"Julia, are you really clueless or just pretending?" Mrs. Grace Ge finally lost her patience and said directly to Julia Yu, "What's going on with Grace Snow? She looks so much like Cecilia Gu! If you don't make a move soon, you'll really lose your chance, do you understand? Over the years, you know better than anyone how many women have tried to get close to Max Mo! Why are you so oblivious? I'm your mother, would I ever harm you?"
Mr. Ge didn’t say anything, but his attitude was completely in line with his wife’s.
A few days ago, they could still remain calm.
But tonight, Max Mo openly appeared with Grace Snow, and everyone saw it.
How could they not be anxious?
Right now, countless families are watching Grace Snow.
Naturally, Mr. and Mrs. Ge weren’t qualified to attend the banquet, but they were well-informed. When they heard about a woman named Grace Snow who looked strikingly like Cecilia Gu, they couldn’t sit still and rushed over to find Julia Yu.
That’s why Julia Yu didn’t attend the banquet—she was stopped by them.
At first, Julia didn’t want to deal with them, but Mrs. Ge threatened her with cutting ties. After thinking it over, Julia decided to meet them and resolve the trouble once and for all.
"Say something, will you? What’s the deal with Grace Snow? Is she after Max Mo?" Mrs. Ge’s face grew even darker. "Why are you so careless? If you let that little vixen steal Max Mo away, what will you do then? A stepmother can never compare to a real mother! If Leo and Theo Mo end up living under a stepmother’s hand, they’re only three years old! How can you just watch your two children be mistreated by someone else?"
It was as if they were a pair of responsible grandparents.
A mocking smile appeared at the corner of Julia's mouth.
She wasn't even Leo and Theo Mo's real mother, so how could they claim to be their grandparents?
In the end, it all came down to self-interest.
"Go ahead, what do you really want?" Julia said coldly. "Let's settle this once and for all tonight. I'm tired of you coming to me again and again."
Mrs. Grace Ge's face suddenly changed. "What do you mean by that? I'm your mother!"
"I remember I made myself clear last time we met," Julia said calmly. "I will fulfill my duty to support you, but that's it. I won't give a penny more."
Julia felt exhausted.
Her mother was the kind of person who, no matter what you said, would only think and act according to her own way.
No wonder her father divorced her.
This kind of woman is impossible to reason with.
She would never listen to what you said or explained; she only wanted you to do as she said.
"Mr. Ge, what do you think?" Julia had no desire to keep talking to her mother, knowing it would never end.
Mr. Ge, who had remained silent, looked at his wife to make her stop her endless chatter, then said, "Julia, we are family after all."
"You are family, but I am not. Don't say that again. My mother married you when I was already an adult. You never raised me, so I have no obligation to support you." Julia spoke simply and coldly, "I can tolerate my mother's nagging, but I don't have the patience for others. I'm only willing to talk to you because you're an elder and I respect you. That's it. Don't try to claim kinship with me—I don't recognize it. The only reason I'm here today is to resolve this once and for all, not to drag it out. If you keep pushing me to marry, I will—but not to Max Mo. When I do get married, you'll have to give up on that."
"You wouldn't dare!" Mrs. Grace Ge's face changed.
Mr. Ge stopped his wife from speaking again and said to Julia, "Why do you have to be like this? Your mother and I really do want what's best for you. There have been too many people targeting the Mo family. I admit I have my own interests, but who doesn't? I really am doing this for the Ge family, which is why we keep coming to discuss things with you. Still, you don't need to be so harsh. You're right, I never raised you, so you don't have to listen to me. But you know I'm older than your mother—who knows when I might pass away? If I die, it won’t matter to me, but your mother will be left alone to raise your brother, and life will be hard for her. You can look out for yourself, but remember, your mother worked hard to raise you. Can’t you think about her a little more?"
Julia said nothing.
Mrs. Grace Ge understood her husband's intentions and didn’t speak again.
"Your brother is young, and there will be many expenses in the future. Your mother only has one son, and she will do everything for him. When I die, she'll be alone—how will she manage? Even if you don't care about your brother, think about your mother. Can you consider our proposal?" Mr. Ge said, his voice sincerely pleading.
