Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter_146
In the days that followed, the Smith family initiated a full-scale business assault on the Chambers family. Dennis spared no expense in his efforts to dismantle the Chambers’ operations, even if it meant incurring hefty penalty fees. Within just two weeks, nearly all of the Chambers family’s projects were brought to a standstill.
Dennis didn’t stop at sabotaging their projects. He made a bold and public statement across Seacrity, declaring that the Smiths would be enemies with the Chambers family forever. He made it clear that only one of the two families would remain standing by the end of this war. It was a declaration of war, and everyone in the business world knew it.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Carter family joined forces with the Smiths, further tightening the noose around the Chambers family. With the Carter family’s backing, the Chambers’ hotel chain suffered significant damage, pushing them closer to the edge of bankruptcy. It was now clear that the outcome of this battle was inevitable—the Chambers family was going down.
The business community watched in real-time as the Chambers family crumbled under the weight of these attacks. Employees began to panic, seeking new opportunities elsewhere as the family’s assets dwindled. With every passing day, the fear of bankruptcy loomed larger. The situation was so dire that within just ten days, the Chambers family could be wiped out entirely.
Seeing the inevitable collapse of the Chambers family, small and medium-sized companies quickly chose sides. Most of them sought to curry favor with the Smith family, distancing themselves from the Chambers, fearing that any association could lead to their own downfall. Only a handful of companies that had longstanding relationships with the Chambers family remained loyal. However, their loyalty did little to change the course of the crisis. It was a game of survival, and those who didn’t play along with the Smiths risked losing everything.
The game being played by these influential families was beyond the understanding of most people. To survive, you had to be powerful, and even the slightest misstep could result in your obliteration. As the Smith and Carter families made their move, the Chambers family was quickly isolated. The Lewis family, however, stayed out of the entire conflict, keeping their distance from the fierce battle between the two other families.
With the Smith and Carter families waging war, the business landscape in Seacrity shifted dramatically. People in the upper echelons of society grew increasingly nervous, constantly on edge, as the events unfolded. And amidst this turmoil, Dennis went to the Carter residence with Nellie and Winona for a private meeting with Claude Carter.
Dennis and Claude spent three long hours in the study on the second floor, discussing matters that would shape the future of both families. When they finally emerged, Claude had agreed to let Winona marry into the Carter family. The wedding was scheduled to take place six months later, much to Winona’s delight. She had managed to play her cards well—acting pitiful and even sleeping with Victor to get his forgiveness.
Despite her reputation taking a huge hit due to the scandal involving the fake Cyanbird painting, Winona’s marriage to Victor was a strategic move for the Carter family. They would absorb her reputation issues as a means of bolstering their own standing, leaving people in Seacrity questioning Claude’s judgment. It was hard to understand why someone with such a tarnished reputation would be allowed into one of Seacrity’s most powerful families, but it didn’t matter. Claude’s decision had been made.
On the other side of the spectrum, Zeke’s behavior had become increasingly erratic. After a night of heavy drinking at a bar, he caused a scene, smashing things in his drunken state. When he tried to pay for the damages with his bank card, he was informed that all his cards had been suspended. The quickness with which Zachary had acted left Zeke fuming with frustration.
At first, Zeke thought he could throw a tantrum and wait for Nellie to beg for his forgiveness. But as the days passed, he realized that the Smith family, including Nellie, had completely forgotten about him. His calls went unanswered. His existence seemed irrelevant to them now. Zeke’s pride prevented him from asking for help from anyone, but in the end, he had no choice. His only option was to swallow his pride and return to the Smith residence to apologize to Dennis.
The reunion was far from pleasant. Dennis, following the family tradition, beat Zeke up—leaving him bedridden for three days. During this time, Nellie didn’t even bother to visit him. Zeke, broken and humiliated, finally came to a painful realization. Without Zachary, he was nothing to the Smith family. He was just a useless member, a burden.
