CHAPTER 281: A DEAL

"You gave this role to Esther?"

Max’s face was aloof, no hint of guilt. He nodded, "What about it?"

"You replaced someone who had worked hard for that role... just like that?"

"Are you talking about that girl... Violet? That’s what she is called, right?" Max casually waved a hand, dismissing Ruby’s makeup artists.

Once they left, the room was empty, except for Ruby and Max who sat there, facing each other.

"Yes."

"If you don’t know about it, let me tell you. She was kicked out because she had deceived everyone. With her disfigurement, she is not fit for this role..."

Ruby cut him off coldly, "It has nothing to do with Esther?"

"You have never meddled in my affairs before, Ruby. What has happened now? Are you finally playing the part of my fiancee?" Max stood up and walked towards her.

"Back off," Ruby narrowed her eyes the moment he leaned in.

Max sighed, "I am not here to argue with you, Ruby. Have you made your decision?"

Ruby pushed herself to her feet, "I have decided."

Max nodded looking at her in satisfaction, "That’s good. You are a reasonable person. I knew that..."

"I am not leaving this role."

Max’s face darkened, "Ruby, do you know what you are saying?"

Ruby pointed her hand in the direction of the door, "You can leave."

Max nodded as he smiled coldly, "If I can replace Violet, replacing you is no big of a task as well. I am leaving you this only decency because you are my fiance."

Max paused for a moment before he continued, "But if you don’t appreciate my care, I won’t mind resorting to other ways. And you know it well that the consequences won’t be something that you can take."

Ruby looked at the man expressionlessly until he left.

Once the door closed, Ruby sank into the chair, eyes squeezed shut as her fingers massaged her aching temples.

’Buzz’

Ruby picked up her phone and glanced at the text.

[Mom: Your dad’s therapy has been going well. He can walk now *attached images*. Also, there is another thing...]

Ruby paused for a moment before she typed: [Yes?]

[Mom: Ruby, he keeps asking about you... He is upset about you taking this role but right now, he is more worried about the engagement with the Hill Family. So, he has asked you to stay in close contact with Max...

No matter what, he must not change his mind about you.]

Ruby glanced at the text for the longest time before she felt the weight of exhaustion sinking into her shoulders.

Without replying, she exited the chat.

Before she could think, her fingers moved on their own.

And in no time, she had scrolled down to an unsaved number that she had blocked.

Ruby’s fingers hovered there for a long time before she saved the number as ’Ronan’.

...

The chill of the Mo Mansion’s marble hall seeped through the walls.

Jenny folded her arms, eyeing Mo Jun sharply, "It’s only been a few days, and you already look terrible."

Mo Jun slumped back, jaw tight. His eyes flickered with exhaustion, but his voice remained cold as he faced Jenny, "Is it fun to be my father’s whore even after his death?"

The small smirk on Jenny’s face gradually vanished, "Mo Jun!" She slammed her hand on the desk.

Mo Jun’s lips curved up, "He did not teach you etiquette, did he?"

The lawyer standing behind Jenny stepped forward and patted her shoulder before whispering something in her ears.

Jenny inhaled a shaky breath as she reached out to stroke her stomach, "It was your father’s dying wish for my child to be named his heir. And honestly, I am not a cruel person either..."

Jenny observed Mo Jun’s expressions as she softly spoke, "If you and your sister apologize to me and beg me for forgiveness then I will leave you with a little something for survival... AHHH!"

Before Jenny could finish speaking, a shadow pounced over her.

Two delicate hands curled around Jenny’s neck, strangling her.

"If I kill you today, I will see who you demand apologies from!" Mo Lia choked the woman even more tightly.

The lawyers rushed forward and so did Mo Jun. Once the shock faded, everyone moved to separate both the women.

Jenny slumped back onto the lawyer, panting vigorously while Mo Lia struggled in Mo Jun’s arms.

"Very well... You have now sealed your fate..." Jenny held her stomach as she smirked, "I will see you two bastards in court now. Don’t say I did not give you the chance."

A vicious glint flashed in her eyes as she left.

Mo Lia burst into tears as she looked at Mo Jun, "Brother, what do we do now?"

