Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 1098

At half-past twelve, Sebastian Blake sat punctually in a private booth on the second floor of a high-end cafe. Across from him sat Mr. Reed, the man sent to collect the debt, backed by several imposing bodyguards.

Sebastian remained entirely composed, as if this were an everyday occurrence.

He casually ordered a coffee, his sharp gaze cutting across the table. "I only have twenty minutes. Whatever you have to say, spit it out."

"Mr. Blake, we apologize for the abrupt intrusion today," Mr. Reed began, his tone a mix of deference and underlying threat. "But please try to understand our position.

Your mother, Ms. Harris, has racked up a one-billion-dollar debt at The Grand Sapphire Casino. That's a massive sum. We're just the guys working the floor. If we don't bring this money back, it's going to be very hard for us to explain.

We had no choice but to come looking for you. We timed it carefully to avoid causing a scene with the staff at your company.

This was the most respectful approach we could take. Now that we've shown you this courtesy, we're hoping you can do us a solid, Mr. Blake.

A billion dollars is pocket change for you, and it would make our lives a whole lot easier."

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "Gambling debts? Racked up by Debbie Harris?"

He had actually heard whispers about Debbie's massive losses before this meeting.

However, he had absolutely no intention of taking the initiative to clean up her mess.

Debbie's gambling addiction was a lifelong disease.

If Sebastian bailed her out every time, it would only embolden her. She would just assume she had a limitless safety net and hit the tables even harder.

Sebastian had zero desire to indulge her destructive habits.

So, as he faced the debt collectors, Sebastian simply stirred his coffee with maddening slowness.

"Yes, your mother, Ms. Debbie Harris."

Sebastian let out a faint, dismissive hum. "Gentlemen, you seem to be operating under a misconception. On the Family Registry, my mother's name is Charlotte Blake.

It was the only way he could legitimately inherit the mantle of the Blake family and become the CEO of the Blake Group.

For anyone else, cutting ties with the mother they had depended on for survival might have felt like a devastating blow.

But for Sebastian, it was pure liberation.

Severing that legal bond gave him the space to finally breathe.

It felt as though fate had smiled upon him for the first time in his life.

Therefore, whenever these situations arose, his first move was always to sever the connection.

Sitting across the table, Mr. Reed was completely thrown off. It was the first time he had encountered a mark pulling a move like this.

"Mr. Blake, are you saying you don't consider Debbie your mother anymore? Are you telling us you're washing your hands of this billion-dollar debt?"