Chapter 1068: Chapter 1068
Milne Swift’s hand froze in mid-air, his movements slow as he turned around, his voice trembling. Although he inherently looked down on Adam Piers, he knew well he couldn’t afford to offend this ancestor.
Especially since, unlike other wealthy heirs, Adam wasn’t afraid of doing things. He was incapable yet reckless, acting without regard for consequences. If Swift truly enraged him now, Swift would be finished.
If Swift were finished, it meant he was finished!
Having spent most of his life in luxury, Milne Swift couldn’t fathom his lifestyle once Swift went bankrupt. He disregarded his dignity, casually retracting his hand, suppressing his aggression, and smiling obsequiously at Adam, "It’s good you’re here, Master Adam, I’m just apologizing to Bertha. I was wrong yesterday, I shouldn’t have hit Bertha, you must forgive Daddy..."
Bertha Swift had seen Milne Swift’s change of face before, but it still disgusted her now. She pursed her lips in silence, glancing sideways at Adam, "I’m tired."
"Tired, huh? So... Bertha, can’t you forgive Daddy? Tell me, what do I have to do for you to forgive me?" Milne Swift’s words were sincere, but beneath them was an aggressive undertone.
Adam’s expression was displeased, and Bertha held her mother’s hand without speaking.
The situation was awkward, so Martha Maud stepped in to mediate, "Bertha, your dad really knows he was wrong. Could you forgive him just this once?"
Initially, Bertha hesitated internally upon hearing Milne Swift’s words. It wasn’t because she wanted to forgive him; rather, she sensed a change in her mother’s emotions.
Unlike her, her mother still held some delusions about her father. Moreover, Martha Maud was exceedingly annoying, constantly calling her Bertha, which disgusted her. Suddenly, an idea popped into Bertha’s mind, "Forgiveness isn’t out of the question."
When Bertha began speaking, everyone was surprised, even Adam slightly unexpected, with an appraising look directed at Bertha.
Bess Sander, behind Bertha, subconsciously grasped her hand, "Bertha..."
Bess didn’t know why her daughter suddenly relented, but she guessed it had something to do with herself, so she anxiously called out to Bertha.
She didn’t want her daughter to sacrifice herself for her sake again.
From last night, she had no expectations from Milne Swift, only wishing for mutual non-interference.
Bertha squeezed her mother’s hand reassuringly before addressing Milne Swift, "My demands are pretty simple: you must send this home-wrecker away and publicly declare he’s not your son, and henceforth he won’t have any inheritance rights to Swift."
"What did you say? You little bitch..." Before Milne Swift could react, Martha Maud shouted in agitation; however, as soon as she uttered ’little bitch,’ she met Milne Swift’s warning look.
Martha Maud swallowed the rest of her words harshly, losing her previous gentle demeanor, casting a venomous glance at Bertha and her mother, then lowering her head in grievance, murmuring softly to Milne Swift, "Husband, she wants my life, and she also wants to rob Swift of descendants..."
Milne Swift’s face was already unpleasant at Bertha’s demands, and even more so at Martha Maud’s words. He most cherished his son, intending for him to take over his estate eventually. But now Bertha demanded he not only send Martha away but also deny his son, barring him from inheriting Swift; how was that possible?
Yet facing Bertha’s unwavering demeanor, coupled with Adam’s pressure, Milne Swift repeatedly wanted to lash out at Bertha but had to forcefully restrain himself.
Priority was saving Swift by any means necessary.
"I... I can agree to it..."
"Husband, how could you!" Milne Swift spoke through gritted teeth, yet midway through was interrupted by Martha Maud, who clung to Milne’s hand, "Husband, you can’t..."
"Shut up!" Seeing the woman beside him, usually compliant and bright, defy him at this moment, Milne Swift was deeply dissatisfied, scolding lowly. He knew his son was important, but without Swift, keeping his son would be useless. Better to agree with Bertha now, then once Swift revived, he could bring back his son without issue.
After scolding, Milne saw Martha Maud’s beautiful face full of tears, his heart softened, afraid she’d cause trouble for him now, he whispered in her ear, "This is just a temporary measure."
Martha’s tears continued, her grievance evident, but she didn’t dare obstruct Milne further, only softly sobbing with downcast eyes.
