“Founder, what do you mean?”
Michel stared at his father as if the old man had just lost his mind.
“Founder of GD Tech!” he snapped harshly.
“Quade, Dad.
He’s at the gala tonight.”
The way Michel spoke—like someone on the brink of madness—brought a unique burst of satisfaction to Erick.
It was very enjoyable to see Michel tremble greatly just from hearing a name.
Evelyn Laurent’s face instantly lost its color.
Martin’s confident posture, standing next to Dominique, suddenly became stiff.
Even the guards along the corridor exchanged anxious glances.
In New York, everyone knows the meaning of that legend.
Quade is not just a rich person.
He is infrastructure.
Banking System: Using its security network.
Government Agency: Relying on its own predictive AI.
Public & Military Sector: Hospitals, transportation routes, military contractors, and Wall Street trading algorithms—GD Tech has its fingerprints on every vein of the city.
And the man who controls all those octopus monsters was supposed to have been declared dead five years ago.
Michel wiped his wet hair with his trembling hands.
“The board of directors is in total disarray.” Access to the main executive has been frozen.
The internal verification file leaked to the public twenty minutes ago.
He swallowed hard.
“The founder’s original credentials… have just been activated.”
Leroy shook his head vigorously.
“That’s impossible.”
“That’s what everyone is saying!” Michel barked in frustration.
Then, a pair of Michel’s eyes shifted.
His gaze landed squarely on Erick.
Dominique seems to notice the direction of her brother’s gaze.
Her fingers unconsciously gripped Martin’s hand much tighter.
Meanwhile, Erick?
The man just stood there calmly, slowly adjusting the cuffs of his shirt.
Completely relaxed, as if none of this corporate storm involved his name.
Martin was the first to regain his composure.
“Whoever leaked that verification file is surely just trying to manipulate market sentiment.” His political smile returned quickly.
Too quickly.
“This chaos will surely stabilize by morning.”
Michel stared at Martin as if the man in front of him were the most foolish creature on earth.
“You don’t understand,” Michel whispered hoarsely.
“If Quade is really still alive…”
Michel did not finish his sentence.
He didn’t need to do it.
Everyone in that corridor already knew the consequences.
Leroy’s phone suddenly vibrated in the pocket of his suit.
The next second, Evelyn’s phone rang.
Then Martin’s phone.
One by one.
News notifications, urgent messages, incoming calls, stock price crash alerts, and emergency board meeting invitations.
The great empire they had always prided themselves on is starting to shake violently.
Dominique suddenly turned her body, glaring at Erick sharply.
“You should go home now,” Dominique suddenly said.
The hospital corridor fell silent again.
Even Martin looked surprised to hear that curt command.
Dominique swallowed once before firming her voice.
“This has now become an internal family matter.”
Erick almost laughed.
Family matters.
A very amusing choice of words, considering that just a few hours ago this woman had thrown him away like trash in public.
“Of course,” Erick replied lightly, a cynical smile hinted at the corners of his lips.
“It really shouldn’t be the ‘servant’ who gets involved in big matters.”
Dominique’s expression tightened, hurt by the jab.
Good.
Let it sting his ego.
Without saying a word, Erick strode past them all toward the elevator.
This time, not a single person dared to raise their hand to stop him.
Not even Martin.
Especially Martin.
Because now, the politician’s son is watching him with a very scrutinizing gaze.
***
Erick stepped out of the hospital lobby.
Behind the street barricades, news hunters began to gather, their camera flashes continuously aimed at the private entrance.
A sleek and shiny black Aston Martin appeared to be waiting near the exit lane.
The passenger side window slowly rolled down.
Remi Laurent sat behind the wheel.
He was still wearing the same luxurious black dress from last night’s gala, although his body was now wrapped in a long charcoal-colored coat.
Her dark hair framed a pair of sharp, utterly unreadable eyes.
“Come in,” Remi ordered curtly.
Erick exhaled theatrically.
“You, Laurent people, are really possessive and clingy tonight.”
“Get in, Erick.
Now.”
Erick opened the door and slid into the passenger seat.
For several minutes, total silence enveloped the interior of the car.
Finally, Remi broke the silence.
“Grandma wants to meet you.”
“That old woman scares me more than the threat of federal prison.”
“She’s serious, Erick.”
“He is always serious.”
“Connecticut,” Remi continued flatly.
“Tonight as well.”
That made Erick turn his head, looking at Remi.
Claire Laurent hardly ever deigned to step outside her residence in Connecticut unless there was something truly of crucial value.
And the woman clearly would not call someone in person if the matter were trivial.
Interesting.
“Do you think… Grandma already knows?” “asked Remi softly.
Erick blinked with a feigned innocent expression.
“Know about what?” It appears that the text to translate was not provided.
Could you please share the text you would like me to translate?
Remi threw a sharp, straight look at him.
“Oh, please, don’t put on that fake stupid face in front of me,” she muttered tightly.
Erick only smiled faintly, turning his gaze back out the window.
The racing city lights reflected off his face, changing like a dynamic mask.
“What really happened at the gala tonight, Erick?” Remi pressed, her voice demanding an answer.
“Victor Hale looked at you as if he had just seen a zombie crawling out of its grave.”
“He’s old; it’s natural for his eyesight to start failing.”
“The old man mentioned Quade’s name right in front of your face.”
“He was just having a heart attack.”
“And you went into his hospital room alone.”
“Maybe he likes me.”
Remi looked at him with a flash of utter disbelief because all the lies coming out of Erick’s mouth sounded too ridiculous to be taken seriously.
“You know,” Remi said softly, “everyone in that house thinks you’re just hiding a stash of money or have a secret criminal background.” Erick remained silent.
“But not with me.” “I’m not as stupid as they are.”
That finally forced Erick to turn fully and look at Remi.
The expression on his brother-in-law’s face seemed to sharpen.
“I have been watching you for five full years in that house,” said Remi.
“People like Martin show confidence through acting.
People like Leroy use their social status as a weapon of intimidation.” But you…” Remi shook her head slowly.
“You have never once shown a reaction like someone who lacks power.”
Outside the car window, the sound of low thunder rumbled, splitting the dark night sky of the city.
“You watch too many movies, Remi,” Erick replied calmly.
“No,” Remi replied softly but with emphasis.
“I just pay too much attention to detail.”
“He’s old.”
“He said, Quade.”
“He was having a heart attack.”
“You walked into his hospital room alone.”
“He likes me.”
Remi stared at him in disbelief.
Then she laughed once under her breath.
“You knew Quade…” she whispered.
He exhaled slowly through his nose.
“Remi…”
“No.”
Her voice cut sharply through the car.
“You don’t get to stand there pretending none of this involves you while my family implodes overnight.”
Erick stared ahead through the rain-dark windshield.
“I’m trying not to lie to you.”
That answer hit harder than a confession.
Remi turned toward him fully now, anger flashing across her face.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
For the first time all night, some of Erick’s calm finally cracked just slightly.
“If I answer honestly,” he said quietly, “then you become part of this.”
Remi frowned.
“Part of what?”
Erick looked at her.
For one brief moment, Remi saw something terrifying behind his eyes.