Chapter 1181

“Ms. Scott, please don’t be upset. Let’s see what the authorities have to say,” Horace said, quickly trying to comfort her.

Joanna found no solace in his words. Instead, panic set in, and a dull ache throbbed in her chest.

Her voice choked up. “Impossible. An archaeological site was unearthed on the very first day. This project is over.”

She slumped back in her wheelchair. In that moment, it felt like she had been dragged straight to hell.

She was ruined. Everything was over. This development project was supposed to be the stepping stone that would elevate her company to the next level.

But without it, all the capital she had invested was gone. She knew exactly what that meant.

Tears welled up in Joanna’s eyes. “Horace, do you have any idea? This project was worth over a billion dollars. It’s just gone. How much do you think the authorities are going to compensate me? You know the answer as well as I do.”

A loss of a billion dollars would set her company back a decade. Previously, the company had thrived and remained stable solely because of Sebastian. By staying by his side, she had gained access to commercial secrets and secured lucrative partnerships. Coupled with the millions he gave her every month, she had managed to expand her business spectacularly under the radar.

Now, she no longer had his protection. Maxwell Griffith was unfamiliar with the local operations, and she had spent the last few days pushing him to learn the ropes of Sebastian’s empire.

With Boris’s help, they had managed to secure a few contracts, but they were minor deals that did little to help the company’s bottom line.

Joanna took a deep breath before turning to her assistant. “Horace, push me over there. I need to see it with my own eyes to believe it.”

Her fists clenched tightly on her lap, though her voice sounded incredibly weak.

She refused to believe in karma.

The dead were simply dead.

The living would go on to lead even more brilliant lives.

Even though Sebastian was gone, she could distinctly feel her luck plummeting.

In the past, with Wendy protecting her, she had been a high-and-mighty princess.

But now, that shield was gone. She had to resolve everything on her own.

Horace pushed Joanna forward until the historical ruins, exposed beneath the excavators, came into view.

Looking at the dirt-covered ancient steles and the weathered stone sculptures jutting out of the earth, she knew exactly what this discovery meant to the authorities.

There was no way she could continue developing this land.

Her mind raced, desperately searching for a countermeasure.

Taking in the scene before her, Joanna felt a sharp, suffocating pain in her chest, as

if something had violently pierced her heart.

It hurt. The agony was tearing her apart.

How did things end up like this?

If this district had been successfully developed, she would have raked in unimaginable wealth in the coming years, cementing her place among the city’s elite billionaires.

That was her ultimate dream. But the moment she saw those ruins, her dream shattered completely.

Just then, the project manager walked over. “Excuse me, miss. I’m the official in charge of this excavation. Are you the head of this development?”

Joanna closed her eyes and nodded.

The official said, “I’m sorry, but we’ve discovered a historical burial site and an underground catacomb here. This land cannot be developed any further We will discuss the

subsequent procedures we

later.”

Joanna squeezed her eyes shut in agony. If it had just been a few

artifacts, they could have been

relocated But arent round

ruin meant the land was completely useless to her.

Sebastian had participated in the bidding for this very plot.

He had driven up the price and then walked away without a second thought.

Did he know? Did he know there were historical ruins buried here all along?

Joanna couldn’t believe it. Had Sebastian known the truth back then?

Based on her understanding of him, the prospects for this plot were excellent, yet he had suddenly- dropped out. At the time, she had been incredibly proud of herself for beating him.