Matthew felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. Asking Damian to apologize and pay a million dollars in compensation? That was practically a death sentence for him!Damian's expression was ice cold. He said, "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue? She says I should apologize and pay her a million dollars in compensation. What do you think? Should I?" Matthew's forehead was slick with sweat. "Well... This..." Marion interjected, her voice sharp, "Matthew, what are you afraid of? You have the Avila family behind you. Didn't Ms. Avila herself say she values you? Just call her!" Damian raised an eyebrow, his tone curious. "Ms. Avila? Rachel Avila? She values you?" Marion tilted her chin up, pride gleaming in her eyes. "That's right! Ms. Avila has taken a keen interest in him. She even transferred 30 million dollars to his account to support him. She plans to invest in his new company in the future." She crossed her arms smugly. "Damian, the Horne family may be stronger than
With his tone firm, Matthew said to Marion, "Here's the deal. Either you apologize or our partnership ends. I'll retrieve the contract and tear it up right in front of you. The choice is yours." Marion was at a loss. If the deal fell through, her dream of living as a wealthy socialite would vanish into thin air.Arnold's face darkened, his frustration barely contained. It was Elara who finally spoke, her tone soft but persuasive, "Mom, honestly, you were being arrogant and overbearing. Matthew is right. You should apologize to Mr. Horne. It's not that big of a deal." Not that big of a deal? Marion's face burned with humiliation as the hotel manager barely suppressed a smirk in the background. Still, she had no choice. No matter how much she loathed the idea, she had to swallow her pride. "Mr. Horne, I'm sorry," she muttered, her voice low. Damian asked, stepping back, "What was that? You called yourself a woman of high status. I'm not sure I can bear the weight of you
As Gideon left Goldspire Hotel, his thoughts lingered on the person Damian had mentioned. He knew exactly who he was referring to. Zane Farrell, the eldest son of the Farrell family in Goldspire. Back in the day, Zane was one of the Four Elites of Goldspire, just like Gideon. However, their relationship had been far from friendly. It was marked by tension, even outright animosity. Goldspire wasn't just known for its Four Elites. There were also the Three Beauties of Goldspire. Among them, Waverly Tate of the Tate family was the most stunning. Zane had been infatuated with Waverly, pursuing her relentlessly, but she had always ignored him. Instead, she gravitated toward Gideon—a closeness that planted the seeds of Zane's envy and hostility. The situation escalated when an incident spread like wildfire. Gideon and Waverly had spent a night together on Dragon Peak. Rumors swept through Goldspire, claiming the two had solidified their relationship. The Tate family, catching
Gideon smiled. "It's not that. It's just that five years have passed, and things have changed. I was just asking."At that moment, Anna spoke up, "Mr. Snow, the Tates aren't in a good situation."Gideon raised an eyebrow. "What's going on?"His frown deepened as Anna explained, "Over the past three years, the Tates have been hit hard with setbacks and sanctions. Rumor has it that the Farrell family has been pulling the strings behind the scenes."Anna added, "Now, the Tates are on the brink of collapse. It's likely that their conglomerate will go bankrupt soon."Gideon's face hardened, and the temperature in the room dropped with his cold demeanor. He muttered to himself, a fury building up within him, "Zane, that bastard!"Anna continued, "Also, Ms. Tate's reputation is getting bad. There are rumors circulating that she's been living recklessly. On the surface, she pretends to be prim and proper, but behind the scenes, she's been involved in questionable behavior."She added, "
"Sir, it's here." Lysander pointed at a hospital on the map.As he gestured toward the psychiatric hospital ahead, he said, "But Mr. Snow, this place appears to be fully secured. Are you planning to break in directly?"Gideon considered it for a moment. Causing a commotion in broad daylight wasn't ideal. He pulled out his phone and made a call. "Gideon, so you finally remembered me! Where on Earth have you been these past few days?" Rachel's voice came through, laced with irritation. "Rachel, I need you to handle something for me," Gideon said, cutting to the chase. "Oh, I see how it is! You only remember me when you need something. When there's nothing, you vanish like a ghost! You've got some nerve, Gideon!" Rachel's tone was filled with mock frustration.Despite her complaints, Rachel harbored complex feelings toward Gideon. She was still in awe of the man who single-handedly stormed the Yovarian Guild headquarters and wiped out their leaders in just one fateful night
Waverly had once been full of life and beauty, but now, she was locked away in a psychiatric facility.Rachel recognized Waverly by the silhouette even from behind. After all, she herself was one of the Beauties of Goldspire. Though she'd heard rumors of Waverly's stay in the facility, seeing it in person was different.Rachel's emotions swirled in conflict as she stood there. She remembered vividly how years ago, Gideon and Waverly were lovers on the brink of engagement. Now, Gideon was here, searching for Waverly.Was he here to rekindle their relationship?The thought stung. Rachel felt a pang of discomfort, but she quickly pushed it aside. She was a capable businesswoman who was far above petty jealousy.Gideon walked slowly toward the bed.Waverly didn't react. She sat still, her gaze vacant as she stared out the window. Her face was pale."Waverly," Gideon called softly.He knelt by her side and gently held her frail hand. "Waverly, it's me. I'm back."At his words, her
