Filed To Story: Watch Out! She's a Mastermind Heiress (Isabella Patton) Book PDF Free
“Didn’t they go for an on-site inspection? You know what kind of people live in the west of the city. It’s not unusual for a few locals to resist relocation.”
The subordinate’s face lit up with realization. He gave Aldwin a thumbs-up, grinning.
“Boss, you’re sharp as ever. This is way better than just roughing up Healy. I’ll get it arranged right away!”
The west of Estresa was a glaring example of the city’s wealth divide. The roads were narrow, cracked with age, and the buildings stood like relics from another era—sturdy but worn down by time. Schools were underfunded, infrastructure was crumbling, and the people who called this place home bore the exhaustion of daily struggle on their faces.
When Healy arrived with his team, he took in the sight, and something in his expression shifted. He could already picture what this place could become—a new future built on strong foundations.
The Welch family had always believed in striking a balance between profit and public good. This project would be no different.
Healy gestured toward the area as he spoke to his secretary.
“The people here have lived in these homes for a long time. Moving won’t be easy for them. Adjust the compensation—raise it by one percent where needed. Make sure they have the help they need, understand?” The secretary jotted down notes.
“Understood, Mr. Welch. I’ll get on with it right away. I’ll also start discussions on the demolition agreement tomorrow.”
“Good.” Healy took another long look around, going over every detail he had discussed with J. Once he was sure nothing had been overlooked, he left with a sense of assurance.
But just a week into the development, trouble arose.
Healy’s phone rang, and the moment he heard his secretary’s voice, a frown creased his brow.
“What’s going on? Didn’t we already offer the most generous compensation package? …Alright, I’ll be there soon.” Without wasting another second, he drove straight to the west of Estresa. Even before stepping inside the building, he could hear the commotion.
“No way! We’re not moving! Bring your boss out here! Why should we just pack up and leave because you said so?”
Healy walked in, and his secretary quickly approached.
“Mr. Welch.”
Healy nodded.
“Still not resolved?”
“No. We’ve offered the best deal we can, but they refuse to budge.” Healy’s offer had already been more than fair. Giving in now would only invite more trouble later. His principles wouldn’t waver. Stepping forward, he met the group’s defiant stares head-on.
“You wanted to speak to the person in charge? That’s me. If you have concerns, we can talk. We’re even offering assistance in relocating, and the compensation is well above standard. If you have doubts, feel free to get an evaluation—it’s already more than generous.”
But the crowd wasn’t convinced.
“You say that, but how do we know you won’t go back on your word? Companies like yours always promise things, but once we’re gone, who’s to say you won’t just leave us hanging? We’re not moving, no matter what!”
“If you don’t trust my word, we can put it in writing. We’ll sign a contract guaranteeing that compensation will be paid within two weeks of relocation. If it isn’t, you’ll have the right to take legal action.” That made the group pause.
They didn’t fully understand the legalities, but they had heard horror stories—companies stalling on payments, residents being left in the lurch. But this man was offering a signed guarantee, with legal backing.
That changed things.
Glances were exchanged, the hostility in their eyes dimming.
Finally, an older man stepped forward.
“If that’s the case, we’ll move. When can we sign the contract?”
Healy cast a sharp glance at his secretary, who said with professional calm, “All the contracts brought in today are invalid now. The new contracts will take time to draft and can be prepared for signing tomorrow.”
“Alright, then. Tomorrow it is.”
With that, the group dispersed.
The next morning, at Welch Group, Healy had just flipped open a file when his assistant burst in, breathless and wide-eyed.
“Bad news! Mr. Welch, you need to see this—now. There’s a crowd downstairs, causing a huge scene! The security team can’t keep them back!”
Healy didn’t hesitate. Snapping the file shut, he rose to his feet and strode after his assistant.
Outside the building, the sight that greeted him was chaos—a sea of furious faces, dozens of people hoisting banners high, their voices a deafening chorus of outrage. Their anger was palpable, their shouts demanding justice.
Around them, reporters jockeyed for position, cameras flashing relentlessly. The moment Healy stepped out, the crowd surged toward him, their fury intensifying.
