The air was thick with tension as Chris Miller stood frozen, unable to believe what he had just heard. He had been preparing to call security to eject Mike Carter, someone he believed had no right to set foot in Cloud Peak Manor.
"Sir, it's fine. Let me clean it up for you," Ethan Howard interjected, his tone calm but firm.
James Miller approached, confused by Ethan's deference to Mike. "Do you know him?" he asked his son, his voice low and urgent.
Chris swallowed hard, his throat dry. He had no idea how to explain his relationship with Mike.
Mike, however, stepped in. "Let him clean it," he said, stopping Ethan mid-motion.
Chris had deliberately spilled wine on Mike's suit, and now he was paying the price. Behind Mike, Veronica Rivers stood in stunned silence. The situation was surreal: the power dynamic had shifted so completely that even James Miller appeared helpless under Mike's quiet authority.
"Mr. Howard, what's going on here?" James asked, visibly anxious. He couldn't reconcile Ethan's respectful demeanor toward Mike with the casual, confident man standing before him.
Ethan's face darkened slightly as he replied, "This is Mr. Mike Carter. To put it simply, I am merely his steward. He is the primary investor behind the 'Living Like a Tycoon' program."
James's face turned pale.
Chris's jaw dropped, and Veronica's eyes widened in shock. Mike's earlier confidence suddenly made sense. He wasn't just wealthy—he was the wealth behind the program.
No, Veronica corrected herself mentally. Wealth wasn't the right word. Mike had influence, vision, and an undeniable command that set him apart. Projects of this scale required extensive analysis, testing, and validation. But for Mike, a simple proposal attracted investors without hesitation. It was a testament to his exceptional foresight.
Her admiration for Mike deepened. As someone who had never found a man worthy of her time, she felt a pang of jealousy toward her younger sister. Sophia had seen Mike's potential from the start.
James's hands trembled. The man who had kicked him out of the investor group chat and blacklisted him from the program stood before him. Worse, his son had just insulted this man by spilling wine on him.
"Apologize," James said, his voice sharp.
Chris tried to protest. "Dad, it wasn't my fault! He walked into my glass!"
"I said apologize," James snapped, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Or do you want me to throw you out?"
Chris's face contorted in frustration, but he had no choice. The power imbalance between him and Mike was undeniable.
"Fine," Chris muttered through gritted teeth. He grabbed a napkin and began wiping the wine from Mike's suit.
But Mike stopped him, shrugging off his jacket and handing it to Veronica. "Do me a favor, Veronica. Wash this for me. He doesn't deserve the privilege."
Veronica hesitated, her icy composure giving way to a faint blush.
"Alright," she replied, taking the jacket. Her lips twitched into a rare, genuine smile.
Mike's actions spoke louder than words. His calm demeanor and decisive behavior assured everyone that as long as he was around, the Millers couldn't harm the Rivers family. For Veronica, it was clear that Mike was a man of unshakable confidence and immense power.
Chris, meanwhile, seethed with humiliation. The same person he once dismissed as beneath him now held his dignity in his hands. To make matters worse, onlookers began to murmur.
"Who is that guy? He's making the Millers look like fools."
"I heard the Millers are a big deal in River Valley City, but that man… he must be on another level."
Chris clenched his fists. "You think you're untouchable, Mike?" he sneered. "Fine. We'll pull our investment from your program. Let's see how well you do without us!"
He kicked a nearby table in anger, causing glasses and bottles to crash to the floor. The commotion drew more attention, and whispers grew louder.
"Someone's making a scene at Cloud Peak Manor? They must have a death wish."
Above them, a woman with an elegant demeanor observed the scene from a private balcony. Her eyes lingered on Mike, a subtle smile playing on her lips.
Chris turned to his father. "Let's go. We don't need this program. We'll recover our losses by taking back what the Rivers family owes us."
James's mind raced, the weight of his son's words sinking in. Taking action against the Rivers family might be a grave mistake if Mike Carter—a man who clearly wielded immense power—stood in their corner.
The Millers stormed out, their departure punctuated by a wave of disdainful murmurs from the onlookers.
"What a pathetic display," someone muttered.
"They tried to butter up someone powerful and failed miserably."
James and Chris's shame deepened with each comment. Chris, unable to contain his anger, flung the gift he had brought into the trash.
"They humiliated us on purpose, Dad," Chris growled. "This isn't over."
James rubbed his temples. "Humiliated or not, we have no cards to play against him."
As they reached the parking lot, an unfamiliar car with an out-of-town license plate pulled up. A man in a sharp suit stepped out, his demeanor calm and self-assured.
"Mr. Miller, I presume?" he asked, his tone smooth.
Chris glanced at his father before responding cautiously. "Who's asking?"
The man smiled. "Let's just say I'm here to help you. You want to bring Mike Carter down, don't you?"
Chris's suspicion warred with his curiosity. "Help me? How?"
"Mike Carter may seem invincible, but I know the truth. He's nothing more than a pauper who stumbled upon a fortune. And I can show you how to strip him of everything."
Chris's heart raced. "Do you know how much money he has?"
The man chuckled. "Better than he does. I even know where it all comes from. Here," he said, pulling out a folder. "This contains everything you need to know about Mike Carter."