Chapter 1686 She Knows Him Too Well
Julia's long eyelashes fluttered.
Her eyes glistened with tears, but she quickly lowered them. When she spoke again, her tone was as calm as before, "Is that so? Think whatever you want, but consider the Miller Group. Once you figure it out, you can come find me anytime, but don't take too long. Otherwise, even I won't be able to help."
With that, she brushed off his arm and walked straight to the door.
"Julia."
Elliott, furious, grabbed her shoulder from behind.
As he held her, he realized how thin and delicate her shoulder was.
"Let me remind you," Julia turned back, "if the Miller Group collapses, do you think the Penrose Family will still agree to let their daughter be with you? And even if you ask Derek and the Presidential Palace for help, it won't work. In the business world, I call the shots. Besides, I think Laura is dating Derek, so you wouldn't want to keep asking Derek for help, would you?"
With that, she left.
The room returned to its cold silence.
Elliott, who had been so aggressive just moments ago, now felt a deep sense of helplessness.
Every word Julia said before she left hit him hard.
After all, they had dated before; she was too smart and knew him too well.
He couldn't possibly ask Derek for help.
Just like when Laura married Michael, he repeatedly refused the help James and his wife offered to the Miller family.
He didn't want Laura to feel inferior in the Jude family.
So, he had always been trying to rely on himself.
The only reason he accepted Derek's help to secure land in Whisperlyn City was to help the Miller Group rise quickly. Ultimately, he wanted the Miller family to be strong enough to support Laura.
Derek had already helped enough; how could he ask for more?
Elliott hated Julia.
She understood him so well, yet she insisted on breaking his pride.
Even though the Miller Group had established itself in Whisperlyn City, the gap between it and the Jude Group was still too large.
At that moment, Elliott felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
That night, he took a flight to America.
But the president of Cascade Industries Group, Rocco, was not at the company and avoided meeting him.
Luke's urging call came through again, "Elliott, how are the talks going over there? Is there any room for negotiation between Cascade Industries Group and Horizon Technologies Group?"
"I haven't seen Rocco." Elliott stood on an unfamiliar street abroad, tiredly rubbing his temples.
Luke sighed, "Someone is definitely targeting our Miller family, but we don't know who we've offended. It's too tricky. Maybe I should personally ask Eloy from Horizon Technologies Group for help."
"It won't help if you go."
Elliott spoke softly, his heart filled with bitterness.
What could he say? That Julia was forcing him to marry her? That he had dated Julia before?
That the Miller Group's downfall was all his fault?
He couldn't bring himself to say it.
Since the incident with Michael, Luke and Rose hadn't liked James's family much.
Laura had finally divorced Michael, and now Elliott was marrying Julia.
Luke and Rose would probably be very angry.
"Do you know something?" Luke asked sharply, "If there's no other way, I'll ask Derek."
"Business matters, especially international trade, are difficult for him to handle."
Elliott had a vague feeling that the news about his marriage might have come from Derek's side.
The Presidential Palace couldn't afford to offend Julia either. Derek was caught in the middle and couldn't really help anyone.
"Dad, I'll handle it."
He left it at that.
Handle it. Thinking about that solution, Elliott found it laughable.
Elliott stayed in Austin for two more days.
When he returned to the country, the Miller Group's issues were still under wraps, but with the factory temporarily shutting down and over a thousand employees, rumors began to spread.
The Penrose Family soon heard the news, and Yosef called Luke, "Mr. Luke Miller, I heard during a business event that your Miller Group and Cascade Industries Group are having some issues and have temporarily stopped production?"
Since the two families were about to be joined by marriage, Luke didn't beat around the bush and sighed, "Mr. Penrose, you have a branch in Austin. Do you have any connections with Cascade Industries Group?"
That one sentence was enough to confirm that the rumors were somewhat true.
Yosef thought for a moment, "We don't, but can't you ask Derek for help? The Presidential Palace cares so much about your daughter; it's just a matter of a word from them."
"This issue is quite complicated, and the Presidential Palace can't easily intervene."
Luke responded vaguely.
Yosef had many thoughts in his mind and hung up the phone with a grim expression.
"What's going on? Is the Miller family really in trouble?" Thalia asked anxiously, "That can't be. Derek likes Laura so much; wouldn't he help the Miller Group?"
"I'm afraid Derek might like Laura for now but doesn't plan to marry her," Yosef said meaningfully, looking at Thalia. "Things at the top aren't always as simple as they seem. Cascade Industries Group is one of the top ten global companies. Derek might be willing to help, but it's not a simple matter. It depends on whether it's worth it."
Thalia was worried, "What should we do? If the Miller Group collapses, how can Elliott be worthy of our daughter?"
Yosef was also annoyed. What seemed like a good match was now a mess.
"Fortunately, the news of our families' marriage hasn't spread. If the Miller family brings up the marriage, delay it. If they get through this, we can proceed. If the Miller Group fails, we can say the marriage was too hasty. After all, there's no engagement yet; it's all verbal. And if the Miller family asks for money, say we're having cash flow issues."
"Dad, how can you do this?"
Isadora's incredulous voice suddenly came from behind.
She leaned on her crutch, her eyes filled with anger, "You agreed to this."
"We agreed because of Elliott's abilities and Derek's support. But now the Miller Group is in big trouble. If the Miller family collapses, you can't marry into such a family."
Yosef stood up sternly, "You're my carefully nurtured daughter. I can't let you marry into a family that will drag us down."
"Dad, you're too realistic. I like Elliott for who he is, and I want to marry him." Isadora was trembling with anger.
"Isadora, be sensible. If the Miller Group collapses and Elliott is in debt, marrying him will make you a laughingstock," Thalia scolded. "For now, stay home and recover. Don't go anywhere or contact Elliott."
With that, Thalia took Isadora's phone away.
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