On the third morning, people from both the Williams and Sonnex families arrived. Dozens of cars formed a grand procession.Initially, the villagers assumed they were Gavin's friends, but only when they stepped out of the cars did they realize they were actually Eric's friends.After the group buried Alyssa's ashes, the police took Richard, Jared, and Kayden into custody. Despite compensating Blake, they still faced legal consequences for their involvement in the car accidents. Allowing them to attend the funeral and address matters was a gesture of leniency by the authorities.Around noon, after Eric gave Hank another carton of cigarettes, he returned to the city. He had no intention of interfering with Delilah's situation, preferring to let the police handle it.-Back in the city, Sylvia withdrew 30,000 dollars in cash.Blake took out his bank card and checked his account. The total sum amounted to 180,000 dollars, precisely the compensation Gavin and Jared had agreed upon. Out
The harmony within the Williams family wasn't just idle talk. When Sylvia returned to her job, Sylvester stepped down from his position as the company's interim CEO, demonstrating the Williams' deep affection for her.If Sylvia wished, she could even spend the entire wealth of William Corp. without any opposition from the family.However, this scenario was unlikely. Sylvia was highly capable in the business world."Sylvester, has Lucas been visiting lately?" Sylvia asked.Sylvester nodded. "He's been coming almost every day. He's expressed interest in collaborating with us on the development project in the northern part of the city, but I haven't agreed yet."Sylvester had attempted to collaborate with the Pettersons in Dortmund the previous year, but they had declined. He was merely returning the favor.Judging by Lucas' behavior, Sylvester suspected the Pettersons aimed to gain a foothold in Salt City's business world. However, the Williams and Sonnexs families primarily domina
Eric believed that, as a technical reserve, they needed to invest some money. If the country introduced policies to support such initiatives, Innova might have a chance to shift from an equipment installation and commissioning firm to an equipment manufacturer.They had to take a risk to grab a piece of the pie.Andy agreed. At present, Innova was occupied with projects for Williams Corp. and Sonnex Corp. Once those were finished, many employees would have nothing to do. Starting a new project at that point seemed wise. They wouldn't know if it could succeed if they didn't try.In terms of equipment performance, algorithms were just as important as the chips used. High-quality chips were available locally. If they could optimize algorithms on a large scale, their products might rival those of international giants.Of course, Eric couldn't do it alone. He needed a team.-In the evening.After returning to the Rosewood Estate and having dinner, Eric went to his study to work on t
"Focus on your work!" Sylvia said, playfully punching Eric before running away. Eric raised an eyebrow. Sylvia's reaction hinted that his dream would come true tonight.Despite the importance of work, Sylvia held greater significance. After saving his files, he joined her in the living room."Go shower first," Sylvia suggested.Eric grinned. He used to take ten minutes to shower, but now it only took two.Upon emerging, Sylvia had already changed into workout clothes."Why are you wearing that?" Eric scratched his head.Sylvia beckoned playfully. "I've told you, you have to defeat me first."Eric was puzzled. Sylvia couldn't match his martial arts skills, so he didn't understand her persistence."Come on!" Sylvia urged seductively, luring him in.Eric couldn't resist any longer. His martial arts prowess far surpassed Sylvia's, and he easily pinned her down on the couch.Sylvia gazed at him, her eyes filled with allure. "Mr. Johnson, let me be a part of your life for years t
Tiger finally agreed to meet with Lucas. He took a sip of his tea and asked, "Mr. Petterson, why are you here after trying to meet me so many times?"Lucas had attempted to meet Tiger several times but was consistently ignored. Despite claiming to be the young heir of the Pettersons in Dortmund, Tiger seemed uninterested in their affairs. It was only today that he found some free time and decided to see what Lucas wanted.Tiger didn't even request tea for Lucas.Lucas smiled and said, "Mr. Kirkby, I've come to discuss something very important.""Go ahead," Tiger replied, not lifting his gaze.Lucas continued. "Mr. Kirkby, you're the top figure in Salt City's underworld. But with the recent crackdowns, I imagine life hasn't been easy for you."Tiger put down his teacup.It was true that the crackdowns had made life challenging for their circle. Some of his associates had even gone legit. As for Tiger, he did have some business assets, but they weren't substantial."Get to the
"Mr. Kirkby!" When Tiger gave the order to leave, Lucas began to feel uneasy. "I know you're into underground fighting. Your two fighters got beaten. Don't you want to get back on top?"Tiger froze. It was true that Eric had injured two of his fighters, and one was still recovering.Seeing Tiger's silence, Lucas felt hopeful. He seemed to have struck a chord with Tiger.As the leader of Salt City's underworld, Tiger couldn't stand his fighters being defeated. Losing money was one thing, but losing respect was even worse.Tiger finally spoke. "Can you provide me with better fighters?""Yes!" Lucas nodded eagerly. "The Pettersons invest millions annually in training fighters. They might not match King City's powerhouses, but they're quite capable. I have a fighter with King City experience."Tiger leaned back. He had spent years grooming fighters, and the two injured fighters were his best. However, they weren't qualified for underground fights in King City. He knew formidable figh
Tiger confirmed the time and location, then asked Big Sis to pass the message to Eric. They were meeting at Tiger's upscale place, Aqua Oasis, which stayed open during the day.Upon arrival, Eric told the waiter why he was there. The waiter quickly took him inside, showing that Tiger had made arrangements.Shortly after, the waiter led Eric to a hot spring area, where Tiger relaxed in a pool, surrounded by two beautiful women.The waiter whispered to Tiger, "Mr. Kirkby, the guest is here! He's alone!"Tiger turned to Eric with a smile. "I thought you might not show up or would bring others. Your courage reminds me of my youth!"He clapped, and a group of stunning women in bikinis approached.Eric might have been tempted in the past, but things had changed. After enjoying fine food, returning to his old ways was unappealing. However, Tiger's lifestyle was undeniably luxurious.Tiger pointed to the women. "Choose a few you like. They'll take care of you!"Eric replied, "Mr. Kirkb
Jasmine had taken a bold risk by placing her hopes on Eric in such a situation. If Eric had claimed not to know her, she would have faced a terrible fate. Yet, she had gambled right this time.Regaining his composure, Tiger said, "Brook is your brother-in-law, and you'd eventually hear about these things from him. Let me give you a quick rundown for now."In the underworld, apart from me, there are other influential figures, like Big Sis. While Big Sis and Brook's methods may not be as ruthless, their actions aren't very merciful either. Many others are even less forgiving."Many of the girls in my club are brought here by them. Every year, I provide them with money. These girls get replaced annually, and after leaving my place, they end up as valuable assets for other establishments. Still, their lives don't get any better."Eric understood. Beneath the glamorous facade, a dirty business thrived. Despite efforts to crack down on it for years, these illicit activities persisted due