“Don’t panic! Wait for me at the door!” Braiden forced himself to stay calm and reassured.
There was no turning back now. As the president, he had to hold the line. Besides, things might not be as bad as they seemed. People always tend to exaggerate, don’t they?
Holding onto a sliver of hope, Braiden approached the long table and smiled. “Everyone, my company has encountered a minor issue. We won’t be joining the Dragon Creek Society this year. The spot can go to Mr. Ramsey.”
Regardless of whether Callum had exaggerated, the collapse of Acebegron Clear Relief was real, and the Swanson Group faced compensation claims and plummeting stock prices. He was no longer qualified to join the Dragon Creek Society.
He hadn’t told everyone about it because he didn’t want to alarm Lilia and Layla. If they left together, what if the spot ended up with Rose? He planned to check on the situation first and then discuss countermeasures with Layla.
Everyone was stunned by his words. Braiden had wanted to join the Dragon Creek Society for a long time. In previous years, he hadn’t been eligible. Now, with a miracle drug in hand and having acquired several companies from the Sharp’s Group, he had everyone’s support but chose to withdraw voluntarily?
Layla frowned slightly. “Did something happen at the company?”
“Yes, but I don’t know what it is yet. It shouldn’t be anything major,” Braiden said with an unnatural smile. “But my father asked me to postpone joining the Dragon Creek Society and focus on handling company affairs.”
Layla’s expression grew serious. She had a feeling that something big was happening. Otherwise, Braiden wouldn’t give up his qualification to join the Dragon Creek Society.
But what could have happened to the Swanson Group? They had just launched Acebegron Clear Relief, and everything seemed smooth sailing. Could it be Acebegron Clear Relief? Flynn did mention that the drug had side effects. Could it be… impossible! How could someone like him know anything about medicine? It must be some other drug that had issues.
Lilia thought so too. Maybe some drug had problems; it’s normal for occasional issues after a product hits the market.
“Do you need us to come along?” Layla asked.
Braiden smiled and said, “It’s just a minor issue; I can handle it myself.” He glanced towards the pavilion, and Lilia understood his meaning immediately and said nothing more.
“Mr. Swanson is sure about withdrawing?” Phillip couldn’t help but ask, full of doubt.
Braiden smiled and said, “Vice President Song, after talking with you all just now, I realized there’s still some gap between us. I plan to use this year to improve myself further. Next year, I’ll join the Dragon Creek Society with better results!”
With that, he left Tianyue Manor in large strides.
At the entrance, he retrieved his phone and opened it with trembling hands; his head felt like it was exploding. There were thousands of messages and missed calls-from medical authorities, related departments, suppliers, investors, Swanson family relatives, affiliated families, news organizations, company supervisors… It felt like the whole world was looking for him.
Crazy! Everyone had gone mad.
Braiden was utterly panicked. Reading through each inquiry and accusation message made him break down completely.
Callum hadn’t exaggerated; things were even worse than he described. Not just in Niarak; everywhere Acebegron Clear Relief reached was filled with wailing.
The impact was too widespread! Tens of thousands were already sick, and others wouldn’t be spared either!
News websites focused their attention on Niarak.
Disaster! An unprecedented disaster! Such an event had never occurred in medical history!
His scalp tingled; his vision darkened. A chill ran from his feet straight to his skull.
If all these patients died, even ten lives wouldn’t be enough for Braiden to compensate! The entire family would be ruined forever-three generations wouldn’t recover!
Stock prices plummeted; astronomical compensations loomed; Swanson Group would go bankrupt and owe billions!
Reading one explosive news headline after another made Braiden stagger and faint, rolling down the steps.
“Brother Xu, you can’t have an accident! We need you for damage control!” Callum threw Braiden into his car and drove towards the company.
Deep inside Tianyue Manor’s pavilion:
“Why did Braiden leave?” Rose asked suspiciously.
Flynn didn’t look up as he peeled shrimp. “Acebegron Clear Relief must have run into trouble.”
Rose’s expression changed sharply. If Flynn’s calculations were correct, Acebegron Clear Relief should have encountered problems around this time. Could it really have exploded?
Thinking this made her suddenly excited; her hands trembled uncontrollably.
The time to reap Swanson Group had come!
“Should we go back now to release Break Alliance Pill?” Rose asked eagerly.
“What’s the rush?” Flynn tossed shrimp shells onto a plate and said irritably, “Why hurry to save him? Let things simmer for a while!”
Rose paused and gave a bitter smile. She realized she had been somewhat hasty just now.
Indeed! What’s the rush? Let things ferment first and see how Swanson Group handles it! Let Braiden experience true despair!
Thinking this made Rose’s lips curl into a cold smile; her eyes gleamed with icy intent.
This scene-she had only seen it in her dreams before. The pain Braiden felt now was something she experienced every day for ten years! Finally, retribution had arrived!
“That’s more like it! Your smile is so beautiful; why always wear a stern face?” Flynn saw Rose smiling radiantly like a fallen fairy; it made him feel hungry as he raised an eyebrow: “After helping you so much today and finally getting some satisfaction-aren’t you going to peel some shrimp for me?”
Rose rolled her eyes proudly: “Let Scarlet do it!”
“Hey! Don’t you have anything else to say besides that? Last time you didn’t mind when I hugged your waist… well… I did hug just now…” Flynn awkwardly scratched his nose.
Rose glared at him angrily: “Don’t get any ideas! I didn’t push your hand away earlier because I didn’t want them laughing at you.”
“If you try anything again-I’ll break your hand!”
Her face flushed slightly as she bit her lip lightly-why bring up hugging again?
Flynn shrugged at seeing Rose’s fierce side again-this woman changed moods faster than flipping pages in a book!
Meanwhile at Niarak Golden Oak Hospital Center:
“What? Grandpa’s illness is related to Acebegron Clear Relief?” Madeline collapsed onto the bed after hearing from doctors-her face pale as death.
“So it’s because of Acebegron Clear Relief! If Grandpa dies-the Swanson Group must compensate fifty million!”
“Hmph! Who would’ve thought such a big company would… What?! Wait-Madeline invested two hundred million in Swanson Pharmaceuticals!” A Kaur family relative went from furious rage to stunned silence instantly.
Boom-
The Kaur family members finally reacted-all thunderstruck-their minds blanked out completely!
Swanson Group’s collapse meant mutual destruction-their two hundred million investment vanished into thin air!