Chapter 834
“What?” Madeline couldn’t believe what she just heard.
Callum had been planning to completely destroy the Tall family for a long time, but he was suddenly willing to offer them a way out.
“I can lend the Tall family a sum of money, at least enough to secure the Sunshine City project during this crisis,” Callum said.
Madeline’s mind raced as she thought, “Does Callum mean that apart from Sunshine City, the Tall family would lose everything else in this crisis? In that case, the Tall family would not be a prestigious family anymore, and all of our assets would be confiscated.”
However, if they could hold onto Sunshine City, there might still be a chance for the Tall family to turn things around.
“Why would you help the Tall family? What’s your real motive?” Madeline inquired directly. She was aware that Callum’s offer of such a condition was part of a larger plan.
“My purpose is to call off our engagement,” Callum explained.
When Madeline heard that, she let out a mocking laugh. “Call off the engagement? You are still worried that you will not be able to cancel the engagement now that the Tall family is in this state?”
“I want you to publicly state to the media that we have mutually agreed to annul the engagement, and you must also clear Lillian’s name, given that you caused her to bear such disgrace previously,” Callum said coldly. “You-” Madeline suddenly came to a realization. Her eyes gradually widened as an idea flashed through her mind. “Could it be that you are using Sunshine City to bargain with me for Lillian’s sake?”
“Of course. Otherwise, how could I offer the Tall family a solution like this? Callum stated.
Madeline was filled with shock. She could not believe Callum would give up a few billion dollars in profit for Lillian.
He had devised such a grand scheme that, theoretically, could have completely destroyed the Tall family, but for the sake of a woman, he was willing to sacrifice those profits and even leave the Tall family a way out, which could cause him further trouble in the
future.
Madeline began to feel that she was losing the ability to comprehend the man in front of her.
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“Are you really going to give up such easily obtained profits just for a woman?” she asked.
When Callum heard that, he gave Madeline a cold stare but did not say anything. No one could ever take Lillian’s place in his heart.
Lillian was his entire world.
For Lillian’s sake, he could offer the Tall family a way out, but the Tall family would have to pay a price for what they had done to Lillian in the past.
“I am just going to let the Tall family off for the time being. In the future, I will make things worse for them!” he thought.
“Just do what you are told. There will be a good show tomorrow, and you must cooperate,” Callum said, breaking the silence.
Madeline’s face turned pale. She had gone from being a proud and confident woman to a pawn at the mercy of others.
Even though Callum had not directly responded to her earlier, she had already figured out the answer.
Callum had indeed sacrificed significant interests and provided a lifeline to the Tall family for the sake of Lillian. “What is so special about Lillian that he went to such lengths for her?” she wondered.
All of a sudden, Madeline recalled him being covered in dirt, holding a blood-soaked Lillian in his arms, and kneeling in front of her, pleading, “Please, save Lillian! I will give up everything if you are willing to save her.”
Back then, Callum lowered himself to the extreme.
At that time, Callum meant nothing to Madeline. He was nothing more than an illegitimate child who had finally seized control of the White family but was a loser in the internal power struggle.
The only support Callum had was from Madeline and the Tall family. She was the one in command and made the decision. Callum would only have a future if she chose him.
Madeline also promised Callum that, in exchange for him ending his relationship with Lillian and staying with her instead, she would save Lillian.
Perhaps she was more determined to conquer him because he had never shown any interest in her.
And now, for the first time, she was envious of Lillian.
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Lillian was the only person Callum had in mind, which made her jealous. As she watched Callum about to turn and leave, Madeline suddenly raised her voice and said, “Callum, do you really think you can still be with Lillian? Five years ago, it was already impossible for you two to be together.”
Callum’s footsteps were steady as if those words had no impact on him whatsoever.
Only when his figure disappeared from Madeline’s field of vision did she suddenly collapse to the ground, feeling utterly powerless.
Even if the Tall family managed to survive, they would never be the same again. All she could do was postpone their fall, provide them with a safe haven, and then hope for a second chance in the future.
“Tomorrow is the day I will be truly humiliated. It irritates me just thinking about having to put on an act tomorrow to clear Lillian’s name, but I have no other choice,” Madeline grumbled inwardly.
Shortly after, Callum’s car slowly left the mansion.
The driver in the front asked, “Mr. White, are we heading back to the hotel where you’re staying?”
Callum, however, instructed the driver to go to the residential area where Lillian was staying.
The driver acknowledged that and drove the car in that direction.
Next, Callum closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat, feeling thoroughly exhausted.
Throughout his life, he had been tired. When he was younger, he toiled away studying everything in order to gain his father’s approval and assuage his mother’s concerns.
He had to make the most of every opportunity he was given because he was an illegitimate child and had to hide his true nature, emotions, and ambitions.
Because of that, he had walked on thin ice since he was a child, always having to plan ahead.
Only in front of Lillian could he truly relax and let go of all the deception, intrigue, and conspiracies.
Perhaps plotters like him were drawn to those who were innocent and passionate.
3/4
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As a result, it was no surprise that he had fallen in love with her so quickly, to the point where, after she had left without saying anything, he searched for her all over the world.
Nonetheless, he could not help but wonder if he and Lillian had a future.
He was in a dire situation five years ago, and he was still in a precarious situation at the moment.
Callum lowered his gaze to his hands for a long moment, thinking, “Perhaps it is just like Madeline said. I have not been worthy of Lillian since five years ago.”
It was not until the driver said, “Mr. White, we have arrived,” that Callum realized they had arrived at Lillian’s residential area.
