Threaten? Yes!

"Dad, were you serious earlier? How could you say that?" Helena looked at her father in exasperation and asked angrily.

"Helena, I am sorry. I really am. But what could I do? I have no choice either. Please understand your Dad once, okay?" Her father pleaded softly, holding her hand in his.

"Dad, no," Helena pulled her hand out of his and stopped him. "No matter what you were thinking, your words earlier were…"

She sighed at the ending, not knowing how to describe her feelings. She was hurt.

"Helena," Her father tried to hold her hand but she moved a step back and raised her hands, avoiding him.

He retracted his hands and lowered his head, "I am sorry. But…"

"Dad, I don't even want to listen to your excuses anymore. No matter what excuse you are going to use, I would never understand how you could use mom's ashes as a bargaining chip to force me to marry Vernon," Helena's eyes watered as she spoke, recalling what her father said earlier.

"Helena, it's not that dear. We know Vernon. I am sure he wouldn't do anything wrong to you or our family. There must definitely be something wrong with that woman. Why should we cancel your wedding because of such a woman? You tell me."

"Dad. You knew Vernon. Don't I? I knew Vernon as well. Yes, he wouldn't do anything wrong. But given that situation, couldn't we at least postpone the wedding?"

"Postpone? Did you look at all the guests who arrived today? Today is the wedding between two great families, the Fords and the Jefferys. Many businessmen and Politicians from multiple states and countries had arranged their schedules with great difficulty. If something goes wrong today and we postpone it, how many of these guests will be able to attend the wedding again?

"This wedding isn't just about a wedding, Helena."

Helena blinked her eyes. 

Yes, she knew that the wedding wasn't just about the wedding. 

It is about bringing as many business gains to both families as possible. 

But she couldn't accept her father treating her wedding as such on her wedding day.

She could understand what he meant but she also couldn't swallow the grief she was feeling regarding this incident.

"Father, no matter what, using my mother's ashes against me? That's really low. Don't you think so?" Helena asked with her reddened eyes.

Her Father did not try to defend himself and stayed silent.

Helena sighed. Her eyes darkened with determination as she looked at him and said, "Give my mom's ashes to me."

"What?" Her father raised his head in shock.

"I want my mom's ashes in my hand immediately," Helena said.

"Fine. I will give them to you tomorrow. Let's finish today's banquet first." He understood that his daughter would not trust him with his wife's ashes anymore, and he promised.

"No."

"What? What do you mean by 'No'? Didn't I agree to your condition?"

"I am not going to wait until tomorrow. I want my mom's ashes in my hands now. Until then, I won't leave this room," Helena crossed her arms and stated her condition strongly.

"Helena, don't cross the line. There is no way I could get your mom's ashes immediately. Today is a very important day. I don't want any mishaps. So, stop throwing a tantrum and get ready to attend the banquet," He warned her seriously.

"Heh! Do I look like I am throwing a tantrum? Also. Could there be any more mishaps than they already were?" She sneered looking at her dad.

Father Ford gulped his saliva when he saw his daughter's expression. She wasn't throwing a tantrum? So, she was serious?

"Helena. How can I get your mom's ashes to you in such a short time? Please listen to your dad and get ready for the banquet, okay? I will hand your mom's ashes to you with my hands directly to you. Okay?" the old man pleaded, having no choice.

Helena felt a pang of hurt in her heart seeing her father like that. But she closed her eyes for a second and calmed her emotions.

She sat on the sofa and crossed her legs as she said, "Dad. You threatened me earlier. What did you think when you did that? If you can threaten me with her ashes, then I can threaten you using your reputation for them as well. Stop pleading with me and get the ashes to me as soon as possible. I know that you always have ways to get things done as you wish. I will repeat it again. Until I get my mother's ashes in my hands, I won't take a step out of this room."

Yes. That's how she should be.

She should be strong.

The fact that her husband got a woman pregnant on their wedding day was already devastating enough. But she had to calmly continue with her marriage because her own blood-related father had blackmailed her using her mother's ashes. How could she endure it?

If she let it go now, she was sure he would use those ashes against her later again. She would never let anyone have leverage against her. Even if it's her own father.

Father Ford looked at his daughter in exasperation. He couldn't believe his eyes and ears at all. Is the person in front of him really his daughter?

What he did not know was the same thought had run across Helena's mind an hour ago.

He gritted his teeth in anger. He then sighed and nodded, "Fine. If that's what you want. I will get your mom's ashes. But get ready by then so as not to waste any time."

"Don't care about me. I will stand by my side of the deal. You just don't try any tricks and get my mom's real ashes. Thank you, Dad," After her words, she even gave a very sweet smile like a innocent young girl who wasn't threatening her father.

"..." Father Ford was speechless. Does he look so untrustworthy in his daughter's eyes now?