THE BILLIONAIRE IS INFATUATED WITH HIS EX-LOVER
Chapter 44: Henry paid dearly for his mistake

Recently, Jessica has been unable to contact Sara, blaming Mark for his harsh words that hurt Sara.

"Mark, although you've helped me in the past, what you did was too much for Sara. There's no smoke without fire; if Leon hadn't done things that hurt her, today's incident wouldn't have occurred. What right do you have to criticize her? If anything happens to her, I will never forgive you."

"Jessica, let me explain."

"I regret ever trusting you. I thought you were different from Leon; I got close, only to realize that a servant often mirrors his master."

Mark's voice was hoarse as he called, but Jessica did not turn back, overwhelmed by disappointment too profound to face him. Why did all the men she met end up hurting her?

These days, Mark was busy from dawn to late night dealing with issues concerning Sara and the company. Many sleepless nights left him with dark circles under his eyes, resembling a panda, and now Jessica's reproaches only added to his pain.

Leon stood firm under the media's pressure for explanations and the demands for compensation from Brian, unflinching. He called Mark in and gave him careful instructions.

The press had gathered in LT's large meeting room as it was the first time Leon had publicly appeared since the incident.

Cameras were ready, snapping away the moment they saw him as if afraid he might suddenly vanish. Leon disliked such monotonous actions, forced a smile, and then got to business.

A journalist opened the meeting with a question that many were curious about.

"Leon, regarding the accusation from Sky & Star Cosmetic Company that LT stole the perfume formula specifically for the Every Girl brand, do you admit to this?"

Leon, with the demeanor of an experienced CEO, gave a cold laugh before speaking bluntly.

"On what basis do they dare make such claims? I am a person who works honestly and decisively; no one can force me to admit to a crime I didn't commit."

"Sky & Star Cosmetic Company's product was launched and hit the market three days before LT's. Doesn't that prove you are the one copying their product?" Leon scoffed.

"Do you understand what constitutes copying? Whether a product is a copy or not isn't just about the timing of its release. Every Girl began its development two years ago. It's a product we've invested our hearts into." Leon paused, took a sip of water, and continued.

"As you know, perfume is a susceptible product. The same fragrance can smell different depending on the individual's body chemistry. And men often remember women by the scent they wear. That's why our LT team started researching a perfume that suits all women worldwide, to help them feel confident in their work, love, and life."

"Do you have proof that this project belongs to your company?"

Mark immediately handed a stack of documents to Leon.

"Six months ago, our product was successfully researched and patented. If you doubt, you are welcome to come closer and verify. I genuinely do not know why our company's trade secrets were stolen, but I will pursue this matter to the end to ensure the culprits do not escape."

The reporters were visibly confused and distressed, unsure why LT, clearly the accused, suddenly seemed to be the victim.

They murmured among themselves.

"Exactly. There's the certificate. So, did Sky & Star Cosmetic Company falsely accuse them?"

"Brian is spitting venom; he is despicable. We almost got led astray by him."

Suddenly, a young female reporter raised her hand, requesting to ask a question.

"As you said, men often remember women by the scent they wear. Does that mean you fell for Jee because of her captivating fragrance?"

The whole room burst into laughter, and for the first time, Leon blushed at a question.

"That's correct; she is the inspiration behind this brand."

After watching the live broadcast of the press conference, Henry paced back and forth anxiously. He was worried about Leon leaving him alone and Brian, known for his gangster-like tactics. Outside, there was a commotion, apparently the voice of a secretary.

"You cannot enter now; you must wait for me to inform the boss."

"Move aside, or don't blame me for being rough with a lady."

The door burst open, and Brian, leading a group of his men, stormed in and confronted Henry with a stern voice.

"Did you and he conspire to ruin me?"

Henry stammered.

"Don't get angry; be careful not to fall for his tricks."

"I'm about to go bankrupt; what other tricks could I fall for? This mess is all because you didn't do your homework. You've put me in a no-win situation; what will you do about it?"

Brian's disdain for Henry intensified with each glance. He signaled his underlings to teach the man who had cost him both his reputation and his wealth a lesson.

Two henchmen stepped forward, delivering a beating that left Henry unable to stand, tumbling to the ground.

"Brian, I was just trapped by his schemes, too. I had no idea he was so cunning."

"Do you know that my father is threatening to disown us? From now on, all your artists have to work for me without pay to settle the debt, and you must comply with my every command, or I will shut down your entertainment company." Henry knelt on the ground, messy and desperate, but Brian showed no mercy. The entertainment company was supposed to be his weapon to defeat Leon, but now it was only so in name; Henry had fallen into dire straits.

Leon finally saw his adversary suffer a taste of his own medicine. Johny, who had always coveted LT, now faced his bitter pill. Fearing that the scandal would tarnish his parent company, he sought out Leon to negotiate. Leon, holding the upper hand, appeared relaxed as the two met. Mr. Johny, with the calm of an old fox, said.

"The accidental or deliberate incident is indeed my son's fault. State your terms clearly."

Mr. Johny, always cunning and placing interests first, faced a Leon who feared not the greedy but the honest.

"I want you and your son to withdraw from the cosmetics business; otherwise, I will pursue litigation. You'll not only face bankruptcy but also lose your reputation. In business, reputation is everything; without it, there are no customers, no revenue, and no survival."

Mr. Johny went pale, stunned by the scope of Leon's ambitions. The words hit like a fatal blow, and Brian's mistake now seemed beyond redemption.

"You will have children of your own someday, and as a father, I advise you to think more about the father-son relationship." Leon smiled coldly.

"I will certainly be a better father than you."

Jee had informed him about Mr. Scott's presence and schemes against LT. Leon immediately sent Mark to handle it. When Mark arrived, Mr. Scott was packing up to flee. Mark seized his computer and discovered numerous documents about LT's products and company stored on the personal computer. He also searched for and found a USB drive containing confidential documents that Mr. Scott had hidden in his person.

"Speak up. What else are you hiding? If not, I will initiate a lawsuit for the authorities to investigate."

"A snotty-nosed kid still smelling of milk daring to raise his voice at me. If I were that simple, how could I have survived until today?"

Mr. Scott laughed loudly, challenging Mark. Leon's entrance instantly wiped the smile off his face.

"Your accomplice has confessed everything. You've sold him much of LT's information in recent months and made a tidy profit. I've handed him over to the police, and now it's your turn. Keep your secrets. I don't want to hear anymore." "Leon, you're very clever."

The sound of police sirens blared, startling Mr. Scott and causing him to stumble and fall. His aged mouth quivered, unable to form words. The police escorted him to continue the investigation and bring charges.