Chapter 270 Conspiracy
As Edward hung up, Clara casually tossed the phone onto the coffee table. Her face hardened as she turned to Anne. "Looks like he hasn't caught on yet. But seriously, can you be more careful? If you keep being so reckless, how are we gonna get money from him for my research projects in the future?"
Anne's face twisted in displeasure as she pouted. "You want me to embezzle more funds from the Howard Group? Edward already warned me not to do that again."
Clara sighed, reaching out to gently poke Anne's forehead. "You're so naive. Edward's health is only going to decline. Once he's out of the way, the entire Howard Group will be ours."
Anne's anger was instantly replaced by terror upon hearing this. She jerked her head away from Clara's finger, her eyes wide with disbelief. After a long pause, she asked, "Mom, what do you mean by that? What are you planning to do to Edward?"
Clara let out a cold laugh, a hint of malice flashing in her eyes. "Don't worry. I've spoken with a doctor. The medication I'm giving Edward won't be fatal; it will just make him dependent. That way, he won't be able to run the Howard Group, and our plan can move forward without a hitch."
Hearing this, Anne stumbled back a step, her voice trembling with tears. "Mom, how can you do this? He's my brother! He's always been the one who loved me the most!"
Anne's voice grew more agitated as she grabbed Clara's arm, shaking it. "Have you forgotten? When people called me a bastard, it was Edward who stood up for me. We can't treat him like this. It's too cruel!"
Clara impatiently shook off Anne's hand and said, "I married into the Howard family so we could have a better life. He's just my stepson. Once we control the Howard Group, my dream will come true."
Anne frowned deeply, raising her voice in protest. "Mom, you're oversimplifying things. Taking control of the Howard Group is nearly impossible. Edward is highly respected in the company. Even though he's been absent due to illness, the old employees are all loyal to him. Especially Albert, who watches me like a hawk. If our plan is exposed, we'll both end up in prison, and our lives will be ruined."
Clara crossed her arms, responding with disdain. "What are you afraid of? You're just too timid. We've come this far, but if we give up now, all our efforts will be wasted. Anne, you need to hold on and find a way to get more money for my investments. Once my project succeeds, we'll be respected everywhere, not just in Wind City. Don't you want to enjoy a life of luxury?""Luxury? You're just dreaming!" Anne's emotions boiled over, her voice rising as her eyes filled with tears. "I've been living in constant fear, even having nightmares about Edward finding out. If he discovers everything I've been hiding, he'll be so disappointed in me that he'll never love me again."
She became increasingly agitated, almost on the verge of breaking down, and shouted, "And your so-called research project? I'm seriously starting to doubt it's even real."
Clara's eyes turned dark and menacing at her words. She stepped forward and slapped Anne hard across the face. Not satisfied, she shouted, "How dare you question me? Everything I've done has been for you. Now you say you don't want to continue? That's not an option!"
Anne's ears rang from the slap. She instinctively covered her swollen cheek, feeling the burning pain. Her lips trembled, but her words were resolute. "That slap puts an end to our mother-daughter relationship. From now on, I won't help you take another cent from the Howard Group."
Hearing this, Clara trembled with rage. She grabbed a glass from the coffee table and hurled it to the ground, shattering it into pieces. She exclaimed, "You useless fool! You always mess up at the crucial moment!"
Clara screamed hysterically, "I know everything you've done. If you don't want to spend the rest of your life in prison, you'll do as I say."
Anne turned pale as a sheet at the threat. She gritted her teeth and said slowly, "You're threatening me? Do you think you're innocent? Everything we've done is illegal. We might as well go to prison together!"
After a tense silence, Clara suddenly laughed. She reached out to touch Anne's bruised cheek and asked, "Anne, how are things with Nicholas?"
Anne's tension skyrocketed at the mention of Nicholas. She stepped back, her body rigid with fear, as if he were right there, ready to consume her. After a long pause, she stammered, "Nicholas is a monster. He's been tormenting me."
She crouched down, holding her head. Clara knelt beside her, gently patting her back. "Anne, men are like that. Some are rougher than others. Just endure it, and it'll pass."
Anne was taken aback, unable to believe that these were words a mother would say to her daughter. Yet Clara continued, "Don't forget, he has a son. If you don't seize this opportunity, Nicholas's assets will go to his son, and you'll get nothing."
Clara then patted Anne's shoulder, and Anne looked up, dazed. Clara shot her an encouraging glance and said, "You promised me that both the Howard Group and the Jackson family would be ours. Don't forget, we still have to handle Diana." Clara's face twisted into a greedy smile.
With that, she stood up and left Anne's office. Anne sat on the floor for a long time after Clara left. "Diana, it's all because of you," she muttered, clenching her fists.
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