Even as Gina thought to herself that anything could wait until after she took back her land, someone shouted, "Shush, be quiet! Ms. Lane is back!""Heh. Pretentious as always.""She calls herself a daughter? I would have quit already if this job didn't pay well.""Talk about moral degradation.""I'd disown her if she were my daughter!"On the other hand, Helen's stilettos clicked as she strode in, with her secretary Lily rushing to her with a pained look. "I tried to stop them, Ms. Lane, but…"Helen understood—Lily and the security guards could not use force since Gina, Cindy, and Peter were her family, and they could only allow the trio free rein."Don't worry. Just leave this to me." Helen clapped Lily on the shoulder, nodding at the security guards before making her way through the crowd.Even as she did, she could hear the words her own employees were saying, and her blood pressure shot up.Gina and Cindy's money over the years all came from her, and yet Gina willingly led
Cindy and Peter's outburst left the Lanecorp employees pointing and gesturing at Helen."That's so true. Urgh, I never knew she's really like that.""You don't really know a person, I guess!""Whatever. I'm resigning later—it's embarrassing to work for someone like her.""Yeah. I'd be too ashamed to face anyone once news spreads.""I'm writing my letter right now.""Me too."Helen could certainly hear their vocal scorn and disapproval. She suddenly yelled, "Gina Zonda!"Gina actually flinched, while the Lanecorp employees were stunned as Helen cried, "What have I done to you?! Why do you have to do this to me?!"She then pointed between Peter and Cindy, shouting, "Who planned this? I've been working so hard for years, and you've been living like kings thanks to that! Why do you have to keep putting me and Frank through so much crap?!"Though Helen was biting her lip and her expression appeared almost impassive, tears were gushing down her cheeks. "I've finally gotten where I
Bob snorted. "I really thought you were a strong, independent woman and admired you. I didn't think you were that despicable!""Exactly. Beating up your own mother with someone outside your own family?! You're worse than an animal!""No you're worse than Kallum Gaetz!""Hah! I refuse to let myself be lumped together with the likes of you. People would think that we're the same if they find out that I work for an ingrate like you!""I quit!""Me too!""What future is there working for someone so heinous?!"Other more excitable employees strode up and took off their employee IDs like Bob did, distancing themselves from Lanecorp right then.To make things worse, Lily, Helen's secretary, ran up to Helen. "Ms. Lane, the board is calling for an emergency meeting…"The purpose of said meeting was simply obvious—the board was ready to vote her out."No, listen to me. That's not it…" Helen argued feebly, but she was alone.What strength did she have to stand against the angry mob? Sh
Peter was the most anxious person present. After all, if he could not get that plot of land back, he would be dead even if Helen was toppled and was left homeless."Frank is…" Helen was cut off even before she could come up with an excuse, as a thundering bellow resounded from the distance. "That's enough!"The towering man strode up to stand beside Helen, putting an arm around her shoulder while glaring at everyone else.Naturally, it was none other than Frank himself."You fools!" he snapped icily. "You can't even tell when you've been manipulated! Do you even know what really happened? Scorning and condemning your superior just because you were given a one-sided testimony—the way I see it, you're all trash! Lanecorp won't stop you if you want to leave! Go on, the door's right there!"While his stern words silence everyone in the lobby, there were naturally those who were defiant."Hah!" Bob snorted. "Our head of the health and security department is just as coercive and un
"And right now, I disown Helen. I won't ever ask either of you for anything from now on! You're both pigs who deserve to be conned! Now, fuck off!"The recording ended there, and the room was silent as Frank slowly returned his phone into his pocket.At the same time, every Lanecorp employee was scowling awkwardly or in guilt.The voice recording made it evident enough that Gina had been lying to them.She claimed that Frank and Helen were working together to steal that land from her. However, the recording proved that she had sold it to Frank, while treating him like a sucker and subjecting him to every form of ridicule.Frank, however, remained calm and reasonable, only for Gina to snap at him, calling him and her own daughter pigs.And the evidence was solid—the recording remained proof no matter how much anyone would argue against it.With a thud, Bob was on his knees right then, his lips shuddering as he turned toward Helen. "Ms. Lane, we…""It's alright, I understand—you
"Why are you pretending, Cindy? You're the one who thought of this whole thing! If you weren't so greedy and intent on getting payback on Helen all at once, you'd never be here! And now you're trying to run?! Well, it's too late!"As soon Peter saw that Cindy was ready to flee, he caught her immediately and bellowed furiously, "Look at this one, everyone! She's the mastermind—we were all gaslighted into doing this!"Seeing that everyone's frag was directed toward her right then, Cindy was flustered and turned to slap Peter right then."You prick!" she snapped. "You ran away as soon as you conned Aunt Gina, and you would never have come back if that land lot's value didn't skyrocket and Kit Jameson didn't force you! Well, understand this—we lose nothing even if we gave up on that land, but you'd be dead if you don't get it back soon!""You slapped me?!" Peter bellowed back and wrestled Cindy as everyone watched, chivalry hardly a concern to him just then.In turn, Cindy clawed at h
Still, Frank could only hope that Gina would turn over a new leaf.He would not expect Gina to become a saintess, but she could at least stop causing trouble for Helen and leaving her hurt.Nodding, he sighed exasperatedly. "I will.""Hmph."On the other hand, Cindy said nothing, merely snorting with a look of disappointment before turning to leave with Gina.Peter tried to do the same, but Frank caught him by the back of his collar. "Did I tell you to leave?"His icy, murderous tone left Peter's expression alternating from surprise to terror, until he finally tried to force a smile. "Bro—"Frank slapped him across the face even before he could finish, leaving him seeing stars even as he was sent flying and rolling across the floor.His cheek swelled with deep bruising right then, and he sat up when he came to his senses."No, wait… Frank, please don't—"Still, fear showed in his eyes again as Frank advanced on him and tried to flee, but only for Frank to catch him again."Y
On the other hand, Peter was at once petrified.He knew that Frank was a terrific martial artist, but Zomber Tower—Zomber Group's office building—was a nest of vipers… it was the Blood Wolves' gang base before they split up!Even if there were no one stronger than the Hansen brothers among their ranks, they still had a ton of martial artists.Coupled with the other goons and guts, they numbered up to a thousand strong—they could simply overwhelm Frank with their ranks!Still, Peter gulped as he was afraid to speak up and directly refuse Frank, instead sitting on the floor and shaking his head, making it clear that he did not have the balls."Fine, then fuck off. I don't have to do anything here." Frank chuckled as he turned to leave. "They'll come for you anyway if you don't get that land back for them."Peter was left staring blankly at that and shuddered as he suddenly remembered Kit's savage glare.Frank was right—Peter could even imagine his death if Kit did not get that lan