Five Years Wasted Now They Beg Her Back novel Chapter 295

Damien ignored Julian's taunts and walked directly to the head of the table, taking a seat.

Felix stood behind him, clutching a briefcase. His palms were slick with sweat.

"Let's begin."

Damien's voice was hoarse.

Julian scoffed and immediately went on the offensive.

He slammed a thick file on the table, the sound cracking through the room.

"Members of the board, this is the Clarke family's stock performance over the last three days."

Julian stood up, pointing at a red parabolic curve on the projector screen, his voice filled with agitation. "Ever since Mr. Clarke bowed and apologized for that jinx, our company's market value has evaporated by eight billion dollars!"

"Eight billion dollars!"

"Are any of you made of money?"

"Are we all supposed to pay the price for Mr. Clarke's personal feelings, just so he can please some woman?"

A wave of murmurs swept through the conference room.

Several of the older board members looked displeased.

For a businessman, profit was the one thing you didn't mess with.

Damien leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming lightly on the tabletop.

"Are you finished?" he asked coolly.

Julian was taken aback for a second, then doubled down. "Not even close!"

He pulled out several newspapers and a tablet, all displaying negative headlines about Grace.

"Mr. Clarke, just look at public opinion. Everyone is saying Grace is a walking disaster, that anyone who gets near her is doomed. I know you're not the superstitious type, but you have to consider the company's reputation, don't you?"

"The word on the street is that the Clarke family is finished because we're about to have a curse for a boss's wife!"

"My proposal is simple."

Julian leaned forward, his hands planted on the table as he stared daggers at Damien, revealing his true intentions.

"Either you issue a public statement retracting that 'Bastian Foundation' nonsense and we cut our losses now."

"Ten years ago, in the Bastian Dynamics case, Bastian Hawke was driven to jump from a building. Forget that for a moment. Do you have any idea what would have happened if the DA's office had prosecuted the Clarke family over it? If I hadn't publicly apologized and established the foundation, the Clarke family would be facing not just a stock plunge, but complete bankruptcy of our credibility!"

"I am saving the Clarke family, while you idiots can only see these petty, short-term gains!"

Damien's voice echoed through the conference room, making everyone's ears ring.

He was ill, but his commanding presence was undiminished.

Several of the wavering shareholders began to look hesitant.

Sensing the tide turning, Julian gritted his teeth and played his trump card.

"Fine, let's say you're right. But what about that woman, Grace?"

Julian sneered. "The entire internet is tearing her apart. If you keep protecting her, the Clarke family's image will be ruined! Damien, your empire or the woman. You can only choose one. That is the will of the board!"

With that, he shot a look at a few of his allies.

Someone immediately chimed in, "He's right, Mr. Clarke. That woman is definitely bad luck…"

"It's not worth it, not for a woman."