Chapter 848: Not That Easy
Due to the sudden scandal surrounding Herbscape Group, Jack had spent the entire night in contemplation. He ultimately decided that, having sacrificed so much, he would drag Lucian down with him.
Early the next morning, Jack arrived at Roxanne's house. Roxanne, enjoying breakfast with Archie and Benny, was surprised by the doorbell. Upon seeing Jack, she exclaimed, "Mr. Damaris, what brings you here so early? Has something else happened at Herbscape Group?" She stepped aside to let him in.
Jack nodded gravely. "I invested heavily yesterday to stabilize their stock prices, but this morning, Herbscape Group has been ordered to cease operations. All projects and activities are indefinitely postponed." This meant their project would likely be delayed due to Herbscape Group's inability to supply medicine on time, rendering his investment futile.
Roxanne worriedly asked, "Then our project...?"
"Will also be postponed," Jack replied, rubbing his temples. "I wonder who Herbscape Group offended."
Roxanne recalled her suspicions from the previous day, guilt washing over her as she observed Jack's distress. To change the subject, she cleared her throat and said, "Does this mean Damaris Group's efforts have been for naught? It must be a significant loss."
Jack's frown deepened. "Yesterday's investment alone was substantial. I intended to temporarily stabilize Herbscape Group's situation, but I didn't anticipate the officials' swift action."
Roxanne, uneasy, commented, "If nothing serious is uncovered, Herbscape Group will likely resume operations after today's investigation, right? It'll just take time to repair its reputation."
Jack chuckled wryly. "It's not that easy."
Roxanne, puzzled, looked at him. He shrugged. "The person behind this managed to ruin Herbscape Group's reputation in a single day, and the officials' serious response suggests a powerful individual. If that person doesn't want to go easy on Herbscape Group, today's investigation will yield nothing positive."
In short, Herbscape Group's fate was in the hands of a powerful, unseen individual. Even genuine innocence wouldn't save them if that person declared them guilty.
Roxanne had considered Lucian as the culprit, but hadn't explored the possibility fully. Jack's words spurred her to question the news reports she'd seen the previous day. Did Herbscape Group truly commit these acts, or was Lucian manipulating the narrative? What was his objective?
They discussed this as they entered the living room and settled onto the couch. Roxanne's mind was so consumed by her speculations about Lucian that she fell into a daze. Finally regaining her composure, she apologized and hastily prepared a cup of coffee for Jack.