Timothy and Jacob's faces fell when they heard that.Indeed, no one dared to accept Austin's apology.Moreover, Austin didn't do anything wrong.He arrived right on time, so he was clearly right.Instead, it seemed like Itijah was pressuring Austin.Sitting in the main seat, Itijah turned pale.He wanted to showcase the power and influence of the Emersons through this meal.Even in this corner of the city, he could summon all the local bigwigs with a wave of his hand.In his eyes, Austin would never have the chance to meet such influential figures.Though Dominion Properties was rising rapidly in the city, it still couldn't catch Itijah's attention.In his opinion, connections were far more important than money.Yet, Austin was behaving like a rebellious young man.His plan was completely ruined.Bump!Fuming with anger, Itijah slammed his cane forcefully against the ground."Jacob..." he said through gritted teeth.Jacob's heart skipped a beat. His already livid face t
"Damn it! What a shameless old man!" Austin thought to himself."How dare you?"Itijah trembled with rage. Austin's arrogant remarks hit him like lightning.This meal was supposed to be his stage. It was his opportunity to showcase the power and influence of the Emersons, not to be publicly humiliated by Austin.His face was flushed with anger, and his chest was heaving. Itijah pointed at Timothy. "Do you have any idea who these people are? He is one of the most influential figures in our city!"This guy here is a big shot in the business world!"And he's a luminary in the medical field."…Itijah listed off their impressive credentials through gritted teeth while pointing at them.Consumed by rage, he failed to notice the subtle changes in Timothy and the others' expressions.As the introductions came to an end, Itijah slammed his cane on the ground.He exuded an air of dominance."Where did you get the nerve to act so insolently in front of me on such an occasion?"The E
Silence filled the dining room.It was so quiet one could hear a pin drop.The atmosphere was oddly unsettling.Itijah sat there, feeling lost and bewildered.Samuel's words left him with a sense of confusion and discomfort. He felt his body burning.Despite his status and identity, he couldn't shake off the feelings of frustration.He had considered paying Edward a visit when he learned that Edward was at the Bamboo Parlor.In the blink of an eye, he discovered that Austin was Edward's son-in-law.Cecily Enterprises already overshadowed the Emersons, not to mention the Campbells.What was the point of this meal today?Right then, the other guests stood up one by one. They offered their respects to Itijah before leaving their seats.Without exception, they all apologized to Austin as they approached him. Their attitudes were obviously different from when they bid farewell to Itijah.Soon, the dining room was empty. Jacob was the only one left in the room.Itijah looked a
However, the bodyguards at the door stood firm and blocked Austin's way."Do you have a death wish?"Putting his hands in his pockets, Austin raised an eyebrow.His strong killing intent made the atmosphere turn tense.Aldus stepped forward and pressured the two bodyguards with his towering figure. They grimaced."Move aside!" Aldus roared angrily.The two bodyguards stepped aside simultaneously. Austin smiled and looked back at Itijah. "You may have many people, but they're no match for Aldus alone."His sentence was filled with mockery, sarcasm, and disdain.He didn't come here to succumb to Itijah.Instead, he came to tell Itijah that he wasn't someone to be trifled with or threatened.The best way to treat shameless and domineering individuals was to be even more ruthless and cold-blooded than them.Itijah watched Austin leave with a somber expression, his eyes dark and brooding.Gripping his cane, he trembled slightly. The veins on the back of his hands bulged.He w
Cecily trembled.Her ears turned red.Subconsciously, she took a step aside and asked in surprise, "What is it?"As soon as the words left her mouth, she caught sight of Austin's odd smile.Cecily suddenly snapped out of her daze.Her cheeks flushed crimson in an instant.She muttered angrily, "You jerk, what are you thinking? My parents and uncles are all in there!""I don't see them." Austin chuckled and teasingly brushed Cecily's nose.Cecily's beautiful face turned even redder. Lowering her head in embarrassment, she remained silent.Austin laughed heartily and stopped teasing her. "Let's go. I'll go in and greet your parents. It was indeed quite embarrassing earlier.""You're becoming more and more of a jerk." Cecily stood in place and cast a reproachful glance at Austin as he walked toward the parlor.Aldus, who was walking behind, overheard her words.He chuckled and said, "You can't call Mr. Austin a jerk. He's only joking around with his wife.""Aldus, stop saying
The three men were astonished.Then, Austin continued, "It's true that I am Itijah's grandson, but I will never forget the hardships my mother and I endured for the past 20 years. The Emersons were ruthless. Itijah is planning to use us. My mother and I are no longer associated with them."Though his words were gentle, they carried a strong conviction. Edward and the rest looked even more puzzled.Austin had no intention of staying any longer. With a slight smile and a polite farewell, he rose and left.In the living room, Edward and the two exchanged glances.After a while, Edward suddenly blamed Timothy for everything. "Timothy, you are a local authority figure. Don't you know about Austin's past?"Timothy shook his head in confusion. "Though I am a local authority figure, I didn't know Austin was related to the Emersons."Samuel smiled bitterly. "Edward, don't blame Timothy. Wealthy people like you would prefer to keep your identity a secret, right?"Edward chuckled wryly an
