Chapter 34

• "Mrs. Lugard," Mariam intoned with an assured, steady gaze that pierced directly into Helen's and her mother's souls. "I'm afraid I must inform you that our company will not be entering into a partnership with yours."
• Helen's mother, who had been silently observing the exchange, audibly gasped at Mariam's words. Helen, meanwhile, felt a chill run down her spine, her hopes of securing the collaboration dashed in an instant.
• "What do you mean, Miss Mariam?" Mrs. Lugard stammered, her face a mask of confusion and anxiety. The seed of fear had been sown deep within her, her heart rate quickening and her throat tightening, as she grappled to comprehend the gravity of Mariam's words.