Chapter 576
Chapter 576:
“Mr. Hayes,” she said coldly. “This is Eliza Koch p>
The line went completely silent for three full seconds. The lazy arrogance vanished from his voice as though it had never existed.
“Mrs. Koch,” Mr. Hayes said, his tone suddenly sharp and alert. “It seems my son has stepped into a mess p>
“He is currently engaged to the daughter of a woman who tried to destroy my family,” Eliza stated. “I don’t care where you are. If you do not want the Koch Group to terminate its thirty-year shipping contract with Hayes Industries and launch a hostile takeover by sunrise, you have exactly thirty minutes to stand in front of my desk p>
𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘀𝘢𝗇𝗱s оf 𝗿е𝗮𝗱𝖾r𝘴 𝘰n
“You wouldn’t p>
“Do not test me, Mr. Hayes. The clock is ticking p>
Eliza hung up and tossed the phone onto the sofa.
Exactly twenty-two minutes later, a completely unremarkable black sedan pulled up to the repaired front gates of the Koch Estate.
Mr. Hayes stepped out of the driver’s seat.
He wore a wrinkled navy blue suit, his jaw sheened with nervous sweat. He looked like a man who had just watched his entire financial future flash before his eyes. Yet he moved with purpose — his steps swift, his gaze fixed on the main house, carrying a terrifying mix of fear and resolve.
He approached the heavily armed Koch guards blocking the entrance and slowly raised both hands.
“Relax, boys,” Mr. Hayes said, his voice tight. “I’m just here to negotiate a surrender p>
Eliza was waiting for him in the grand library.
Cynthia and Gerard stood in the corner of the room, clutching each other’s hands, their eyes red and swollen from crying. Mr. Hayes walked through the heavy oak doors, and the moment he saw his son standing beside Cynthia, the arrogant composure fell clean off his face. His eyes hardened with fury. He took a step toward them — and two massive guards immediately blocked his path.
“Mr. Hayes,” Eliza said from behind the desk. “Have a seat p>
Mr. Hayes turned his attention slowly to Eliza. He regarded her with a mixture of curiosity and deep caution, then lowered himself into the leather chair opposite her.
“Explain yourself,” Eliza demanded, picking up the Hayes shipping contract and tapping it against the wood.
Mr. Hayes let out a long, heavy sigh and scrubbed his face with both hands.
“Five years ago, my company was on the brink of bankruptcy,” he said quietly. “Wendy Koch offered me a bailout. In exchange, she wanted a marriage alliance between my son and her daughter — a way to merge our shipping power p>
Cynthia let out a soft sob from the corner.
“I had no choice,” Mr. Hayes continued. “She had me backed into a corner. She knew Gerard was secretly in love with Cynthia. She used my son’s heart as a weapon against me.” He paused, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “Wendy found out we were in contact with the Sterling family in London. She used that information to threaten me. To force my hand p>