Dylan gasped in amazement and cried, "Ethan, the youngster is strikingly similar to you. When did you have your daughter? "You have never mentioned anything about her before!"
"Don't spout nonsense." Ethan was somewhat at a lost. It was the first time in his life that a child hugged his leg and called him 'Daddy'.
After a minute of thought, he bent down, gently stroked the small girl's hair, and said softly, "I am not your father, love. You must be confused. Were you separated from your parents? Let us find them together."
Hearing this, the small girl looked at Ethan in disbelief and began weeping loudly. "Daddy, you are a nasty guy. "You don't want me anymore."
Ethan was perplexed and at a lost.
After great patience and mild persuasion, he convinced her to accompany him to the mall's service counter. Ethan informed the workers about the lost small kid and gave a lengthy explanation before leaving the mall.
When he departed, the little child was crying her eyes out, almost making Ethan give in.
Unfortunately, Ethan had serious responsibilities to attend to. Otherwise, he would have accompanied her until her parents came.
Soon after they left, a woman rushed to the mall's service counter and hugged the weeping little girl, who was sad.
"Sophia, I'm sorry I'm late…"
There was still some terror within her.
She had intended to make a quick trip to the restroom, but she was suddenly stopped by a difficult client who kept her waiting for an extended period of time before leaving.
Over the years, she had cherished her daughter's life as if it were her own. She was terrified at the prospect of anything bad happening to her daughter.
She didn't dare to think about it anymore.
"Mommy, I just saw Daddy." He said that I had confused him for someone else.How could I be mistaken? "He was Daddy," the girl cried, her lips pursed and on the edge of tears.
'What?!" The woman's body abruptly stiffened.
…..
Outside the mall, a procession of eight towering, imposing bodyguards wearing sleek suits approached Ethan and came to a standstill in front of him.
All eyes were on them.
Ethan lifted his eyebrows while remaining still.
"Mr. Knight." The bodyguards parted to reveal an elderly man and a middle-aged man behind them.
The elderly gentleman, whose hair and beard had become white with age, appeared to be in his fifties or sixties and dressed impeccably in a neat suit. Regardless of his age, he emanated vitality and intelligence. Beside him was a middle-aged man dressed in subtle yet elegant designer clothing. Their rich appearance was undeniable.
The old man approached Ethan and locked his aging eyes on him. He suddenly bowed to Ethan.
"My name is Samuel Hughes, and I am the Quinn family's chief butler. "I've come to accompany you back to Washington, D.C.," he said in a polite tone.
Ethan's nonchalant stare abruptly sharpened.
What about the Quinns? Are you taking me back to DC? This must be the best joke ever!
His grin turned into a nasty scowl. "It's quite surprising that the illustrious and noble Quinns still have any memory of me," he said with a grumble. "I recollect being kicked out of the Quinn family, along with my mother, by your bunch two decades ago. You people thought I was unworthy of the Quinn name and dared to warn us not to go near DC again, lest we face serious consequences."
"Where in DC are you taking me back? Or have all the Quinns died?
Ethan's voice was filled with the unrelenting hate and anger that he had been concealing for years.
Samuel was speechless.
Ethan's statements were obviously strong and harsh, but he was aware that the Quinns had let him down previously.
He gave a big sigh. "Regardless, many years have gone, and Old Mr. Quinn has aged. He simply wants to spend time with his children and grandchildren. "My last name is Knight, not Quinn."
Ethan continued unwaveringly, "If that's all you have to say to me, excuse me, but I won't entertain you."
Ethan turned to leave, but Samuel quickly stopped him. "Mr. Ethan, wait a minute!"
He took a PIN-locked briefcase from the middle-aged man behind him and respectfully presented it to Ethan with both hands.
"This is all of the information and the equity transfer letter from Orion Industries, which rightfully belonged to your mother," Samuel said calmly, handing over the documents. "It's only fitting that you take over control of its operations. Consider it compensation from the Quinns."
"Compensation?" Ethan smiled without mirth. "My mother has owned Orion Industries since its inception. The Quinns stole it from her and took control. Even if you hadn't returned it, I'd have taken it back on my own terms!"
"You grabbed someone else's asset and now claim to be generous by handing it to me. Are you expecting me to be grateful? "How audacious!" Ethan responded, his tone dripping with hate. "Let me be clear: don't underestimate me, and don't provoke me again. Otherwise, I will dismantle your family!"
Ethan shoved the bodyguards aside and escaped with the briefcase.
Samuel sighed and shook his head as he stared at his taut back. "Ah, he's still as hot-tempered as ever."
Samuel Hughes, the Quinn family's chief butler, was fully aware that the Quinns had gone overboard back then. However, the situation in Washington DC had deteriorated, and he was forced to devise a strategy to mend Ethan's relationship with the Quinns.
Samuel touched the middle-aged man on the shoulder. "Damien Monroe, you are now one of the most well-known figures in Emerald Coast County. You should take action on Mr. Knight."
The middle-aged man nodded respectfully. "Thanks to you and the Quinn family, I've gotten to where I am now. It is only right for me to do this. Do not worry. I'll try my best to assist Mr. Quinn.
If anyone knew the middle-aged man and saw him being kind and respectful to Samuel, they would have been astounded.
Because he was Damien Monroe, Emerald Coast County's wealthiest man and a business magnate with businesses in multiple states!