The room fell silent. Time seemed to stretch as no one dared to make a move or speak. Veronica's uncle, visibly shaken, stared at his phone. The man he had always idolized—James Miller, the patriarch of the Miller family, and a figure he believed could cut off the Rivers family's economic lifeline—had been unceremoniously removed from the group chat.
What just happened?
Seeing James Miller kicked out without a word of explanation, Veronica's uncle hesitated to send the message he had carefully drafted. His entire being quivered with uncertainty.
The atmosphere grew heavier. Everyone in the investment group chat for Living Like a Tycoon had gone completely silent. Not a single person dared to react.
Turning his head slowly, Veronica's uncle looked at Mike Carter, his expression a mixture of disbelief and fear. Could it be true? Could that car really be his?
Checking the time, he realized it was nearly half an hour since Chris Miller had made his bold declaration: Mike would lose everything within thirty minutes. Yet, here Mike stood, completely unaffected.
"What is going on?" Veronica finally asked, her gaze shifting to her uncle. Even she was taken aback by what had just transpired.
Her uncle wiped the sweat from his brow, his anxiety palpable. He prayed silently, hoping not to be the next one removed from the group. Losing his investment in the show would be a devastating blow.
Minutes passed like hours, but his fears subsided when he realized he was still in the group chat. His heart settled, and relief washed over him. For now, his money was safe.
Just then, Sophia's phone buzzed. The screen lit up with Chris Miller's name. She frowned, clearly uninterested in answering.
"Let me," Veronica's uncle said, snatching the phone and putting it on speaker.
"Chris, what's the matter?" he asked cautiously, knowing the stakes were high.
But the voice on the other end wasn't Chris's. It was James Miller.
"Richard Rivers, how dare the Rivers family act so recklessly?" James's voice thundered through the speaker, filled with rage. There was no room for negotiation or explanation in his tone.
Veronica's uncle froze, his hands trembling. Was this the day the Rivers family would fall?
"Mr. Miller, please, let us address this misunderstanding. I assure you, the Rivers family will provide an explanation," he pleaded, his voice cracking under the pressure.
"Explanation?" James scoffed. "A dog that doesn't know its place doesn't deserve an explanation! You're nothing, Richard Rivers. And forget about your investment in Living Like a Tycoon. Consider yourself out."
Chris's laughter echoed through the phone, his tone dripping with spite. For years, he had chased Sophia and tolerated her family's inadequacies. Now, he would savor watching them crumble.
"This is the end for you," Chris declared, his voice filled with venom. "The Rivers family is finished."
The atmosphere in the room grew oppressive. The Rivers family had no way to counter the Miller family's influence. Their partnerships and deals could be dissolved with a single phone call from James.
"What do we do now?" Veronica's uncle muttered, his mind racing for a solution. Before he could come up with an answer, Mike stepped forward.
"Are you done laughing?" Mike's voice was calm but cutting. "Your dad was kicked out of the group chat. Isn't it a little too soon to celebrate?"
Chris's laughter halted abruptly. It was Mike's voice. How dare he?
"Mike Carter, you're nothing but a fraud," Chris spat. "Let me show you the true power of the Miller family."
On the other end of the line, James Miller's face twisted with frustration. His fingers hovered over his phone as he prepared to unleash the full force of his connections. But when he opened the app, his confidence shattered. The night before, he had dined with the mysterious billionaire who funded the show, hoping to secure a powerful ally. Now, he was locked out of every channel.
All he could see was a glaring red notification: You have been removed as a contact.
"What is going on?" James roared, his voice filled with panic. He turned to his son, who was still ranting about Mike.
"Five million?" Mike chuckled. "That's nothing. If you want to flex your wealth, at least make it worth my time."
Chris's face turned beet red as he struggled to process what was happening. "Dad, do something!" he demanded.
James, however, was silent, his thoughts spinning wildly. He had played his hand too soon and was now reaping the consequences.
Meanwhile, Veronica's gaze fixed on Mike, filled with a mixture of hope and apprehension. Could he truly hold his own against the Millers?
"It's time you learned what real power looks like," Mike said, pulling out his phone. He dialed a number and spoke just a few words. "Take care of this annoyance."
On the other end, Ethan Howard responded instantly. "Understood, sir. Consider it done."
Chris sneered, attempting to brush off Mike's actions as a bluff. "Do you think you're some kind of big shot? The Miller family's reach extends further than you could ever imagine!"
But as the call ended, a foreboding silence filled the air. Mike's expression remained calm, his confidence unwavering.
For the first time, the Rivers family began to wonder if their fate had already changed.