They thought that Cole was just joking because this happens a lot before but then, he would still come to work the next day. However, this time was different. He told Sofia to pack up because they will be moving out. In fact, this was a good thing for him as well, since he's only a slave to his mother, working like a cow but not getting anything in return, he might as well quit.
Cole was like any other employee. Even though they owned the businesses and he's the one managing them, he's only given a monthly salary that a manager's worth. And he also discovered that all businesses were named under Arthur. His mother also prepared several life insurances just in case something happens to her and the beneficiary was Arthur. Just Arthur. In his mother's eyes, he didn't exist as a son to her but a servant instead.