quickly put all the jewelry back into the safe, wiped away her tears, and went to open the door.
As the door opened, Ivana saw Molly standing there with a gloomy look.
Molly cautiously glanced towards the master bedroom to confirm that Hudson hadn’t noticed her. Once sure, she walked in and closed the door behind her.
Ivana’s tears fell again, and she lowered her head, upset, saying, Mom, I don’t want to sell those jewels.”
These things were so precious to Ivana.
Molly gently squeezed Ivana’s arm and softly comforted her, “We’re not selling them.”
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Molly hadn’t obtained the shares of the Stout Group, but the jewelry was really here. She knew how difficult it would be to get them back once sold.
Ivana looked at Molly, a bit worried, and murmured, “But Dad..
If they didn’t sell the jewelry, how could they explain it to Hudson?
The way Hudson looked tonight clearly showed he wanted money.
Molly’s expression turned cold as she said seriously, “Ignore him for now. Even if we have to sell the jewelry, we can’t sell everything. He has no clue how much jewelry I’ve saved over the years.”
Molly wouldn’t sell everything she had.
With Molly’s reassurance, Ivana felt a bit more at ease.
Ivana nodded and said, “Okay.”
Holding Ivana’s hand, Molly voiced her worry, “I keep feeling like something has happened with your dad lately. Be cautious at the company, and tell me if anything comes up.”
This time, it seemed Hudson requested the money for some hidden motive.
Ivana nodded seriously and said, “Mom, I see.”
Molly noticed something was wrong, and Ivana also sensed there was something unusual about the whole situation.
Molly thought for a moment and looked at Ivana’s safe, still feeling uneasy. Frowning, she continued to Ivana, “It’s safer to store these things in a bank.”
Molly’s heart raced with a wild pounding, as she sensed a premonition that something significant was imminent.
Ivana had no doubts about her intuition, sure that keeping things at home wasn’t the safest choice.
Ivana nodded at Molly, stepping forward and hugging her tightly. She said, “Mom, Dad really scared me.”
Hudson never used to ask anything about money.
Now, he wanted Molly and Ivana to sell their jewelry and even hit Molly.
His behaviors made Ivana feel quite anxious.
Molly gently patted Ivana on the back, reassuring her, “Don’t worry. I’m here with you, and everything will be fine.”
Whatever Hudson intended to do, Molly wouldn’t allow their interests to be interfered with.
The entire Stout residence was enveloped in a heavy and tense atmosphere.
However, Isabella was in good spirits.
In the oak–adorned room at Riverside Villa, Isabella finished arranging the last fresh flower in a vase and then stood up to place it on a cabinet.
The evening breeze came in, carrying the faint scent of flowers through the room.
Just as Isabella put the vase down, her phone suddenly rang.
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She glanced at it and answered right away.
3
Before Isabella could say anything, George’s excited voice came through first, “Hudson got beaten up by Dominic. His head’s so swollen it looks like a pig’s head.”
George had wanted to beat Hudson for a long time.
However, since Hudson was Isabella’s father, he didn’t hurt Hudson.
With Dominic stepping in this time, George was overjoyed.
Isabella was a little surprised and asked, “How did you know?”
She was surprised by Dominic’s quick action this time.
Isabella had thought it would take at least a few more days before Dominic did anything, but it seemed once she stirred things up, Dominic just couldn’t hold back anymore.
Now, George was reclining on a chair, swirling his glass of wine with a smug smile, and saying, “Of course, you’re talking to the great me.”
His arrogant tone made Isabella roll her eyes.
George took a sip of his wine and said cheerfully, “Today, Hudson went to Golden Glory Casino, and Dominic set a trap for him. He lost over 60 million dollars and got beaten up too. Quite unfortunate, really.”
Isabella frowned slightly and thought, ‘How could he get so much money?‘
Hudson had been overseeing the Stout Group for many years, simultaneously diverting some funds for his personal use.
However, he conducted these activities covertly and was able to accumulate only a modest sum, no more than approximately 30 million dollars, which moved through his accounts.
How could he pay over 60 million dollars?
George was puzzled by Isabella’s silence and asked, “What, feeling sorry for him?”
He kind of understood because Hudson was Isabella’s father after all.
However, Isabella sneered and said firmly, “Sorry? Even though he’s my father, we’ve been estranged for years. Whether he’s doing well or not doesn’t affect me at all.”
She didn’t care that Hudson had lost over 60 million dollars and gotten beaten up.
Even if Hudson dropped dead before Isabella’s eyes now, it probably wouldn’t cause a stir in her heart.
The things Hudson had done over the years had long made Isabella lose all hope.
The outrageous things Hudson had done were much worse than gambling.
George wiped the teasing smile off his face, feeling a pang of sympathy. He had witnessed how Hudson had treated Isabella over the years.
George sighed gently and comforted Isabella, assuring her, “Don’t worry. The bad guys will face their karma. What’s happening between Hudson and Dominic is only just beginning
Isabella nodded in agreement and said, “Yeah, I see.”
What Isabella really wanted to know now was how Hudson managed to obtain the 60 million dollars.
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George put down his glass and stood up from the sofa, saying, “I called you tonight to share this good news. That’s all. Good night!”
Isabella replied softly, “Good night.”
They exchanged a few more words before hanging up.
Isabella held the phone, her expression getting colder and colder.
It seemed she needed to keep a close eye on Hudson these days. If he dared to use the company’s funds, she wouldn’t spare him.
Just as Isabella turned to take a shower, her phone suddenly rang.
