Chapter 40

The next day, the Dawson Group announced a shutdown, sending its shareholders into a frenzy like ants on a hot griddle. A shutdown meant serious financial issues. If not addressed promptly, the Dawson Group was on the brink of default and bankruptcy.

Inside the boardroom, everyone awaited Johanna’s decision. After all, Johanna had been managing the company’s affairs. Soon, Galen opened the boardroom door, and Johanna entered.

Seeing her, everyone quickly exclaimed, “Mrs. Dawson! With the projects halted, what do we do now?”

“Exactly. If things keep going this way, the company is doomed!”

Seeing everyone’s anxious faces, Johanna felt uneasy herself. She had only come to destroy evidence, fearing an audit from Freya, not expecting the company to face a crisis the next day! It was all Freya’s fault! Offending Mr. Sutton had led to the Dawson Group’s financial turmoil. If Mr. Sutton hadn’t withdrawn his investment, the Dawson Group wouldn’t be in such a dire situation.

Thinking this, Johanna seethed inside but maintained a cheerful facade. “Don’t worry, everyone. This mess was caused by that reckless Freya, offending Mr. Sutton and leading him to withdraw his investment. Rest assured, I’ll take Freya to apologize to Mr. Sutton. Once he reinvests, the Dawson Group’s projects will be back on track.”

“I knew Ms. Dawson was trouble! She’s been running the company into the ground these past few days! She can’t even manage the accounts properly! Mrs. Dawson, you need to regain control of the situation!”

“Mrs. Dawson, you must talk some sense into Ms. Dawson. The Dawson Group cannot afford to offend Mr. Sutton!”

“Yes, without funding, the company is truly finished!”

The room buzzed with the shareholders’ complaints. Johanna forced a smile, her heart sinking with worry.

After leaving the boardroom, Johanna immediately told Galen, “Freya’s onto the accounting issue! Quick, we need to fix the books before she figures it all out!”

“Don’t worry. I’m already on it.” Seizing the opportunity, Galen wrapped his arm around Johanna’s waist and headed to the office together. Meanwhile, Freya was sitting in front of her computer in the Dawson family home, watching surveillance footage from the Dawson Group’s office.

Seeing Johanna and Galen eagerly embracing, Freya’s lips curled into a smirk. ‘Johanna, you’ve just handed me the evidence on a silver platter.’

Freya saved the surveillance footage and closed her laptop. “I’m curious how you’ll solve the financial crisis.”

At the same time, in the Sutton Group’s office, Kieran glanced at documents in his hand while Jarrett spoke from across the room, “Mr. Sutton, the Dawson Group’s financial chain is in dire straits. The five-hundred-million-dollar project has been halted, and other projects have stopped. If this continues, the Dawson Group is sure to be ruined.”

“She still won’t cave?”

“Ms. Dawson hasn’t come yet.”

Hearing this, Kieran let out a cold laugh. He had been waiting in the office all morning without a visit from Freya to offer an apology. He was indifferent to the Dawson Group’s fate, typical behavior for a spoiled heiress unwilling to swallow her pride.

“Then I’ll wait some more. She’ll have to come to me eventually, ready to apologize.”

“Mr. Sutton, what if… Ms. Dawson doesn’t come at all?”