Chapter 186 Like a Lamb to the Slaughter
Their conversation kept ringing in Edgar’s ears. Is she deliberately showing her affection to Ben to attract public discussion? Or has she changed her mind and decided to marry Ben?
Edgar clenched his fist tightly and struggled to control his surging anger. Miles did not dare to look at Edgar’s face as he gave Edgar a report. “Mr. Royden, this is the document for later.”
Edgar slowly closed his eyes to calm his thoughts. By the time he opened them again, his expression had returned to the usual indifference.
Who cares who she is affectionate with? It has nothing to do with me! “Both Ludwig Group and Sans Group want the development right to this land?” Edgar asked indifferently.
“Yes, we are certain about this.” Miles pushed up his glasses. Royden Group was able to obtain this information beforehand. “I’m not giving it to any of them.”
His words instantly decided the direction of the matter. “Then…” Miles was unsure what Edgar was planning. Edgar raised his hand, prompting Miles to lean closer for Edgar to whisper his instructions. Although Miles was shocked, he still nodded and said, “I’ll get it done immediately.”
Then, the Pillars Summit officially began. The events proceeded as stated in the schedule. Jean focused on learning as much as she could because such an opportunity would not come every day.
However, Edgar, who was seated in the front row, seemed relaxed. People would approach him to talk from time to time. Although Jean could not see his face, she could see from his posture, demeanor, and the occasional glimpse of his side profile that he appeared relaxed.
He was able to raise Royden Group to its present prominence. It was not something an ordinary person could achieve. Although most people here were elites in the business world, they still had to watch out for him. There was an immense disparity between them and Edgar.
Jean was stunned briefly. It was at this moment that she realized how wide and deep the gulf between her and Edgar was.
“Jean, the bidding segment is coming soon.” Ben reminded Jean as she seemed distracted.
“Oh, sure.”
Jean became alert and watched the chairman of the chamber of commerce walking toward Edgar. After asking a few questions, the chairman said cheerfully, “We have come to the segment concerning joint development right to the project in the west of the city. Royden Group is the host company. To avoid strife, Royden Group has decided to use a lucky draw to choose a company to collaborate with them.”
Avoid strife?
Jean frowned. Edgar did not seem like someone who would care about others’ feelings.
“Is he doing that? That means we all have a chance!” Someone seated at the back said excitedly, “I hope I can get it. It would be like winning a lottery.”
“But what if someone draws the project but is not qualified enough to carry out the project? After all, not everyone can collaborate with Royden Group.”
Everyone knew how powerful Edgar was. If the collaboration did not go well, he could easily destroy a small company.
“To be honest, Royden Group can still carry out the project even without a partner. They are only doing this for procedural sake.”
Jean turned to Ben after hearing those words. “Is Ludwig Group interested in the project too?”
She did some research before this.
Ludwig Group held out an olive branch to Royden Group many times, but Royden Group refused to change its stance.
Ben nodded and said, “There’s something fishy going on here.”
They have decided to carry out bidding before this. Why do they suddenly change now?
“Please welcome Mr. Royden to the stage!”
Edgar stood up unhurriedly and buttoned up his suit jacket. He looked tall and handsome as he walked onto the stage.
His gaze was sharp and intimidating as he glanced across the crowd.
Everyone fell silent in an instant.
Jean looked ahead and met his gaze across the hall.
She noticed a hint of a smile on his face.
It was a look of contempt for everything, yet, there was some playfulness about it. One could not help but feel nervous as one looked at him.
In the next second, his gaze turned cold and indifferent. He put his hand into the lucky draw box as per the staff’s instruction.
“Mr. Royden, can you tell us who you have drawn as your collaboration partner?” The chairman of the chamber of commerce asked with a smile. The lucky draw was a sudden request from Royden Group. Although they found it suspicious, they had no choice but to carry it out.
Edgar glanced at the strip of paper and announced, “Eyer Group.”
His voice sent shockwaves to Jean’s heart.
What did he say?
“Goodness, isn’t that his ex-wife’s company?”
“They are truly fated.”
Fated? More like bad luck. No, Edgar must have planned this.
“Ms. Eyer, please come onto the stage.” A staff came to invite Jean onto the stage.
Jean’s thought was a mess. She did not know what she should do.
“Don’t be scared. I’ll follow you.” Ben frowned and got up too.
Jean nodded slowly and had no choice but to force herself to get onto the stage. They were now in public. No matter how powerful Edgar was, he could not do anything to her before so many people.
That was what she thought before going on stage.
However, by the time she stood on the stage beside Edgar, the oppressing feeling was much worse than she expected.
She could feel her heart beating rapidly.
Everything sounded stifled to her ears.
It was not her first time facing such a large crowd. Somehow, she felt more nervous than before.
The staff brought two copies of the agreements. “Mr. Royden, Ms. Eyer, once you sign the agreement, the Royden Group and Eyer Group shall become partners in the construction project. I wish both of you a successful collaboration.”
Edgar stood a meter from her and focused his gaze on her. “Sign it, and Eyer Group shall survive.”
Something within Jean snapped.
In the end, everything was still under his control. It was he who caused Eyer Group to go bankrupt. Now, it was also him who gave it a chance to rise again.
Jean realized she had been led around all this while. She thought she had won but in actuality…
Edgar noticed her hesitation and said casually, “Are you going to give up on this chance all because of your ego?”
Jean gripped the pen tightly.
“This is not a collaboration but a pittance!”
Jean glared at him. No matter how furious she was, Edgar’s gaze remained cold and unaffected.
“Jean, you do not have your father’s courage. Even if you have regained Eyer Group, it won’t amount to much in your hands.” Then, he signed the agreement as if it was nothing to him.
People began to whisper below the stage.
“What’s going on? Why won’t she sign?”
“Is she going to reject it? Has she gone mad?”
Jean could feel numerous mocking gazes and sneer directed at her.
Ben wanted to rush on stage to help her.
However, Miles stopped him. “Mr. Ludwig, I believe you understand how valuable this chance is to Eyer Group.”
In other words, Edgar was giving Jean a chance for her company to survive. However, she was required to give up her dignity and pride.
“She has to decide this by herself.”
Ben raised his hand but put it down in the end.
Meanwhile, the agreement Edgar signed was now before Jean, but she still had not moved her pen.
“Ms. Eyer, are you going to sign?”
