Chapter182 Miranda! Something Happened to Your Brother!
Meanwhile, at the Lancaster Group headquarters.
Dominic sat on a wide leather sofa. His face was thunderous as he glared at the trembling assistant in front of him.
"You’re telling me Miranda didn't make a single phone call today?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a bone-chilling coldness.
The assistant lowered his head even further, his voice shaking. "Yes, Chairman. There has been no news from the eldest miss. She hasn't contacted anyone in the family."
"Good! Very good!" Dominic laughed out of pure rage, his chest heaving.
He thought that by cutting off her partnerships, she would come crawling back.
After all, he knew his daughter. She wouldn't let the hard work of her entire company go to waste.
When that happened, he would demand she sign the leniency letter, and the matter would be settled.
But he never expected Miranda to be this stubborn.
"What stage is Miranda’s company at now?" Dominic asked through gritted teeth.
He knew her company needed money. The partnerships were meant to bring in capital.
Without money, she couldn't do anything.
The assistant hesitated before speaking. "The eldest miss did lose many partners, but since she won the gold medal at the New Energy Competition, her reputation in the elite circles is very high. Plus, she has Sofia’s support."
"Quite a few large enterprises are still willing to work with her. She hasn't been affected that much."
Dominic’s face twisted with anger.
He had overlooked that point.
The current Miranda was no longer the daughter he could easily manipulate. She had technology, a reputation, and the confidence that came with it.
Dominic’s eyes narrowed, a new storm brewing within them.
If he couldn't touch Miranda directly, he would find another way.
His gaze fell on a family photo on his desk. He focused on the tall figure standing behind Miranda. Christian.
Aren't they close? Doesn't Miranda care about her brother most?
Let’s see how long she can stay stubborn when her own brother is the one suffering.
Ever since he found out Miranda was married, Dominic had approached Christian.
He had ordered Christian to convince Miranda to get a divorce and accept an arranged marriage.
Instead, his son had refused and even talked back to him, telling him to stay out of Miranda’s marriage.
Christian had even said that Miranda had the right to seek happiness.
That was when Dominic realized his son had known about the marriage all along and kept it a secret.
His resentment toward Christian had been growing ever since.
Dominic picked up the internal phone and dialed a number.
"Send out the notice. Freeze all the funding for the core projects Christian is handling. Also, block his supply chain."
That night, the atmosphere in Christian’s office was suffocating.
Five project managers stood before his desk. They were all sweating, holding reports with anxious faces.
"Mr. Lancaster, this is bad! The bank suddenly said the loan for the South City project won't go through. We can't pay the contractors, and the workers are threatening to strike!"
"Mr. Lancaster, there’s trouble with the raw material suppliers too. They suddenly stopped shipping. They don't even care about the late fees. They just won't supply us! The production line will stop tomorrow!"
"And the logistics park project in the west..."
The five men spoke at once, and it was all bad news.
The timing of these problems was too perfect. It was as if they had all coordinated to explode at the exact same moment.
Christian sat behind his desk. He pinched the bridge of his nose with his long fingers. Exhaustion hit him like a tidal wave.
He wasn't stupid. He knew exactly what was happening.
In the Lancaster Group, only one person had the power to freeze funding and supply chains simultaneously across all departments. His father, the Chairman on the top floor.
This was a move to force his hand.
And to force Miranda’s.
"Mr. Lancaster, what should we do? If the schedule is delayed, the losses will be astronomical!" one manager cried out.
Christian took a deep breath, suppressing his anger and helplessness.
He looked up at the men, his voice steady. "Don't panic. I’ll find a way to solve the funding. I’ll handle the suppliers."
He paused and checked the clock. It was already 10:00 PM.
"Go home for now. I’ll stay and handle this tonight."
The five managers looked at each other with doubt and hesitation.
Ultimately, no one wanted to cross him at a time like this. they nodded and walked out of the office.
As soon as they were out the door, hushed whispers echoed in the hallway.
"What the hell is going on? How did all the projects break down at once?"
"Can't you tell? The man upstairs is clearly targeting Mr. Lancaster!"
"I think Mr. Lancaster is done for this time. Once the funding is cut, it’s a dead end. If we stay with him, we might lose our year-end bonuses."
"Exactly. We should start looking for other options. Don't go down with a sinking ship. If he falls, we need to find a new place fast."
The voices faded away.
Christian sat in his office. Through the cracked door, he heard every word.
He curled his lips into a bitter smile.
This was reality.
In the face of self-interest, there was no such thing as absolute loyalty.
His father’s move wasn't just about destroying the projects. It was about destroying his authority in the company.
He picked up the family photo on his desk. Looking at his sister’s bright smile, his gaze softened and became determined.
"Miranda, as long as I am in this position, I will shield you from the storm."
He set the photo down and dove back into the pile of troublesome files.
On the other side of town, Miranda had no idea what her brother was going through because of her.
After careful screening, she had finally finalized her partners.
All that was left was to schedule the meetings.
The afternoon sun was bright.
Miranda sat at her desk, looking at the final version of the contract she had just printed. She let out a long sigh of relief.
She rubbed her aching neck and picked up her phone to call the partner.
Just then, her screen lit up.
It was a call from Castillo.
Miranda picked up, her tone cheerful. "Castillo? Why are you calling now? Did you hear I finished the contracts and want to celebrate?"
However, the voice on the other end was heavy with dread.
"Miranda! Something happened to your brother!"