As days went by , Pine Ridge construction kept going full steam . Jake was getting more confident every day , kept getting praised by Grandfather in meetings . While Ryan was getting quieter and moodier . Sophia was getting more bitchy around me . She started bossing Carson around right in front of me , acting like I was invisible . She even hinted to the other staff that they didn't need to take the " temporary Mrs. Ashford " too seriously . I didn't give a shit . I was just waiting . Waiting for the spring floods . Spring in Montana hits hard and fast . Weeks of heavy rain and snow melt turned the whole area into a swamp . News started talking about flood warnings in the mountains . Then one night , Jake got a phone call . All the color drained from his face . " What do you mean cracks in the foundation wall ?! IMPOSSIBLE ! I spent millions on reinforcement ! " He was screaming into the phone while I sat on the couch reading a magazine . He hung up and just collapsed on the floor . Week later , the rains were still coming . Then came judgment day- " What's all this yelling about ?! " Grandfather's voice boomed through the house . " Grandpa ... " Jake's voice was shaking . " Pine Ridge ... The factory foundation collapsed completely ' cause of flooding and mudslides . " Grandfather's face went black as thunder . " Didn't you do soil testing ? " " Yeah ... but the rain was so heavy , the groundwater rose way higher than anyone predicted , and when the mudslide hit ... " Jake's voice got smaller and smaller . That's when Ryan spoke up . " Jake , I tried to warn you about that spot . It's called Devil's Hollow - the locals know it floods every year . You just wouldn't listen ' cause 13:19 Hell Yeah . Forget the Other Woman . My Smart House Was Cheating On Me ! 11.4 % 444 Chapter 7 you wanted to rush the timeline . " Jake's head snapped up : " You ... you knew ? " " I didn't know for sure . " Ryan shrugged , looking innocent . " I just heard Clara mention some local folklore , figured it was worth checking out . Had my team do a backup plan just in case . " " Not only that ... " Ryan pulled out his phone , showed a video . Video showed the construction site with workers building , Ryan suddenly appeared on screen . " Everybody out ! NOW ! We got mudslides coming down the mountain and this place is about to get hit ! " Workers looked panicked , but Ryan got them all out safely . Minutes after everyone evacuated , the whole area collapsed with a huge CRASH . Obviously , if Ryan hadn't given that warning , the Ashford company would be dealing with twenty - something deaths . Losing a project was nothing compared to that . Dead workers would've destroyed the whole Ashford empire . Everyone stared at Jake . Especially Grandfather , with the coldest look I'd ever seen . Jake looked at me like he'd seen a ghost . " Clara ... it's you ? " I slowly closed my magazine , looked up at him . " I just told Ryan a story from back home . " My voice was totally calm . " Is that against the law or something ? " " You ... " He couldn't even finish the sentence . " Enough ! " Grandfather slammed his cane down . " You're a fucking disgrace ! " He was shaking with rage . " Billions ! Gone ! You arrogant piece of shit ! Thank God for Ryan or we'd all be fucked ! You've turned the Ashford name into a fucking laughingstock ! " Ryan stood there quiet , shared a look with me . I knew Jake was done . 13:19 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!