Chapter 13
At Hayes Group headquarters, the boardroom atmosphere was suffocating.
The CFO slammed the financial reports on the table, his voice shaking: “Mr. Hayes, the ‘Mia Luna‘ project has lost 1.2 billion. The bank just froze our liquid assets!”
Declan sat at the head of the table, brow deeply furrowed.]
Three months ago, Mia had sweet–talked him into funding her fashion brand venture. He’d approved the massive budget without proper evaluation. Now the project had collapsed, partners were pulling out left and right, and Hayes Group’s cash flow was suddenly strangled.[]
“Contact the Swiss bank first. Use some shares as collateral,” he ordered coldly.[]
“But that’s the Hayes family’s last trump card!” The CFO was sweating bullets. “The board of directors will–“[]
“I said, do it.” One look from Declan and everyone clammed up.[]
The Hayes family estate was in equal chaos at that moment.[]
“What the hell is THIS?!” Declan’s mother stormed into the living room clutching a stack of transfer records, her well–maintained face twisted with rage.
Mia was lounging on the sofa painting her nails, glancing up lazily: “Oh hi, Mrs. Hayes. What brings you-“]]
SLAP! A vicious slap landed across her face.
“You bitch! You actually dared to embezzle Hayes family money to buy a private island?!” Mrs. Hayes waved the evidence with trembling hands. “And these jewelry auction records–all assets under Declan’s name!“[]
Mia covered her cheek, tears instantly streaming: “I was just borrowing temporarily… Declan said I could spend whatever I wanted!“]
“That’s generations of Hayes family blood and sweat!” Mrs. Hayes trembled with fury, suddenly clutching her chest and staggering backward.[]
The butler rushed to steady her, shouting in panic: “Ma’am! Call an ambulance!”
As the ambulance sirens wailed, Mia quickly fired off a text.[]
[Declan, your mom suddenly collapsed. I think she misunderstood something about me. I’m so scared…]]
Outside the VIP hospital room, the board members cornered Declan as he rushed in.
“Declan, your mother had a heart attack because that woman stressed her out!” Director Wang pointed at Mrs. Hayes through the glass window, hooked up to machines. “Now the company’s cash flow is cut off, and you’re still protecting that disaster?”
Declan loosened his tie, his tone icy: “Mia’s innocent. She couldn’t do something like this. As for the funding issue, I’ll handle it.“[]
“Handle it? By mortgaging the family legacy?” Director Leech shot to his feet. “We just found out that woman registered shell companies in the Cayman Islands!”
The hospital room door suddenly opened, and Mia rushed into Declan’s arms with red–rimmed eyes: “They’re all accusing me… I just wanted to help share your burden by trying to invest…“[]
Declan instinctively held her, his gaze sweeping over the directors: “Where’s your proof?“[]
The directors fell silent.[]
Mia had long since wiped clean all transfer traces. Those offshore accounts couldn’t be traced back to her name.[]
“Enough.” Declan lifted the sobbing Mia. “We’ll discuss company matters tomorrow,” “0
At the end of the hallway, Mia’s mouth curved slightly as she buried her face in the man’s shoulder.[]
Late night in the Hayes Group CEO office, the assistant reluctantly reported: “The Swiss bank wants us to cover the margin call within three days, or they’ll force liquidation.“]
Declan stood by the floor to ceiling windows. The entire city’s lights spread out beneath him, but they couldn’t brighten the shadows in his eyes.
His phone screen lit up with a shopping list from Mia–the latest haute couture jewelry collection, priced equivalent to a mansion.
He closed his eyes and hit transfer []
The assistant hesitated, then finally handed over a document: “One more thing… that designer Celia Hart–we found her temporary address in Paris for the design exhibition.”
Declan spun around sharply, sending papers scattering across the floor.[]
In the photo, a woman in a flowing midi dress stood before an exhibition display, her golden hair catching the gallery lights, her features exquisite as a painting.
It was Callie, who’d vanished three months ago.
Thunder crashed outside the window at that very moment.]
It was raining.
