Read Novel Full Chapter 452: Schemes
Chapter 452: Chapter 452: Schemes
"Martha, you are too selfless, too kind, and so devoted that Ivy should at least show some sincerity by handing over even half a portion of the base as a recognition to you."
Martha turned to look at Arnold, her brows knitting together as she spoke in a low, conflicted voice.
"If I leave this position and go to another base to manage things, I won’t be able to live this comfortably anymore. Other base leaders wouldn’t even consider giving me a fraction of authority. They’d just make me work overtime until I collapse."
Arnold’s frustration finally boiled over.
His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned pale, his voice sharp and impatient.
"Then do whatever you want."
With that, he turned on his heel and started to leave.
Martha’s heart skipped a beat.
Panic flashed across her face, and she rushed forward, grabbing his sleeve before he could take another step.
"Wait. Then what should I do? What should I do to make Ivy realize my true worth?"
The moment those words left her mouth, Arnold internally exhaled in relief.
’Finally, she’s wavering.’
On the surface, however, he put on a disappointed, almost helpless expression as he looked back at her.
"If you truly want to prove your value to Ivy, then you have to do exactly what I’m telling you."
Martha hesitated, then slowly nodded.
Arnold straightened, his tone firm and deliberate. "The first step is to give up this job."
Hearing that, Martha’s eyes widened instantly.
"Give up? No. Just forget it. I won’t do that."
Without waiting for his response, she turned and walked toward her table, her footsteps echoing faintly against the cold floor.
Arnold panicked. He rushed after her and blocked her path, his voice rising despite himself.
"I’m telling the truth. At least hear the whole plan before deciding."
Martha shook her head, her resolve unshaken.
"This job is important to me. Compared to others in this apocalypse, people who are either turning into zombies or becoming corpses, I’m living far better. I’d rather stay here, even if I feel wronged."
Those words nearly drove Arnold mad. He felt like tearing his hair out.
’Why is she so stubborn today?’
For the first time, he truly realized how difficult Martha was to handle.
He forced himself to take a deep breath, smoothing his expression into a strained smile.
"Fine. If that’s the case, then we’ll change our approach."
Martha looked at him, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
Arnold’s mind raced wildly, thoughts colliding at breakneck speed.
"Then you should steal some confidential information and use it to threaten Ivy. Make her hand over a portion of the base. That way, she’ll have no choice but to give you whatever you ask for."
He leaned closer, lowering his voice as if the walls themselves could hear.
"In this way, you’ll get everything you want, and Ivy will be forced to comply."
Martha frowned deeply, unease creeping into her chest.
"Then wouldn’t I be the one in the wrong?"
Arnold gritted his teeth, his patience finally wearing thin.
"Then decide for yourself. Do whatever you want."
Martha nodded slowly, her voice calm but firm. "I’ll do what I think is right."
At that moment, Arnold understood that he had completely failed today.
There was nothing more he could do. With a dark expression, he turned and left.
As his footsteps faded, Martha narrowed her eyes and let out a cold, almost mocking smirk.
Meanwhile, far away from them...
Annie stared at the woman before her, disgust burning in her eyes. Her hands trembled as she spoke.
"I never thought you’d be like this, Mother... No... sorry. You’re not even my mother. You’re just a stranger who could do something so disgusting."
The woman smiled faintly, unfazed.
"Since you know everything now, then you should leave. Why are you still standing here, acting like some kind of saint?"
Annie’s eyes blazed as she glared back.
"Do you really have no shame at all? You stole someone else’s baby. You manipulated her entire life."
The smile on the woman’s face slowly faded. She fell silent.
If someone had asked her whether she felt ashamed, she would have admitted that she did.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have treated Annie so well in the early years.
Back then, when she was pregnant, she had desperately wanted a foothold in life. She wanted her sugar daddy’s attention, his money, and his favor.
When she learned that the child she had given birth to was dead at birth, desperation consumed her.
Coincidentally, or fatefully, she found out that another woman had given birth to twins, and both of them was on the verge of death.
Without hesitation, she stole the baby. She replaced the dying child with her own dead infant.
The doctors were overwhelmed, focused entirely on the twin who still had a chance to survive.
The second baby was ignored, and that negligence allowed her to escape with Annie.
At first, Annie was nothing more than a tool a weapon to control her sugar daddy.
Later, when she became pregnant again, the man grew irritated and stopped visiting her altogether.
It wasn’t until she gave birth to a son that she felt reassured. From then on, she no longer felt the need to treat Annie well.
Between the son who shared her blood and the daughter she had stolen, her preference was obvious.
As the money from her sugar daddy dwindled, anger and resentment consumed her.
She saw both children as nothing but a curse.
At least when Annie had been around, things had gone smoothly. But after her son was born, the money dried up completely.
So she abandoned them emotionally, caring for neither.
Who would have imagined that Annie would grow into a martial artist, a genius, someone who earned recognition through her own strength?
When news of Annie’s achievements reached the sugar daddy, he began sending money again.
That thrilled her. Greed resurfaced instantly.
She started pretending to care, hoping to regain Annie’s trust, hoping to force her back into competitions for profit.