Tom, who was tied to a chair and bleeding from a gunshot wound, was facing Russel, who was seated in another chair. Alexander and Isabel had parked their car a distance away and were approaching Tom's location cautiously, when the sound of the gunshot had halted their advance. Russel, who was seated across from Tom, mocked him for his fall from grace. He spoke of how Tom was once a feared ruler of the underground world but had now become weak and submitted to the White's Group. "You know, I actually heard so many legends about you in the past, how you ruled the underground with an iron fist," Russel said with a sneer. "But now you've become so weak that anybody can deal with you. Your control is loose. And the most annoying part, you submitted to the White's Group." Tom grunted with pain but didn't let Russel's words go unchallenged. "How about you? Submitting to the Forbes family. What's the difference between me and you?" Russel laughed once more as his arrogant demeanor rose. "S
Russel, who had been kicked and severely injured, expressed his fear and pleaded for mercy from Alexander, who seemed to be unfazed by his threats. "I'm a member of the Forbes family, if you harm me, you'll pay," Russel said with fear. Alexander responded with laughter, claiming that the Forbes family would soon fall. "The Forbes family, don't worry, they'll join you soon enough, but before you go, it should be okay for you to know that they will fall. And when they do, their power and influence will crumble." Russel's anxiety escalated seeing Alexander not bothered, and he decided to offer Alexander money to save his own life. "How about I give you three million? That can make people stop seeing you as a live-in son-in-law. Is that enough for you to let me go?" Alexander chuckled and shook his head, then held out his hand and extended five fingers. "You, you want five million?" Russel asked, his voice trembling. "No, you're wrong, I want five billion," Alexander replied with a my
As night fell and the next day quickly rose, the public was largely unaffected by the news of Russel's death and the changes in the underground world. The Greece family's influence in the government allowed Alexander to maintain a sense of control, despite the shift in power. However, for the Forbes family, who were the ones behind Russel's activities, the situation was different. The Forbes family was based in the South of Fairview, and the situation had significant implications for them. In the living room of the Forbes family's mansion, a young man named Xavier sat on a sofa, scrolling through his phone. He was confident and focused, with an air of determination that seemed to radiate from him. Across from him sat Damien Forbes, the butler and advisor of the Forbes family. Despite his advanced age, Damien was sharp and astute, with a wealth of experience and knowledge. "Young master Xavier," said Damien, breaking the silence. "We have lost the foundation we built for the undergrou
"Because you need this money." Alexander spoke, then he stood up and walked behind them.He continued, "It's no secret that you both are in deep financial trouble. Your mining company owes a whopping six hundred and fifty million dollars, which is a huge sum of money, that is even after paying a significant amount. Even if the Forbes family continues to support you, it won't be enough to repay the entire debt. On top of that, neodymium mining is a difficult business, and prices tend to fluctuate. You're also overpriced compared to your competitors, so you're at a disadvantage."The two men were surprised by Alexander's knowledge of their financial situation, and one of them acknowledged it, "You seem to have done your homework."Alexander replied confidently, "Yes, I have. I like to stay in form." He smiled and continued, "And I know that if you fail to pay off your debt, you risk losing your mining company as well."The two men fell silent, but Alexander continued to explain the situa
At the break of dawn, the Johnson family's ancestral home was alive with excitement and anticipation. Ever since the expulsion of Alexander, the family had experienced a newfound sense of liberation and had even begun receiving more favors from acquaintances who wanted to curry their favor as well due to their affiliation with the Blackwell family. People also knew the Blackwell family was being backed by one of the top five families in Fairview.As the family prepared for Grandpa Johnson's birthday celebration, Emily, her sister, and mother were given a more comfortable place to stay in the ancestral home. The entire household was bustling with activity as preparations for the festivities were underway.In her room, Emily was busy getting dressed up and applying makeup for the occasion. Ethan had promised her a small wedding celebration during the festivities, before they held the main wedding.Meanwhile, Ethan himself was engaging in questionable behavior. He was caught in bed with t
Daniel Blackwell's attention was captivated as he listened intently to the voice on the other end of the phone, a growing sense of unease enveloping his heart. "Master, I'm afraid things have taken a turn for the worse. Our stock market has plummeted drastically, leaving us in dire straits. Government agencies have shut down our business, citing ongoing investigations. Even the banks are pressuring us relentlessly to repay our loans," the voice trembled with anxiety.A brief flicker of concern passed across Daniel's face, betraying the gravity of the situation. However, mindful of his public image, he swiftly regained his composure, his features returning to an air of calm detachment. He replied to the alarming news as though it were a trivial matter, his tone dismissive, "Deal with it."The person on the other end of the line was about to speak, his voice filled with urgency, "Master, I don't know if we can—"Before he could finish their sentence, Daniel abruptly ended the call, maint
With the tumultuous events surrounding the Blackwell family finally settled, Arthur couldn't help but wear a contented smile as he turned his gaze towards Grandpa Johnson. "Shall we proceed inside, or would you prefer that we linger out here?" he asked politely.Grandpa Johnson, still somewhat stunned by the recent turn of events, swiftly regained his composure. "Certainly not, please do come in," he replied, leading the group inside.It became evident that Grandpa Johnson held little concern for the fate of the Blackwell family, as he now had someone even more influential in his corner. Such was the nature of the Johnson family, known for their self-centeredness and self-interest.Meanwhile, Emily, who had remained secluded in her room, felt a profound sense of sadness upon learning about the misfortune that befell the Blackwell family. After all, she had hoped that her marriage with Ethan would be her ticket to wealth and a higher standing within the Johnson family.However, her des
Up until that moment, Alexander had remained silent, observing the unfolding chaos. However, when he finally chose to break his silence, his words carried a sharp sting that humiliated Emily, and his subsequent utterance served as a chilling proclamation, foretelling the potential destruction he could unleash upon the Johnson family.The impact of Alexander's words was immediate. Without a moment's hesitation, the members of the Johnson family turned on Emily, unleashing a barrage of insults and blame upon her. Their self centered nature knew no bounds as they shamelessly threw her under the bus, devoid of any loyalty or compassion.Deep within his heart, Alexander couldn't help but sneer at the scene playing out before him. Observing Emily's relentless efforts to gain her family's appreciation, only to be denied their support at the slightest misstep, he couldn't help but see her actions as foolish. It was a stark reminder of the opportunities she had missed when she chose to betray