Chapter 9 A Twist of Fate

At that moment, Desmond spoke up.

"Why not attend to her, Mr. Harrison?" Desmond said, thinking he could probably recollect better if he fixed his gaze on her for a longer time.

However, he wanted to know why she was here and why she was panicking.

From her actions, something serious must be happening to her.

Desmond would be glad to assist her.

If she was the lady he thought, good for him.

Otherwise, she would be lucky.

"Yes, sir," Arthur responded.

Like a well-oiled machine, he quickly rushed to attend to Camilla.

"How may I help you, Miss Camilla?"

"Uhm... sir, I'm here to bring to your notice that the Frederick Group has not been placed, but we have passed the five crucial stages. Perhaps there was a mix-up," she said, her voice trembling.

"Oh? Can I have proof of that?" Arthur inquired.

"Here it is, sir," Camilla said, stretching forward the spiral-banded documents in her hand, which clearly stated where the Frederick Group had passed the stages.

Her hands were slightly shaking.

Arthur took the file and flipped through the pages.

His eyes scanned the records, verifying the claims.

"Oh! I remember now. Some family groups were disqualified because, after thorough asset checks, their finances were too low for Zenith Lux to partner with. Your family must have fallen under this category," Arthur said.

"And to be frank, there's nothing that can be adjusted," he continued.

Upon hearing this, Camilla's heart sank.

The faint smile on her face froze.

Her last option to save her family had been canceled.

The Fredericks were once a prominent family in Halcyon City.

They were among the oldest and most respected families in the city, though not among the top seven elites.

At the same time, they were not small.

But ever since their financial downfall, they were no longer recognized as they once were.

To make matters worse, Camilla's mother, Delphine Frederick, had been ill for 13 months and diagnosed with breast cancer. All efforts to save her had failed.

Her father had passed away when she was younger, leaving her grandfather, Leonard Frederick, as the head of the family's business.

He had spent so much on Delphine's treatment that they were now on the brink of bankruptcy.

Their only hope now was securing a partnership with Zenith Lux, which could revive their business and restore their financial status.

And now? Here she was.

A cruel twist of fate.

She had passed all five crucial stages, proof that her family deserved the partnership, only to be disqualified because of financial constraints.

After calming herself, she decided to try one last time.

If there was even the slightest chance, she had to take it.

"Mr. Harrison, don't you think passing the five stages at once without repeating any shows that my family is more than qualified?"

The five crucial stages were a major hurdle.

Many families had been stuck at a particular stage for years, and some never even attempted it because they found it too tedious.

Some even claimed that securing the ultra-exclusive stage, meant for only the top three elites, was easier than passing these five stages, which had a broader membership.

Yet, the Fredericks had done it all at once, without a single flaw, thanks to Camilla's dedication to reviving their family business.

"That's not the only requirement, Miss Camilla. All qualifications must be met before a partnership can be considered," Arthur replied, stretching back her file to her.

"Moreover, you know yourself that the Frederick Group's financial status is not something Zenith Lux can consider. Your business has been unstable for over a year now. You're only trying to convince me otherwise," Arthur added.

It wasn't Arthur Harrison's fault. He was only following orders.

If he attempted to admit an unqualified partner, he would be jeopardizing the company's assets.

Worse, if his boss, Nicholas Everstone, found out, he doubted he would keep his position or even his job at all.

Hearing that, Camilla's heart shook.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

Her legs trembled, and she could barely find the strength to move.

How could she return home empty-handed?

This was her last hope of saving her family.

If she failed here, how else would she save her mother?

Would she die from her illness?

Would the Fredericks finally go bankrupt?

No! This was too much.

She couldn't just give up like that.

"I understand, Mr. Harrison. But how about I submit all documents of the Fredericks' assets, both at home and abroad? If there's any flaw, you can verify them, sir," Camilla continued, her voice barely audible now.

"I can assure you that all these documents are authentic, with no false information."

Arthur sighed, already shaking his head.

"Miss Camilla, it's not just about having assets on paper. It's about liquidity, stability, and long-term sustainability.

"If the Fredericks are financially struggling, what guarantee do we have that they won't collapse within months of this partnership?"

"Besides, this is not a bank where you can submit papers in exchange for funding," he added.

Camilla's grip on the documents tightened.

She swallowed hard, blinking rapidly to hold back the tears threatening to spill.

This wasn't just business for her.

This was survival.

Her mother's life was on the line.

"Please, sir... just reconsider," she pleaded, her voice quivering.

Arthur remained silent, his expression unreadable.

Camilla wanted to keep begging, but the moment she caught sight of Mr. Harrison's angry glare, she knew she couldn't press further.

Pushing any more might only make things worse.

She struggled to control her body's reaction, holding back the tears burning behind her eyes.

The pain cut deep, but she forced herself to stay composed.

Summoning the last of her courage, she spoke.

"Okay, I understand you now sir. I'm sorry for disturbing you earlier. Thanks for checking through."

She felt awful, but at this point, she had no choice but to accept reality.

Desmond, who had been watching, suddenly felt a deep sense of sympathy for Camilla.

He had never seen someone so desperate yet composed. It was clear she had worked tirelessly for this opportunity.