Matt didn't directly answer Austin's question.Instead, he mysteriously handed a bill to Austin."I guarantee you'll be shocked, Austin!"Austin picked up the bill and glanced at it. Then, he calmly placed it back on the table.He looked at the excited Matt with a solemn expression. "So what?"Matt was confused.After a moment of stunned silence, Matt asked in surprise, "Aren't you surprised? Aren't you excited or happy?""I am." Austin nodded calmly.Matt was speechless. Was this how Austin looked like when he was excited and happy?That was odd!Then, Austin leaned back in his chair and calmly said, "This is the usual amount of pocket money my father gives me."Matt was shocked.He felt like he had been struck by lightning.His face fell, and he was at a loss.This sudden display of wealth was too overwhelming.He wondered why he didn't have such a wealthy father.Austin waved his hand. "Matt, I am indeed very excited and happy. But the current success of Dominion Pro
Standing beside the gate of Tetra Club, Timothy watched the two departing cars.Timothy smiled and asked, "Edward, are you satisfied now?" "Absolutely. My son-in-law doesn't like that old man. So, it's best that he's gone."Edward was all smiles. "If he dares to offend my son-in-law again, I'll kick him out of here!" "You're so mean."Timothy chuckled helplessly. "After all, he's the wealthiest man in the capital." Edward smirked playfully. "Do you think I'm unaware of the country's issues just because I've been abroad for years?"After a brief pause, Edward continued, "The Emersons are in trouble now." Timothy smiled but remained silent.After a few seconds, he asked, "When are you going to visit the Campbells?" "Tomorrow."Edward's face was beaming with joy. "My daughter has done me a great favor by marrying someone like Austin. Ezra has assured me that the doors of the Campbells are open to me. The head of their family will personally receive me." "So, your d
Austin never expected that Nancy would come back.As he returned to the Tetra Club, he remained sullen, his eyes dark with unresolved anger.Seeing Austin like this, Cecily felt a pang of sadness.She gently tried to comfort him, "It's all in the past now, isn't it? I'm here with you, and we have our baby on the way.""I can't just let it go," Austin shook his head."The best I can do is not seek revenge against them, but to truly forgive and forget—I can't do that."The actions of Nancy's family were still fresh in his memory.Austin wasn't someone who sought revenge for every slight, but he was far from the kind of person who could simply forgive and forget, moving on with a carefree "Hallelujah."Dahlia's despair as she lay in bed, the arrogance and cruelty of the Welch family…In the eyes of the Welch family, Dahlia's life wasn't worth as much as Harvey's wedding.Even when the time had passed and he was about to finally be happy with Cecily, the Welch family not only dem
After leaving this city, Nancy put in a tremendous amount of effort to "rebirth" herself.Meeting Ethan had shown her a different side of life.While he wasn't part of the uppermost echelons of wealth and power, he had enough. Most importantly, he treated her with the utmost respect.She understood Ethan's background, which made that respect all the more valuable.A man of his stature could have any woman he wanted in his bed the same night.Yet Ethan had shown her incredible patience, making her question whether the rumors about him were true.Tonight, returning to this city was her way of bidding farewell to the past and embracing the future.After all, people need to look forward, don't they?Meanwhile, Ethan was feeling more dejected than he'd ever been.Lying in his luxurious bed in Brook Villa, he couldn't sleep, tossing and turning restlessly.He had hoped to establish a connection with Austin. A figure like him would be incredibly valuable to have on his side.He tho
The river breeze was cool, and the lights reflected on the water flickered softly.The figure in front of them wore a long black coat, standing quietly by the railing. Her fair, delicate profile, partially obscured by a few strands of windblown hair, carried a hint of melancholy."Sir, Mrs. Campbell, is something wrong?" Aldus noticed the change and quickly stepped forward to inquire."Let's go home," Austin suddenly said, his previously cheerful expression now somber, with a touch of disdain.Go home? They had just arrived.Aldus was surprised and quickly followed Austin's gaze. When he saw what Austin was looking at, he immediately understood.Without a word, he turned to leave with Austin.But a soft hand gently grabbed Austin's arm."It's been so many years, aren't you going to say hello?" Cecily asked."I have no desire to greet her," Austin said, his disdain clear and unhidden.Three years of marriage, filled with nothing but pain.Even when Dahlia was gravely ill, Nan
