Chapter 619


    The faces of the Rond n were ashen, a ghostly parade of worry that only lifted when they all


    turned to Tessa after a series of tense calls with the bank.


    “What do we do now, Tess?” they asked, their voices tinged with a dread that


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    mirrored the pallor of their skin.


    The family was in deep, with other ventures already sucking dry their resources, and hundreds of


    billions more needed to keep the wheels turning. If this one project didn’t pay off, the financial blow


    could be catastrophic for the Ronds.


    Tessa’s lips quivered as she slumped in her chair, the weight of the world on her shoulders. Austin


    quickly stepped forward, giving her a reassuring pat on the back. “Look, it’s not the end of the road. If


    you and Andrew tie the knot, we can ride the Clements‘ coattails for a fundraising round. With the two


    families united, those venture capitalists will be falling over themselves and throwing money our way. A


    few hundred billion? We’ll have it in no time.”


    The thought of it made Tessa’s head throb with pain. She was the linchpin, and she knew it.


    Her father was right; the banks were getting wind of their troubles and had started their probing calls.


    They wouldn’t lend any more to plug the gaping financial abyss, and loan sharks were out of the


    question–withpound interest, the debt would skyrocket to an unpayable sum.


    The Rond family’s worth might be in the hundreds of billions, but that was all tied up in projects


    and illiquid assets. Market valuation was just smoke and mirrors; cash flow was the lifeblood of their


    empire.


    Without it, their hundred–billion–dor enterprise was like a towering skyscraper with its foundation


    blocks being pulled out one by one, ready to copse.


    The only way out was Austin’s n–to marry into the Clements family and keep the Ronds afloat.


    And they couldn’t breathe a word of this to the Clements. If they caught even a whiff of the Ronds‘


    financial desperation, would they still want this union?


    In a high–society ce like Beaconsfield, where family names were currency, it was all about the


    interests. Once you stripped away the pleasantries, you were left with cold, hard transactions. Without


    her status, even speaking to Andrew would be a struggle.


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    Chapter 619


    She had to marry Andrew and fast. A wedding would smooth the path to fundraising, keeping the


    Ronds troubles at bay.


    With a deep breath in and a smile stered on her face, Tessa reassured them, “No need to panic.


    Everyone knows Andrew wants to marry me. I’ll just drop by the Clements‘ home, chat with his parents,


    and we’ll set a date. Once the news is out, Dad, you, and the uncles can start the fundraising in secret.


    We’ll get the money.”


    Austin’s features softened with relief as he gave Tess another supportive pat. “Tess, we’re all counting


    on you now.”


    Tessa lifted her head high, the de facto leader of this worried pack. “Don’t worry, Dad. It’s as good as


    done. Andrew’s been eager to marry me. We’ll set the date for next week, and the Rond family will


    be free from any threat.”


    Sophia was eavesdropping on every word. She had been in cahoots with Mason and was brought into


    the fold by Brielle herself. The offer had been too tempting to refuse. Joining now meant a ce at the


    core of thepany.


    The Ronds, William–all would soon be beneath her.


    She trusted Brielle, so when Mason revealed the n, excitement, and anxiety warred within her.


    Excitement for the Ronds‘ impending doom and anxiety for what could go wrong in Mason and


    Brielle’s scheme.


    If the government did indeed develop that piece ofnd, and if the information Brielle received was


    incorrect, what should they do? The Rond family was unaware of this information, so where did


    Brielle herself obtain it from?


    But, ever the rock, Mason simply said, “Trust her.”


    Sophia had chosen to work with Brielle for exactly that reason–Brielle’s uncanny ability to inspire


    confidence.


    As Sophia watched the Ronds‘ troubled faces, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of schadenfreude.


    Without even trying, Brielle had backed them into a corner, and proud Tessa was ready to barter her


    marriage to save them.


    Sophia wasted no time rying the Ronds‘ n to marry into the Clements family


    to Brielle.


    Brielle, unsurprised, knew this was the Ronds‘ only shot at survival. Andrew would probably be


    willing to marry Tessa. With this, Brielle’s gaze darkened.


    The Clements were in the jewelry trade, and if Brielle wanted to keep Andrew too busy


    to help the Ronds, she’d need Dustin’s help. But reaching out to Dustin always


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    12:09


    Chapter 619.


    seemed to be a plea for assistance, and that made her feel uneasy.


    After a minute’s hesitation, she dialed his number.


    Dustin picked up quickly. A cigarette was casually perched between his fingers as he


    leaned out of his car window, gazing at the opulent scene before him.


    He glittered in his solitude with a golden sheen as though he reveled in a world papered with opulence


    and dazzle.


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