C5 The Members of the Evans Family Were in a Panic

At York City's premier hospital...

Miron hastened to room 608.

"Miron, with such a crisis at home, how could you disappear without a word?" Gianna rose to her feet, her reprimand immediate.

"Look at what's happened to us—all because you made enemies!" Gianna complained bitterly, her dissatisfaction clear.

Miron stayed quiet, his gaze drawn to the hospital bed where his father-in-law, Alexander Evans, lay with a troubled look, his face marred by purple bruises and his hands bandaged.

Beside the bed, Julietta sat, her expression worn and weary.

"Father-in-law, Julietta, are you badly hurt?" Miron inquired, concern lacing his voice.

"Just some minor cuts and bruises. Nothing major," Alexander assured him.

Julietta added, "I'm okay. Dad got into an argument with the workers and was assaulted. Thankfully, it's just superficial injuries."

Miron's anger simmered, but he composed himself and asked, "What exactly unfolded at the factory today?"

Julietta sighed heavily, reluctant to delve into the details.

"Today, Julietta's dad went to handle some issues at the factory. Somehow, Mason Evans acquired all the factory's debts, making him the largest creditor. He stirred up the workers to strip the factory of its equipment. When Julietta's dad tried to intervene, he was attacked by two workers," Gianna explained slowly. "Julietta and I confronted Mason Evans, but he just scoffed at us. Now, they've forcibly taken all the factory's equipment."

"The factory's done for. Even our home is about to be torn down!" Gianna's voice rose with emotion, her distress palpable. "They're so cruel! Miron, you've brought disaster upon our family!"

A chill flickered in Miron's eyes. Clearly, Mason Evans had planned his vicious move carefully—not only had he brought down Julietta's family's jewelry factory, their economic lifeline, but he had also managed to seal off their home.

This time, it seemed Mason Evans was hell-bent on driving Julietta and her family to desperation.

"The mortgage on the house and the factory debts are all in Mason's clutches now. He's demanding you and Julietta divorce, and I've consented. If you have any sense of decency left, just sign the papers," Gianna stated without a shred of sympathy.

"Forget it!" Alexander Evans, bedridden, spoke with a heavy voice. "Gianna, it's my fault for not being strong enough to hold our family together. Don't lay the blame on him anymore."

"My nephew is going to such extremes just to mock our family," Alexander continued more calmly. "This time, let's consider what Julietta wants. If it comes down to it, we can let go of the jewelry factory and the house, leave York City, and live without having to kowtow to them."

Gianna fell silent at his words.

"Look at this, the whole family gathered. Miron, you good-for-nothing, finally brave enough to show your face?" came a taunting voice from outside.

Mason had arrived, sporting sunglasses and a garish suit, flanked by two bodyguards.

"How have you pondered my proposal? Aunt Gianna, Uncle Alexander?" Mason drawled, his tone dripping with provocation.

"I'm only trying to look out for your family. Just look at Miron, too scared to even face the fallout at the factory," Mason said, his expression exaggerated. "If I hadn't stepped in today, Uncle Alexander, those workers would've torn you apart, wouldn't they?"

"Shut your mouth! You're the one behind all this trouble, so don't stand there acting all disgusted, you phony!" Julietta snapped back, her face contorted with revulsion.

Mason's smug demeanor was more than anyone could stand.

"You really have no gratitude," Mason sighed. "I did a good deed by consolidating all of Uncle Alexander's debts, isn't that protecting him? If it were up to someone else, Uncle Alexander, you'd be in far worse shape!"

"I'm just trying to find a solution for you all," Mason said soothingly. "Don't worry, Julietta. You won't be without options. The youngest Black brother is a close friend of mine, and he's never stopped thinking about you. I'll make sure to arrange a perfect match for you both."

"Get out!" Julietta's voice thundered, her delicate frame shaking with rage, unable to stomach the insult.

"Get out?" Mason chuckled. "Uncle, don't say I never gave your family a chance. You've got to learn to appreciate it. Tomorrow, I'll release the creditor's rights. Then, your family won't just lose everything; you'll also be hounded by debt collectors."

"What are you blabbering about? Once my dad mortgages the jewelry factory and the house, our debts will be cleared. What other debts could there possibly be?" Julietta demanded.

"You're thinking too simply," Mason said, smirking smugly. "That rundown jewelry factory? The equipment's all busted, not worth a dime. It's nowhere near enough to cover your debts. Plus, there's the overdue rent for the premises. If that's not sorted out, Uncle could even be charged with contract fraud and end up behind bars."

Julietta's lips were clenched so tightly they might bleed, her eyes flashing with murderous intent.

