Chapter 80 A Dangerous Calm

Chapter 80 A Dangerous Calm

“Less than thirty minutes until the meeting, Mrs. Ariana,” Ariana’s personal secretary said, standing with a tablet in her hands, scrolling slowly.
“Yes, I understand. What’s next on my schedule?” Ariana did not look up behind her clear glasses, her eyes fixed on the documents in front of her.
“A business trip to London next week.”
Ariana immediately stopped the movement of her pen. She shifted her gaze from the documents on her desk to her assistant.
“London?” she repeated, her voice slightly raised. “Did I already agree to that?”
“We’ve discussed it, mrs.”
At that, Ariana’s brow furrowed deeply and she let out a frustrated hiss. “I must have been working too much lately,” she murmured, then lifted her gaze with hesitation. “Can we cancel it, Anne?”
She answered quickly, “I’m sorry, we can’t. There’s no alternative.”
A year had passed in the blink of an eye. The softness that once defined her face had sharpened into something firmer, the exhaustion from endless work impossible to hide. Ariana had successfully saved Ed Group from auction.
“Our investors are starting to come back, but even so, our position still isn’t truly secure. How could I forget something like that,” she murmured, her lips curving bitterly, her voice turning low and hoarse. “It would be too selfish to cancel such a major opportunity just because of that man,” she added under her breath.
“If we can secure this hotel project, the company’s finances will recover,” the secretary explained, her tone filled with hope. “More importantly, Ed Group’s reputation will grow even stronger.”
Ariana pressed her fingers to her temple, her eyes staring blankly ahead. “You are right, Anne.”
“He has not looked for me all this time. It seems he’s already grown tired of me. Good,” she thought, the unease in her chest slowly easing. She exhaled softly. “London is huge. There’s no way he would follow that project.”
“Who are our competitors this time?” Ariana returned her attention to her laptop. “You said several major companies are joining this tender.”
“Yes, mrs. This time we’re no longer up against small companies. The competition is intense and special.”
Ariana reached out, pointing at her phone. “Send me the schedule and the list of participants,” she instructed. “I want to study them. Maybe we can find a weakness,” her words trailed off as an online news article on her phone caught her attention.
“What is it, mrs?” Anne asked, watching her in confusion.
“The leader of Crownbridge Group is under heavy pressure. Their stocks have dropped drastically across several subsidiaries,” Ariana said as she read, the note of excitement in her voice sounding unfamiliar even to Anne. “Have you seen this, Anne?”
She read the headline carefully, line by line, including the failed project in Highland.
“Yes, mrs. It’s a hot topic across international news outlets.” Anne’s professional expression showed no hint of deceit. “They’re calling this the downfall of that giant corporation. But it’s a bit strange. Mr. Matheus doesn’t seem burdened at all.”
“What do you mean?” Ariana asked, tilting her head slightly. Her eyes widened as Anne showed her the tablet screen filled with several photos of Christian.
“He hasn’t avoided meetings, and he never dodges reporters’ questions. Even so, his stocks keep falling. Isn’t that strange for someone who’s lost so much money?”
“You’re right. How can he stay so calm and just let it happen?” Ariana murmured to herself. “If it’s Christian Matheus, he could easily turn everything around.”
“Is he planning something?”

“The losses are unavoidable. Mr. Christian hasn’t made any effort to stop Cedric’s schemes,” the assistant reported, his voice serious. “We’ve investigated. The riots among the Applecross residents and several unusual clauses in the contract, all of it was Cedric, who changed his identity to Mackenzi.”
“Damn it, he’s truly cunning. The situation is already this chaotic, yet he’s spent the past year drowning himself in alcohol,” he muttered angrily, his tone heavy with suppressed fury. “Continue.”
“Besides the penalty from the Highland project, Cedric also acquired Matheus Enterprises’ shares in Northern Europe.”
“Bastard! How could he let that happen?!” he snapped, his anger no longer contained.
The atmosphere inside Marley’s study was suffocating. He sat in his grand chair, the book in front of him already thrown far away in his rage.
“This is impossible!” he shouted. “You traitor, Cedric!”
Marley did not lift his flushed, wrinkled face, but he spoke again. “What else?”
“After David was released, he betrayed us. He disappeared to search for Mrs. Ariana.”
“So you’re saying you still haven’t obtained the evidence of Jochim’s death that Cedric holds?”
His assistant nodded. “Forgive me, sir. We haven’t recovered it. David deceived us.”
“That worthless bastard! Those damn pieces of evidence must disappear without a trace, just like Jochim’s death.” His face darkened. “It doesn’t matter if that means I have to wipe out the entire Austen family.”
Marley’s assistant was about to respond when the study door was suddenly forced open.
No knock. No permission. Christian stepped inside, his killing intent enough to make the temperature in the room drop instantly.
“Who is it that you’re planning to wipe out, Grandpa?”
Marley stared at his grandson’s tall, imposing figure.
“Is this any way to enter?” he snapped, his eyes narrowing sharply.
“Manners? I don’t need them. They sent these to me again,” Christian said, spreading photos across the table, photos of Ariana’s grandfather’s murder carried out by Marley. “This is what’s been keeping me from seeing my wife. Do you have any idea how much I’ve suffered because of what you did?!”
Marley flinched, his eyes widening as he stared at one of the photos, painfully clear. He was about to touch it when Christian leaned forward, bracing both hands on the table, his gaze locked on Marley, threatening.
“Do not ever touch my wife or any member of the Austen family,” Christian hissed, his voice low but filled with lethal warning.
Marley tried to keep his expression composed. “You dare threaten me over a woman who has already left you?” he asked, a thin, cold smile forming. “Have you lost your mind?”
“If a single strand of her hair falls, you’ll see what I can do to our company, to you and to everyone. Remember my words.”
After saying that, Christian turned and walked out as quickly as he had come. The door slammed shut behind him, leaving Marley frozen, staring at the empty desk before him.
Marley’s assistant stepped forward cautiously. “Sir, will we proceed with the original plan?”
Marley tightened his grip. “Kill the woman. I won’t let the police catch me.”