Chapter 597
Sterling Manor.
A black Mercedes pulled to a stop, and Grandma stepped out, supported by her subordinates.
Having just returned defeated from the hospital, her chest was tight with pent-up fury and frustration.
The massive courtyard was luxurious and solemn, but her furious expression made the atmosphere feel heavy and stagnant.
She never expected to walk into the living room and find two figures chatting happily on the sofa.
Helena was nestled in the center of the couch, clutching a phone with an aggressively bright screen.
Sitting opposite her was Celeste.
The two had their heads close together. Celeste’s radiant face beamed with a blinding sense of surprise as her sweet, soft voice rang out.
“See, Helena? I told you Vertex Capital Management is incredible p>
“It really is! At this rate, I’m going to be insanely rich very soon p>
Helena’s eyebrows danced with excitement, completely unable to hide the ecstatic joy plastered across her face.
She would soon be able to buy back the family heirlooms, and even repurchase all those jewels she had been scammed out of.
At that thought, all the gloom from the past few days vanished completely.
The two were so engrossed in their conversation that they failed to notice the icy chill approaching from the doorway.
It wasn’t until Grandma crossed into the living room, carrying a freezing aura, that her sharp gaze locked onto the overjoyed Helena.
Helena was smiling so hard her eyes were practically crinkled shut, right as she opened her mouth to speak.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the figure at the door leaning on a cane.
The excitement on her face was instantly wiped clean, replaced by a look of sheer panic.
She immediately hid the phone behind her back and shot up from the sofa.
“Mom… you’re back p>
Celeste stood up as well, obediently stepping to the side, lowering her head as she greeted, “Grandma p>
At that moment, Grandma’s mind was entirely filled with the frustrating failure at the hospital and her raging fury over Helena’s unauthorized actions.
She didn’t acknowledge either of them.
Her cane slammed heavily against the marble floor as she stormed over to Helena in just a few strides.
Without a word, she raised her hand and delivered a clean, resounding slap directly across Helena’s left cheek.
Smack— The crisp sound echoed loudly.
Everyone’s breath in the living room stopped for a second.
The force of the blow turned Helena’s face aside. A few stray hairs clung messily to the corner of her lips as she looked up at Grandma in terror.
“Mom, what is this p>
Half her face stung with a burning pain, her ears rang, and her eyes filled with shock and grievance. Even her breathing had completely stalled.
“You foolish spendthrift p>
Before Helena could finish her sentence, Grandma’s eyes boiled with rage. Staring her down with a finger practically poking her nose she furiously scolded her.
“Your father-in-law worked so hard: to build everything for the Sterlings! And look at you-letting your ambition swell and secretly handing aver power to outsiders!
Do you think your life is too comfortable? Will you only be satisfied when you’ve dragged yourself and the Sterlings into total disaster and suffered completely p>
Helena knew she was in the wrong, and all her previous arrogance instantly vanished.
She clutched her red, swollen, and burning cheek, her shoulders trembling slightly, not daring to talk back.
Tears quickly welled up in her eyes as she choked back a quiet defense. “Mom, I’m not wasting money, I’m not messing around p>
She anxiously pulled her phone back out.
She shoved the account information showing billions of dollars in profit within a few hours right in front of Grandma’s face.
Her eyes held a glimmer of excitement. “Look! Vertex is incredibly powerful. In just a few hours, they’ve helped me make billions of dollars.
It’s a hundred times faster than the family’s conservative investments. This is real cash p>
The massive numbers jumping on the screen were incredibly tempting and looked undeniably real.
But Grandma just gave it a cold, passing glance.
Not only was she completely unmoved, but the fury in her eyes blazed even brighter.
Grandma let out a cold scoff, backhanding her with another vicious slap.