Chapter 83: Moral Blackmail

Chapter 83: Moral Blackmail

Fortunately, it wasn't anything serious. Donna picked up her medicine and went home to rest. Edward was still at work. Donna lay comfortably on the sofa with snacks on her left, her phone on her right, and an interesting soap opera playing on the TV across from her. She scrolled through videos, laughing so hard she couldn't stop.

Until Peter called.

"Donna, I'm right outside your door. If you don't let your own father in, there'll probably be a lot of gossip tomorrow, which won't be good for your husband either."

Peter threatened Donna. He was betting that she and Edward cared about their reputation and wouldn't really leave him standing outside.

Donna hung up and got up from the sofa, waiting for Peter to come in.

"What do you want?"

Peter stood there. Donna neither asked him to sit down nor offered him water, which made his expression look terrible.

"I taught you manners when you were little. How have you forgotten everything now?"

Donna still didn't move.

"You also said it depends on whether the person is worth it."

Clearly, in Donna's eyes, Peter was not worth it.

Peter had already prepared himself to be upset by Donna. He put aside his pride and sat down on his own, casually pulling out cigarettes and a lighter. Donna immediately shot him a look.

"If you want to smoke, go outside."

Edward never smoked casually at home. Donna didn't like the smell. But back at The Jackson Manor, Peter loved to smoke, whether in the living room or dining room. He never cared about the setting. Perhaps in Peter's mind, he was the boss in that house and could do whatever he wanted.

Peter was unhappy, but since he came to ask Donna for help today, he had to put the cigarettes back.

"Donna, I've run into some trouble. Can you help me out?"

Donna propped her head up with one hand, her face expressionless.

"I can't help, and besides, given our current relationship, even if I did help you, do you think it would be sincere?"

Peter sensed an opening.

"You don't need to do anything, just give me five million dollars."

The Jackson Group wasn't what it used to be. Otherwise, he wouldn't be begging people for a mere five million dollars, especially not Donna, whom he had always looked down on.

But the company needed this money to get started. The rest of the company's money had already been invested in Maya's retail store, which hadn't broken even yet. He could get a bank loan, but wouldn't he have to pay that back?

"Five million dollars? I don't have a cent. As far as I know, the Jackson Group should still have a few deals. If you transfer them to someone else, you could get back more than five million dollars, right? Or you could mortgage the house you're living in now and get a five-million-dollar loan from the bank. There's no need to ask me for money."

Donna had always had her eye on the house Peter was living in now. It was the wedding house that her grandfather gave to Nola. When the company was being liquidated, Peter refused to split the house with Donna, no matter what. Donna had no way to deal with it at the time.

"Are you even my daughter? You took so much money from me, and I'm only asking you for five million dollars, and you won't give it? I spent so much money on you when you were young. Don't I deserve any return?"

Peter got defensive and angry. Donna found it quite amusing.

"Are you here to settle accounts with me today? What about the money my mom spent on you? That was way more than what you spent on me, right? And you used that money to keep mistresses everywhere. I've never seen such a shameless father. If I lend you five million dollars, you probably won't really pay me back, will you?"

"It's only five million dollars. With your current wealth and Edward backing you, what does this little bit of money matter? You're just standing by and watching me die. Aren't you afraid of damaging your reputation? The Russell family cares most about reputation. Be careful, you don't lose your position as Mrs. Russell."

Peter was still threatening her. Donna couldn't quite understand his thinking. He came to ask her for help, but he still put himself in a superior position without any sincerity.

"If you're here to say these things, then I'll have to ask you to leave."

Seeing that threatening Donna with the Russell family didn't move her, Peter immediately changed to a kind expression.

"Donna, I used to love you very much. Your food, clothing, and living standards were very high in our circle. I sent you to learn whatever instrument you wanted. Even during the company's most difficult period, I didn't let your standard of living drop. Everyone saw this. Now that I'm in trouble, are you, my daughter, going to just stand by? If I spread this around, what do you think people will say about you?"

Peter was very good at putting on a show. What he said was just to show off in front of others. The instrument wasn't something Donna wanted to learn either. Peter heard that Beatrice liked listening to the harp and forced Donna to learn it, but told others it was what Donna wanted.

The company's most difficult period was exactly when Peter was consolidating power and eliminating rivals. He cleared out all the old members from the Barnett family, and the company took a huge hit. If Peter hadn't been lucky and the Russell family had helped out for the sake of the engagement, the Jackson Group might not have survived until now.

And the Russell family only helped because of the Barnett family. Otherwise, how could someone like Peter, who climbed social classes by relying on a woman, catch the Russell family's attention?

Donna said it bluntly.

"Are you trying to morally blackmail me?"

Peter showed no shame at all.

"You could say that."

"You don't even have five million dollars? But on my new store's opening day, Maya spent a million dollars just like that. The Jackson family doesn't look like they're short on money; otherwise, how could Maya swipe her card without even blinking?"

This statement made Peter uneasy. On one hand, he really needed the five million dollars. On the other hand, he wanted to squeeze benefits from Donna, because their family was really struggling now.

"Is that true?"

Peter had already cursed Maya in his mind. Last time at the clothing store, he thought Maya was spending money too lavishly. Most of Maya's money came from him, so there was no way she could have a million dollars.

"Of course it's true. If you don't believe me, you can check for yourself."

After Donna finished speaking, Peter thought of something. Now that Maya had opened a store, the store's cash flow wouldn't appear directly on the company's books. If Maya wanted to do something shady, she could.

Maya was already looking out for herself!