She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 911

Dario Ludlow glanced down at the caller ID, his pupils shrinking in panic. It was Secretary Jefferson from the corporate headquarters. His hand trembled so violently he could barely answer.

"Hello?"

The exact words on the other end were inaudible to the onlookers, but Dario's ashen face painted a vivid picture of the disaster unfolding.

"Dario, the company has decided to terminate your employment contract, effective immediately. HR will send you the formal notice. Don't bother coming in to clear your desk. Your severance will be wired to you according to your contract."

Dario's face turned a sickly shade of gray. "Wait, Secretary Jefferson, I've given this company six years of my life! I've been a top-three performer for a dozen quarters! Why?"

The voice on the other end offered nothing but pity. "You know exactly who you offended. Don't drag the company down with you. The rest of us still need our jobs."

The line went dead.

Before Ms. Nash could even process her husband's devastation, her own phone buzzed. Aside from being a pampered housewife, she ran a high-end beauty salon—her only independent source of income.

A knot of dread tightened in her stomach. When she answered, her salon manager's frantic voice pierced her ear. "Miranda, it's a disaster! The health department, the business bureau, and the fire marshal just hit us with back-to-back notices for a full-scale inspection! They're claiming our fire exit permits are invalid and that our medical equipment is fraudulent. They're shutting us down indefinitely for 'rectification.' Miranda, it sounds really bad... we might be closed for a long time."

The phone slipped from Ms. Nash's grasp, shattering on the ground.

Her mind buzzed with static. That salon was her leverage in this marriage, her safety net if she ever left Dario. Now, it was gone. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor.

Dario's reaction was even more extreme.

Abandoning all shred of dignity, he lunged forward and dropped to his knees right in front of Hank Lonsdale, completely ignoring the shocked stares of the other parents and children. He groveled, his posture practically melting into the dirt.

"Mr. Lonsdale, please!" Dario's voice cracked in desperation. "My wife and I, we have big mouths! We were blind fools! I had no idea Ms. Turner was with you. If I had known, I swear on my life I would never have said those things! Please, Mr. Lonsdale!"

He bowed his head repeatedly, practically pressing his face to the floor.

Ms. Nash, finally realizing the catastrophic weight of her actions, was completely unraveled. If both she and her husband lost their incomes, the massive mortgage on their luxury downtown Metropia condo would crush them instantly. They would be out on the streets, buried in debt.

She scrambled over to Hank's feet. "I'm so sorry! I'm sorry! I shouldn't have bullied Ms. Turner! I poured my entire life savings into that salon! Please, have mercy! Just let me off this once!"

"You're begging me?" Hank's smile vanished, leaving his eyes cold and entirely devoid of sympathy. "What's the point of begging me? I'm not the one you insulted."

Ms. Windsor quickly brought over Principal Sutton, looking distressed. "This is getting out of hand. If this continues, it's going to traumatize the other children. We really need to start the sports events."

Principal Sutton nodded, gathering his courage. "I'll go speak with Mr. Lonsdale. I'm sure he'll understand."

With the principal stepping in, Hank crouched down and looked Gigi in the eye. "Gigi, let me ask you. Do you want to forgive them?"

Gigi looked at him. Her dark eyes reflected Hank's gentle face, and just beyond him, the sobbing mess of Lanny's family.

She didn't answer right away.

She stayed quiet for a long time, bathed in the desperate, hopeful stares of the Ludlow family. Dario chimed in, "If Gigi will just forgive us, our family will do anything to repay you. We'll be at your beck and call!"

Ms. Nash frantically tried to coax her. "I'll buy you anything you want! Anything at all! Pretty dresses, expensive jewelry, sparkly hair clips—whatever Gigi likes!"

The couple still believed a little girl could be easily bought. They figured that by throwing out irresistible offers, she would have no choice but to forgive them. Giving such immense power to a child felt like an easy way out.

However...