Without impediment, Milne turned back to Bertha, speaking with much more assurance, "I agree with you, but can you truly guarantee saving Swift?"
Bertha wasn’t surprised by Milne’s response; instead, her heart ached more for her mother. Her tone was uncongenial, tinged with sarcasm, "I can’t."
"You..." Milne nearly lost control again, but Adam’s gaze felt like needles on his back, forcing him to swallow his anger, "Bertha, Dad agreed to your terms, so forgive him, you know Swift is Dad’s years of hard work..."
With no leverage against Bertha, Milne resorted to emotional manipulation shamelessly.
Bertha only felt ridicule, but thinking of forcing Martha away to make her feel her mother’s pain, along with restraining the woman who often acted smugly and nearly caused her mother’s demise last night, Bertha turned to Adam, "Did you meddle in Swift’s affairs?"
Adam’s gaze fell on Bertha without speaking.
Bertha also stared at him.
Seeing this, Martha mused something, "Husband, she and Master Adam aren’t involved at all; he won’t listen to her. Even if you chase me and our son from Swift, Bertha won’t help you..."
"Who says so? If she agrees, why not?" Adam interrupted the home-wrecker’s incitement, then seriously looked at Bertha, "Are you sure you forgive them so easily?"
"Forgive? No, I’m just tired of being entangled." Bertha didn’t want Swift’s bankruptcy blamed on her nor for Tawms to constantly harass her.
And she didn’t want Adam constantly troubled by her messy affairs.
"Okay." Adam understood Bertha’s aversion to Milne, so he didn’t speak further, "I’ll have the bank honor its contract."
"Thank you, Master Adam... but wait, Master Adam, just the bank? Our company’s several projects have problems; you should address those too!" Milne’s gratitude was cut short by his urgency.
Adam couldn’t help but laugh coldly, "I only intervened with Swift’s bank loan; what does anything else have to do with me? Are you planning to blame all Swift’s issues on me?"
"I’m not... but Swift certainly faced many issues since yesterday, including after I left the set. Master Adam, please help me and Swift!" Milne simply didn’t believe Swift’s project issues were unrelated to Adam.
"How could an utterly useless dandy help General Manager Miller? You’re too kind." Adam replied sarcastically, his eyes filled with disdain for Milne.
Milne, however, dared not believe Adam’s words, turning to plead with Bertha.
Bertha’s expression soured further, glancing at her mother, already unstable, "I’ve said all I need to say; my mother needs rest. Please leave."
"Bertha, you can’t; Swift is your foundation. If Swift and the remaining Swift family cease, even if you marry Adam, people will laugh at you for marrying into a down-and-out household..."
"Adam, he’s so annoying." Milne agitatedly wanted to grab Bertha and instill the importance of Swift and the Swift family in her mind. But Bertha only felt annoyed, whispering to Adam.
Adam Piers heard Bertha Swift call him Adam for the first time, in such a familiar and slightly complaining tone. His heart skipped a beat, and he looked at Milne Swift whose face was even more severe, "General Manager Miller, my mother needs to rest, please."
"Master Adam, I..."
Milne Swift tried to say something, but when he caught Adam’s eye, he shivered and, without saying anything else, struggled to walk out of the ward.
Martha Maud followed closely behind with small steps, "Husband..."
"Wait a moment." Bertha Swift suddenly spoke up.
Milne Swift thought Bertha was reconsidering and turned sharply, "Bertha, Dad knew you were always the sensible one!"
Bertha Swift cast a cold glance at Milne and looked at Martha, "You’re calling him husband repeatedly, but if I remember correctly, my mother and General Manager Miller haven’t divorced yet? If I hear you call him husband again, believe it or not, we’ll sue him for bigamy."
Hearing Martha Maud call Milne her husband repeatedly in front of her mother, Bertha didn’t know how her mother felt, but she was done tolerating it.
Milne realized he had misunderstood after hearing this, glanced at Bertha with a look of malice, but with Adam there, he had to hold back. Yet coming to the hospital today, full of anger with no outlet, he was instead harshly confronted, swallowing his resentment intensely. He turned his anger towards Martha, "Did you hear that? Whose husband is he anyway? Are you trying to get me killed?"
