?Chapter 486:


    Richard, who had recently funneled his retirement funds into thepany, was awaiting another significant return when the payments abruptly stopped. Pale and unsteady, he contacted thepany’s operations manager.


    The manager courteously exined that the dividend suspension was due to internal business decisions. Richard felt something was amiss with Dani’s management style.


    As he prepared to confront her, the association that had dealings with Dani’spany came to a decisive conclusion.


    “Richard, your family has really put us in a difficult position!”


    Richard waspletely taken aback.


    “Enough with the underhandedments. I’ve put in money too, just as much as you! How is this debacle my fault?”


    “Richard, are you really in the dark?” The mocking tone from the other end of the phone stung.


    “Haven’t you heard? It’s your daughter-inw, Joyce, who stirred up this ho’s nest. I’ve done some digging. Joyce was desperate for cash to prop up her beau. Worried Joyce would squander it, Katrina had Dani put a freeze on the dividends. Dani felt the funds could serve a better purpose, so she channeled them into a new venture. Now, all that cash is tied up in research and development, which means dividends are off the table for now.”


    Richard absorbed every word. He understood them all individually, but pieced together, they were gibberish to him.


    His mind whirled, torn between asking, “Which man is Joyce supporting?” and “Is it certain there will be no dividends?”


    The voice continued, “Richard, it’s the talk of Olisvine. Because of Joyce, there are no dividends. Joyce and Katrina are now public enemies. Tell your daughter-inw to watch her back outside, or she might find herself in hot water!”


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    The speaker was Richard’s old friend. Despite his attempt to moderate his tone, the words came out biting. To mess with someone’s financial lifeline was to court disaster.


    This grudge was monumental.


    Richard’s first move was to call the roboticspany, which confirmed the invested funds were locked in.


    He hung up and sat stunned.


    His retirement savings, umted from years of toil, were meant to secure a stress-free twilight.


    And now, because of Joyce, they were up in smoke. A fierce rage burned within Richard.


    Just as he was about to call Alexander, the door clicked open and Joyce entered.


    “How dare you show your face here?” Richard leaped to his feet.


    “Joyce, do youprehend the chaos you’ve caused? Because of you, the Bet family is dragged through the mud. How can you just waltz in here? Are you tangled up with another man?”


    He couldn’t bring himself to say “having an affair.” He trusted Joyce hadn’t strayed that far.


    Before marrying Alexander, Joyce had been as headstrong about it as Dani. Having achieved her goal, why would she stray?


    Dani was decent. Joyce, raised in the same home, should know better.


    But Joyce, disheveled, dered, “Everything they say is true. I want a divorce from Alexander, and half of the Bet family’s assets.”


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