Chapter 127

"What did you just say?"

"I just got some calls—all our collaborators have canceled their orders!"

Derek's eyes widened; anxiety surged. They had barely taken over, and already faced insurmountable problems. The Langley Group had no employees, no orders. How could they run the company? How would they get money? How would they explain this to Margot?

Their anxiety mounted when the phone rang. "Derek, Christian, what's going on?" Margot's enraged voice boomed.

"We don't know" Derek mumbled, his face falling. Who knew David and Simone held such sway?

"Enough talk! Come home now!" Margot demanded.

Confused, Derek and Christian returned. The living room was filled with grim faces.

"Tell them," Margot sighed.

"Numerous Serpentine Gang members occupied Heavenly Will Bazaar; no customer dares approach," Derek began. "The western lake construction project in Rivenesco is struck; the contractors breached our agreement. Government departments are attacking us; the project is halted. All our cultural media partners have turned against us; all projects are canceled. We can't run the company anymore."

The news overwhelmed Margot. Her face darkened, reflecting a profound loss.

"What happened? How did our family fall into such trouble overnight?" Derek and Christian cried, shocked. It wasn't just the Langley Group; all their companies were in crisis. This was no coincidence.

"Initial estimates show the Langley family has incurred losses of up to one hundred million. If this continues, we'll declare bankruptcy in less than ten days," the clerk sighed, laptop in hand. Panic spread among the family members. The problem was far more severe than they'd imagined.

"Find out why this is happening!" Margot roared.

The Langley family sprang into action. Within half a day, they uncovered clues.

"The Langley Group collapsed because David and Simone left. Ronald Quigley of the Serpentine Gang demands justice for them."

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Chapter 127 (continued)

"I heard powerful government officials pressured departments to attack our western lake construction project. That official met with David and Simone yesterday," Margot said, incredulous.

"What? It's all connected to David and Simone? How is this possible?" The Langley family members were stunned. Their family had risen alongside the main Langley family. Without the Excelsior Group's support, they'd never have succeeded. Why were so many fighting for David and Simone?

Ronald Quigley led Rivenesco's underworld; no one dared cross him. And who was the government official who could single-handedly command multiple departments? Had David and Simone forged alliances in both the underworld and the legitimate world?

Shock and frustration consumed the Langley family. They hadn't anticipated such a massive backlash from severing ties with David and his family.

"Mom, what should we do?" Derek and the others pleaded, looking at Margot anxiously. If this continued, the Langley family was finished.

Margot's expression was unreadable. Should she beg David and Simone for forgiveness? She couldn't. The memory of Dustin's words—that they would beg David and his family to return—filled her with rage.