Chapter 268 The Cost 

In the Ferguson’s manor, Horace’s heart sank as he listened to the butler’s report. 

His dad indeed made a move, and it was a ruthless one right off the 

bat. 

Although their family primarily operated in the restaurant industry, his father was good at socializing. Over the years, he had already established connections with many people in the business and political circles. As long as his father spoke up, those people would give him 

some face. It wouldn’t be difficult to bring down a company together. 

“Where is my dad?” Horace became anxious, thinking about his father’s methods. 

The butler looked at him uncomfortably, “Young Master, Mr. Ferguson didn’t allow me to tell you his whereabouts. He said whatever you do would be in vain, he must make the Johnson family pay the price.” 

“Why make the Johnson family pay the price, but not the Friedan family?” Horace sneered with a cold face. In the end, he only dared to dominate locally, only daring to pick on the weak within his own territory. 

“You told him that if he acted this way, the Friedan Group would definitely join forces with the Johnson family. Seraphina is no saint 

either. He needs to clear his head. If he dares to offend the Johnson family, he should be prepared to offend the Enigma organization as well.” 

As far as he knew, the power behind Seraphina was unfathomable. Although he didn’t know what her status was in the Enigma organization, her position was definitely not low. 

It seemed that the Ferguson family had the upper hand, but in the end, it could backfire and they might lose disastrously. 

“Enigma organization?” The butler’s eyes widened, “How could Mr. Ferguson have offended such an organization?” 

Clearly, the butler had also heard of this organization, his eyes filled with fear. 

Horace didn’t explain, thinking of Kingston’s methods, his heart was pounding. 

In the end, he decided to call Claudia, to inform her about Kingston’s methods and intentions. 

If the Johnson family went bankrupt because of this, she would definitely end up hating herself. 

He didn’t want to be tainted by Kingston, and he certainly didn’t want any distance between Claudia and himself. 

Thinking led to action, he picked up his phone and dialed a number… 

At that time, Claudia was at the hospital with Emily, and Thomas was still unconscious, showing no signs of waking up. 

“The police had come and said that there wasn’t enough evidence at the moment to rule out the possibility of your father having suicidal tendencies.” 

Emily, with a face full of fatigue, managed to muster a smile upon seeing Claudia, “I heard your engagement with Horace was called off?” 

Claudia nodded, “Actually… we’ve always just been playing roles.” 

She thought for a moment, hesitating whether or not to tell Emily that Edmond was still alive. But then she realized, there was no possible future between her and Edmond, so it didn’t matter whether she told her or not. 

“Kingston is not someone to be messed with, you might anger him,” Emily frowned. 

Claudia chuckled, “I know, my uncle said he would handle it, but he probably won’t be able to.” 

She had looked into this person, Kingston, who was different from Dempsey’s kind of influence. Kingston had a strong determination that wouldn’t stop until he achieved his goals. 

Thinking of her brother Dalton, Emily was visibly upset. 

She had been sick for so many years, and the company was solely managed by her brother without any assistance. 

Due to my elder brother’s straightforward and unsmooth character, he suffered more losses in the business world. 

Seeing Emily’s deep concern, Claudia took the initiative to comfort her, “Don’t worry, I will help your uncle. The company will be fine.” 

She also wouldn’t let anything happen to the company. 

If there was something urgent, then let the bullets fly for a bit longer. 

“Help? How can you help?” Emily became anxious, “Your father is now unconscious, and you’ve offended Kingston. If they join forces, they will target you. No, you can’t stay in Vencumfield anymore, go back to Wyvernport.” 

The Friedan family held the dominant power in Wyvernport. Although hiding was not a long–term solution, at least it helped to avoid the limelight for the time being. 

Watching her mother’s worried expression, Claudia patted her hand, about to reveal that she was an important figure in the Enigma organization, when her phone rang. 

“Seraphina, I’m sorry… I… I’ve been grounded by mu dad 

TT7.11 

story short, I’ll tell you my dad’s intention,” Horace said hastily. “He wants to join forces with other companies to bring down the Johnson family. He has done this before to another company, and it only took him two days.” 

Two days, it could be considered as lightning speed. 

“If you have a way to stop it, then stop it immediately…” After saying these words, he paused, “My father is just like this. If you stop this, I hope you give him a chance.” 

Horace knew, no matter how big the Ferguson family was, it could not compare to the powerful Enigma organization. 

If Claudia had collaborated with this organization to bring down the Ferguson Group, it wouldn’t have taken two days, perhaps only half a day, for the company to fall apart. 

He deeply knew the terror of this organization. 

Upon hearing Horace’s words, Claudia’s eyes hardened. 

She had originally planned to take down the Ferguson family all at once, but she owed Horace a favor… 

“If Kingston had backed off in time, I wouldn’t have sought revenge.” 

