The following morning.
Dawn broke the day.
Some residents in the Eleanor Manor jogged in the morning. A group of them passed by the gate and were shocked. A woman asked, “Why are they so many men there? Are they nuts?”
At least 50 men were kneeling on the ground.
The next second, a man trotted to her, grabbed her, and dragged her back. “Shush. Do you know who they are? The one in the front is… is Jasper Holland, the master of the Holland family. His company is worth at least four billion dollars.”
People staying in Eleanor Manor were either wealthy or influential, but most couldn’t be comparable to Jasper.
Neither could the man who recognized him.
“Mr… Mr. Holland, why… why are you here?” the man strode to Jasper and bowed at him politely with a flattering smile.
“Atone for my crime,” Jasper answered hoarsely.
“Atone for his crime?”
The passersby were shocked. They didn’t expect to see the master of the Holland family kneel at the gate humbly. They could tell from the scene that he had knelt for more than one or two hours.
However, he said he did so to atone for his crime.
His answer was like a bombshell. One woman covered her mouth. “I think I know who you are begging for mercy.”
“Who?” others asked her.
“Mr. X.”
Her words enlightened all the joggers. Some immediately sent messages to their friends.
In less than an hour, this news went viral in Stillwater.
Everyone knew the Hollands were kneeling at the gate of Eleanor Manor for several hours as they wanted to atone for their crime.
Harley, the deputy family master, vanished. His so-called trump card, the killer group, also disappeared. Most people guessed they were all dead, so the Holland family had no way out.
The news raised a mighty uproar in Stillwater. Those who had a sound sleep the previous night were shocked after getting up.
Their hunches told them they would have nightmares for a while.
At the Brighton’s, Constance got up late this morning. She had a long sleep to maintain her youth and energy. She got off the bed, swung towards the window, and pulled up the curtain. When she stretched, her perfect body was shown under her nightgown.
Unfortunately, no one had the luck to enjoy the view.
She gained the nickname “Black Widow” for some reason.
“Ms. Brighton, bad news!”
Constance’s secretary broke into her room. He was young, competent, and trusted by Constance. However, he always lowered his head when facing her without looking into her eyes.
“What happened?”
Constance flicked her jade-like hand. She had a sound sleep the previous night because of the news from the Holland family. Mr. X had died. After all, he used to be big trouble for her.
However, Constance thought she had overestimated Mr. X, who had been killed by the Hollands.
She didn’t need to end his life by herself.
“The Holland family’s killing force has been eliminated. Their deputy family manager, Harley Holland, has disappeared. The Hollands are kneeling at Mr. X’s villa to atone for their crime,” her secretary said.
“What?”
Constance was enjoying the morning sunshine with a smile. She froze, sternness covering her face. She looked back at the secretary and asked, “What did you say?”
“The Hollands… are kneeling to Mr. X’s villa now.”
The secretary lowered his head more.
“I see. You may leave.”
Constance flicked her hand to send him away. Looking in the direction of Eleanor Manor, she muttered, “Mr. X, you’ve ruined my good mood in the morning. You must be responsible.”
Her tone was coquettish when she said the second line.
“Unfortunately, you’ve made a wrong choice. You’ll never know what you’re facing when you are against me.”
An enchanting smile touched Constance’s lips.
However, the smile didn’t touch her icy eyes full of murderous intentions.
She had married three husbands, who all passed away. Without being harmed, she managed to become the hostess of the Brighton family, which was the top one in Stillwater. She had reasons to be proud, but she also didn’t know what she was confronting.
…
Eleanor Manor.
The 60 Hollands were still kneeling without moving. They also bowed their heads down without the guts to look up.
Many onlookers gathered to watch them, but most stood far away as they couldn’t afford to offend the Hollands. After all, the Hollands were Mr. X’s prey. Anything happening to them could irritate him.
“Creak!”
The door of Villa 001 was opened. Melody, in a business suit, walked out. She recognized Jasper with a single glimpse, feeling shocked. She hadn’t expected to see him in person as he was the master of the Holland family, one of the five most influential in town.
When Melody was at college, she studied wealthy and influential ones, so she knew each one’s power.
Jasper was one of the most influential people in Stillwater’s upper class.
Although shocked, Melody kept calm and stern, which matched Mr. X’s public image. She repeatedly reminded herself to stay clinical as Mr. X was someone extraordinary.
However, she failed to stop feeling shocked.
Her expression would have exposed her feelings if she hadn’t trained herself before.
“Miss, we’re here to stone for our crime.”
Jasper beamed at Melody, looking humble. After all, he wanted to beg Mr. X for survival.
“Mr. X wants to ask you if your foe wants to kill you but fails, will you let go of him? Please think about it yourself,” Melody passed Mr. X’s message to him.
Jasper’s smile froze. He wondered if his family couldn’t escape the disaster.
“However, Mr. X also said he had never seen you as his foes as you were not qualified. You can either cut off one arm and donate all your family properties to charity or choose to die. Please choose one option,” Melody added.
“We… That’s the only option, isn’t it?” Jasper smiled bitterly.
They would die if the Hollands refused to cut off their arms and donate the properties. They could at least survive if they cut off their arms and lost all their money.
However, even if they survived, they would lead a difficult life in the future.
“Please send my gratitude to Mr. X.”
The option would destroy the Holland family, but Jasper still had to thank Mr. X for his kindness. At this moment, he hated his oldest son to the core, inwardly blaming him for provoking Mr. X.
At that banquet, no one had the guts to give Mr. X a hard time, but Layton did. After his death, the Holland family went to the dogs.