The next morning, Hoyt was chowing down on the breakfast Bennet had snagged for them. "Bennet, you're a lifesaver. Just let me get back on my feet, and I'll make it up to you, promise."Bennet just chuckled and kept mum.Xoan limped in, snagged a fry, and plopped down at the computer, face blank as a slate.Hoyt dabbed at his mouth and frowned. "What's with the limp?"Bennet quirked an eyebrow. "Took a few hits."Boom!Hoyt slammed his hand on the table. "Who's got the nerve to mess with you? Point them out—I'll go give them a taste of their own medicine!"Xoan just snorted and kept his eyes on the screen.Bennet took a lazy drag on his cigarette and murmured, "I'd owe you one."The tinkling of wind chimes filled the room as Madeline strolled in, breakfast bag in hand.Madeline walked in to find everyone already digging into their food. She arched an eyebrow and chuckled."Looks like I'm fashionably late."Trevon had been adamant about walking her out, and it took some fanc
"Half the clothes the Sanders Group sells are just recycled second-hand gear. Oh, and remember that orphanage? Some of their 'new' stock came straight from there."The dye they were using was total junk. It was supposed to be top-notch, eco-friendly stuff, but it was all just nasty chemicals. I only swapped in the good stuff after I caught them red-handed."...Hoyt spilled the beans, nearly blowing the lid off Jasperia Textiles and the Sanders Group's shady dealings.Once he was done, he strutted off, munching on a fry.Bennet watched him go, muttering, "Greedy fat cats."They did not give a hoot about regular folks.Xoan scratched his head. "Madeline, you'd think with the Sanders Group using such crummy materials, there'd be some kind of scandal. How come I've never seen anything about it online?"Madeline smirked. "Cilix is a pro at sprucing up his and the Sanders Group's image. You think he'd let any dirt hit the web?""Let's just blast this info online, show everyone what
The villa district was usually a haven of peace, home to Redenbaugh City's elite. The only break in the silence was the occasional roar of a luxury car's engine.However, the quiet was shattered by a sudden outburst of wailing."That cursed Cilix! Your dad's long gone, and your mom's no help. If it weren't for the Lowe family throwing you a bone every now and then, you and your mom would've been out on the streets!""Now, you've scored big time and not only ditched us, but you go and accuse my boy of embezzlement!""He's your brother-in-law, after all!""You owe us an explanation today, or else... We'll take you on, old bones and all!"...Skylar was shaken up that morning, the sight of blood after a coughing fit sending her racing to the hospital.Then, without the test results, her anxiety was through the roof.She could not even bring herself to visit Lydia. She lay in bed with tears streaming down her face.Annoyed by the commotion outside, she snapped at Lacee. "What's a
Victor had thrown caution to the wind."Forget it, Cilix has gotten too big for his britches, and I'm just an old-timer he probably doesn't even think about anymore. I'm going to call him out in front of everyone today and get some answers."Does Cilix even remember the huge favor he owes to the village? Remember how he used to knock on our doors, begging for food? He promised he would make it up to us!"We didn't even ask for much, just helped him out with a meal. Then, he talked about starting a factory to make clothes. We were there for him, whether he needed manpower or money, weren't we?"However, what did he do? As soon as his company got off the ground, he shut the factory down. We, the people of the Lowe Clan Village, have poured our hearts into that factory for over twenty years. Now, he's just going to close it and leave us all high and dry?"Is this the thanks we get?"The other villagers chimed in."Exactly!""We want Cilix to face us! He owes us an explanation toda
Rosie did not even pause to think before she tried to slap Cilix. However, that slap did not land as easily as it would have on her own daughter.A bodyguard by Cilix's side caught her hand mid-air.Rosie's eyebrows shot up as she snapped, "You jerk! Blocking your own mother-in-law? Hey, everyone, check this out! Cilix here, after decking his brother-in-law, is going after his mother-in-law!"Cilix furrowed his brow, staying silent.A harsh voice cut through from behind him. "Isn't this enough drama for one day?"Rosie jumped, looking up to see a stern, serious face staring down at her. "Kelvin?"Kelvin let out a heavy hum, his eyes scanning the crowd. "Got nothing better to do than stir up trouble, huh?"Rosie tried to defend herself. "Cilix is the one who shut down our village factory! We just want some answers."Kelvin scoffed, "Answers? Looks to me like you're just trying to bail out your useless son!""I—""That's enough!" Kelvin cut her off, turning to the rest."I kno
Skylar went white as a sheet, nearly passing out with frustration.However, Cilix played along and said, "The missus hasn't been feeling great. She's got a bit of a short fuse. You know how it is, getting a little headstrong with family. Just a big misunderstanding."Skylar bit back her anger and took the fall.Dustin steadied Kelvin as they walked into the house. The folks from the Lowe Clan Village exchanged looks and trailed into the mansion.Just like that, Cilix had smoothed over the whole uproar with a mix of shrugging it off and soothing words.Madeline watched from afar, feeling a bit powerless. "These little spats don't seem to faze Cilix one bit."Hoyt's face was stormy, and he kept silent.He had not seen it coming—Cilix had already taken care of the villagers, giving them a way to earn their keep.They had only been kicking up a fuss because they were out of options, but since Cilix had thrown them a lifeline, who would want to bite the hand that fed them?However,
The question he asked was deeply sarcastic.How could a conscientious entrepreneur ever do something so heartless?Dumping wastewater into an underground river?It was not just any dirty water—it was the nasty kind from making clothes, full of chemicals. If someone had drank from it, they could have died.At first, there were not many reporters hanging around the villa.It was a fancy neighborhood, full of big shots. No one wanted to step on the wrong toes.However, Cilix had his people bring over the reporters from the company's basement.Once the media got wind of it, they all came running. Every major news outlet in Redenbaugh City was on the scene.After they heard the reporter and saw the photos and reports he was waving around, almost everyone was buying it. They started giving Cilix the side-eye, mixed with a good dose of anger.Water was everything. They could not live without it.There was Cilix, playing with people's lives like it was some kind of joke.He was alwa
However, it was not just about digging up the dirt. He had to stop that journalist, Colton Swanson, from Redenbaugh City TV, and snatch those papers right out of his hands.Yancy rang up with the lowdown. "That reporter, Colton Swanson. He's a newbie, only two years in. Here's the kicker—his old man's the big boss at the provincial police department."No bribes, no bullying.Cilix's head pounded like a drum. "Get PR on a game plan, stat."The reporter was his problem to deal with, face to face."Got it," Yancy said, and just before the line went dead, she could not help but add, "Hey, keep your cool, alright? Your health comes first."Cilix felt a flicker of warmth inside, and his face relaxed as he agreed, "Okay."Skylar caught the change in his expression and felt a heavy weight settle in her chest.She took a few deep breaths before knocking on the door. "Mr. Kelvin Lowe and the village chief are waiting for you."Cilix ignored her completely, brushing past her to see his v