Mo Jun patted her back, looking in the direction in which Jenny disappeared.

"It’s impossible to turn this case around. She is really pregnant and with father’s will backing her up, there is no way we can win against... Where are you going?!"

Mo Jun grabbed his car keys and left the mansion without looking back.

...

In an isolated area of Vermilion City, there was a small cafe.

The place looked like it barely received some 10 customers everyday.

Ella sat by one of the small tables in the corner, fiddling with her phone.

Just as she lifted the cup of coffee to her mouth, she spotted a pair of legs stopping by her table.

Ella placed the cup on the table and looked up, "I didn’t think you’d ask me to meet you suddenly."

Mo Jun stood there silently for a while, "This isn’t a joke to me, Ella. If you cannot provide a solution like you promised, you can tell me now. I will leave."

Ella smiled, "Take a seat," She pointed towards the chair at the opposite.

Seeing the conviction on her face, Mo Jun pulled the chair back before he took a seat, "Jenny has been deeply involved with my father after... my mother passed away."

"But none of us expected things would turn out like this. She is pregnant and father wants to name her child the heir. But..."

Mo Jun closed his eyes, "I won’t let that happen."

"Do you hate that unborn child so much?" Ella picked up the cup and sipped on her coffee.

"I hate the mother instead. When that child comes to the world, I can still have a shred of civility and treat them like a half-sibling. But..."

A darkness lingered in Mo Jun’s eyes, "I won’t let Jenny snatch what belongs to me and Lia."

Ella nodded slowly, "The case has reached a dead-end..."

Mo Jun’s brows tugged together.

"But it’s not irreversible," Ella finished.

"Do you mean it?" Hope glimmered in Mo Jun’s eyes when Ella nodded, "Tell me what can be done..."

Ella paused, not speaking immediately, "I have conditions."

Mo Jun composed himself as he nodded, "Tell me. As long as I can fulfill them, I won’t hesitate."

"20% shares of Mo Entertainment," Ella raised one finger.

Mo Jun frowned when he heard that.

20% shares of any company was enough to make a person one of the major shareholders, handing them a ridiculous amount of power in the company affairs.

But, without the company, there would be no point in balancing the company politics, "Fine," He said.

"A proper apology," Ella raised another finger.

Mo Jun paused. In the past, he had offended Ella in more than one and she deserved an apology from him, "Alright."

"A contract that lets one be signed under the company."

Mo Jun was taken aback, "You want to be signed under the company as an actress? Ella, you have a modelling background but Mo Entertainment is more based on..."

"For Ruby," Ella cut him off, "I want her to be a signed actress under Mo Entertainment. And the remaining conditions... were also for her."

Mo Jun was even more astonished when he heard that.

He reflected over it for a long time before he said, "From what I know, she is engaged to Maxwell Hill and she is the step daughter of the CEO of Ambrose Entertainment. Then, why would you want her to be signed under us?"

"Because Ambrose and Hill families would soon face their downfall," Ella said nonchalantly as if reporting the weather, "Do you agree or not?"

Mo Jun paused only for a second before he nodded, "I agree."

Although he remained calm on the outside, he was secretly amazed.

On the surface level, it did not seem like a big deal. But Ella was handing Ruby a great power.

Without the backing of one of the big companies, Ruby can never push her place in the entertainment industry, without taking hits from everywhere.

But not only was Ella securing a contract for Ruby, she even secured 20% of shares.

And from her words, it seemed like the Ambrose and the Hill family will be in deep trouble soon.

Ella passed him the contract, "Sign it."

After an hour, Mo Jun sat there in shock, "How do you know all of this... about Jenny?"

Ella did not say a word.

Mo Jun took a few deep breaths to compose himself, "Thank you."

Ella smiled, "Good luck."

"Wait..."

Ella halted in her tracks and turned to him.

"I... How is Esther?"

Ella arched her brow.

Mo Jun pursed his lips, "I am sorry. I..."

"She betrayed you. Why would you still think of her?" Ella turned to him fully, suddenly curious about the entire thing.

When he heard that, Mo Jun’s eyes darkened as a bitter smile curled his lips.