Chapter 40

Suddenly, everyone in the family started frowning. Even Harper was bracing herself for the worst.

"Totally possible! That guy's a total coward, always running away at the first sign of trouble!"

"This is so frustrating! I should've never trusted that useless guy, such a waste of my time and energy!"

The Brown family members began chattering again, venting their extreme dissatisfaction with Louis's absence. They were all filled with righteous indignation, almost ready to storm out and drag Louis back themselves.

Harper, trying to keep her cool, ordered Samuel, "Samuel! Call Anna and Louis right now! Find out what the hell they're up to!"

Samuel quickly pulled out another phone. He called Anna first, but got a message saying, "The number you have dialed is turned off." Then he called Louis, but the message said, "The number you have dialed is not in service."

"Grandma... Anna's phone is off, and Louis's phone isn't working," Samuel said, looking distressed and worried.

"Those two idiots! What are they trying to do? Betray the family?" Harper was so mad she almost fainted.

"Grandma, don't worry, I'll send someone to find them right now," Harold offered.

The younger members of the Brown family, who had their bright future about to be ruined by Louis, were also filled with resentment.

"Everyone, keep a low profile. Don't cause any more problems for me," Harper roared. "We'll deal with this tomorrow! Now, get out of here and think about your own foolish actions!"

With that, Harper walked away with her trembling cane, muttering to herself about how the family would function without her in the future.

The young family members, who looked glamorous on the surface, weren't capable of taking on important responsibilities.

After being scolded, the others left, looking dejected.

That night, Anna fell asleep on the couch, with Louis carefully staying by her side.

She didn't know her phone had dozens of missed calls. When Louis saw her wake up, he asked with concern. Anna stretched and suddenly remembered something, her face changing instantly as she exclaimed, "Oh no! What's happening with the family now? What happened? Why was my phone dead last night?" Anna started to get anxious.

"I turned it off for you," Louis said honestly.

"Why did you turn off my phone?" Anna asked angrily, staring at him in confusion.

"You've been too tired lately. I just wanted you to have a good, undisturbed sleep."

"Oh no, they were looking for me all night." Anna looked at the missed call notifications on her phone, almost in tears.

At that moment, Anna's phone started ringing like crazy. It was Lucy calling.

"Anna, where the hell have you been? Something big has happened! Get to the company right now! The building is about to be torn down!" Lucy's voice was frantic, mixed with all sorts of chaotic sounds.

"What? Mom, don't worry. I'm coming right now, please don't do anything rash!" Anna was so scared she almost jumped out of bed. She quickly hung up the phone and rushed out.

At Harper's villa, the Brown family members were gathered again, all looking worried and sighing.

"Anna, you're finally here! If you hadn't shown up, we would've worried ourselves sick!" Samuel exclaimed, rushing to her like she was a beacon of hope.

"What on earth happened?" Anna asked, clearly anxious.

"It's about that three-hundred-million-dollar contract! Now the creditors are blocking the company entrance like a zombie siege. If we don't pay up, they'll tear down the company!" Samuel explained.

"Where's Louis? Didn't he say he was bringing the contract yesterday? Why isn't he with you?" Arnold suddenly frowned and asked.

"Don't mention that useless guy! He's a big liar!" Samuel got furious at the mention of Louis's name. "If he really had a solution, would he have disappeared? I think he's just a coward, hiding when things go wrong!"

"Exactly! I think he's ghosting us to avoid dealing with this mess. He's truly an ungrateful person!"

"Anna, be honest, did you and Louis conspire to harm our family? Are you trying to push us to the brink so you can take all the family assets for yourself?"

The Brown family members turned their anger towards Louis, each one taking turns to insult him.

"Enough! Are you done yet?" Anna couldn't take it anymore and finally exploded, "What right do you have to talk about Louis? Do you have any idea how much he's done for this family? If it weren't for him, this family would have been hollowed out by you parasites long ago!"

"Anna, you... you're yelling at us for an outsider?" Samuel looked incredulous.

"I'm just telling the truth! If you dare to badmouth Louis again, don't blame me for getting nasty!" Anna's eyes widened. Maybe it was Louis's influence, but this was the first time she'd spoken so firmly.

"Alright, then tell us, what solution does he have? Where's the contract? Show it to us! Don't just talk!" Samuel pressed aggressively.

"The contract... the contract is with Louis..." Anna's voice grew smaller, clearly lacking confidence.

"I knew it! That useless guy doesn't have any contract! He's just playing us!" Samuel laughed. "Anna, what do you have to say? Don't you owe us an explanation?"

"I..." Anna was at a loss for words, stomping her feet in frustration.

