Chapter 618
Andrew felt a sense of unease that he couldn’t shake. Everything around him was unsettling, yet he had promised to marry Tessa. Hadn’t this been his pursuit all these years? What was he hesitating for now?
Just as he was about to say yes, a chorus of ringtones erupted among the members of the Rowland family.
Austin, upon answering his call, nearly leaped out of his chair. “What did you say?!” After a few more words from the other end, his face turned ashen.
Tessa watched him, a premonition of dread creeping into her heart.
“Dad, what’s going on?” Austin’s complexion went ghostly pale and seemed on the verge of collapse.
The faces of the other Rowlands who had received calls were equally grim. The government abroad had just announced a new five–year plan that didn’t include the land they had purchased. They had been duped, thirty billion down the drain.
Few companies could withstand the loss of thirty billion in cash flow. Even a top–tier conglomerate like Dorsey International would have to convene an emergency meeting. So, naturally, everyone looked as if they were attending a funeral, their gazes turning toward Tessa.
Realizing that something had happened and that Andrew must not find out, Tessa kept her smile taut, still holding Andrew’s hand.
“Andrew, I’m feeling much better now. You should check on your parents. I’ll pay them a visit soon.”
Interrupting the marriage plans seemed to relieve Andrew. He nodded, kissed her cheek, exchanged a few words with the others, and took his leave..
As soon as he was gone, the mood at the scene plummeted.
Tessa’s eyes narrowed in anger as she saw the mourning faces around her. “What the hell happened?!”
Austin approached her, his voice hoarse with emotion. “The land we spent thirty billion on overseas is worthless. The government has no plans for it.
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“How could this happen?!” Tessa stood up so quickly she nearly fainted from fury.
The Rowland family had spent the past six months acquiring land for healthcare
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Chapter 618
expansion. This thirty billion was the largest liquid assets they could muster. If they couldn’t recoup the funds, all their other projects would collapse. Material suppliers and contractors wouldn’t get paid and would refuse to cooperate, grinding
construction on all their lands to a halt. It was a severe crisis, one that could spell the life or death of the Rowland family.
Tessa’s face drained of color as she began to cough violently. “How could this be? Didn’t the government promise to develop that area within five years?”
The rest of the Rowlands, still stunned by the news, sighed deeply. “We may have fallen for a government trick, and various other powers have been inflating the price. What should have cost us twenty billion ended up draining our last penny. What do we do now?”
Without cash, the company would have to turn to the banks for a lifeline. But banks weren’t charitable organizations; the interest alone could be crippling.
Moreover, in their eagerness to expand, they’d already borrowed heavily. Many banks had extended their maximum credit and were now likely to refuse further loans.
Tessa, panic–stricken, felt the sweat bead on her forehead as she dug her nails into her palms, overwhelmed by anxiety. If the Rowland family fell, she would no longer be respected by others; she would become the laughingstock of many.
The humiliation she felt while playing the piano that night returned in full force, making her feel sick to her stomach. No, she couldn’t let the Rowland family collapse. She had to come up with a solution fast.
Before she could take any action, however, the Rowlands received urgent calls from the banks. Bankers were always quick to sniff out trouble. They had heard about the overseas debacle and were now probing to see just how crucial that thirty billion was to the Rowland family. If it was vital enough to be a matter of life and death, then the Rowlands would have to settle their debts sooner rather than later.