“You greedy exploiter! You heartless tyrant! We were just living in our homes, minding our own business—why are you forcing us out? Why demolish everything?”
“You promised us compensation! If you never intended to pay, why lie? Yesterday, everything was agreed upon—now someone is dead! A company with blood on its hands—how do you sleep at night?”
“Mr. Welch, do you have a comment on the allegations that your company has driven someone to their death?”
Healy had anticipated some resistance, but nothing like this. His gaze flicked to the photographs clutched by the enraged residents. The man in them was unmistakable—the first one who had agreed to sign the contract the day before.
But in these photos, the man was no longer standing. His eyes were shut forever, his limbs twisted unnaturally as he lay sprawled on the pavement, a pool of blood beneath him. The photos clearly showed that he had committed suicide by jumping off the roof. Beside his body, in bold, red paint, were the words: “WE WILL NOT MOVE.”
A heavy weight settled in Healy’s chest. He hadn’t expected things to spiral into this kind of disaster. He attempted to address the crowd, to calm them down, but his words were drowned out by their outrage.
The residents in the west of Estresa, who were being forced to relocate due to the development project, gathered in front of the Welch Group building in a massive protest, demanding answers and refusing to be ignored. Their anger and desperation were fueled by the tragic death of one of their own, which had sparked widespread public condemnation. With the backlash intensifying and the media amplifying the controversy, the government had no choice but to intervene, leading to the temporary suspension of the project.
Inside his study, Aldwin watched the news unfold with a pleased expression.
“Well done. There’s no trail leading back to us, is there?”
“None, sir. That man was already drowning in debt. His creditors got to him first—threw him off the building. I just made sure the scene pointed to the Welch Group instead.”
Aldwin raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.
“Is that so? Even better. Saves us the trouble.”
The subordinate hesitated before asking, “So, boss, what’s our next move?”
Aldwin leaned back in his chair, deep in thought.
“The development project is too important to delay for long. With Welch Group out of the way, the government will need a replacement—before public anger shifts to them. Lilian is already working with Homelight Enterprise. I’ll have her bring Jared into this. If he joins the project, Homelight Enterprise and the Perkins family will be seen as one entity. That kind of backing will make it impossible for the government to ignore us.”
“Understood, sir. I’ll contact Miss Perkins now.”
In Ansport, Lilian had meticulously prepared a proposal for the Fisherman’s Cove project. With a confident stride, she carried it into Jared’s office and placed it squarely on his desk.
“Sweetheart, take a look.”
Jared picked it up, flipping through the pages with a discerning gaze. The proposal was solid—ambitious, even—but certain aspects leaned on the aggressive side.
After reading it, he set the document down.
“Whether this can be implemented will require a discussion with the board of directors.” Lilian’s lips curved into a slight pout, a flicker of dissatisfaction in her expression.
Despite the fact that she and Jared were now a couple, his approach toward her remained strictly professional. Even though he had the authority to make decisions, he insisted on seeking board approval. Still, recalling the mission her father had entrusted to her, Lilian chose not to press the matter.
“Okay, let the board of directors discuss it.” It wasn’t as though she expected them to reject it—her proposal was sound. The board was just a formality, a hurdle she could easily clear. With that in mind, she moved to Jared’s side, resting her hands lightly on the back of his office chair.
“Sweetheart, we’ve been together for a while now, but you’ve yet to visit my territory. The initial stages of the Fisherman’s Cove project will have some downtime, so why don’t we take a trip to Estresa this weekend? It would also be a good opportunity for you to meet my father.”
Jared tensed instinctively as Lilian leaned in, but at her suggestion, his eyes darkened with thought.
He had already uncovered some details about the power she wielded, but the real evidence needed to shake the Perkins family’s foundation lay in Estresa. He had assumed it would take time to get close enough to find it. He hadn’t expected Lilian to extend an invitation so soon.
Noticing the shift in his expression, Lilian studied his face intently.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart? Don’t tell me you don’t want to come with me.”
Jared caught the subtle change in her tone and shook his head.
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.