Chapter 158: Her Methods Had No Effect

That reasoning made sense, and Tessa understood that in the business world, people had to cozy up to those in power.

But that didn't mean Tessa accepted such behavior.

"Ms. Garcia, we came to visit Mr. Garcia today specifically to ask you to step in and resolve this crisis. We're hoping you can lead the company through this difficult time."

With the CEO embroiled in a homicide case, the Arkbridge Group's stock price had inevitably taken a hit.

"Mr. Garcia and I just reviewed the situation—the stock price is beyond saving now. It could plummet at any moment. When the market opens again, the Arkbridge Group could face a catastrophic crash."

Every word dripped with concern for the company. Tessa suddenly cut in with a question.

"When I was in Zephyria, I said I wanted to hand the company over to Chloe. She's someone I trust completely. So why was Oliver the CEO when I came back?"

Cecilia's interference was certainly part of it, but Tessa didn't believe the shareholders' complicity had nothing to do with it.

"If any of you had stood up to him back then, maybe we wouldn't be in this desperate situation today. You made that choice because you didn't trust me, didn't you?" Tessa pressed.

What Chloe had gone through was just a replay of Tessa's own experience. She could easily imagine how humiliating and helpless Chloe must have felt being publicly stripped of her position.

The shareholders looked thoroughly uncomfortable, none wanting to take responsibility.

"Don't bother explaining. I know exactly what happened. I'm perfectly clear on whether anyone's been wronged here."

Tessa turned to Aubrey. "Uncle Aubrey, when I first joined the company, I had no one on my side. At least Ryan helped me win people over. Everyone knows how hard I fought to establish myself. But when I needed help, where were all of you? Why didn't you think about your friendship with Uncle Aubrey then and help me?"

Tessa wasn't heartless. If these were well-bred elders of good character, why wouldn't she help them?

The shareholders exchanged glances, feeling not just embarrassed but utterly ashamed.

They cared deeply about their dignity and were accustomed to positions of authority. Never had they been called out like this by someone so young.

"Mr. Garcia, let's stick to the matter at hand. Let's set aside what happened before. Today the Arkbridge Group is in crisis, and if Ms. Garcia refuses to help, our company is finished!"

On one side was the company Aubrey had devoted his life to, and on the other was Tessa, the niece he regarded as his own daughter.

He hesitated only briefly before asking what Tessa thought.

"Tessa, I know you're not one to act on impulse. If you were just trying to spite the shareholders, you wouldn't gamble with the company's future. Is there a deeper reason you haven't explained to them?"

Tessa turned to face several pairs of expectant eyes.

She acknowledged the question but offered no further explanation.

"Ryan, what's going on here?" Aubrey turned to Ryan, hoping to pry some answers from him.

Ryan looked to Tessa for permission. When she didn't stop him, he slowly began.

"We suspect Oliver's been running illegal operations behind the scenes. We want to use this opportunity to dismantle Oliver's entire network and solve this problem once and for all. To do that, we have to let outsiders blow this up."

"If we don't accept some minor losses now, it'll be hard to truly free the Arkbridge Group from this mess."

Harmony City definitely wasn't where he started these illegal operations.

"Please rest assured—the Arkbridge Group is Tessa's life's work too. We won't let it go to waste."

Though Aubrey felt helpless, he still supported Tessa.

"Tessa is a principled person. She would never use underhanded tactics to harm the Arkbridge Group without good reason. You can all go home and stop worrying."

With Aubrey's assurance, the shareholders finally stopped protesting. They stood to leave the estate, offering Tessa a few hollow words of encouragement on their way out.

After they left, only three remained. Aubrey's expression grew grave as he questioned Tessa.

"What kind of business is Oliver really involved in?"

"Illegal drugs. Oliver built a processing facility in Harmony City. He took me to see it—the whole place is production lines for controlled substances."

Tessa answered Aubrey's question calmly, then shared her own theory. "I suspect Charles was already in the illegal business before he went to prison."

"Who are they doing business with?" Pain flickered across Aubrey's face.

"Cecilia."

Aubrey covered his mouth with a handkerchief, coughing violently twice. The anguish on his face intensified.

"They're relentless, aren't they? To think they'd still target Astoria's market. When I first came to Astoria, they tried to recruit me for this kind of business. After all these years, they're still trying to drag down the Arkbridge Group!"

Aubrey had resisted enormous temptation, never imagining the Arkbridge Group would fall into Oliver's hands.

"What a tragedy for our family! Tessa, you have to help me save Oliver. Otherwise, I won't know how to face Cordelia after I die!"

Tessa quickly patted Aubrey's back, trying to calm him while Ryan retrieved his medication.

It took a while before they could finally leave the estate, both in complicated moods.

"Only when their own interests are at stake do they think of Uncle Aubrey, think of me. The Arkbridge Group is filled with self-serving cowards. If not for them, Uncle Aubrey wouldn't be in this state."

Tessa couldn't help cursing under her breath in the car.

Aubrey's illness stemmed partly from the shock of Cordelia's death and partly from stress over the Arkbridge Group.

Ryan gently squeezed Tessa's hand. "They only dare throw their weight around because of their connection to your uncle. How long can that kind of relationship last?"

They'd barely sat down at home when Tessa's phone began buzzing with constant notifications.

She picked it up to find alerts from multiple apps.

[The Arkbridge Group: Real-Life Mafia—Who's Really Behind It?]

[Rich Kid Kills in Hit-and-Run—The Shocking Force Behind It All]

[Are We Actually Safe?]

Each headline was more sensational than the last. Tessa clicked on one and found surveillance footage.

A group of people surrounded someone in the center, kicking and beating them mercilessly. The vicious assault was terrifying to watch, with sharp, piercing screams cutting through the entire video.

After watching, Tessa read the article.

"...For this reason, Oliver ordered thugs to carry out this brutal beating outside the Arkbridge Group building."

"The victim has been hospitalized. Stay tuned for updates."

Tessa didn't need to think twice—the attackers had to be Cecilia's people.

In Eldoria, this was a perfectly normal way to handle problems.

But in Astoria, her tactics wouldn't work. They'd only provoke fiercer resistance.