Bound By A Broken Night novel Chapter 39

On the verge of bankruptcy?

The thought struck Cassie with immediate disbelief the moment the company’s name was spoken.

“Knowles Corporation? Bay City?” she echoed, seeking confirmation even though Drie had said it plainly enough.

“Yes. Knowles Corporation of Bay City,” Zandrie repeated, his gaze never leaving her face, as though watching for a crack–any sign of recognition or alarm.

For a brief moment, their eyes locked. The silence stretched, heavy and deliberate, each of them weighing the implications of what had just been revealed.

“Conduct a thorough investigation into Knowles Corporation’s alleged bankruptcy,” Cassie finally said. Her voice was calm, decisive, the initial surprise already buried beneath focus and resolve.

Jameson’s gaze shifted between his brother and Cassie before settling on her.

“Do you think there’s more to this than what they’re claiming–just an attempt to modernize their resources?”

“With a guaranteed sixty percent share of the stocks?” Cassie murmured, her lips curving faintly. “No. That’s far too steep a price for simple modernization.”

She let out a soft, humorless scoff. “This isn’t innovation. It’s desperation.”

More than anyone in the room, Cassie understood the weight of that conclusion.

While she was still in university, she had studied Knowles Corporation extensively–its structure, its supply chains, its manufacturing reach. Even then, it had been a titan, armed with resources strong enough to withstand market fluctuations and technological shifts.

Her younger, more naïve self had even dared to imagine running the company one day. She had drafted plans–detailed, ambitious plans to refine its mechanisms and propel it into the global market.

Knowles Corporation had never been fragile.

“Knowles Corporation’s resources are solid–exceptional, even,” Cassie continued, rising from her seat as she paced slowly, her mind working through the puzzle.

“They’re more than capable of competing on a global scale. Even the rapid advancement of manufacturing technology wouldn’t be enough to push a company like that to the brink of bankruptcy in just six years.”

She stopped, her expression sharpening.

“Something doesn’t add up.” her brows furrowed.

Chapter 39.

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“You seem to know the company rather well,” Jameson said, narrowing his eyes at Cassie. She met his gaze without flinching, her expression unreadable and said nothing.

“We’ve outsourced to several companies, both local and international,” Zandrie cut in casually when it became clear Cassie had no intention of answering,

“Knowles Corporation is among them.”

Jameson hummed thoughtfully.

“Even so, if the company’s been mismanaged, a collaboration would be more trouble than it’s worth.” He shrugged, already sounding dismissive.

“Especially considering it’s a twelve–hour away from Savannah City.”

He leaned back, as if the matter were settled—then paused.

“Oh. Right.” He tapped his fingers against the table, a flicker of recollection crossing his face.

“I did come across some… information. Vague, really. Just rumors—but they might be relevant.” “Rumors?” Cassie scoffed softly, the word barely leaving her lips.

“I know, I know.” Jameson grinned, unbothered.

“I shouldn’t be listening to street talk. But it doesn’t hurt to consider every angle.” He glanced at her knowingly. He remembered well how rumors had once been the very reason they’d started on the wrong foot.

“What did you hear?” Drie asked, indulging his brother.

Jameson straightened, his tone turning more serious.

“That said company lost their biggest client about four years ago–something about contractual technicalities. After that, several other companies quietly pulled out of their partnerships.”

He continued, his expression grim.

“Since then, Knowles Corporation has struggled to secure new collaborations. The clients they’ve managed to keep aren’t enough to sustain full operations. They’ve already laid off a significant number of employees.”

A brief silence followed.

“But none of that is reflected in their proposal,” Jameson added with a shrug.

“This is just what I heard from a few business partners when I asked around.”

His eyes flicked toward Cassie, unease creeping in.

Though his brother’s wife was calm and reserved on the surface, Jameson had learned that her silence could be far more unsettling than anger.

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When Cassie said nothing, it often meant she was dissecting every word–quietly, mercilessly. “I passed the same information to Dad,” Jameson went on.

“That’s why he’s hesitant,” Jameson continued.

“A corporation that large doesn’t just collapse overnight. They have the resources and they’ve dominated the Bay City market for decades.”

He shook his head slowly, sympathy edging into his voice.

“It was… too sudden.”

“Without new collaborations?” Cassie murmured, her eyes narrowing as the pieces began to shift into place.

She stopped listening to the room and started talking to herself, her thoughts spilling out unchecked.

“How could that happen…?”

She paced the length of the floor, unaware of the two pairs of eyes tracking her every step.

“Why didn’t Pierce Corporation step in? Mirriam and Ashton should have been married by now.” Her voice dropped to a whisper.

“With the Pierce family backing them, they would never have lost their clients or their partnerships.”

She continued pacing, lost in her deductions.

“Come again, sister–in–law?” Jameson asked, leaning forward. He’d tried to catch her words, but they had slipped past him like smoke.

Cassie halted mid–step, realization flickering across her face. She had been thinking out loud.

“I’m just assessing Knowles Corporation’s current standing,” she said quickly, regaining her

composure.

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