Mike Carter hung up the phone without hesitation, leaving Ethan Bear staring blankly at the computer screen in his office. On the screen, the Bear family's financial assets were displayed—and to Ethan's horror, the numbers were plummeting at an alarming rate.
It began the moment Mike had finished his call. From that point on, the Bear family's stocks, investments, and assets began to crumble, falling apart like a house of cards under the pressure of Mike's orchestrated attack.
"Sell! Liquidate all positions!" Richard Bear, Ethan's father and the head of the Bear family, barked into his phone as he sat in his office. But his orders came too late. Within moments, the Bear family's decades of hard-earned fortune had all but evaporated.
Behind the scenes, Ethan Howard's team of financial experts worked tirelessly to dismantle the Bear family's empire. Stocks were shorted, investors were pulled out, and key suppliers were lured away with better deals. It was a corporate bloodbath, orchestrated with surgical precision.
Richard Bear slumped into his chair, his face pale and drenched in sweat. "How… how did this happen?" he muttered.
Ethan Bear, equally shaken, stammered, "Dad, we need to stop him. We need to call him—"
"There's no stopping this now," Richard interrupted. "Mike Carter… that boy… he's a monster."
As the Bear family scrambled to salvage what little remained of their empire, Richard Bear made a decision he never thought he'd have to make. He walked into the office where Veronica Rivers sat, her expression a mix of exhaustion and defiance.
With a heavy sigh, Richard dropped to his knees.
"Miss Rivers, I… I apologize for everything. My son's behavior was unacceptable, and we—no, I—take full responsibility."
Veronica's eyes widened in shock. She had braced herself for further humiliation, but this… this was unexpected. Even Ethan Bear followed his father's lead, kneeling beside him, his face a mask of shame and anger.
"Miss Rivers, please… I beg your forgiveness," Richard continued, his voice trembling.
For a long moment, the room was silent. Then Veronica spoke, her voice icy and calm. "Your apology is noted. But forgiveness? That's something you'll have to earn."
Meanwhile, back at Mike Carter's temporary residence, Ethan Howard was reviewing the day's events with a satisfied smirk. "Young Master, the acquisition strategy was flawless. Not only did we ensure the Bear family's collapse, but we've also positioned ourselves to profit from their downfall. Every dollar they lost… we gained."
Mike nodded, his expression unreadable. "It's not about the money, Howard. The Bear family had it coming. They thought their wealth and power made them untouchable. Now, they know better."
Howard chuckled. "Indeed, sir. By the way, the news of the Bear family's bankruptcy has already spread throughout River Valley. It won't be long before the rest of the city realizes who's really in charge."
In the Rivers family estate, Sophia Rivers sat quietly in her room, her face pale from the stress of the past few days. She looked up as her sister, Veronica, entered.
"Sophia, are you alright?" Veronica asked, her voice soft with concern.
Sophia nodded but didn't meet her sister's eyes. "I'm fine. But what about you? Did the Bears… do anything to you?"
Veronica shook her head. "No. In fact, they apologized."
"Apologized?" Sophia's eyes widened in disbelief. "Why would they do that?"
Veronica hesitated, then said, "I don't know. But I have a feeling it has something to do with Mike Carter."
Sophia's expression darkened at the mention of his name. "Mike Carter… He's nothing but a wannabe rich boy. Su Li was right. He's just a toad trying to eat swan meat."
Veronica frowned but didn't respond. She had her doubts about Mike, but there was no denying that his influence had played a role in the Bears' sudden downfall.
That evening, Mike decided to return to his hometown for a short visit. His mother, Jane Carter, was thrilled to see him, fussing over him and preparing all his favorite meals.
As they walked out of the local grocery store, Mike ran into an old classmate, Ashley Lane. Dressed in designer clothes and carrying an expensive handbag, Ashley looked every bit the image of success.
"Mike Carter? Is that you?" she called out, her tone a mix of surprise and amusement.
Mike turned and recognized her instantly. Ashley had been one of the more popular girls in high school, and though they hadn't been particularly close, he remembered her fondly.
"Ashley, long time no see," Mike replied with a polite smile.
Ashley's eyes scanned him from head to toe, her expression turning smug. "Still the same old Mike, huh? No fancy car? No high-end clothes? What have you been up to?"
Mike shrugged. "Just studying, mostly."
Ashley smirked. "Well, you should come to our class reunion tonight. Everyone's dying to see you. Who knows? Maybe you'll learn a thing or two about success."
Mike's smile didn't waver. "Sounds like fun. I'll be there."
As Ashley walked away, she couldn't help but chuckle to herself. "Still the same small-town boy," she muttered under her breath. "This is going to be interesting."