Her tone was light and airy, carrying a hint of gentleness. 

Horace let go of the weight in his heart, saying “thank you” in a hoarse voice. 

After hanging up the phone, Emily quickly asked, “What happened to your uncle? Did something happen to the company?” 

She was close enough to catch fragments of the conversation inside. 

Claudia didn’t hide anything from her, she repeated what Horace had said. 

Upon hearing that Kingston was planning to oust the Johnson family, Emily gasped in shock. 

Although the Johnson family was not small in size, it was still far behind the Ferguson family. 

She looked at Thomas, thinking that if Thomas were awake, he might be able to help her brother. But he was still unconscious. 

Claudia looked at Thomas, suddenly noticing something. Squinting, she asked Emily, “Did he used to wear something?” 

At that time, Thomas had nothing of value, except for his simple, loose clothing. 

She remembered that the Friedan family had a watch, which was used for self–defense, while Thomas’s hand was bare, even revealing a slightly whitened watch mark. 

“Yes, he liked wearing watches…” Emily looked at his hand, her gaze faltering, “Huh, where’s his watch?” 

Claudia had made a judgment in her heart, Thomas no longer had anything valuable on him. 

If it wasn’t suicide, then it was most likely homicide. 

After taking another look at Thomas, who had his eyes tightly closed, Claudia felt an inexplicable fear in her heart. Thankfully, no lives were lost./ 

If Thomas had really drowned, she might have carried the stigma for a lifetime. 

Although she didn’t like Thomas, she didn’t wish him dead either. 

“Mom, his situation is too suspicious, I have a friend looking into it,” she paused, looking at her seriously, “You must remember, don’t let Felicia get close to him. You are his legal wife, no matter what Felicia does, she is just a mistress.” 

She knew that Emily disdained to argue with people, but in her view, Felicia’s tactics were not clever at all. Thomas did not completely favor Felicia. If she simply pushed Thomas to Felicia’s side, it would be too easy for her. 

Emily nodded seriously, “I understand what you mean. I won’t let Felicia take advantage of the situation. Even if it’s a man I don’t want, I 

won’t let her benefit from it.” 

After all, Thomas was the president of the Priedan Group. If he were to remarry and have a child in his old age, it would certainly threaten the status of her children. 

She would never let this happen, even for the sake of the child, she had to guard this family door. 

Claudia felt relieved when she saw her rejuvenated 

Thomas had an accident, and the Johnson family might also be in trouble. Plus, with the current direction of public opinion, she was most afraid that Emily wouldn’t be able to hold on and would collapse 

After leaving the hospital, Claudia saw Felicia’s address sent from the organization on her phone. She hailed a taxi and headed towards where Felicia lived. 

On the other side, a black limo stopped in front of the Fleming family’s house. 

The car window was open, and Dalton took a hard drag on his cigarette. 

Had he not been at his wit’s end, he would not have come here, but the only ones who could stand up to the Ferguson family were the Fleming family. 

He squinted slightly as he looked at the grand villa. 

Inside the car, Arianna saw his dilemma and sighed deeply, “Dad, we should consult Seraphina. Seraphina is a member of the Enigma organization, she might be able to help us.” 

“No!” Dalton’s face suddenly turned cold, “I said I would protect her and I meant it. All these organizations, they’re just nonsense made up on the internet. Going to find Seraphina now would only make her blame herself, it serves no purpose.” 

Dalton had always been skeptical of online rumors. If Seraphina really was part of that organization, how could she have been stranded outside for so many years? 

How could Seraphina possibly have gotten into such a powerful organization? 

In his view, all of that was nonsense made up by the media, completely unreliable. 

“I was her uncle, she had suffered so much outside, we, as her family, had to do everything in our power to protect her.” 

Arianna sighed with red eyes. 

Actually, she didn’t believe those rumors on the internet, but now the company was on the verge of bankruptcy. If they continued to delay, they would really end up on the streets. 

She didn’t mind hardship, but she couldn’t bear to see her father bowing down to ask for help, especially from the Fleming family. 

She looked towards the courtyard of the Fleming family, thinking of someone inside, her nose tingled slightly. 

She knew the reason her father brought her this time. After being raised by her family for so many years, it was time for her to contribute to the family. 

Back then, Axton had told his father that he wanted to arrange a marriage alliance between the Fleming family and the Johnson family, but the intended match was his foolish eldest grandson. 

That man in his thirties who couldn’t even take care of himself, let alone her, not even any socialite from Vencumfield would want to marry him. 

She could guess that if her father asked for help this time, Axton would definitely bring up the matter of the alliance through marriage again. 

Was she really going to marry a fool? 

Thinking of the miserable future life, Arianna bit her lower lip, almost bursting into tears of grievance.