Chapter 480 - 477: Don’t Think You Can Walk Out of Here

"Has Joseph Shaw fallen so low that he’s living here these days?"

Chloe Sinclair looked around at the furnishings with considerable disgust.

The place was spacious enough, but the floor was bare concrete. The surrounding steel structures were riddled with rust, and the air was thick with an indescribable stench.

’What a complete and utter embarrassment.’

’If the old man found out, he’d probably want to disown him on the spot.’

The bodyguard froze, clearly not understanding what Chloe Sinclair meant.

However, his eyes held even more respect. One of the men bowed his head. "Miss Sinclair, we’ll have to ask you to hand over your backpack and all electronic devices for safekeeping."

He then explained, "Our boss just wants to discuss something with you. He won’t make things difficult for you."

Even as he said it, the bodyguard didn’t believe his own words.

But he had signed a contract with Joseph Shaw long ago, and he couldn’t go against his boss’s orders.

So, he looked at Chloe Sinclair apologetically.

As Chloe Sinclair walked into the room, she saw that Joseph Shaw had somehow gotten his hands on an electronic scanner. Only after it confirmed she was completely clean of all electronic devices was she allowed to enter.

This tire factory was abandoned; it had been empty for a decade. The interior was vast, but the acrid smell of rubber stung the air, making Chloe Sinclair’s eyes water.

Joseph Shaw was sitting on a worn-out leather sofa. In just a few short days, he looked like a completely different person.

His cheeks were gaunt and his eyes were sunken, making him look like a drug addict.

Chloe Sinclair casually found a spot to sit, her posture relaxed and unconcerned.

"I wonder why President Shaw went to such great lengths to bring me here."

Seeing Chloe Sinclair’s calm demeanor, Joseph Shaw seethed with hatred.

But when he thought about his current predicament, he knew he had no choice but to compromise.

He snorted coldly and said, "I was behind everything online."

Chloe Sinclair’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. If anything, she seemed even more casual, her calm eyes unwavering. "I know. And?"

Joseph Shaw was taken aback. None of the strategies he had prepared were of any use.

His brow was furrowed so deeply you could have crushed a fly in the wrinkles.

But then he snorted coldly again. "So what if you know? There are countless hit pieces about you online now. It’ll be impossible for you to recover."

Just this morning, several media hosts had publicly commented on Chloe Sinclair returning to her biological family.

Without exception, they all condemned her actions.

But the panic he had expected to see never appeared.

Chloe Sinclair’s dark eyes didn’t show the slightest change; in fact, they held a hint of a smile.

"If you won’t think about yourself, have you thought about your family? They’re facing intense scrutiny online because of you. Your father’s company stock dropped by several points today. If you cooperate with me, I can promise to bring the truth to light."

At this, Chloe Sinclair’s expression finally changed. Her eyes filled with disgust and fear.

Only then did the trace of doubt in Joseph Shaw’s heart dissipate.

’She’s just a naive little girl after all. What’s the use of putting on a strong front? I’ve still got her wrapped around my little finger.’

"If you want my cooperation, you should at least explain everything, right? Are you using Silas Sinclair and Liana Marsh as pawns?"

Hearing this, Joseph Shaw let out a low laugh. "You mean those two idiots?"

"You’re not wrong. That fool Nina Sinclair wanted to ruin you and get her hands on the Sinclair family fortune, but she ended up getting herself into trouble first. And yes, I did use your adoptive parents to help me stir up public opinion."

Chloe Sinclair’s expression changed instantly. She said angrily, "Why would you do all this?! We have no history, no grudge between us. Aren’t you afraid I’ll expose this today?"

Through their conversation, Chloe Sinclair had pretty much figured out Joseph Shaw’s true objective.

However, she didn’t expose him right away. Instead, she was slowly dispelling his doubts, step by step, letting him reveal everything himself.

Sure enough, hearing the young woman’s helpless and angry words, Joseph Shaw laughed even more heartily.

"Expose this?" Joseph Shaw acted as if he’d just heard the funniest joke in the world. "I know you’re a careful person. Do you think I would have told you all this if I wasn’t completely sure of myself?"

Chloe Sinclair clenched her fists and couldn’t help but demand, "What do you really want?!"

"Simple." Joseph Shaw grinned with a punchable smugness. "My son has a secret project he’s working on. You get it for me, and I’ll have the online articles taken down. I’ll even help you take down those stupid-ass adoptive parents of yours."

Chloe Sinclair took a deep breath and said coldly, "And if I refuse?"

"Heh."

Joseph Shaw’s smile was sinister. He picked up a glass of red wine, swirled it gently, and then took a small sip.

"Then I’ll release even more articles. Your adoptive parents will also go online and leak more of your personal information. Of course, it’ll all be fake, but so what? With enough paid posters, you can make people believe anything. Even if you’re capable, so what? The netizens will drown you with their vitriol."

Suddenly, Joseph Shaw looked up. "I’m sure you’ve seen those comments online. Those were all my paid posters."

He paused, then a thought seemed to occur to him. He raised his eyebrows, looking rather pleased with himself. "Oh, right. If you don’t agree to cooperate, your adoptive parents will definitely try to force you to donate your bone marrow. If you’re not compliant, well..."

Joseph Shaw didn’t finish his sentence, but Chloe Sinclair understood everything.

Seeing Chloe Sinclair’s grim face and her silence, Joseph Shaw didn’t speak either.

About ten minutes passed. Joseph Shaw lost his patience and asked, "It’s been long enough. What’s your decision, Miss Sinclair?"

Just then, Chloe Sinclair, who had been looking down the whole time, suddenly raised her head with a sneer. "Sorry, I refuse."

"President Shaw, if you still have money to pay for hit pieces, perhaps you should first pay back the money you owe."

Chloe Sinclair stood up. As if suddenly remembering something, she exclaimed, "Now I remember! Isn’t the Sinclair Group also one of the Sunward Group’s creditors?"

Joseph Shaw instantly felt like a fishbone was stuck in his throat.

Her objective achieved, Chloe Sinclair had no desire to linger. She walked over to the bodyguard from before and took back her backpack and phone.

"Wait!"

Joseph Shaw suddenly chased after her with his men. A dozen large, imposing men in black followed close behind him.

Chloe Sinclair had just slung her backpack over her shoulder. Seeing the situation, she asked, "What’s this? Is President Shaw planning to pay his debts?"

Joseph Shaw sneered. "Did you think this is a place you can just come and go as you please? Let me tell you, you’re going to agree today whether you want to or not. Otherwise, don’t blame me for what happens next!"

He was drowning in debt, and now companies big and small all over Emberfall were looking for him.

If he couldn’t turn things around and pay back the money, he was facing more than a decade in prison.

In a dozen or so years, he would be over sixty. Not only would he be completely out of touch with society, but he might also have to face retaliation from those companies.

He didn’t dare to even imagine a life where he had nothing.

"Since you won’t agree, don’t even think about walking out of here today!"