Chapter 1422
Back at the office, Martin found his company's VP Steve, looking like a deer caught in headlights. The man was visibly drenched in
sweat and seemed to sigh in relief upon seeing Martin as if he was the answer to his prayers.
"Mr. Martin, thank goodness you're here!"
Standing in front of Florence, the vice president was so frightened he barely dared to breathe, let alone move. He stood there, bent
over, looking as if he was about to have a panic attack.
Refreshments had been served, coffee and pastries, but Florence hadn't touched a thing. She sat on the couch with an icy
demeanor, stone-faced and silent, as if she had been seething for hours.
Diana was there too, sitting off to the side, completely ignoring Steve. When she saw Martin walk in, she rolled her eyes at her own
brother.
"Steve, you can leave us," Martin said, and the VP shot him a look of sheer gratitude, as if Martin had just offered him a lifeline out
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtof a treacherous sea.
As soon as the office door closed behind Steve, Florence tossed a video onto the desk — it was footage of Serena berating a sales
clerk on Rodeo Drive.
After Martin watched it, Florence recounted the incident on Rodeo Drive and another encounter with Serena at QY.
"I've never seen such vulgar behavior from a lady,” she said with disbelief.
Serena's actions were beyond shocking to her!
And to top it off, this was the woman her son had spent six long years pursuing.
"Letmake myself clear, Martin. You can date her for fun, but if you think about marrying her, | will never allow it," Florence
asserted with her usual ferocity. "If you dare have a wedding with her, I'll jump into Luminescent
Brook on your wedding day. You know | always mean what | say.”
"Mom." Martin hadn't expected his mother to be so adamantly opposed to Serena, to the point of threatening her own life.
He knew his mother well. She never made empty threats.
"If you don't mind losing your mother, then go ahead, defy me!"
"Mom, Serena isn’t what you think,” Martin defended, although even he had to admit that Serena's behavior in the video was quite
rude. But it wasn't enough to warrant such disgust from his mother.
He looked at his sister.
"t's exactly as | said. If Serena hadn't acted like that, there would be nothing to discuss. But she did, and it was bizarre."
Martin knew his sister harbored a strong dislike for Serena, but he had not anticipated her to actually involve their mother.
"Our family is going through trying times, Martin. With a weak link like her, our downfall is inevitable! | will not let sgirl drag
our entire family into the abyss! We've been laying low for years, just for this moment. Her presence is like a bomb, ready to
destroy all our years of hard work!"
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
"Mom, | can handle it,” Martin assured her seriously. "Whether it's our family business or my relationship with her, I'll manage both"
"One cannot have it all” Florence countered with a wisdom born of experience. "You can't have your cake and eat it too. Especially
not with a woman who's not fit to stand by our side. The Cooper family doesn't need her. If you don't mind cutting ties with us, if
you don’t mind us becoming strangers, if you don't mind burying your own mother, then do as you please.
But letbe clear: you only get one chance."
After her speech, Florence picked up her purse and headed for the door, her high heels clicking sharply against the floor.
"Mom!" Martin stepped in front of her. "Letarrange a meeting between you and Serena. Talk to her. You'll see she has many
good qualities."
"Face-to-face with her? To watch her put on an act?" Florence scoffed dismissively and brushed past her son. "Don't ever mention
her nin front ofagain."
Martin's mother had a point. He had built his own empire and didn’t need the family money. But the thought of Serena splurging
without a care in the world - that was something he still had to consider.