Chapter 287

As Isabella's rival, Bianca had no clue that Isabella had already scooped up all the shares from the minority shareholders, making her the second biggest shareholder in the family.

She was still crowing about Mason not helping Isabella out.

With John still tangled up in the mess created by the three major families and having no extra cash to help her out, Bianca had to step up and personally call and negotiate with those minority shareholders on John's behalf.

"Mr. Farley, you gotta understand, the influence of the three major families on us is pretty much nothing. Our current situation is just a bump in the road. Give us a few days, and we can buy your shares at three or even five times the price. I believe Mr. Farley can be patient, right?" Bianca sounded super confident on the phone.

Zack on the other end of the line went quiet for a moment, then nodded and said with a smile, "Of course, I trust Ms. Taylor. I'll wait for two more days."

After wrapping up the call with Bianca, Zack hung up, a flicker of disdain in his eyes.

"You're a joke compared to your sister," Zack spat into the phone.

The same thing happened with the other shareholders.

Bianca told each one that John would soon sort out the mess and then buy their shares with cash. Each shareholder agreed, willing to give John some time.

But after hanging up, each shareholder cursed Bianca as a foolish woman.

Because Isabella had leverage over all of them, and even though she promised to return those levers and not use them to threaten them anymore, they were terrified to defy her. They didn't trust her to keep her word. Yeah, businessmen say they value integrity, but it's not always the top priority.

Bianca called James, but after a few rings, no one picked up, which made her frown.

She glanced again at the business card she was holding.

The number was right, it was definitely James's number, his private number. Why wasn't anyone answering?

Just as Bianca was getting puzzled, the phone was finally answered, but a woman's voice came from the other end.

"May I ask who's calling?" the voice asked, sounding polite but distant.

"I'm Mr. Williams' girlfriend, I'm looking for Mr. Finley, are you his secretary?" Bianca asked.

There was a pause, and Bianca thought she heard a faint scream. She frowned slightly, confused by what was happening on the other end of the line.

When Lally heard it was Bianca on the phone, her face turned cold. She didn't have a good tone for people who messed with others' relationships.

"I'm his wife, he's not available right now." Lally's words were icy, each syllable sharp and cutting. Bianca could almost picture Lally, picking up the phone with a look of disdain.

James had been stripped of all his clothes, and he was naked and tied to an iron frame. Various torture tools were placed next to the iron frame.

"I need to talk to Mr. Finley about transferring shares. What's he up to right now?" Bianca's voice had a hint of impatience.

Lally walked over to the torture tools, grabbed a red-hot branding iron, and pressed it against James's stomach.

The searing pain made James tremble and struggle, letting out a desperate scream. "Darling, I was wrong, I really was."

Bianca was startled by the clear scream coming from the phone.

Lally, on the other end, smiled faintly. "I'm sorry, Ms. Taylor. We can only discuss the shares later. We're a bit busy with some... intimate games. You'll have to wait to discuss any business."

Lally said this while searching for a whip among the torture tools, eventually finding a riding crop.

Bianca, hearing the unmistakable crack of a whip followed by James's anguished cries, felt a chill run through her.

"Sorry to bother you. Please tell Mr. Finley that we need a few days, and John will transfer the money to buy the shares," Bianca said before hastily ending the call.

Lally, far from satisfied, continued her "intimate games."

"Darling, how should I punish you?" Lally caressed James's greasy cheek, asking in a sickly sweet tone.

James shook his head, trembling. "Darling, I know I was wrong. You don't want the kids to lose their father early, do you?"

Lally's face turned cold as stone. To prevent the kids from seeing James in his current state, Lally had already ordered the butler to send them out of the country as soon as she got home.

Any mention of the kids now would only fuel Lally's anger.

"Now go outside and bring me a bucket of alcohol," Lally ordered her subordinate behind her.

Soon, the subordinate brought a bucket of medical alcohol, its acrid scent filling the air.

Lally dipped the whip in the bucket, soaking it with alcohol.

"Darling," Lally whispered, "They say alcohol can help clean wounds. To keep you from getting infected, I gotta disinfect those cuts. And, well... it just seems easier to do it with the whip. What do you think?" Lally's pale face revealed a sickly sweet smile, then she fiercely whipped James with the alcohol-soaked whip.

"Damn you, you wretch, I won't let you off even if I become a ghost! It hurts so much! Is there anyone? Help!" James wailed in agony.

"No need to shout for help, sweetie. You built this soundproof basement yourself, remember? Said you needed it for your music. Turns out it was for your little rendezvous with the maid. The soundproofing here is so good, I can't even hear it in the room upstairs, so don't expect anyone to come and save you." Lally caressed James's face, then picked up a pair of scissors from the side.

"Cheaters gotta pay. Chemical castration's too good for them. I prefer the real deal." Lally slowly brought the scissors close to James's genitals.