Martha opened her mouth, usually calling him that, even last night did so in front of Bess Sander, and Milne said nothing. But now, because of one word from Bertha, she was insulted, feeling humiliated but forced to endure, nodding with red eyes.
Milne then looked at Bertha, "Are you satisfied?"
Bertha ignored them, turned around and led her mother back to the hospital bed.
Adam glanced at Bertha, stepped aside to open the door and wait for Milne and his home-wrecker to leave, then helped Bertha close the hospital room door and casually asked, "Does General Manager Miller want to save Swift?"
Milne, nearly desperate, upon hearing this, looked sharply at Adam.
Adam smiled slovenly, "I have an idea, don’t know if General Manager Miller wants to hear it?"
"Of course, of course, as long as Master Adam is willing to help me and Swift, I’ll listen to anything!" Milne was incredibly excited, thrilled by hope after hopelessness.
Adam’s lips curled upward, he glanced sideways at Martha Maud.
Milne immediately understood Adam’s meaning, looked at Martha and shouted, "Get out, didn’t you hear Bertha’s words today? And take that stupid son of yours, don’t come blocking my sight again!"
"Husband... Milne..."
"Get out, get out!" Martha called husband once, then remembered Bertha’s words and called Milne’s name again, immediately interrupted by Milne.
Martha was furious, ashamed and angry, yet considering Milne’s current situation and the issues Swift faced, she could only endure. And Milne had just said driving away her and their son was a temporary measure, waiting for Bertha to beg Piers’ young master to resurrect Swift, they could return gloriously later.
Holding onto this thought, Martha swallowed the current humiliation and left with reddened eyes.
Once Milne’s mistress left, Adam leisurely continued to throw out his bombshell, "Helping you and Swift is possible, but I have one condition."
"Master Adam, please say it." Milne responded eagerly, at this moment Adam could ask for anything as long as it wasn’t too excessive.
After all, the company was crucial!
"Transfer twenty-five percent of Swift’s shares to Bertha Swift." Adam still spoke leisurely, his eyes hiding disdain.
Milne listened and was startled, "Master Adam, that’s quite a big joke!"
"Is it big? If you think it’s a joke, then there’s nothing more to talk about." Adam shrugged his shoulders and turned to leave.
Milne was anxious, quickly intercepted Adam, "Master Adam, speak clearly, but I only have forty-six percent shares myself. Giving Bertha twenty-five percent means losing control over Swift."
"Oh, that’s General Manager Miller’s business." Adam laughed scornfully, indifferent, but clearly understood Milne’s meaning, and because he investigated Swift’s share situation, chose to demand twenty-five percent for Bertha.
A tough number for Milne to swallow, yet he would feel unworthy to part with.
"Isn’t there another way, Master Adam? I have plenty of properties under my name..."
"I have just this one requirement, if General Manager Miller thinks it’s suitable, we’ll talk again, if not, no discussion." Adam interrupted Milne, calling it a negotiation, but not intending to really negotiate.
With this said, he bypassed Milne and continued walking.
Milne was really anxious this time, chased up once more, gritting his teeth fiercely, "I agree!"
"Oh." Adam seemed to hear Milne’s heart break, responded casually, then looked at Ray Leighton standing at a sensible distance, "Go draft the contract with General Manager Miller, in it exclude his mistress and her son from entering Swift, and also prohibit them from inheriting any Swift assets."
Ray quickly complied, while Milne’s face turned pale. He originally planned to agree with Bertha on the surface, then after Swift overcame the crisis, bring Martha Maud and their son back to Swift. But now Adam demanded the agreed matters be written into the contract, making it difficult to bring Martha Maud and their son back.
That was his only son!
Milne’s heart bled, yet considering if Swift went bankrupt now, he would be left with nothing, keeping those two wouldn’t be any use either...
"Does General Manager Miller have any more opinions?" Adam saw Milne with his head down, neck tense with veins, asking slowly.
Milne quickly raised his head, collected his emotions, and shook his head at Adam, "No, how could I dare?"
"That’s good."
"Does General Manager Miller have any more opinions?" Adam saw Milne with his head down, neck tense with veins, asking slowly.
Milne quickly raised his head, collected his emotions, and shook his head at Adam, "No, how could I dare?"
"That’s good."