"Lucy? What are you doing here?" her mother asked, her voice laced with concern.
Lucy stood and hurried to her. "Mom, what's going on? Is it true that we've lost the company?"
Mrs. Phillips face softened, but her eyes revealed her exhaustion. "Don't worry, Lucy. Everything is under control."
"Don't lie to me, Mom!" Lucy's voice broke as tears streamed down her face. "I know the truth. Why didn't you tell me?"
Mrs. Phillips sighed deeply and pulled her daughter into an embrace. "Lucy, we didn't want you to worry. Your father and I are doing everything we can to fix this."
"But how?" Lucy asked, her voice barely a whisper. "How can we save the company now?"
Mrs. Phillips's expression darkened. "The situation is complicated. The investors have been circling us for months, waiting for the right moment to strike. Unless someone intervenes, there's nothing we can do."
