Reborn? Screw the Fake Lover—I'm Snagging My Arch-Rival! - Chapter 18: Chapter 18
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In Ravenwood Industries' top floor boardroom, the atmosphere was suffocating.
Chase violently smashed his tablet against the wall, the screen shattering as all executives simultaneously cringed.
"Three days! Just three damn days and we lost 50% market value!" His bloodshot eyes swept over everyone. "Who leaked the financial fraud information?!"
The CFO stammered: "Mr. Ravenwood, the audit report does show $8 billion in unaccounted funds..."
"Shut up!" Chase grabbed his tie. "I pay you to find solutions, not problems!"
He turned to the legal team: "Sue Blackthorne Industries for commercial defamation immediately!"
The legal counsel wiped his sweat: "Mr. Ravenwood, Ryder's evidence chain is too complete—even includes secret recordings with the banks..."
Chase suddenly went quiet.
He released his grip, slowly walking to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Chicago's most prosperous financial district.
"Good. Very good." He sneered, dialing a number. "Marcus, activate Plan B."
At Blackthorne Tower's top floor, Stella was leaning against Ryder's desk reading files.
"Ravenwood liquidated all overseas assets," she pointed at a data line. "Looks like they're going all-in."
Ryder signed documents without looking up: "Steele and Kane terminated three joint projects with us this morning."
"Damien's more vicious," Stella chuckled. "He's actually trying to poach our chip R&D team."
Ryder finally looked up, cold light flashing behind his gold-rimmed glasses: "Let him try."
Stella raised an eyebrow.
"The core team members signed non-compete agreements ages ago," Ryder removed his glasses, rubbing his temples. "Damien's looking at least $2 billion in penalties."
Stella suddenly leaned over, fingertips smoothing the crease between his brows: "Mr. Blackthorne looks pretty sexy when you're sleep-deprived."
Ryder caught her mischievous hand: "Miss Whitmore, this is an office."
"So?" Her red lips curved. "It's not like we're..."
Before she could finish, Nathan suddenly knocked and entered: "Mr. Blackthorne, Chase has united the four families to short our renewable energy sector!"
Stella and Ryder exchanged glances, both smiling.
The next week, the business world witnessed a thrilling siege and counter-attack.
Chase used every connection to suppress Blackthorne's stock price, but Ryder used the opportunity to buy back shares at low prices.
Marcus poached core teams only to get dragged down by non-compete penalties.
Preston spread product quality rumors, but Stella live-streamed the production line to debunk them.
Damien had it worst—his blockchain investment was exposed as a Ponzi scheme, making him overnight laughingstock.
"Miss Whitmore, Mr. Blackthorne, latest news," Nathan hurried into the CEO office. "Chase mortgaged the Ravenwood family estate."
Stella was adjusting Ryder's tie when her fingers paused: "Is he insane?"
Ryder covered her hand: "Desperate times."
Stella collapsed laughing into his arms.
Meanwhile, Ravenwood Industries was complete chaos.
"USELESS! ALL OF YOU!" Chase smashed his office to pieces. "What about the banks? Why won't they extend our credit?"
His secretary trembled: "Ryder... convinced the Federal Reserve to intervene..."
Chase went rigid. He grabbed his car keys and bolted, but got surrounded by reporters in the parking garage.
"Mr. Ravenwood, any response to embezzling employee pension funds?"
"Mr. Ravenwood! Is it true your father revoked your inheritance?"
"Miss Montgomery claims she's pregnant with your child. Any comment...?"
Chase frantically dove into his car to find Sophia already in the passenger seat.
"Chase," her eyes were red-rimmed. "I have a way to help you turn this around..."
"GET OUT!" Chase shoved her hard. "If you hadn't provoked Stella, how would things get this bad?!"
Sophia slammed into the car door, her tears instantly turning venomous.
Late that night, Stella was driving home alone.
She'd just parked when she heard urgent footsteps behind her. Before she could turn around, a chloroform-soaked cloth covered her mouth and nose.
Through her struggles, she glimpsed Sophia's twisted face: "Miss Whitmore, time to pay your debts..."
Before losing consciousness, Stella managed to touch her phone.
Ryder was in a meeting when his phone buzzed. The screen showed a location alert with red exclamation marks: [SOS TRIGGERED]
Everyone watched in horror as their boss punched the table: "Get the car! NOW!"
