THE BILLIONAIRE IS INFATUATED WITH HIS EX-LOVER
Chapter 42: Mark revealed the reason Princess company went bankrupt

Since he obtained a clue inadvertently revealed by Jee, Henry has been conducting investigations and plotting revenge against Leon. Over the recent years, LT has continually strengthened its personnel. Annually, each department sends top members abroad to improve their skills, and management practices are strictly enforced. Henry looked over the documents provided by his close assistant, feeling a surge of jealousy and dark thoughts, "Leon is becoming increasingly difficult to deal with."

In the current cosmetics business sector, the only company that could be considered a competitor to Leon is Sky & Star Cosmetic Company. Knowing that Liz was shooting an advertisement for this company, and as the owner of the brand's representative, Henry arranged a meeting with the director of Sky & Star Cosmetic Company. Henry aimed to approach them to discuss a collaboration to launch a new product to challenge LT.

Unaware of this scheme, Liz believed Henry had intentionally arranged this critical meeting, valuing her greatly. She even thought she could surpass Jee. But this unfortunate girl was merely a pawn in her boss's hands.

"Sister Liz, the boss truly values you, so he arranged this meeting. Your career is set to soar."

Liz playfully pinched her manager's nose, teasingly scolding her.

"Your mouth is lovely; how could I easily accept defeat? I will ask the boss to let me replace her on the talk show. Anything she can do, I can do better."

"If so, you must perform exceptionally well at tonight's party."

"My dear young lady, do you think I need reminding?"

Brian Richard is the Sky & Star Cosmetic Company director and Johny Richard's son, with whom Leon has a polite but strained relationship.

Since taking over this subsidiary, Brian has not created any miracles, leading his father to consider revoking his managerial rights if the company does not make a significant breakthrough in the next three months. Unlike his father, Brian's lack of firm principles and original ideas has led to the failure of projects he has managed. At times, Johny Richard wonders if this could be his son.

Liz approached Brian with a drink, her coquettish demeanor making others look down upon her.

"Director, this drink is on me to the success of our collaboration."

Brian's gaze lingered on the appealing and seductive figure of the woman smiling at him. Seeing this, Henry seized the moment.

"Liz is a renowned artist in my company; she will surely not disappoint you."

Brian, understanding the implications, laughed heartily. For him, beauty could never be too plentiful; the more, the better.

Henry swirled his drink as Liz walked away and winked, signaling something important he needed to discuss.

"I have some good news to share. Are you interested in hearing the full details?"

Brian dismissively regarded Henry as just the owner of an emerging entertainment company, not worthy of the Richard family's reputation, unaware that Henry also hailed from a wealthy family, the Russell clan. Brian responded indifferently, turning his face away.

"I don't care about artist matters; I want money and more money."

Henry maintained his composure because getting angry with arrogant people was pointless. Time was precious, and he didn't want to waste it.

"Well, I bring you an opportunity to make a lot of money."

Brian furrowed his brow, puzzled.

"What are you talking about?"

"If you follow my method, your father will change his opinion of you within three months."

Brian was skeptical but intrigued by the promise of making money, his eyes gleaming. He leaned in to hear Henry's whispered proposal and laughed heartily.

"Brother, you must keep your word. Once this is done, I certainly won't forget you."

With Brian's agreement, Henry's plan was initially successful; the rest would depend on Brian's capabilities.

After launching LT's new cosmetics line, it achieved impressive sales in the first month. Posters featuring Jee with the product were everywhere. Their love story was also romantically embellished by the media as a fairytale romance. Jee felt like a pawn in a game. She despised Leon deeply, yet the media portrayed them as a loving couple, almost like newlyweds. Just days ago, she was criticized for clinging to a wealthy man, and now she was seen as a woman destined for marital fortune.

Jee was checking the news while texting with Jessica. Since Jessica was in class, they couldn't video call. Jee listlessly munched on sunflower seeds, her eyes glued to the screen. Suddenly, Mark called, and she thought, "So soon? Has Leon already become emotional and wants to celebrate?"

"Jee, you've gone too far. He has been so good to you; isn't that enough? He defied everything to offer you a brand ambassadorship at a salary no one else gets, invested billions in casting you in a movie, humbled himself begging you to come back, standing outside your apartment every night to see you, waiting for your call every day, and yet you heartlessly reveal business secrets, betraying LT. Do you only get satisfied if LT is destroyed?"

Mark's angry voice came from the other end. Indeed, she had entertained such thoughts, but she never acted on them because her heart stopped her.

"Mark, I don't understand what you are saying."

The call had ended, and overwhelmed by frustration, Jee went to replace TMark. At LT, they said Mark had already gone home. Jee searched for Leon to clarify everything, but he refused to see her. With no choice, she went to Jessica's house, arriving just as Mark was packing to leave.

Seeing Jee, Mark packed even faster, not wanting to spend another moment in the presence of this betrayer. Jee confronted him.

"You need to clarify everything before you can leave."

"You have no right to force me to do that. I should never have let you stay close to him for so long; I should have exposed your true face sooner."

"I have always had only one face; sooner or later, it would be revealed anyway."

Mark paused, then moved closer to Jee, his gaze as if he wanted to devour her.

"From the beginning, you approached Leon; you got close to LT only to sabotage us. You visited the production site to steal business secrets and sell them to Sky & Star Cosmetic Company because you knew we were competitors in the cosmetics industry. You wanted us to be disgraced for copying someone else's products, face lawsuits, go bankrupt, and withdraw from the business world. You truly lack ethics."

With Mark's harsh accusations, Jee lost her composure and confronted him.

"Why do you think I would do such a thing?"

Mark was momentarily stunned, all the grievances she had held inside for so long now overflowing like a flood.

"Isn't it because, years ago, Leon mercilessly drove my father to bankruptcy and a bitter death with his dirty business tricks? Have you ever witnessed losing a loved one? After all that Leon has done, how could I ever trust him again? I hate Leon; I hate him so much I wish I could tear him into a hundred pieces. Are his actions ethical?"

"Ms. Sara..."

"Don't call my name. You have no right to do so. No matter who I am, I will always hate Leon. Yes, I sabotaged him-so what? He deserved it."

"Things are not as you think. Mr. Roberts didn't die because of losses due to LT's extreme price cuts but because he lost a large sum of money invested in real estate with the Russell family, leading to a capital shortfall. The banks wouldn't extend his loans; the pressure was too much, and he suffered a sudden heart attack that led to his death. LT only reduced prices once, and after that, Leon regretted it profoundly and stopped any further price reductions; the rest are just baseless rumors.

As far as I know, the money your father invested in real estate was entrusted to Henry, but he did not transfer it to the Russell family company for some reason. When Mr. Russell discovered no money, he cut off the partnership with your father, which plunged him into debt."

Jee collapsed, trembling, while Jessica worriedly helped her to stand.

"Are you okay?"

"Ms. Sara, you can confirm this with Henry because he was someone your father trusted greatly at the time."

Jee didn't know how to face these revelations. In her eyes, Henry had always been like a good older brother-loving, caring, and attentive. She already had so few relatives; losing another would be genuinely heart-wrenching.