Rebirth to take revenge
Chapter 145: Save the Company

Chapter 145: Save the Company

"Lucy? What are you doing here?" her mother asked, her voice laced with concern.

Lucy stood and hurried to her. "Mom, what’s going on? Is it true that we’ve lost the company?"

Mrs. Phillips face softened, but her eyes revealed her exhaustion. "Don’t worry, Lucy. Everything is under control."

"Don’t lie to me, Mom!" Lucy’s voice broke as tears streamed down her face. "I know the truth. Why didn’t you tell me?"

Mrs. Phillips sighed deeply and pulled her daughter into an embrace. "Lucy, we didn’t want you to worry. Your father and I are doing everything we can to fix this."

"But how?" Lucy asked, her voice barely a whisper. "How can we save the company now?"

Mrs. Phillips’s expression darkened. "The situation is complicated. The investors have been circling us for months, waiting for the right moment to strike. Unless someone intervenes, there’s nothing we can do."

Lucy’s heart sank further. The weight of their predicament pressed heavily on her.

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed through the lobby.

"This is my wedding gift to you."

Lucy turned to see Josh Greg standing nearby, a faint smile on his face.

"Josh?" she murmured, confused by his unexpected appearance.

Her mother’s eyes widened in recognition. "Mr. Greg, what are you doing here?"

Josh walked closer, his gaze fixed on Lucy. "I heard about the Phillips’s Corporation’s troubles. I thought I could help."

Lucy looked at him, hope flickering in her eyes for the first time in days. But just as quickly, doubt crept in. Why would Josh help her family now?

"I don’t understand," she said. "Why would you do this?"

Josh’s expression softened. "Because I know what this company means to you and your family. And because... I care about you."

Lucy’s heart skipped a beat, but she quickly masked her emotions. She couldn’t afford to let her feelings cloud her judgment.

"Josh, this isn’t your responsibility," she said firmly.

"Maybe not," he replied, "but I want to take it on. Let me help you, Lucy."

Mrs. Phillips, sensing the sincerity in Josh’s voice, spoke up. "Lucy, we should consider his offer. If there’s even a chance of saving the company, we can’t let pride get in the way."

Lucy looked between her mother and Josh, torn between gratitude and apprehension. Finally, she nodded, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her.

"Thank you, Josh," she said. "I don’t know how we’ll ever repay you."

Josh smiled warmly. "You don’t have to. Let’s focus on rebuilding, together."

For the first time in what felt like forever, Lucy felt a glimmer of hope. Perhaps, just perhaps, the storm wasn’t insurmountable after all.

Lucy’s mother, Mrs. Phillips, went forward and gently embraced her daughter.

"Lucy, don’t cry. Your father and I love you very much, and we don’t want you to feel this way. Even if life gets tough, we will never let you suffer alone," Mrs. Phillips said, patting her daughter’s back softly.

Lucy couldn’t hold back her emotions. Her tears fell even harder, not for the Phillips family’s struggles but for her own shattered life.

If things continued this way, the gap between her and Josh would only widen. The rift between them would deepen, taking with it not just his love but also her own dignity. The thought made her shudder involuntarily.

"Mom, tell me—what exactly happened to the company? What should we do now?" Lucy asked through trembling lips.

Mrs. Phillips sighed deeply. "It’s not as bad as it seems. We’re simply struggling to maintain normal operations right now. As for the shareholders’ meeting, we can’t change the outcome. The best we can do is try to delay it for a little while."

Hearing this, Lucy’s face paled. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, but the pain didn’t register.

She hadn’t expected things to deteriorate so quickly.

"So, what are our options? How do we save the company?" Lucy asked, her voice low and trembling.

"I don’t know," Mrs. Phillips admitted, shaking her head helplessly. "This isn’t just a typical financial crisis. It’s much bigger than that. Unless someone powerful intervenes, I don’t see a way out."

She paused, worry etched on her face. "After all, the forces targeting us aren’t just competitors. They’re backed by a Military Commander in City A. Their influence is vast, much greater than ours. Offending them isn’t an option."

Lucy sat silently, her heart in chaos. A bold idea flashed through her mind. She straightened and looked at her mother with determination.

