A Replacement Bride

Chapter 422

Witnessing the scene, John understood what was happening, and his expression instantly fell, resembling a dark stormy sky. Then, he swept a fierce, razor-sharp gaze across every shareholder's face. "Over the past few years, Levisay Group has been nothing but beneficial to each of you. So, how could you do such a thing? Why would you betray me and work with someone else to scheme against the company? Don't you have a conscience?" Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

After that was said, the other shareholders on his side began to reprimand those people.

"That's right! Don't you have a conscience? Mr. Levisay has never shortened your dividends all these years, so how could you betray him?"

"Are you trying to ruin Levisay Group?"

"This is outrageous! You're all ungrateful b*stards who don't deserve Mr. Levisay's trust!"

"Mr. Levisay is too kind. He should have fired all of you and stripped you of your positions and shares! Otherwise, do you think you would have the chance to stay here and wreak havoc on Levisay Group?"

"How shameless—"

As those being reprimanded sat and listened to the criticism of the others, some of them could no longer maintain their composure. The first to stand up was Arlo North. He looked at the angry faces before him with a sneer. "Wreck havoc? Who's the real one wrecking Levisay Group? How dare you all say such a thing? What a joke!"

After hearing that, John glared at him. "You—"

However, Arlo did not allow John to speak and rebuked him. "John Levisay, have you forgotten how hard it was for Old Mr. Levisay to establish Levisay Group and make it the top company in Hovington? Don't you remember how glorious the company was when he was still here? Look at what the company

has become! Although it's still the top company in Hovington, it's living off the previous profits we earned! Do you know how much money the Levisay Group has lost over the years and how corrupt it has become? Look at the documents in your hands; you may not be familiar with everything written there, but you certainly should be with the more significant matters! You even consented to it! Don't you have a guilty conscience after doing such things? Do you think you can still face Old Mr. Levisay in the underworld after you die?"

John was enraged by Arlo's words, and he barked at him, "Arlo North!" Afterward, he slammed his hand so hard on the table that the sound reverberated throughout the room. Then, with a more high- pitched voice, he questioned, "Who do you think you are to accuse me of such things?"

On the other hand, Arlo wasn't afraid of him. "My words are insignificant, and my status isn't as great as the others, but I vowed to protect the foundation Old Mr. Levisay worked so hard to build!"

At that moment, a raspy but deep voice sounded inside the conference room. "Indeed, Arlo doesn't have a high status, but… I do have the right to speak up, don't I?"

Once that was said, everyone looked at the person speaking and took a sharp breath. The one who spoke was the stern-looking Donovan Gallant. Even though he was a middle-aged man with wrinkles on his face, his domineering personality remained as overbearing as it had been for years. His hawk- like gaze swept across the faces of everyone in the room before finally landing on John's shocked face. Then, Donovan calmly stood up.

In the meantime, John was obviously in a state of disbelief. "Donovan, you—"

Before he could ask, Donovan cut him off. "John, are you done wrecking Levisay Group? When are you going to stop? After Levisay Group is completely destroyed and goes bankrupt?"

After hearing those words, John was stunned until he finally realized what was up. "So, it was you. It's you!" He said it twice, and his tone changed from shock to anger. "Donovan, you were the one I trusted

the most when I became the president! In the end, you're the one who took the lead in betraying me! All of these people must have gotten orders from you. That's why they dare to do such a thing!"

After that, Donovan glanced at John unhurriedly. "Don't give me so much credit. They chose to go against you not because they listen to me but because they're unsatisfied with how you run things. Most of them are seniors who had worked beside Old Mr. Levisay. Why don't you ask them why they chose to betray you?" After saying that, he changed topics and smiled. "Come to think of it. They aren't betraying you because they chose to stay loyal to Levisay Group from the moment they joined. The real betrayer in this room is you and your group of henchmen. You betrayed the company. That is why you're not welcome here anymore!"

"That's right." At that moment, Joaquin, observing from the sidelines, came forward and stood beside Donovan at the front of the conference table. His handsome face didn't show any emotion as he looked at John like he was a stranger. "The situation when grandpa was in charge is entirely different from when you were in charge, Mr. Levisay. Your men are too greedy, and you are also full of greed. I'm sure you know very well how many deficits there are in Levisay Group and that the company will cease to exist if we don't fill in those deficits."

"You—" Suddenly, John was so furious that he felt like exploding. He couldn't form a complete sentence and kept repeating the word "you."

Without giving him any time to take a breath, Joaquin questioned, "So, what's your decision, Mr. Levisay? How are you going to deal with these documents?"

While gnashing his teeth, John stared at the files before him and realized he was already a tied-up criminal with no chance of escaping. He finally spoke up after a long silence and asked unwillingly, "What do you want?"

Seeing how John was reacting, Joaquin smiled as his eyes were filled with mockery. "It seems like you're quite sensible and decided not to go head-to-head with us."

John heard the mockery in Joaquin's voice and became even more furious. "Head-to-head? What's the use of that?" He knew there was no opportunity for a turnaround when these documents had fallen into Joaquin's hands. Once Joaquin turned over these documents to the police and had them investigated, it would implicate many of Levisay Group's shareholders, all of whom were his men. Also, he knew that Joaquin must have leverage over him but wanted to use it as a trump card but didn't reveal it. As he had anticipated, no one in the world was more cunning and devious than his son. "Say it. What do you want?" He asked impatiently.

With a raised eyebrow, Joaquin didn't beat around the bush. He looked at the crowd and announced, "From today onward, Mr. Levisay shall become Levisay Group's chairman. He will no longer participate in any matters at the company."

When that was said, some people in the room immediately lost their cool.

"No way! If Mr. Levisay becomes the chairman and no longer participates in any matters at Levisay Group, who will be in charge of this large cooperation? Are you going to keep this position vacant?"

"That's right, or would you want to take that position? Joaquin, you don't even know how to run a company. How can you take up the position of company president?"