Chapter 49

Chapter 49

He knew exactly why these senior executives were putting on this act to pressure him - they definitely wanted some compensation.

Now that he'd taken this hit, all he could do was quickly come up with compensation to keep these senior executives satisfied.

The Taylor Group couldn't function without these senior executives. Hayden worried that if they all left in anger, the Taylor Group would probably collapse too.

"Compensation? I guess we have no choice but to accept your compensation now. Otherwise, how can we swallow this loss?"

Seeing their goal achieved, the arguing voices in the meeting room gradually quieted down. Everyone sat together and started discussing how to set the compensation amount.

This hundred-million-dollar loss clearly left these senior executives very dissatisfied. They stated the compensation amount they'd already agreed on internally. Hearing the figure, Hayden's mouth twitched, doubting whether he'd heard the number correctly.

"Mr. Taylor, we're not using this situation to pressure you. We just want you not to be so foolish next time. We can accept this hundred million dollar loss, but if there are many more losses like this, we can't guarantee we'll still be sitting here so calmly discussing compensation."

The executives weren't stupid either. While demanding compensation, they also provided plenty of justification. Even if Hayden didn't want to accept it, he had no choice but to force a smile on his face.

"I know, I know. Then let's settle on this compensation. I'll arrange for my assistant to transfer the compensation to everyone's accounts shortly. Now I'll get back to work."

As soon as he left the meeting room, the smile vanished from his face, replaced by a dark expression. Back in his office, he cursed nonstop.

But cursing aside, he had to quickly transfer the compensation to each executive's account, or who knows what kind of scene they'd cause next.

The assistant nervously listened to Hayden's instructions, his back soaked with sweat. After leaving, he quickly transferred all the compensation, afraid that if he was slow, he'd become Hayden's punching bag and get cursed at for days on end.

Hayden returned to the Taylor Villa with a gloomy face. His dark expression was like gathering storm clouds, and the oppressive atmosphere in the villa was so heavy it nearly suffocated everyone.

Knowing Hayden was coming home, Freya scrambled back to her bedroom, leaving only Autumn in the living room, cursing.

"That bitch Freya, I wish she were dead! She's caused me so much trouble!"

Having lost so much money, Hayden's mood couldn't be good. After returning to the villa, he pointed at Autumn and started yelling.

"Look what you've turned Freya into! You've taught her so she doesn't even know right from wrong! She's caused trouble, such huge trouble, and she hides in the back acting all innocent while I had to smile and apologize to those executives today!"

Autumn didn't dare say a word back, only covering her face and crying softly.

"Three years of my hard work, all thrown away today! That Freya is such an ungrateful daughter. Don't stop me, I'm going upstairs right now to kill her!"

Autumn was terrified Hayden would actually do something to Freya. She rushed forward and hugged his waist tightly, crying and begging.

"Please forgive her this once. She's already not allowed to leave the villa. Even if she wants to do something now, she can't!"

How could Freya not hear the commotion downstairs? She trembled with fear, leaning against the door.

Hearing Hayden say he was coming upstairs and threatening to kill her, she almost instinctively scrambled for her phone and called Isabella.

"Please let me go, okay? I was really wrong. I'll never do anything to you again! I was really wrong..."

She begged and cried softly, her hair disheveled - where was any trace of the Taylor family daughter?

She looked like a wretched prisoner.

Isabella smiled slightly.

She'd barely lifted a finger, and Freya couldn't take it anymore, scrambling to beg for mercy. But she wasn't ready to accept yet.

"Let you go? What have I even done to you? I just brought up what you did again. Since you created the cause yourself, you have to bear the consequences."

With those words, Freya, on the other end, let out an ear-piercing cry. She didn't dare curse Isabella anymore. She swallowed back the curses on her lips and kept begging.

Amid Freya's continuous pleas, Isabella hung up the phone, set it aside, her expression calm.

Everything she'd done wasn't for revenge. It was to let Freya know that you can't just do wrong things and hide behind others, expecting everything to be fine. People have to pay for what they do.

People can't teach people, but situations teach people in one go.

"Was that Freya?"

William frowned slightly, a flash of coldness in his eyes.

"Should I do something more to make her completely disappear from your sight?"

Isabella shook her head, her voice light.

"No need. She's already paid for what she did. If we let her just disappear like that, wouldn't that be letting her off easy?"

Freya's call was just a small episode. In the blink of an eye, they put it behind them. Isabella picked up her coffee cup, using coffee in place of wine. Her cool eyes looked seriously at William.

"Thank you, William. I wanted to treat you to this meal to return your kindness. You've done so much for me. Even getting this haute couture design project is connected to you. Without you, I'm afraid I'd be helpless facing many things."

William smiled gently, also raising his coffee cup.

Perhaps it was the warm lighting around them, but Isabella felt his eyes were full of tenderness.

"You don't need to thank me. If you didn't have the ability, GE wouldn't have specifically requested you this time. As long as you have the skills, all difficulties will be solved. Actually, I haven't really helped you that much."

He paused, his tone becoming firmer.

"I just hope that next time you face any problems, you won't be so distant with me. You have me behind you. I hope you can use me, not keep me at arm's length. Next time you encounter anything, call me. As long as I can solve it, I'll help you."

Isabella's gaze paused slightly, her heart feeling like it had been gently touched by candlelight.

This wasn't the first time he'd firmly stood by her side. Before, it was through actions, but this time he actually said it out loud.

He said he hoped she could use him.

Isabella's lips curved slightly as she looked into his deep eyes and nodded.

"Okay."

Their eyes met, and the ambiguous veil from before seemed to slowly disappear in this moment.