Chapter 2 2. The Price of a Marriage

Later that dawn, an early-morning news program played quietly on the television, and her attention was caught by a report about Thundermond Group's latest business matter. It said that the company had been trying for months to secure a major deal with Maison Auvé, a prestigious French couture house. But despite several negotiations, the two sides had still failed to reach an agreement. Several other retail groups also seemed to have failed to bring the brand into the US market. Jane stared at the television screen. "Thundermond Group...? Maison Auvé? William Thundermond?" She remembered Brianna's boastful words about her fiancé. She immediately took out her phone and searched for him. Scrolling through business articles, photographs, interviews, and reports about the young only heir who was currently responsible for a growing part of his family's empire. Thundermond Group was not an ordinary company. It belonged to a family with generations of wealth, power, and influence. The old money. If Brianna married William Thundermond, Uncle Frank would gain powerful backing from Thundermond Group, further strengthening his position within Myers Company. With that, he would become impossible to defeat. Jane stared blankly at her grandfather's face. The company her grandfather had built through years of hard work would simply fall into the hands of the very son who had caused his condition to become like this. She would not let that happen. ◆◆◆ (3 days before the wedding, 4 days before GMS) "Can I meet Mr. William Thundermond?" Jane spoke to the receptionist in the lobby of Thundermond Group's headquarters. "Have you made an appointment?" Jane forgot that she couldn't just meet someone that important. "Can you just tell him that Miss Myers wants to see him? He must understand." She tried to use Brianna's existence to get a meeting with Liam. It wasn't right, but she had no choice. Other than this, she didn't know another way to meet the man. The receptionist looked a little hesitant, but eventually nodded. "I'll try to inform his secretary. Please wait a moment." After hanging up the phone, the receptionist became friendlier toward her. "Miss Myers, I'll escort you upstairs. Mr. Thundermond is already waiting." Jane thanked her and followed her until they reached the door of the room in question. The moment she stepped inside, her eyes fell on the man seated behind a large desk-the broad-shouldered figure with a commanding presence and a face she remembered all too well. Liam frowned as he looked at her. "Oh, well. You're not the Myers I was expecting. Did Brianna or Frank send you here-or?" "No. I came here myself because there's something important I want to discuss with you." Jane's expression became more serious. "I don't know what this is about, but please, have a seat." Liam got up from his chair and moved to sit on the sofa across from Jane. "I want to make a deal with you, Mr. Thundermond." Jane clasped her hands tightly in her lap. "But first, allow me to reintroduce myself. I believe it's time we can make a fresh start, a better one. I'm Jane Myers, Brianna's cousin and Frank Myers's niece." There was a brief silence, and a curious frown appeared on Liam' s face. "What kind of deal?" "I know the Mason family very well personally. They are like my own parents, and their only daughter is my best friend." The confidence in Jane's voice made him interested and listened carefully. "I can make sure you get their cooperation. Thundermond Group might become the first and only company that can bring Maison Auvé to the US." She paused, letting the words settle before adding, "And in return, I want you to marry me instead of Brianna." Maison Auvé was indeed an offer Liam could not simply ignore. But to barter a marriage for it seemed too ridiculous. "You're still a Myers," he said. "Why should I marry another Myers when I already have enough trouble with the one I'm supposed to marry?" "Isn't the deal with Maison Auvé enough for you?" "It's certainly interesting. But I don't know if it's worth a marriage. It ties two powerful families together, and I can't just do it carelessly because it will affect my company as well." He studied her for several seconds before leaning back on his sofa. "Well, tell me. What exactly do you want from me by asking me to marry you?" "I need someone who can help me stay in New York." "Is that all?" Liam almost laughed. "And to ensure my grandfather's safety." "I don't understand. Please explain it." His expression grew serious, and his gaze turned sharper. "My Uncle Frank is trying to take over the Myers Company. He caused a lot of problems in the company before. Grandpa was hard on him because he is greedy and incompetent." Liam's eyes narrowed. "My grandfather is in a coma. And he is using my grandfather's condition to make the board of directors support him as a chairman. The only obstacle he has left is me. He is forcing me to marry a French man so that I will leave New York permanently. That way, he can prevent me from interfering with the company." Jane's eyes filled with tears. Her chest felt tight. "What I'm most afraid of is my grandfather's safety. I don't believe my grandfather's accident happened naturally. He was still healthy a few days ago, took his medication regularly, and was under his doctor's close supervision. It's highly unlikely that he suddenly had a heart attack or stroke and fell down the stairs like they said. I suspect Uncle Frank is behind my grandfather's accident." "You really believe Frank did something to him? That's a serious accusation, Miss Myers." "I don't have proof, yes," Jane continued, forcing herself to keep her voice steady. "But last night, I heard my uncle talking to his wife. He said my grandfather wanted to announce his successor at the next Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, and he said he couldn't allow it to happen. That was enough to make me suspicious." She looked directly into Liam's eyes. "He also said he would make sure my grandfather remained unconscious long enough for him to take over the company." Jane's voice trembled slightly despite her effort to remain calm. "I can't just leave my grandfather with Uncle Frank or my other uncle. I don't trust them. I'm afraid they might really go as far as killing my grandfather. He's the only real family I've had." After remaining silent for a while, as if contemplating something, Liam finally spoke. "Actually, I don't want to marry Brianna either. I caught Brianna's parents threatening my father." Jane's eyes widened. "They threatened your father?" "They made it clear that if I refused the marriage, they would use their trump card against the Thundermond Group. My father agreed because he thought sacrificing my marriage was easier than risking the company and the whole family's reputation. The problem is, I still don't know what they used to threaten my father with, to make him bend to their demands like that." Liam curled his lips into a faint smile. "But that doesn't automatically put me in a weaker position. I can do many things to turn the situation around. So, Miss Myers, if you're desperate enough to ask for my help, would you give me one additional advantage besides Maison Auvé?" "What do you want?" "Issue new shares and sell them to me at a low price. Make me the largest shareholder and give me full control over the management." Jane froze. She stared at him in disbelief, her expression shaken. This was not what she had expected. She had come to Liam because she wanted to prevent Uncle Frank from taking over the company, but now Liam was asking her to make him become the person who controlled it instead. "You benefit because Frank loses his chance to become chairman, as my voting power will prevent him from taking the position." That was exactly what she wanted, but it also terrified her. It felt like escaping one problem only to walk straight into another. She was trying to protect the Myers Company because it was the legacy her grandfather had built. Handing control to Uncle Frank would be terrible, but handing it to Liam meant trusting a man she barely knew-and she had no idea how dangerous that could be. Jane finally looked back at him. "I have conditions." Liam nodded. "Alright. Tell me." "First, you save my grandfather. Move him to a hospital where no one can find him. And I want the best doctors available. I want you to help make sure he has a real chance of waking up." "I'll arrange it." "Second, You must guarantee that I can stay in New York for an indefinite period. I will not leave the city while my grandfather is unconscious. Third, my shares and inheritance rights must be protected. I will sell you enough shares to make you the largest shareholder, but I remain the second-largest voting shareholder. You also have to listen when my voting rights are involved." "Fine. That's easy." Jane extended her hand. A smirk appeared at the corner of Liam's lips as he took her hand to seal the deal.