Chapter 206
Chapter 206
Emery’s face darkened as he shot up from his seat. His abrupt movement instantly alerted the media crew, who smelled a breaking story. Every camera swiveled toward the giant screen on stage.
The video played.
First came a nervous inquiry from Caleb. “Can we start now? What should we say? What can we say to let my son rest in peace?”
On screen, Caleb looked uncertainly at someone off–camera.
“Just tell the truth.”
“Hello, everyone. My name is Madelyn. My dad is Logan. You probably don’t know us. These are my grandpa and grandma. My dad is a construction worker, and he’s amazing. He helped build so many skyscrapers in the city. But before he ever got the chance to take me to see any of the buildings he worked on, I lost him forever.
“Not long ago, Dad was working at a Rosepoly construction site. He fell from high up. I didn’t even get to see him one last time. All that came back to our hometown was his ashes. I miss my dad so much.”
Madelyn’s clear, childlike voice tugged at everyone’s heartstrings.
Her thick rural accent made her words even more raw. The room fell deathly silent.
Her grandmother pulled her into her arms, tears streaming down her face. “The Wilson Group has no conscience! They bribed my daughter–in–law and gave her money to keep quiet! How could a company this big steal from workers‘ safety funds?”
Over the past few days, Birgitte had explained Logan’s death to the family. They didn’t understand all the technicalities, but they knew that their son died because the company cheaped out on safety equipment.
Caleb choked out, his voice heavy with grief, “We don’t want money. We came here with our granddaughter for one reason. We want the people who killed my son to pay!”
The screen faded to black, plunging the annual gala into absolute silence, until the room erupted in a frenzied discussion.
“What’s going on? Did someone actually die?”
“That’s the embezzlement case involving Anthony, right?”
“Didn’t the Wilson Group claim they immediately brought in Emery to replace all the defective safety equipment before any major accidents could happen?”
“Who’s to say what really happened? Construction sites are remote. If the family doesn’t kick up a fuss, who’d even find out?”
Emery had ordered the equipment to be replaced the moment he took over. But Rosepoly had too many sites, and Anthony’s corruption ran too deep. The upgrades took time.
Logan died before his site’s turn came, and his fatal fall from a height sent shockwaves through the site. Emery, who had prepared for just such an emergency, immediately sealed off the scene and handed out hefty payoffs to the workers present, desperate men just trying to make ends meet. The generous hush money ensured their silence.
Once the scene was cleared, Emery wasted no time bundling up and sending away everyone who had witnessed the incident that day. He brought in a fresh crew to replace them, and construction resumed as if Logan’s death had never occurred.
Next up was Logan’s wife, and she was handled just as smoothly.
Had Aubree not instructed Vincent to keep a close eye on the situation beforehand, the truth might never have come to light.
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Chapter 206
The scene erupted into chaos as reporters swarmed forward, abandoning all decorum. If not for the swift intervention of security, Emery world he been mobbed by a sea of microphones.
“Mr. Wilson, care to explain?”
“Does your company value profits over lives?”
“If you replaced the equipment, why did this happen? Have you really taken absolutely no action since taking office? Was your predecessor, Anthony, just a scapegoat?”
Emery’s composure shattered. He never expected Logan’s death to be dragged into the spotlight like this.
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