Chapter 25

Callum immediately dropped his smile, his tone turning angry. "Mr. Storey, I respect that you can make Mr. Schmidt treat you with such deference, but asking all the top-tier families here to cut off their own paths is just going too far."

"That's right. Out of respect for Mr. Schmidt, we're willing to apologize and even part with half of our fortunes if needed, but cutting off our own paths is out of the question," Ben scoffed.

"How dare you!" Maddox rebuked them sharply.

Ben responded, "Mr. Schmidt, you're a pillar of Jonesburg, respected by all. Out of respect for you, we're willing to apologize and make amends, even give up half our assets. But his demand for us to sever our own paths is simply too much."

"The head of the Smith family is right—this demand is excessive."

"Indeed, this condition is unacceptable," others echoed.

Myles sneered, "If you refuse to cut off your own paths, then your families have no reason to continue existing."

Ben chuckled darkly. "You sure talk bi