Chapter 97
Kevin’s shoulders lifted in a small shrug. “Dad, let me test the water. Worst case, nothing changes. What if it works?”
Norman waved a hand. “Fine. Just
ke this mess bigger.”
The meeting happened the way Ke
and Jordan had scripted it days earlier. They sat in a quiet teahouse, traded small talk, and never once mentioned Troy or stock prices–everything important had already been said before.
When the teapot was empty, Kevin left. When he saw his father, he said, “I saw him. Jordan’s willing to talk–but he has conditions.”
Norman froze. “You’re serious?”
“Dead serious,” Kevin replied. “If you don’t believe me, I can take you to him right now.”
for the
“Then let’s go–now.” Norman had been waiting for this crack in the wall. The Hayes family was a nuisance; Jordan Erwin was an extinction–level asteroid. One more move from him, and Carver Group was history.
Jordan didn’t receive them at Erwin Group. Instead, he picked a quiet bistro. When Norman and Kevin walked in, Jordan was already seated, sipping tea like he owned gravity itself.
People always said the same thing: nobody knew where Jordan came from, yet he carried old–money polish in every inch of his posture–straight spine, cufflinks glinting, the kind of calm that made you lower your voice without meaning to.
Norman swallowed once and stepped forward. “Mr. Erwin.”
“Have a seat.” Jordan didn’t look up. Back when his company was still a garage pipe–dream, critics called him arrogant. Now the same critics called it foresight.
Norman folded his hands on the table. “Thank you for seeing me. I came to ask you, how are you going to let Troy-”
Jordan’s eyes snapped up, cold enough to freeze coffee. Norman’s mouth snapped shut. “Mr. Carver,” Jordan said, voice low, “you know exactly what your son did.”
Norman’s head bobbed fast. “Yes. I do.”
“Then you show up here to plead for him?” Jordan leaned back. “Interesting choice.”
Color drained from Norman’s face. “I–I’m sorry. That was… out of line.”
Jordan started to stand. “If you’ve forgotten the facts, we’re done wasting each other’s time.”
“Please-” Norman’s hand shot across the table, palm open. “Don’t go. Whatever you need, just say it. I’ll agree.”
Jordan glanced at Kevin. “Mr. Carver, the only reason I’m sitting here today is because my wife asked me to. She and Kevin go way back. She was convinced he was nothing like Troy.
“That’s the only card you’ve got–so think hard about what comes out of your mouth next.”
Norman’s shoulders curled inward like paper in flame. “Yeah… that was on me.” He swallowed, the words tasting like sawdust.
For the first time in decades, he was the one groveling, and to a kid half his age at that. It stung, but what choice did he have? “I get it. Say what you need to say–I’m listening.”
Chapter 97
Jordan sat again, fingers steepled. “Your son tried to hurt my wife at her own birthday party. I handled that party and Troy paid no respect to me.
Then your family doubled down with a smear campaign instead of an apology. Without Kevin, Carver Group would already be rubble.”
“Yes. Yes, I know. I’m truly sorry.” Norman’s murmur barely lifted above the clink of silverware.
“Here’s the deal,” Jordan continued. “Troy doesn’t see daylight again–ever. Or you can try to spring him, but then you lose the company. Your other option: announce Kevin as successor, effective immediately. Do that, and I’ll let Troy’s thing pass.”
Norman blinked, mouth half–open.
Jordan rose, the chair legs scraping the floor like a warning. “Don’t bother bargaining. Every word I just said comes straight from my wife. She may be the black sheep of the Hayes family, but under my roof, her word is gospel.”
Jordan did this to back up his wife, Stella. And he left without anothe
Norman stayed rooted in his seat long after Norman left. Kevin knew the math: disowning Troy would make him head of the Carver empire, but it would also set Norman’s wife off like Fourth of July fireworks.
Kevin sipped his coffee, silent, giving the old man room to decide.
Across town, Jordan had barely stepped through his own front door when his assistant jogged up, phone in hand. “Video from the night of the gala, Mr. Erwin. Thought you’d want to see the whole story.”
Jordan took the phone, closed his office door, and hit play. The moment Anna’s smiling face appeared beside Troy at the entrance, his grip tightened until the case creaked. ‘They don’t believe Anna’s rotten to the core? Fine. Let them watch.’
He posted the clip without hesitation. Within minutes, it was everywhere.
The Hayes family had been in high spirits when news broke about the Carver family’s downfall. With Kevin taking over as the new head of the Carver family and Troy facing permanent consequences for his crimes, it seemed like their troubles were finally over.
At first, they’d tried approaching Jordan for help, but he’d coldly shut them out. Clueless about what to do next, they’d even considered liquidating their assets–until Jordan dropped the bombshell exposing Troy’s years of wrongdoing, effectively dismantling the Carver empire overnight.
With the Carvers preoccupied by their own crisis, the pressure on the Hayes family miraculously lifted. When the official announcement came, the entire Hayes household assumed their storm had passed.
They were just heading out to celebrate over dinner when an explosive video went viral online, plunging them back into chaos.
Even Eleanor, who’d been idly scrolling through her phone, saw the footage. She emerged from her room, gripping her device, and
going?”
confronted the three celebrants at the doorway. “Where do you think.
Fiona turned and nudged Andrew upon seeing Eleanor, silently urging him to handle the situation.
Andrew rubbed his temples. He’d promised his mother they’d take her out, but this time they hadn’t even wanted to bring Max along–that ingrate who’d dared accuse Anna of orchestrating the kidnapping. Anna, his own sister!
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Chapter 97
As Andrew scrambled for an excuse, Eleanor cut in sharply, “Anna, so you’re the one who let Troy into your sister’s birthday party that night?”
“No! That’s not true.” Anna’s wide eyes darted between Fiona and Andrew. “Mom, Dad, I don’t know why Grandma’s suddenly attacking me like this. Stella’s my sister–how could I ever help Troy hurt her?”
Andrew exhaled impatiently. “Mom
“This isn’t about Stella,” Eleanor
want to deny it?”
don’t listen to Stella’s nonsense. That girl’s never spoken a word of truth in her life.
Pped, thrusting her phone forward. “It’s all right here on video–Anna’s betrayal in HD. Still
‘Video? What video?‘ The color drained from their faces.