"Mom, what if we use the company as collateral? We can sell it to someone influential and buy ourselves some time," she proposed, her voice firm and unwavering.

Mrs. Phillips’s eyes widened in shock. "Are you out of your mind? You want to gamble with the company?"

Lucy’s lips curved into a bitter smile. "What choice do we have? If we don’t act now, the company will be finished anyway."

"Lucy, calm down," her mother urged, pulling her to sit down. "Let’s think this through. The company isn’t just ours—it represents the livelihood of hundreds of employees. We can’t risk it all on a whim."

Lucy looked at her mother, her heart heavy.

"I know, Mom, but this company is your and Dad’s hard work. I can’t just watch everything you’ve built fall apart," she said, her voice tinged with desperation.

"But who could possibly step in to save us?" Mrs. Phillips asked, her worry growing. "No one would want to take on such a massive burden, especially against someone as powerful as the Military Commander."

Lucy’s face turned red, tears threatening to spill again. She felt like a failure, powerless to protect her family or their legacy.

Just then, a thought occurred to Mrs. Phillips. She hesitated before saying, "If only we had maintained ties with the Smith family. Alex, their heir, has connections that could rival even the Military Commander’s influence."

Hearing this, Lucy’s breath caught. Alex? It had been years since their families had any meaningful interaction. Would he even be willing to help?

She stood abruptly. "Mom, don’t worry. I’ll find someone to help us," she said firmly.

Mrs. Phillips frowned. "Lucy, you’re being impulsive. This is not the time for reckless decisions."

"This isn’t recklessness, Mom. It’s the only way," Lucy replied bitterly.

Her mother sighed but didn’t argue further. She could see the determination in her daughter’s eyes and knew there was no stopping her.

Lucy left the house, her mind racing. She thought of Josh and how distant he had become. If she couldn’t save the company, their relationship would crumble further, and she would lose him completely.

As she walked through the streets of City A, a familiar voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Lucy."

She turned to see Alex standing a few steps away, his hands in his pockets and a faint smile on his face.

"Alex?" she asked, stunned by his sudden appearance.

"I heard about the Phillips Corporation’s troubles," he said calmly. "Let’s talk."

Lucy hesitated. Why was he here? Why would he care?

"Why would you want to help me?" she asked, her voice cautious.

Alex’s smile softened. "Because you need it. And because I can."

His confidence made her pause. For the first time in days, a flicker of hope stirred within her.

"All right," she said finally. "Let’s talk."

As they walked side by side, Lucy couldn’t help but feel that, perhaps, there was still a chance to turn things around.

Lucy’s mother, Mrs. Phillips, nodded solemnly. "Yes, the company under the Military Commander in City A belongs to Alex. He’s the current master of the Smith family."

"What did you just say?" Lucy shot to her feet. "Alex?"

Mrs. Phillips nodded again. "Yes, Alex is behind the Military Commander’s operations."

Lucy was stunned. She hadn’t expected Claire’s man to wield such immense power. Her expression shifted as she contemplated this new information.

"Mom, if the Smith family is willing to help us, does that mean our company can be saved?" A glimmer of hope lit up Lucy’s eyes.

"We can try. If the Smith family extends their help, it shows they still value our relationship. That could be a positive step," Mrs. Phillips said with a faint smile.

"Really? That’s amazing! We finally have a chance!" Lucy’s voice was filled with newfound hope.

But Mrs. Phillips quickly tempered her optimism with a sigh. "Lucy, don’t be naive. There’s no free help in this world. The Military Commander runs a massive operation. If they agree to assist us, it will undoubtedly come at a cost. We cannot accept their aid without expecting to give something in return. That’s the harsh reality of business."

Lucy frowned, biting her lip. "Then what do we do, Mom?"

After a moment of thought, Mrs. Phillips replied, "I’ve heard Alex is quite fond of Claire. Perhaps she holds some influence over him. If we approach her, we might have a chance."

Lucy hesitated. "Mom, I know you’re trying to save the company, but I don’t even know Claire. I wouldn’t know where to start, and I can’t promise any success."