Chapter 79

At the Morrison family's estate.

Anxiety gnawed at Laura as she sat restlessly on the couch. For days, Santos had thrown himself into desperate attempts to untangle the crisis looming over the Morrison Group, but each effort had fallen flat.

The Morrison Group had a complete funding chain breakdown.

Staring out at the evening sky as it darkened,Laura reached for her phone, wanting to call Santos. The sound of rapid footsteps halted her movement.

Drawing closer to the entryway, Laura discovered that Dayna had arrived.

Earlier that day, Janessa had picked Dayna up from the police station.Back at the Flynn house, Ricky had punished her severely, leaving red handprints on her face.

Instructions from Janessa had been sharp and final-Dayna was to end things with Jaxton. Janessa made it clear that Jaxton could not be trusted, and she didn't hide what she'd learned about both Jaxton and the Morrisons after Dayna's recent troubles.

Believing Janessa but unable to accept the truth,Dayna found herself drawn to the Morrison family estate.

Hope had burned bright for Dayna when the police took her in. She'd longed to see Jaxton come for her.However,he had never showed.

Longing for answers, Dayna had walked straight into the Morrison home, determined to see Jaxton and ask if Janessa's words were true. But before she managed a word, Laura's palm whipped across her face.

The slap sent Dayna crashing to the floor.

"What gives you the nerve to show up here?"

Hatred blazed in Laura's eyes, as though she'd tear Dayna apart right then. Even as her cheek stung,Dayna pressed a hand to her face and said, voice trembling, "Please, I need to talk to Jaxton. I have something important to ask him."

"Shut your mouth! You've made Jaxton's life miserable enough, and now, you want to cause him more pain? Haven't you done enough damage?"

"But Laura, I would never hurt Jaxton. I care about him deeply-" "Have you no shame?" Before Dayna could finish,Laura interrupted with a scornful taunt. "Jaxton is your sister's fiancé, and yet you constantly try to seduce him. You're just like your mother, chasing after men who aren't yours!"

Tears spilled down Dayna's cheeks, Laura's words cutting deeper than any slap.

All the noise downstairs drew Jaxton from his room.His face was dark as he came downstairs.

Dayna spotted him, and hope flickered in her eyes.She rushed over, hand outstretched for his.

But he shoved her aside before she could reach him.She toppled to the floor, stunned, her gaze locked on Jaxton, searching for any sign of warmth.

"You have no idea what you've done to my family.Dayna, you're nothing but trouble," Jaxton said.

Shock drained all color from Dayna's face.

Panic pushed her to her feet, and she edged closer to Jaxton, though she didn't dare try to touch him again."Jaxton, why are you saying these things? I don't understand."

"You went behind everyone's back and stole files from Amelia's computer. Because of that, I ended up stuck with that project. My family's finances are in ruins now,and it's all your fault, Dayna!" Frustration flashed in Jaxton's eyes as he looked at her.

Tears slipped down Dayna's face as she stared at him,her body shaking.

He hadn't been like this when she had handed him the files that day.

"Get out of here. I don't want to see you anymore,"Jaxton said.

As he made for the stairs, Dayna rushed to block him,desperation plain in her voice."Jaxton, that's not true!Amelia set this up. She left the files on the computer on purpose. She deliberately went to the Stewart Group to-"

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

A stern voice suddenly came from the doorway, and the three in the living room instinctively looked towards it.

Santos shot Dayna a cold glare. He did not bother to mask the contempt flickering in his eyes. "You made a mistake. Instead of owning up to it, you want to blame someone else. Dayna, is this really what your parents taught you?"

Once Santos stepped inside, Laura wasted no time. She ordered the servants to throw Dayna out.

After Dayna was gone, Santos turned to Jaxton, his gaze filled with disappointment. "So, you really hurt Amelia over and over for a woman like that? Jaxton,you've truly let me down!"

Laura winced at how cutting Santos' words sounded,but after weighing the damage Jaxton had caused,she met Santos' gaze, holding back her frustration."Pointing fingers won't fix anything now. Did you come up with a solution?"

"We only have one solution. Talk to the Stewart Group and ask<them to call off the partnership."

"But if we pull out now, won't we lose all the capital we invested?" Laura could not hold back the disapproval in her eyes. That sum represented all the Morrison Group had in available funds.

Santos knew he would not choose this path unless he had to. Yet, if the deal stayed in place, the Morrison Group would face certain ruin.

"Ending things now gives the company a fighting chance. If we hesitate, the Morrison Group will go bankrupt soon," he said.

As for breaching the contract directly, Santos didn't dare to even consider it.

In all of Kretol, no one dared to breach a contract with the Stewart Group.