C7 7

Lyana Stark’s face turned pale again. "David, look at her! I am her elder, yet she addresses me by name like this. If people find out the eldest daughter of the Bishop Family is so unrefined, they’ll blame me behind my back for not raising her well."

"What more could they say? Just that you’re a terrible stepmother. Honestly, you don’t need to worry about people gossiping. Not many people even remember the Bishop Family has an eldest daughter anymore. I should thank you for remembering that the daughter you gave birth to isn't the only one," Chloe shot back. The angrier Lyana got, the more Chloe wanted to twist the knife.

"You!" Lyana ground her teeth, nearly dying of rage.

David Bishop felt a massive headache coming on. His voice deepened with authority. "Enough! Why all the shouting? Chloe, come upstairs with me."

Chloe shrugged nonchalantly and headed for the stairs. The bodyguards instinctively stepped aside; none of them dared to block the eldest daughter now.

David Bishop led the way up, while Chloe followed at a leisurely pace. As she passed Lyana, she paused and let out a low laugh. "You’d better hope your heart is in good shape. Today is only the beginning."

Leaving those words behind, Chloe went upstairs.

Lyana Stark’s eyes burned with fury, her fists clenched at her sides.

Chloe Bishop, just you wait. If I could get you locked up five years ago, I can do it again!

________________________________________

On the second floor, in David Bishop’s study.

The father sat while the daughter stood. Chloe clearly didn't plan on a long chat; she didn't even show signs of wanting to sit down. Before David could speak, she cut straight to the chase.

"I want Kay."

David Bishop frowned. Kay was an independent boutique brand under the Bishop Group—a line of specialized dresses. It was the cornerstone upon which the Bishop Group was built. Years ago, he and Chloe’s mother had started their business with a tiny boutique. Her mother was responsible for designing and making the dresses, while he handled the marketing. Together, they had grown Kay into a success, eventually forming the Bishop Group.

When Chloe was ten, her mother passed away, and he remarried Lyana Stark. Without Chloe’s mother as the creative heart, the Kay brand had slowly declined. Now, all that remained of the brand was the name and a single shop.

"You’ve only just returned from the hospital. You need rest. Stay at home for a while, and once you’re feeling better, you can come work at the company," David Bishop said diplomatically after a moment of thought.

"My health has nothing to do with you. I didn't come here today to consult you; I’m here to negotiate," Chloe said without expression.

David’s brow furrowed deeper. Then he heard Chloe continue:

"I hold ten percent of the shares in the Bishop Group. I want to trade those shares for the independence of the Kay brand. I give you the ten percent, and from now on, Kay belongs solely to me, Chloe Bishop. It will have nothing to do with the Bishop Group ever again."

"You want to trade your shares for Kay?" David Bishop was genuinely shocked.

Chloe nodded and tossed the agreement onto his desk. "Here is the contract. I’ve already had my lawyer draft it. Look it over, and if there are no issues, sign it."

Seeing she had come prepared, David was even more stunned. "Chloe, do you realize the value of ten percent of the Bishop Group? It’s enough to buy ten brands like Kay."

"Heh..." A mocking smile flickered across Chloe’s cold face. "Is that so? To me, Kay is priceless. My mother would have given her life to protect it. What is ten percent of some company compared to that? Since Kay is just a useless stepping stone in your eyes now, sell it to me. Like you said—these shares are worth ten of it."

"No, Chloe, that’s not what I meant. My point was—" David Bishop saw she had misinterpreted him and tried to explain.

"I don't care what you meant. I only want Kay. You don't want it, but I do. I don't care about your shares in the Bishop Group. I only want the one thing my mother left for me." Chloe’s voice dropped an octave, and her eyes turned slightly red.