Julia gave a cold laugh and said, "Mr. Ge, you really know how to talk. You’re clearly in the prime of your life, yet you speak as if you could die at any moment. Fine, since you want to talk about my mother's sacrifices, let's be direct."
Mr. Ge also knew Julia wasn’t easy to persuade.
What lawyer would be so easily swayed?
So Mr. Ge came this time with his own agenda.
"Go ahead, what price do I need to pay to sever my relationship with my mother?" Julia asked directly, truly fed up with their endless arguments.
Mrs. Grace Ge’s face turned angry. "Are you really so eager to cut ties?"
"Yes." Julia admitted bluntly. "I’m tired of being emotionally blackmailed by you all the time! So let’s just settle it—name your price. How much money? Or what connection? I’ll do my best to satisfy your demands, but beyond that, I can’t help you."
"I want the investment rights for the Mo Family’s upcoming N+4 project at the end of the year." Mr. Ge finally revealed his true goal. "If you can convince Max Mo to let me participate, I promise you’ll never see me or your mother again."
Julia smiled lightly.
Coincidentally, this project was handled by her.
The initial investment for this project was fifty billion, and three more phases of investment would follow.
In total, it would be two hundred billion.
With such a huge project, it’s no wonder Mr. Ge was so eager—he knew it would be a guaranteed profit.
If they could catch a ride on this project, the Ge family’s assets would easily double, and if things went well, they might even multiply tenfold.
Their appetite was truly enormous.
Julia crossed her arms and looked at her mother. "Is that what you want too? As long as you get in on the project, you’ll give up your relationship with me? You’ll make a public announcement and completely sever our mother-daughter bond?"
Mrs. Grace Ge’s face flushed. Even with her thick skin, she couldn’t handle such bluntness.
Mr. Ge said, "I won’t get involved in matters between you and your mother."
"No, you’re already involved! Aren’t you trying to sell our mother-daughter relationship for a good price?" Julia said bluntly. "Since we’re being honest, let me be clear: No deal! This project is one of the Mo Family’s biggest this year—it’s not up to me, or even Max Mo alone. The board has to approve it. I’d advise you not to be so greedy, or you’ll choke on it!"
Mrs. Grace Ge said unhappily, "It’s always like this. Whenever we ask you to do something, you always make excuses."
Julia ignored her mother’s words and tapped her fingers on the table. "Offer another condition."
Mr. Ge spoke again: "If that’s not possible, then I’d like to be involved in the Jinhu Villa project in W City."
Julia thought for a moment and said, "The Jinhu Villa project isn’t under my management, but I can help ask about it. So, have you decided?"
Julia looked at the couple. "I’ve recorded our conversation today. If you go back on your word, you’ll suffer tenfold consequences, so think carefully."
Mr. and Mrs. Ge’s faces turned ugly.
Julia really had no patience left.
They understood that clearly.
"Fine, it’s settled," Mr. Ge said through gritted teeth. "As long as you help me get the Jinhu Villa project, we’ll have nothing to do with you from now on."
"Alright, I’ll draft the agreement. I’ll use the profit from the project to pay all of my mother’s future support," Julia said. "From now on, I’ll have nothing to do with you. Also, please don’t go around claiming to be my relatives. If you break the agreement, I won’t hesitate to take the entire Ge family as compensation."
As soon as Julia finished speaking, Mr. and Mrs. Ge’s faces grew even uglier.
They knew Julia would really do it.
As a lawyer, she was all too good at playing word games.
But they also knew Julia wasn’t easy to manipulate; this was already the best they could hope for.
After finishing the conversation, Julia got up and saw them out, sending them far away.
After they left, Julia finally started to feel a headache coming on.
How should she bring up the Jinhu Villa project to Max Mo?
The Jinhu Villa project was just a small one under the Mo Family, but it still involved billions.
It wasn’t impossible for the Ge Family to be involved, but would doing so cost her favor with Max Mo?
Just then, someone poked their head in from outside: "Lawyer Julia Yu, it’s time for you to head out."
Julia checked the time and realized she was already late.
"Got it, I’ll be right there." Julia smiled gratefully at the person, hurriedly changed clothes, and rushed out.