Chapter8:
1112 Words
After Mr. Nicholas passed away, Mrs. Nicholas grew even more resentful of Roger.
Currently, Bernard is a member of the Nicholas Group's Board of Directors, managing assets worth hundreds of millions of USD. He is regarded as a wealthy and famous businessman in Crimson City.
This time, the plan to overthrow Rebecca was orchestrated by Bernard from behind the scenes.
Otherwise, even if Albert exposed Ethan's affair, the Nicholas Group wouldn’t have made such a hasty decision to dismiss Rebecca.
Over the phone, Albert twisted the facts, loudly claiming how the Silver Fork restaurant had wronged him.
After hanging up, Albert regained his confidence, glaring at Ethan: “What kind of lousy restaurant owner are you anyway? In the end, you’re just a freeloader."
"And you have the audacity to parade your mistress around and be a menace to society. Aren’t you bold?"
"If you have the guts, don’t run. My father will send people over soon."
"Let’s see how you’ll handle things then."
"The father of CEO Nicholas is on the Nicholas Group’s Board of Directors and holds considerable power."
"Ethan, it would be wise for you to let us go now. Offend the Nicholas family, and you won't have a good outcome."
"That's right, consider the eight-million-dollar bottle of wine as a tribute to our CEO Nicholas."
"Do you really think you can go up against the Nicholas family?"
The four reporters eagerly chimed in, heaping praise on Nicholas.
Ethan sighed suddenly: “I intended to keep things low-key."
"But if you insist on escalating the situation, then go ahead."
"By the time you regret it, it’ll be too late."
Albert sneered: “Let’s see if you’ll still act arrogant when you're kneeling in front of me begging for forgiveness."
Ethan said nothing more; he didn't want to waste his breath on this group.
A moment later, heavy footsteps echoed from outside, like the sound of soldiers marching, shaking everyone to the core.
Soon after, two rows of black-suited bodyguards entered, each tall, muscular, and exuding an intimidating presence.
As a man dressed in a white suit stepped through the door, both rows of bodyguards bowed in unison and shouted: “Mr. Chester!"
Manager Jake's expression changed instantly upon seeing this man. She bowed deeply and said: “Mr. Chester, what wind brought you here?"
Mr. Chester, originally named Chester Leyton, was a prominent figure in both the underworld and legitimate society in Velvet Taste Town, controlling an area of 100 square kilometers.
Anyone doing business in Velvet Taste Town had to show respect to Mr. Chester, or they wouldn’t be able to continue.
Manager Jake, who had managed the restaurant for years, knew well the power of Mr. Chester, paying millions annually for protection.
Chester glanced at Albert and chuckled: “Albert is the son of an old friend of mine, making him like a nephew to me. I hear you want him to wash dishes here to pay off his debt?"
Sweat dotted Manager Jake's forehead, but she bravely responded: “He consumed a bottle of Balance worth about eight million and didn't have the money to pay."
"I’m simply having him wash dishes to settle the debt, which seems fair."
Chester picked up the empty Balance bottle on the table, examined it, and smiled: “Manager Jake, you've been running a business in Velvet Taste Town for many years, so you should know the rules here."
"This time, as a favor to me, let this matter go."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Chester, but I'm no longer the owner of the Silver Fork restaurant and can't make that decision.” Jake replied. In the past, she would never have dared to disrespect him, but this time, she truly had no authority to decide.
Chester's gaze turned cold: “Everyone knows you're in charge here, Sonia. Are you trying to fool me?"
"Two hours ago, Mr. Wang bought the entire Silver Fork restaurant for three hundred million USD. I’m just a manager now.” Sonia Jake said, stepping back to stand beside Ethan, clearly showing where her loyalties lay.
Chester shifted his attention to 'Mr. Wang' standing in the corner. He observed that this 'Mr. Wang' was slightly thin, looking quite ordinary.
However, Chester didn't care. Countless people had bowed down before him; as the saying goes: “Even the strong can’t contend against local power."
Chester spoke arrogantly: “Consider this bottle of wine an investment for your first business in Velvet Taste Town, a gift to show respect to me. How about that?"
Ethan sighed: “I’m not in the habit of giving gifts."
"And besides, you think you deserve a gift from me?"
Suddenly, twenty of Chester's black-suited men advanced menacingly toward Ethan.
Chester’s pupils narrowed: “Oh? You dare disrespect me?"
At this point, Albert stood up, smugly saying: “Mr. Chester, this man is the worthless son-in-law of our Nicholas family, a pathetic freeloader."
"He actually dares to disrespect you. You must teach him a lesson he’ll never forget, show him Mr. Chester’s power."
Chester suddenly laughed: “A freeloader dares to insult me? Now, this isn’t just about a bottle of Balance."
"I’ll give you a chance to live—kneel and apologize, and compensate with a new bottle of Balance."
"Then this matter will be settled."
"If not, you won’t live to see tomorrow."
Albert, emboldened, taunted: “Ethan, are you deaf? Mr. Chester told you to kneel and apologize and to compensate for the bottle of Balance. Do it now, or do you have a death wish?"
Albert seemed to have turned the situation around.
Sonia, tense and about to step forward to mediate, was stopped by Ethan, who calmly said: “And now even the stray dogs in Velvet Taste Town dare to bark at me? Has the world turned upside down?"
Rain whispered in Ethan's ear: “They’ve arrived!"
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed once more, and a group of black-suited bodyguards charged in, swiftly knocking out Mr. Chester's twenty men.
Even among bodyguards, there’s a difference in caliber.
Chester bellowed: “You’ve got some nerve, daring to lay a hand on my men. Have you lost your minds?"
Just then, an elderly man dressed in a long cloak entered.
Chester froze, his eyes widening in shock, a chill running down his spine.
He knew that the old man in the long cloak was Dallas Valdez, the one who controlled all the entertainment venues and the underworld in Whispering District. Under his command were hundreds of people, and his assets were worth over a billion.
Normally, it was harder for Chester to meet him than to reach the heavens!
- Writer
