Chapter 648: Susan Was Torn

Susan was shocked by Henry's words. She had no idea what deal they had made behind her back.

Henry, noticing her surprised expression, stated, "I'm sorry, Susan. I kept it from you not because I didn't want to tell you, but because they wouldn't let me."

"What the hell was it about?" she demanded.

"Years ago, when Manuel injured his legs and forced you into marriage, your father gave me twenty percent of Phillips Bank's initial shares and told me to leave you. I accepted because I couldn't bear to see Manuel possess you so despicably without consequence. Manuel was intensely jealous," Henry explained.

Susan bit her lip. She had been kept entirely in the dark, and the revelation of the twenty percent stake in Phillips Bank only intensified her distress. Silence and despair enveloped her.

Henry continued, "I took twenty percent of the initial shares. Do you know the condition?"

Susan shook her head, weary of guessing.

"The condition was, I couldn't have sex with you," Henry said sarcastically.

Susan stared incredulously.

"Now you understand why I always refused intimacy," Henry said slowly.

Susan nodded, finally understanding his past refusal. She felt like a commodity, valued, bought, and sold by those closest to her.

"I hated it, but I couldn't let Manuel win. After your divorce, he threatened to buy the shares from me, but I refused. I admit, I wasn't resigned to it. Who was he to manipulate us both? I couldn't accept it!" Henry said angrily.

Susan remained silent.

"But I gave him the shares unconditionally not long ago," Henry admitted, mocking himself. "It was the day we got back together. Remember when I helped you pack? Manuel sent me to his office and made me sign a transfer. He threatened to continue hurting you if I refused. Susan, he didn't truly love you. He manipulated me, playing on my fear of losing you. He knew once you showed him affection, I'd give him the shares to save our relationship. He knew you meant everything to me."

Susan blinked, feeling a wave of repulsion.

"We've been together so long. Shouldn't we return the shares, since my father gave them to you to make you leave me?" she asked.

Henry was astonished. He expected resentment, a desire for justice—not this. He was at a disadvantage, both in their relationship and against Manuel, and Susan's sympathy was unexpected.

"I said I wouldn't accept it! I hated being manipulated by Manuel. No one knows what I endured after I left you. I couldn't bear to see Manuel succeed. But he's cunning, always finding ways to make me yield. I planned to return the shares to your father, but I admit my selfishness. I gave them to Manuel because I feared losing you. The only condition was that he leave you," Henry confessed.

An inexplicable frustration welled up in Susan, bringing tears to her eyes. She wondered if Manuel truly only wanted the shares.

"Susan, I kept it from you to avoid hurting you. I feared you couldn't accept the truth, but it pales in comparison to losing you. I plotted, pretended to support Manuel, to lower his guard. I wanted him out of Phillips Bank. Otherwise, your father would trust him even more, given his current position. If your father reunited with his mother, he'd gain more control of Phillips Bank, eventually taking it over completely."

However, Susan sensed a discrepancy between the ambitious Manuel Henry described and the man she knew.

"Susan, Phillips Bank is your family's legacy. I can't stand idly by while Manuel takes it!" Henry said, reaching for her hand.

Susan avoided his touch, his hand freezing in mid-air. Her growing antipathy was unclear—was it directed at Henry or their secret deal? She felt an overwhelming urge to escape. The more she learned, the more desperate she became.

"Please trust me, Susan. Everything I've done is for you. You may not see it now, but you'll understand Manuel's ambition! He's targeted your family's assets from the start!" Henry insisted. "But don't worry, I won't let him win! I'm your boyfriend, and I have a responsibility to protect you!"

Susan felt nothing but apathy. She didn't want his protection, for herself or her family's business.

She recognized her father's wisdom and intelligence; he wouldn't have built Phillips Bank to its current success otherwise. Edward trusted Manuel, yet Henry doubted him. Manuel could have seized Phillips Bank long ago if he'd truly wanted to, especially with Edward captivated by Justine.

Despite everything, Susan still believed Henry; she felt he wouldn't lie to her.