Chapter 313 Just As One Crisis is Averted, Another Emerges.
The moment Nicholas started talking, I knew he was asking for his payment.
I quickly said, "I get it, godfather. Just help me find Skylar, and I'll do whatever you want."
I knew deep down that finding Skylar was worth any price.
Nicholas suddenly burst into a hearty laugh. "You're way more generous than your mother."
His words brought back a flood of memories. I could almost see Mia, years ago, standing before Nicholas with the same humility I was showing now. Mia had always been proud, but for my sake, she had swallowed her pride.
I remembered Nicholas saying that Mia had given up a valuable piece of land to beg the ruthless Nicholas for help. She must have felt just like I did now, her heart and mind entirely focused on her child. For her, losing that land was nothing compared to her child's safety.
Back then, I was young and arrogant. I didn't understand Mia's humility and even thought she was weak. But now, as a mother myself, standing in this very place, willing to give up everything for my child, I finally got it.
"Godfather, just tell me what you want. I'll give you anything," I said, gritting my teeth and forcing the words out.
"I want the Howard Group's tech project. Will you give it to me?" Nicholas stepped closer, looking down at me with greedy eyes.
"I will, godfather. As long as you find Skylar, you can have the entire Howard Group if you want," I replied without hesitation.
At that moment, Skylar's safety was all that mattered. I was willing to pay any price and wouldn't let anyone question my resolve.
Nicholas stared at me, trying to see if I was serious. The silence felt like forever, each second torturing my nerves.
Finally, he sat back on the couch, crossing his arms. "Alright, since you're my god-daughter, I'll help you this time. But remember your promise."
I nodded vigorously, tears welling up in my eyes. "I will, godfather. Thank you so much."
Nicholas said nothing more. He stepped over Wilmer's lifeless body, walked to the desk, and picked up the phone to give orders.
I stood there, emotions swirling inside me. Years ago, in this very mansion, Nicholas had given the struggling Cooper Group back to me. Back then, I was full of hope for the future. Now, I had handed over the Howard Group's most profitable tech project to Nicholas for Skylar's sake. But as long as there was a chance to find Skylar, I was willing to try anything, just like Mia had done for me. I finally understood the greatness and selflessness of a mother's love.Nicholas finished his call and walked over with a smile that seemed almost kind, patting my shoulder. "Good girl. I'm not trying to make things tough for you, but you know how business is these days. I have a lot of employees to support. You get it, right?"
I nodded numbly, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I get it."
Nicholas seemed satisfied and waved me off. "You can go now. I'll have someone notify you when there's news."
I bowed deeply, thanking him sincerely, and was then led out of the mansion by the butler.
I knew that since Nicholas had taken my project, he would find a way to locate Skylar.
On the drive back to the office, I was in a daze. Theo rushed to meet me, concerned. When he learned that Nicholas had taken the Howard Group's tech project, he was furious.
"That bastard Nicholas! He did the same thing to Mrs. Cooper, taking advantage of her. He's nothing but a cunning opportunist!" Theo exclaimed.
I gave a bitter smile. "What choice do I have? Only Nicholas can help me find Skylar. For Skylar, I'll give him whatever he wants."
Theo sighed, trying to comfort me. "With Nicholas involved, it's only a matter of time before we find Skylar."
I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we just have to wait."
Then, rubbing my tired head, I asked, "Any news on the customs shipment?"
"Diana, you need to brace yourself," Theo said, looking serious.
I raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "What's going on? Still no progress?"
Theo shook his head. "We found out what happened to the seized shipment. It took a lot of effort, and we finally got the details. It seems they're deliberately giving us a hard time. No matter how we negotiate, they refuse to release the goods."
"What's their reason for holding our shipment?" I asked, confused.
Theo remarked, "They claim there are issues with the declaration documents, saying some key information is unclear and accusing us of undervaluing the goods to evade taxes."
"Tax evasion?" I was shocked. "We've always been meticulous with our declarations and followed all the regulations. How could there be a tax issue?"
Theo handed me the documents. "It seems they're just making excuses to trouble us. No matter how we try to communicate, they're determined not to release the goods. It's clear they're targeting us."
My heart sank as I understood the situation was more complex than I had imagined. If they were deliberately holding back our shipment, it could seriously undermine the Cooper Group. Such tactics were all too common in the business world.
"Indeed, if this delay continues, the losses for the Cooper Group will be immense," I said, worried. "This affects not just the company's profits but also the livelihoods of many employees. We need to find a solution quickly."
After a moment of thought, I made up my mind. "I'll go to the customs office myself and see what they really want."
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