Chapter 168: Unfortunate News

Shawn’s face went white. Completely blindsided, he stammered, “Could this be a mistake?” He hadn’t been warned. Had there been a problem with tonight’s shipment?

The police didn’t give him a chance to explain. “Arrest him!” they barked.

Guests whispered amongst themselves, their murmurs filling the room.

“I always suspected Shawn would end up in trouble. He’s been too comfortable for too long, making him overly bold.”

“He was never a straightforward businessman. Getting caught was just a matter of time. I heard years ago someone suggested he clean up his act, but he didn't want to lose profits. And look at him now…”

“It’s right that he’s facing consequences. If everyone acted like him, what would happen to law-abiding citizens?”

“But I heard the Camerons got a lot of their stock from Shawn recently. If he’s in trouble, they could be too.”

The conversation shifted from Shawn to the Camerons. Shawn’s activities were no secret, so his arrest wasn’t a surprise. However, the Camerons’ situation was more complicated. New to the jewelry market and trying to cut costs, they relied heavily on Shawn for supplies.

Ronald, Master Cameron, and the others looked visibly concerned. They hadn’t anticipated this.

“Joseph, check immediately if our shipment arrived safely at the port,” Ronald said, subtly instructing Joseph while maintaining his composure.

“Got it.”

Ronald’s main concern was whether Shawn’s arrest had affected their delivery. Even if future shipments were problematic, there would be time to address those. But missing this shipment would severely disrupt Luster Corporation’s plans, delaying promised jewelry deliveries.

Joseph returned without an update. Then, whispers started circulating: “Did you hear the news report? They seized a huge shipment of smuggled jade stones.”

“Jewelry and jade stones? What a coincidence. Makes you wonder if the Camerons are involved.”

“Looks like the Camerons jumped the gun. The Adams have controlled the jewelry market for years, keeping prices high. The Camerons have been significantly undercutting them, suggesting illegal sourcing or other shortcuts.”

“If those confiscated items belong to the Camerons, they’re in serious trouble. Running a large operation without raw materials would be difficult.”

The whispers intensified. Ronald checked the news on his phone and saw live footage of the seized cargo—hundreds of officers unloading boxes from a ship. He recognized the ship’s markings and felt a wave of dread.

“Dad, we’ve checked; it’s Shawn’s shipment. They’re keeping a close watch, making things difficult,” Joseph whispered, his worry evident.

Shawn had worked in the industry for over ten years without incident. They knew the risks, but Shawn’s reputation and support made them believe they could avoid serious trouble for a while longer. Their luck had run out.

Maintaining his composure, Ronald said, “We’ll deal with this later. Let’s keep things steady.”

Then, a question: “Mr. Cameron, is this issue affecting your company? Will our orders be fulfilled as promised? And if there’s a delay, will the Camerons offer compensation as agreed?”

Ronald took the microphone. “Let’s not panic. We’re still gathering information about Mr. Lewis’s situation, but your agreement with Luster Corporation remains valid, and your orders will be fulfilled on time.”

“Mr. Cameron, does Luster Corporation have enough stock?” a journalist asked.

“We’re prepared. Trust in Luster Corporation’s capabilities.”

“Does this guarantee all pre-orders will be fulfilled as scheduled?” another attendee asked.

“Absolutely,” Ronald affirmed confidently. His calm reassured many.

Mia, standing beside Maggie, observed, “He’s handling this remarkably well.”

Maggie smiled wryly. “It’s not so much about him keeping cool; he’s just good at putting on a show.”

Despite the initial chaos, the party continued. The buzz around Shawn’s arrest persisted, but doubts about Luster Corporation began to subside. Maggie, however, remained observant, knowing the saga was far from over and predicting a bleak future for the Camerons and Luster Corporation.

Then, a new bombshell: “The Adams are accusing the Camerons of stealing their jewelry designs!”

“Seriously? Phillip and Ericko were here today! How could this happen?”

“The Adams made a deal with Andy Farrow? Wasn’t he rumored to be partnering with Luster Corporation?”

The focus shifted to the trending news on Twitter. The accusations against Luster Corporation and the Adams family quickly shot to the top of the trending charts.

“Mr. Cameron, how do you respond to claims that Luster Corporation copied the Adams’ designs?”

“Mr. Cameron, is Andy Farrow now with Luster Corporation?”

“Mr. Adams, did you approve of your family’s actions? Were you at the Camerons’ celebration today? Was this planned?”

The banquet had become an impromptu press conference. The seized shipment remained a major concern for Ronald, but he was now facing two more alarming developments.