Chapter 10: Rogue!

No matter how she thought about it, Samantha Huntington never expected that not only would her father not support her, but he would even try to play the peacemaker. A bitter taste welled up in her heart as she bit down hard on the inside of her lower lip. She firmly declared, "I can't. Just seeing him makes me want to vomit, let alone getting back together with him." Seeing that he seemed to have more to say, Samantha Huntington further stated, "It's over between us, Dad. I don't want to talk about this anymore."

Jeremy Huntington was very dissatisfied with her reaction and was just about to speak when a knock on the door interrupted them. "Dad, Sis, dinner is ready. Come out to eat?" There were some things that couldn't be said in front of his younger daughter, so Jeremy Huntington used the armrests of his chair to push himself up and told Samantha Huntington, "Let's eat first. We'll talk later."

Following him out of the study, before they even reached the dining room, Samantha Huntington caught a whiff of the pungent smell of seafood. She furrowed her brows, forcing herself to suppress the nausea as she walked to the dining room door, where the table was indeed laden with fish, shrimp, and crabs. "Baobao, come sit. Tonight's dinner is quite a feast, isn't it?" Hilda Alerander greeted her warmly, pretending to be accommodating.

Standing at the doorway, Samantha Huntington's face was unusually cold. A feast, indeed! Unfortunately, it was all food she despised! Her mother had died in a car accident involving a truck full of seafood. When she went to identify the body, her mother was covered in squids and crabs. That scene was etched in her mind, and ever since then, she couldn't bear to eat or even look at seafood. Hilda Alerander knew this perfectly well! Preparing such a lavish seafood dinner was clearly meant to upset her!

She raised her icy gaze and stared straight at the woman, who still wore a kind expression. "Aunt Qin, what do you mean by this?"

Hilda Alerander looked startled, her expression one of panic. "N-nothing, Baobao. Your father's health isn't good, so I specially bought these to nourish him. What... what's wrong?"

Huh! Another excuse to drive a wedge between her and her father! "If Aunt Qin has forgotten, I’ll remind you again: my mother was killed by a seafood truck. If you aren't trying to drive me away, don't make such dishes when I'm here," Samantha Huntington said coldly, holding onto the door frame. "I have something to attend to, I’ll be leaving now."

At the mention of his deceased wife, Jeremy Huntington's face changed, but he chose to ignore the topic, instead ordering coldly, "What could possibly be so urgent during dinner time? Sit down!"

Jeremy Huntington seemed very displeased with her, his words laced with anger. Perhaps his health really wasn't good, for after speaking, he began to cough violently. Samantha Huntington didn't want to argue with him and tried to stay calm. "The company just called, I need to go back."

As if on cue, her phone rang. Samantha Huntington, grasping at the lifeline, answered without checking who it was. Oliver Donald's cold voice soon came through. "Where are you?"

"I... I'm already on my way. I’ll be at the company soon," Samantha Huntington replied, not wanting anyone to hear the tension in her voice.

Oliver Donald found her answer strange but didn't bother to ask more, simply commanding, "Half an hour. I’ll wait for you at home."

Given the current situation, Samantha Huntington would rather face Oliver Donald's torment than deal with Hilda Alerander and her daughter. As she headed towards the door, changing her shoes, she replied, "Okay, I’ll be there soon. Don't rush me."

On the other end, Oliver Donald, hearing her impatience, felt very annoyed and threatened, "One minute late, one extra punishment."

The intimidating aura from Oliver Donald's voice made Samantha Huntington shiver. Not daring to delay, she hurriedly opened the door and left. Seeing her determined to go, Jeremy Huntington angrily threw his chopsticks on the table. Hilda Alerander, noticing this, comforted him and then took Bertha Huntington's hand, saying, "Come, let's see your sister off."

Though reluctant, Bertha Huntington, remembering the conversation she overheard outside the study, followed her mother. As Samantha Huntington, having hung up the call, adjusted her shoes and was about to head downstairs, Hilda Alerander stopped her. "Wait, Baobao." She pulled Bertha Huntington along, her expression serious. "Your father hasn't told you yet, but the company is facing financial problems. If we can't get through this, the company will be finished."

Samantha Huntington paused. The company was built by her mother, though it bore their family name, it was truly her mother's legacy. Ten years had passed; the furniture and locks had been replaced, but the company was the last connection to her mother. Clutching her bag, she asked coldly, "Why did this happen?"

"Well, you know, your father never tells me much about the company, but this time it's serious. He fell ill overnight, and I only found out from his secretary that it's a financial issue, possibly due to cash flow problems," Hilda Alerander sighed, hesitating before adding, "Originally, your father hoped to rely on the Priestley family's support, but now that you’ve broken up with Edward Priestley..."

So, that's why she was trying to reconcile her with Edward Priestley! Realizing this, Samantha Huntington felt even more frustrated. She wondered, in her father's eyes, what did she really mean? Was she just a tool to save the company?

Pretending not to notice her sadness and anger, Bertha Huntington, following her mother's lead, feigned concern. "Sis, please understand Dad. Reconcile with Brother Edward Priestley? I know he broke up with you, but have you considered your own part in it? The girl he's with now must have a good personality and figure..."

Realizing she might have said too much, she covered her mouth, satisfied to see Samantha Huntington's face darken, before returning to the main point. "Sis, no matter what, you and Brother Edward Priestley were together for so long. Surely there's a chance to get back together? For the sake of our family's future, why don't you try to find him again?"

"Enough! Bertha Huntington, if you like such a scumbag who plays around with women, go find him yourself. Don't pretend to be compassionate here!" Samantha Huntington shouted, taking two steps forward and looking at Hilda Alerander and her daughter, adding, "And if the company goes under, if you truly consider yourselves family, start over with Dad, just like Mom did."

"Insolent!" With Jeremy Huntington's angry shout, Samantha Huntington looked up to see a dirty ashtray flying towards her.