Before Bruce could react, Atreus directly hung up the phone.
Bruce Wayne was left standing at the door of his mansion, utterly bewildered.
On the other side, Atreus put down the phone. The Lance sisters, who were trained professionals, prided themselves on their ability to remain composed in any situation. But this time, they couldn't hold back their laughter.
"Pfft! Hahaha!"
"Atreus, you're too wicked!"
Atreus didn't blame them. Instead, he joined in the laughter, patting them gently.
Black Canary, curious, asked, "Atreus, do you think Batman will believe you? Or not?"
Facing the burning curiosity of the two sisters, Atreus maintained his mischievous grin. "Batman is great at a lot of things, but if there's one thing he's learned from women over the years, it's that he never learns anything from them."
That summed up why Bruce had so much trouble with women.
Back at Wayne Manor, Lucius Fox struggled to keep a straight face.
A child's misbehavior is the parent's fault! Even in America, that saying holds true.
Bruce only ever talks to his son about money, so it's already a huge favor that his son is even willing to talk about feelings.
Lucius wasn't about to offer Bruce any advice—this was a family matter, after all.
Truthfully, Bruce was upset, but he was also somewhat tempted. However, memories of Atreus's past misdeeds quickly hardened his heart.
Since childhood, Atreus had been unruly and unproductive. He had the worst grades, the wildest lifestyle, and constantly caused trouble.
Even though Bruce knew Atreus was acting out to get his attention, Bruce had always been more focused on his mission for justice.
Yes, it was Bruce's failure as a father! But that didn't justify Atreus teaming up with Tony Stark to take over Wayne Enterprises!
The shares Atreus had mysteriously acquired—this rebellious son's rise to power—were something Bruce, as the head of the Wayne family, couldn't tolerate.
Just then, Bruce glanced back at his loyal butler.
His voice trembled, "Alfred, did you know?"
The old butler nodded gravely.
"I've gone bankrupt. Without intervention, this house will be repossessed… I'm sorry." If there was anyone Bruce felt sorry toward, it was Alfred.
"Master Wayne, there's no need to apologize. I just received word—the house has already been bought back from the bank."
"What? By who? Don't tell me…"
"Yes, it was Atreus. But, Master Wayne, the deed is still in your name."
The news left Lucius speechless, his mouth slightly agape, while Bruce's eyes widened in shock.
The game had changed.
If Atreus were petty, he could have taken everything from Bruce and assumed control of the Wayne family's fortune, as had happened countless times in European aristocracy.
But Atreus had chosen not to usurp the family head.
This move undoubtedly earned him favor with the Wayne family's elders.
Lowering his head, Alfred spoke with emotion, "With him, that makes four generations of Waynes I've served. I heard your first cries as a baby, and I heard his. I'm sorry, Master Wayne, but he wasn't brought here at seven. Ms. Ann came here while she was pregnant, and I hid her. Master, I think it's time you and Atreus had a talk."
Bruce felt lightheaded.
There was no question about Alfred's loyalty, but his allegiance was to the Wayne family as a whole, not just to Bruce Wayne as an individual.
As head of the family, Bruce could be reckless. But if he brought ruin to the family, the servants, though regretful, wouldn't reject the idea of a new head.
Bruce had already squandered huge amounts of money, neglected Wayne Enterprises, and left his followers grumbling.
If even Alfred was wavering, it wasn't hard to imagine how unsettled everyone else was.
Fortunately, Atreus hadn't forced Alfred to choose between them.
Still, Alfred's words stoked Bruce's pride. He suddenly turned toward Lucius.
Lucius, the older Black man with specks of gray in his hair, bowed deeply. "I serve you, Bruce Wayne, personally."
"Good! Contact Miss Miranda Tate immediately. I'll show her the energy project. Then, call every board member who supports me. Wayne Enterprises must not fall into Daggett's hands—or that brat's."
As history would have it, Bruce had already lost his mind. He thought he was recruiting a savior, but in reality, he was inviting a snake into his midst.
After handing the fusion reactor over to Miranda, Bruce returned to Wayne Enterprises. As he pushed open the doors, the last face he wanted to see appeared before him.
In the grand conference hall, a two-meter-wide, twenty-meter-long table was flanked by well-dressed men and women—the shareholders of Wayne Enterprises.
And there, sitting in Bruce's usual spot, wearing the same suit as Bruce, was Atreus.
Before Bruce arrived, he had learned that his shares had been forcibly auctioned off. Atreus had acquired the largest portion and now held 18% of the company, making him the largest shareholder. Daggett held 15%.
Today's meeting had been called by Daggett to propose a vote of no confidence in Bruce.
There was no arguing the facts—Bruce had lost his fingerprints, and Bane had ransacked the stock exchange on his behalf, bankrupting him. When Daggett claimed Bruce had cost all the shareholders money, the statement was devastating.
It was no surprise that Bruce's shares were liquidated, and he was ousted from the board.
And to Bruce's surprise, Miranda Tate was named the new CEO of Wayne Enterprises.
It was unexpected because Atreus had neither supported Miranda nor Daggett. Instead, he had stared Bruce down and cast a neutral vote.
Bruce had thought Miranda's victory would be hard-fought, but Atreus had let him off the hook.
Bruce couldn't make sense of it.
Feeling dazed, Bruce walked to the front entrance, where reporters had gathered in droves. Without security, Bruce would have been swallowed by the mob.
"Mr. Wayne, how does it feel to be bankrupt and back to being an ordinary man?"
It didn't matter the country—people loved to see the rich fall.
The mocking eyes of the reporters made Bruce uncomfortable.
A valet jogged up. "Mr. Wayne, the bank says they're repossessing your car."
Bruce shrugged.
Just as his police friend, John Blake, approached to offer Bruce a ride, the crowd suddenly stirred.
"Mr. Atreus, how does it feel to be the largest shareholder of Wayne Enterprises?"
Atreus, looking like a younger, more dashing version of Bruce, arrived flanked by two blonde secretaries. Bruce watched him, seeing a reflection of his younger self.
Bruce didn't move, waiting for Atreus's victory speech.
Sure enough, Atreus leaned in close and whispered in Bruce's ear, "In my memory, on my 18th birthday, my father didn't even leave me a message, let alone a gift. But I'm still grateful, because he never let me run out of money."
"What are you trying to say, Mr. Atreus?" Bruce remained calm, his hands in his pockets, exuding confidence as if nothing could shake him.
Atreus snapped his fingers, calling over the bank officials. "Hey! Leave the car with Mr. Wayne. I'll cover the cost."
His gesture caused another stir.
Some saw it as an insult.
Others called it the victor's mercy.
Either way, Atreus once again became the center of attention.
Smiling, he leaned in again, covering his mouth to avoid lip readers. "Nothing much, I just wanted to say—from now on, I'll call you Dad. And you can call me your Sugar Daddy. Deal?"
(End of chapter)