Bound By A Broken Night novel Chapter 238

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Chapter 238

“He’s right there.”

All eyes shifted again.

Warren stepped forward, his presence commanding the room.

“This will be the last opportunity Sta. Cristina will have,” he announced, his voice carrying easily.

“I cannot delay this project any further. The Chairman herself has been asking about its progress.”

A pause.

“If the remaining farmland is not secured today…” he continued, his tone hardening, “we will move the project to another town.”

The words landed like a blow. The crowd erupted.

“Eliseo, sell your land!”

“Please, think about everyone!”

“Think about our children-this is our chance!”

Voices overlapped, pressing in from all sides.

Eliseo stood at the center of it all, his face pale, his hands trembling slightly at his sides. He looked tom-caught between loyalty to his sister’s memory and the crushing weight of the community’s expectations.

“You can’t do this!” Dino stepped forward, anger breaking through his restraint.

“My father has done nothing but support this community!” His voice rose, firm and unwavering.

“If the Chairman truly supports this project, then let us speak to her directly,” he insisted.

“I don’t believe she would ignore our reasons. We don’t need to sell our land just to make this happen-we can negotiate!”

He looked around, searching for understanding. But Warren Minerva only scoffed lightly.

“The Chairman does not entertain just anyone,” he said coldly.

“She deals only with Mr. Romero and myself about this project.”

Dino’s jaw tightened.

“How would we even know that?” he shot back.

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“Everything you’re saying-we only have your word for it.” He turned to the farmers, trying to reach them.

“I’ve read about Malakai Group’s projects,” he continued.

“They don’t force farmers to sell their land. They design solutions that help communities without taking away what’s already theirs.” His voice grew stronger.

“But this?” he said, gesturing around.

“This isn’t what Malakai stands for.”

A heavy silence followed. Uncertainty began to creep into the crowd.

For the first time-Doubt.

Chopter

“Don’t talk funsense, boy!”

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Mr. Romero’s voice cracked through the fall, sharp and furious. He stepped forward, eyes blazing at Dino.

“Just because you had the chance to go to college, you think you know everything?” he sneered.

“The real world isn’t about books and theories Study all you want you’re stili far from understanding what we’ve built.” His mocking tone silenced the room.

The farmers shrank back, unease settling heavily in their chests as tension thickened in the air.

“Then let us meet the Chairman.”

Carmel stood. Her voice, though steady, carried defiance.

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“You are not in a position to demand an audience,” Warren Minerva replied coldly, his gaze cutting toward her.

“Then who is?” Carmel shot back without hesitation.

“Aside from you?”

A beat. Her eyes shifted to Mr. Romero.

“You haven’t even met the Chairman, have you?” she declared.

Gasps echoed. Even the farmers looked stunned at her boldness.

“How can you be so certain about this project,” she pressed on, “when you’ve never spoken to her? She hasn’t approved this- has she?”

The air grew heavier. Mr. Romero’s face darkened.

“I met the Chairman!” he roared, his voice echoing so loudly that several farmers flinched.

“No,” a calm voice cut in.

“You didn’t.”

Cassie stepped forward, placing herself in front of Carmel.

Her tone was quiet-But cold enough to freeze the room.

“And even if you did,” she added, her eyes locking onto Warren Minerva, “you wouldn’t have known who she was.”

Warren froze. For the first time-Fear flickered across his face.

“Why don’t you stay out of this?” Mr. Romero snapped angrily.

Cassie didn’t even look at him.

“Would you like to introduce the Chairman to Mr. Romero, Mr. Minerva?” she said casually.

Now All eyes turned to Warren.

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“Mr. Minerva…?” Mr. Romero asked, confusion creeping into his voice as he noticed the man’s pale, stricken face.