Zane's expression shifted slightly before he sneered dismissively. "I've heard the rumors. He's back, is he? Good. Times have changed. The Snows have fallen, so Gideon's nothing now." "Mr. Farrell, do you want us to act?" the man inquired cautiously. Zane waved his hand dismissively and said, "No need. Instead, intensify the pressure on the Tate family. Within a month, I want Tate Corporation to go bankrupt and out of the picture. Let's see how Gideon feels when that happens." A cold smile spread across Zane's face as he leaned back into his chair. …Meanwhile, at the villa on Beaker Island, Waverly had awakened. Thanks to Gideon's meticulous care, her condition had improved dramatically. Her physical state was much better, and her emotions were finally stabilizing. The moment her gaze fell on Gideon, she became overwhelmed again. Her body trembled uncontrollably as tears streamed down her face. "I'm sorry," Gideon said, his voice laden with guilt. He leaned fo
The man sneered, "You know, your wife is quite the beauty. Selling her off might help clear some of that debt."Ronald erupted like a thunderclap, his face contorted with fury. "You bastard! You're courting death!" he roared."That little bastard Zane ruined my daughter, and now, he dares come for my wife? I'll kill you!" Ronald snapped.Ronald lunged at the man, fists flying.But the middle-aged man was no ordinary opponent. He sidestepped Ronald's attack effortlessly, his movements smooth and precise. With a cold smirk, he swung a fist at Ronald's head.Before it could connect, a hand shot out, catching his fist mid-swing."What the—" The man's expression twisted into shock.The next moment, a sickening crack echoed through the room.A sharp, guttural scream filled the air.The man's hand was crushed. His bones were shattered beyond repair. He staggered back, clutching his ruined hand and howling in agony."My hand! My hand! You've destroyed my hand!" he shrieked. His eyes
Elara got into Damian's car."Ms. Seymour, where are you headed?" Damian asked."Home."Damian obediently started driving.Before long, she asked, "Mr. Horne, do you have cash on hand?""What's the matter? Are you short on money, Ms. Seymour?" he repliedShe said, "I've been eyeing a small apartment lately. The location is great, and I'm planning to buy it, but I'm a bit short on funds. Mr. Horne, could you lend me a little money?"He thought for a moment and asked, "How much?""300 thousand dollars," she said, holding up three fingers.Then, she added, "We may not have much of a connection, but for Gideon's sake, can you help me out just this once? I'll pay you back as soon as I can."Damian nodded. "No problem. It's 300 thousand dollars, not three million dollars. I can manage that. Let's exchange numbers, and you can send me your bank account details.""Thank you, Mr. Horne.""There's no need to be so formal," he replied casually while chuckling.For the Horne family, m
Elara was disappointed. Just a moment ago, she thought that the Horne family and the Snow family had genuinely established a strong relationship, which was why Damian had stepped in to help Gideon.She hadn't expected it was only because the Horne family was a shareholder in the clubhouse.Damian simply didn't want an incident on his turf. It wouldn't look good, after all."Get lost!" Damian barked coldly.Harold and the others didn't dare linger."Wait a minute!"Damian's sharp tone froze Harold in place. He shivered and braced himself to ask, "Is there anything else, Mr. Horne?""Take him with you." Damian pointed to the unconscious young man on the couch."Yes, yes, of course." Harold called out to his companions, and together, they carried the injured man out of the clubhouse.Elara also left with them.Once the room was empty, Damian dropped his intimidating demeanor and turned into an eager subordinate, grinning as he said, "How did I do, Gideon?""You're pretty quic
"Cuff him!" the officer shouted sternly.Harold and the others looked on, pleased, while Elara was at a loss for what to do.Gideon was visibly displeased. Just as he was about to react, a cold voice rang out from outside the room, "What are you doing here?"Everyone turned to look.Harold was stunned for a moment. Then, he hurried forward. "Mr. Horne, it's you!"The newcomer was none other than Damian, the eldest son of the Horne family.Damian had been passing by and glanced into the private room. When he saw Gideon surrounded by police officers, his heart skipped a beat.The last time Gideon was arrested, the entire Goldspire was thrown into upheaval. If something like that happened again, the consequences would be unimaginable.Without hesitation, Damian stepped in to intervene. He cast a sidelong glance at Harold.He had heard of him before. Harold was a young entrepreneur and owner of a company in Goldspire. Although he might have been a promising youth, Damian didn't
