Isaac tried to placate Harry with a forced smile. "Mr. Freeman, please listen to me. This is all just a misunderstanding. My wife was speaking out of anger earlier. We just wanted to check on how Avery is doing and understand her relationship with you. She’s still young, and we believe getting involved too early isn’t good for her, so we may have spoken harshly to scare her!" Isaac defended.
"That’s ridiculous!" Harry shot back, flipping him off with a fierce glare. "Avery saved my life once, and I consider her family. You keep slandering our relationship—are you trying to provoke me?"
The crowd buzzed with realization. Oh, so the Carter family’s lost daughter had that kind of connection with the playboy! They felt ashamed for misunderstanding the young woman. After all, saving someone’s life at such a young age was truly remarkable.
Isaac felt a wave of regret wash over him. If only he had known earlier, he wouldn’t have made such mistakes. "I’m sorry, it was our misunderstanding," he said, wiping his brow and bowing slightly toward Harry on the screen. "Mr. Freeman, since you and Avery are like family, that makes us family too. About renewing the contract..."
Avery interrupted him. "Mr. Murphy, I’ve left the Murphy family and have no ties to them. So my family isn’t your family, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t try to claim otherwise."
Isaac stared at her in shock, struggling to find his words. In front of so many people, Avery refused to give him any respect? He had raised her for eighteen years, and this was how she treated him?
At that moment, Regina watched her husband grovel to Harry, and her anger toward Avery reached a boiling point. Avery knew how important V Group was to the Murphy family, so why hadn’t she mentioned her relationship with Harry? If the Murphy family had known about Avery’s connection to Harry, would they have still driven her away?
Avery was deliberately hiding this crucial information, playing the Murphy family for fools with Harry. Regina no longer hoped for Harry’s sympathy and pointed at Avery, shouting, "You’re an ungrateful brat! Do you have any idea how much the Murphy family has spent on you over the years? Even if it’s not two or three million, it’s at least a million!"
The onlookers were stunned, some forgetting to swallow their food, others forgetting what they were about to say. Just raising a child to eighteen cost that much? What kind of world did the Carter family’s lost daughter come from?
Andrew covered his face with his hands, continuing his sarcastic remarks. "Avery, just a few days ago, you were living the good life with the Murphys, and now you disown them? Fine, if you’re so principled, give us a straight answer—when will you pay back everything the Murphy family has spent on you?"
The Carter family turned pale at the accusations. Of course, they needed to repay the money! But how could they possibly come up with such a large sum?
Wesley gritted his teeth and said firmly, "I’m grateful to the Murphy family for raising my daughter. Since she no longer has ties with them, we will repay the expenses. Please provide a detailed list, and the Carter family will pay you back with interest."
In recent years, property values had soared, and the Bard Property home was worth nearly a million now. If necessary, he could sell the house and pay the rest in installments. Though this decision would be tough on the family, he believed they would understand and support him.
Regina looked Wesley up and down with disdain. "Pay it back with interest? Can you really afford that? You’re making promises in front of all these people—what if you can’t follow through?"
Wesley’s face flushed with determination. "The Carter family may be poor, but we have our pride! I’ll write you a guarantee right now, promising that we’ll repay every cent of Avery’s upbringing."
Claire added, "I’ll sign the guarantee too. You don’t need to worry about us reneging."
Arthur pounded his chest. "I’ll sign as well. Even if I have to sell everything, I’ll make sure we repay you."
Wesley and Claire glared at him. He awkwardly raised his hands in surrender. "Just saying, just saying."
Maria hesitated, raising and lowering her hand before finally speaking timidly, "I’ll sign too."
Regina sneered. "Let me remind you, pride doesn’t pay the bills. It’ll only cost you money and dignity."
Her words drew disapproving looks, not just from the Carters but from the onlookers as well. Mocking someone for being poor was one thing, but mocking their integrity? No one could stand for that!
Before the Carters could respond, Harry spoke up from the phone. "Carters, Avery doesn’t owe the Murphys a dime. Don’t let them intimidate you."
"The Murphy family wasn’t qualified to be V Group’s agent. Six years ago, I gave them the exclusive rights purely because of Avery. In that time, they’ve made nearly a billion."
"Strictly speaking, that money is thanks to Avery. She owes the Murphys nothing."
The crowd was stunned. Nearly a billion in just six years? Who were these people? Were they making money or printing it?
Harry continued, delivering a harsh blow. "Isaac, do you really think you’re talented? Without Avery, the Murphy family is nothing."
Isaac and his family flushed with anger. Andrew snapped, "Harry, you’re going this far for Avery and still claim your relationship is innocent? Avery was just a child when she met you. How could she possibly have saved a grown man like you? Something doesn’t add up."
Harry smirked. "Andrew, you’re on my list for tomorrow’s lawsuit. You’d better find a lawyer fast."
Andrew was left speechless. As a rising star, a lawsuit could spell serious trouble for him.
Watching her son being humiliated, Regina could no longer contain herself. "If we hadn’t adopted Avery, she would have ended up in an orphanage. She never would have had the chance to live like a princess or receive a proper education.
"You’re belittling the Murphy family’s care and generosity as if it were worthless. We should have just let her burn in that hospital!" she screamed.
Regina’s words struck hard, leaving Wesley and Claire pale with shock and pain. Tears filled Claire’s eyes as the weight of her hurtful comments settled in.