This was a typical business tactic. With the Evans family's wealth and power, they had myriad ways to push a struggling jewelry factory to the brink of bankruptcy.

"Think it over. Do you really not want to come and beg me?" Mason gloated, relishing the scene before him.

"Have you said enough? If so, then get lost!"

Miron faced Mason with an impassive gaze.

"You good-for-nothing, you dare to tell me to leave?" Mason's face contorted with anger as he stared down Miron.

Miron had always been meek within the Evans household, but Mason hadn't expected him to stand up to him today.

"You've got some nerve!" Mason exploded, swinging his palm toward Miron's face.

*Crack!*

In a swift move, Miron caught Mason's wrist, twisting it mercilessly.

"Ugh! Aghhh!"

Mason's scream was agonizing, like a pig under the knife. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he looked at Miron, disbelief written all over his face.

Half-kneeling before Miron, Mason shook violently, wracked with excruciating pain.

Miron released a cold snort and let go of Mason Evans's wrist.

*Thud!*

Mason's body collapsed to the ground, his arm spasming wildly, the pain making him shudder uncontrollably.

"You dare lay a hand on me, Miron?!" Mason glared at him with venomous eyes. "You'll rue the day you were born!"

"Your family's done for! Nobody can save you now!" Mason declared, his voice icy as he rose to his feet.

"I gave you an opportunity, and you squandered it. Prepare to watch your family fall apart!"

With his threats hanging in the air, Mason stormed off, visibly shaken and furious.

"Miron, do you realize the gravity of this? Attacking Mason Evans!" Gianna cried out in despair. "What are we going to do now? You're going to be the death of us!"

"Acting rashly solves nothing. Violence isn't the answer," Julietta chimed in calmly.

"Don't worry, I've got this under control," Miron assured them, his tone even. "Mason Evans isn't a threat."

"Oh really? And just how do you plan to handle it?" Gianna retorted with a scoff. "What makes you think you can..."

Her words trailed off as Miron turned a steely gaze upon her, prompting an involuntary shiver. She sensed a change in him, his eyes sharper than before, and she bit back the rest of her reprimand.

Miron's gaze softened as he looked at Julietta.

"Trust me, I'm here for you."

Julietta felt an unexpected warmth in her heart, a newfound sense of security in Miron's presence.

"Okay," she acknowledged with a nod.

...

Meanwhile, elsewhere in York City.

At the Evans Jewelry Group's Boyden Building, the atmosphere was tense. The twenty-story building was abuzz with activity, each level teeming with employees rushing about, their faces etched with urgency, signaling that something significant was underway.

On the twenty-third floor, the conference hall was abuzz.

The Evans Group Board of Directors convened for an emergency meeting.

More than twenty individuals took their places around the expansive conference table, representing the most affluent and influential members of the Evans family in York City.

"What's going on? How did the corporation suddenly spiral into such chaos?"

"Big brother, what happened? I was in the middle of a golf game when I got bombarded with calls from our major clients, all wanting to sever ties with our group!"

"With the company in such turmoil, did we cross someone? There's no other explanation for this sudden collapse!"

The room was filled with a flurry of anxious voices as shareholders expressed their concern, their impatience palpable.

*Cough! Cough!*

Henry Evans, the patriarch of the Evans family and the CEO of the Evans Group, cleared his throat to command silence.

"Let's all calm down and focus on the matter at hand. We will find a solution," he said, his face etched with concern. Under his leadership, the Evans Group had enjoyed uninterrupted success—this crisis was unprecedented.

The room fell silent, all eyes on Henry, awaiting his direction.

"Mr. Evans, I have the data you requested."

A young female secretary with glasses entered, carrying a stack of important documents.

"Let's hear it. Just how many large and long-standing clients have we lost today?" Henry asked, his voice tinged with resignation, uncertain of the full extent of the group's losses.

The secretary opened the documents and reported, "Mr. Evans, the stats show that our stock has nosedived over 30% today alone, triggering a crash. This has caused a wave of panic among our minor shareholders, many of whom are demanding to cash out."

"Additionally, our jewelry distribution networks across numerous prefectural cities have been severed. We've been systematically forced out of contracts."

"And to compound matters, over twenty renowned companies in the East Province's jewelry sector, along with the Association of Jewelry Commerce and the General Chamber of Commerce, have all collectively declared an end to their partnerships with Evans Jewelry Group..."

"Our group is currently grappling with a severe crisis of trust..."

The young female secretary trailed off, her voice tapering into silence. She couldn't bring herself to articulate the grim reality that the group was, without a doubt, on the brink of collapse.