Chapter 291: What Kind of Person Is She?
Soon, the international trade partnership between the Smiths family, the Grissom family, and the Artisans ran into trouble. The issue stemmed from the Smiths family and the Artisans, both suffering significant losses. Mr. Grissom, however, did not suffer any loss but still seized the opportunity to berate them at a meeting, presenting himself as the dominant figure in Country A.
This scolding raised Jason’s suspicions. Upon further investigation into projects involving the Grissom family, he realized that something was amiss. It became clear that Mr. Grissom was gradually trying to devour the Smiths family, despite their previously strong bond. How could this be tolerated?
Jason confronted Mr. Grissom, only to be met with a barrage of accusations. From that moment on, the Smiths family and the Grissom family had a complete falling out.
Photos of Jason and Mr. Grissom angrily pointing fingers at each other outside the Grissom Group’s headquarters even made the front pages of newspapers. The papers sold out quickly, and online, the news overshadowed all the celebrity gossip.
The next day, Tiffany held a press conference. Dressed in a black dress with red-rimmed eyes, she tearfully accused Bryan of dating two girlfriends at the same time, still being involved with his ex-girlfriend, and casually gifting a painting worth six hundred million. Her name had become a mockery. She then announced that she would unilaterally break off her engagement with Bryan.
This news caused a nationwide uproar. The Smith Group’s stock prices plummeted as if flowing like water. However, the Grissom family didn’t benefit much either. For the Smiths family, this was a scandal, but the public wasn’t particularly sympathetic toward the Grissom family either. Tiffany had always been high-profile, earning her few sympathizers. Even her tears at the press conference seemed fake, which further affected the Grissom family.
For many investors, the fight between two tigers meant no one could emerge as a clear winner. Naturally, people rushed to cash out. As a result, the Grissom family’s stock prices also fell sharply, with no signs of stabilization.
Meanwhile, at the presidential palace, everything seemed calm. However, as the president of Country A, Rafael’s heart was anything but calm-he was engulfed in waves of shock. He stared at the latest newspaper in his hand, which showed Jason and Mr. Grissom, who had once boasted of a deep friendship, now standing at the entrance of the Grissom Group, angrily pointing fingers at each other. Their behavior was worse than that of market vendors haggling over a few onions, completely lacking in dignity.
Behind his elegant gold-rimmed glasses, Rafael’s eyes were fixed on the paper. The butler, dressed in a tailcoat, entered the room and placed a cup of freshly brewed tea in front of Rafael. Glancing at the newspaper, the butler chuckled and said, “It seems the Grissom family and the Smiths family have learned from the downfall of previous dominant families, thinking their alliance would last longer. But who would’ve thought they’d turn on each other so quickly?”
It happened so fast, it was surprising. Just over two weeks ago at a charity auction, Jason and Mr. Grissom had been inseparable, but now this news was truly a spectacle.
There’s no such thing as friendship in business.
“A strong alliance can’t last, but this falling-out scene might continue for a long time,” Rafael remarked while holding the newspaper.
“Indeed. And now, they won’t be able to field a strong candidate to compete against you in the upcoming election.”
After all, if they couldn’t even manage their own internal chaos, how could they manage a presidential campaign? The butler respectfully stood by and spoke.
Upon hearing this, Rafael leaned back, covering his lips with his long fingers, his eyes filled with disbelief. He turned the newspaper around in his hands, looking at it from all angles-left, right, up, and down.
Even the butler began to wonder if there was some secret spy code hidden within the paper.
“How do you think she managed to do it?” Rafael asked. He still vividly remembered Paige’s bold statement in front of him:
“The Smiths family and the Grissom family won’t be able to beat you in the next election.”
“Because those two families will soon collapse, just as I said.”
If Paige had nothing to do with the downfall of the Smiths and Grissom families, Rafael wouldn’t believe it-even if he were beaten to death.
But… Two huge financial conglomerates, and two families with close ties, and she not only claimed she’d bring them down but actually did it, in such a brazen manner.
Three years ago, she was imprisoned in Gangnam Hall, enduring a fate worse than death. If Enrico hadn’t rushed back in time, she wouldn’t have survived.
Three years later, she was able to play these two powerful families against each other like this.
“President, who is this ‘she’ you’re talking about?” the butler asked, confused.
Rafael, still deep in his own shock, exhaled a long breath, “What kind of person is she? How can she withstand so much and still bounce back?”
The butler remained silent.
“At least she’s not my enemy, like Enrico,” Rafael said with a sigh, but then his face suddenly paled. He looked up at his butler and asked, “You don’t think she’s my enemy, do you?”
After all, he had been the one to feed Paige TP1314 in Gangnam Hall three years ago.
Now he was doomed.
Was she his enemy or not? The line was blurry.
The butler remained silent again, still unclear about who Rafael was talking about.Property © 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.
Meanwhile, Paige had been staying at the new Rose Estate for so long it felt like she was living a retired life. She spent her days running, reading, and brewing herbal medicine for Enrico, with not much else to do. Life had gotten so dull that she even started playing chess.
Finding it boring to play alone, and Angie not knowing how to play such a strategic game, she wanted to pull Enrico into a match. However, for the past half-month, Enrico had become strangely obsessed with romantic dramas.
Paige felt like she had watched more TV shows in these few days than in her entire life, thanks to Enrico. Initially, she wasn’t keen on letting him watch, as the shows were all about romance, but then she thought-Enrico wasn’t actually nine years old, so she let it slide.
And slide it did-right up until now. Ever since he lost his memory, his preferences had changed entirely. Smoking had turned into snacking, playing with guns had become playing basketball, and reading documents had morphed into watching romance dramas.
On the chess table in the hall, a black-and-white chessboard was laid out. Paige stood alone at the table, playing both sides, and knocked over a black piece.
“The stock prices of the Grissom family and the Smiths family are still dropping today. Both families are desperately trying to stop the decline but are too caught up in their anger, seeking revenge on each other. The fight is getting more intense, and neither side is willing to make peace,” Angie said as she walked in, reporting the good news to Paige.
When Paige had initially claimed that bringing down the Smiths and Grissom families would be easier than toppling the previous two, Angie hadn’t believed her. Now, she had no choice but to admit Paige was right.
Paige smiled lightly and toyed with the chess piece in her hand. “There must be a lot of people losing their jobs, right?”
“Of course. When two tigers fight, it’s the people below who suffer the most.”
With the fight escalating to this point, the number of unemployed people under the Smiths and Grissom families was countless.
Still gazing at the chessboard, Paige casually said, “I don’t want too many innocent people to get dragged in. Since they’ve lost their jobs, let’s give them new ones.”
After all, if four major financial groups fell in succession, the economy of Country A would become unstable. Since she dared to take action, she would also help sort things out.