Chase violently smashed his tablet against the wall, the screen shattering as all executives simultaneously cringed.
"Three days! Just three damn days and we lost 50% market value!" His bloodshot eyes swept over everyone. "Who leaked the financial fraud information?!"
The CFO stammered: "Mr. Ravenwood, the audit report does show $8 billion in unaccounted funds..."
"Shut up!" Chase grabbed his tie. "I pay you to find solutions, not problems!"
He turned to the legal team: "Sue Blackthorne Industries for commercial defamation immediately!"
The legal counsel wiped his sweat: "Mr. Ravenwood, Ryder's evidence chain is too complete—even includes secret recordings with the banks..."
Chase suddenly went quiet.
He released his grip, slowly walking to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Chicago's most prosperous financial district.
"Good. Very good." He sneered, dialing a number. "Marcus, activate Plan B."
At Blackthorne Tower's top floor, Stella was leaning against Ryder's desk reading files.
"Ravenwood liquidated all overseas assets," she pointed at a data line. "Looks like they're going all-in."
Ryder signed documents without looking up: "Steele and Kane terminated three joint projects with us this morning."
"Damien's more vicious," Stella chuckled. "He's actually trying to poach our chip R&D team."
Ryder finally looked up, cold light flashing behind his gold-rimmed glasses: "Let him try."
Stella raised an eyebrow.
"The core team members signed non-compete agreements ages ago," Ryder removed his glasses, rubbing his temples. "Damien's looking at least $2 billion in penalties."
Stella suddenly leaned over, fingertips smoothing the crease between his brows: "Mr. Blackthorne looks pretty sexy when you're sleep-deprived."
Ryder caught her mischievous hand: "Miss Whitmore, this is an office."
"So?" Her red lips curved. "It's not like we're..."
Before she could finish, Nathan suddenly knocked and entered: "Mr. Blackthorne, Chase has united the four families to short our renewable energy sector!"
Stella and Ryder exchanged glances, both smiling.
The next week, the business world witnessed a thrilling siege and counter-attack.
Chase used every connection to suppress Blackthorne's stock price, but Ryder used the opportunity to buy back shares at low prices.
Marcus poached core teams only to get dragged down by non-compete penalties.
Preston spread product quality rumors, but Stella live-streamed the production line to debunk them.
Damien had it worst—his blockchain investment was exposed as a Ponzi scheme, making him overnight laughingstock.
"Miss Whitmore, Mr. Blackthorne, latest news," Nathan hurried into the CEO office. "Chase mortgaged the Ravenwood family estate."
Stella was adjusting Ryder's tie when her fingers paused: "Is he insane?"
Ryder covered her hand: "Desperate times."
Stella collapsed laughing into his arms.
Meanwhile, Ravenwood Industries was complete chaos.
"USELESS! ALL OF YOU!" Chase smashed his office to pieces. "What about the banks? Why won't they extend our credit?"
His secretary trembled: "Ryder... convinced the Federal Reserve to intervene..."
Chase went rigid. He grabbed his car keys and bolted, but got surrounded by reporters in the parking garage.
"Mr. Ravenwood, any response to embezzling employee pension funds?"
"Mr. Ravenwood! Is it true your father revoked your inheritance?"
"Miss Montgomery claims she's pregnant with your child. Any comment...?"
Chase frantically dove into his car to find Sophia already in the passenger seat.
"Chase," her eyes were red-rimmed. "I have a way to help you turn this around..."
"GET OUT!" Chase shoved her hard. "If you hadn't provoked Stella, how would things get this bad?!"
Sophia slammed into the car door, her tears instantly turning venomous.
Late that night, Stella was driving home alone.
She'd just parked when she heard urgent footsteps behind her. Before she could turn around, a chloroform-soaked cloth covered her mouth and nose.
Through her struggles, she glimpsed Sophia's twisted face: "Miss Whitmore, time to pay your debts..."
Before losing consciousness, Stella managed to touch her phone.
Ryder was in a meeting when his phone buzzed. The screen showed a location alert with red exclamation marks: [SOS TRIGGERED]
Everyone watched in horror as their boss punched the table: "Get the car! NOW!"
End of Reborn? Screw the Fake Lover—I'm Snagging My Arch-Rival! Chapter 18. Continue reading Chapter 19 or return to Reborn? Screw the Fake Lover—I'm Snagging My Arch-Rival! book page.