Seven Years Broken Chapter 06
Phoebe stopped in her tracks. The familiar warmth she once used when addressing Deanna was gone, replaced by open mockery.
“Deanna, have you ever actually used your brain? Why do you think we’ve given you such favorable terms all these years? Why do you think we were willing to invest in your company when it was just starting out?”
She paused, lowering her voice slightly. “You really thought it was because you were that capable of lucky?
“Let me tell you the truth. We did it all for Mr. Graham’s sake.
“Back then, how many calls did Mr. Graham make behind the scenes to help you start your business? How many guarantees did he personally give us? And you didn’t even know?
“Without him backing you, your company would’ve collapsed a long time ago!”
Her words drained all the color from Deanna’s face.
“That’s impossible… that can’t be true! The orders I secured back then… I earned those myself. They had nothing to do with Corey.”
“Nothing to do with him?” Phoebe let out a cold laugh. “You think that first international contract you landed just fell into your lap?
“Mr. Graham went to his uncle abroad, begged him, and even advanced $50 million out of his own pocket just to secure that deal for you!
“And when your company’s cash flow broke down, who wired $200 million overnight to save you? Mr. Graham.
“To put it plainly, everything you have now was given to you by Mr. Graham. Without him, you’re nothing.”
With that, Phoebe didn’t spare her another glance. She turned and walked away.
Deanna stood frozen in place, her body trembling uncontrollably. Then she suddenly looked up at me.
“Corey, that phone call you made… You weren’t joking, were you? You really told them to cancel the partnerships?
Seeing her like this, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Deanna, are you still dreaming? They’re cutting ties because they know that without me backing you, the Cunninghams can’t stand on its own. All that so-called ability of yours means nothing in front of real capital.”
“No, no, that’s not right!” Deanna suddenly rushed toward me, her voice shaking. “Corey, we’ve been married for seven years. Even if I made a mistake, you can’t treat me like this!
“That company is my life’s work. You can’t destroy it! Call them. Tell them not to cancel. I’m begging you!”
I looked at her panicked expression and felt nothing but amusement.
“Deanna, weren’t you acting so tough just a moment ago? Now you’re begging me? Besides, don’t you still have someone backing you?”
I turned, smiling, toward Darren.
Darren shuddered. Just as he was about to speak, his phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the caller ID and answered in a rush, “Dad? What’s going on? I’m at the Cunninghams’ party.”
Whatever was said on the other end made his face turn paler and paler. All the arrogance from before vanished completely.
“Dad, don’t be mad, I didn’t do anything-
“What? Something happened to the company? How is that possible…
“Dad, listen to me, I didn’t mean to -”
His voice grew weaker and weaker until it trembled on the edge of breaking.
“Dad, please don’t abandon me. I know I was wrong. I’ll fix this right now. Please don’t kick me out of the family, okay?”
The person on the other end clearly had no interest in listening. The call was cut off.
Darren called out “Dad” several more times, his voice cracking. All the color had drained from his face as he collapsed weakly into his chair, completely lost.