Meanwhile, life at Argrol University continued, unaffected by the dramas unfolding in the business world. Yvette and her friends, Bonnie and Andrew, had their usual routines—attending classes and working through endless assignments given by their professor, Tobias. Despite all the chaos surrounding them, their daily lives seemed remarkably ordinary. Even Jeremiah, who had occasionally made appearances to remind everyone of his existence as Yvette’s boyfriend, maintained his low-key presence.
For the past half month, Bonnie and Andrew had been observing Yvette and Jeremiah’s relationship from the sidelines. Today, as they sat together in the cafeteria, they exchanged a glance, both thinking the same thing: He’s here again.
Yvette sat across from them, eating casually. Her radiant face glowed under the sunlight. Her delicate, curly lashes fluttered as she took a bite of her food, making it look as if even the simplest meal could be enjoyed like a delicacy. Andrew, who wasn’t particularly hungry, and Bonnie, who had a sensitive stomach, found themselves eating more than they had planned, perhaps due to the calming effect Yvette’s relaxed eating style had on them.
Bonnie rubbed her belly and exchanged a glance with Andrew. “At this rate, we’re going to end up eating as much as Yvette,” she sighed. “We’ve really become a perfect team—no, a trio of meal companions.”
Jeremiah, however, wasn’t eating as much. Instead, he focused on serving Yvette. He peeled shrimp for her and refreshed her drink, acting like the perfect boyfriend. Bonnie sighed internally, watching the two of them. “Being single is so miserable. These two really have no problem with public displays of affection, do they?”
Andrew, on the other hand, had gotten used to it. Over the past two weeks, he had witnessed this exact routine countless times. He found himself wondering if it was even possible for a couple to date without the incessant feeding and pampering.
Jeremiah, sitting next to Yvette, continued his slow and meticulous process of peeling shrimp. He seemed completely at ease, as if this was his idea of a perfect date. His slender fingers made even the simple task look graceful.
When he placed the peeled shrimp on Yvette’s plate, she picked it up and popped it into her mouth. Her eyes lit up with approval. Bonnie glanced at the scene and decided it was time to voice her thoughts.
Clearing her throat, she caught the attention of both Yvette and Jeremiah. Andrew, too, looked up, sensing an impending conversation. Bonnie took a deep breath, ready to speak her mind.
“Mr. Chavez,” she began, looking at Jeremiah with a teasing smile, “are you aware that there are other places couples can go on dates? There are so many fun things to do—movies, amusement parks, parks… Why do you always choose the cafeteria?” She hesitated slightly, glancing at Andrew for support. “And, uh… don’t you think you make Andrew and me feel a little… out of place when you two do this in public?”
Andrew eagerly nodded in agreement. He raised both hands and said, “Absolutely. A little bit of space would be nice next time!”
Yvette gave them a knowing look and then turned to Jeremiah, who appeared to be giving Bonnie’s words serious thought. For a moment, he simply sat there, reflecting on what she had said. Then, his deep eyes softened with understanding.
“Do you want to go somewhere like a movie theater?” Jeremiah asked, his voice unexpectedly warm and charming.
Yvette, however, shook her head. Her response was calm, but with a slight air of indifference. “Not interested.”
Jeremiah smiled, clearly unfazed by her response. “Well, how about tomorrow? I’ve booked a table at a restaurant. I heard the food there is pretty good. Would you like to try it with me?”
Yvette’s eyes lit up with excitement at the suggestion. “Sure!” she responded enthusiastically.
She then looked at Bonnie and Andrew, both of whom had expected this. With a playful tone, she asked, “Do you want to join us?”
Without hesitation, both Bonnie and Andrew answered in unison, “No way. Absolutely not.”
Yvette didn’t respond but simply continued enjoying her meal. Jeremiah, too, resumed his task of peeling shrimp, unaffected by their protest. Bonnie and Andrew exchanged a glance, both feeling a sense of relief. Finally, they were free from the couple’s public displays of affection. As they enjoyed their meal, they both silently agreed—never again.
