Chapter 250

Chapter 250

"Mr. Ross, this is the complaint. They sent it over."

The legal director held the thick stack of documents, his face grim. 

"The other party has formally filed a lawsuit in an overseas court, alleging commercial fraud. Besides demanding a full refund, they're also claiming massive damages—the total amount exceeds twice the original acquisition price."

Declan sat behind his desk, his expression dark.

Vertex Global Holdings had also received the news. Atlas called personally, his tone icy. "Declan, you'd better give me a reasonable explanation."

"Mr. Bailey, this is just the other party being unreasonable."

"Unreasonable?" Atlas cut him off. "That's a major corporation, and they specifically hired an independent third party for a technical assessment. It's there in black and white—the system has an incredibly high technical barrier. Ordinary people can't operate it at all. When you made the acquisition, did you know about this?"

Declan was silent for a few seconds. "I knew."

"Then why did you sell it to that company?" Atlas roared.

Declan didn't answer.

"Do you have any idea this could drag down Vertex Global Holdings?"

Atlas's fury intensified. "Declan, I'm giving you one month to resolve this. If you can't, you deal with the consequences yourself."

After the call ended, Declan sat in the empty office, a sense of helplessness washing over him. He'd only known from his father that Black Raven had this asset, supposedly worth a fortune. He never imagined it would land him in such a dire situation.

For three full days, Declan locked himself in his office, running through every solution he could think of.

Find another buyer?

But the news had already spread. Everyone in the industry knew the system had problems. No one would take it off his hands.

Negotiate a settlement with the overseas institution? But their asking price was too high. Once he settled, he'd face massive compensation—money he simply didn't have.

Turn to Vertex Global Holdings for help?

But Vertex Global Holdings was now the only investor still willing to negotiate. If Atlas found out he'd run out of options, Atlas would pull out immediately.

Declan leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling, feeling like his soul had been drained from his body.

Wait. There was one more person who might be able to help him.

He didn't want to go to her. But he'd run out of options.

Still, he had one card to play. About Audrey—he'd always known a secret. A secret he'd planned to use to threaten her when he needed her cooperation.

Soon, Declan arrived in the Brown Group's lobby. He walked to the front desk and told the receptionist, "Hello, I need to see Ms. Clark."

The receptionist looked up with a polite smile. "Do you have an appointment?"

"No."

"Please wait a moment. I'll check for you."

Declan stood at the front desk while she sent a message through the internal system. "I'm sorry, Mr. Ross. Ms. Clark says she's very busy today and doesn't have time to see you."

"Could you please notify her again? Tell her I have something very important to discuss with her in person. It's about her mother."

The receptionist hesitated, then sent another message.

The approach worked. 

"Ms. Clark says you may come up."

Declan followed the receptionist, stopping outside Audrey's office door. He took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

"Mr. Ross, what brings you here today?" Audrey asked, her expression blank.

Declan sat down across from her, silent for a moment before speaking. "Ms. Clark, I've run into some trouble."

"An overseas institution has sued me. They're claiming fraud and demanding massive damages. Vertex Global Holdings is also putting pressure on me. If I can't resolve this within a month, they'll pull their investment."

After listening, Audrey nodded. "So you want me to help you?"

"Yes."

"But I no longer have any reason to help you." Audrey's tone was calm. "You acquired Black Raven's technology rights for your own commercial interests. Now that reselling the technology has caused problems, that's your own business decision gone wrong. It has nothing to do with me."

Declan was immediately at a loss for words. She was right. Legally speaking, this matter had nothing to do with her.

She had no obligation to clean up his mess.

"Ms. Clark, I know I have no standing to ask this of you, but I've run out of options."

Declan lowered his head. "Only your people can operate that system. If you're willing to reach out to that institution and let them know the system itself isn't flawed—it just requires a specific team for deployment—then there's room to turn this lawsuit around."

"Why would I help you?" Audrey asked. "Back then, to get Black Raven's technology, you didn't hesitate to use Arabella to dangle a hundred-billion-dollar project as bait. You should know—once trust is exhausted, it takes a very long time to rebuild."

Declan fell silent for a long while.

"Ms. Clark, I admit I used you first, but I truly have no other options left."

Audrey looked at him, silent for a moment before speaking in a flat tone. "But you no longer have anything you can use to bargain with."

Declan grabbed at what felt like his last lifeline. "I do!"

"I know about your background!"

The office fell instantly silent.

"What did you say?"

Declan knew his words had successfully captured her attention. That meant he had leverage.

He took a deep breath and spoke again. "I know your mother was a descendant of the Turner family. I also know about that fire at the Turner family estate. But I know far more than just that. I also know who orchestrated it all behind the scenes."