Chapter 4

Noah didn't hand over the pen right away. "Dad, wait."

Landon asked in a hoarse voice, "Wait for what? In 20 minutes, every Stewart Group account will be frozen. The factories will shut down, employees will lose their jobs, and the projects will be forced into auction. Instead of letting the banks destroy Stewart Group, we should hand it over while we still can."

Noah looked at Landon with red eyes. "But this is everything Grandpa and you built."

Landon gave a bitter smile. "We can build another company if we lose this one. But we can't let the debt destroy our family."

As he spoke, he glanced at me. "Especially Talia. She doesn't know how to do anything. If Stewart Group really goes bankrupt, who will clean up her mess?"

I sat quietly in the corner and watched him.

Even now, he was still worried about my unfinished buildings.

My heart ached a little.

But I also wanted to laugh.

I thought he should worry about the people who were actually about to go bankrupt.

Connor told his lawyer to turn to the signature page. "Mr. Stewart, this is the smart choice. Once you sign, Hooper Group will immediately pay the first installment. Starting tonight, I'll take over all your debts."

Reggie and the other creditors visibly relaxed when they heard that.

They didn't care who ended up owning Stewart Group.

As long as they got their money, that was all that mattered.

Noah handed the pen to Landon, but he didn't let go. "Dad."

Landon forcefully pulled the pen away. "Noah, only people who can afford to lose can start over."

He took off his watch and placed it on the table.

It had been left to him by his father.

But lately, even that watch was about to be auctioned off.

Noah finally turned his face away.

Eunice was also wiping away tears.

The creditors in the room, however, were all watching the clock.

It was already 9:54 p.m.

In six minutes, Stewart Group would officially belong to someone else.

When I stood up, Eunice immediately grabbed my arm. "Talia, where are you going?"

"I'm going to get my phone."

"You're still thinking about your phone at a time like this?"

Noah pulled my phone out of his pocket, but he didn't give it back. "Tell me the transfer password."

I didn't answer.

I simply held out my hand. "Give it to me first."

Noah frowned. "Talia, stop messing around."

"I'm not messing around."

Maybe my voice was too calm, so froze for a moment.

Connor looked at me. "Ms. Stewart, are you still unwilling to give up that 2.8 million dollars? Don't worry. Once Stewart Group belongs to our family, I can find you an easy job. Your monthly salary will be enough for you to keep buying little things. You probably won't be able to afford unfinished buildings anymore, but you should still be able to buy unfinished building models."

A few people in the room laughed.

I laughed too. "How generous of you. You haven't even paid me the money you owe me, and you're already planning my salary?"

The laughter around us stopped instantly.

Connor narrowed his eyes. "I owe you money?"

I tilted my head. "Maybe you owe me too much. It's normal if you can't remember."

Noah snapped. "Talia, this isn't the time to talk nonsense."

But Connor waved his hand. "Let her talk. I want to hear when I became her debtor."

I glanced at the clock.

Three minutes until ten.

I held out my hand toward Noah again. "Please give me my phone. One last time."

Noah stared at me.

In the end, he handed it back.

I unlocked the screen.

The debt list he had dismissed as a business game was still open on the home screen.

It listed five bankrupt companies and 17 overdue debt claims involving 12 companies in the room.

The principal totaled 1.46 billion dollars.

With interest and penalties, the total came to 1.8 billion dollars.

The clock reached 9:59 p.m.

Landon took the acquisition agreement.

Connor uncapped his pen and personally handed it to him. "Sign it."

Landon was just about to sign.

That's when I pressed the debt collection button.

The phones of everyone in the room rang at the exact same moment.

The people who had been demanding our money just moments ago all turned pale.

I walked to the conference table and pulled the agreement from Landon's hands.

Then I dragged the chair at the head of the table back and sat down. "Didn't you all come here to collect your debts? Please form a line. No cutting."

I projected the debt list onto the big screen.

Then I continued, "I happen to have enough debt claims in my hands. Stewart Group might not go bankrupt after all. But a few of you might be going bankrupt first."