Chapter 288 Dilemma

“What is this about, Jacob?” Susan asked, her eyes widened in shock.

"Allow me to answer that question for him.” Seth chimed in, “Not long after we signed the contract, your brother transferred the ownership of the shares to you. I guess he must’ve asked you to sign a few documents. It’s just that you didn’t realize anything.”

Susan thought for a moment and remembered that her brother indeed had asked her to sign a few documents several months ago.

During that time, Jacob told her that he needed her saving accounts information to loan some money since he and Seth were starting a company.

Because of that, she signed the document without any hesitation.

However, now that she thought about it, the documents weren’t loan documents. Instead, they were a share transfer agreement.

If the shares were only worth about 500,000 dollars, Susan would gladly accept it. However, the thing was that the value of the shares transferred to her was worth several tens of billions.

"I can't accept this, Jacob," said Susan as she pushed the document back to Jacob.

Jacob tousled her hair and said, "Silly girl. The reason I work so hard is because I want to give you the best. If you don't accept it, then all my hard work would be for naught. Besides, I guess you won't treat your brother that badly after getting the shares, right?"

"Jacob…" Susan's eyes were filled with tears.

She felt she was the luckiest person in the world. She had the best husband and the best family by her side. What else could she ask for? Perhaps even God was jealous of her so he gave her plenty of challenges and made her life extra difficult.

Susan took a deep breath and said in a hushed voice, “Jacob, I understand, but I…”

“Alright, that’s enough. Just keep it or I’ll get angry. I just had heart surgery, and I’m still in the recovery stage. My body can't go through another surge of emotions right now. I don’t think you’d want to see me going into the hospital again, right?” Jacob said with a serious expression.

“God forbid.” Susan hastily said, "How can you talk like that, Jacob. Of course, I wouldn't want to see you in the hospital again."

However, Susan did not continue the conversation. She couldn't accept the shares, and she was certain that her brother wouldn't want it back no matter what. Therefore, she could only figure out another way to return the share to Jacob in the future.

“Hah, what a great example of sibling love.” Madam Shaw’s face was livid. She couldn't hold herself back anymore and snapped, “Even if you have money, so what? The last thing that the Shaws lack is money. I don’t care how rich you are. All I want is just a healthy baby. I beg you, Susan, just leave Julian alone. If you agree with the divorce, I can pay you a large amount of alimony.”

“Mom, you have no right to decide such things on behalf of me.” Julian interrupted forcefully, “Susan is my one and only wife, and I won’t marry other women. If you want a grandchild, I could adopt one for you. Other than that, I’m afraid I can’t agree with you. I’m sorry, Mom.”

“Julian!” Madam Shaw snarled, “You can’t just think of yourself. Had it not been for your father, do you think you can have everything you have now? You are the sole inheritor of Lanyard, so you should understand the responsibility that comes with that title. You have the obligation to carry the family name!”

“If that’s the case...” Julian replied calmly, “Fine, I’ll give my inheritance in Lanyard up. Tomorrow, I’ll have the secretary prepare an equity agreement, and I’ll return everything to you. With that, I can live the way I want, right?”

‘What? Give up on Lanyard?’

While Madam Shaw was still in a trance, Julian turned to Susan and smiled. “From now on, I may have to rely on you to support me.”

“Okay.” Susan responded with a smile, her gaze calm and determined.

If the cardiac disorder took her life, then wouldn’t care who Julian would spend the rest of his life with. However, since she was alive, she'd never give up on him. Unless he chose someone else, she'd never leave him. Else, it wouldn’t be fair to Julian and would also tarnish their relationship.

“You… You…” Madam Shaw was so angry that her body was shaking uncontrollably.

She did not expect that Julian would go to such lengths. She knew her son very well. He was the kind of person who suited action to the word. If she kept on pressing him, he might really give up inheriting Lanyard.

‘Give Lanyard back to me? What can I do with Lanyard? I did it all for you, Julian. Why can’t you understand?’

Madam Shaw was consumed by her rage but when she saw unfaltering determination on Julian’s face, she lost the direction she had earlier.

For a moment, her brain went blank and she didn’t know what she should say or do to knock some sense back into his brain.

“Julian.” Madam Shaw’s voice softened. She bit back all the anger and frustration as she assumed a piteous and imploring attitude. “I’ve worked so hard to raise you, and all I ever wanted was a grandchild. This is probably the wish of every elderly in the world. I beg of you, Julian. As long as you’re willing to have a baby with another woman, I promise you won’t get in between you and Susan anymore.”

“Mom, I won’t have a baby with another woman.” Julian sighed.

“You’ve misunderstood me. I’m not sure if you have heard of surrogacy before, but it’s a common procedure right now. You don’t have to do anything, Julian. All you have to do is give me your sperm. Then, you can leave the rest for me,” Madam Shaw said as she looked tearfully at Julian. “This isn’t too much to ask, right?”

All she needed was his sperm, and she'd find a surrogate mother to carry the baby. She had made a lot of compromises and reckoned that there was no reason for Julian and Susan to reject her request.

However, Madam Shaw had seemingly underestimated Julian’s stubbornness.

“Other than Susie, I won’t allow other women to bear my child,” Julian replied with determination.

“You…” Madam Shaw stamped her feet in frustration. “Susan has a heart disease, and there’s a high chance that it’ll pass on to her child. How could a child with heart disease inherit the Shaw Corporation? Listen to me, Julian. You don’t have to do anything. You don’t even need to meet the surrogate mother. I’ll help you get everything done. So please, Julian, I beg you.”

Julian’s gaze was calm.

His mother made everything sound simple right now. However, he was certain that it would become very complicated in the future. What if the child missed his biological mother? What if the surrogate mother wasn’t happy with what she had gotten and wanted more?

Most importantly, he;d never allow his genes to get combined with another woman.

He felt sick.

As such, Julian shook his head once more.

“You…” Madam Shaw was so peeved that a sharp pain shot through her head as she fell back to the couch. Her face turned ghastly pale.

“Mom, are you alright?” Julian hastily went forward to help his mom, his face lined with concern.

“Am I alright? I wouldn’t get so angry if you weren’t such a blockhead!” Madam Shaw hissed as beads of cold sweat began to form on her forehead. “If you keep on infuriating me like this, I’m certain it won’t be long before I go to meet your father.”

“I’ll call the doctor now,” Julian said.

Just when he was about to stand up, Madam Shaw pulled at his sleeve. “There is no need to call the doctor. As long as you agree to my plan, I assure you I’ll recover in no time.”

“Mom!” A pang of pain flashed across Julian’s eyes. He did not know why his mother had to push him into a tight spot every time.

He would never betray Susan, but he didn’t want to infuriate his mother as well. He was trapped in a tight spot.