Elara's heart skipped a beat. For some reason, she suddenly felt a pang of guilt. She lowered her head and couldn't bring herself to look at Gideon.However, the rich heirs in the room were not about to let this slide.In the past, they had to look up to Gideon. Now that the Snow family had fallen, they were not going to miss the chance to humiliate him."Did I say you could leave?" One of the rich heirs stepped in front of Gideon to block his path."Move!" Gideon barked coldly.The heir was startled for a moment before flying into a rage. "Why the hell are you acting up? Do you think you're still the high-and-mighty heir of the Snow family?"With that, he swung his hand to slap Gideon across the face.Gideon caught the man's arm, and with a sudden, crushing grip, a loud crack echoed through the room as the man's arm shattered.The rich heir's scream, like the wailing of a slaughtered pig, filled the room.Everyone was stunned.They stared in shock at the man's mangled and tw
"You're treating me to a meal?" Gideon asked."You saved me and stopped Matthew from assaulting me. Isn't it normal for me to thank you by treating you to a meal? Let's go." Elara gestured for him to follow.Rubbing his nose, Gideon felt a little puzzled. He couldn't figure out what she was up to.Since when did she become so polite? She even knew how to show gratitude, huh?They entered a high-end clubhouse and headed straight upstairs to the sixth floor.As they walked, Gideon sensed something wasn't quite right. The clubhouse was extremely luxurious, and the costs were undoubtedly sky-high. Elara couldn't possibly afford a private room on the sixth floor.A cacophony of loud laughter and voices filled the air when the door was pushed open."Ella, you're here!" A well-dressed young man approached her with a smile."And this must be Gideon! Mr. Snow, right? I've heard so much about you." The young man extended his hand toward Gideon.Gideon shook his hand, thinking it wou
"Ms. Trott, what did you say? One billion dollars? Are you saying Ms. Avila is ready to invest that much in me?""No kidding!" Maggie rolled her eyes.Matthew was dumbfounded. Then, he immediately flushed with excitement, his body trembling.One billion dollars! Good Lord! If he were to just put it in the bank and live off the interest, he would be set for life!"I've said all I need to say. Think it over carefully. But remember my advice. Ms. Avila doesn't like delays. Act quickly, or you'll miss the once-in-a-lifetime chance to leap into greatness.""Okay, okay. Thank you, Ms. Trott. I'll treat you to a scrumptious meal sometime."Matthew hurriedly left the building and got into the car. He couldn't wait to call Jacob. "How did it go? Did it work out?" Jacob asked.From his tone, it was clear that Jacob was nervous, his voice slightly trembling with anticipation."Dad, file for bankruptcy immediately. Shut down the company and clear out all the junk."Jacob was stunned. "Y
"Ms. Avila, here is my proposal. Please take a look."In the office, Matthew handed the proposal to Rachel, waiting with eager anticipation.Truthfully, Rachel didn't have the slightest interest in looking at the proposal. She didn't even want to flip it open.However, for Gideon's sake, she decided to put some effort into putting Matthew and the Carter family through the wringer. Suppressing her impatience, she opened the proposal.Upon reading it, she found it to be complete garbage. The proposal that Jacob had arranged for someone to write had some level of competence, but unfortunately, it was entirely unworthy of Rachel's standards.For a second- or third-rate business owner, the proposal might have seemed decent. But for someone of Rachel's caliber and position, reading it was nothing but a waste of ten minutes.Matthew asked, "Ms. Avila, what do you think?""It's alright," she replied with a forced smile.Hearing this, he was overjoyed. "Ms. Avila, does that mean I've pa
Matthew was completely stunned after getting slapped. "Dad, what did I do?"Jacob roared, "What did you do? Because of you, the Lawson family has terminated all their collaborations with us."The company is already struggling, barely staying afloat with those projects from the Lawsons. Now that they've been cut, the company is completely paralyzed. We're one step away from bankruptcy!"Matthew finally understood. It had to be because he had embarrassed Kian at Avila Group earlier. That old man was getting his revenge."Dad, don't worry. The Lawsons won't be able to stay smug for long. Give it some time, and Kian will be kneeling in front of us, begging for forgiveness.""Bullshit!" Jacob slapped him again. "You little punk! Are you out of your mind? The company is on the brink of bankruptcy, and you're still spouting this nonsense! Have some shame!"Feeling wronged, Matthew protested, "Dad, I'm telling the truth! I was going to tell you yesterday, but I didn't come home.""Tell
Kian left Avila Group with a dark expression. On his way back, he wasted no time in contacting his company's project department to terminate all collaborations with the Carter family."That little punk. I want to see just how much of a splash the Carter family can make. I'll wait for you to come crawling back to me and begging to resume our partnership." He sneered coldly.He didn't believe for a second that Matthew could earn Rachel's favor. He knew exactly what kind of person Matthew was.…Meanwhile, Matthew was reporting the situation in Rachel's office. He started by mentioning that he had already canceled contracts with families like the Seymour family. Rachel nodded approvingly. "You've done a good job."Matthew was overjoyed. To be praised by Rachel felt like pure bliss."Ms. Avila, don't worry. I'll prove my abilities to you," he said eagerly. "By the way, when will you be investing in me?" he asked, his voice filled with anticipation.Rachel sneered inwardly, but her