Chapter 1876: Take Care of Yourself
Two days later, Crawford Heights Group declared bankruptcy. The thousands of employees were relocated in an orderly fashion. Coralie, leaving Frieda to manage employee compensation, returned north with her brother, hoping to secure his future prospects.
Frieda and the finance department provided severance packages, including two additional months' salary. The generous severance evoked regret among the departing employees, saddened to leave such a good company. Even those employed for only a month received three months' salary. Crawford Heights explicitly stated in resignation reports that dismissals were due to mismanagement and would not affect employment records.
That evening, after working overtime, Frieda completed her tasks. She considered calling Shawn but ultimately decided against it, feeling unable to help. With a complicated expression, she glanced at the empty office and left the building, pausing at the entrance for one last look. She realized her limitations compared to Coralie and Roxanne, whose Flora Verba Group thrived, expanding from a one-to-two billion startup capital to a two-hundred-billion market valuation, continuing to grow even after launching its second product line. Shawn's twenty-billion investment, conversely, had yielded nothing.
Briefly contemplating her failure, Frieda turned to hail a cab. Then, she saw a familiar face—her brother, Jonathan.
"Jonathan..." she called out, understanding the implications of his earlier words. Lucian was a formidable opponent, and the Queens were fortunate to have him as an ally.
"Want to come home?" Jonathan asked. "Shawn probably won't be back to Horington anytime soon."
Frieda shook her head, declining. She appreciated his lack of resentment or ridicule, but her return to the Queen family was impossible. After the herbal price hike incident, her presence would be awkward and potentially provoke Lucian.
"Everything's clear now," Frieda confided. "I've learned. I might study abroad or start a small business. I don't know about Shawn—if he cared or used me—but I know I was wrong. Thank you, Jonathan."
She’d recently reflected on her mistakes and understood Jonathan's actions were in the family's best interest.
After a pause, Jonathan nodded. "Call when you're free. Mom and Dad still care. Stop being willful. Lucian and Roxanne won't harm you while I'm around." He produced a bank card. "Take this. Three or four million. I'm surprised you tolerated not having a car."
Frieda hesitated, instinctively wanting to refuse but ultimately accepting the card.
"All right. Take care. I'm leaving," Jonathan said, waving goodbye as he drove away. Frieda wept, watching his car disappear.