Chapter 194 Give Mirage Fashion to Marshall
Emily let out a cold mental laugh. Just as she'd expected. She didn't press the issue, simply settling onto the sofa and taking a delicate sip from the water glass Celeste had handed her.
Emily's eyes swept over Celeste with cold amusement, her voice carrying a hint of sarcasm, "Grandma's memory might be failing, but surely Celeste's is still sharp? After all, it wasn't long ago that she managed to worm her way back into Johnson Villa by supposedly saving Grandma's life. After that fake pregnancy scandal and all those other embarrassing incidents, she should have been thrown out on her ear, yet here she is with her lucky streak intact, still playing the devoted wife and mother."
Celeste's body trembled violently, her face turning ashen. She never imagined Emily would humiliate her so publicly.
Simon's expression darkened. He hadn't expected Emily to bring this up so bluntly and quickly tried to smooth things over, "Emily, let's not rehash old issues. Celeste has learned her lesson."
"Learned her lesson?" Emily raised an eyebrow. "I doubt that. After all, anyone who can navigate through all the Johnson family drama and still manage to get you to forgive her time and again; well, Celeste's quite the strategist, isn't she?"
Seeing the atmosphere growing too tense, Erica quickly tried to change the subject, "Emily, you're such a busy woman now! Obscura Fashion has become so successful—you're really bringing honor to the Johnson family! Look at Declan, his business has failed, he has no income, and our whole family is struggling to get by. Could you maybe help us out? We're all family here, and family should help each other."
Emily turned to look at Erica, the coldness in her eyes intensifying.
How could she forget? Back then, Erica had tried to drug her just to curry favor with Zander. Fortunately, she'd been quick-witted enough to turn the tables and let Lucy end up compromised with that sleazy Zander instead.
Erica probably hated her with every fiber of her being, yet here she was putting on this friendly facade just for money. How pathetic.
"Erica, when Declan's business was thriving, he never missed a chance to mock my mother. When Mom was hospitalized, you couldn't even be bothered to visit once. And when I started my business, Grandma was constantly saying I'd never amount to anything because I was just a girl. Now that Declan's business has failed, suddenly you remember we're family? And Erica, have you conveniently forgotten what you tried to do to me? Now you dare to ask for my help? Do you really think I'd lift a finger for you?"
Erica's face turned livid, her eyes filled with venom, though she didn't dare lash out. She was still hoping to get her hands on Simon's Mirage Fashion shares—now was definitely not the time to burn bridges with Emily.
If she antagonized Emily completely now, she'd get nothing.
Declan quickly chimed in, "Come on, Emily, let's not dwell on the past. You've made it big now—you can't forget about family! Erica's right, we're all family here. Help me out, and I promise I'll never forget your kindness."
Lauren finally launched into her main agenda, "Emily, let's put the past behind us. Look at your father, he's worried himself sick over your affairs. Mirage Fashion may have been founded by your mother, but once she married Simon, she became part of the Johnson family, which makes Mirage Fashion a Johnson family asset. Simon's being foolish, thinking he can just hand Mirage Fashion over to you. That's not how things work. Marshall is your family, too, and he doesn't have any business of his own. As his relative, you should help him out."
Lauren's words immediately filled the living room with tension.
Erica immediately jumped in, "Exactly, Emily! Marshall is the eldest son of the Johnson family, and he should inherit the family business! You're just a girl, and holding onto such a large company makes you a target! Transfer the shares to Marshall and let him manage it for you. How much easier would that be!"
Declan chimed in, "Emily, I may have failed in business, but Marshall is different. He's young and driven—he'd definitely manage Mirage Fashion well! Just give him the shares. When the Johnson family prospers, we'll never forget your generosity!"
Celeste also recovered from her earlier panic, coaxing softly, "Emily, I know you have emotional ties to Mirage Fashion, but Marshall is family, surely more trustworthy than outsiders. If you give him the shares, it would put Grandma's mind at ease and keep the family harmonious. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
She was calculating her own benefits. Once Marshall got the Mirage Fashion shares, she could find ways to curry favor with him and eventually profit from the Johnson family.
Or better yet, let Declan's family fight with Emily while she benefited from the chaos.
Either way, all her years of investment couldn't go to waste!
The Johnson family members took turns pressuring Emily, as if her refusal to transfer Mirage Fashion shares to Marshall would be an act of betrayal and heartlessness.
Emily looked at these greedy faces before her, feeling nothing but disgust.
She stood up, her gaze coldly sweeping over everyone, "First of all, Mirage Fashion was built from the ground up by my mother. Every penny, every ounce of effort invested in it has nothing to do with any of you! Second, the Mirage Fashion shares are clearly in my father's hands; instead of approaching him, you're all ganging up to pressure me. Do you think I'm an easy target? Finally, even if all the shares were actually in my possession, you want me to transfer them to Marshall? Never going to happen!"
Lauren slammed her hand on the sofa in fury, "You ungrateful brat! The Johnson family wasted their efforts raising you! Mirage Fashion belongs to the Johnson family by rights; giving it to Marshall is only natural! How dare you refuse?"
Emily laughed coldly, "Grandma, put your hand on your heart and tell me—how much care did you show me growing up? Now that you see Mirage Fashion thriving, you want to snatch it away. Who's the real villain here?"
"You're absolutely unreasonable!" Lauren trembled with rage, pointing at Emily speechlessly.
Just then, Simon, who had been silent throughout, suddenly spoke up, "Enough! Mirage Fashion was Scarlett's legacy to Emily. I've said it before—no one can touch it! Mom, Declan, and Erica, stop scheming after Mirage Fashion. It's not going to happen!"
Simon's words hit the Johnson family like a bucket of cold water.
Erica stared at him in disbelief, "Simon, how can you say that? Marshall is your own nephew! Are you really going to stand by and watch him have nothing?"
"Marshall's future depends on his own efforts, not on stealing what belongs to others! Emily can manage Mirage Fashion well. I have faith in her. From now on, anyone who dares mention transferring Mirage Fashion shares again will answer to me!"
Lauren never expected Simon to protect Emily so fiercely. Her face went pale with rage, "Fine! Fine! None of you cares about family honor! I'm done! I give up on this family!"
With that, she stormed toward the bedroom, acting as if she'd suffered the greatest injustice imaginable.
Erica and Declan exchanged glances, their earlier arrogance completely deflated. They could only sit sullenly on the sofa, faces grim with disappointment.
Celeste watched this scene unfold, anxiety gnawing at her.
With Simon taking such a firm stance, how was she supposed to benefit from the Johnson family now?