Chapter 378: Are You Really Confident?
“It’s the woman you demanded pay with her life that day,” Javier said.
“Your son’s death is closely related to her. I believe you also harbor deep resentment toward Thornton Corporation, right?”
“Of course!” The old man’s fury was evident. “My son died because of their project, and they refuse to compensate us. It’s outrageous!”
Javier smiled, amused. “Indeed, they are unreasonable. Your family is barely making ends meet, and they refuse to take responsibility. It’s as if they’re leaving no room for your family to survive.”
“Exactly,” the old woman agreed, equally dissatisfied. “I’ve only had this one precious son my whole life, and now he’s gone. I need them to give us an explanation, no matter what!”
“Yes, you deserve that,” Javier agreed, nodding. However, he wasn’t there to simply listen to their grievances; he quickly moved on to discuss their plans.
After hearing him out, the elderly couple nodded in agreement. “Don’t worry, it’s just a few words. We can definitely manage that.”
“Good,” Javier grinned, promptly writing them a check. “Here’s a deposit of a hundred thousand. Once the deal is done, the remaining nine hundred thousand will be directly transferred to your account.”
“Yes, of course. Thank you so much!” The elderly couple bowed.
Javier smiled and left. After he left, the couple’s joy was unrestrained as they held the check.
“Looks like our retirement fund is all set!”
“Yes, our son’s death wasn’t in vain. This will save our whole family.”
Despite the ongoing funeral, the couple couldn’t stop smiling. The deceased’s wife was heartbroken, watching her in-laws profit from her husband’s death. However, life’s burdens left her powerless; she could only cry silently before her husband’s coffin.
The next day, new troubles arose before the old ones had been resolved.
One article read: After Thornton Corporation caused an employee’s death, they not only refused compensation but also assaulted elders! Netizens expressed outrage, branding it shameful and despicable! Another read: Thornton Corporation is heartless and inhumane. They beat up the elderly! Another article urged: Unscrupulous businesses should get out of the Clusian pharmaceutical industry! Various slanderous headlines dominated the trending lists overnight. The two elderly people deliberately told the media they were beaten by Thornton Corporation, accusing the company of mistreatment. In summary, a barrage of scandals hit Thornton Corporation, plunging the company into a more perilous situation.
As Madelyn read these news reports, her anger surged.
F*ck! The elderly couple had truly crossed a line. Although Derek hadn’t agreed to give them fifty million, he had clearly stated his willingness to negotiate a new price. However, the news reported they were unwilling to compensate at all. It didn’t make sense that a large corporation would prefer a lawsuit over a small amount of compensation. Moreover, when had they ever beaten those elderly people? This is blatant fabrication! How could they lie so shamelessly? Where is their guilty conscience?
“Ms. Thornton, what should we do?” Cyrus was anxious. Thornton Corporation was being condemned by the public, and public opinion could ruin the company.
Madelyn understood the gravity of the situation. Reputation and credibility are paramount for any business. If a company’s reputation is utterly destroyed, it’s finished. Her eyes darkened with determination. It seemed necessary to act decisively.
“Cyrus,” Madelyn ordered.
“Yes, Ms. Thornton?” Cyrus responded immediately.
Madelyn outlined her plan. “Arrange for all media outlets, including those slandering us online, to receive a notice. Tomorrow afternoon, I will hold a press conference to address this matter. Ensure every TV station broadcasts it live.”
Chapter 378: Are You Really Confident?
With a confident smile, Madelyn exuded the aura of a powerful CEO as she sat on the sofa.
Parting her lips, she declared, “To clear our name on a large scale, of course. I may not know who is behind this smear campaign, but I will find out and get back at them. They will get a taste of their own medicine!” Her attitude was resolute. At first glance, she exuded immense power and dominance, giving off an intimidating vibe. It was the first time Cyrus had seen her like this, but he understood she was planning something big.
Cyrus wasted no time contacting the magazines, newspapers, and online platforms that had published negative reports. He sent them a unified notice. Within half a minute, major magazines and newspapers received the notice and confirmed their attendance for the next afternoon. The TV stations promised to broadcast the press conference live. With everything set, Madelyn was ready for the next step.
By noon, she and Derek went to a restaurant across from the company for lunch. Seeing this, Eunice volunteered to join them.
“Maddie, are you confident about this?” Derek asked worriedly as they ate. He felt his daughter was taking a risky gamble, and he was deeply concerned. The company’s issues were critical, and any mistake in the press conference could spell disaster.