Chapter 552

*At the Brennan residence.*
“Unison Pharma will cave,” Lauren said with a cold smirk. Did Anastasia really think a couple of minor victories had turned her into a pushover? The same way she’d been kicked out, she would be invited back with full honors.
Penny, who knew nothing about business, beamed at her daughter’s confidence. “That’s right!” she chimed in. “Anastasia is the one begging now. When she sends someone to ask you back, don’t you agree too easily. Make some demands! Tell her to give you the chairwoman position!”
“It’s a huge company! You’re Cecilia’s daughter too. Why should she get everything?” Penny’s eyes glinted with greed. “Once you’re in charge, you can give her a few thousand a year in dividends. That’s more than fair.”
Lauren found her mother’s petty scheming embarrassing, but she couldn’t deny the logic. *She’s right. I’m Cecilia’s daughter, too. Why should Anastasia get it all?
*
As they were plotting, a housekeeper knocked on the door. “Ms. Lauren, someone
is here to see you. They said they’re from Unison Pharma.”
Lauren and Penny exchanged triumphant smiles. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs.net
“They’re here already?” Lauren stood, her voice laced with contempt. “I really overestimated Anastasia’s nerve.”
She went downstairs to find the entire Brennan family, minus Juliet who was at school, gathered in the living room.
“Why is someone from Unison Pharma here to see you?” Mr. Brennan asked, his gaze sharp. “I thought I told you to cut ties with them.”
Lauren lowered her eyes demurely. “I have, Grandfather.”
“Then what do they want?”
“Perhaps,” Lauren said casually, “Anastasia wants to invite me back.”
“What? Invite you back?” The Brennans stared at her in disbelief. After the hospital incident, the two were practically at war. Anastasia should have been relieved to have Lauren out of the company.
“Oh, I know what this is about!” Penny announced proudly. “Anastasia doesn’t have a clue how to run a company. Now there’s some important conference coming up, and she can’t handle it, so of course she has to come crawling to our Lauren for help!”
Mr. Brennan looked at Lauren for confirmation.
“That’s correct,” she said.
Just then, the housekeeper led the visitors in. The man in the lead was Sean. Lauren recognized him. Seeing him in person only confirmed her suspicions. Anastasia had sent her top aide to personally invite her back.
In front of the entire Brennan family, Lauren was determined to make them see that no matter how much they looked down on her in, the end it was Anastasia who would have to bow to her. She adopted a cool, aloof posture and spoke before Sean could. “I will return, but on one condition-”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Brennan, what are you talking about?” Sean interrupted, a strange, polite smile on his face.
Lauren’s expression hardened. “Aren’t you here to invite me back to the company?” she snapped, about to say she didn’t have time for games, when Sean’s voice cut her off again, feigning surprise.
“Invite you back? Whatever gave you that idea? We’re not here to invite anyone. We’re here to serve you with a court summons.”
A court summons? The Brennans all turned to stare.
Lauren’s face went rigid. “What did you say?!”
“A court summons,” Sean repeated with a smile, holding out the documents. “For corporate espionage and attempted extortion. Please take it, Ms. Brennan.”
“What court summons? What has our Lauren done?!” Penny shrieked, rushing forward.
The other Brennans frowned. “What is the meaning of this?” Why was Lauren being sued?
“Ms. Brennan herself should know the answer to that,” Sean said, then kindly explained the situation for the rest of the family. “Two years ago, Ms. Brennan began an internship at Unison Pharma and joined a critical research project. Over these two years, the company has invested immense resources into this project,
which was about to bear fruit.”
“However, Ms. Brennan decided to steal all the confidential data, claiming it as her own. She then attempted to blackmail the company, demanding she be reinstated —preferably as chairwoman—in exchange for its return.”
Sean’s smile was pleasant, but his words were chilling. “Our chairwoman, however, doesn’t respond well to threats. She said that if some people have no
shame, then perhaps a stint in prison will give them time to reflect.”
His speech hung in the air. Lauren felt as if she’d been stripped naked in front of her entire family. Her face burned with shame and fury. *How dare she?* she thought wildly. Sue me? What about the new erug? Has Anastasia lost her mind?*
***