Chapter 1874: A Trap
Frostiness crept into Elektra's eyes. She cursed her foolishness. She couldn't compare to Aubree, who had been Lucian's fiancée. Elektra, a childhood friend with countless chances, had lost them all. She desperately wanted to know Lucian's true feelings for Roxanne. Was it love, or was it simply her newfound success? Roxanne, once worthless and abandoned, now owned a research institute, a hospital, a company, and the Flora Verba Group. Did Lucian's love hinge on her accomplishments? Would he view Elektra differently if she achieved similar power and took over Flora Verba Group?
A whirlwind of emotions overwhelmed Elektra. Lucian had meticulously planned their wedding—venue, attire, band, even the guest list, suggesting celebrities from his extensive social circle. Yet, Roxanne firmly refused, fearing the ensuing media attention would expose their three children to public scrutiny.
With Lucian focused on the wedding, Jonathan and Cayden managed company affairs. Jonathan handled strategy, Cayden the execution, their current goal being to outmaneuver Crawford Heights Group in the Alendor market. Alendor's abundant mineral resources were crucial for non-ferrous metal production, offering significant power to whoever controlled them.
Following their previous setback in the Epean foreign trade market, Crawford Heights Group invested heavily, consistently outbidding Farwell Group. Initially, they held the advantage. However, Jonathan remained calm, trusting Lucian's instructions to wait. A week later, chaos erupted at Crawford Heights Group's newly acquired mineral production site, culminating in a swift, peaceful resolution. The newly appointed leader declared the trade agreement invalid, rendering Crawford Heights Group's investment worthless.
In his office, Shawn Crawford violently swept decorations from his desk. His screams followed: "Trash! Useless! Contact the project leaders! I demand an explanation! They've been in Alendor for so long; why didn't they foresee these risks?"
Danny, biting back his apprehension, stammered, "Mr. Crawford, I've contacted them, but they've refused to answer, choosing to resign instead."
"What?" Shawn's jaw clenched. He pieced it together. "Did these people embezzle company funds?" The exorbitant bidding prices now made sense. They were double Farwell Group's offers. He'd fallen into a trap, driven by his desire for the resources. He finally understood why Lucian had initially competed, only to withdraw. Had Lucian set him up?