Thinking back now, she realized lan had been plotting this since then. He had seemingly supported Yeaton Holdings' public offering, but had secretly laid the groundwork for today's bankruptcy.

"Vanessa, are you listening?" Roland's desperate voice crackled over the phone. "Get over here. We have to see Mr. Goodwin today. He's the only one who can save us."

Vanessa's heart sank. How could lan, that cold-hearted man, possibly help the Yeatons now? And she never could have imagined that a single choice she made back then would bring about the total downfall of Yeaton Holdings.

"Dad, listen to me-" Vanessa took a deep breath. "Ian won't help us anymore. Begging him is useless."

"How could that be? Hasn't he always taken care of us?" Roland's voice was filled with confusion. After all, he had genuinely benefited from Goodwin & Co., from lan helping with his bank loans to securing resources.

"Dad, let me be honest with you. My relationship with lan isn't what you think it is. All these years, it's only seemed good because his mother needed my blood to

survive," Vanessa finally decided to tell her father the truth, personally tearing down the act she had maintained for so long.

The other end of the line went dead silent. A few seconds later, Roland's voice roared, "Vanessa, what are you talking about? Did you do something to offend him? Is this crisis with Yeaton Holdings your fault?"

Vanessa let out a cold laugh. When her father needed her, he treated her like a goddess. But now that the company was on the verge of collapse, he was pinning all the blame on her.

She thought about how he had been capable of abandoning her and her mother to fend for themselves in the slums; she should have known how cold-hearted this father of hers truly was.

"Dad, I don't know what you're talking about. The crisis at Yeaton Holdings has nothing to do with me."

"You own thirteen percent of the company's shares, Vanessa. Finda way to make lan stop. Let us gol Roland's tone softened slightly turning into a plea. "At least give us a chance to survive."

Vanessa's face turned pale. Make lan stop? What leverage did she have now? Her blood was no longer effective. Thinking of everything she had done over the past decade she could only hope that lan might remember she saved his mother and not be too cruel, too ruthless. But as for asking him to let them go, she felt it was too late.

"Dad, I'll see what I can do," Vanessa could only agree.

"Don't forget, you're a Yeaton too. If Yeaton Holdings goes bankrupt, don't think you

can escape unscathed," Roland added one last angry threat before hanging up.

Vanessa collapsed onto the sofa, feeling utterly powerless. More than the company's collapse, another knife had been brutally twisted in her heart.

lan truly showed her no mercy. She had considered the consequences, but she never imagined they would be this severe.

He had even dragged the entire Yeaton Holdings down with her!

No, she couldn't believe lan had no feelings for her at all. She refused to believe he could be so heartless. Vanessa looked at her phone bit her Tip and picked it up-Content

Meanwhile, in the CEO's office at Goodwin & Co., Gavin walked in to report, "Mr. Goodwin, the front desk said that Roland has left."

lan stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, his gaze dark and cold. "Keep up the pressure. I want to see Yeaton Holdings completely bankrupt within two weeks." Gavin's phone rang. He glanced at it. "Mr. Goodwin, it's Vanessa."