Avery noticed the tension in her parents and saw the fierce look on Arthur’s face, realizing he was about to lose his temper. She quickly spoke up, "Alright, Harry, go ahead and prepare for tomorrow’s lawsuit. Everything’s fine on my end."
"Wait," Harry called out. "Mr. and Mrs. Carter, how about I give you the exclusive rights to V Group in the West End? If you’re interested, we can sign the deal tomorrow..."
Before he could finish, Avery ended the video call.
The Carters didn’t take Harry’s offer seriously. However, the Murphys were visibly shaken by his words. The exclusive rights they couldn’t secure despite all their efforts were casually offered to the Carters? How could the Carters be so lucky—or rather, how could Avery be so fortunate?
They had raised Avery with great effort, yet she was now taking away the wealth they believed was rightfully theirs. Was that fair? In that moment, their feelings toward Avery were a mix of jealousy and resentment.
After ending the call, Avery turned to Isaac and Regina. "Mr. Murphy, Mrs. Murphy, if Harry says he’s going to sue, he will. I suggest you save your arguments for the courtroom to avoid giving him more ammunition."
Regina opened her mouth to retort, but Isaac stopped her, speaking gently to Avery. "Avery, haven’t I treated you well all these years? Please, just this once, convince Harry to renew the exclusive rights with the Murphy family for another three years. Just three years! This one last time! This is the last favor I’ll ever ask of you!" he pleaded.
Arthur, infuriated, clapped Wesley on the shoulder and loudly declared, "Avery’s father is right here! Mr. Murphy, please stop pretending to be her father. It’s very disrespectful!"
Isaac ignored him, focusing solely on Avery. "Avery, if you help me this time, all the years I’ve cared for you will have been worth it. I won’t bother you again, and you won’t owe me or the Murphy family anything." His voice was almost pleading, as if he were about to kneel. Everyone watching could see he was trying to guilt-trip her.
Not far away, Gia watched Avery through a slightly lowered car window. She had heard about Avery’s beauty but hadn’t thought much of it until now. Seeing Avery in person, her radiance felt like a thorn piercing Gia’s heart.
It was because the Murphy family had raised Avery like a princess that she carried herself with such confidence and poise. If Avery had grown up in the modest Carter family, she might have been charming, but she wouldn’t have the poise she has now.
Thinking this, Gia clenched her teeth, her already envious gaze now tinged with hostility. In her mind, Avery owed the Murphy family. If Avery didn’t repay the Murphy family’s losses many times over, she deserved to be struck by lightning.
But Avery clearly didn’t see it that way. In response to Isaac Murphy’s almost desperate plea, she remained polite.
"Mr. Murphy, with all due respect, V Group gave you six years of exclusive rights. The money you’ve earned should be more than enough for a comfortable life. Everything has its limits. You should know when to stop."
She paused briefly before continuing, "Instead of wasting time with Harry and me, you should focus on expanding your business elsewhere."
The onlookers nodded in agreement.
"Exactly. You raised Avery for eighteen years and made nearly a billion. Isn’t that enough?"
"Greed will only lead to downfall."
"Nearly a billion! That could comfortably support a family of six for eighteen lifetimes..."
Isaac listened, a bitter smile forming on his lips. He understood the logic. But once accustomed to the best, who can easily accept a step down?
Besides, the Murphy family had spent as much as they earned over the years. With easy money came lavish spending—investing in whatever was hot, buying mansions and yachts abroad, making a killing in the stock market, bidding on art, and funding films. They had invested billions, often losing everything or getting trapped, leaving the Murphy family with little liquid capital.
Moreover, the Murphy Group’s stock had been plummeting, likely to fall below its initial offering price soon, further depleting their wealth. Without regaining V Group’s exclusive rights, they’d have to sell off assets.
Regina’s eyes narrowed like blades, cutting into Avery. "Avery, are you really going to let us fall after we raised you for eighteen years?"
Avery remained calm. "Mrs. Murphy, I hope you can be reasonable..."
Before she could finish, Isaac suddenly dropped to his knees before her.
"Avery, please, I’m begging you. Help me this once."
Everyone was taken aback by his actions. Avery quickly stepped back, putting her car between them to maintain distance.
"Mr. Murphy, please don’t pressure me ."
Arthur was livid. "The Murphys claim to be so noble, yet you’re resorting to such low tactics to force an eighteen-year-old girl to solve your business problems? Have you no shame?"
Wesley added sternly, "Mr. Murphy, your wife and son are watching. Please, maintain some dignity for yourself and them and get up."
Desperate, Isaac crawled toward Avery. "Avery, this is the last time I’ll ask. If you agree to help me, I promise that even if I jump off a building, get hit by a car, or fall terminally ill, I won’t bother you again. Please, just this once."
He was so accustomed to his current lifestyle that he couldn’t imagine losing his status and position. By any means necessary, even threatening to jump, he was determined to make Avery agree.
The onlookers were stunned by his display. Dressed in a sharp suit with a slicked-back hairstyle, yet here he was, acting like a wronged spouse, kneeling and lamenting his fate. People couldn’t believe their eyes. Was he out of his mind?
Regina was furious when she saw her husband kneeling before Avery, her eyes filled with rage. She was about to rush over and pull him up when her phone buzzed with a message.
It was from her daughter: "Record Dad kneeling to Avery."
She paused, puzzled at first, but then it dawned on her. Her daughter was indeed clever. If her husband was already kneeling, achieving their goal was the only way to justify his actions. So, she stepped back, raised her phone, and calmly recorded the scene.
Wesley didn’t notice Regina’s actions, but he saw many people around them with their phones out, taking photos or videos. He knew that if these images leaked, Avery would be thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
What could he do? He couldn’t let Avery be labeled as someone who forced her adoptive father to kneel in public. Even if Avery wasn’t at fault, the fact that the Murphy family had raised her would sway public opinion in favor of the kneeling father.