Marcus had expected it.
But when he truly saw his own father bow before Ethan like the other three family heads and call him Mr. Cole, his heart still turned to ash.
The last trace of hope vanished.
He stood in place, legs heavy as lead.
Only one thought echoed in his mind.
It's over.
Everything is over.
Around them, shocked whispers rose.
"Who is this young man? The heads of the Four Families are bowing to him together?"
"I've never heard of someone this powerful in Northbridge."
"He definitely isn't from Northbridge. Look at that presence. He's probably from the capital."
"The capital? What level of family could make the Four Families act this humble?"
"At least a top-tier family. Ordinary rich families don't get this treatment."
Vivian stood beside Ethan and heard every word.
She said nothing.
But inwardly, she had to admit that their guesses were not unreasonable.
It was already outrageous for the four family heads to call Ethan sir.
Even more outrageous, they had done it publicly, abandoning the authority and dignity they had built over decades.
Vivian glanced at the crowd.
Just now, these people had been urging her to cut ties with Ethan.
Now their eyes were wide, their mouths open, their expressions magnificent.
It was not hard to guess what they were thinking.
Most likely, they had changed their minds.
Now they probably believed she was the one reaching above her station.
Vivian did not care.
If she was reaching, then she was reaching.
She would not deny it.
The beauty cream formula alone was enough for Ethan to be worth it.
Marcus stood frozen, staring at Leonard Blackwell's bowed back, his head buzzing.
He knew better than anyone that if he did not act now, everything would truly be finished.
He rushed forward and dropped to his knees in front of Ethan.
The movement was smooth enough to look practiced.
Marcus raised his hand.
Slap.
He struck himself across the face.
Slap.
Another.
Then he began hitting himself with both hands, each slap crisp and loud.
"Mr. Cole, I was wrong."
"I was blind. My mouth was filthy."
"Please be generous. Please don't lower yourself to my level."
He slapped himself as he begged.
His cheeks quickly swelled red, handprints rising clearly.
Ethan watched without expression.
He did not speak.
Marcus grew more frightened.
He increased the force.
"Mr. Cole, say something. Tell me what I must do for you to calm down. I'll do anything."
Ethan still did not speak.
He looked at Marcus as if watching a monkey perform.
Marcus's eyes nearly filled with tears.
He turned toward Leonard Blackwell, begging silently.
Leonard's face was iron-blue.
He looked at his useless son with complicated eyes.
Then, very quickly, his expression hardened.
He took one step forward and faced Ethan.
"Mr. Cole."
"I, Leonard Blackwell, announce here today that Marcus Blackwell is expelled from the Blackwell family. From this day forward, I sever the father-son relationship with him."
"How Mr. Cole wishes to handle him is entirely your decision. I and the Blackwell family will not interfere."
He spoke loudly, afraid Ethan would not see his attitude clearly.
The room inhaled sharply.
Everyone looked stunned.
Someone whispered, "Mr. Blackwell always spoiled Marcus. Now he actually..."
The person beside him grabbed his sleeve.
"Stop talking. Can't you see the situation? That young man's background must be terrifying."
Marcus was dumbfounded.
He stopped slapping himself and looked up at Leonard.
"Dad, isn't this too much?"
"Because of this little thing, you're cutting ties with me? Expelling me from the family?"
His voice grew more agitated.
"I'm your son. Your only son."
Leonard looked at him coldly.
"Little thing?"
He almost laughed at Marcus's stupidity.
Then he said a truth that struck the hall like a bomb.
"Not only the Blackwell family. The Whitmore family, Ashford family, and Sterling family as well. The true power behind all Four Families is Mr. Cole."
"Everything you and I have today comes from Mr. Cole allowing us to eat. You offended him and still call it a little thing?"
The hall became terrifyingly quiet.
It was as if an invisible hand had closed around every throat.
No one could speak.
Marcus knelt on the ground as if struck by lightning.
His eyes moved from Ethan to his father, then to the other three family heads.
None of them refuted it.
They accepted Leonard's words in silence.
Marcus's lips trembled.
He wanted to speak, but no words came.
Thinking back to everything he had said and done to Ethan earlier, he wished he could travel back in time and strangle himself.
Leonard no longer looked at him.
He waved.
"Take him out. Beat sense into him. Don't let him continue offending Mr. Cole's eyes."
Between the family and his son, Leonard did not need to hesitate.
If he chose Marcus, he would lose the family, his son, and probably his own life.
Several bodyguards stepped forward, grabbed Marcus, and dragged him toward the exit.
Marcus finally returned to himself.
"Mr. Cole, I was wrong. Please spare me."
"Dad. Dad, you can't do this to me. I'm your son."
His voice grew farther away.
Then the door closed heavily, cutting everything off.
Leonard inhaled, adjusted his emotions, and turned back to Ethan.
The coldness on his face disappeared, replaced by a flattering smile.
"Mr. Cole, are you satisfied with this handling?"
Ethan glanced at him.
"No next time."
Four light words chilled Leonard's spine.
He nodded repeatedly.
"Yes. Yes. I guarantee it. There will never be a next time."
Ethan waved.
"Leave. Don't interfere with my auction."
The four family heads answered in unison and retreated obediently, their posture low enough to resemble servants before an emperor.
Afterward, the auction hall began its final preparations.
The room was so quiet people could hear their own heartbeats.
All eyes gathered on one person.
No one dared make a sound.
After Ethan sat, he looked up and saw Vivian still standing.
He patted the seat beside him.
"Sit. Why are you standing there?"
Vivian hesitated, then sat beside him.
She turned her head and looked at him.
After a few seconds of silence, she spoke with teasing caution.
"Our Mr. Cole couldn't have gotten tired of all the socialites in the capital and come to a small place like Northbridge just to amuse himself with me, could he?"
Author's Note:
This story will continue updating here.
If you want to read more, you can unlock it here:
/c/TYMercer
Thank you for reading.