Chapter 325

The Tempest series, manufactured in Eldermere, had identical battery performance to its overseas counterparts.

Yet its subpar lens quality made professional-grade photography impossible!

Despite this glaring flaw, it was priced as a premium drone!

Thousands of scathing comments flooded the video's comment section.

(This is outrageous! Has Evelyn Thorne forgotten her roots in Eldermere? How dare she deceive her own people? Disgusting!)

(#BoycottThornfieldIndustries!)

(Should we tag Blackwood Group? Their CEO Dominic Blackwood is Thornfield Industries' biggest client!)

Evelyn sank onto the couch, lifting a glass of water to her lips.

"I've spoken to Luxor," Michael Sterling said. "They're willing to honor the refund clause in our contract. But they refuse to sell us their high-end lenses."

"Why?" Evelyn set the glass down with a frown. "Is it a pricing issue?"

Michael shook his head. "We're seen as a threat to domestic drone competitors. They've formed an alliance to block us."

Evelyn couldn't help but laugh.

"Do they really think we'll collapse without Luxor's lenses? Ridiculous!"

"Other local camera manufacturers won't work with us either."

Evelyn nodded. "Then we'll source internationally."

"The costs would skyrocket," Michael countered. "Most top-tier camera companies have exclusive partnerships already."

"I know," Evelyn said calmly. "Just like how Apex Innovations has an exclusive deal with Vanguard Holdings. Even though we own Thornfield Industries, Vanguard can't supply us under this brand name."

She lowered her head, deep in thought.

Michael hesitated before speaking again.

"Luxor gave me the contact for Aureate Tech's president. I reached out. They'll cooperate—if we share Cerebra System's core technology."

Evelyn scoffed. "Aureate Tech? Isn't their VP Vincent Holloway—my father's former right-hand man? The man who nearly killed me over the Cerebra project?"

"Ah. Old enemies, then."

"Exactly. Tell their president to keep dreaming."

"I already declined last night."

Suddenly, an idea struck Evelyn.

"Recall every Tempest unit. Full refunds."

Michael's brows shot up. "Are you serious? The lens isn't that bad. For casual users, it's perfectly functional."

Evelyn shook her head. "We own our mistakes. Money lost is nothing compared to reputation destroyed."

"Understood." Michael grinned. "Our top client is Dominic Blackwood. Should I handle that, or...?"

Evelyn's cheeks burned.

She'd just drawn a firm line with Dominic—even blocked his number.

And now this crisis forced her back to him.

How humiliating.

"You're going," she snapped, eyes flashing. "Did you miss our argument earlier?"

"Fine. I'll see him tomorrow." Michael nudged her toward the kitchen. "Eat something. We'll solve this. Worst case, we invest in Vanguard Holdings and have them establish a new subsidiary here."

Evelyn smirked. "My thoughts exactly."

"They underestimated you," Michael teased. "Thought you'd crumble. But if Dominic Blackwood doesn't scare you, who could?"

At Dominic's name, Evelyn's smile vanished. "We fought badly, Michael. Tread carefully tomorrow."