After a busy day, just as Austin was about to finish up, a new invitation appeared on his desk."Who delivered this?" Austin asked."Ethan," Wolf replied.Austin chuckled, didn't bother opening the invitation, and instead tossed it directly into the trash."I've got to get home to Cecily."When he returned to the Bamboo Parlor at Tetra Club, Raquel had already prepared a delicious dinner.The dishes were beautifully presented, with vibrant colors and enticing aromas.After dinner, Austin and Ezra stepped out into the courtyard."Mr. Lockwood, any news from the Campbells about my dad?" Austin asked, the text message from Walter still weighing heavily on his mind.Considering the Campbells' efforts to find Walter, and given their intelligence resources, they should have been some leads by now.But Ezra shook his head. "Nothing, Not a trace.""The Campbells' intelligence network has never been this weak, has it?" Austin frowned, speaking in a low tone.Ezra gave a wry smile. "
"Childhood?"Austin stopped his workout, wiped the sweat from his face, and smiled bitterly.His childhood had been bleak.Only Dahlia had brought some light into the darkness.Seeing Austin's pained smile, Aldus immediately realized his mistake.He quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Sir. I spoke without thinking. You don't need to answer that.""It's fine," Austin replied, gesturing towards a nearby bench, and inviting Aldus to sit with him.Once they were seated, Austin slowly began to speak. "There's not much to tell about my childhood. It was mostly just being called an 'illegitimate child' and living day to day, never knowing where my next meal would come from."If it weren't for my mom fighting tooth and nail to raise me, I'd probably be dead by now."With just a few simple words, he conveyed a world of suffering.Aldus felt a wave of guilt. He had only been trying to find clues from Austin's past that might explain his exceptional combat instincts and incredible physical
Austin's gaze softened as warmth flooded his heart.Who hasn't longed for a light left on just for them in a sea of lights? But in reality, how many actually have that?Cecily did that for him.Given her background, the fact that she went to such lengths truly surprised Austin.In the three years he spent in the past, he had never experienced something like this.His nose tingled with emotion as he pulled Cecily into his arms, speaking softly, "Thank you. Marrying you is the greatest fortune of my life.""Alright, alright, I asked Raquel to prepare breakfast earlier this morning. You go to the dining room, and I'll have her bring it over," Cecily said as she gently slipped out of Austin's embrace, her graceful smile lighting up her eyes."Doesn't Bamboo Parlor have a kitchen?" Austin asked, curious.Cecily gave him a playful look. "The chairs in the living room are so hard, and you spent the whole night on one—how could you have slept well? If Raquel had been clattering around
The room fell into a heavy silence."Deactivating the phone number… was Dad trying to prevent me from tracking his location?" Austin murmured with a frown.Ezra pondered for a moment, his voice low and serious. "Perhaps he was more concerned about someone else tracking him."Austin's eyes widened in realization.Of course—if Walter could send him a message to let him know he was safe, he wouldn't be worried about Austin tracking himDeactivating the phone was likely to prevent others from tracing his location."But who is he trying to avoid?"Ezra shook his head, remaining silent.Having followed Walter for many years, he knew the man's temperament and habits. But this time, he was truly baffled.He couldn't even begin to piece together a clue.Taking a deep breath, Ezra forced a bitter smile. "I'm afraid I'm at a loss this time, sir. There's no sign of anything unusual from the Campbells either."This statement only deepened Austin's confusion.If there were anyone who cou
Austin knocked softly on the door.Almost immediately, he heard the sound of shuffling from inside.Ezra opened the door, his face full of curiosity. "Sir, what's going on?"Austin quickly made a shushing gesture, worried about disturbing Cecily.Then he gently pushed Ezra back into the room."Sorry to bother you so late, Mr. Lockwood," Austin said.Ezra smiled. "It's no trouble at all. The older you get, the less you need. I was just reading."Austin glanced at the book on Ezra's bedside table and couldn't help but feel a bit exasperated.This old rascal!Ezra blushed and quickly shoved the book under his pillow.Austin sat on the bed and pulled up the text message from Walter, showing it to Ezra."I just received this message."When Ezra read the text, his eyes lit up with a sharp gleam, and he was overjoyed. "This is from Mr. Walter!"Austin nodded, his expression serious. "But I've sent several messages back, and there's been no reply. I called twice—once it was immedi
"The underground king of Eastbrook bows down."This news swept through Eastbrook like a storm.Ethan knew that by doing this, he would become the laughingstock of the entire city. But he also knew he had no choice—he had to do it!Even if he became a joke, he would remain the underground king. But if he refused to lower his head, he would end up a dead man.He understood the situation perfectly.In fact, that very night, a message was released from Brook Villa.No one is to compete for the land!This is a clear warning to all real estate companies in Eastbrook. It was also a gesture of goodwill toward Austin.But Austin didn't pay it much mind.If not for Derrick's involvement, he had no idea how Ethan would have responded—but Austin knew his response would have been much tougher.A mere city's underground king? He didn't even compare to the richest man in Basin City or the capital—he wasn't even worthy of carrying their shoes!After leaving Brook Villa, Austin didn't linger