Simon grabbed a phone and yelled into it. “Smash those loudspeakers now! Cut the livestream too!”“Bam!”A gunshot rang out, and Howard’s voice was abruptly cut off. Then, a group of people rushed into the vehicle, yanked open the doors, and dragged everyone inside out. The livestream suddenly went dark, and Howard’s voice disappeared. He did not get the chance to finish what he was saying, but his words had reached the ears of everyone present and the audience watching online.“Stephen has abandoned Seaside City?”“So has Stephen known everything happening in Seaside City all along?”“Wait, if we piece everything together, that means Seaside City is in this situation because of Stephen!”That realization left everyone shaken. Before they could process what they had just heard, someone online made a shocking discovery.“Look at this video. Stephen has visited Crestwood before!”A mysterious video surfaced online. It was a recording of Stephen leading a team into Crestwood.
Then, he pushed the reporters aside and left.After Stephen left in a hurry, the scene erupted into chaos.“Is he going to abandon Seaside City? Abandon us?”“Was everything he said just a lie?”“Why didn’t he answer the question?”Everyone was doubtful. The moment Stephen left, he hurriedly pulled out his phone to call Simon.Simon had been watching the broadcast, so he knew everything that had happened and even found the situation tricky.Howard had made two major moves. The first was bribing someone to go to the scene and play the recording. Since the scene was broadcast live, many people heard it, and that alone was causing enough trouble.The second was him uploading a video online. The video contained a conversation between Stephen and Dennis, proving that Stephen knew about the situation in Seaside City all along.That video shattered their plan to use a scapegoat! It could even backfire on them and make the consequences more severe!Even though the video was quickly
At the thought of getting Ethan’s help, Stephen instantly perked up.However, after thinking about how the people from the government headquarters had contacted Ethan before for help, Stephen grew disappointed again. “Will he really help?”He was not confident. “Maybe I should just forget about it.”Putting aside whether or not Ethan would help, he felt embarrassed simply asking Ethan for help.He was part of the Quinns, a prominent and influential family from Metropolis, whereas Ethan was just an orphan raised by someone unknown, with no power and background. He was just an ordinary person.If it was revealed that he went to Ethan for help, he would become a laughingstock.“Let’s think of something else. As the saying goes, where there’s a will, there’s a way. There must be something I can do.”Stephen unlocked his phone.Online, the situation between Howard and Stephen was still trending. Many were feeling guilty about Howard. Howard had protected Seaside City for three yea
Stephen wiped the sweat from his forehead, swallowing hard. The situation was way worse than he had expected.Discussions about him were everywhere online, demanding him to come forward and tell the truth.“No. This can’t go on. I have to ask Ethan for help!”Stephen was frightened. He thought he could find a way to solve the problem, but after reading the comments online, he gave up on that idea.He quickly took out his phone and called Simon.The call soon connected.“Dad, I have an idea.” Stephen said, “I’m thinking of asking Ethan for help.”“Ethan?” Simon frowned. “Why Ethan?”Soon, it clicked. The situation started because of Ethan and Howard, so it could be easily resolved if Ethan intervened. The easiest way would be for Ethan to have Howard say that everything was false and was just lies that Dennis and he orchestrated. That way, Stephen would be completely off the hook. Since Howard would never return to the country anyway, there would be no consequences for him.“
All Stephen could do was have his bodyguards chase away the reporters as he quickly boarded his flight.It was dark when he returned to Riveria, and as soon as he stepped out of the airport, he saw Rachel waiting for him outside. Instead of saying anything, he quickly got into the car.When he walked over, he could feel many people watching him. Even from several dozen meters away, he thought he could hear them pointing at him.Stephen did not dare to linger.“Let’s go home.”With that, Rachel drove him back to the villa. Once home, Stephen finally let out a long breath.Rachel handed him a glass of water and asked, “Are you okay, darling?”“I’m fine.”Although that was what Stephen said, he felt bitter inside.George, who was also there, asked, “What’s your plan now?”He, too, felt helpless about the situation in Seaside City. To fix those issues would require a lot of effort.At that moment, he could not help but miss Ethan again. Nothing like that ever happened when Eth
“You should be visiting the doctor instead of coming to me. I can’t do anything about your condition,” Ethan said while putting his book down. He knew about Seaside City and why Stephen came to him. Hence, when he spoke, his words carried two meanings.The first interpretation was literal: Stephen should see a doctor for his cough instead of coming here. The second was more subtle: Stephen needed to learn how to deal with the problems he had caused, rather than seeking help from him. Stephen, unfortunately, did not understand Ethan. His expression turned bitter as he sat down on the couch. “I’m here with good news.” Ethan had a look at his face and said, “Hm. I guess it’s really good news. It explains why you have that look on your face.” “We have decided to let you go,” Stephen said with a cold grunt. Then, he stared at Ethan, hoping to see excitement or gratitude, but all he saw was an expressionless face. “You seem awfully calm knowing that you can leave.” Stephen coul
If Shawn Hill, Eric Morningstar, Brandon North, Dennis Lewis, and Howard Green were already leaving Stephen with no way out, what about the big players in the pool? People like the South Regent wanted to dye the entire province in its own blood. Stephen, who still had no idea how serious the situation had gotten, got up and bellowed, “You know what Howard did. Why can’t you talk to him? Is it that hard for you to help? You know Dennis is a ticking time bomb and what Howard has contributed, yet you say nothing. “You’re actually partially responsible for what happened to Seaside City. Are you really just going to sit back and do nothing?” Stephen took a deep breath to regulate his emotions. “If you’re willing to help, we will give you more money. In fact, you can get more than just money, you can get women and young men—whatever you like!” Money, women, and freedom were the three more tempting things to a man, so Stephen believed Ethan would say yes to him this time. “I tol
“Just go. It’s getting late,” Ethan said. Stephen had no memory of how he left the place. He only regained his senses when he felt the cool mountain breeze on his sweaty face. He turned around for a glance at the mansion. An uncontrollable fear flickered in his eyes before he rushed down the hill. On the way back, he could not help but give his father a call. “I offered him money, women, and freedom, but he rejected all of them. He doesn’t want to help.” Simon gasped when he heard the news of Ethan rejecting the offer. “What? Why did he reject you?” “He said he doesn’t need any of those.” “He doesn’t need any of those?” Simon thought he had heard wrong. A man locked up in a mansion on the mountain had no need for money, women, and freedom? He pondered, but he could not figure it out either. He simply thought Ethan was bluffing. However, Ethan’s rejection made things more difficult for Simon, and he could not think of a better solution for the time being. “Go home