"Enough!" Harper's angry shout finally quieted the room. "Anna, be straight with me. Where is the three-hundred-million-dollar contract? Don't try to fool me!"

"Grandma, I... I really don't know... Louis didn't tell me..." Anna lowered her head, her voice almost in tears.

"You don't know? As the general manager of the family, you don't know?" Harper was shaking with anger, barely able to catch her breath. "How are you even doing your job? You've really let me down!"

The crowd showed angry expressions. The creditors had surrounded the company building, and they were counting on Anna to bring the contract to resolve the crisis. But to their surprise, Anna brought nothing.

"Anna, you idiot! Are you brainless?" Samuel spat, glaring at her. "Are you and that useless Louis plotting against the family? Why else would you defend him so much? Remember, you're a Brown, not a Windsor!"

Samuel's words made the crowd boil with excitement.

The Brown family members were all very shrewd. Hearing this, they immediately sensed gossip. Each one focused intently on Anna, afraid to miss any detail.

"Anna, you owe us an explanation, or we won't agree!"

"Exactly, the contract is no small matter; you can't just brush us off!"

The family members were talking over each other, the scene more chaotic than a farmers' market.

Their eyes on Anna were filled with suspicion, anger, disdain, and schadenfreude.

Anna stood in the heart of the crowd, ready to explain, but the words caught in her throat. She realized it was pointless to try; the people were already convinced that she and Louis were hiding some dark secret.

"Anna, I believe in you. You're not like that!" Lucy, seeing the situation, immediately stood up and shielded Anna.

"Lucy, get out of the way, this is none of your business!" Isabella pushed Lucy aside.

"Anna, tell us, what's going on? Did you really do something to betray the family?" Isabella questioned.

"I... I didn't..."

"Didn't? If you didn't, why are you defending him?" Isabella sneered, her eyes as sharp as knives. "I think you're guilty!"

"Enough! Let Anna speak for herself." Harper finally spoke, and the room instantly fell silent.

"Anna, I believe in you. I watched you grow up, I know your character. But..." Harper's tone changed, her eyes becoming sharp. "That useless Louis, why won't he hand over the contract?"

"Grandma, the contract belongs to Louis. He has the right to decide whether to hand it over." Anna defended softly.

"Bullshit!" Harper slammed the table. "What right does a useless guy have to negotiate with us? If he doesn't hand over the contract, I'll make him regret crossing the family!"

"But, Grandma, if Louis doesn't hand over the contract, our cooperation with the Dragon Group..." Anna tried to say, but Harper cut her off.

"Cooperation? We can still cooperate with the Dragon Group without Louis!" Harper said confidently. "Don't forget, the big shot from the Dragon Group is very fond of you."

Harper's words made the young girls present turn to Anna with eyes full of jealousy as if they wanted to devour her.

"Anna, you are really something, getting the favor of that big shot. I envy you!"

"Exactly, Anna, you must seize this opportunity. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance!"

"Anna, don't forget us when you make it big!"

Listening to these words, Anna felt both amused and helpless. She didn't even know who they were talking about.

"Anna, call that turd right now and make him hand over the contract!" Harper gave the final ultimatum, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Anna had no choice but to take out her phone and call Louis. The call connected quickly, and Louis's nonchalant voice came through the receiver, "Hey, honey, miss me?"

"Louis, can you help the family and hand over the contract?" Anna's voice was filled with pleading.

"Nope!" Louis replied bluntly. "Why should I? How did they treat me before? Now they want my help? Too late!"

Louis's words left everyone in the room stunned. They couldn't believe Louis dared to be so arrogant.

"Louis, don't be too much!" Harper grabbed the phone and shouted into the receiver, "Do you think I can't make sure you never set foot in Sunshine City again?"

"You think you can scare me?" Louis's voice dripped with disdain. "If you have the guts, come at me! I'm waiting! But if you want the contract, it's not impossible. You come and beg me yourself, and I'll consider it."

"Louis, don't push your luck!" Harper was shaking with anger, almost smashing the phone. "Samuel, prepare the divorce papers. I want this useless guy out of our family, and he won't take a single cent! We're cutting all ties with him!"

"Grandma, no!" Anna panicked upon hearing this. She didn't expect things to escalate to this point.

"Now you're scared? Too late!" Harper snorted coldly and left the hall.

"Louis, you bastard, just wait!" Samuel shouted into the phone and then followed Harper out.

"It's over; it's all over!" Anna slumped into a chair, her face filled with despair.

She knew that from this moment on, she and Louis were completely severed from the family, with no chance of reconciliation.