Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 353

Lillian had Marcus lend a small hand, so by the time the car pulled through the gates of the Mercer family's villa, Brandon had received the news.

When he found out the money was used to buy a house in Bella's name, Brandon almost died of anger.

Upon returning home, Colin greeted him, "Brandon, you're back. They're not home."

Brandon snorted. "Hmph, probably out celebrating their new house!"

Colin was shocked. "What? A house? Are you kidding me? Look at our financial situation. How can we buy a house at a time like this?

"What about the new project? Does it not need funding anymore?

"Why buy a house? Is it because we brought Lillian back and Bella had to move to a guest room, so she's unhappy?

"Does she think the house isn't big enough? Buying a house now is just making things worse."

As Colin finished, Lillian said, "Maybe I should move out so she can have my room?"

Colin almost agreed on the spot, but luckily, his brain caught up.

"Lillian, that's not what I meant. You're sick, so just rest easy. No one would dare say anything.

"It's just that over twenty million dollars is a lot for the family right now."

He then looked at Brandon. "Brandon, what do we do now?"

"Either return it or sell it. We'll see what Dad wants to do."

Lillian listened to Brandon and Colin talk as she found a comfortable spot on the sofa. A servant, quick on the uptake, brought her a fruit platter.

She casually started eating a piece of melon and continued to watch the show.

Whenever she saw her two brothers arguing over that mother-daughter pair scheming for shares or spending too much money, she would involuntarily recall the day she was arrested over two years ago.

The image of Brandon and Colin standing firmly by Bella's side, protecting her, was seared into her memory. She would probably never forget it for the rest of her life.

They had been willing to sacrifice their own sister to protect that person, and now they were quibbling over twenty million dollars she spent.

Bella, so arrogant and self-important, had returned from studying abroad with some minor achievements. She was just starting to make a name for herself in her career, but with a little protection, she thought she had made it to the top.

In the two years Lillian was in prison, Bella had gained some fame in their circle, but she was still working on the same projects she had been two years ago.

After more than two years, she had only gained a bit more work experience than when she first graduated.

Perhaps her salary had increased, but it was likely only from around one million to two million a year.

Given her lavish lifestyle, even with a two-million-dollar annual salary, she would only take home just over a million after taxes. That would probably be just enough to cover her expenses, if that.

It was possible the Mercer family was still subsidizing her.

Lillian's judgment of Sebastian and Bella told her that besides her salary, Bella would at most receive some gifts from Sebastian for birthdays and holidays; there would be absolutely no other private cash transactions.

Bella had an image to maintain. If she took money from Sebastian, could she still be considered a talented professional, a breath of fresh air in their circle, a successful independent woman?

However, the Mercer Group had been relying on Sebastian for some projects these past few years, and Bella had helped out, so the Mercer family naturally gave her some money as well.

Just a few months ago, when they needed six million to compensate for her mother's restored jewelry, the mother-daughter duo couldn't even scrape it together.

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